Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith apologized for comparing gay marriage to polygamy during a gay rights forum in Washington, D.C. The lawmaker said he was sorry for his 'confusing' comments linking the debate over gay marriage to the persecution of his Mormon ancestors for the practice of polygamy. 'I meant no offense by sharing that part of my history,' Smith said in a statement.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is calling President Bush's pick for the Presidential Medal of Freedom 'outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful' to lesbian and gay troops currently serving in the armed forces. Bush awarded Gen. Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian award, on June 19. Last year, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Pace called gays 'immoral.'
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network ( SLDN ) has released new information revealing that women make up almost half of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' discharges—even though they compose only 15 percent of the armed forces, according to PR Newswire. SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis called the revelation 'shocking' and added that ' [ w ] omen, in particular, have been caught in the crosshairs of this counterproductive law.'
The Human Rights Campaign is calling for an investigation of police brutality against a Memphis transgender woman. A recently released video shows Duanna Johnson, who was arrested on a charge of prostitution, being beaten by a police officer and maced while another officer held her down at Shelby County Criminal Justice Center. In a statement, HRC's Joe Solmonese said, 'This type of profound violence is the exact thing that police officers are supposed to protect people from.' The national gay rights organization is calling for a full criminal investigation of the police brutality case.
According to controversial and conservative radio host Michael Savage, the 'homosexual mafia' is destroying the minds of children. In response to a caller who discussed having to explain to his child why two men were holding hands, Savage replied, 'You've got to explain to the children ... why God told people this was wrong. You have to explain this to them in this time of mental rape that's going on. The children's minds are being raped by the homosexual mafia. That's my position. They're raping our children's minds.' This isn't the first time 'The Savage Nation' radio host has made homophobic remarks on air. In 2003, Savage was canned by MSNBC for anti-gay comments.
The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) recently filed a sex discrimination lawsuit on behalf of a transgender truck driver. The suit claims that Kaylee Seals was illegally fired by the Old Dominion Freight Lines, where she worked for over two years, for 'impersonating a female.' Before being fired, Seals had told her employer that she would was transitioning from male to female, and also informed her supervisor of harassment she received from other employees because of her appearance. During her time working for Old Dominion Freight Lines, Seals received a number of awards for her work.
A gay man who has protested against the federal Defense of Marriage Act by not paying his taxes for five years may face up to 15 years in prison. The IRS charged Charles Merrill, 73, with tax evasion. His trial will begin in November. Merrill started his protest back in 2004 out of anger that he and his long-time partner must file their taxes separately because the federal government does not recognize same-sex relationships.
Family Equality Council, a gay rights organization, blasted national entertainment corporation TiVo for partnering with the anti-gay national group Focus on the Family. TiVo is sponsoring and endorsing Focus on the Family's 'I Know a SuperDad Essay Contest.' In a letter to TiVo, Family Equality Council executive director Jennifer Chrisler wrote, 'Aligning yourselves with Focus on the Family for the 'I Know a SuperDad Essay Contest' sends the message that you support anti-LGBT politics and the hate speech Focus on the Family regularly spreads.' Family Equality Council is asking TiVo to withdraw its support of the contest.
A New York transgender rights bill advanced June 3 in the general assembly by a 102-33 vote. The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act now moves to the Senate. New York banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in areas of housing, credit, public accommodation and employment in 2002, and if passed, this bill would extend protections on the basis of gender identity and expression. In addition, if passed, the bill would add gender identity and expression to New York's hate crimes law.
Pop star and LGBT ally Cyndi Lauper will make an appearance on an upcoming episode of a popular soap. Lauper will appear and perform her hit song 'True Colors' on the July 3 episode of CBS' 'As the World Turns.' During the show, she will act and sing, promoting her new album while also supporting the storyline between characters Luke and Noah, who recently broke up on the show.
Young actor Shia LaBeouf ( Transformers; Indiana Jones ) recently apologized for a YouTube video in which the star calls his friend an anti-gay slur at a house party. LaBeouf's rep said the actor is 'very embarrassed' about the video, and regrets using the word in any capacity. According to his rep, the slur was used in jest, and the video was recorded several years ago.
