Lambda Legal has secured asylum for a Mexican man who had suffered death threats and beatings from police and others because of his sexual orientation, according to an organizational press release. Jorge Soto Vega, who faced severe harassment and violence from the community and his family from an early age, had to endure a legal process that began in 2003 before he was granted asylum in the United States.
A prominent U.S. Senate Democrat, Max Baucus of Montana, attempted to block an amendment to the minimum-wage bill that would provide tax deductions for domestic-partner health benefits, according to The Washington Blade. Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, ruled out considering the Smith-Schumer amendment—along with all other health-related amendment—because he feared they would jeopardize a compromise package of tax-relief proposals for small businesses that Republicans have demanded for backing the minimum-wage measure.
mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, and the Kaiser Family Foundation have announced a competition called the 'Change the Course of HIV Challenge,' according to an MTV release. The challenge asks gamers, activists or students to propose a viral, Web-based video game concept to help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among teens and young adults. The winning individual or team will work with mtvU and the foundation to develop the game.
In California, gay Republicans have begun to try convincing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a bill legalizing same-sex marriage if it passes the legislature, according to 365Gay.com . Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, introduced the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act in the Assembly last month—a bill is identical to a one passed last year in both the Assembly and Senate but vetoed by Schwarzenegger.
In the state of Washington, nearly a quarter of the school districts prohibit teachers from talking about homosexuality and nearly a third do not allow teachers to discus condoms, 365Gay.com noted. The statistics are part of a study released by the Healthy Youth Alliance, a coalition working to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy among teens in the state.
The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that public universities and governments cannot provide health insurance to the partners of gay employees without violating the state constitution, the Washington Blade reported. Reversing a ruling from an Ingham County judge, a three-judge panel said a 2004 voter-approved ban on gay marriage also applies to same-sex domestic-partner benefits.
In Indiana, a Hobart man has filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell in Lake Superior Court, claiming that the restaurant's employees made anti-gay slurs against him and assaulted him, according to NWITimes.com . Charles E. Dayton is asking for $1 million in damages from Taco Bell and names employees Amber Barnes and Joseph Shinkle in the suit, which alleges civil assault and battery; infliction of emotional distress; and negligence.
A senior Democratic official ( who wished to remain anonymous ) has said that comedian Al Franken has decided to run for the Senate in Minnesota in 2008, Advocate.com reported. However, the news was not unexpected; recently, Franken has been calling members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to get their input on a run, and he announced this week that he would be leaving his show on Air America Radio on Feb. 14.
A new poll shows that a majority of Americans support allowing gays to serve openly in the military, according to an Advocate.com item. The survey of 2,337 U.S. residents revealed that 55 percent of those polled say openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the military. Moreover, 57 percent agreed with former joint chiefs of staff chairman John Shalikashvili's assertion that openly gay people will 'not undermine the efficacy of the armed forces.'
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has publicly apologized for having a sexual relationship with his former campaign manager's wife, 365Gay.com reported. Alex Tourk resigned after confronting his boss, Newsom, about his relationship with his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, who once worked as the mayor's appointment secretary.
Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, has defended her decision to become pregnant, according to The New York Times. 'When Heather [ Poe, Mary's partner ] and I decided to have a baby, I knew it wasn't going to be the most popular decision,' she said. 'This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate, on either side of a political issue. It is my child.'
The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy has released a study showing high rates of HIV discrimination by health care providers in Los Angeles County. Overall, 56 percent of skilled nursing facilities, 47 percent of obstetricians and 26 percent of plastic and cosmetic surgeons in the county would not accept HIV-positive patients for services given to HIV-negative patients.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure—the world's largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists—is accepting nominations for its new national advocacy council that focuses on LGBT breast health issues, according to PR Newswire. The council's goal will be to help reduce disparities in breast cancer deaths within the LGBT community. E-mail vbrown@komen.org or call Veronica Brown at 972-701-2185. Nominations are due Feb. 26.
Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) has released its annual report, 'Equality from State to State: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Americans and State Legislation in 2006,' according to an organizational statement. Among the items are that almost 400 bills affecting the LGBT community were introduced in state legislatures, with 44 becoming law. Other highlights include the first-ever defeat of an anti-gay state constitutional amendment by voters ( in Arizona ) . The full report is at www.hrc.org/statelegreport.
Constance R. Matthews, 51, has filed a civil lawsuit against Penn State University, CentreDaily.com reported. A former assistant professor in the College of Education, Matthews has claimed that her gender, her open lesbianism and/or her vocal advocacy prevented her from being promoted or receiving tenure. Her suit is the fourth discrimination-based one in the past 18 months for the university.
