NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS April 28, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream School
Debbie Almontaser dreamed of starting a public school like no other in NewYork City. Children of Arab descent would join students of otherethnicities, learning Arabic together. By graduation, they would be fluentin the language and groomed for the country's elite colleges. They would beready, in Ms. Almontaser's words, to become "ambassadors of peace and hope."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/nyregion/28school.html?hp

-Hillary Gets No Respect
I normally don't claim to speak for other members of the vast right-wingconspiracy. After all, we're each nefarious in our own, individual way.Indeed, we often disagree with one another.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/opinion/28kristol.html?ref=opinion

-Olympic Protests, Then and Now
I was in Red Square one day during the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow whensome poor protester apparently tried to set himself on fire. We neverlearned who he was or what really happened because of the amazing reactionof the authorities, which was caught on film by a tourist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/opinion/28mon4.html?ref=opinion

-Much Ado
In 1952, when McCarthyism was at its height, Supreme Court Justice WilliamO. Douglas labeled the investigative techniques of the junior senator fromWisconsin "guilt by association" (Adler v. Board of Education). Douglasadded that McCarthyite tactics were "repugnant to our society" because,despite the absence of any overt wrongdoing, the pasts of those attackedwere "combed for signs of disloyalty" and for utterances that might be readas "clues to dangerous thoughts."
http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/much-ado/index.html?ref=opinion

-Eyes on Blue-Collar Voters, Obama Shifts Style
ANDERSON, Ind. - Senator Barack Obama is making subtle changes to hiscampaign style and message in an effort to strengthen his appeal toblue-collar voters and to avoid a defeat in Indiana that aides fear couldgive Democratic Party leaders further pause about his viability in a generalelection.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/us/politics/28obama.html?hp

-Bush Made Permanent
A look at what John McCain says about taxes shows the same irresponsibilitythat, in 2000, foreshadowed the character of the Bush administration.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/opinion/index.html

-Faltering Economy Plays to a Clinton Strength
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - All politicians talk about jobs, but these days SenatorHillary Rodham Clinton does it with tactile, almost sensuous detail. Shebegan a rally here on Saturday morning with memories of her father'sfabric-printing business, feeling aloud the cloth, the silk screen and thesqueegee he used to create patterns that would decorate strangers' drapes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/us/politics/28memo.html


=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-McCain's Radical Foreign Policy
Amid the din of the dueling Democrats, people seem to have forgotten aboutthat other guy in the presidential race-you know, John McCain. McCain issaid to be benefiting from this politically because his rivals are tearingeach other apart. In fact, few people are paying much attention to what theRepublican nominee is saying, or subjecting it to any serious scrutiny.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/fareed_zakaria/

-One-Stop Defense Shopping
The Government Accountability Office reported last month on how things aregoing with nearly 100 major U.S. defense systems. Not well, it seems. Theyhave exceeded their original budgets and are, on average, almost two yearsbehind schedule.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/27/AR2008042701208.html

-Exonerated Ex-Inmates Struggle to Shed Stigma
CHICAGO -- Tabitha Pollock was asleep when her boyfriend killed her3-year-old daughter. Charged with first-degree murder because prosecutorsbelieved she should have known of the danger, Pollock spent more than sixyears in prison before the Illinois Supreme Court threw out the conviction.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/04/27/ST2008042702383.html?hpid=topnews

-Reverend's Words Stir Debate on His Creed
Obama's Ex-Pastor To Visit D.C. Forum On Black Church
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/27/AR2008042702336.html?hpid=sec-religion


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-S. Florida lawmakers losing clout
South Florida lawmakers' voices often go unheard or are at odds with oneanother, leaving the state's largest school districts with little policyclout
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/512178.html


=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Texas license plates promote presidential candidates
AUSTIN - Rachel Farris isn't superstitious, but she knew the 666-HXX licenseplates on her Scion tC were a bad omen. When a friend and fellow BarackObama fan told her OBAMA vanity plates were still available in Texas, the24-year-old felt karma shift back her way.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-licenseplates_28pol.ART.State.Edition1.462e4b5.html

-Bill Vs. Barack
On the Thursday before the Pennsylvania primary, Bill Clinton spoke to acrowd of college students at a gymnasium in Lock Haven. The event wastypical of the stops-forty-seven of them-that the former President had madein the state during the seven weeks leading up to the vote. Lock Haven is asmall town (pop. 9,000), hours away from Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, and thecrowd was modest (half the gym's floor space was empty). Within thecampaign, Clinton's enthusiasm for rustling votes in these remote cornerswas a source of amusement. When I asked what he was doing on Election Day, aClinton campaign adviser said, "I think he's leading a caravan of Wal-Martgreeters to the polls."
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/05/05/080505ta_talk_lizza

-Obama's ex-pastor addresses NAACP
Says he's not being divisive on race
DETROIT - The outspoken former pastor of Barack Obama told an audience of10,000 at an NAACP dinner here yesterday that despite what his critics say,he is not being divisive when he speaks about racial injustices.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/04/28/obamas_ex_pastor_addresses_naacp/

-Questions for the candidates
Forget the gossipy stuff. Here are10 topics we'd like to hear thepresidential candidates' views on.
After the Democratic slugfest also known as the Pennsylvania primary, manyvoters can no longer bear to listen to the candidates. Even some who becamepolitical junkies during this historic race have now tuned out the snipingover guns, bitterness, race, religion, geriatric radicals and other trivia.
We pray the next president will not waste a millisecond thinking about manyof the headline topics of the last month. All three candidates shouldchallenge reporters who dwell on gossipy or tangential subjects to askinstead about issues voters care about -- or should. Herewith are 10questions the American people deserve to hear answered
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-questions28apr28,0,506102.story?track=rss

-Democrats antagonize world on trade
BOGOTA, Colombia -- For seven years, Democrats have rightfully complainedthat President Bush has gratuitously antagonized the world, exasperating ourallies and eroding America's influence.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/OPINION01/804280333/1008

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

FLORIDA DIGEST April 28, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-LEGISLATURE
State may pass anti-bullying law
Supporters of a bill that would force all Florida school districts to adoptpolicies prohibiting bullying and harassment are hopeful that it willfinally become law this year.
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/512173.html


=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Photo gallery - Day 3: Star Jennifer Tilly attends Miami Gay & Lesbian FilmFestival
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/04/photo-gallery-2.html

-Jesse's Journal | Tales from the Gay Outdoors BY JESSE MONTEAGUDO
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people love camp, in both senses ofthe word. According to CampGayUSA (www.campgayusa.com/CAMPGROUNDS.html),there are over a hundred GLBT-owned or GLBT-friendly campgrounds in theUnited States alone. My own State of Florida has two popular gaycampgrounds: the Sawmill Camping Resort in Dade City (www.flsawmill.com)
and Camp Mars in Venus (www.campmars.com). Most of the time, GLBTcampgrounds were created with little or no controversy. This is not thecase of a camp established on Route 226 near Casar, North Carolina; onewhich bears the provocative name of Camp Lickalotta.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/04/jesses-journal.html


=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Head of DNC points finger at Mich., Fla.
Dean insists he wants their delegations seated, but calls states' primary problems self-inflicted. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean on Sunday repeated his pledge that delegates from Michigan and Florida should be seated, but he also had tough words for politicians in the two states and signaled no
intention of intervening in the dispute.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/POLITICS01/804280368/1409/METRO

-Election Day in Florida May Look Familiar
MIAMI - The League of Women Voters in Florida and its 27 local groups havehelped thousands of residents register to vote over the years.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/us/politics/28voting.html?ex=1209960000&en=27547bc7c3a206b4&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVERNEWS

-On vital issues, legislators fail
Barring a Tallahassee miracle, when the Legislature adjourns Friday it willhave failed in every respect to responsibly address the state's mostpressing issues. It is hard to imagine re-election campaigns based on arecord of imposing painful spending cuts, protecting special interest taxbreaks, forcing universities to cap enrollments and raising local propertytaxes to keep public education limping along. But incumbents will try topaper over the sins of the spring with misleading campaign ads in the fall,and voters should not let them get away with it.
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article473599.ece

-Parents of murder victim to urge lawmakers to protect gay kids
The parents of Ryan Keith Skipper, the victim of a gay-hate-crime murder inPolk County, will mark what would have been his 27th birthday Monday byjoining others in support of anti-bullying legislation in Tallahassee.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/southwest/orl-bullyside2608apr26,0,1176504.story

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

GLBT DIGEST April 27, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Young Gay Rites
LAST NOVEMBER IN BOSTON, Joshua Janson, a slender and boyish 25-year-old,invited me to an impromptu gathering at the apartment he shares withBenjamin McGuire, his considerably more staid husband of the same age. Itwas a cozy, festive affair, complete with some 20 guests and a large sushispread where you might have expected the chips and salsa to be.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/magazine/27young-t.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=gay&st=nyt&oref=slogin

-Through Sickness, Health and Sex Change [Transgender]
NEW MILFORD, N.J: THERE are ways in which the Brunners are like many other
middle-aged married
couples. Former high school and college sweethearts, they finish each
other's sentences and order the same food at restaurants. They shuttle their three children to sports practices, and laugh when their 90-pound Labrador etriever jumps onto the sofa to lick guests. "We're one of the few of our friends who are still in our original marriage," Denise Brunner said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/fashion/27trans.html?scp=3&sq=gay&st=nyt

-Op-Ed Contributor: Clown Prince of the City
ONLY people who live outside cities realize the size of them. London turnsout to be huge; there are great swaths, vast panoramas, a whole diaspora I'dnever imagined. The place I live in tends to be manageably small, a fewfamiliar journeys and destinations. But I've been covering London's mayoralelection - the vote is Thursday - and have traveled the girth and depth ofthe place and it's revealed a strange parallel metropolis, a magical placethat appears only every four years. A city made out of the wishful thinkingand ambition of politicians, cast as their own self-justifying epic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/opinion/27gill.html?scp=4&sq=gay&st=nyt

-'Brothers & Sisters, ' 'Ugly Betty' win GLAAD awards again
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Two ABC series were in repeats -- as winners -- at theannual awards honoring good work in media presentations of gays andlesbians. ''Brothers & Sisters'' and ''Ugly Betty'' received awards for outstandingdrama and comedy series during the 19th annual Gay and Lesbian AllianceAgainst Defamation Media Awards at the Kodak Theatre on Saturday night
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-GLAAD-Media-Awards.html?scp=11&sq=gay&st=nyt


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

- Reject intolerance cloaked in faith by LEONARD PITTS JR.
James Lawson is out of step with modern Christianity.
Take gay marriage. Speaking in support of a proposed state constitutionalban on same sex unions, one Rev. Hayes Wicker of First Baptist Church inNaples, Fla., was recently quoted by The Naples Daily News as saying, ``Thisis a tremendous social crisis, greater even than the issue of slavery.''
As asinine as that remark is, it is perfectly in step with much of modernChristianity, which has spent years demonizing gay men and lesbians. Andthen there's Rev. Lawson, who is scheduled to speak this weekend at the 10thanniversary conference of Soulforce, a group that fights church-basedhomophobia. Few things could be more out of step.
Lawson, you may know, is an icon of the civil rights movement; it was he whoinvited Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis to support the striking sanitationworkers. He sees his longtime involvement with Soulforce as part of the samestruggle. ''The human rights issue is not a single issue,'' he told merecently. ``It is about all human kind. And all human kind has been endowedwith certain inalienable rights.''
My interview with Lawson was set before Wicker's remark, but I leapt at thechance to ask him about it. ''Obviously,'' said Lawson, ``he does not knowanything about the 250 years of slavery or the 143 years since slavery asthe nation has largely failed to deal with the issue of slavery and itsconsequences. . . . And he knows even less about the gospel of Jesus. . . .
Jesus broke all the social etiquette in terms of relating to people andbringing people into relationship with himself. He acknowledged no barriersor human divisions . . . no category of sinners from who he would isolatehimself.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/v-print/story/509887.html


=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-CA: Asian Americans weigh in on marriage for same-sex couples
Ericson Herbas, a FilAm graphic artist originally from Makati City, hassomething in common with lawyers Doreena Wong, a Chinese-American, andJennifer C. Pizer, a Jewish-American. All of them are currently in asame-sex relationship. In a few weeks - late May or early June - a ruling bythe California Supreme Court on the issue of marriage equality will have animpact on the lives of these three Californians. Depending on which side theSC ruling tilts, it would spell either the end of their quest or avalidation of a shared advocacy.
On September 27, 2007, a team of Asian American attorneys and advocates inLos Angeles and San Francisco filed a legal brief with the State SupremeCourt in support of equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. Twoof those lawyers were Doreena Wong and Jennifer C. Pizer, who have been in asame-sex relationship for fourteen years.

-PA: Rally opposes 'marriage protection'
Those who oppose the "Marriage Protection Amendment" (Senate Bill 1250) willbe given a chance to voice their concerns Sunday at a special rally. Themain focus of the event is to urge elected officials to vote no on SB 1250.
The rally will feature red postcards bearing the slogan "Equal RightsInclude Marriage" that will be made available to sign. The MarriageEquality Team plans to collect as many postcards as possible with the intentof delivering them to the Senate in Harrisburg. The event will be held atUnitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, 538 W. Chestnut St., from 2 to 4p.m. Sunday. The Marriage Protection Amendment, sponsored by state Sen.Mike Brubaker, would ban civil unions in Pennsylvania.

-In 2004, when I was 28, CNN asked me to gather together a group of myBoston friends in their 20s for a short segment about gay marriage. Thenetwork wanted to know what young gay men in Massachusetts thought about our
newfound right. For nearly an hour, seven of us - five workingprofessionals in our 20s and two college undergraduates - sat in a coffeeshop and talked theoretically about what a young gay marriage might entail.
In the end, most of us agreed that we would like to be married - just notyet. We still had a lot of living, and growing up, to do. While many of ourheterosexual peers undoubtedly did as well, we were immune from the pressuresome of them felt to marry. No one - not our friends, not our families, notthe gay community - expected us to wed. For the next few years, I didn'tgive young gay marriage much thought. While thousands of gay men andlesbians in their 30s, 40s or 50s married in Massachusetts, none of us atthe table that night did, even as several of us inched into our 30s. Iassumed that marriage - what the gay playwright Terrence McNally recentlycalled "the final civil right; the right to love as anyone else loves" - wasa right appreciated only in gay middle age.

-Australia: Gay Couple Awarded Damages in Foster Care Discrimination Case
An Australian gay couple were awarded damages following religiously-baseddiscriminatory treatment by a welfare agency. The organization, which hasties to Uniting Church, refused the application of the couple to becomefoster parents [...] The couple, who were not identified in the article,took the case to the New South Wales Administrative Decisions Tribunal. Theorganization that had rejected the couple's application claimed thatalthough the Anti-Discrimination Act bars prejudicial treatment of gays andlesbians, it was exempt from the law on the basis that its decision to snubthe couple was based on religious doctrine.

-UT [Univ. of Texas] faculty and staff have demanded domestic partnerbenefits for almost two decades, but it was Uri Horesh's hunger strike thissemester that magnified the issue. When English professor Lisa Moore washired in 1991, she was told that domestic partner benefits were right aroundthe corner. Though there are signs of progress, UT still does not extend thesame benefits to same-sex couples as it does to heterosexual couples. In2008, 17 years later, Moore continues to work at UT but cannot provide herpartner with the same coverage she receives. Prospective, current andformer faculty members have incorporated this issue into their decision tocome to or stay at the University. Five people shared with The Daily Texanhow the domestic partner benefits issue shapes their opinions of UT.


=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-As the media world buzzed about the "pregnant man," trans activists stayedrelatively mum. Now we're asking: Has Thomas Beatie's public exposure hurtthe transgender movement?
"I'm going to be sick. I am upset.. That was not only stupid and uselessbut, quite frankly, disgusting." -Mika Brzezinski, cohost, Morning Joe,MSNBC
"There is no way this child will be able to lead a normal life. Oregon is astrange state, but they cannot seriously allow this to happen. It isunethical, immoral, and disturbing." -a comment posted on a Washington Postblog When Oregon trans man Thomas Beatie first told the world that he waspregnant in The Advocate in March, readers learned that he transitionedabout 10 years ago, underwent a double mastectomy, and began testosteroneinjections. He and his wife, Nancy, decided to have a child, but because ofa hysterectomy years ago, Nancy couldn't carry the baby. So Beatie stoppedhis hormone injections, underwent artificial insemination, and, afterseveral doctors refused to treat him, finally found an obstetrician whowould. His pregnancy, he wrote, was "free of complications." Healthcomplications, maybe, but it would not be without other difficulties.
http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid53587.asp


=
Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:

-More than a thousand people took part in the opposition's march staged onthe occasion of the 22nd Chernobyl accident anniversary in Minsk on April26. It was a first time in a history, when rainbow flag used onpolitical public event in Belarus. The crowd started gathering at the squarein front of the National Academy of Sciences at 2 p.m. and a short rallyfollowed. Leaders of opposition had did speeches. Sergey Androsenko, 19y.o.gay - leader of Gay Youth Association, stay with big rainbow flag in thecenter of crowd. Anarchists promise to protect gays on this event ifsomebody will try attack them. The crowd then walked some two miles onsidewalks from the square to a church built to commemorate Chernobyl victimsat the intersection between Arlowskaya and Karastayanavay Streets.

-Police raid LGBT organizations in Turkey, Kyrgyzstan by DOUG IRELAND
Police raids on gay organizations in the former Soviet republic ofKyrgyzstan and in Turkey have underscored the fragile position of LGBTpeoples in those two countries. On April 8 in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishek,police forced their way into the premises of the LGBT group Labrys, whichwas in the midst of hosting a dinner for 30 domestic and internationaladvocates. Members of the Kyrgyz Anti-AIDS Association and other localgroups were joined by international partners from organizations includingCOC, the Dutch LGBT association that is the world's oldest gay group, andGender Doc-M, an LGBT group in Moldova. Police threatened to arrest anyonewho did not produce identification papers, and proceeded to search theprivate files of Labrys. Founded in 2004, Labrys opened its social centerand library just two months ago as a safe meeting place for LGBTKyrgyzstanis as well as a shelter for transgenders and women who have beenvictims of violence.

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS April 27, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Where Alaa Al Aswany Is Writing From
One evening last fall I joined a small crowd in a dusty room off busyQasr-Al-Nil street in Cairo, facing a banner that read, "Welcome to theCultural Salon of Dr. Alaa Al Aswany." Many of those seated around me seemedto be simple celebrity spotters, there to see in the flesh thebiggest-selling novelist in Arabic, Al Aswany, who is also an increasingly
bold critic of President Hosni Mubarak's regime, which in Egypt has heldpower uninterruptedly for 27 years. The rest appeared to be aspiring writersor students eager for literary and political instruction. Austerelyfurnished with a single fluorescent light, half-broken chairs and a solitarytable scarred with overlapping teacup rings, the room defused allexpectations of literary glamour. Nevertheless, it offered a frisson ofpolitical danger. When the salon was held the previous year, Egyptianintelligence agents so intimidated the owner of the cafe where the meetingwas taking place that he screamed at Al Aswany and his audience to go away.
He later apologized, explaining that he had done it for the sake of thegovernment spies who were watching him
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/magazine/27aswany-t.html?scp=7&sq=gay&st=nyt

-Rifts Mend, Unless Identity Politics Is a Different Stripe
SENATOR Hillary Rodham Clinton's victory last week in the Pennsylvaniapresidential primary bought Mrs. Clinton time, but it's what might fill thetime that troubles Democrats: an increasingly sharp dialogue between coreDemocratic constituencies - blacks and a wide swath of women.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/weekinreview/27phillips.html?scp=8&sq=gay&st=nyt

-Letters Give C.I.A. Tactics a Legal Rationale The Justice Department hastold Congress that U.S. operatives trying to thwart terrorist attacks mayuse interrogation methods that might otherwise be barred under internationallaw.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/washington/27intel.html?hp

-Is Trade the Problem?
Blaming Nafta and other trade agreements for American workers' pain may playwell on the campaign stump. But it will not solve the country's economicproblems.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/opinion/27sun1.html?ref=opinion

-Tracking the Spoils of the Private Sector
There are so many barn doors to be closed on the Bush administration'swasteful, murky world of government contractors that Congress barely knowswhere to begin. The House has made a start in plugging themultibillion-dollar loophole that the White House let slip into its promisedcrackdown on fraudulent contractors.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/opinion/27sun2.html?ref=opinion

-How McCain Lost in Pennsylvania
IT'S a nightmare. It's the Bataan Death March. It's mutually assuredArmageddon. "Both of them are already losing the general to John McCain,"declared a Newsweek columnist last month, predicting that the election "mayalready be over" by the time the Democrats anoint a nominee.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/opinion/27rich.html?ref=opinion

-Elite Korean Schools, Forging Ivy League Skills
SEOUL, South Korea - It is 10:30 p.m. and students at the elite Daewon prepschool here are cramming in a study hall that ends a 15-hour school day. Awindow is propped open so the evening chill can keep them awake. Oneteenager studies standing upright at his desk to keep from dozing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/world/asia/27seoul.html?hp

-In Zimbabwe Jail: A Reporter's Ordeal
HARARE, Zimbabwe - I had never been arrested before and the prospect ofprison in Zimbabwe, one of the poorest, most repressive places on earth,seemed especially forbidding: the squalor, the teeming cells, thepossibility of beatings. But I told myself what I'd repeatedly taught my twochildren: Life is a collection of experiences. You savor the good, you learnfrom the bad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/world/africa/27bearak.html?hp


=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-The New Economics of Hunger
A brutal convergence of events has hit an unprepared global market, andgrain prices are sky high. The world's poor suffer most.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/04/26/ST2008042602333.html?hpid=topnews-

-An Unusual Prosecution of a Way of Life
Texas Will Attempt to Show That Polygamist Culture Itself Harms Children
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042601742.html

-Try 'Pakistan First'
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama offer the same beguiling Democratic versionof the global war on terrorism: Get out of Iraq and put more U.S. forcesinto Afghanistan to win that conflict decisively. Republicans are alsoincreasingly urging President Bush to adopt an Afghanistan-first policy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042502781.html

-Belated Disclosure
The Bush administration releases evidence regarding Syria's nuclear reactor,eight months after it was destroyed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042601660.html

-The FDA Needs Help
The heparin scare revealed problems the agency says it can fix. But it won'ttell Congress how much that will cost.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042601662.html


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-One-way approach to crime has limits
IMPRISONING FELONS COMES AT A HIGH COST
Our country has the unenviable distinction of holding more people in prisonsthan any other country in the world. In the United States, 2.3 millionpeople are in prison -- a number that represents nearly 25 percent of theworld's prison population, according to a report last week in The New YorkTimes. The number is staggering, and it calls into question the recenthardening of attitudes and policies toward crime in America.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/509888.html

-Clinton's campaign woes suggest bumpy presidency
Political pundits speculate that Hillary Clinton's fractious campaign isindicative of the kind of president she would make.
WASHINGTON -- Despite Hillary Clinton's big win in Pennsylvania last week,the story of her campaign is often one of mismanagement and missedopportunities, and it raises questions about how she would organize and runthe White House.
http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

FLORIDA DIGEST April 27, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


=
Angel Award given to Doug White
At the April 1, 2008 Tuesdays Angels Dinner, Doug White, President of SouthFlorida Social Circle, presented a check in the amount of $814 to TuesdaysAngels from the proceeds that South Florida Social Circle raised at ourSound of Music Show in late February. As Doug was thanking everyone fortheir support of Tuesdays Angels, Chuck Nichols, President of TuesdaysAngels surprised Doug White. Chuck presented Doug with an Angel Award and aletter of appreciation for his years of service to Tuesdays Angels inpromoting functions that raised thousands of dollars for the organization.
Doug thanked Chuck for the award, and reminded everyone how importantTuesdays Angels is and to please keep supporting it. You can find moreinformation about Tuesdays Angels by going to:
http://www.tuesdaysangels.org/


=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Pictures of the Second Night - Miami Gay and Lesbian FilmFest
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/04/photo-gallery-d.html

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

GLBT DIGEST April 26, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Fort Riley atheist soldier speaks out on lawsuit
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Like hundreds of young men joining the Army inrecent years, Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while itfights terrorism.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Army-Atheist-Speaks.html?scp=4&sq=GAY&st=nyt

-Episcopal church sues deposed Calif. bishop over property
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin has sued adeposed bishop, demanding he vacate his offices and turn over financialaccounts for leading a secession last year prompted by the church'sordination of women and gays.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Episcopalians-Secession.html?scp=8&sq=GAY&st=nyt


=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-The Orange on the Seder Plate
Communities Expand Passover Story to Embrace Modern Struggles of Oppression
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042502864.html


=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Top church court reviews gay marriage case
Atty. for plaintiff says 'no one is above church law'
The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is reviewing the caseof a longtime minister found guilty of violating church law for officiatingat the weddings of 2 lesbian couples.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17930

-Nebraska: Pro-gay rights event prompts protest at high school
Three men holding anti-gay banners at Lincoln East High School Fridaymorning prompted 10 to 15 students to stage their own impromptu protest ofthe demonstrators.
http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/doc4811ffac73748622779709.txt

-Discrimination lawsuit settled
Woman had said job offer rescinded because she was born a man
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5729363.html

-Moscow's Banned Pride Day Becomes Pride Month
Russian gay rights advocate Nikolai Alexeyev's bid for a gay pride paradeduring the May Day holidays was rejected by Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov. SegeiTsoi, the mayor's spokesman, warned that if they went ahead with the march,there "could be blood, which no one wants. He also accused Alexeyev oftrying to "spoil" a traditional labor holiday, a charge which Alexeyevadamantly rejected: "As if gays don't support peace and don't work," said an incredulous Alexeyev. "Don't we pay the taxes that support this government? I don't understand this at all."
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/04/25/1874

-Tim Gill Terrifies The Jeebus People
Gay activist Tim Gill has got the Christian right positively shaking intheir pews.
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2008/04/tim-gill-terrifies-jeebus-people.html


=
365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Federal Court Overturns Verdict In Lesbian Discrimination Case
(Cheyenne, Wyoming) A federal appeals court has overturned a lower courtverdict that found a school district had discriminated against two formerschool administrators because they are lesbians.

-Episcopal Church Sues Breakaway Bishop
(San Francisco, California) The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin has sued adeposed bishop who led a secession last year prompted by the church'sordination of women and gays.

-Fort Wayne AIDS Memorial Damaged By Vandals
Sections of a memorial to people in the Fort Waynearea who have died as a result of HIV/AIDS have been toppled and badlydamaged.

-Politician Claims Gay Blackmailer Made Him Steal
(Los Angeles, California) A former member of the Colton, California citycouncil has been sentenced to six months behind bars for using taxpayermoney on hotels and sex lines.

-Obama Courts Unions, Clinton Goes After Vets
(Chicago, Illinois) How does Sen. Barack Obama spend a day off in hishometown? What was Sen. Hillary Clinton doing in North Carolina?

-Flashback: Obama Faced Tough Choice In First Race
Barack Obama faced a choice: launch a political battle against a highly respected woman with more seniority or step aside and hope for another chance later.

-Pelosi: Dream Ticket Not A Good Idea
(Washington) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Sens. Barack Obama and HillaryRodham Clinton shouldn't share the Democratic presidential ticket unlessthey really want to.


=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-HIV Patients On Antiretroviral Drugs May Not Need Regular Lab Tests, StudySays
Patients with HIV who aren't monitored with the expensive laboratory tests
commonly used in rich countries may survive just as long as those who do getthe tests, a new study says.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid53648.asp


=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-OUTtv Signs Licensing Deal To Create The Netherland's First Gay LifestyleTV Network
Following their exciting new programming partnership with the here! channelin the US, OUTtv, Canada's national gay and lesbian television network,announced today that they have licensed popular programming to OUTTV Mediain the Netherlands, creating the first Dutch gay lifestyle televisionnetwork.

-Not So 'Backwoods Barbie'
"I'm just a Backwoods Barbie in a pushup bra and heels/I might lookartificial, but where it counts I'm real/And I'm all dolled up and hopin'for a chance to prove my worth." With lyrics like these from the titletrack of her latest album, "Backwoods Barbie," it's no surprise that livingcountry legend Dolly Parton strikes a chord with gay and lesbian fans.
Throughout her career, spanning 40-plus years of big hair, bigger boobs, andenough makeup to paint the faces of Mt. Rushmore twice over, Parton easilyearns her place among other gay icons of the era.

-Jail Term for Homophobic Mother
A mother has been sentenced to 150 days in prison for leading her daughterin a campaign of homophobic abuse against a gay couple. Karen Reeves, 44,and Christie Myles, 22, both of The Halt, Whitstable, were handed afive-year ban from the parish of Kingston, on the outskirts of Canterbury,where they made the lives of Michael Harris and Shires Crichton a misery.


=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-There's still time to contact your Arizona state representatives. TheArizona House has still not given its final approval to the proposedanti-marriage constitutional amendment (SCR 1041).
We reported that the Arizona House of Representatives brought the proposedanti-marriage constitutional amendment (SCR 1042) to the floor on Wednesdayand that the final vote was expected to take place as soon as Thursday.
Well, it didn't happen, and last I heard the vote wasn't expected to takeplace today either.

-In a case that some say legitimizes marriage between couples of the samegender, Israel has given the extended citizenship to the adopted son of twomen.The decision follows an earlier decision by Israel's Attorney General,Menahem Mazuz, in which Mazuz declared that, "in the proper circumstancesand when it is in the best interest of the child," gay couples mayadopt.That decision, in turn, followed a High Court ruling that found thatadoptions by same-sex couples granted in other countries would also behonored in Israel.

-Rev. Jane Spahr now awaits the verdict following a two-hour trial Fridaybefore the Presbyterian Church's highest court on charges that she violatedchurch law by marrying same-sex couples."It's been wonderfully inspiring,"Spahr, 65, a lesbian activist, said in a telephone interview. "So we wait,but we're with wonderful family and friends." Spahr has acknowledgedmarrying gay and lesbian couples, saying it is a matter of principle andconscience. Critics and church prosecutors say she is flouting Presbyterianlaw which defines marriage as "a civil contract between a woman and a man."
A 16-member Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly isexpected to issue a verdict Monday. The body heard the case at thedenomination's national headquarters in Louisville, Ky.

-When it comes to winning back the Senate, Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of Tennesseeis beginning to look like the Democrats' make-or-break candidate--and thatmight not be such a good thing. Ford is running surprisingly well in hisrace to replace retiring Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in traditionallyconservative Tennessee. In August, he ran virtually unopposed for theDemocratic nomination. And now, a recent poll has Ford just one point behindhis Republican rival, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker. If he wins inNovember, the 36-year-old Ford would become the first African-Americansenator from the South since reconstruction. Ever since his keynote speechat the 2000 Democratic convention, Ford has been seen as a rising star inthe party, yet his very conservative views on a variety of issues make himseem more like the next Joe Lieberman than a beacon of light in future ofthe party.


=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Eurovision organisers meet with Serbian police to guarantee LGBT safety
Organisers from the Eurovision song contest have met with Serbian policeofficials to discuss the possibility of homophobic violence at this yearsevent.

-New study brings hope for HIV sufferers in developing countries
A paper published by The Lancet medical journal has revealed that patientswho suffer from HIV may no longer need to have regular testing.

-Latvian Pride marchers 'fenced off' for own good
The Latvian government has advised that next months gay pride event shouldbe held in a fenced of area to avoid confrontation.
Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and Integration Minister OskarsKastens have both said that next month's Riga Pride and March for Equalityshould take place in an enclosed park.

-Travel: Orangutan adventure in Borneo
If you're an avid nature lover and a travel enthusiast then why not combineyour passions for the trip of a lifetime? If exploring the depths ofBorneo's rainforest while enjoying the spectacular wildlife on offer soundslike your idea of the perfect holiday then a trip to Southeast Asia could bejust what you're looking for.


=
Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:

-Moscow gays fight for the right to hold five parades a day in May Moscow,April 25, Interfax - Organizer of the Moscow gay parade Nikolay Alexeyevstated that his associates would hold five marches a day all May through tosupport the rights of sex minorities. "We plan to inform Moscow authoritiesthat we hold five gay marches a day till the end of May," Alexeyev toldInterfax-Religion. According to him, "the strategy and tactics" of theMoscow gay parade organizational committee have changed and from May 1Moscow will live through a month of gay parade." "We will give fivenotifications to Moscow government for each day in May tohold marches in central streets of the city at various time," Alexeyev said.
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4611

-International Day of Silence in Russia
The Day of Silence is dedicated to the issues of discrimination,emotional harassment, and violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgender (LGBT) people. This is an annual action of nonviolentprotest that started in the US in 1996, and in 2007 was extended toPoland and Slovenia. This year, the International Day of Silence willtake place on April 25 in the US and Europe. On May 3, the Day ofSilence will take place in Russia for the first time, and will bededicated to the problems of discrimination and intolerance towardsLGBT, as well as ethnic, religious, and other minorities.
These issues are no less relevant to modern Russia than they are tothe Western nations. In recent years, the number of hate crimes basedon etnicity or religion has been growing. Periodically, isolatedreports of hate crimes against LGBT people appear in mass media,whereas in reality these crimes are tens if not hundreds of times morenumerous. Harassment and bullying at educational institutions ofchildren that are "different" is a fact shrouded in shamed silence yetever-present.


=
Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if can't access the article

-New York: Arsham Parsi of the Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO) will discuss the IRQO's work with Human Rights Watch, and the challenges in advocating for sexual rights for Iranians in their home country as well as Iranian refugees and asylum-seekers worldwide. IRQO is an international, non-profit, queer human rights organization based in Toronto, Canada with key workers in Europe and Iran. It provides assistance to Iranian gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered refugees all over the world, endeavoringto help when Iranian lesbians or gay men are threatened with deportation back to Iran, as well as assisting Iranian LGBTs (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) to obtain asylum in friendly countries. Arsham Parsi helped found the IRQO while seeking refugee status in Turkey in 2004. He is visiting New York to receive IGLHRC's Felipa award on April 28.

-Montgomery County, Md. - A group of Montgomery County residents, joined bythe advocacy organization Equality Maryland, announced the formation of acampaign to preserve a gender identity non-discrimination law that wasunanimously passed last November by the County Council. Basic RightsMontgomery, chaired by local business leader James R. Walker, Jr., willensure that voters have the facts about this law.
"Transgender people deserve the right to have a job and a home and providefor themselves and their families, just like everybody else," said Walker, aChevy Chase resident who sits on the Board of Equality Maryland. "We inMontgomeryCounty are proud to live in a diverse community that welcomes allpeople. Basic Rights Montgomery is confident that with the facts, thefair-minded people of our county will reject attempts to roll back ouranti-discrimination laws."
http://www.equalitymaryland.org/

-Panel debates effectiveness of abstinence education
A House hearing on the effectiveness of abstinence education loosed a flurryof statistics, studies and anecdotes, but concluded yesterday with littlemovement on the contentious issue. "Maybe we should just have a blockgrant" and let states use sex education funding for the kind of programsthey want, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry A.Waxman, California Democrat, said near the end of the four-hour hearing. The"let the states choose" idea followed powerful testimonies from three panelsof witnesses, including one composed of leading medical and public healthofficials. Republicans complained that the hearing was lopsided, but thethree witnesses who supported abstinence - Sen. Sam Brownback, KansasRepublican;researcher Stan Weed; and Charles Keckler of the Department ofHealth and Human Services (HHS) - were assisted by friendly comments andquestions from numerous Republican committee members who made a point ofstaying at the hearing.

-Christian psychologist Warren Throckmorton sugar-coats homosexual "cures."
Psychiatrists Allow Ex-Gay End Run
In 1973, in one of the signal achievements of the emerging gay liberationmovement, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), at its annualconvention, voted to remove homosexuality from its Diagnostic andStatistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Yet, 35 years later, on May 5, at APA's 2008 convention in Washington, thegroup will host a symposium, at which one of the two mental healthpractitioner-panelists is Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a psychologist withoutstate board certification and an advocate for "Sexual Identity Therapy,"which he says he has successfully applied to help patients "alter homosexualfeelings or behaviors" and live their lives "heterosexually" with "only veryfew weak instances of homosexual attraction."

-American Family Association:
Procter & Gamble promotes explicit open-mouth homosexual kissing.
Scene included in this alert! WARNING - content is repulsive!Procter &Gamble has resumed using explicit, open-mouth homosexual kissing in theirsoap opera, "As the World Turns." P&G decided to include this type ofcontent as a commitment to "diversity." P&G stopped showing such scenes somemonths ago, but has now decided to again help promote the homosexual agendawhich includes homosexual marriage. Gay activists are hopeful that the P&Geffort will desensitize viewers to the homosexual lifestyle and help makethe unhealthy and immoral lifestyle more acceptable to society, especiallyto children and youth. .... "As the World Turns" is owned and controlled completely by P&G. No networkmade this decision. P&G alone made the decision to support the homosexual agenda.
View the scene
http://outbound.afa.net:80/track?type=click&mailingid=pgkiss_042408&messageid=pgkiss_042408&databaseid=1234&serial=1181234399&emailid=ken@kensherrill.com&userid=18175226&extra=&&&100&&&http://www.afa.net/pgatwt.asp

-This week in Washington Blade
http://www.washblade.com/


=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:

-North Carolina GOP Defies McCain Request, Runs Wright Ad
Despite John McCain's request to state party chair Linda Daves that an adrunning in North Carolina featuring Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright (andusing Wright's rant "No! No! No! Not God bless America. God bleep America!")not be run, the North Carolina Republican Party has decided to defy McCainand run the ad anyway.
http://www.towleroad.com/2008/04/north-carolin-1.html

-Sex Offenders Okay for Military Duty; Not So Gays
The United States military would rather have sex offenders and peopleconvicted of assault and manslaughter in its uniforms than honest gay menand lesbians.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=73543

-Far Right Claims 1.1 Million Signatures to Put Anti-Gay Marriage Amendmenton BallotHomophobic groups claimed on April 21 that they had gathered more thanenough signatures to place on the November ballot a vote to make aCalifornia Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and
one woman. The result of a yes vote would thus officially placediscrimination against marriage equality and same-sex marriage in the stateconstitution. A coalition of "religious" groups known as Protect Marriageallegedly has collected more than 1.1 million signatures in support of his,according to Brian Brown, Executive Director of the California Office of theNational Organization for Marriage. The initiative only requiresapproximately 700,000 signatures or 8 percent of the votes cast in the lastGovernor's race, to put it to public vote. Brown has claimed this is thechance for voters to protect marriage.
http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=7980

-Odd Corner owner gives $2 million for Kent LGBT students
Akron--Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students at Kent StateUniversity will benefit from a $2 million endowment targeted to them.
http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories08/april/0425082.htm

-Discharges Gays Fuming Over Felony Waivers
http://www.lgbt.bz/2008/04/discharged-gays-fuming-over-felony.html

-Paul Cameron Testifies As "Expert Witness"
We were able to obtain a copy of Paul Cameron's March newsletter from one of our favorite readers. And it looks like he's still capable of quite a bit of angerous mischief: I was invited as an expert witness to present evidence as to why one state's use of homosexuals as foster parents should be halted. Since a continuance was issued at the court hearing, I'll keep you informed of further developments.
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/04/24/1868

-Sexual harassment at school more harmful than bullying
The current focus on bullying prevention in schools may be masking seriousand underestimated consequences of sexual harassment, according to a study.
http://www.indiaenews.com/america/20080425/113717.htm

-Of Dutch Gays & the Limits of Tolerance
Building on my post, Dutch Gays Prefer Conservative Parties in a post of hisown, our friend Chris Crain, provides some information about conservatism inthe Netherlands, based on his travels here and greater knowledge of Dutchpolitics. He also repeats a question he had asked before: "how do youtolerate everything while not tolerating intolerance?"
http://www.gaypatriot.net/2008/04/24/of-dutch-gays-the-limits-of-tolerance/

-Indiana Republican on Hitler's Birthday and Porn Mule Womanslaughtering
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5167

-Soulforce Releases Open Letter from Jay Bakker to Joel Osteen
"As a child growing up, I saw a side of the church that to me did not alwaysreflect God's grace. This experience has led me to be concerned for ourbrothers and sisters in Christ who sometimes may feel rejected and left outof the church." -Jay Bakker
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/04/prweb887534.htm

-Jaida's gift
It was the Thursday before Christmas. The secretary gave me that familiarpleading look as she put a caller on hold. "Someone wants to know about ourchurch and homosexuality."
http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3009/2/

-Horrible coverage of Day of Silence on MI Station
WNEM has run one of the worst stories I have seen in recent years on LGBTissues by using insensitive and inflammatory terms to cover the Day ofSilence today
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/04/horrible_coverage_of_day_of_silence_on_m.php

-Media Looks At Long-Term Implications of a Potential McCain Presidency
In an April 23 Op-Ed in The Ithaca Journal, Christopher Latimer, a political scientist and openly gay Republican, raised issues surrounding John McCain'scandidacy as it relates to LGBT voters that haven't been fully discussed inthe media before.
http://glaadorg.nexcess.net/2008/04/media-looks-at-longterm-implic.html

-Dr. Laura nominated again
For at least the third year, controversial personality Dr. LauraSchlessinger has been nominated for induction to the National Radio Hall ofFame ( NRHOF ) , housed at Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC ) .
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18109

-'Where Grace Abounds' Latest to Leave Exodus International
Since its inception, Exodus International has been an umbrella organizationfor a coalition of local ministries focused on the issue of homosexuality.
In most cases these organizations are founded by churches or individualsacting independently of Exodus, with varying degrees of input from existingministries.
http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/04/where-grace-abounds-latest-to-leave-exodus-international/


=
Gay & Lesbian Leadership SmartBrier
http://www.smartbrief.com/index.jsp
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Marriage rights hitting home for Mass. official
For Easton, Mass., Town Administrator David Colton, his black-tie wedding tolongtime partner Brian Khoo is a major personal step that also links back tohis professional role. "I never wanted to be the gay town administrator; Inever wanted to be the gay leader; I just wanted to be the leader," he said.
"You have to risk being defined that way in order to shed the label. How doyou dispel that rumor until you speak it?"

-Senate bill would link hate-crimes measure, defense spending
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., plans to try to get a vote on hate-crimesprotections for gays by attaching the bill to a major defense measure thatwould authorize recalling troops from Iraq and shift more of thereconstruction cost to Iraqis. A similar attempt by Democrats to link ahate-crimes measure with a defense bill failed last year when Republicansbalked. Google/Associated Press (4/23)

-Moscow mayor, group at odds over gay-pride events
Citing security concerns, the Moscow mayor's office is prohibiting gay-pridemarches during events marking May Day in Moscow. However, Nikolai Alexeyev,leader of the group Gay Russia, said his organization would seek approvalsto hold five events a day during May. "This is not a question of security.
It is only a question of the personal hatred of the Moscow mayor towards gaypeople," he said. Google/Agence France-Presse (4/23)

-2008 International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference
The Mayflower Hotel | Washington, D.C. | December 4-7
Registration is now open for the 24th International Gay & Lesbian LeadershipConference, the premier gathering of openly LGBT elected, appointed andcommunity leaders. This year the conference returns to Washington, D.C. justweeks after U.S. voters choose a new president. It will be an exciting timeto be in the capital city, and attendees will be at the center of it all inthe famed Mayflower Hotel just steps from the White House and Dupont Circle.
There are a limited number of hotel rooms at the Mayflower at our specialconference rate of just $149 per night. Book yours now using our conferencegroup code: GLLGLLA

-Blaze: Don't underestimate the range of gay political thought
Blogger Alex Blaze believes the gay movement has reached the point where itneeds to develop a term that would take into account the limits of identitypolitics and help to describe the varying points of views among those whoidentify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. "I haven't come up with agood word to describe that, though," he writes. "Thoughts?" Read more at TheBilerico Project.

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS April 26, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-The Tarnished Brass
As it prepared to invade Iraq five years ago, the Bush administration calledup retired military officers to help sell the war. Defense Secretary DonaldRumsfeld and his propaganda team courted as many as 75 retired militaryofficers who could best market the Pentagon line, particularly ontelevision. As detailed in The Times on Sunday, many of these officers usedtheir access to Pentagon bigwigs to promote their private businesses.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/opinion/26sat2.html?ref=opinion

-A Shameful, Ugly Ad
Manipulative. Shameful. Race-baiting. Those are the only words to describe anew television ad from the Republican Party running in North Carolina thatattacks Senator Barack Obama as "too extreme" for the state.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/opinion/26sat4.html?ref=opinion

-Mugabe's Party Loses in Recount
HARARE (Reuters) - President Robert Mugabe's party has failed to securecontrol of Zimbabwe's parliament in a partial recount of the March 29election, results showed on Saturday, handing the ruling party its firstdefeat in 28 years.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-zimbabwe-election.html?hp

-Zimbabwe Rounds Up Opposition Members and Election Monitors
JOHANNESBURG - Truckloads of heavily armed police officers rounded uphundreds of people at the headquarters of Zimbabwe's opposition party onFriday as plainclothes investigators descended on independent monitors ofthe nation's disputed elections last month, according to oppositionofficials, witnesses and the police.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/world/africa/26zimbabwe.html


=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Party Fears Racial Divide
Attacks Could Do Lasting Harm, Democrats Say
The protracted and increasingly acrimonious fight for the Democraticpresidential nomination is unnerving core constituencies -- AfricanAmericans and wealthy liberals -- who are becoming convinced that the partycould suffer irreversible harm if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton maintains hersharp line of attack against Sen. Barack Obama.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042503707.html?hpid=topnews

-A Not-So-Solid Republican South
TUPELO, Miss. -- While the eyes of the political world were focused onPennsylvania last week, I played hooky for a day at the invitation of theLee County Library and bumped into a story as revealing in its way as thelatest round in the struggle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Amongother things, it explains why John McCain found it useful to spend last weektouring poverty-stricken areas in the South, where Republicans rarely go.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042502782.html

-Farrakhan's Pennsylvania Admirer
The old Irving Berlin tune "The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On)"captures the aftermath of Pennsylvania's Democratic primary -- with a twist.
The contest is, indeed, over. But the tune that's slow in parting is more ofa sour note than a sweet sound.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042502976_pf.html

-Iranians Aspire to Sharpen Public Image
Lobbying Group Seeks to Promote Heritage, Build Political Clout
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042503354.html?hpid=topnews

-Prayer Day 'Hijacked' by Evangelicals, Critics Say
Groups Complain That Application Process for May 1 Observance Excludes SomeReligions
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042502859.html?hpid=sec-religion


=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Beware of e-mails, calls asking for personal info
WARNING: Be on the lookout for emails and phone calls involving your taxrefund or economic stimulus payment. Thieves are posing as IRS agents toaccess to taxpayer bank accounts.
Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Kathy Collins almost took the bait: ane-mail that said it was from the Internal Revenue Service telling her shequalified for a bigger refund.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-staysafe.emailfraud,0,7486667.story

-Free trade agreements help U.S. as much as trading partners
ISSUE: Continent's leaders praise NAFTA.
OK, maybe President Bush and his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon,weren't the most popular spokesmen to rally a defense for NAFTA.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editafnaftasbapr26,0,7449660.story


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Fla. fate to be decided May 31
The Democratic National Committee is slated to decide May 31 if Florida'spresidential primary votes will count.
http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/story/510303.html

-Indiana polls: Obama-Clinton dead-heat
Barack Obama has called Indiana his "tie-breaker'' in the three-state seriesof primaries that started with Hillary Clinton's victory in Pennsylvaniathis week.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/indiana_polls_obamaclinton_dea.html

-To the rescue of endangered grocery bags!
Seattle is thinking about making shoppers pay 20 cents for every new paperor plastic bag. San Fransciso has outlawed plastic bags altogether at largesupermarkets. Boston is also considering a ban, while Phoenix is giving awayfree canvas bags.
http://www.miamiherald.com/418/story/510307.html


=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Obama and Clinton: two cynical losers
Despite having all the trumps, the Democrats have squandered the chance of alifetime
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article3811396.ece

-Indiana polls: Obama-Clinton dead-heat
Barack Obama has called Indiana his "tie-breaker'' in the three-state seriesof primaries that started with Hillary Clinton's victory in Pennsylvaniathis week.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/indiana_polls_obamaclinton_dea.html

-How to Manufacture a Popular-Vote Victory
The Clinton campaign, which is losing the pledged delegate race, is nowtalking up a different metric: the cumulative popular vote.
http://www.observer.com/2008/how-manufacture-popular-vote-victory

-Sleeping with the enemy
The mainstream news media jumps into bed with another propagandist.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-huffington24apr24,0,3587621.story

-Turning tide in Indiana
Worried about Iraq and the economy, some Republican Hoosiers are feelingblue, and may vote that way, too
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/04/26/turning_tide_in_indiana/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today%27s+paper+A+to+Z

-Clinton fundraiser defects to Obama campaign
Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon, a former ambassador to Chile under PresidentClinton, is joining the Illinois senator's national finance committee.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-fundraising26apr26,0,2111231.story

-Clinton Challenges Obama to more Debates
EAST CHICAGO, Ind. - Democratic presidential candidates have held more than20 debates. Evidently that's not enough for Hillary Clinton.
http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/04/25/clinton-challenges-obama-to-more-debates/

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

FLORIDA DIGEST April 26, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Palm Beach County: Gay Men's Chorus prepares two shows of American songs
Voices of Pride: The Gay Men's Chorus of the Palm Beaches will present"Songbook" - a "lively, light-hearted homage to the American song" at 8 p.m.May 7 and May 8 in West Palm Beach.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/palmbeach/sfl-flpdig04265pnapr26,0,3131078.story

-Thousands strip-searched by Broward deputies to be paid in settlement
Thousands of trespassers, drunken people and others strip-searched at theBroward County Jail, though they were charged with only minor offenses, areentitled to $1,000 each as part of a multimillion-dollar settlement reachedFriday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flfsearch0426sbapr26,0,217587.story

-Democrats across Florida rally for primary votes to countObama backers label effort as ploy to assist Clinton
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdelegates0426sbapr26,0,7727825.story

-Adriane Reesey for Broward Supervisor of Elections
http://votereesey2008.com/
Supervisor of elections candidate gets Democratic icon Janet Reno to help her raise campaign cash Janet Reno, who remains immensly popular among Democrats in South Florida,is helping Adriane Reesey raise money for her campaign for Broward supervisor of elections. Reesey is challenging Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary. Reno, the former Dade County state attorney, was former resident Bill
Clinton's attorney general. She was the first and only woman to hold thatposition. She'll appear at a Reesey fundraiser next month at Long Key Nature Center in
Davie. Regular admission is $100. The VIP event is $250.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-FLORIDA HOUSE
Evolution bill evolves in debate
A bill originally written to protect teachers who question evolution fromharassment was amended to mandate the teaching of alternate views such asintelligent design.
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/510302.html


=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Photo gallery | Opening Night of the 10th annual Miami Gay & Lesbian FilmFestival
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/04/photo-gallery-o.html


=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-DNC chief welcomes gays to their 'seat at the table'
Daughtry backs inclusion at NBJC convention
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17936


=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Letter to legislative leaders: Florida's CFO Criticizes Railroad Deal
Sink urges lawmakers to revise $641 mil. CSX track sale plan for commuterline and to reject company's liability demand
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080426/NEWS/804260426/1137/REPORTER

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

GLBT DIGEST April 25, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-TV Has Never Seen More Transgender Characters
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Although long known to the gay community,breakout star Candis Cayne became a household name this year with herrecurring role as the male-to-female transgender character Carmelita onABC's "Dirty Sexy Money."
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-telvision-transgender.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=GAY&st=nyt&oref=slogin

-Some young religious voters focus on social justice
CHICAGO (AP) -- Beau Underwood is putting his faith in politics. He's a22-year-old at the University of Chicago Divinity School, an active memberof the Disciples of Christ and -- in his spare time -- he's showingcandidates that the path to political righteousness doesn't always veerright.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-The-Young-and-Religious.html?scp=7&sq=GAY&st=nyt

-Gay Bishop Plans His Civil Union Rite
Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal prelate whose consecrationled conservatives to split from the church, said in an interview on Thursdaythat he and his partner of 20 years were planning a civil union ceremony tobe held in his home church in the diocese of New Hampshire in June.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/us/25bishop.html?scp=9&sq=GAY&st=nyt

-Faith of Our Fathers
Watching the polygamists in West Texas come into the sunlight of the 21stcentury has been jarring, making you feel like a voyeur of some weirdhistorical episode
http://egan.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/faith-of-our-fathers/index.html?ref=opinion


=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Court says Ill. student can wear anti-gay T-shirt at school
CHICAGO - A federal appeals court has ruled that a suburban Chicago studentshould be allowed to wear an anti-gay T-shirt at his high school -- adecision the teen's attorneys describe as a victory for First Amendmentrights.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/custom/fringe/chi-ap-il-anti-gayt-shirt,0,7486491.story


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-BENEDICT XVI: Pope's U.S. visit incomplete
The pastoral visit by Pope Benedict XVI was a missed opportunity. It wasadmirable that the pope talked with four men and one woman who had beenabused by priests.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/508916.html


=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Gay rights bill dies in Florida Senate
Deutch bill could re-emerge in 2009 legislative session
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-24/news/localnews/4608.cfm

-UK:Woman jailed for gay couple abuse
A mother has been jailed and her daughter given a community order afterbeing found guilty of harassing a gay couple in Kent.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/7365554.stm

-Blood agencies' ban on gay donors is outdated and unjustified
Giving blood is not a right. The overriding responsibility of blood collection and distribution agencies is not to ensure all Canadians are allowed to join in this altruistic act, but to ensure the safety of blood and blood products for recipients.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080424.wlpicard24/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home

-Gay Rights Group Plans to Announce Senate Endorsements
The nation's largest gay rights organization is planning to make anannouncement on Monday naming its endorsements for key U.S. Senate races. Atthe same time, the group plans to launch what it calls an "unprecedentednationwide campaign" to get out the vote this fall.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2008/4/24/gay-rights-group-plans-to-announce-senate-endorsements.html

-Students pledge silence to support hate crime victims
About 6,000 registered to participate in event
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-24/news/national/4612.cfm

-Looking for the first out
New baseball season revives hope that a gay player will come out
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-24/view/editorial/4616.cfm

-FRIEND & FOE
FRIENDS OF THE WEEK
Robert Rosenberg
Founder of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
FOE OF THE WEEK
Pope Benedict XVI
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-24/view/friendfoe/4617.cfm

-Branded as a felon for life
Harsh criminal laws make second chances rare in Fla.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-24/view/columns/4619.cfm


=
365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Some Young Religious Voters Steering Away From Anti-Gay Measures
(Chicago, Illinois) Beau Underwood is putting his faith in politics. He's a22-year-old at the University of Chicago Divinity School, an active memberof the Disciples of Christ and - in his spare time - he's showing candidatesthat the path to political righteousness doesn't always veer right.

-Record Number Of Schools Observe Day Of Silence
(New York City) Students from some 6,000 middle and high schools are takingpart today in the 12th annual National Day of Silence to bring attention toanti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender name-calling, bullying andharassment.

-5 Mos. In Prison For Terrorizing Gay Neighbors
(London) A British court has sentenced a woman to 150 days behind bars andher daughter to 24-months of supervised probation for a terror campaignagainst the gay couple who lived next door.

-Anglican Church Issues Warning Over Controversial South American Bishop
(Vancouver, British Columbia) A controversial Anglican leader from SouthAmerica arrived in Canada on Wednesday, over the objections of the AnglicanChurch of Canada.

-Never Too Late: Aging Lesbians Marry In Nursing Home
(Victoria, British Columbia) Ruth Pogson, 83, and Beth Aime, 79, have provedyou are never to old to marry.

-Singapore Fines Second Broadcaster For Showing Gay Couples
(Singapore) A Singapore television station has been fined for airing a showthat depicted a gay couple and their baby in a way that "promotes a gaylifestyle," the city-state's media regulator said Thursday.


=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Most Married LGBT Folks Believe Love is a Gift
For as many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender marriages and unions thatexist, there are at least as many explanations of spirituality's role intheir lives together. Irregardless of the fact that most LGBT couples'unions are not sanctioned by either state or most religious institutions, itappears that some of the rituals and traditions of a marriage ceremonyitself - shared with supportive friends and family - will suffice until lawscatch up with more accepting recognition. There is some irony, though, inthat the majority of couples interviewed clearly expressed an acknowledgmentof their love being a gift of spirituality.

-Neil Reveals all to Howard Stern
For over a year now, I've written about Howard Stern's positive impact onthe gay community, and his interview today with openly gay "How I Met YourMother" star Neil Patrick Harris was perhaps one of the best examples todate. It's probably the most interesting interview Harris will do in hislife. Harris spoke in-depth about his sexuality, but Stern wanted more --and Harris was more than game to reveal details.
http://www.gaytvblog.com/2008/04/neil-reveals-al.html

-Task Force Loses Foreman, Makes Big plans for Future
Last Tuesday, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force underwent asignificant change when Matt Foreman had his last day as the gay rightsorganization's executive director. Foreman has served in the position since2003. Deputy Executive Director Rea Carey, who will serve while the searchfor a new executive director continues, will temporarily replace him.


=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-The State of Israel has agreed for the first time to register an overseasadoption by a gay couple and to grant the child Israeli citizenship. Thelandmark case involves a Cambodia-born boy, now eight years old, who wasadopted in 2000 in the United States by two men who hold American andIsraeli citizenship. Following his adoption, the boy received Americancitizenship and was also converted to Judaism. The parents returned toIsrael shortly after the adoption, but their applications to the InteriorMinistry to recognize the adoption and grant their child citizenship wereunsuccessful. Since 2001, the child has lived in Israel on a temporaryresidence visa that is extended annually.

-The first test of whether or not Ohio's marriage ban amendment affectschild custody will be decided in a dispute between two former domesticpartners. The Tenth Ohio District Court of Appeals was asked on March 27 tooverturn a Franklin County ruling that the amendment has no effect oncustody agreements. Almost immediately after the amendment passed in 2004,Denise Marie Fairchild asked the Franklin County Common Pleas Court toinvalidate a nearly four-year-old parenting agreement with her formerpartner, Therese Marie Fairchild, now Therese Marie Leach. Denise is thebiological mother of a son, now 12, born of artificial insemination from ananonymous donor. The couple lived together for four years before he was bornin 1996. Their relationship ended in 2001, six months after the custodyagreement was entered.

-State Sen. Fred Smith says a proposed constitutional amendment that hesupported in the legislature is not "anti-gay marriage." In several posts,Dome has referred to a constitutional amendment supported by Smith, aRepublican gubernatorial candidate, as "banning gay marriage." But Smithsaid that's not accurate.He argues that the amendment would allow voters todecide whether to amend the constitution to define marriage as between oneman and one woman."There's a lot of relationships that that law would sayare not legal," he said. "Polygamy, bigamy -- just look at what's going ondown in Texas -- all that other stuff would be prohibited."

-With popping corks and tinkling glasses, with laughter and with tears, RuthPogson, 83, and Beth Aime, 79, exchanged simple, loving vows in Island Viewnursing home yesterday. The two retired Anglican priests, committed to eachother since 1995, wanted to make their relationship legal, said Pogson.
"What we're here for is about justice and it's about bringing a communityinto an inclusive community rather than being shut out all the time," Aimetold their guests. "We're here to hopefully bring this world somewhere wherewe're all equal. The Anglican Church of Canada, to whom they have devoteddecades of their lives, was not there to marry them or to bless them. Pogsonand Aime were married in a civil ceremony in front of a small group offamily and friends.

-Kitty Lambert is one of the most enthusiastic people you will ever meet.
Lambert and her partner of 14 years, Cheryle Rudd, are both grandmothers wholead the group Outspoken for Equality. This Tuesday, April 29, they aregoing to Albany to meet with state leaders about the issue of gay marriage.
Outspoken for Equality is working on the passage of the Marriage EqualityBill in New York, not only to recognize same-sex marriages from otherjurisdictions but also to allow same-sex couples to marry in the state andprovide them with the same rights and privileges afforded heterosexualcouples. The group emphasizes that marriage is a civil right and thatgovernments, not religious institutions, issue marriage licenses. Withmarriage comes 1,324 New York State rights, benefits, and protections thatare denied to LGBT families.

-They met by chance in Amsterdam one night 11 years ago. Their journey hastaken them through challenging times, when slurs and threats were hurled attwo men holding hands and, later, through the successful fight for same-sexmarriage. And, now, finally, matrimony. Tomorrow, Easton Town AdministratorDavid Colton will marry his longtime partner, Brian Khoo, an interiordesigner from Malaysia. It will be a black-tie event. The five Eastonselectmen will attend. So will state Senator Brian A. Joyce, a legislativesupporter of gay marriage who will deliver a speech on the subject.


=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Footballers launch anti-homophobia campaign in honour of Justin Fashanu
A campaign is being launched to help stamp out homophobia in Britishfootball. Justin is a campaign against homophobia in football that aims to,"vindicate the memory of Justin Fashanu, the world's first openly gayprofessional footballer."

-Clinton campaign accuses Brown of neglecting gay refugees
Gordon Brown has been condemned by Hillary Clinton's campaign team for theUK governments policy to deport LGBT people to countries where they facepersecution.


=
From Marc Paige
marcpaige@msn.com
Letter to the Editor

-On April 20th on ABC, John McCain said it was a "mistake" to solicitReverend John Hagee's endorsement, but he was "glad" to have it. I guessthis means he was against Hagee's endorsement before he was for it.
At that time he sought the endorsement, was Senator McCain aware thatPastor Hagee had called the Catholic Church "a false cult" and "the greatwhore"? Did John McCain know that Pastor Hagee also felt Hurricane Katrinawas a way for God to damn America, or at least New Orleans and the Louisianaand Mississippi Gulf Coast, because of a planned gay pride parade? InSeptember, 2006, over one year before endorsing Senator McCain, Hageestated on radio that, "I believe that the hurricane Katrina was in fact thejudgment of God against the city of New Orleans." Hagee has also impliedthat Katrina was God's damnation on America because Washington supported theevacuation of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, and that God willunleash terrorists on America for supporting a two-state solution inIsrael-Palestine.
During a recent radio interview on April 22nd, Pastor Hagee saidHurricane Katrina "may in time be called a blessing," and reiterated hisposition that gay people were responsible for a storm that left over 1000people dead, hundreds of thousands homeless, and destroyed a major Americancity.
In New Orleans on April 24th, Senator McCain again declined to renouncePastor Hagee's endorsement. If instead Pastor Hagee had said Jewish peoplehad caused the death and destruction to the Gulf region, would McCain havesought Hagee's endorsement? I don't think so. It is unacceptable for JohnMcCain to remain "very honored" and "glad" for the endorsement of a man whoclaims the gay community brought on the worst natural disaster in our nation's history, and who continues to justify his hate speech in the name ofreligion.

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS April 25, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-The Trouble With Not Being Earnest
Senator John McCain sells himself for the presidency as a champion ofcampaign finance reform, a sworn enemy of Congressional handouts and amaverick who is immune to the corrupting influence of big money. In twocampaigns, he has vowed not to dispense favors to contributors.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/opinion/25fri1.html?ref=opinion

-Self-Inflicted Confusion
After Barack Obama's defeat in Pennsylvania, David Axelrod, his campaignmanager, brushed it off: "Nothing has changed tonight in the basic physicsof this race."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/opinion/25krugman.html?ref=opinion

-In Democrats' Calculus, Race Returns
Robert Novak, writing in his Chicago Sun-Times column, thinks race is at theheart of the Democrats' "deepening dilemma."
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/in-democrats-calculus-race-returns/index.html?ref=opinion

-'American Idol' Meets 'Survivor'
Back in the heady, halcyon days of winter, the Democratic primary had takenon the characteristics of a high-stakes and more substantive version of"American Idol," in which a dwindling number of contestants performed theirbest material before a group of surrogate judges and a nationwide audience.
The eventual winner would receive not only the party's presidentialnomination, but an almost certain path to the White House over abaggage-laden Republican nominee. While there was great suspense over whichcompetitor would eventually claim the prize, the political version of thestardom that had been granted to Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard seemed acertainty for the victor.
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/american-idol-meets-survivor/index.html?ref=opinion

-McCain and His Shadow
While Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have spent the week moving theirbattle from Pennsylvania to Indiana and North Carolina, John McCain has beenfighting a different foe: the dark overhang that the Bush presidency castson his campaign.
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/mccain-and-his-shadow/index.html?ref=opinion

-After Earth Day
Now that Earth Day 2008 has come to a close, it's easy to be cynical. I won't even begin to list all the examples of crass commercialism/brandopportunism/greenwashing/totally missed-the-point-ism that transpired. Toomany easy targets, too few surprises. As one blogger on Treehugger.comappropriately quipped, "Earth Day is the new Christmas."
http://arieff.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/after-earth-day/index.html?ref=opinion

-Pakistan Asserts It Is Near a Deal With Militants
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - The Pakistani government is close to an agreement toend hostilities with the most militant tribes in its turbulent border area,whose main leader is accused of orchestrating most of the suicide bombingsof recent months and the assassination of former Prime Minister BenazirBhutto.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/world/asia/25pstan.html?hp

-Black Leader in the House Sharply Criticizes Bill Clinton
One of the nation's most influential African-American political leaderssharply criticized former President Bill Clinton on Thursday afternoon forwhat he called his "bizarre" conduct during the Democratic primary campaign.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/us/politics/25clinton.html

-Informal Style of Electronic Messages Is Showing Up in Schoolwork, StudyFinds
As e-mail messages, text messages and social network postings become nearlyubiquitous in the lives of teenagers, the informality of electroniccommunications is seeping into their schoolwork, a new study says.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/education/25writing.html


=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Obama's 'Distractions'?
Real change has never been easy. . . . The status quo in Washington willfight. They will fight harder than ever to divide us and distract us withads and attacks from now until November.
-- Barack Obama,
Pennsylvania primary night speech
With that, Obama identified the new public enemy: the "distractions" foistedupon a pliable electorate by the malevolent forces of the status quo, i.e.,those who might wish to see someone else become president next January.
"It's easy to get caught up in the distractions and the silliness and thetit for tat that consumes our politics" and "trivializes the profoundissues" that face our country, he warned sternly. These must be resisted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042402983.html

-The Race Goes On
And why not? Democrats are still learning about Hillary Clinton and Barack
Obama.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042303073.html

-Economy Showing Signs of Stability
Future Cloudy as New-Home Sales, Durables Slump.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042403458.html?hpid=moreheadlines

-Many states appear to be in recession
The finances of many states have deteriorated so badly that they appear tobe in a recession, regardless of whether that's true for the nation as awhole, a survey of all 50 state fiscal directors concludes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042500006.html?hpid=sec-nation

-Texas Court: State Can Take Sect Children to Foster Homes
SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Dozens of mothers from a polygamist retreat were busedaway from their children Thursday, their legal efforts to stay unitedrejected as Texas officials sort out their massive custody case.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042400699.html?hpid=sec-religion


=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Future of justices depends on election
Every four years, we're told that this is the most important election sincea caveman asked for a show of hands. So some skepticism seems warranted whenwe hear the same refrain this year.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-jonah21aprilsbapr25,0,6529818.story

-Rising cost of rice, flour pressuring restaurants
South Florida restaurant owners and bakers that use rice and flour sayrising costs may soon be served up to customers.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-flzrice0425sbapr25,0,1035784.story


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-IN MY OPINION: U.S. athletes won't win by being silent
http://www.miamiherald.com/418/story/509071.html

-WE THE PEOPLE: A hunger for national purpose by Leonard Pitts
Let's talk about us. Not as in you and me but, rather, as in common cause.
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/story/506201.html

-White House favors secrecy, privilege
OUR OPINION: TRANSPARENCY NEEDED AT 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/508906.html

-Boycotting Games makes no sense
OUR OPINION: OLYMPICS SHOULD NOT BE FORUM FOR POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/508907.html

-PRESIDENTIAL RACE: Get ready for the smear
Barack Obama believes his patriotism can't be challenged. Maybe he shouldtalk to Michael Dukakis, Al Gore and John Kerry.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/507488.html

-Eating out ain't cheap
With grocery prices spiking -- 2007 had the worst food inflation in 17years -- it became more important than ever to find out which was moreexpensive: eating at home or going to a restaurant.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/507486.html


=
Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Writing, Technology and Teens
Most teenagers spend a considerable amount of their life composing texts.
Still, a new Pew Internet & American Life survey finds, they don't regardmost of the material they create electronically as real writing. Doese-communication help -- or hurt -- students' writing skills? Read more

-Election '08
Campaign More Negative, Less Interesting
Barack Obama's 'bitter' comment registered widely, but just 29% of Americanssay they paid very close attention to news about the presidential campaignlast week, the lowest percentage recorded since December 2007. Read more

-Debatable Campaign Coverage
Last week, a major part of the media narrative about the 2008 campaigninvolved the media themselves -- specifically ABC's moderators for the April16 debate in Philadelphia. Read more

-The Evidence for Belief
In an interview, Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project and anevangelical Christian, argues that advances in science present "anopportunity for worship," rather than a catalyst for doubt. Read more

-How Different Are People Who Don't Respond to Pollsters?
Survey research firms face increasingly high non-completion rates. Analysisbased on extra efforts to reach non-responders finds few differences betweenthe responses of the easy- and hard-to-reach. Read more

-11% - Rating the Current Economy Good
Just 11% of the public rates the economy as excellent or good, down from 17%in early February, and 26% in January. Check back every weekday for anothernumber in the news. Read more


=
Inside Higher Education
http://www.insidehighered.com/

-Validation for RateMyProfessors.com?
You've heard the reasons why professors don't trust RateMyProfessors.com, the Web site to which students flock. Students who don't do the work have equal say with those who do. The best way to get good ratings is to be relatively easy on grades, good looking or both, and so forth. But what if the much derided Web site's rankings have a high correlation with markers that are more widely accepted as measures of faculty performance? Last year, a scholarly study found a high correlation between RateMyProfessors.com and a university's own system of student evaluations. Now, a new study is finding a high correlation between RateMyProfessors and a student evaluation system used nationally.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/04/25/rmp


=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Cheer Up, Democrats!
Even if the primary stretches on, a long-term tectonic shift in theelectorate means the party is in great shape for November.
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=75f776fe-3f70-4893-9a2e-e5a557d761ee

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####

FLORIDA DIGEST April 25, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Broward schools allow Day of Silence against bullying of gay students
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/sfl-flbsilence0425sbapr25,0,5306457.story

-Florida voters to decide whether to cut property taxes, hike sales tax
http://www.sun-sentinelF.com/sfl-flftax25sbapr25,0,1755465.story

-Tax portability forms languish in Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's
Office
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-flptaxform0425pnapr25,0,4619739.story

-Florida Senate launders lyrics of state song Swanee River
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flfsong0425pnapr25,0,4784483.story

-Portability calculator: Find out how your property taxes will be affected
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-edge-n-portabilitycalculator,0,1787141.flash

-Higher water rates a sign of the times, and the future
ISSUE: County water rates going up.
Palm Beach County water utility customers, get ready. Next month, your waterbill is going up 15 percent. Welcome to your new future.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editnbwaterratespnapr25,0,5449262.story


=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-TRANSPORTATION: 25 percent toll hike sought on turnpike
The state Senate is proposing to sharply hike tolls on Florida's Turnpike inJuly
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/508896.html

-Jailed ex-sheriff Jenne to testify from prison
From behind the walls of a federal penitentiary in rural Virginia where he'sserving time for corruption, former Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne will testifyunder oath Friday about how he used to run the Broward County Jail.
http://www.miamiherald.com/466/story/508145.html


=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival starts tonight
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/04/miami-gay-lesbi.html

-Sharon Gless to be a presenter Friday at Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/04/sharon-gless-to.html


=
Palm Beach Post
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Voucher amendment cleared to make November ballot
TALLAHASSEE - A constitutional amendment that could allow public dollars forprivate schools appears headed for the Nov. 4 ballot.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/04/24/0424trbc.html


=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Taking a bite out of the AIDS crisis
S. Florida restaurants participate in Dining Out for Life on May 1
More than 40 South Florida restaurants will serve up a portion of theirreceipts on Thursday, May 1, to help fight HIV/AIDS. Dining Out for Life isan annual event held in 46 cities to raise funds for local HIV/AIDS serviceorganizations.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-24/locallife/pulse/4614.cfm

-Gay Davie official running for county commission
Coletka's race against controversial Rodstrom is heating up
It's a bright Saturday afternoon and Davie City Commissioner Bryan Caletkais knocking on doors at Pine Island Ridge collecting signatures to qualifyfor Broward County Commissioner for District 7 in the Aug. 26 primary.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-24/news/localnews/4611.cfm


=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Don't mix science, religion
With newly passed science standards that require the teaching of evolution,Florida is finally on track to give its young people a solid educationalgrounding for careers in biology and medical science.
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article471982.ece

-Florida lawmakers consider a Christian license plate
This handout photo supplied by Craig Dobson from Faith in Teaching onThursday April 17, 2008, shows a proposed specialty license plate. TheFlorida legislature is considering a specialty license plate design thatwould include a cross, a stained glass window and the words "I Believe". Ifapproved it would be the first state to have a license plate featuring areligious symbol that it is not part of a college logo.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bk-christian-license-plate-042408,0,7816236.story

-Tax 'swap' will be on ballot
Plan ends main property tax
TALLAHASSEE -- A plan to jettison the main property tax for public schoolsand replace it -- in part, at least -- with more sales tax is headed for theballot after withstanding a lobbying blitz by business and trade groupsopposed to it.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Politics/Florida/floHEAD01POL042508.htm


=
From Florida Red and Blue
http://www.sayno2.com/
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-Win Us $1,000 - Don't Forget to Vote!
The eQuality Giving poll closes on April 30 - please click HERE to vote forFlorida Red and Blue on the far right hand box. It only takes a few secondsand the winner receives $1,000. Every dollar we get goes into fightingAmendment 2, and even though we're in Florida this is one place where yourvote really does count!

-Amendment 2 "Protects No One"
Amendment 2 "threatens not only gay people but all Floridians who have setup joint households instead of getting married.It would put governmentsquarely where it does not belong-regulating the personal relationshipbetween two consenting adults," writes George Griffin. We couldn't say itbetter ourselves.

-"Numerous government employers in Florida, including cities, counties,school districts, hospitals, and half of the Fortune 500 corporations havealready established domestic partnership arrangements to extend healthinsurance and other employee benefits to straight and gay couples withoutbeing married," Mr. Griffin continues. "My own daughter was able to add heruninsured fiancé to her policy under such an arrangement and many retirees -who risk losing pension benefits if they remarry - have entered partnershipagreements to maximize their benefit opportunities." Read the rest of GeorgeGriffin's op-ed HERE.

-Sign Up for HRC's Camp Equality
Florida Red and Blue/Say No 2 has partnered with the Human Rights Campaignfor Camp Equality, a two-and-a-half day training designed to teach keycampaign skills that will strengthen our impact on the 2008 election. Thereare two exciting training tracks depending upon your level of campaignknowledge: The Fundamentals of Working on a Campaign is designed forindividuals new to political campaigns, and the Advanced Campaign Track isaimed at seasoned volunteers or campaign professionals. We have two sessionson the books. The first is in Orlando and is scheduled for Friday, May 2through Sunday, May 4 - but hurry, because the deadline to sign up isFriday, April 25! The second session is set for Fort Lauderdale May 9-11.
To sign up, please visit www.hrc.org/campequality

-Say No 2 Website Updates
Have you visited our new website yet? www.SayNo2.com is a comprehensiveresource for fighting the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment. We'readding content daily, so please visit often! We've just added valuableinformation resources for seniors and a letter attorneys can 'sign' on-lineto express their concerns about how dangerous Amendment 2 is. We'll keepfighting for you to defeat the amendment. To help us, visit our website forways you can help including making a secure on-line donation, hosting yourown house party or printing campaign literature you can give to friends orco-workers.

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####