Former Republican Wisconsin Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus, who signed into the law the country's first statewide gay rights law in 1982, passed away on Jan. 9, according to the Associated Press. Dreyfus, 81, was governor from 1979 to 1983. The 1982 gay rights measure he signed banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, public accommodations and employment.
In a victory for gay and lesbian Californians, the state's Supreme Court rejected a challenge to basic property tax protections for domestic partners. County assessors had petitioned for a review of an October 2007 California Court of Appeals decision that affirmed property tax protections for surviving domestic partners.
The National Stonewall Democrats reacted to the results of the Iowa caucuses, in which Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee came out as the leaders. 'As we move through the presidential selection process, National Stonewall Democrats will continue to utilize our Pride in the Party program to aide LGBT Democrats to influence presidential campaigns while they campaign for delegate to the Democratic National Convention,' the organization stated.
Roughly 30 couples took part in a group civil union ceremony at the New Hampshire State House at midnight, Jan. 1, reported the Associated Press. Civil unions became legal in the state on Jan. 1. The mass ceremony was organized by state Rep. Gail Morrison. According to Gaywired.com, one protestor was present during the event.
An anti-gay group has delayed the Oregon Fairness Act, which was supposed to offer many of the same legal protections for same-sex couples as marriage starting Jan. 1, reported EDGE Boston. On Dec. 28, a federal judge issued a stay on the state law after the anti-gay Ariz.-based Alliance Defense Fund filed suit. Anti-gay activists had gathered signatures in an attempt to place the measure on the 2008 ballot for voters to decide, rather than lawmakers, and feel many of the signatures were improperly discarded. A hearing will take place Feb. 1.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) just released its 'Worst Anti-Gay Defamation of 2007' list. The list includes unfortunate moments, including Isaiah Washington's use of the 'f-word' during a Golden Globes interview, an offensive Snickers Super Bowl commercial, anti-gay comments made by former NBA player Tim Hardaway and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace and much more.
New Jersey legislation requiring HIV testing for all pregnant women was recently signed into law, according to the Washington Post. Health care workers will now be required to test all pregnant, making it a part of routine prenatal care. Women are allowed to opt-out of the HIV testing, however.
The trial of two men accused of killing gay porn producer Bryan Kocis has been put on hold after one man's public defender was removed from the case due to what the judge felt was a possible conflict of interest. Joseph Kerekes and Harlow Cuadra are accused of murdering Kocis, who owned Cobra Video, last winter. The trial was supposed to start in March, but is now indefinitely on hold, reported 365gay.com .
Lambda Sci-Fi recently announced Gaylaxicon 2008, an annual international science fiction, fantasy and horror convention for LGBT people, will take place Oct. 10-13 in Washington, D.C. The guest of honor this year is author Geoff Ryman. See www.gaylaxicon2008.org for more information and to register.
By a vote of 65-10, New Jersey legislators have passed a law that supports the state's hate-crimes and anti-bullying statutes, 365Gay.com reported. Among other things, the law adds 'gender identity expressing' to the current hate-crimes statute and requiring schools to post and distribute their own anti-bullying policies.
Gary Cloutier—who was the first gay mayor of Vallejo, Calif., for two days before losing his seat in a recount—is suing to have the recount overturned, according to 365Gay.com . In November, Cloutier seemingly prevailed by five votes. His opponent, Osby Davis, demanded a recount and subsequently became the city's first Black mayor.
