A divorce court judge recently ruled that former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who is openly gay, didn't destroy his wife emotionally. McGreevey resigned in 2004 after his affair with a man was brought to light. Dina Matos McGreevey is still allowed to proceed with her claim of marriage fraud, reported the Associated Press. The divorce trial is scheduled to begin early May. In other news, the Newark Star-Ledger recently reported that a former aide revealed that he participated in several three-way romps with the couple before McGreevey became governor.
The Maryland Senate approved expanded rights for both gay and straight unmarried couples. The Senate approved, 30-17, to allowing domestic partners to make medical and funeral decisions for each other. The unmarried couples have to meet certain criteria, such as having joint checking accounts or owning property together. The bill will advance to the House for a vote.
An out lesbian now heads the liberal group, People for the American Way. Gay City News reported that People for the American Way announced that lesbian civil rights lawyer Kathryn Kolbert is the organization's new president. Kolbert has a partner of 30 years and two kids.
According to Advocate.com, a lesbian couple who wed in Massachusetts before moving want their marriage annulled in Missouri. One of the women says that she doesn't recognize the marriage, and is therefore seeking an annulment. The other woman says that their marriage was legal. The couple wed three years ago, shortly before moving to Missouri. Missouri passed a same-sex marriage ban, along with multiple other states, in 2004.
In Pennsylvania, a Senate bill that okays a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is one step closer to a Senate floor vote. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-4 to approve the bill, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The bill will now go to the Appropriations Committee, and if it is approved, will move to the Senate floor for a vote. However, if it is approved, the bill would also need to be passed by the 2009-2010 Legislature before the referendum can be placed on the November 2009 ballot for voters to decide.
Two Florida legislators introduced legislation that would allow gays and lesbians to adopt. In Florida, gay and lesbian people cannot adopt, due to a 30-year ban that Gov. Charlie Crist supports. However, they can be foster parents. According to the Associated Press, state Sen. Nan Rich and State Rep. Mary Brandenburg introduced legislation that would allow a judge to decide whether being adopted by a lesbian or gay person or same-sex couple is in the child's best interest.
Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean recently criticized the Washington Blade's continuing coverage of the discrimination lawsuit of a gay DNC staffer who was fired two years ago. Dean criticized the Blade's coverage, saying he has 'given up on the Blade,' and that their coverage of the DNC has been 'incorrect.' Following Dean's critical words, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association announced its support of the publication as it pursues the story.
Republican Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern, who recently made headlines when a YouTube video of her making anti-gay remarks surfaced, refuses to apologize. Kern, who said homosexuals are a bigger threat to national security than terrorists, told an Associated Press reporter that she refuses to apologize. She was reported as saying, 'I see no reason to apologize for what God says, that homosexuality is a sin.' Kern also failed to meet with PFLAG members and other activists at a recent Oklahoma rally. She had been invited to engage in conversation with local activists.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be the next recipient of the New York-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commissions' OUTSPOKEN Award. Tutu is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient and a pioneer for human rights. Tutu has done a large amount of human rights work in South Africa. In recent years, he has become very vocal about challenging anti-gay discrimination, likening it to apartheid. Tutu will be presented with the award in San Francisco April 8.
Fort Lauderdale police recently told the Miami Herald that the murder of Simmie Williams, Jr., an openly gay man who wore female clothing, is not being classified as a hate crime. However, police also said that they won't rule out his sexual orientation as a possible factor in his death. According to William's family, he identified as gay but wore female clothing. He was shot to death in February in an area known as a hangout for transgender prostitutes.
