 Washington Post | Virginia AG Defends Call For Colleges To Dump Gay Protections On Top Magazine ... the ACLU says that the Supreme Court “held that discriminatory laws based on sheer animus toward lesbian and gay persons violate the Equal Protection ... Students irate at Cuccinelli over gay-rights policies Students irate at Cuccinelli over gay-rights policies VIRGINIA PUNDIT: Are we living the thesis? |
 New York Daily News | Roy Ashburn, Anti Gay-Rights CA State Senator, Is Gay: Does It Matter? Right Pundits It seems California State Senator Roy Ashburn is gay. The only reason this is news is because Ashburn's Republican â€" and has voted against gay rights ... Staunch anti-gay GOP state senator Roy Ashburn finally admits he's homosexual Roy Ashburn: Where do gay Republicans fit among conservatives? Calif state senator says he's gay after DUI arrest |
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Largest Ever LGBT Marketing Travel Research Results to be Released by Out Now ... PR Newswire (press release) The '2010 Out Now Global LGBT Market Study' researches tourism markets of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people living in 14 countries across ... |
 Daily Record (subscription) | Thinking of same-sex marrige litigation? Proceed with caution, LGBT groups say Daily Record (subscription) I'm thinking the LGBT groups don't want aggrieved same-sex marrieds taking a page from the Janice M. v. Margaret K. playbook. That was the same-sex ex child ... |
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An open letter to Tony Abbott ABC Online ... this episode with a more constructive approach to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) human rights than we've seen recently from Tony Abbott. ... |
Celebrating GLBT sport Sydney Star Observer The Sports Festival featured 18 events highlighting the skills, diversity and team spirit of Sydney's popular GLBT sporting groups. ... |
Constance McMillen just wanted to be herself at her high school prom. Unfortunately, her high school in Mississippi has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend because they are both women. Furthermore, the school also forbade her from wearing a tuxedo to the prom. According to the ACLU:
“McMillen said she approached school officials shortly before a memo about prom was circulated at school on February 5 that said same-sex dates would not be allowed, because she knew same-sex dates had been banned from prom in the past. McMillen met with the assistant principal and later the superintendent, who told her that they would not be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom, and that she and her girlfriend might be thrown out if their presence made any other students “uncomfortable†at the April 2 event.â€
Now, the ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition are demanding that the school allow McMillen to attend the prom with her girlfriend. Banning same-sex couples from the prom is unconstitutional, say these groups.
And in addition to being a violation of their First Amendment rights, “This kind of discriminatory treatment sends a message to LGBT students that they are not supported or accepted at school, and it sends a message to straight students that it is okay to discriminate against LGBT people,†says Mekina Morgan, Safe Schools Coordinator of PFLAG National.
Read the full statement from the ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition here.
“McMillen said she approached school officials shortly before a memo about prom was circulated at school on February 5 that said same-sex dates would not be allowed, because she knew same-sex dates had been banned from prom in the past. McMillen met with the assistant principal and later the superintendent, who told her that they would not be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom, and that she and her girlfriend might be thrown out if their presence made any other students “uncomfortable†at the April 2 event.â€
Now, the ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition are demanding that the school allow McMillen to attend the prom with her girlfriend. Banning same-sex couples from the prom is unconstitutional, say these groups.
And in addition to being a violation of their First Amendment rights, “This kind of discriminatory treatment sends a message to LGBT students that they are not supported or accepted at school, and it sends a message to straight students that it is okay to discriminate against LGBT people,†says Mekina Morgan, Safe Schools Coordinator of PFLAG National.
Read the full statement from the ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition here.
Today's Washington Post claims that the former chief operating officer of Catholic Charities has called on the organization to reverse its recent decision to change health benefits for employees' spouses, a move designed to avoid legitimizing same-sex marriage.
Tim Sawina, who was until last year one of the group's highest-ranking executives, called the elimination of spousal health benefits "devastating" and "wrong" in a letter Wednesday to the governing boards of the social service organization.
The move to change benefits is the most recent fallout from a struggle between the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and District officials, who passed legislation last year to legalize same-sex marriage.
Rather than provide health coverage to same-sex partners, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl decided to cut benefits for spouses of all future Catholic Charities employees, new spouses of current employees and existing spouses of current employees not already on the plan. Wuerl has said the benefits change is justifiable under Catholic teaching as long as the employees are paid a just wage.
But by eliminating such benefits, Sawina said, Catholic Charities is driving current employees to look for jobs elsewhere, handicapping the group's recruitment efforts and losing the respect of the D.C. community.
"Some, including the archbishop, have argued that by providing health care to a gay or lesbian spouse we are somehow legitimizing gay marriage," said Sawina, a former priest. "Providing health care to a gay or lesbian partner -- a basic human right, according to Church teaching -- is an end in itself and no more legitimizes that marriage than giving communion to a divorced person legitimizes divorce, or giving food or shelter to an alcoholic legitimizes alcoholism."
The archdiocese responded to Sawina's letter Thursday, calling it an inaccurate portrayal of the Church's position and saying that his appeal to the organization's board of directors would have no effect, because the board can't overturn the archbishop's decision.
In his letter, Sawina expressed concern over the organization's future. "Its goodwill and name are being squandered," he wrote. "More importantly, the greatest asset of the agency -- its staff -- feel a profound sense of humiliation and shame. Many are actively looking to leave. Catholic Charities will be forever handicapped in attracting new staff with such a draconian benefit plan."
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
Tim Sawina, who was until last year one of the group's highest-ranking executives, called the elimination of spousal health benefits "devastating" and "wrong" in a letter Wednesday to the governing boards of the social service organization.
The move to change benefits is the most recent fallout from a struggle between the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and District officials, who passed legislation last year to legalize same-sex marriage.
Rather than provide health coverage to same-sex partners, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl decided to cut benefits for spouses of all future Catholic Charities employees, new spouses of current employees and existing spouses of current employees not already on the plan. Wuerl has said the benefits change is justifiable under Catholic teaching as long as the employees are paid a just wage.
But by eliminating such benefits, Sawina said, Catholic Charities is driving current employees to look for jobs elsewhere, handicapping the group's recruitment efforts and losing the respect of the D.C. community.
"Some, including the archbishop, have argued that by providing health care to a gay or lesbian spouse we are somehow legitimizing gay marriage," said Sawina, a former priest. "Providing health care to a gay or lesbian partner -- a basic human right, according to Church teaching -- is an end in itself and no more legitimizes that marriage than giving communion to a divorced person legitimizes divorce, or giving food or shelter to an alcoholic legitimizes alcoholism."
The archdiocese responded to Sawina's letter Thursday, calling it an inaccurate portrayal of the Church's position and saying that his appeal to the organization's board of directors would have no effect, because the board can't overturn the archbishop's decision.
In his letter, Sawina expressed concern over the organization's future. "Its goodwill and name are being squandered," he wrote. "More importantly, the greatest asset of the agency -- its staff -- feel a profound sense of humiliation and shame. Many are actively looking to leave. Catholic Charities will be forever handicapped in attracting new staff with such a draconian benefit plan."
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
The New York State assembly passed a bill Wednesday that would protect transgender people under the state's Human Rights Law.
The 91-40 vote on the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA, came with bipartisan support. This is the third time GENDA has passed in the assembly but it has yet to pass in the senate, according to the Empire State Pride Agenda.
Gov. David Paterson recently issued an executive order to ban discrimination based on gender identity and expression for state employees.
Currently only 13 states and Washington, D.C., have laws to protect transgender people from employment, financial, public accommodation, and housing discrimination. Some cities and counties in New York, including Rochester and New York City, have standing GENDA laws.
"By eliminating the fear of losing their jobs, homes, and fair treatment in communities across the state, we can make certain that every New Yorker receives equal opportunities regardless of gender identity," assembly member Richard Gottfried, who sponsored the bill, told the Empire State News.
For more information on the GENDA Campaign, click here.
The 91-40 vote on the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA, came with bipartisan support. This is the third time GENDA has passed in the assembly but it has yet to pass in the senate, according to the Empire State Pride Agenda.
Gov. David Paterson recently issued an executive order to ban discrimination based on gender identity and expression for state employees.
Currently only 13 states and Washington, D.C., have laws to protect transgender people from employment, financial, public accommodation, and housing discrimination. Some cities and counties in New York, including Rochester and New York City, have standing GENDA laws.
"By eliminating the fear of losing their jobs, homes, and fair treatment in communities across the state, we can make certain that every New Yorker receives equal opportunities regardless of gender identity," assembly member Richard Gottfried, who sponsored the bill, told the Empire State News.
For more information on the GENDA Campaign, click here.
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