It was announced that the Department of Defense Authorization bill will not include hate crimes language. Congress dropped the Matthew Shepard measure, which would have expanded hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation. 'House Democratic leaders will work with our Senate colleagues to make certain that a hate crimes bill passes the Senate and goes to the President's desk,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated in a press release.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation launched its most recent initiative, 'All Children—All Families,' on Dec. 11 in New Orleans. The event also marked the release of the 'Promising Practices' guide, which offers examples of effectively working with LGBT foster and adoptive parents. See www.hrc.org for more.
A recount shows that Vallejo, Cal., didn't elect its first openly gay mayor after all, but instead elected its first black mayor, AP reported. According to election officials, the recount shows that Osby Davis came out a mere three votes ahead of the openly gay Gary Cloutier.
The Florida Supreme Court recently rejected a student outing case, 365gay.com reported. A student and his mother had sued a Christian school for expelling him in 2003 for violating school policy by telling students he is gay. According to the student, he confided in a school chaplain about his sexuality, who then told school officials. The Supreme Court didn't give a reason for not taking the case. Last year, an appeals court ruled in the school's favor.
According to The Advocate, the Philadelphia chapter of the Boy Scouts ignored the city's deadline to reverse its anti-gay policies or pay full price for its rent. The local chapter currently pays $1 a year for rent. The city said the chapter will have to pay $200,000 a year in rent or get out if it doesn't abide by its demands. The AP reports that the Boy Scouts is planning legal action. The local council will be evicted in June.