Search here for more LGBT News
November 30, 2007
Jodie Foster Fights Gay Teen Suicide
Jodie Foster might do LGBT kids more good if she stopped refusing to discuss her lesbianism and treated it as normal and natural. But in the absence of that, she has become the biggest booster of The Trevor Project, which runs a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline for "gay and questioning youth." It grew out of a short Oscar-winning 1994 film called "Trevor" about a gay kid who tries to off himself, which was produced by the late Randy Stone, producer of the film and a co-founder, with director Peggy Rajski and writer James Lecesne, of the project. See Jodie Foster Fights Gay Teen Suicide
UK grants an extra £17.6million in funding for Local Authorities to plan and care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo today announced an Grants have been given to Local Authorities for 18 years to enable the development of strategic plans for the commissioning and financing of social care for people living with HIV and AIDS. Working with the NHS and voluntary sector, these grants have helped Local Authorities to support individuals and their families. The existing grants are being increased over the next three years by £17.6m or 20%.
Dawn Primarolo said:
"I am delighted that we are able to offer this additional support, through Local Authorities, for people and families living with HIV and AIDS.
"With World AIDS Day on the 1st December this comes at a time when we are all reminded that although progress has been made in the past twenty six years, much remains to be done, and we are determined to play our part both here and worldwide.
"We have strengthened national HIV health promotion for groups most at risk in England by investing an extra £2 million over the last two years in the work done by the Terrence Higgins Trust and the African HIV Policy Network. Earlier this year we also published a Department of Health action plan on HIV-related stigma which included funding three new projects, working with HIV charities.
"This is in addition to the £130million we are already investing in modernising sexual health clinics and services throughout the country and the £1.7million we have already targeted at HIV health promotion for gay men and African communities.
"The additional £17.6m over three years that I am announcing today will build upon the good work done in local communities to support those with HIV and AIDS."
We know from the recent report from the Health Protection Agency that an estimated 52,083 people in Britain are diagnosed with HIV. Since 2001, around 5,000 additional patients have been seen for HIV-related care each year.
US Set to Deport Gay Iranian
Since November 7, a mild-mannered 40-year-old gay Iranian businessman has been jailed at the Frederick County, Maryland Detention Center; he is in limbo between the freedom he has known since he came to America at 17 and the antigay persecution, imprisonment, or worse that will be his fate if he is sent back to Iran.
Reporter gets circumcised to fight AIDS
A southern African radio correspondent has been receiving a flood of text messages and cell phone calls — some from offended listeners and readers.
All because Kennedy Gondwe chose to get circumcised to protect himself from AIDS, and took the British Broadcasting Corp.'s radio and Web audience through the procedure with him Friday.
A study published in the Lancet medical journal in February concluded that the findings of three major trials — in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda — show that circumcision can significantly reduce men's chances of contracting the virus that causes AIDS. U.N. health agencies followed up with an endorsement, but stressed that the procedure offers only partial protection and that abstinence, condom use, having few partners and delaying the first sexual experience are all among the steps that need to be encouraged.
Frank talk about AIDS and prevention methods, is still rare in Gondwe's Zambia, where HIV prevalence is 16 percent. That's what made Gondwe's public testimony Friday, the eve of World AIDS Day, even more striking.
More of Reporter gets circumcised to fight AIDS
Studies say circumcision significantly reduces men's chances of getting HIV
LUSAKA, Zambia
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights advocates hold Power Summit on Long Island
The New York Power Summit is a four-day gathering of more than 150 rights leaders and advocates this weekend. It is designed to build the grassroots political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. It is intended to train advocates and directly educate New Yorkers around the issues of marriage equality, workplace protections for transgender people and preventing harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Empire State Pride Agenda will offer training in advanced skills to LGBT leaders, advocates and allies from New York state. On Saturday, the advocates will take to the streets of Uniondale, Levittown and Plainview to canvas door to door and engage in one-on-one conversations with local residents about the rights of LGBT people.
Parents can't censor gay book at public library
The Lower Macungie Township Library board has declined to pull a storybook with a homosexual theme off the shelf despite complaints from one couple and 40 signatures from other residents.
Jeff and Eileen Issa demand that the library remove the book "King & King." The library board refused for a second time on Thursday.
Eileen Issa says she was reading the story to her 2½-year-old son when she came to the ending where the prince gets married - to a man. She says when she saw the illustration of the newlywed men kissing she "was sick."
Parents denied gay book pull at library
Board declines for the second time
Men's HIV/AIDS epidemic: It's back
The '80s slogan "SILENCE = DEATH" is regaining relevance as HIV /AIDS rates rise among a new generation of men who have sex with men.
The warning comes from three of the researchers who led the CDC's HIV/AIDS efforts in the first two decades of the AIDS epidemic. Lead study author Harold W. Jaffe, MD, was director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention and now heads the department of public health at England's Oxford University.
"'Silence equals death' may unfortunately be regaining relevance for some men who have sex with men," Jaffe and colleagues write in the Nov. 28 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
That's not to say HIV infection is still the death sentence it was in the mid-1980s. It isn't. And that may be part of the problem. HIV drugs can postpone AIDS for decades. This means the current generation has not had the personal experience of their older gay brethren, who saw HIV devastate their friends and lovers. Men's HIV/AIDS epidemic: It's back
CBS News
Judge rejects motion to dismiss transgender discrimination case
Judge rejects motion to dismiss transgender discrimination case
Library of Congress charged with gender bias against trans woman
Gay general makes waves at YouTube debate
Gay general makes waves at YouTube debate
Amid boos, Kerr calls for end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Help for gay people who want to adopt
lthough Massachusetts law does not discriminate against GLBT people seeking to adopt children or become foster parents, it can still be an uncomfortable process, says Director of LGBTQ Training at the Home for Little Wanderers Colby Berger.
The Home for Little Wanderers is a private, Massachusetts-based adoption center, that provides special services for GLBT people.
"It depends on what agency folks go through," Berger said. "In Massachusetts, single or coupled, GLBT people are legally allowed to adopt kids, but if I happen to deal with a social worker with a bias, there could be person-to-person variance, but systematically there is no discrimination."
Human Rights Campaign Honors 12,000 Servicemembers Discharged Under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign is proud to partner with the Servicemembers United (formerly Call to Duty), Log Cabin Republicans, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and Liberty Education Forum, to host a three-day tribute, “12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots,” on the National Mall to recognize the 12,000 men and women kicked-out of the military since the signing of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a law that prohibits honorable gay and lesbian Americans from serving their country openly and honestly. The series of events is set to begin on Friday, November 30, the 14th anniversary of DADT being signed into law, and continue through Sunday, December 2nd.
“Every year thousands of highly skilled gay, lesbian, bisexual servicemembers are discharged simply because of who they are,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “The vast majority of Americans, including the majority of servicemembers, support the right of gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers to serve openly and honestly. We must repeal this discriminatory policy and ensure that the U.S. Military can recruit and retain the best and the brightest troops regardless of their sexual orientation.”
One flag, 12,000 in all, will be placed on the Mall for every discharged service member. These flags will stand as a testament to the waste to our military, our security, and our country caused by this discriminatory law. In addition to recognizing the 12,000 servicemembers discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the event will also serve as a reminder of the hundreds of thousands unrecognized GLBTAmericans who paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives throughout our country’s history to defend freedom.
On Monday, the Human Rights Campaign started posting statements from the leading Democratic presidential candidates in response to the question: “If you are elected President, what concrete steps would you take to overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?’” One statement per day will be posted on the HRC Back Story blog until December 1 at www.hrcbackstory.org . The first statement was by former Sen. John Edwards. Statements from Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Bill Richardson will also be posted.
The Human Rights Campaign also released a video on the costs of DADT and its impact on national security. To view the video, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=U923PfDFE18 .
The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA), HR 1246, remedies this discriminatory and unworkable policy and replaces DADT with a policy of non-discrimination. The legislation was introduced in the 110th Congress this spring by Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA). Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) became the lead sponsor of MREA when Rep. Meehan retired. It currently has 137 cosponsors.
According to a recent Harris poll, 55 percent of Americans now support repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. A December 2006 Zogby poll of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan found that 73 percent of soldiers reported being “comfortable … in the presence of gays,” and only 37 percent oppose repealing the policy. Many military officials, including Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Clinton, now believe that gays should be allowed to serve openly.
The “12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots” series of events include:
- Event press conference:12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots
Friday, November 30 at 10 a.m.
National Mall, corner of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue
- Event opens to public: 12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots
Friday, November 30 at 10 a.m., through Sunday, December 2
National Mall, corner of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue
- “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Community Reception
Friday, November 30 at 6 p.m., light hors d’oeuvres, cash bar
Bar Helix, 1430 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
- “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Community Town Hall
Saturday, December 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., continental breakfast
HRC’s Equality Forum, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
- Army-Navy Game Football Party
Saturday, December 1 at 12 p.m.
Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U Street NW, Washington, D.C.
- Military Chaplains’ Prayer Service
Sunday, December 2 at 11 a.m.
National Mall, corner of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Canada Anglican hierarchy seeks Canterbury rescue
OTTAWA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The liberal hierarchy of the Anglican Church of Canada appealed to the archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the world's Anglicans, on Thursday to step in to resolve a battle with conservatives in Canada and Latin America over gay marriage.
Archbishop Fred Hiltz and fellow Canadian archbishops are angered that the orthodox Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of the Americas has started giving oversight to Canadian congregations that are unhappy with churches blessing homosexual marriages.
"This action breaks fellowship within the Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican Communion," the Canadian archbishops said in a statement.
They called on Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the 77 million Anglicans globally, "to make clear that such actions are not a valid expression of Anglicanism."
They appealed to him "to address the very serious issues raised by this intervention."
Two conservative Canadian bishops announced this month they were coming out of retirement to lead orthodox Anglicans in Canada under the authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables, head of the Argentine-based Southern Cone church.
Two congregations with roots in the Anglican Church of Canada joined them, and as many as 20 more are considering doing likewise.
At issue is the practice, for now principally in the western Canadian diocese of New Westminster, British Columbia, of blessing gay marriages, which are legal in Canada.
Canada Anglican hierarchy seeks Canterbury rescue
Reuters South Africa
The Great Divide
At 83, with a raspy voice and an East Coast, Episcopalian background, the Rev. Harvey Guthrie isn’t usually tagged as an advocate for gay equality in the Church.
But when the former priest and professor took the pulpit at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fillmore earlier this month, he was prepared to defy stereotypes and give a sermon unlike any he had given before.
Guthrie weighed in on the national controversy over ordaining gay bishops and blessing same-sex unions in the Episcopal Church.
“I’m 83 years old so I didn’t have anything to lose,” the reverend told the Reporter. “I didn’t have anything thrown at me, and several people came up to me after and said that it was helpful.”
Much of where parishioners come down on the issue depends on how they interpret the Bible, Guthrie said.
“If you interpret it literally, you’ve got to obey all kinds of funny laws and say things like homosexuality is absolutely proscribed.
“But Jesus didn’t interpret it that way,” Guthrie said. “He looked at the mainline thing in the Bible. And the mainline thing is inclusiveness. He included those who were excluded.”
Guthrie’s sermon comes on the heels of a shift in sexual ideology in American culture and churches. The inclusion earthquake has shaken the Episcopal Church — one of the oldest denominations in America and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion — to its foundation and threatened to split apart the 2 million church members.
In 2007, the great — gaping — divide in national and local Episcopal Churches is the gay divide.
The Great Divide
Ventura County Reporter
Gay, Christian and a parent
After coming out as a gay man eight years ago, Brett Webb-Mitchell left his wife, his Carrboro home, and his job to start a new and uncharted course at the age of 44.
But as he fashioned his new identity, there were two things he was unable and unwilling to part with: His two children and his faith.
Now he has written a book about both titled "On Being a Gay Parent: Making a Future Together." A former Duke Divinity School professor and an ordained Presbyterian minister, Webb-Mitchell said he found a dearth of books about being a gay parent and a Christian, so he decided to pen his own. He hopes it might give those walking the same path practical advice, comfort and support.
Part memoir and part advice manual, the book, published by Episcopal publishing house Seabury Books, broaches such issues as how to come out to children, what to call mommy or daddy's partner and how to handle teacher conferences. It also offers contextual explanations of Scripture passages condemning gay sex, as well as background on what family and marriage meant in the ancient Middle East.
The book, he said, was intended to "move forward the argument, 'We're parents out there, moms and dads, struggling to be good at this improvisational art called parenting.' "
Gay, Christian and a parent
News & Observer, NC
Russia's First Annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered ...
In Fall 2008, Russia's first ever lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered film festival is to take place in the city of Saint Petersburg. In a society where sexual diversity is not openly discussed and more commonly met with wide condemnation the organizers, Side by Side ("Bok o Bok"), aim to create a cultural space that will not only allow for the celebration of lesbian and gay lives but establish contact with society at large, fundamentally leading to broader understanding and acceptance of minority groups. Film and video submissions for the Side by Side film festival are now open.
Saint Petersburg, Russia (PRWEB) November 30, 2007 -- In Fall 2008, Russia will host Side by Side ("Bok o Bok"), its first international lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film festival. Taking place in Saint Petersburg, the festival will run from 2-5 October, 2008, with films and events at the historic Dom Kino House of Cinema, one of Europe's premier venues for quality world cinema.
The event, which is expected to draw visitors from over 30 countries as well as major international sponsors, will give film enthusiasts of all persuasions the opportunity to enjoy the very best in contemporary lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema. Over 4 days, Side by Side will showcase work from around the world including feature films, innovative independent films, documentaries, experimental and short films.
Said Manny de Guerre, Marketing Manager, "We aim to provide a rich and diverse programme that will not only be of interest to the lesbian and gay community but also to the general cinema-going audience in Saint Petersburg. We are very proud to be working with Dom Kino House of Cinema and hope that Side by Side will become a permanent fixture in Russia's cultural calendar." Although homosexuality is no longer a punishable criminal offence in Russia, homophobia at all levels of society is rife and discrimination against minority groups goes unchallenged on a daily basis. Many people, fearing a backlash, choose not to come out and, as a consequence, must lead secret or double lives.
"This is a landmark event for lesbian and gay culture in Russia," said Festival Organizer Irina Sergeeva, "We want to raise public awareness about lesbian and gay life and confront those very prejudices that permeate through our society. We hope that the Side by Side film festival will lead to a fruitful dialogue with the public at large, stimulating positive debate and in turn engendering greater understanding and broader acceptance of those who live a lifestyle considered 'different' from the preconceived norms."
The success of Side by Side will also serve as a litmus test, showing the extent to which Russia has moved towards a society where individuals are respected and human rights are valued and upheld.
Side by Side is currently accepting film and video submissions to be presented during the film festival. The festival will consider works with major characters who are lesbians, gay men, bisexual, intersex and/or transgendered people. To submit films for consideration, please visit http://www.bok-o-bok.ru/en/films/ for submission instructions.
Our Mission Statement:
Side by Side is an independent non-profit organisation that seeks to be one of Europe's largest LGBT film festivals. We aim to run an annual showcasing the best in contemporary lesbian and gay cinema from around the world at venues in Saint Petersburg. We want to forge a reputation as one of the world's premier LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) film events, where LGBT and other audiences are offered the chance to see the work of exciting new and established filmmakers. Committed, driven, energetic and passionate about our goals, we endeavor to create a cultural space in which members of the LGBT communities are not only able to question, reaffirm and extend their identities but additionally establish contact with society at large, generating dialogue in a positive atmosphere through the medium of film, facilitating understanding and fundamentally broader acceptance of minority groups. For more information, visit www.bok-o-bok.ru/en.
Queering Bob Dylan
DIRECTOR TODD HAYNES EXPLAINS WHY HIS NEW BIOPIC LEAVES OUT THE ROCK STAR'S SAME-SEX DESIRES
Macho Argentina warms to gay dollars and euros
BUENOS AIRES: Home to the sexy tango dance and swarthy meat-eaters, this South American capital has long been thought of as a bastion of macho attitudes. But a new hotel here is adding to the city's growing image as a bastion of gay-friendliness.
The Axel Hotel, a Spanish import, has come to symbolize an increasingly aggressive effort by Buenos Aires to court gay dollars and euros. Earlier this month the city swung its doors open to the Axel, Latin America's first luxury hotel built exclusively with gays in mind.
That Buenos Aires would be chosen for such a marketing experiment is a result of a marked change in the acceptance of gays in Argentine society over the past several years. The city of three million people has come a long way from the years of military dictatorship, when being openly gay could lead to jail time. Five years ago, Argentina's capital was the first major Latin American city to approve legalized same-sex unions, and this summer it was host to a gay football World Cup, a first in the region.
"There is so much more freedom these days," said Mauricio Urbides, a 28-year-old fashion designer, who sipped red wine with two male friends at the hotel recently. "You see gays on television here, in government. Just 15 years ago it was a completely different situation." The three friends were among a mixed crowd of gays and heterosexuals who laughed as Kyra and Sharon, two drag queens from Barcelona poked fun at the Argentine president-elect, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and sang a Marilyn Monroe-inspired "Happy Birthday" to a male guest near the hotel's outdoor pool.
In other parts of the world, such as San Francisco's Castro district, gays have struggled recently to maintain cultural relevance in the face of gentrification. In the Castro, America's largest gay neighborhood, San Francisco's most popular Halloween party was canceled last month, striking a blow to the neighborhood's identity. But Buenos Aires has become more accepting of gays despite having no traditional neighborhood of its own. The first gay bar here opened in 1983, just as the military dictatorship was being toppled. Then in 1992, President Carlos Menem signed a decree promising legal protection for homosexuals.
Macho Argentina warms to gay dollars and euros
International Herald Tribune, France
A New Push to Roll Back 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 — Marking the 14th anniversary of legislation that allowed gay men and lesbians to serve in the military but only if they kept their orientation secret, 28 retired generals and admirals plan to release a letter on Friday urging Congress to repeal the law.
“We respectfully urge Congress to repeal the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy,” the letter says. “Those of us signing this letter have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish.”
The retired officers offer data showing that 65,000 gay men and lesbians now serve in the American armed forces and that there are more than one million gay veterans.
“They have served our nation honorably,” the letter states.
The letter’s release comes as rallies are scheduled on the Mall by groups calling for a change in the law, which is known as “don’t ask, don’t tell” because it bars the military from investigating soldiers’ sexual orientation if they keep it to themselves.
Although the signers of the letter are high-ranking, none are of the stature of Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the policy was adopted and who now argues for its repeal. General Shalikashvili refocused attention on the issue earlier this year when he wrote that conversations with military personnel had prompted him to change his position.
The current generation of Americans entering the armed services have proved to him “that gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers,” the general wrote in an Op-Ed article published in The New York Times on Jan. 2.
Anglican Church of Canada Slams Schismatic 'Bishops'
A Pastoral Statement from the Primate and Metropolitans of the
Anglican Church of Canada
November 29, 2007 -- The following pastoral statement is released to
the Church by the Primate and the Metropolitan Archbishops of each of
the four ecclesiastical provinces.
A Pastoral Statement from the Primate and Metropolitans of the
Anglican Church of Canada
Greetings in the name of the One who was, who is, and who is to come
-- our Lord Jesus Christ
The Mission Statement of the Anglican Church of Canada opens with
these statements: "As a partner in the worldwide Anglican Communion
and in the universal Church, we proclaim and celebrate the gospel of
Jesus Christ in worship and in action. We value our heritage of
Biblical faith, reason, liturgy, tradition, bishops and synods and the
rich variety of our life in community."
It is fundamental to the values and mission of our Church that we
welcome and respect freedom of individual conscience and the
theological convictions of a diverse membership. Our General Synods
have consistently strived to honour every voice as the Church works
through contentious and difficult issues before it. This is
particularly true in the way the Church has endeavoured to address
matters of human sexuality including the blessing of same-sex unions.
The report of the Primate's Theological Commission commonly known as
the St. Michael Reporthas described this issue as matter of doctrine
but not core doctrine. General Synod concurred with this opinion last
June. The St. Michael Report also declared that the matter need not be
aCommunion-breaking issue.
It is in this context that we deplore recent actions on the part of
the Primate and General Synod of the Province of the Southern Cone to
extend its jurisdiction into Canada through the Essentials Network
Conference. This action breaks fellowship within the Anglican Church
of Canada and the Anglican Communion.
We affirm the statement unanimously agreed to by the Council of
General Synod which appeals to the Archbishop of Canterbury "to make
clear that such actions are not a valid expression of Anglicanism." We
too appeal to him in his capacity as one of the instruments of
communion and as chair of the Primates' Meeting to address the very
serious issues raised by this intervention.
The actions by the Primate of the Southern Cone are not necessary. Our
bishops have made adequate and appropriate provision for the pastoral
care and episcopal support of all members of the Anglican Church of
Canada, including those who find themselves in conscientious
disagreement with the view of their bishop and synod over the blessing
of same-sex unions. These provisions, contained in the document known
as Shared Episcopal Ministry, were adopted by the House of Bishops and
commended by the panel of reference appointed by the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
The actions by the Primate of the Southern Cone are also
inappropriate. They contravene ancient canons of the Church going as
far back as the 4th century, as well as statements of the Lambeth
Conference, the Windsor report and the Communiqué from the Primates'
Meeting earlier this year. Furthermore these actions violate Canon
XVII of the Anglican Church of Canada which states that "No Bishop
priest or deacon shall exercise ordained ministry in a diocese without
the license or temporary permission of the Diocesan Bishop."
Any ministry exercised in Canada by those received into the Province
of the Southern Cone after voluntarily relinquishing the exercise of
their ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada is inappropriate,
unwelcome and invalid. We are aware that some bishops have, or will be
making statements to that effect in their own dioceses.
In the meantime we rejoice in this season of Advent in which we once
again begin that great journey of tracing the steps of our Lord's most
holy life through the liturgy of a new year.
We rejoice in the gift of word and sacrament. We rejoice in the gift
of our baptism and in the great gift of the Eucharist. We rejoice in
the gift of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth and empowers
us to proclaim the gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ in word and action.
We respect the diversity of opinion in our Church over many issues. We
respect the manner in which we take counsel together and honour the
intention of all those who even in the midst of struggle desire to
remain within the fellowship of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Let us renew our trust in the One who holds us together in the embrace
of His love and peace.
We call all Anglicans to a renewed emphasis on mission and prayer for
faithful witness in the service of the gospel within our parishes and
across the world.
In him whose Advent sets us free.
The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Archbishop and Primate
The Most Rev. Terry Buckle, Archbishop and Metropolitan of British
Columbia and Yukon
The Most Rev. John Clarke, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Rupert's Land
The Most Rev. Caleb Lawrence, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Ontario
The Most Rev. Bruce Stavert, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Canada
---
Eastern promises - sex tourism in the Arab world?
AMMAN - At twilight, the labyrinthine paths of the ancient Roman theater in Amman begin to fill up. Men who have come alone stand in waiting postures, impatient, casting glances this way and that. Others congregate by the wall or on benches, not letting the patrolling police bother them. Occasionally a couple disappears into a clump of bushes or into one of the niches. Many tourists might be confused by the scene, but a gay tourist will get it immediately.
Most of the men who approach the tourists are selling sex for money, sometimes mediated by a pimp lurking in another corner of the theater. Relations with those who are not engaged in prostitution also sometimes have a character that makes it impossible to be oblivious to economic power relations. The tourist will invite them for drinks or dinner, for example, or will pay for the hotel room to which they will go, perhaps, at the end of the evening.
There are other places, too, for those seeking cross-border relations: Thakafa Street (thakafa means "culture" in Arabic) in the Shmeisani quarter is a cruising site for a higher-level crowd. Strolling on the well-lit street, amid the ubiquitous campaign posters for the parliamentary elections, are families with children, groups of students and also gay men (mostly young) who are trying to spot a new face in the city's small, stifling community. Eastern promises
Ha'aretz, Israel
Ga. Senate committee explores hate crimes legislation
Ga. Senate committee explores hate crimes legislation
Gay advocates say time has come for long-stalled bill
November 29, 2007
Oklahoma man charged in gay man's death
An alleged white supremacist has been charged with murdering a gay man in what officials say may have been part of a gang initiation.
Darrell Lynn Madden was charged on Wednesday with the October slaying of Steven Domer, 62. Madden also is charged with murder in the death of his friend, Bradley Qualls.
Authorities allege Madden, 37, and Qualls, 26, were connected to the white supremacist group United Aryan Brotherhood. According to an affidavit filed with the latest charge, Domer's death apparently was meant to be the violent act that earned a place in the gang for Qualls.
Domer, who friends said was gay, was last seen Oct. 26 near a car wash, according to court papers. A witness said Domer had been talking to two men who matched the description of Madden and Qualls.
Oklahoma man charged in gay man's death
Suspect was alleged white supremacist
Rhode Island assembly gets second gay lawmaker
WARWICK — Democrat Frank Ferri rolled to victory in yesterday’s special election for the District 22 House seat, defeating Republican Jonathan Wheeler and independent Carlo Pisaturo Jr. to win the seat formerly held by fellow Democrat Peter T. Ginaitt.
Ferri took 53 percent of the vote, 896 in total. Wheeler was second with 33 percent, and Pisaturo a distant third.
“The way I see it, I’ve been on a 2½-month job interview going door to door,” Ferri said last night. “I’m so glad the voters share the same values of community and inclusion and working families. We worked hard, I was committed and I put a lot of energy into this.”
For a special election —and an off-year one at that — the District 22 race garnered an unusual degree of statewide attention. Governor Carcieri, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and a host of General Assembly members made personal appearances on behalf of either Wheeler or Ferri.
Rhode Island assembly gets second gay lawmaker
Providence Journal
Jane Rule, 76: Lesbian author was role model
Novelist Jane Rule, whose life and work were a combined statement in support of social equality and personal generosity, died last night of liver cancer at her home on Galiano Island, B.C.
She was 76.
Rule was equally known for her fiction and for her status as a lesbian role model.
"She was the first Canadian woman writer to write about being gay as if it was part of the normal life," Toronto novelist Susan Swan said last night from her Toronto home.
"There was no self-consciousness about it. There didn't seem to be any need for her to wave a political flag. This female character as a lesbian – you picked that up by reading the story. You weren't reading the story to find out what it was like to be a lesbian."
Although Rule was American by birth and upbringing, Swan notes, "She had a quieter Canadian voice – and she had great authority."
Former poet laureate George Bowering taught her novels in university courses.
Jane Rule, 76: Lesbian author was role model
Toronto Star
Uruguay set to legalize gay civil unions
MONTEVIDEO – Uruguay will legalize civil unions for homosexuals and heterosexuals next month, making it the first Latin American nation to treat gay and straight couples alike, a lawmaker said Thursday.
Deputies in the early hours of Thursday passed legislation allowing gay and straight couples to form civil unions after living together for at least five years.
The Senate has already approved the measure.
“This recognition of the legal status of couples ... recognizes the legal status of homosexual couples, which gives it a completely new dimension,” said Edgardo Ortuno, a member of the center-left ruling party.
Before it can be applied, senators must consider the law again because some revisions were made to the document. Ortuno said he expects it to take effect by mid-December. Uruguay set to legalize gay civil unions
San Diego Union-Tribune
Somali gay bloggers receive death threats
After the website Somali Gay Community was launched earlier this month, the staff behind the site has received death threats. The news about the website, which major Somali media picked up from afrol News, caused a storm of debate that included threatening hate messages. But it also gave the new gay site very many hits and members, documenting needs in Somali society.
Muraad Kareem, one of the Somalis behind www.somaligaycommunity.org, was astonished by the row of events that followed the publishing of an article about the website by afrol News. "Major Somali news websites have picked it up the article that you .. published. People were outraged to see such article on 'Hiiraanonline' which is a major news website. People could not believe that a major Somali news website would publish such article. They have asked it to be removed and their messages were horrific and hateful," Muraad tells afrol News.
"One of the messages was saying that they will hunt us down beyond enemy lines," he continues. "I was ignoring these messages but when I started to worry when my name, address, telephone number and that of Andrew Prince was posted on Somaliland.com."
ACT Govt renews push for gay marriage
Don't Be Fooled: HIV Travel Regs Worse, Not Better
| Under current law, any foreign national who is HIV-positive cannot enter the U.S. On November 5, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed new regulations that claim to "streamline" the waiver application process for short-term visa applicants who are HIV-positive. Instead of streamlining the process, however, the new regulations will make it harder to get a waiver. These changes will further restrict the rights of HIV-positive individuals who enter the U.S.
|
| Sample Comments: you can paste these in or write your own
|
| How to submit comments online: |
UCLA study: Legalizing gay marriage would help Md.'s bottom line
BALTIMORE—Allowing gays and lesbians the right to tie the knot in Maryland would provide a modest benefit to the state's bottom line, a new UCLA study says.
The study, released today by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation at the UCLA School of Law, concluded that Maryland's budget would see a positive impact of 3.2 million dollars annually if the state allowed same-sex couples to marry.
The report found that the loss of revenue from transfer taxes and increased spending on state employee benefit programs would be outweighed by a reduction in spending on public benefit programs and sales tax revenue from weddings.
The Williams Institute has conducted similar surveys in eight other states; all have found an economic benefit from legalizing gay marriage.
Opponents of gay marriage in Maryland argue that legalizing same-sex unions would undermine traditional families and lead to homosexuality being taught in schools. The impact on the budget has rarely entered the debate
UCLA study: Legalizing gay marriage would help Md.'s bottom line
San Jose Mercury News, USA
Call by Gay Politician to Relax Restrictions on Condom Ads
Restrictions on condom advertising should be relaxed in order to combat rising levels of sexually transmitted disease, according to a senior Euro MP.
Labour’s Michael Cashman made the call for pre-watershed condom advertising as part of a campaign to mark World Aids day on Saturday.
The lifting of TV advertising restrictions of condoms across the EU has the support from the 219-strong Socialist Group in the European Parliament.
The current guidelines in the UK restrict condom adverts before 9.00pm on all channels except Channel 4, which can show adverts after 7.00pm. The organisations which oversee the guidelines are the Advertising Standards Authority and the Committee for Advertising Practices.
“In the late 1980s and early 1990s, fears about HIV led to young people exercising greater care and using condoms,” Mr. Cashman said this morning.
“But, unfortunately, as a nation we have appeared to have become complacent.”
“Amazingly there are people who still think that HIV is a disease that only affects groups such as homosexuals and drug users. Those who think this way are not just being ignorant; they are being reckless.
“HIV does not discriminate. Having unprotected sex is like playing Russian roulette but every chamber of the gun is loaded.”
“It is young people who are most at risk and they are the very people who need to be informed about using condoms. They need an environment where they can see, talk about and use condoms,” he added.
There has also been a worrying rise in reported cases of other sexual transmitted diseases. In 1997 there were just 301 reported cases of syphilis. That figure rose to an astonishing 3,702 last year. The number of reported cases last year for Chlamiydia was 113,000.
Mr. Cashman believes that allowing advertising before the watershed will help to remove some of the taboo that is still associated with condoms. The Family Planning Association (FPA) has also called for restrictions to be lifted and has described the current rules as having a “Victorian attitude”.
A review of condom advertising has also been recommended by the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV.
“If we really wish to take public health seriously we should do everything we can to promote the normalisation of condom use,” Mr. Cashaman continued.
“That is why I am using the occasion of World AIDS Day to call on the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Committee for Advertising Practices (CAP) to review the guidelines on condom advertising.”
Mr. Cashman, who was a founding director of Stonewal, is the current president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights
■ In an initiative to mark World AIDS Day, Socialist Euro MPs are calling for a cut in VAT on condoms and are urging condom manufacturers to reduce prices to levels closer to production costs. The United Kingdom government has already made the VAT reduction.
Siblings Blocked from 'Dis-inheriting' Domestic Partner of their Gay Brother Who Died from Cancer
In a potentially landmark case, San Francisco Attorney Drexel A. Bradshaw ( http://www.bradshawassociates.com/) has won a case on behalf of a Gay man whose rights to inherit under California's Domestic Partner Law had been challenged by the family of his deceased domestic partner. The deceased man's siblings had forced their brother to execute a new trust -- cutting out his partner of 14 years -- while the man was schizophrenic, on narcotics, and in the final stages of battling cancer. Bradshaw's successful litigation charged that the family had attempted to unlawfully overturn the man's will while he was in not in a mental state to do so.
"This case should be a warning to certain 'blood family members' that they cannot swoop in and take away what rightfully belongs to a Domestic Partner," said Bradshaw. "Our client had been together with this man for over 14 year and had cared for and accompanied the decedent to numerous surgeries and been by his side throughout his fight with cancer."
According to Bradshaw, California's landmark Domestic Partner legislation states that upon the death of a married person, one-half of the community property belongs to the surviving spouse and the other half belongs to the decedent. Bradshaw successfully argued that registered domestic partners have the same obligations and rights under law as are granted to and imposed upon spouses and that property acquired during a marriage is the community property of both spouses.
"The family of our client's dying partner used his compromised condition to try and overturn a lawfully executive will," Bradshaw continued, having argued that the man's psychiatric disorder, weakened state, and high doses of morphine show that decedent was of unsound mind and susceptible to undue influence at the time his siblings attempted to execute a new trust which, in effect, would have dis-inherited the man's domestic partner. "During his battle with cancer, the decedent's delusions caused him to believe that he had ended his relationship with our client, which was not true, and leave the entirety of his estate to his siblings."
AIDS Action Council Statement on World AIDS Day 2007: Leadership Needed for a National Strategy to Stop the AIDS Epidemic
The 2007 and 2008 theme of World AIDS Day is leadership. Nearly 27 years since it was first identified, the HIV/AIDS epidemic here in the United States is still characterized by needless mortality, inadequate access to care and treatment, persistent levels of new cases of HIV infection and stark racial disparities. While showing leadership and providing needed funding in the global response to AIDS, the United States is failing its own citizens in response to the epidemic at home. The report released earlier this week on the epidemic in our nation's capital, which showed that Washington, D.C. bears one of the highest burdens of HIV disease in the U.S., underscores the degree to which HIV/AIDS is still a critical domestic issue. The U.S. message for World AIDS Day 2007 is clear: leadership is urgently needed for a national AIDS strategy to end the epidemic.
Over 170 organizations and hundreds of individuals in the U.S. have signed a Call to Action asking all Presidential candidates to commit to developing and implementing a national AIDS strategy. Such a strategy must be designed to bring down HIV infection rates, increase access to life saving treatment and specifically address the devastating impact HIV/AIDS is having on African American, Hispanic and other communities of color, gay men of all races and other groups at elevated vulnerability. A national AIDS strategy must identify clear priorities and timelines for action, have clear lines for accountability, rely on evidence-based programming and involve multiple sectors of our society, including people living with HIV/AIDS. The next President, along with Congress, must demonstrate the political will and leadership needed to stop AIDS.
AIDS Action commends that Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson for committing to developing a national AIDS strategy if elected President. We call on all of the other Presidential candidates to use this World AIDS Day to show leadership and to commit to a national AIDS strategy.
AIDS Action also encourages other organizations and individuals to sign unto the Call to Action for a National AIDS Strategy, at http://www.nationalaidsstrategy.org/. We urge all Americans to use this World AIDS Day and the current election period to get involved to raise awareness of the reality of HIV/AIDS in America. The devastating impact of the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic deserves public attention and increased government action and leadership. The time has come to end this epidemic.
Website: http://www.aidsaction.org/
GOP Audience Boos Gay Veteran
Towards the end of tonight's debate, a retired Army Brigadier General named Keith Kerr asked the candidates -- via, of course, a YouTube video -- about their thoughts on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Kerr revealed that he is himself gay, but came out after his 43 years in the military. Anderson Cooper posed the question directly to Mitt Romney, who, in his past life as a candidate who ran to the left of Ted Kennedy on gay rights, once said that he "look[ed] forward" to the day when gays could serve openly in the military. As is his wont, Romney sputtered and fumbled the question.
Cooper asked Kerr -- who was in the audience -- if he got the answer he wanted, and, unsurprisingly, Kerr said no and began to explain why. As Jonathan Martin also reports, the audience then began to boo Kerr (there were a few, remote shushes). You would think that conservative journalists -- apoplectic at the "Betray Us" smear -- would be outraged at such foul treatment of our veterans, right?
See what really happened @ GOP Audience Boos Gay Veteran
New Republic (subscription), DC -
Reader's Choice: The Top 25 Gay TV Characters Revealed!
Television matters. Who and what we see on our screens each week tells us a great deal about who and what is relevant in society, who has power, and who doesn’t. That’s why AfterElton.com pays such close attention to the shows that have gay characters and gay storylines, analyzing what each new character and plot twist says about the acceptance of gay and bisexual men in today’s world.
Television programming as we know it today came into existence approximately seventy years ago. However, it took thirty-five years for the first semi-regularly recurring gay character to appear, on The Corner Bar, an 1972 ABC show that lasted for fifteen episodes and featured Vincent Schiavelli as Peter Panama. Over the next several years, gay characters popped up on other short-lived shows including Hot L Baltimore and The Nancy Walker Show, but it wasn’t until 1977 and Soap that gay and bisexual men were able to watch a gay character on a show that was an actual hit.
Despite this relatively short history, there was still quite an impressive roster of characters for our readers to choose from for our poll of the Top 25 Gay and Bisexual TV Characters. For the purposes of this poll, we focused only on gay and bisexual male characters (leaving the ladies to our colleagues over at AfterEllen.com) that were substantial roles as opposed to those that only appeared for an episode or two. Our list of potential candidates numbered nearly 150, ranging all the way back to Peter Panama and, most recently, Noah Mayer (Jake Silbermann), a character introduced on CBS’ As The World Turns little more than six months ago.
See results @ Reader's Choice: The Top 25 Gay TV Characters Revealed!
AfterElton.com -
Las Vegas marketing amenities to gay, lesbian travelers
LAS VEGAS - On a recent night at the Palms Resort and Casino here, young men in fitted shirts and an abundance of hair gel clamored to get into a Playboy Club party featuring female card dealers in bunny costumes. Steps away at another club, hundreds of shirtless men crowded a roaring dance floor at a party billed as a “non-stop weekend of sensual sizzle and decadence” for the gay community.
The juxtaposition of such divergent groups is likely to become more common as Las Vegas, after years of ignoring the gay and lesbian market, courts it with vigor. Major properties on the Las Vegas Strip are now offering lavish commitment ceremonies to same-sex couples (though same-sex marriage is illegal in Nevada), as well as special packages geared specifically toward gay and lesbian travelers. Some resorts have mandated sensitivity programs to teach employees how to make gay and lesbian travelers feel welcome.
Las Vegas marketing amenities to gay, lesbian travelers
Winston-Salem Journal, NC
'Gay Bashing' at Schools: Enough Is Enough, Says MEP
BRUSSELS, November 28, 2007 – West Midlands MEP Michael Cashman, the president of the European Parliament’s all-party ‘Intergroup’ on gay and lesbian rights, has reacted strongly to the report on Monday of an instance of homophobic bullying suffered by gay pupils at an independent school.
“Enough is enough,” he said in Brussels this morning.
“It is time for school headmasters to come together and take strong, unequivocal action to protect not just some but all of their students,” he insisted.
Michael Cashman MEP: “It is unacceptable in this day and age, when we have absolute equality under British law”.
Last year, the Intergroup, in partnership with ILGA-Europe and with the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organisation, tabled a written declaration on combating homophobic bullying in schools.
“Whilst the declaration itself wasn’t adopted, it was signed by over 200 MEPs highlighting that there is a concern even at European level about the levels of bullying LGBT students have to endure in our schools,” Mr. Cashman said.
“It is unacceptable in this day and age, when we have absolute equality under British law, that the reality is that LGBT students are left to foot the bill for the Tory’s ‘Section 28’ legacy.”
The school where the latest instance of homophobic bullying came from, reacted immediately on learning on Monday of the problem, reported in desperation to UK Gay News by a gay pupil.
“It is not acceptable,” the head master said, pledging to correct the matter.
A spokesperson at the Department for Children, Schools and Families said that the recent guidelines on homophobic bullying publish by the Government applied to state schools, though the independent sector were encouraged to use them.
After Monday’s report was published, UK Gay News has received a report alleging that a school in South West England expelled three gay pupils, who were subjected to homophobic bullying, just before an OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) inspection.
The head teacher is said to have “outed” the pupils to their parents, resulting in two of the teenagers being thrown out of home.
GAY PARENTS SHUT OUT BY HEALTH MINISTER
NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher has introduced new laws that will allow reproductive donors to block their genetic material from going to gay men and lesbians, single women and selected cultural backgrounds.
Commercial surrogacy will also be banned in the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill debated yesterday.
Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes joined Greens MLC John Kaye and the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby in calling the laws “unjustified discrimination” that would harm gay parenting options.
“The premise of this Bill is not to be discriminatory to any person,” a spokeswoman for Meagher said. But she confirmed the Anti-Discrimination Act would not protect hopeful gay parents from exclusion.
Meagher argued it wasn’t in a child’s best interest to “discover later in life that their genetic parent has a fundamental objection to their existence or the social and cultural circumstances in which they were raised.”
Kaye rejected that, saying we have to accept that sexuality, martial status, and different religions are just part of society.GAY PARENTS SHUT OUT BY HEALTH MINISTER
Sydney Star Observer, Australia
Stay On Course and Adopt the Charter, Gay Euro Group Tells Poland
The new Polish Government should maintain it’s post-campaign promise to have Poland become a full party to the Charter of Fundamental Rights alongside other EU Member States, the all-party Intergroup on gay and lesbian rights said this afternoon.
“I hope the new government will do everything in its power to convince the Polish parliament to reverse the opt-out of the Charter,” said Sophie in `t Veld (the Netherlands), a vice president of the Intergroup.
“Polish people care deeply about fundamental rights, as they have shown by handing a resounding defeat to the homophobic Kaczynski government.
“Now they should claim their rights as a binding legal instrument,” she said.
The Intergroup is worried by reports that the Polish Government of Donald Tusk may be having second thoughts on the matter of the Charter.
“I encourage the Government to keep on repairing the damage at the European level made by extremist political forces,” said Michael Cashman (UK), the Intergroup’s president.
“A commitment to fundamental rights is not one that should be taken lightly – I hope that the Government will give every impulse to create both the right political and legal environment to tackle discrimination not just in Poland but also throughout Europe.”
Raul Romeva (Spain), another vice president, pointed out that membership of the European Union was not just a question of money.
“It’s also about rights – of rights for all Europeans, and that includes Poles.
“It would be extremely dangerous if the Government excludes its population of having their rights fully respected,” he said.
“I hope that the new Polish Government will give us further reason to cheer their arrival as the new political leadership of Europe,” he continued.
“Ratifying the Charter would signal Poland’s readiness to take its place as one of the leaders of Europe. It is only right that Central and Eastern European States become shining beacons of hope and democracy to the rest of the world.
“Adopting the Charter would send all the right signals, not adopting it would be a disappointing reversal of fortune for the citizens of Poland,” he concluded.
Speaking earlier this week, Tomasz Szypula, secretary general of Campaign Against Homophobia in Warsaw expressed bitter disappointment that the coalition of the Civic Platform (PO) and Polish Peasants Party (PSL) was intending to formally reject the Charter next month.
“Our new government has shown its conservative face,” he said.
“In Poland there’s no anti-hate speech, anti-hate crime or anti-discriminatory laws which mention sexual orientation,” he pointed out.
And now, it seems, Poland will not be signing The Charter of Fundamental Rights which will give gay men and women throughout the European Union a greater degree of equality.
The Charter will also give transgender people rights – though, in European jurisprudence they are covered under “gender” rather than sexuality.
Member states of the European Union are scheduled to sign the Charter on December 13 in Lisbon.
Xbox Live Director of Programming responds to anti-gay Halo 3 slurs
Earlier this week AfterElton.com posted about a gay gamer with the name xxxGayBoyxxx who was ganged up on by a bunch of homophobic gamers. AfterElton.com even interviewed him here.
The good news is that Microsoft's Xbox Live Direcot of Programming, who goes by the handle Major Nelson, just posted his response to the issue on the blog Gaming Today.
Says Nelson:
I just watched (listened) to the video you posted on your site. Needless to say, it was disappointing to see how some Xbox LIVE members behave. As you know, that is not the type of behavior we support. With over 8-million members, it’s unfortunate that some members decide to act like this.
Jonathan, the blogger writing the post on Gaming Today, goes on to say that anyone who encounters this sort of behavior should immediately report it and file a complaint and that he'd love to play with the readers on the site. He finishes off by saying:
See Xbox Live Director of Programming responds to anti-gay Halo 3 slurs
AfterElton.com
Taxpayers Paid For Trip That Led To Gay Scandal
(Olympia, Washington) Washington state taxpayers are on the hook for the trip that former Rep. Richard Curtis took to Spokane where he became embroiled in a gay sex scandal.
Curtis was supposed to be in Spokane for a 3-day October planning retreat for Republican state lawmakers.
State records show that the Washington House of Representatives paid Curtis $800 to cover his mileage, hotel stay and daily expenses.
Last month Seattle police unsealed a search warrant showing Curtis went to police alleging he was being blackmailed by a man he had picked up and taken back to the hotel room for sex. (story)
Taxpayers Paid For Trip That Led To Gay Scandal
365Gay.com
Census finds 10-fold increase in gay TN couples
The number of same-sex unmarried couples in Tennessee has increased 10 times in the past 16 years, according to the Williams Institute.
Gary J. Gates, senior research fellow at the Williams Institute, released a study that documented the gay demographic growth, according to an e-mail.
According to the study, the increase has been most prominent in the midwest, mountain and Southern states, with 1,340 couples in 1990 to 15,105 couples in 2006 in the state of Tennessee.
"Clearly, more same-sex couples are willing to openly identify themselves as such on government surveys," Gates said in an e-mail.
"A combination of growing social acceptance and migration to the South and West means that same-sex couples are becoming increasingly visible in the most politically and socially conservative parts of the country," he wrote.
Dr. Nancy Badger, director of the counseling and career planning center and faculty advisor of Spectrum, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight alliance, said the increase is because society is becoming more tolerant. Census finds increase in gay couples
Echo Online (subscription), TN -
CABINET TO RELEASE POSITION ON GAY SHIPS SOON.
Minister of Tourism Clarice Modeste Curwen says Cabinet will soon release its position on the arrival of a number of gay ships scheduled to arrive on the island in December.
In the meantime the debate continues throughout the island as to whether the revenue to be derived from cruise ships bringing mainly gay people should take precedence over harboring gay cruise passengers.
Many Church leaders say they are strongly against the arrival of cruise ships with gays on board.
Meanwhile Pastor Gerard Keens Douglas of the Evangelical Church of Grenada is appealing for tolerance on the issue.
He says while the Bible teaches against the practice, it also encourages tolerance.
Bearing this in mind, he is calling on the government to engage in dialogue with the organizers ahead of the cruise.
He added that they are not accepting the behaviour but the issue must be carefully handled, so as not to come across as condemning anyone.
CABINET TO RELEASE POSITION ON GAY SHIPS SOON.
Grenada Broadcasting Network, Grenada -
Gay blackmailer is jailed for three years in Hong Kong
A gay blackmailer who threatened to tell a Hong Kong primary school teacher's employers about their one-night stand was Thursday beginning a three-year jail term. Alex Lo Man-nam, 21, extorted nearly 4,000 US dollars from his 34-year-old victim with threats to tell his school they had sex when Lo was under 21, the age for gay legal consent in Hong Kong.
He also got his victim to buy him presents including a pressure cooker, a computer, printer and clothes after targeting the teacher in June after their one-night stand.
Gay blackmailer is jailed for three years in Hong Kong
Earthtimes, UK
November 28, 2007
Openly Gay US Retired Army Gen. Asks What's Wrong With His Service
Hunter:" I believe in what Colin Powell said when he said that having openly homosexual people serving in the ranks would be bad for unit cohesion."
Huckabee: Uniform code of military justice is probably the best rule. Conduct could put at risk morale. "I think that's what our policy is what it is."
Romney: (FLIPS and FLOPS when Anderson quotes him saying previously that he looks forward to a time when gays and lesbians can serve openly.) Times have changed, Romney said. "I didn't think don't ask don't tell would work. When i heard about it I laughed. ... "
The questionner, in the audience tonight, rose to express his dissatisfaction with the candidates' answers. "I did not get an answer from the candidates. American men and women in the military are professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians. ... Don't ask, don't tell is destructive to our military policy. ..." He served for 42 years and didn't reveal he was gay until he retired.
Openly Gay US Retired Army Gen. Asks What's Wrong With His Service
National Journal, DC -
Sundance not very gay...again
The Sundance Film Festival just announced the line-up for their big annual blow-out which launches January 17th in Park City, Utah. Alas, there isn't a whole lot of gay again this year. I checked over the listings and the only two things that popped out at me included the film adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Mysteries of Pittsburgh and the documentary Derek about director Derek Jarman who died of AIDS in 1994. See Sundance not very gay...again
AfterElton.com -
'A living hell': A gay couple says they were forced to flee
Hate drove Terry and Ryan Hamilton out of Bothwell.
Not because of what they did, but because of who they are.
"Die fags," was spray painted on the couple's home at 341 Main St., sending a clear message they weren't welcome.
The Hamiltons fled the East Kent hamlet after nearly six months of being targets of blatant gay bashing and constant harassment.
They now live in Chatham.
"There was no way we could stay, we were suffering such tremendous hate crimes," Ryan Hamilton said.
"They were doing everything they could to make our lives a living hell."
The couple made more than 30 complaints to the Chatham-Kent Police Service after incidents including mischief, vandalism and threats.
"The phrase 'Die fags' was spray painted on their front door. That certainly would fall within the definition of a hate crime under the Criminal Code," said Police Chief Carl Herder.
'A living hell': A gay couple says they were forced to flee
London Free Press, Canada -
Conspiracy of silence the norm with gay pro athletes
AMHERST - A conspiracy of silence is preventing gay professional athletes from coming out of the closet because they remain fearful of the repercussions.
Speaking to members of the Amherst Rotary Club on Monday, University of Moncton professor Roger LeBlanc said that culture of fear is likely to continue until society accepts the fact that gay athletes exist in what's perceived as the last bastion of masculinity - professional sports.
"There's a conspiracy of silence in that there's an understanding that there are gay athletes in sport but no one talks about it," said LeBlanc, who conducted a study on gay rugby players in New Zealand nearly a decade ago.
While his study, called the First 15, focused on rugby, he said the results are applicable to Canada's national game with that same conspiracy of silence in the NHL and other professional sports like basketball and baseball.
"Have you ever heard of a professional gay hockey player during his career? We know there are many gay professional players that came out after their career at a very heavy expense," he said. Conspiracy of silence the norm with gay pro athletes
The Amherst Daily, Canada -
Grenada considering ban on gay cruises, reports say
Grenada is questioning whether to allow entry to ship passengers on all-gay cruises, news reports from the Caribbean island say.
"We have not taken a policy as to whether the ships should land in Grenada or not," Tourism Minister Clarice Modeste-Curwen recently told the Grenada Advocate.
"As a government, our policy is that we do not support it (homosexuality)," the minister also told the Grenada Broadcasting Network. "But are we going to put a barrier that says in any port of entry that if somebody is gay they should be debarred from coming to this country ...? This is my question. What does the Grenadian community want of us?"
The minister did not return calls , and nobody at the prime minister's office, Grenada's embassy in Ottawa or its consulate in Toronto would speak to the issue.
Grenada considering ban on gay cruises, reports say
Toronto Star, Canada
French 'drag queen' arrested over string of gay murders
French 'drag queen' arrested over string of gay murders
AFP -
MONTBELIARD, France (A
Maryland's Montgomery County trans bill signed into law
A measure to bar discrimination against transgender people in Montgomery County has been signed into law.
County Executive Isiah Leggett signed the bill Nov. 21, one week after council members voted unanimously to “prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, cable television service and taxicab service on the basis of gender identity.”
Scott Davenport, president of Equality Montgomery County, said the law represents an important step forward in the county. It becomes effective in February.
See Mont. Co. trans bill signed into law
Becomes effective in Feb.
Wal-Mart sets record with HRC ratings plunge
The world’s largest retailer set a record this month but not one its managers are likely to be proud of.
Wal-Mart has the ignominious distinction of having the biggest drop from one year to the next on Human Rights Campaign’s annual “Buying for Equality” guide, which ranks companies and identifies their most popular brands. The companies are rated on a scale of zero to 100 with 100 being perfect.
Wal-Mart saw its 2006 rating of 65 plummet to 40 this year. That’s low enough to land in HRC’s red zone (companies that rank zero to 45) which means gays and their supporters are encouraged to “strongly consider other options,” according to Daryl Herrschaft, HRC’s director of the Workplace Project which each year oversees the shopping guide, the Corporate Equality Index and the Best Places to Work guide. HRC doesn’t encourage boycotts.
Wal-Mart’s 2006 65 rating was enough to stay in the yellow HRC zone (46 to 70). Green is best (85 to 100) according to HRC’s criteria.
Wal-Mart’s drop resulted from losses in two key areas, Herrschaft said. This summer the company opted not to renew its membership in the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (it joined in 2006) resulting in a loss of 15 HRC points. Wal-Mart’s decision to end discussions of implementing domestic partner benefits lost it another 10 points. Wal-Mart sets record with HRC ratings plunge
Gay shoppers urged to avoid retailing behemoth
Romney claims to be the only of the "leading Republican candidates" to oppose gay marriage in direct mail piece
For the first time, Mitt Romney is using direct mail to contrast his record with his GOP rivals. In a piece that has just hit Iowa mailboxes, Romney points out that he's the only of the "leading Republican candidates" to support a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
The former governor pointedly ignores Mike Huckabee, who has emerged as his most serious challenger in the Hawkeye State and who supports the ban.
Romney, whose campaign has debated internally whether or not to draw such direct contrasts with paid media, is clearly trying to set himself apart as the only electable candidate who sides with the conservative GOP base on a key issue.
The piece, sent by a rival campaign, is the classic "side-by-side," used to paint a rival (or rivals) as being on the unpopular side of a policy. Unsaid, of course, is that Romney himself took a much more moderate approach to gay rights issues when he ran for the Senate in 1994 and governor in 2002.
Asked why they were going on the offensive, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said, "The governor’s support for a federal marriage amendment to protect traditional marriage is what sets him apart from other candidates. Romney drops first contrast mail piece
By JONATHAN MARTIN
The Politico
More testing pledged on HIV
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's administration pledged yesterday to triple the number of free condoms being distributed by the D.C. government within a year and to work with city hospitals to increase HIV testing in emergency rooms.
The plans were announced as the administration released a report that called HIV-AIDS a "modern epidemic" in the District and showed that the condition, once considered a gay disease, has spread to the general population.
See More testing pledged on HIV
The Washington Post
Gay parenting on the rise globally
MUMBAI: A family, traditionally, has meant man, woman and child. Not any more, as children raised by gay and lesbian couples are on the rise internationally.
As per one rough estimate, between one and six million children in the United States are raised by same-sex couples.
Laws differ from country to country and even state to state. In the US, Florida is the only state that bans anyone who is a "homosexual" from adopting a child. Utah does that indirectly by restraining unmarried couples from adopting. Washington DC and 11 states, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, New Jersey and Vermont explicitly state that sexual orientation cannot prevent gays and lesbians from adopting.
According to activists, some of the first same-sex adoptions in the 1980s were by lesbian couples when assisted artificial reproduction techniques helped women conceive.
By the 1990s, even gay couples started adopting a child or taking on the responsibility of a foster parent. The 2000 US Census reported that 34% of female same-sex households and 22% of male same-sex families include a child below the age of 18.
While the gay rights group Lambda Legal Defense Fund estimates 6 million to 10 million gay parents are caring for 6 million to 14 million children, a more conservative report in March 2007 by the Urban Institute and the Williams Institute at University of California at Los Angeles School of Law says that 65,000 adopted children are being raised by same-sex parents in the United States.
Across Europe, in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Sweden same-sex couples have been given the right to adopt a child. Australia, Canada, South Africa and Israel are some of the other countries to allow it.
While fundamentalists' groups have been opposed to allowing same-sex couples from adopting and caring for children, research since 1984 has supported such adoptions.
The medical fraternity in the US has also been forthcoming with its support for lesbian and gay couples. The American Psychological Association in its Resolution on Sexual Orientation, Parents, and Children in July 2004, said, "There is no scientific evidence that parenting effectiveness is related to parental sexual orientation... lesbian and gay parents are as likely as heterosexual parents to provide supportive and healthy environments for their children."
A study of 100 heterosexual couples and 100 lesbian couples published by the University of Amsterdam in mid-2007 revealed that children raised by lesbian couples do not differ in well-being or child adjustment compared with their counterparts in heterosexual-parent families.
This found resonance in about 15 studies on more than 500 children adopted by same-sex couples in the US found no differences in intelligence, type or prevalence of psychiatric disorders, self-esteem, well-being, peer relationships See Gay parenting on the rise globally
Times of India, India
The Matthew Shepard Act is at risk!
HRC has some alarming news. The Matthew Shepard Act – whose passage in the Senate and House required months of effort – is now in serious jeopardy of not making it to the President's desk.
The hate crimes legislation we've fought for has reached its final step before being sent to President Bush, but some lawmakers are working to derail it. Right now there is a very real danger that the Matthew Shepard Act won't even make it to the President for his signature or veto. If that happens, we could lose months or years of progress.
We likely have less than a week to act.
Tell your lawmakers the Matthew Shepard Act must not be abandoned by the Conference Committee next week. How can a hate crimes victory be so close and yet still so much in jeopardy?
Here's what's happening: Senate leadership employed a commonplace strategy with this bill. They calculated that the only chance of the Matthew Shepard Act surviving Bush's veto pen was if it were attached to a "must-pass" Department of Defense bill. But now that House and Senate are reconciling their versions of the DoD bill, it is under attack from anti-GLBT conservatives against hate crimes legislation, as well as progressive, pro-equality lawmakers who oppose some of the bill's provisions for the war in Iraq.
We cannot let the Matthew Shepard Act be abandoned when we have come so close to getting it to the White House! We only have a matter of days before Congress is back in session and the final decision is made. This issue is especially timely right now. Last week, the FBI reported that hate crimes rose nearly 8% last year.
You know how hard we've worked to pass the Matthew Shepard Act. Since April, hundreds of thousands of HRC supporters like you have bombarded Congress with letters and phone calls. You've enlisted friends in the fight, written to local papers, passed out postcards at events. You've given time and you've given financial support.
Don't back down now – not if you care about the safety of GLBT Americans.
Ask your Senators and Representative to make sure the Department of Defense bill passes with the Matthew Shepard Act included.
Thank you, again, for your ongoing commitment to equality and justice.
Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
President
'Christian' Bigots Seek Right To Bask LGBT Kids in California Schools
A Christian group based in Southern California sued the state Tuesday to overturn a law that prohibits discrimination against gays in schools.
Murrieta-based Advocates for Faith and Freedom filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Diego. It was joined by the Northern California chapter of Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based Christian legal group.
The groups filed suit on behalf of several teachers and a student who argue that the law, which was passed this year, is unconstitutionally vague and violates student privacy by changing the definition of gender in California's education code.
The lawsuit says that school administrators will be forced to read the minds of students, teachers and employees "to determine the individual's self-defined sexual identity so as not to inadvertently discriminate against an individual based upon their self-defined sex."
But the bill's author, state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, said the legislation did not change the state's discrimination laws. Rather, she said, it clarified existing education law that already prevented discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The 1999 law offered protection to students and school employees through California's hate crimes law, but school administrators wanted the education code to be more specific, said Kuehl, a Santa Monica Democrat who is openly gay.
"There's no change in the law; it was always the same. All of these truly silly claims that they make about what could happen could have been happening over the last eight years and never did," she said. "I think they know they don't have a case. I think it's purely a fundraising mechanism for them."
Kuehl was referring to a campaign by the law's opponents, who are collecting signatures to put a referendum on the bill before voters during June's primary election.
That drive already has stopped the law from taking effect Jan. 11.
Opponents say the law promotes homosexual, bisexual and transgender lifestyles to children.
See Group sues to end prohibition of gay discrimination
Advocates for Faith and Freedom says law violates student privacy
25 years after AIDS exploded, cases among gay men on the rise
TORONTO - A quarter-century after AIDS burst on the world's radar as it began ravaging gay male populations in North America, public health authorities in a number of developed countries are seeing a disturbing trend.
Rates of HIV infections among men who have sex with men are on the rise, reversing years of declining rates in that community.
As World AIDS Day approaches, several leading public health authorities raised the politically touchy topic in a commentary published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, asking why infection rates among this group of individuals are rising and what can be done to stem the trend.
"The tragedy of the epidemic for an earlier generation of MSM must not be repeated," they argued, using the public health community's shorthand - MSM - for men who have sex with men.
The authors are Dr. Harold Jaffe, director of the department of public health at Oxford University, Dr. Kevin de Cock, head of HIV-AIDS at the World Health Organization and Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, chief consultant to the public health strategic health care group of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The commentary looks only at trends in western countries, where men who have sex with men have always made up the lion's share of people living with HIV-AIDS.
They noted there was a 13-per-cent increase in American MSM living with HIV-AIDS between 2001 and 2005. A 10-fold increase in syphilis cases among MSM in the United States over the same period is further evidence of an increased frequency in unprotected sex, the authors said.
HIV-AIDS rates among men who have sex with men are also in the increase in Canada.
See 25 years after AIDS exploded, cases among gay men on the rise
The Canadian Press
Seattle Forum focuses on anti-gay attacks
William Forwalt went to the community meeting Tuesday night to see what was going to be done about a recent spate of anti-gay attacks around Seattle, particularly in the city's traditionally gay Capitol Hill neighborhood.
"From what I've read and heard, I don't feel safe anymore," Forwalt said at a Broadway Performance Hall forum organized by Capitol Hill businesses as well as the LGBT Community Center and the Seattle Commission on Sexual Minorities.
He and about 200 others left with no clear answers
Seattle Police Capt. Paul McDonaugh, head of the East Precinct that covers Capitol Hill, said the eight anti-gay incidents -- including six on Capitol Hill -- since June are being taken seriously.
He said additional officers have been assigned to patrol the areas around Pike and Pine streets and along Broadway in early-morning hours. He urged gays and lesbians to call 911 when they are harassed.
Forum focuses on anti-gay attacks
Seattle Post Intelligencer -
Two transgender members quit HRC
Two transgender members of the Human Rights Campaign quit Tuesday, saying the group's support of an employment nondiscrimination bill that excluded transgender workers put them "in an untenable position."
Jamison Green and Donna Rose's resignations from the Human Rights Campaign's business council are effective immediately, according to a joint letter.
"Considering recent broken promises, the lack of credibility that HRC has with the transgender community at large, and HRC's apparent lack of commitment to healing the breach it has caused, we find it impossible to maintain an effective working relationship with the organization," they said.
The House, with support from the Human Rights Campaign, earlier this month passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The measure would make it illegal for employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee based on sexual orientation.
Two transgender members quit HRC
Rift is over trans-exclusive ENDA
New England changing with times
With New Hampshire's civil unions law slated to take effect within weeks, the University of New Hampshire is struggling to address how the statute will impact the benefits it currently offers to the partners of its gay and lesbian employees. The state has announced it will no longer offer domestic partner benefits, but local activists contend they remain necessary because of health care, adoption and other concerns.
"Our position is that you should not end DP benefits because not everyone is going to enter into civil unions," New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Executive Director Mo Baxley told Gay.com in a recent interview from her office in Concord, New Hampshire. "Those are very legitimate issues."
More of New England changing with times
Gay.com UK, UK -
Gay pride flag filched at Dixie State
Gay pride flag filched at Dixie State
Salt Lake Tribune, United States They had hung the rainbow-colored banner - a symbol of gay unity - outside the Gardner Center on Nov. 19 to welcome state Sen. Scott mccoy, one of Utah's openly gay legislators, to the St. George campus. But the flag - resembling Old Glory but sporting ...
Gay Officer Testifies in Lawsuit Against LAPD
One of the first officers of the Los Angeles Police Department to come out of the closet testified in court Monday that he hoped taking legal action against the LAPD would help change attitudes there toward gays, according to Southern California’s City News Service.
Mitchell Grobeson, 48, was suspended for appearing in uniform at a gay pride parade in 1994, which he argued violated the settlement terms of a previous suit, which he filed against the LAPD in 1988. Among the resolutions then was an end to discriminatory policies toward gay employees and applicants. The case relating to the 1994 incident finally went to trial earlier this month. See Gay Officer Testifies in Lawsuit Against LAPD
Surprise in Store in Giuliani Files?
To many unfamiliar with Rudy Giuliani's record as New York's mayor, "The Giuliani Files" might be something akin to "The X-Files."
"The truth is out there," Giuliani's critics are saying.
Tonight the Empire State Pride Agenda, the influential gay rights organization in New York, unveiled "The Giuliani Files" on its Web site. It's a thorough examination -- with new videos and documents -- highlighting Guiliani's record on gay rights as New York's mayor from 1994 to 2001. Alan Van Capelle, head of the non-partisan group, charges that Giuliani has been running away from his pro-gay rights record as he courts Republican primary voters. But most media reports, Van Capelle added, has continually labeled Giuliani, who's leading the GOP field in national polls, as pro-gay rights.
As New York mayor, he was for a state and federal hate crimes bill, Van Capelle said. One of the documents that Pride Agenda has on its site is a press release from Giuliani's office dated March 30, 2000 and quotes Giuliani as saying: "Every hate crime is a crime against Our city, since it strikes at the diersity upon which New York thrives."
But last spring, Bill Simon, one of Giuliani's advisers, told the Christian Broadcasting Network that Giuliani is agaist federal hate crimes legislation.
In one of YouTube clips on Pride Agenda's site, Giuliani is seen at the group's fall dinner in 2001, less than a month after the Sept. 11 attacks. The former mayor, who was teased for dressing in drag, spoke warmly about Mark Bingham, the 31-year-old gay man who died in the plane in Pennsylvania, and congratulated the Pride agenda for its work on gay rights.
Another YouTube video shows the ceremony at New York's munucipal building in 1998 when Giuliani, surrounded by the city's gay activists, signed a sweeping domestic partnership law. The bill, Giuliani said, will "help to move society more in the direction of equal treatment for everyone. As mayor, Giuliani equated domestic partnership rights to rights for married people, Van Capelle said. Giuliani was once in support of civil unions for gay couples, Van Capelle added. But in a statement to the New York Sun in April, following the passage of civil unions in New Hamsphire's State Senate, Giuliani said he's against anything that is "the equivalent of marriage."
"The Giuliani Files" is not the first to attack -- or highlight -- Hizzoner's New York record.
More of Surprise in Store in Giuliani Files?
Washington Post, United States
Lesbian, Gay History Month 2008 Launched in UK
LONDON, November 27, 2007 – The Main Hall of the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand was packed on Monday night as LGBT History Month 2008 enjoyed its highly successful Pre-Launch.
Hosted by the London Criminal Justice Board, the London Crown Prosecution Service and Channel 4, the event attracted almost 400 people, all keen to hear the speakers – and to work towards LGBT History Month 2008.
LGBT History Month has always been fully supported by the criminal justice system with the Crown Prosecution Service sponsoring us from the beginning, the organizers said.
“This was a superb event,” commented Paul Patrick, co-chair of LGBT History Month. “To think that all this has been accomplished in only three years of existence.
“We are very proud of our relationship with the criminal justice system and all they have achieved and we look forward to the day when education, that should be at the heart of all this work, catch up.”
Two government ministers attended the event: Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General, and Barbara Follett MP from the Equalities Unit of the Department of Work and Pensions. Also attending was Dru Sharpling, the Chief Prosecutor for London, welcomed people to the event on behalf of the London Criminal Justice Board and talked of the amazing strides that have been made by the criminal justice system in supporting LGBT equality.
All three emphasized that there was a lot of work to do in the equalities arena and they praised the LGBT communities for all they have done so far.
Other speakers were Richard Kirker from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, Prof Stephen Whittle, a campaigner for transgender issues of many year’s standing, Rikki Beadle Blair, playwright, director and performer and Elly Barnes, a teacher who has inspired her school to celebrate LGBT History Month.
Past ‘Pre-Launches’ have also attracted large and enthusiastic numbers. The first took place at the Tate Modern, hosted by Southwark Council, then the Metropolitan Police and the Metropolitan Police Authority hosted the second at their Empress Building, with the TUC hosting the third at Congress House.
“But this year’s surpassed them all,” said Sue Sander, co-chair of both LGBT History Month and Schools OUT.
■ LGBT History Month is held in the UK each year during February. Click HERE for the events pages index.
Loony time in Claifornia: Two 'Christian' churches urge faithful to keeping kids out of school, protesting code to prohibit schools from discriminating against LGBT students
At least two local churches are encouraging parents to keep their children home from school today and Thursday in objection to new antidiscrimination laws that protesters say they believe will lead to homosexual indoctrination in the classroom.
Last month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approved the bills -- Senate Bill 777 written by Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, and Assembly Bill 394 by Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys. Both will take effect in January.
The Senate bill amended the state education code to prohibit schools from discriminating against students based on their gender or sexual orientation, among numerous other provisions. The Assembly bill required the state Department of Education to monitor adherence to antidiscrimination requirements.
| |
Temecula Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Melanie Norton said fliers promoting the boycott have surfaced at Chaparral High and Temecula Elementary schools in the last week.
Spokeswomen for both the governor and Kuehl said the language of the bills only prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and does not encourage teaching about alternative lifestyles.
"That's errant nonsense," Kuehl press deputy Robin Podolsky said about the concern that the new law would promote homosexuality.
Pastors for Mountain View Community Church and New Wine Ministry in Temecula, however, said they believe the new laws will in essence open the door to promoting a homosexual agenda in schools.
"It's not about the people, homosexuals. It's about the indoctrination that will go forward," said Vincent Xavier, pastor of New Wine. "We're terrified for the kids."
Gay rights bills prompt boycott push
North County Times, CA -
Opinion poll shows 77 percent against gay marriage
Opinion poll shows 77 percent against gay marriage
GenerationQ, Australia - CNN poll has revealed that seventy-seven percent of Florida voters do not want same-sex marriages implemented. The likelihood of the legality of same-sex marriage appears to be slim following poll results ...
NYC Gay Men's Chorus Launches Season at Carnegie Hall Dec. 11
The New York City Gay Men's Chorus (NYCGMC) kicks off its 28th season at Carnegie Hall with a holiday program led by its new director, Charles Beale, on December 11 at 8 p.m.
The concert features Tony Award-nominee Kelli O'Hara (The Pajama Game, The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific) and bass-baritone Robert Osborne. The pair will be joined by the Children's Choir of the Third Street Music School Settlement, the oldest community music school in the U.S., located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
"One of the pioneers of the international gay choral movement, NYCGMC has always maintained a reputation for excellence in musicality, education and leadership for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered choruses around the world," said Beale, calling his new position a "dream come true.
NYC Gay Men’s Chorus Launches Season at Carnegie Hall Dec. 11
PlaybillArts, NY
The Big Question: Why are sexually transmitted infections rising, and what can the Government do?
Why are we asking this now?
We are in the grip of an epidemic of sexual infections and all attempts to curb it have failed. The overall toll of sex diseases has been rising since the 1990s and is up 63 per cent in a decade. New cases of syphilis, herpes, genital warts and chlamydia are at record levels and HIV and gonorrhoea are close to their record. There were 621,300 diagnoses of sex diseases last year, up 2.4 per cent on 2005, of which 376,508 were new infections. Today the Government's Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV calls for urgent action to tackle the epidemic. Among 27 recommendations are national performance indicators for clinics, and the removal of restrictions on condom advertising.
What is driving this sex-disease epidemic?
In one word, the answer is complacency. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, fears about HIV led sexually active young people to exercise greater care over whom they went to bed with, what they did with them once there, and to use condoms. Since then, the success of antiretroviral drugs against HIV has led to the perception that it is a treatable disease that has lost its sting, like other sexually transmitted infections. Young people are bombarded with messages encouraging them to have sex and binge drinking is endemic. The combination may explain why Britain has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe. In the last decade, a more relaxed attitude to casual sex, an increase in risky behaviour, and a perception that sexual infections are trivial have all contributed to the rise in the number of sex disease cases.
Which diseases have seen the biggest rises?
Syphilis, which fell sharply during the 1980s, coinciding with the Aids awareness campaigns, has made an astonishing comeback, rising from 301 cases in 1997 to 3,702 cases in 2006. The disease is commonest in gay men and is concentrated in the cities. Herpes has also risen rapidly in recent years, especially among teenage girls. Genital herpes is caused by a virus and is incurable. The virus remains in the body for life and sufferers experience repeated recurrences which can be severe. The one encouraging trend has been in gonorrhoea, which peaked in 2003 at 25,000 cases and has since declined to 19,000 cases last year. The fall has been confined to heterosexual men and women – among gay men the disease has continued to rise.
What about HIV?
The story here is complicated because most people infected with HIV contracted the infection abroad or from a partner who was infected abroad. As a result, migration patterns, especially from sub-Saharan Africa, have a big impact. Overall, new infections with HIV fell for the first time last year, from 7,900 cases in 2005 to an estimated 7,800 in 2006, the first decline since the global epidemic began 25 years ago. New infections among heterosexuals, three-fifths of whom were infected outside the UK, have been falling since 2003, and the reduction in migration from Zimbabwe in particular is thought to be a key reason. Among gay men, the group at highest risk, the infection rate has increased by 20 per cent in the last five years and is continuing to rise. Heterosexual infections contracted in the UK have also risen. Among the most worrying statistics is that a third of those infected with HIV do not know that they are – and are therefore at greater risk of passing the virus on.
Which is the commonest sexually transmitted disease?
Chlamydia, which accounts for 30 per cent of all new cases of sex diseases. It is dangerous because it is often symptomless and can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women which may lead to infertility. But it is easy to treat with a single dose of antibiotics. There were 113,000 cases in 2006, a 4 per cent increase on the previous year. One in ten young adults screened in 2006 under the national chlamydia screening programme, which is being phased in, tested positive.
Has the Government done anything to combat the epidemic?
Yes. It launched a £300 million sexual health campaign in 2004, the biggest for 20 years, to modernise STI clinics and run an awareness campaign. Last week, the Health Protection Agency reported that 80 per cent of clinics were now seeing and treating patients within 48 hours – yet the number of new infections has continued to soar.
Which groups are at greatest risk?
Young people, unsurprisingly, as they are the most sexually active and most likely to have multiple partners. But within this group, gay men and black Africans and Caribbeans are at highest risk. HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis are concentrated in gay men and are continuing to rise. Gay men accounted for 63 per cent of all HIV infections acquired in the UK last year. Black Caribbeans have among the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections and almost half of new HIV diagnoses last year were among black Africans.
More of The Big Question: Why are sexually transmitted infections rising ...
Independent, UK -
Caught! How Bathroom Stings Entrap Gay Men
"Entrapment", "unconstitutional" and "total racket" were just some of the words used repeatedly by Triangle Foundation public policy director Sean Kosofsky to describe recent efforts of the Clayton Township, Michigan police department to troll public restrooms for illicit gay activity.
The Michigan-based gay advocacy group is conducting an investigation into a series of recent arrests, which will culminate in a lawsuit if necessary. See Caught! How Bathroom Stings Entrap Gay Men
EDGE Boston, MA
"I'M NOT GAY" SAYS TALKING SENATOR LARRY CRAIG ACTION FIGURE
Senator Larry Craig is having a bad year -- In June he was arrested for Lewd Conduct after hitting on an undercover police officer in an airport Men's Room. In September resigned from the Senate, then in October decided NOT to resign. AND NOW HE IS A TALKING DOLL! We'd feel sorry for the guy it wasn't so.... to use our favorite word... STUPID!
The Talking Senator Larry Craig Action Figure stands about 12" tall and wears a t-shirt emblazoned with his declaration: "I Am Not Gay." His limbs are bendable, so you can put him in all sorts of poses... even the famous "wide stance" the Senator refers to.
Best of all, THE ACTION FIGURE TALKS! Press the button, and he delivers a portion of his Press Conference...
"Thank you all very much for coming out today. I will read a statement: 'I am not gay. I never have been gay."
It's been a strange year for politics, and we think this strange action figure fits right in.
Also: Company Markets Larry Craig 'I'm Not Gay' Action Doll
365Gay.com –
Councillor appeals against gay slur conviction
A Labour party councillor convicted of making false allegations of paedophilia against her gay opponent is due to have her appeal heard today.
Miranda Grell was barred from public office for three years, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs by Waltham Forest Magistrates Court last month.
The legal costs for her appeal were being covered by the national Labour party, following a local campaign to raise the £30,000 it is estimated the appeal will cost.
Yesterday, however, a party spokesman told The Independent:
"Following legal advice in the last few days, the Labour Party today withdrew its support for Miranda Grell's appeal."
Ms Grell won a formerly safe Lib Dem seat on the London Borough of Waltham Forest council in last May's elections.
Her Liberal Democrat opponent Barry Smith saw his majority of 600 overturned by Ms Grell, who took the Leyton ward council seat with a majority of 28.
In September she was found guilty after a three-day trial of two charges of "making a false statement of fact about Mr Smith's personal character or conduct," contrary to election law.
Witnesses testified that while campaigning for the seat she had told voters that Mr Smith had a 14-year-old Thai boyfriend.
Ms Grell maintains her innocence and insists that the verdict goes against the weight of the evidence heard in court.
She has been suspended as a local councillor for the London Borough of Waltham Forest and as an aide to London Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron pending her appeal, which is due to begin today at Snaresbrook Crown Court. See Councillor appeals against gay slur conviction
PinkNews.co.uk, UK
Campaign launched to tackle alarming rise in HIV
A CAMPAIGN featuring adverts on 200 city buses has been launched to try to combat alarmingly high rates of new HIV infections.
Health chiefs fear complacency among gay men in Edinburgh is at least partly responsible for the increase. An estimated 40 per cent of gay or bisexual men in the region with HIV do not know they have the virus.
Campaign launched to tackle alarming rise in HIV
Scotsman, United Kingdom
November 27, 2007
Gay cowboys celebrate their uniqueness in pageant
OAKLAND, Calif. - Backstage in the dressing room, the nervous energy was high as each cowboy primped before a vanity mirror.
For some, like "Antonio Rios," the nerves came from more than a little stage fright.
" Antonio Rios' is 24," says the worker from the avocado orchards of Michoacan, Mexico, who is actually 21. He assumes this fake identity when he goes to gay clubs. "I don't like using my personal name because my family and straight friends don't know I'm gay. And, people might come looking for me at work too." Gay cowboys celebrate their uniqueness in pageant
AZ Central.com, A
Ben Nichols, professor and former mayor of Ithaca, dies at 87 Newsday
Ben Nichols, a professor emeritus at Cornell University and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who served three terms as mayor of Ithaca, has died.
Nichols, a professor of electrical engineering at Cornell for 40 years, died Saturday of natural causes after being admitted to Cayuga Medical Center, according to Bangs Funeral Home, which is handling the arrangements. He was 87. Ben Nichols, professor and former mayor of Ithaca, dies at 87
Couple suffered tirade of anti-gay abuse, court told
A COUPLE were subjected to such an intimidating tirade of homophobic abuse that they dreaded stepping outside their front door, a court heard.
Fireworks were hurled at Carol Cashmore and Nina Meffen's house and into their garden and youths regularly gathered outside to shout anti-gay insults.
The catalogue of abuse took place last year, starting with a vicious attack in July in which a 20-year-old man and two teenage girls armed themselves with wooden chair legs and rained blows on the two women until they were barely conscious.
Lydia Jayne Lake, a former neighbour of Miss Cashmore and Miss Meffen, was handed a community punishment order and given a curfew two months ago for her part in that attack.
Now 18-year-old Lake is back before the courts facing further charges of harassment for a catalogue of abuse against her former neighbours, who live in Emer Close, North Baddesley.
New Forest Magistrates' Court heard that Lake and another 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, instigated much of the verbal abuse and intimidation that happened between September and November last year.
Couple suffered tirade of anti-gay abuse, court told
this is hampshire.net, UK
AHF Says Routine Testing, Effective Prevention Needed to counter HIV Spike Among Gay Men;
According to The Reemerging HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Men Who Have Sex With Men by Drs. Harold W. Jaffe, Ronald O. Valdiserri and Kevin M. De Cock (JAMA, November 28, 2007-Vol. 298, No.20): "A venue-based study of more than 5000 MSM aged 15 to 29 years in 6 U.S. cities found that 10% of the men were infected with HIV; of these men, 77% were unaware of their infection (91% of black MSM with infection were unaware of being infected). Of men reporting that their last HIV test result was negative, 8% were found to be infected (21% of black MSM reporting a negative test result were found to be infected). Almost 60% of men who were unaware of their infection considered themselves to be at low risk for HIV infection."
"Despite the fact that we have effective medications today to keep people alive and well and their HIV disease under control, I am alarmed and saddened by this latest report because HIV, while treatable, is not curable and requires lifelong care," said Dr. Homayoon Khanlou, Chief of Medicine for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "More than a quarter of a million people in the U.S. still do not know they are HIV-positive: they simply haven't accessed testing or treatment opportunities. HIV is a preventable disease, and I urge everybody to get tested and know their HIV status."
"I hope this report serves as a wake up call and as a catalyst to fast- track an overhaul of the HIV testing process nationwide," said Whitney Engeran, III, Director, Public Health Division for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Sustained and focused prevention efforts and effective risk-reduction initiatives must be scaled up across the country if we are going to reverse this trend in infections. Better leadership is required at all levels: federal, state, local and within communities themselves. The efforts should not only be made when the spotlight is on, such as after a report like this one. We need a sustained, unified commitment that doesn't flag when the numbers begin to decrease."
The JAMA article cited the need for social marketing campaigns that emphasize personal responsibility, and cited the recent nationwide "HIV Stops with Me" campaign.
A post-campaign survey of AIDS Healthcare Foundation's own most recent prevention initiative, the innovative "Stay Negative" social marketing campaign, demonstrated the campaign's remarkable success in reaching its target audience and achieving its objective to create an effective health education and risk reduction campaign to raise awareness among gay males in Los Angeles County that HIV infection is still a serious threat.
Among the results of the "Stay Negative" campaign, created by Fraser Communications, and funded in part by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy is the fact that it achieved high resonance and appeal among a broad audience, most notably across ethnic boundaries, with 8 in 10 African Americans and Latinos reporting that they related to the advertisements. Most importantly, the ads proved motivating, increasing levels of intent to include HIV testing in respondents' overall health regimens. After viewing the advertisements, more than 55% considered including HIV testing in their overall health routine. The level of intent was even higher for Latino and African-American men at 65% and 72% respectively.
"We are particularly proud that the key messages of the 'Stay Negative' campaign -- be healthy, stay negative, get tested -- successfully broke through to its target audience, despite an atmosphere of fatigue and complacency that often surrounds safer sex messages twenty-five years into the AIDS epidemic," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, upon the release of the post-campaign survey results earlier this year. "The success of 'Stay Negative' proves that it is possible to reach a wide, racially diverse audience with a clear and compelling message to have fun, be safe and make staying healthy a priority. With its broad appeal, this initiative could become a model for HIV/AIDS social marketing campaigns nationwide."
This JAMA report comes on the heels of a dramatic decrease in global HIV numbers (likely due to new methods of data collection and projections), and an alarming recent increase in STDs in the US, and as the CDC prepares to host an HIV prevention conference next week in Atlanta.
"Global numbers seem to be going down. U.S. numbers are rising rapidly in certain populations as this report shows," added AHF's Weinstein. "It's time for us to stop guessing and radically scale up testing so we can have accurate numbers to ensure an effective response to the epidemic. We need to make screening for HIV for all populations a routine part of medical care and normalize the process of HIV prevention, testing and treatment."
About AHF
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the US' largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research, prevention and education provider, as well as the operator of California's largest alternative HIV testing program, administering over 15,000 tests per year. AHF currently provides treatment, care and support services to more than 61,000 individuals in 19 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org
Gay Men Become Proud Parents Of Surrogate Twins
Two Israeli gay men have became the first known same-sex couple to ‘father’ children courtesy a surrogacy programme in Mumbai.
The gay couple has left India with their twins, a boy and a girl. They were delivered this September at Hiranandani Hospital.
The couple learnt about the programme on the Internet and contacted infertility specialist Dr Gautam Allahbadia of Rotunda Clinic, Centre for Human Reproduction. The program helped them choose an Indian woman to donate the eggs as well as a surrogate mother.
“In February, we performed the in vitro fertilization procedure with sperm from one of the men and the donor’s egg. The embryo transfer was done on February 21,” Dr Allahbadia reports. The couple stayed at the hospital for two months. After the twins were born on September 17, they returned to take them away.
According to Allahbadia , many foreign couples come to India for surrogacy programmes. Yet this was the first case involving a gay couple, and could well become a trendsetter for other such couples, he was reported. Gay Men Become Proud Parents Of Surrogate Twins
MedIndia, India Also: Stricter 'womb rent' laws needed: Docs
Times of India, India
MELUA ENJOYS GAY RUMOURS
Singer Katie Melua says she's unfazed by rumours she is gay - because she likes to keep her fans guessing about her sexuality.
Speculation the 23-year-old is a lesbian began when she split from Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard in 2005.
But Melua insists she won't bow down to pressure to discuss her sexuality. She says, "People can think whatever they like. I like to keep some mystique around my public image. In a sense the less you give, the better."
MELUA ENJOYS GAY RUMOURS
GCN, Ireland -
Indian Actor Plays Gay, Likes It
Sushant Singh ain’t afraid to endorse his adoring gay fans. In fact, the straight actor adores his adoring bent boys:
I’ve always had more gay fans than a female following. That’s that acting is all about. You suppress and finally eradicate your own personality and preferences to surrender to the audience. And I’ve always connected with homosexual audiences.
In fact when I was a totally unknown face in Delhi doing theatre, my first admirer turned out to be gay.
…
I’ve no qualms about being a gay or heterosexual fantasy.
More @ Indian Actor Plays Gay, Likes It
Queerty, NY
U.S. Gay and Lesbian Automotive Consumers Favor Import and Luxury Brands, Hybrid Demand Strong
Representing over $600 billion in buying power, U.S. gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) automotive consumers favor luxury and import brands according to Harris Interactive AutoGLBT, a new market research study from Harris Interactive’s Automotive and Transportation Research Practice.
"Gay and lesbian consumers are becoming an important target market for U.S. vehicle manufacturers, especially luxury brands," said Bryan Krulikowski, senior director of research, Harris Interactive?. "Nearly three-quarters (72%) of GLBT consumers indicate they are more likely to consider purchasing a vehicle from a manufacturer that has specifically targeted automotive advertising to the GLBT community," said Krulikowski. He added, "Volkswagen, Subaru, Volvo and BMW are perceived as the top brands that extend the greatest outreach to the GLBT community through their marketing communications."
AutoGLBT Study Highlights
According to the AutoGLBT study, GLBT consumers favor luxury brands versus non-luxury brands, though balancing image with affordability is a high priority.
GLBT consumers (51%) are significantly more interested in hybrid electric vehicles than their non-gay counterparts (34%) and feel that they are worth paying more money for.
Automakers' quest to move away from "traditional" media sources--having more of an online presence and "viral marketing" focus -- hits squarely at the GLBT consumer. This group relies heavily on both the Internet (62%) and "word-of-mouth" (45%) advice when deciding which vehicle to purchase.
Gay males (17%) are more likely than the GLBT population on a whole (12%) to listen to satellite radio programming, with the majority of these respondents (67%) tuning in to GLBT-specific stations.
JCPS board votes to protect gay workers
The Jefferson County Board of Education voted late tonight to extend employment, discrimination and harassment protection to gay, lesbian and bisexual workers.
The 4-3 vote came after more than two hours of heated comments from about 50 people who were in support of or against the proposed policy change.
While they spoke, supporters in the crowd held up signs reading, “Fairness for All” and “Protect all Workers,” while opponents raised signs that said, “Protect the Children.”
Approximately 400 people attended the meeting, some of whom had to sit in an overflow room because the boardroom at the Van Hoose Education Center, 3332 Newburg Road, had reached its capacity almost an hour before the meeting’s scheduled start. Some arrived in church vans.
The board had been asked by the Fairness Campaign of Louisville, as well as by several gay, lesbian and transgender employees, students and parents to include both sexual orientation and transgender status in the district’s employment and harassment policies.
Two weeks ago, a board committee recommended that sexual orientation be included in the policies. Committee members decided not to include transgender employees, saying the definition remains too uncertain.
JCPS board votes to protect gay workers
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY
Also: 400 pack meeting on gay worker rights at schools
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY -
Approximately 400 people have flooded the Jefferson County Board of Education meeting, where the board is set to consider extending anti-bias rights to gay and lesbian employees. The throng of people packed the boardroom and an overflow room, ...
11/26/07: Group Urges JCPS To Fight Anti-Gay Harassment
Board Of Education Passes Discrimination Policy Update
Gay porn link to killing
A nursery assistant might have been killed after finding gay porn on her boyfriend's mobile phone, the Old Bailey has heard.
Amanda Bentsi-Addison, 26, was found dying from stab wounds, in College Place, Camden, north London, in December 2005.
Her boyfriend, Darren John, 23, of Camden, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sent to Broadmoor secure hospital.
Gay porn link to killing
The Press Association
A Cover Girl Who's Simply Himself
WHAT follows is, in brief (well, not so brief), the curious tale of how a handsome black man who can also look an awful lot like a beautiful black woman, except with better legs than most and a beard, happened to end up on the November cover of French Vogue.
The time was summer 2007. The man, who goes by the name Andre J., and who was born Andre Johnson 28 years ago in Newark, and who is a sometime party promoter and former perfume salesclerk at Lord & Taylor and former publicist at Patricia Field’s boutique and current downtown personage (an “It” person, as he was termed in Paper magazine), was running out of his apartment on Thompson Street in the Village for lunch.
It was a hot day. On this particular scorcher, Andre J. had chosen to stay cool in a neon green caftan and gold gladiator sandals. His hair, which, pulled taut, measures 24 inches in length and which he usually wears in a bouffant nimbus that gives him the appearance, as a magazine stylist recently remarked, of “a big Afro-daisy,” was dressed that day in a 1970s Wet & Wild style and covered in a enormous white turban à la Nina Simone.
This was not an unusual grab-a-sandwich ensemble, as Andre J. is quick to point out. “That’s me every day, honey,” Andre J. said on Friday, right before a party at a club called Runway to honor his election to the elite cover girl sorority, Gallic chapter.
“Most people are conditioned to think of a black man looking a certain way,” Andre J. went on. “They only think of the ethnic man in XXX jeans and Timberlands, and here Andre J. comes along with a pair of hot shorts and a caftan or maybe flip-flops or cowboy boots or a high, high heel.”
And so, Andre J. was running out for a sandwich and who should he bump into but Joe McKenna, the stylist who is the secret weapon behind the success of many, many very celebrated designers? Mr. McKenna was on the phone at the time. The person on the other end was Bruce Weber, the celebrated photographer of, among other things, dreamily homoerotic calendar art for Abercrombie & Fitch.
When Mr. McKenna spotted Andre J., he immediately put Mr. Weber on hold. Mr. McKenna then called out to Andre J., whom he had met before and had once suggested for a V magazine pictorial photographed by Vinoodh Matadin and Inez van Lamsweerde.
“Andre,” said Mr. McKenna, “you look amazing!”
ACTUALLY, he did not say it in quite that way. It happens that the adjective “amazing,” pronounced with a bunch of superfluous vowels, is how fashion types, and also certain urban gay men and also one or two tuned-in heterosexual copycats, lately express their approval. Amazing has replaced such locutions as “genius” and “major,” which today sound even more old-hat than “fabulous.”
“You look amaaaaazing,” Mr. McKenna said.
And, of course, Andre J. did.
More of A Cover Girl Who’s Simply Himself
Ask instead, who's called gay and why
It may be the DVD release of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Or maybe there's something in the air, but it's queer-baiting season again – that is, time to figure out “Who's Gay & Who's Not.”
In its Dec. 3 issue, the National Enquirer is publishing this, its yearly tease about closeted “TV stars, movie stars, politicians and more!,” as a sort of index to the bigger news of celebrity biographer Andrew Morton's forthcoming book about Tom Cruise (who is, conspicuously, not mentioned in the tabloid). Morton has, according to TMZ, spent the past several months interviewing a large number of Cruise's associates about his “career, his religion and even his sexuality.” The biography is rumoured to be “explosive,” though it's hard to say why.
Rumours about Cruise's homosexuality have trailed him since the beginning of his career. Many of his films out him as well, through innuendo and a system of aesthetic clues (an extreme, if not prurient focus on the actor's chunky, radiant physicality is a near-constant in these films). Yet surely this kind of speculation has become old hat, after his parsed-to-bits marriage to Katie Holmes, and almost three years after the infamous South Park episode about Cruise being Trapped in the Closet.
The Enquirer's omission of Cruise may speak to its own exhaustion with the subject of this particular star, and to The Gay Rumors: FINALLY THE TRUTH “exclusive” by the Enquirer's new rival, In Touch. (The story is couched as an interview with “porn-star-turned-private-investigator” Paul Barresi, a.k.a. Joe Hammer.
Barresi claims to have conducted “an extensive investigation” of Cruise and to have turned his report over to Morton. The result? “Everything that I've found and everything I know points to Tom being heterosexual.”
So there.
See Ask instead, who's called gay and why
Globe and Mail, Canada
Support slipping for gay-wed ban
Support among Hoosiers for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage appears to be on the decline, according to an Indianapolis Star-WTHR (Channel 13) poll.
| |
The poll, based on the responses of 600 people statewide, found that 49 percent of Hoosiers supported the amendment. That number is down from 56 percent in a March 2005 survey by The Star.
Of the respondents, 44 percent said they opposed a constitutional ban, up from 40 percent in 2005.
• Support slipping for gay-wed ban
Indianapolis Star, United States
Also:
Gap narrows on Ind. gay-marriage amendment
Support Waning For Anti-Gay Amendment In Indiana
Gay Marriage Poll
Gay escort denies link with Senator
A gay prostitute has denied having any current involvement with US Senator Trent Lott, whose abrupt resignation yesterday sparked rumours of a sex scandal. See Gay escort denies link with Senator (PinkNews.co.uk, UK ) as bighead DC Releases Lott’s Gay Lover “Emails” (Queerty, NY) and Gay escort denies "working relationship" with Trent Lott
MiamiHerald.com, FL
Somali Online Gay Community Causing Worldwide Outrage
Commentary by Andrew Prince
Editor, UKBlackOut
LONDON, November 27, 2007 (UKBlackOut) – When we think of very homophobic communities we automatically think of places like Jamaica, but recently I have come to know that there are other dimensions to homophobia.....one from the Somali community.
At least in the Jamaican community they are more informed idiots (pardon the pun), but what I have been witnessing over the past few days goes beyond anything one could identify on planet earth.
Recently I was asked to develop a website for a group of gay Somalis in London, www.somaligaycommunity.org. (click HERE for the main page in the Somali language)
This is the first website of it’s kind anywhere in the world and as it happened, it drew a lot of attention during it’s first week online with over 133,000 hits.
To say the least, there have been a lot of excitement and news coverage, with some of the major online news sites, including ones serving the mainly Somali Muslim community, carrying the story and asking for interviews from the Moderator of the website.
Somali gays and lesbians worldwide have welcomed the site as long overdue and although it is only a web presence it will help to unite Somalis online where they can share experiences, learn from each other and at the same time knowing that there are others like themselves out there.
Then the bombshell dropped.
The international Somali community is up in arms and the forums, weblogs, and sites dedicated to Somali news are awash with hate writers.
I mean really vile stuff.
One individual calls for them to be “hunted down in the street and stoned like dogs” while another said, “Allah will punish them”, another, “It's a western illness”, and yet another, “motherfocker if i ever see you on the street, am gonna chop you to pieces then feed ur crap to dogs” – this last one from a Muslim woman.
One Somali woman even mentioned that there was less than 100 gay people in all of Somalia. How does she know this? Did she take up a census?
Then there is that old nemesis in African countries that seems to keep rearing it’s head throughout all this – the clan.
North Somalis blames the south Somalis saying that is the part of the country where all the gay and lesbian people come from.
With all the genocide going on in their country and the murder of innocent women and children of which you don’t hear a peep out of them on, I am amazed that they have so much energy hating a group of people who only wants to share their experiences on a website and improve their quality of life. Where is the threat?
What strikes me in all of this is the fact that most of these people are refugees themselves, living in countries all over the world.
These same countries allows them the freedom to be who they are regardless of which clan or region they are from and yet, they wish to take away that same freedom from their countrymen and women.
If they are such patriots why did they flee their country, why aren’t they still there or in other Muslim countries where their extreme views are more appreciated?
I guess it’s because, according to one person on the SomaliNet Forums, “muslims own the entire world, soon or latter everybody will become muslim, so shut da fock about why did you come to a christian country”.
To this I say, wake up, get your head out of the sand. It will never happen.
What I would like to know is this: How can a devout Muslim person preach such hate when there is nowhere in the Koran (I am told) that says they should go out and hurt people for not conforming to their idea of what a good Muslim should be?
As with all cultures, people twist things to suit their needs and then hides behind religion to justify their vile actions.
The saga continues. I was then made aware that my name, address and telephone number was made public on a particular website forum, along with one of the guys from the group.
Someone with a little bit of internet savvy (a woman) did a Domanin Name Whois lookup (Oops my mistake, I should have made it a private listing) and found out some details that one would rather not have flashed around the world on the internet.
But this person thought that they would be harming me. What she did not realise was that I am one of the most OUT black gay man in London and I’m no stranger to having my face or name in the public domain.
The site was threatened with being hacked so I had to take extra security steps to protect the site so that it stays online to serve the community that it was intended for.
The good thing that came out of all this is the fact that the website was actually promoted around the world by people who are against it, something that these guys could not pay for in the form of advertising.
So next time you think of violent homophobes, don’t all only look to Jamaica, you can find it in other cultures too.
■ Since writing this article, the website with my name and address on their forum has been deleted. Another forum with really vile threats have been entirely deleted, albeit without our intervention.
© 2007, Andrew Prince/UKBlackOut
SEE ALSO
Gay Somalis in London Launch Community Website. A new website, Somali Gay Community, has been launched to serve the small gay Somali community in London – and beyond. It is believed to be the first of its kind in Somali history and culture anywhere in the world. Ku soo Dhawow Bulshadayada - Somali language (UK Gay News, November 17, 2007)
Hiiraan Online reproduces the UK Gay News article on November 17 and following it has visitor comments.
Quilt creator Jones still fights for gay causes
AIDS Memorial Quilt creator Cleve Jones' departure from Palm Springs to San Francisco sparked some new causes - fighting for the rights and benefits of hotel workers and helping develop a major motion picture on one of his mentors.
When The Desert Sun last caught up with Jones in October 2005, his bags were packed, the "For Sale" sign was out in front of his Palm Springs home, and he was on his way back to the Bay Area.
The housing market slump has meant his home still hasn't sold. But at least for Thanksgiving weekend, that was a good thing.
"I get to spend the holiday down there and get warm," he said.
Jones was among the first to recognize the AIDS threat, co-founding the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 1983. He conceived of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1985, and he created its first panel two years later, honoring close friend Marvin Feldman.
Quilt creator Jones still fights for gay causes
The Desert Sun, CA -
More programs work to halt bias against gays
Valorie Gilmore, a specialty-insurance manager at Chubb Corp., was meeting with a client two months ago when participants began discussing a local women's basketball team. One person blurted, "You mean the lady lesbians?" Ms. Gilmore recalls.
"Let's not go down that road," Ms. Gilmore quickly replied. She says she felt compelled to speak "to set the right example here at Chubb in the way we conduct business."
Ms. Gilmore later attended a training program for Chubb managers on dealing with bias against gays in the workplace and learned that she'd acted appropriately. "You want to redirect the conversation to make it clear you are uncomfortable with it," says Kevin Hannan, a senior performance specialist at the insurer who helped start and design the training.
Chubb is among a growing number of employers training managers on how to prevent workplace discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender employees. Other big companies that offer similar training include Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Merck & Co., Ernst & Young LLP, and Toronto-Dominion Bank. Such offerings are rare because "there is still a level of discomfort in talking about the subject," says John Peoples, a managing partner at Global Lead, a Cincinnati diversity-consulting firm.
Other employers include sexual-orientation issues in general training on inclusiveness, Mr. Peoples says. All told, 41% of 255 big companies surveyed by the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit advocacy group for gays in the workplace, offer some kind of training that touches on sexual orientation.
A new kind of sex tourism
A new kind of sex tourism
Older white women are flocking to Kenya's beaches -- and they're not there to snorkel
New cartoon stars boy with two moms to appeal to gay families
A new cartoon DVD about a boy with two moms that an Omaha company made should be available for Christmas.
Executive producer Margaux Towne-Colley says she would love to see their cartoon air on TV somewhere, but she doesn't expect that to happen soon.
She says the target audience for the cartoon "Buddy G - My Two Moms and Me" is gay and lesbian families. Towne-Colley says she wants children in those families to know there are other kids like them out there.
Most of the reaction to the cartoon so far has been positive, although Towne-Colley said she does expect some negative reaction.
New cartoon stars boy with two moms to appeal to gay families
Action 3 News, NE
Transgender student elected king
PASADENA - For Andrew Gomez, the month of November was one of firsts.
First, he broke the news to his mother that he was transitioning from a female to a male. Then the 24-year-old transgender student was elected Homecoming King at Pasadena City College.
Neither event came easily, but the second milestone nearly did not happen. PCC's homecoming committee initially ruled Gomez ineligible because of his pierced ear.
But after students complained, lodging charges of discrimination, the committee relented and reversed its decision. Gomez said his election earlier this month as Homecoming King surprised him, even though he initially ran hoping to become a source of inspiration for other gay, lesbian and transgender students.
Transgender student elected king
Whittier Daily News
Gay-straight alliances: A growing movement
On the surface, it looks like any high school club. A group of students and teachers are eating lunch together and chatting. There's a lot of laughter and silliness -- building a Kinder Surprise toy, sharing a fortune cookie.
But the Gay-Straight Alliance at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School has a serious purpose -- ultimately, nothing less than changing attitudes about people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning or otherwise non-straight.
That the group exists at all is a sign some students have overcome fears.
At first, Scott Malloch went to the meetings and sat with his back to the door, which contains a window. Although the 16-year-old identifies as straight, he was initially scared of people assuming he might be gay.
There were more scared people behind him. Malloch actually heard about the group from gay friends who wanted him to go with them for support. But his friends got scared, so he went alone. They started going later.
These days, Malloch saunters into the room and invites onlookers in.
"We've had some great conversations, like about how religion and sexuality seem to clash. Conversations I think everyone needs to have," he said.
Caity Rogers, 17, knows all about what can happen when students think another is gay. She's openly gay -- on this day, she's wearing a sweatshirt depicting gay, straight and lesbian couples with the words "love is love."
But her openness is a daily act of bravery. She's been called a dyke at least three times in the last three weeks alone. And there has been much worse.
When she first came out in Grade 9, she got called ugly names and pushed down stairs three times by two different people. She figures she almost broke an arm. Other students saw what happened but didn't step in, she says.
Coming out wasn't easy. She told a few close friends first. But she realized word would get around and she wanted people to hear it from her. So she wrote a letter and made 50 copies, adding a personal note for each of her friends.
Most accepted the revelation. Rogers lost one friend -- she doesn't even look at her in the halls anymore.
Despite some negative reactions, Rogers finds it easier to be out than not.
"I can't not be myself," she said.
"Hiding inside myself is like lying to myself and I can't do that because I want to have a life. I want to find someone to be with and if I'm hiding from the world that's never going to happen and I'm never going to be happy."
The alliance at Waterloo-Oxford is part of a growing movement.
There are nine gay-straight alliances at schools across the region. Most are brand new -- last school year, there were two, said Brooke Young, co-ordinator of OK2BME, a K-W Counselling Services project that has helped set up gay-straight alliances.
Gay sex caught on camera
A CONTROVERSIAL police sting that caught hundreds of men having sex in public loos is now the subject of an investigation.
Covert Operation Winchester, which used hidden cameras to detect whether men were engaging in sexual activity were installed in the gentlemen's toilets at Harrison Drive, New Brighton.
More than 120 men were filmed carrying out sexual acts in the urinal area during the three-month blitz.
Thirty-two people were cautioned and six were charged after they were identified by surveillance equipment.
But the operation has been criticised by the gay community who claim that officers used "strong arm tactics."
And now elements of the sting will be scrutinised to determine whether policy and procedure were followed.
This month, men have been brought before the courts charged with offences under the Sexual Offences Act.
They were identified after two tiny cameras were placed inside the lavatories at head and waist height and evidence was recorded on DVD.
Cameras were also set up outside to detect car registration numbers.
Gay sex caught on camera
Wirral Globe, UK
DOC'S 'GAY SEX' SHOCK
A medical assistant is suing a group of Long Island doctors after allegedly being fired for refusing to cover for a physician she says had sex with his gay lover in the examination room.
Physician's assistant Antoinette Lloyd, 48, claims she was fired in June 2006 after she refused to change records to falsely show that she was always present in an examination room with Dr. Benjamin Grundfast and a younger male patient.
Grundfast, an orthopedic specialist, "told me he had a sexual affair" with the man, sometimes having sex in the examination room, sometimes elsewhere, Lloyd said.
DOC'S 'GAY SEX' SHOCK
New York Post, NY -
Korean activists come together to fight for orientation protection
The South Korean government removal of 'sexual orientation' from its Anti-Discrimination Bill has galvanized activists in the country.
The Alliance against Homophobia and Discrimination of Sexual Minorities (AHDSM) was formed earlier this month in response to the changes are outraged by the u-turn.
They claim that an investigation conducted by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea showed that discrimination based on sexual orientation, education background and national origin form the basis of most discrimination in South Korea today.
click here for the full article
Catholic adoption agencies seek ways round gay rules
Claims by the Roman Catholic Church that the government would be offering money to help them avoid new regulations in their adoption agencies have been dismissed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
In a statement issued last week on the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales website, they claim the government will "pay for further work to be done to explore whether within the law there might yet be ways found which will enable the adoption work to carry on and for our agencies to continue."
Earlier this year the Sexual Orientation Regulations came into force, making it illegal to discriminate against gay, lesbian and bisexual people when providing goods and services, including adoption agencies.
The Roman Catholic Church tried to get an opt-out from the regulations for their adoption agencies, but after a Cabinet row they were unsuccessful.
The Church was given 18 months to adjust its practices so that it can allow gay couples to adopt from its agencies or close them down.
A spokesperson from the DCSF told PinkNews.co.uk: "We don't provide money to get around government regulations.Catholic adoption agencies seek ways round gay rules
PinkNews.co.uk, UK -
HRC commemorates anniversary of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
The fourteenth anniversary of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the military's ban on openly gay personnel, will occur on Nov. 30. This week the Human Rights Campaign, in recognition of this event, will ask each Democratic presidential candidate which steps he or she will take to repeal this oppressive policy if elected.
This feature will run in conjunction with a tribute to gay soldiers on the National Mall titled "12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots," which the Washington Blade covered last week. Each flag on display represents a soldier discharged because of his or her sexual orientation. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Liberty Education Forum, Log Cabin Republicans and Servicemembers United are co-sponsoring this event.
Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) is the first candidate to have his response posted on HRC's blog, HRC Back Story, and he will be followed by Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.). The candidates have all expressed their desire to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and their responses should reflect their repeal plan.
Mich. governor guards transgender rights
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has issued an order that bars discrimination against state workers based on their "gender identity or expression," which protects the rights of those who behave, dress or identify as members of the opposite sex.
The order, which Granholm signed Wednesday, adds gender identity to a list of other prohibited grounds for discrimination that includes religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, height, weight, marital status, politics, disability or genetic information.
"State employment practices and procedures that encourage nondiscriminatory and equal employment practices provide desirable models for the private sector and local governments," says the resolution.
The Triangle Foundation, a Michigan-based group advocating rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, praised Granholm's action.
"Coming out as transgender is a career-ender. Transgendered people lose their jobs all the time," foundation policy director Sean Kosofsky told the Detroit Free Press.
Gay man killed in crime of 'unspeakable ferocity'
Two young men kicked and beat a gay Palmerston North man to death in a drug and alcohol fuelled attack, a court was told yesterday.
Then as a final humiliation and with "unspeakable ferocity", the pair removed part of an earlobe and the head of the victim's penis, Crown prosecutor Ben Vanderkolk told the jury at the High Court in Palmerston North.
Ashley Arnopp, 21, and Andre Gilling, 18, have denied murdering Stanley Waipouri, 39, in his flat in Rangitikei St, Palmerston North, on the night of December 22 last year.
Mr Vanderkolk said it was unlikely events in the flat could ever be reconstructed and the question of motive for the killing was "unanswerable".
But what was certain from the abundant DNA evidence recovered was that Arnopp and Gilling both took part in the attack.
Mr Vanderkolk said the pair, fuelled by alcohol and party pills, had assaulted Mr Waipouri with kicks, punches and a weapon for more than an hour.
Mr Waipouri suffered fractured ribs, neck and facial bones and internal bleeding in the body and brain. He died of head and neck injuries.
Police found the two accused covered in blood after neighbours dialled 111 to complain about the noise.
Defence lawyer Greg King urged the jury to get inside Arnopp's state of mind as his "intention, knowledge, and foresight" at the time of the murder were critical to the case.
Gilling's lawyer, Mike Antunovic, called for the jury to put their feelings aside and give the pair a fair trial.
The trial is set down for two weeks.
Gay man killed in crime of 'unspeakable ferocity'
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand
Parricide trial of gay student delayed
A gay psychology student who in July allegedly shot dead both his parents to spare them the grief of his planned suicide, is to go on trial in the Cape high court next year on two charges of murder.
On Friday, Grant Harris (23) made his seventh appearance in the Wynberg magistrate's court, before magistrate Hafeeza Mohamed, since his arrest in AuParricide trial of gay student delayed
Independent Online, South Africa
November 26, 2007
'Gay panic' law ripe for reform says Finlayson
National MP Christopher Finlayson has backed up the Law Commission’s call for the law which allows for ‘gay panic’ defence to be reviewed, suggesting that such reform be considered in a comprehensive review of the relevant Crimes Act.
Under current law, an advance by a gay person can be considered provocative enough to at least partially justify a physical attack on that person. This defence is currently available to be presented in court. The Commission’s recommendation would only allow provocation to be considered during sentencing.
Finlayson, a gay man, says the partial defence of provocation law is "ripe for reform," but before any change he would first like to see a guideline on provocation which is being worked on by the Commission’s Sentencing Establishment Unit.‘Gay panic’ law ripe for reform says Finlayson
Gay NZ, New Zealand
Howard loses his seat as Australia votes for change
John Howard has admitted that he's lost the Australian general election to the the Labour leader Kevin Rudd. Mr Howard became only the second Prime Minister in Australian history to lose his own Parliamentary seat.
He said he had telephoned Mr Rudd "to congratulate him on an emphatic victory."
Mr Rudd said the country had "looked to the future" he said he will be a Prime Minister "for all Australians."
click here for the full article
Kirby accuses Anglican, Catholic archbishops of hindering gay tolerance
HIGH Court judge Michael Kirby says only some of his colleagues have accepted his homosexuality, and that he is unhappy with the way relations between them have developed.
And Justice Kirby accused the Anglican and Catholic archbishops of Sydney, Peter Jensen and George Pell, of making it hard for people to adopt a more tolerant attitude to gays.
Asked on ABC radio's Sunday Profile if some of his fellow judges had yet made "the journey from tolerance to acceptance of your homosexuality", he replied: "We have our different values and our different life experiences, and they have theirs and I have to respect theirs. If I'd had a different life experience, maybe I would have been a bit different."
The "great dissenter" said he enjoyed his time on the NSW Court of Appeal, which he left in 1996 to join the High Court.
"I wouldn't say (I was) happy with the way relations have developed. That would be putting it too high," he said.
In the NSW court "there were judges of different philosophies, and that was a very beneficial thing because then you have an interaction and a frisson of opinion within the court," he said.
"That doesn't exist in the High Court of Australia at the moment. I'm off in a minority of one, not always but sometimes, and that really is different, and you can't have as rich a human relationship with people in those circumstances."
The judge said he took his partner of 38 years, Johan van Vloten, "along to dinners with the Queen and with the Governor-General and everybody's getting used to it".
He hoped his sexuality was not an issue in the current court "though it is true some of the justices perhaps have less liberal views than I have".
Bishops hinder gay tolerance, says Michael Kirby
State's 1st openly gay Republican elected
Brian Bates is a 36-year-old business owner in charge of Doraville's annual Police Appreciation Day.
He's active in his neighborhood association and staunchly supports popular police Chief John King, who became a major issue in elections earlier this month.
So Bates' victory in a race for city council didn't come as a major surprise in this town of about 10,000 residents. But, it was, in fact, groundbreaking.
Bates is now the state's first openly gay Republican elected to office – a development that has gained the attention of politicos and pundits across the country.
State's 1st openly gay Republican elected
Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA
Washington Insider to Lead Charge Against Military's Gay Ban
Despite popular support for lifting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," it may take a Washington insider to get the job done.
Imagine flying on Bell Atlantic's private jet in 1997 as the telecom giant's chief congressional lobbyist. You're the sole traveling companion of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Raymond Smith.
With your incredible access, you casually mention that you assume Smith knows you're gay and you'd very much appreciate it if he'd testify before the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee in favor of banning anti-gay job discrimination.
Smith does testify, saying savvy corporations support such workplace protections because "no company can afford to waste the talents and contributions of valuable employees as we compete in a global marketplace." Treating gay workers fairly "is good business and ... good citizenship," he adds.
If you're Aubrey Sarvis, it doesn't take imagination to envision that scenario: He starred in it.
Sarvis enjoys amazing access, thanks to four decades in the corridors of power -- as chief counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee, at Bell Atlantic-turned Verizon and as the head of his own lobbying firm. He's proven he's willing to pull strings to help those of us who're gay.
Now Sarvis has been recruited to lead the charge for ending anti-gay employment discrimination by one of the nation's largest employers, the U.S. military.
"The new president will be our first window," says Sarvis, 63, the new executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, formed in 1993 to provide legal help to gay soldiers entangled in the abusive tentacles of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (sldn.org).
Sarvis has set his sights on getting Congress and the next president to repeal Don't Ask: "I will be concerned if in 2012 we aren't there."
Washington Insider to Lead Charge Against Military's Gay Ban
AlterNet, CA
UK Attorney-General said set to scupper plans to make gay hate a crime
Attorney-General set to scupper plans to make gay hate a crime
Times Online, UK : Government plans to criminalise the stirring up of hatred against gays and lesbians are in disarray because of a Cabinet split over the need for such a law.
The split – between Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the Attorney-General, and Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary – are likely to scupper plans for a new offence.
Baroness Scotland has privately expressed concern about the controversial legislation proposed by Mr Straw, The Times has learnt.
Mr Straw announced the plans last month with the backing of Harriet Harman, the Equalities Secretary. He had said that he would bring forward an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill this month to extend the law that already protects religious and racial groups, carrying up to seven years in jail.
Cabinet split over need for gay laws
Cabinet 'split' over gay laws
Interview: Maria Eagle defends homophobic incitement law
"People won't sit next to me . because I'm gay" - pupil
Gay Pupils at Top English Independent School Suffer Bullying
“I have had beer thrown at me and poured all over me, pushed, shoved, verbally abused – every word imaginable, cornered, surrounded and threatened in public … and that’s just me.”
These are the very words of a gay pupil writing about his experiences at a top independent school in an email that arrived in the UK Gay News inbox on Friday. The email’s “Subject”: Homophobia at Christian Boarding School.
“I am sick of them and their abusive attitudes and behaviour,” he wrote of his tormentors.
“People liken homosexuality to paedophilia and they get away with it,” he continues. “People have said in front of teachers “I hate gay people” and nothing’s happened.
People say they hate homosexuals openly and I can’t do anything. I don't know what to do.
“People wont sit next to me and tell me they wont because I'm gay.
“There’s a few of us and we feel like we’re living in a different world. This stuff has been going on for too long.”
Included in his email were examples of a sting of homophobic emails sent among pupils. They are not pleasant reading and are published at the end of this article.
In a subsequent email, the pupil wrote: “What gets me is that this is played out so publicly.
“These emails have continued and 3 years in the school receive every one. Lots of people are outraged about it and I’ve spoken to the boy who is being attacked and he doesn’t know what to do.
“At weekend with the parties they gang together and it gets worse when they’re drunk. They’re aggressive and violent and it’s hard to relax when you’re being insulted.
“You can’t protect yourself because there’s so many of them,” he wrote.
For obvious reasons, the pupil’s name is not being revealed.
This is obviously a “cry for help”. But how long will it be until the young man and his gay friends at the school start to scream for help.
Contact will of course be made with the school later today.
As much as UK Gay News would like to name the school, the gay pupils suffering bullying are more important and have to be protected. But the school is well know and is in the South East of England, not far from London. The school is a member of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC).
EMAILS
These are a sample of some of the emails. Note that names have been removed by UK Gay News, otherwise they are as written.
[name removed] u r one sik gay please f u c k off and stopp sendin me emails. SICKO
________________
[name removed] is just some sik gay freak dats wats really wrong here
________________
felt left out and wanted to join in, [name removed] is a sik prick but oh well his gay
________________
Then comes an angry response from a girl trying to ease the situation:
I'm sorry but am I the only one here who has realised that we are living in the 21st century and being homophobic (and therefore prejudice, just like racism, oooh sorry that’s a bit shocking..)and following your friends like a sheep isn't cool..? get a grip, grow up, otherwise you will really struggle in the outside world (which does actually exist!) I have no time for people like you, who are basically neo-Nazi fascists... don’t e-mail me or any other free thinking, normal, person again.
thank you for your time.
________________
A reply to it by [name deleted]
thanks for letting me know what century we live in because i nearly forgot, i like the way you protected gay rights but by disliking homophobic people i think u yourself are being prejudice towards people who have a fear of gays.
i see you ended your e mail by saying that you were free thinking, in which case who are you to judge my views dont worry i dont require an apologie just dont say anything bad about the nazi's again
thanks
________________
can we stop this bull crap now.
thanks.
________________
Thanks [name removed]!! All these abuses have been taking the toll on me! And has brought me to tears! Xx
________________
dear [name removed],
thankyou for the reply, however before you go saying that i am oblivious to what the nazi’s did. you may want to ask yourself what i did my history coursework on. the answer would be nazism and the holocaust in particular. and as far as defending homophobia being compared to defending racism and sexism im sorry but for me they are not even in the same catagory. it is not possible for somebody to coose their race or gender but sexuality is. it is your choice whether or not you want to be straight or gay, baring in mind that this school which so generously educates us is christian i think it is not correct to be gay, and i think i am entitled to my opinion as much as anybody else just because you don’t agree with it i wont change it or keep quiet about it, i have back up from god and the bible. [name removed] tells me that it is natural but im sfraid i would have to disagree as clearly biologically it is not meant that two people of the same gender should attempt to procreate.
thankyou for reading what i have to say and remember it was your funny joke on [name removed] that started this.
________________
[name removed] your a fuckin gay as well listen 2 urself
________________
Handedness Findings Point to Biological Cause for Sexual Orientation
Newswise — A study of men in Ontario, Canada provides a new twist on the connection between sexual/relational orientation and right or left-handedness. Whereas earlier studies showed that gay men (and lesbians) were 39 percent more likely than heterosexuals to be left-handed, the new data “provides evidence that gay or bisexual men also have an elevated incidence of extreme right-handedness.”
To complicate matters, another factor is involved – the often-reported finding that having older brothers may be a predictor for men being gay. In the new study, results indicate that the number of “older brothers moderates the relationship between handedness and sexual orientation.” That is, the extreme right-handedness finding is only seen in men with no or few older brothers.
“These new research findings add further weight to the idea that biological factors play a significant role in the development of sexual orientation,” said Robert-Jay Green, Executive Director of the Rockway Institute, a national center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender research and public policy at Alliant International University.
The study was conducted by Anthony F. Bogaert of Brock University in St. Catharines Ontario and published in the journal Neuropsychology (2007, Vol. 21, No. 1, 141-148). Bogaert asked about the sexual attractions and behavior of 538 gay or bisexual men and 373 heterosexual men. The men were questioned about their right or left hand usage for 10 physical activities. They also were asked if they had biological brothers.
Most of the men were right-handed. However, the gay and bisexual men had a higher likelihood of both left-handedness and extreme right-handedness when compared to the heterosexual men. “The number of older brothers increased the likelihood of being gay or bisexual in moderate right-handers only,” Bogaert wrote. “In both non-right-handers and in extreme right-handers, older brothers either did not increase or lowered the likelihood of being gay or bisexual.”
Bogaert went on to conclude: “If elevated extreme right-handedness is an indication of early neurodevelopmental anomalies, then an elevation of this handedness pattern in gay or bisexual men gives additional evidence that one route to same-sex attraction is through early developmental stressors” (during pregnancy) “or through a factor correlated with such stressors.”
However, Bogaert wrote, “a genetic explanation can also be forwarded.” He noted that genes have been linked to both handedness and sexual orientation. Specific genes have been linked to handedness and immune system functioning, but this relationship has not been sufficiently researched. Immune reactions are suspected in the male birth order findings.
“In conclusion,” he continues, “the main findings—evidence of extreme right-handedness in gay men, along with the moderating effect of older brothers at both ends of the handedness continuum—potentially move forward two important research programs (on handedness and birth order) related to men’s sexual-orientation development.”
“The results of this research suggest there is a biological predisposition to homosexuality among a significant number of gay/bisexual men,” said Green. “What we don’t know yet is how strong or widespread such biological predisposition is or whether it is a result of genes, maternal hormones during pregnancy, or maternal immune system functioning during conception.”
Green continued: “Although many legal scholars and others argue that lesbian/gay citizens deserve equal treatment regardless of the causes of sexual orientation, previous research shows that people who believe being gay is inborn are more apt to endorse equal rights. Thus research evidence like Bogaert’s, which is consistent with a biological explanation, may inform public opinion and policies in favor of lesbian/gay equality in areas such as employment opportunity and marriage rights.”
About Rockway Institute: The nonpartisan Rockway Institute promotes scientific and professional expertise to counter antigay prejudice and improve public policies affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The Institute’s view is that public opinion, policies, and programs should be shaped by the facts about LGBT lives, not by political ideology. A primary goal is to organize the most knowledgeable social scientists, mental health professionals, and physicians in the United States to provide accurate information about LGBT issues to the media, legislatures, and the courts. The Institute also conducts targeted research projects to address the nation’s most pressing LGBT public policy concerns. Website: http://www.rockwayinstitute.org
Imagine a world without gays, gay Indiain prince suggests
Pumping the bellows of his harmonium, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil performs with a purpose at the festival, he puts on every year to celebrate homosexuality in India, where it is illegal.
"Gays are talented, creative, imagine a world without us," said the flamboyant 42-year-old at the event that promotes gay and bisexual artists and raises awareness about HIV and AIDS.
"I was born gay with some talent and skills, this festival is for people like me," he added as guests filled the hall of his pink palace with classical Indian songs.
Oprah Winfrey, the American talk show host, has invited Gohil to appear on her show later this month, where he will discuss his work as a gay rights activist in a country where homosexuality is a crime, punishable by up to 10 years in jail under a vaguely worded law that bans sex "against the order of nature".
Imagine a world without gays
Hindustan Times, India
Uganda: Clergy Condemn Gay Legalisation
THE Uganda Joint Christian Council has condemned the Commonwealth for attempting to forcefully impose homosexuality on developing nations.
During anti-homosexuality inter-faith prayers at the Commonwealth Peoples Open Space on Friday, the council said the act constituted a threat to the unity of the bloc. Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso, the executive secretary of the council, said: "We are ready for CHOGM but we are not ready for homosexuality."
Pastor Martin Sempa of the Makerere Community Church said: "As religious leaders, we are challenging the communique that was drafted by the Commonwealth People's Forum delegates seeking to legalise homosexuality in all Commonwealth countries. To us, this is the start of the disintegration of the Commonwealth."
In its recommendations, the People's Forum urged the Commonwealth leaders to consider the rights of all minorities, including homosexuals and lesbians.
Uganda: Clergy Condemn Gay Legalisation
AllAfrica.com, Washington
Breakfast With Scot puts gay athlete(s) in the spotlight
Gay hockey family comedy Breakfast With Scot opened recently in Canada to a warm reception and some coverage in the mainstream press focusing squarely on the "gay hockey" angle. Amidst a lot of speculation about whether or not a hockey player will ever come out of the closet, we do learn one thing: there is apparently one gay athlete in the whole of Canada, former Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury.
Tewksbury is featured in both segments discussing the film, leading one to imagine that his his publicist is thanking the Canadian gods right now that this film has come along and made his client the go-to for all gay Canadian sports-related inquiries.
Breakfast With Scot puts gay athlete(s) in the spotlight
AfterElton.com
Are Gay Rumors The Real Reason Behind Trent Lott's Resignation?
Earlier today, Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), announced that he would resign from the Senate by the end of the year. Lott, a former college cheerleader at Ole' Miss, claims that he would like to leave on a "positive note", " after winning re-election last year to a leadership post and fostering legislation for rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. However, one can't help but wonder if there is some other reason behind the abrupt decision.
Later on Monday, a Washington D.C. blog, Big Head DC, made the claim that Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt had uncovered a connection between Lott and an openly gay male escort by the name of Benjamin Nicholas.
Nicholas so far hasn't admitted to sleeping with Lott, but he hasn't exactly denied it either. “Here’s my public comment, on-the-record: Sen. Lott and I have no current affiliation with one another. I’m sure he would appreciate no further scrutiny,” said Nicholas.
If Nicholas' name sounds familiar, there's good reason. He previously spoke out against Ted Haggard's boy toy, Mike Jones, for airing the preacher's dirty laundry and "breaking" an unwritten escort code of silence and betraying his client's right to privacy.
Considering his feelings on the Haggard situation, it makes sense that he would not publicly admit or reveal any information. It is also very curious that Big Head DC mentioned that Hustler was working on this story, especially considering that Larry Flynt promised us a new GOP gay sex scandal coming soon.
At this point it is all pure speculation, and if Hustler is in fact about to reveal Lott and some gay romps with a male escort, well we're sure to find out soon enough. But consider this: who, after spending millions of dollars seeking re-election, leaves in the middle of their term for any reason other than a scandal, health condition, or personal situation?
Are Gay Rumors The Real Reason Behind Trent Lott's Resignation?
Cleveland Leader, OH
November 25, 2007
Christian bookshops refuse to stock gay study Bible
CHRISTIAN bookshops are refusing to stock copies of a new Bible study guide that challenges standard New Testament translations that describe gay sex as sinful.
A US distributor, God's Word to Women, has banned the Australian publication, and withdrawn another Bible translation published by the same NSW publishing house, Smith and Stirling, for promoting a lifestyle in contradiction of the scriptures.
Two American academics have asked that their endorsements be removed from other works by a classical Greek lexicographer, Ann Nyland, because of her authorship of the gay study Bible.
Australia's largest Christian retailer, Koorong, said it was unlikely to carry the Study New Testament for Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender if the content proves controversial.
Mainstream Christian churches claim practising homosexuality is a sin based on several biblical verses and stories.
One is the Old Testament story of Genesis, while the ancient story of Sodom is taken as exclusive support for heterosexual coupling, and Leviticus 18:22 reads: "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female. It is an abomination."
In 1 Corinthians 6:9 and Timothy 1:10 Paul sets out examples of Jewish law including admonitions against fornication, idolatry and drunkenness, as well as the much disputed word "arsenokoites" which has been taken to mean homosexuality.
But in her study guide, Dr Nyland says the word has been wrongly assumed to mean homosexual. Its range of meanings includes one who anally penetrates another, whether female or male, a rapist, a murderer, or an extortionist. When used with the meaning anal penetrator, it does not apply exclusively to males, Dr Nyland says.
The word does not appear in any Greek literary source until the poets of the imperial period, when the Greeks wrote at length on male-male sexual relationships. The reference in Romans, and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, were about angels having sex with humans, and not about homosexual acts, she says.
Most New Testament translations are based on a lack of understanding of Greek word meaning and context, and disregard academic research, which shows passages in earlier translations are wrong, she says.
Christian bookshops refuse to stock gay study Bible
The Age, Australia
Gay man: I'm a target here in Barbados
THE FOUNDER of the United Gays And Lesbians Against AIDS In Barbados feels he is being targeted.
Darcy Dear was the victim of a recent stone-throwing incident that left two windows in the upper level of his home broken.
The confessed homosexual and gay rights activist, who is on break from his restaurant in New York, said it would cost $900 to replace the sash windows and pay for labour.
Dear, who is in the process of completing his apartment complex and home, said he was in his room on Wednesday night watching television when he had to dodge two large stones thrown through his windows.
He said the response from police at District "A" was swift and officers took away the stones and brushed the area for fingerprints.
As he pointed to the shattered glass in the room, he told the SUNDAY SUN team that was the second time in a week his home had been attacked.
"Last week Thursday, someone broke in here and stole jewellery, a lap top computer and a digital camera which is worth thousands of dollars."
Dear admitted that for the past two weeks, one man had been making disparaging remarks to him whenever he pasts by his home, which is located on a private road in Cutting Road, Haggatt Hall, St Michael.
Gay man: I'ma target
The Nation Newspaper, Barbado
Archbishop Of Canterbury: 'US Is Worse Than The British Empire At Its Peak'
The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched a stinging attack on America, comparing it unfavourably with the British Empire at its peak.
Dr Rowan Williams condemned America for moving on from Iraq and leaving others to "put it back together".
In an interview with Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel, reported in The Sunday Times, the head of the Church of England said America's attempts to accumulate influence and control around the world were "not working".
America in Iraq had tried a "short burst of violent action" in an attempt to "clear the decks", he said.
He told Emel magazine: "It is one thing to take over a territory and then pour energy and resources in to administering it and normalising it.
Archbishop Of Canterbury: 'US Is Worse Than The British Empire At Its Peak'
Gay Pastor in the Bronx Could Lose Her Collar
In 1994, when the Rev. Katrina D. Foster became pastor of Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bronx, she threw herself into ministering to her small, mostly Caribbean-born congregation. She not only preached to them on Sundays but lived in the neighborhood and showed up to support them in everything from surgeries to legal matters.
But Pastor Foster was keeping a secret from her congregation. She held onto it even after a woman came to live with her in the parsonage, then joined the church choir.
“Some people would say, ‘It’s so nice you have someone to live with you in that 11-room house,’ ” said Pastor Foster, 39.
But in 2002, when the woman, Pamela Kallimanis, became pregnant, they knew the time had come. So Pastor Foster sat her congregants down one by one and told them that she and Ms. Kallimanis were partners and were expecting a child.
Not one person openly criticized her, she said. Instead, “they threw us the most wonderfully outrageous baby shower in the side yard next to the church,” she said. “The woman I was most anxious about telling” — the church president — “I thought she was going to leap across the table and hug me.”
The response, however, was not all positive. A small number of families trickled away. Pastor Foster said only one member told her outright why she had stopped coming. “I got her on the phone one day and she said she couldn’t sit under a pastor who was a homosexual,” she said.
Now Pastor Foster and her roughly 100 congregants face a new challenge: the possibility that she, along with four other pastors in the New York area and 81 nationwide, could be defrocked in 2009 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The country’s largest Lutheran denomination, it allows openly gay pastors but forbids them from being in same-sex relationships, according to the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the denomination’s New York-area synod.
In August, Pastor Foster was among the clerics who disclosed that they were in such relationships at the church’s biennial national assembly in Chicago, where church policy was decided. The assembly voted to urge synod leaders not to discipline those pastors until the issue of pastors in same-sex relationships could be voted on at the next meeting, in 2009.
Gay Pastor in the Bronx Could Lose Her Collar
New York Times, United States -