The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's National Religious Leadership Roundtable and the Center for American Progress have released two reports that analyze advocacy of marriage-equality ballot initiatives in California and Michigan, according to a joint press release. The Task Force released "A Time to Build Up: Analysis of the No on Proposition 8 Campaign and Its Implications for Future Pro-LGBTQQIA Religious Organizing" while the center issued "The Faithful Divide Over Wedding Vows: A Profile of Michigan's 2004 Battle Over Marriage Equality" see www.welcomingresources.org and www.americanprogress.org, respectively.
The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law released a study that shows that New Hampshire's decision to extend marriage to same-sex couples will be an economic boon. With five New England states now recognizing marriage for same-sex couples, the entire region is expected to experience an overall economic boost of almost $400 million.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the International Court System, in collaboration with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, has recognized 40 transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals for their contribution toward LGBT equality. Among the honorees are entertainers RuPaul and Lady Bunny; National Center for Lesbian Rights Legal Director Shannon Price Minter; and trans lesbian feminist Riki Wilchins. See www.impcourt.org/Trans40.
In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Ronald E. Albers—an openly gay man—to serve as a state judge, according to Advocate.com . Albers, a founding co-chair of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association and a San Francisco County superior court commissioner, was sworn in as a superior court judge June 15. Recently, Schwarzenegger declined to defend the constitutionality of Proposition 8 in a federal lawsuit.
In a controversial move, U.S. Barney Frank, D-Mass., has backed off from criticizing the Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) , according to Advocate.com . When he initially commented on the Department of Justice's motion to dismiss a challenge to DOMA, the openly gay Frank said, "I think the administration made a big mistake." He later issued a statement, saying, in part, "Now that I have read the brief, I believe that the administration made a conscientious and largely successful effort to avoid inappropriate rhetoric."
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network ( GLSEN ) has released a report that reveals that LGBT students in Illinois face high levels of harassment at school. The 2007 survey found that, among other things, 89% of Illinois LGBT students experienced verbal harassment in the past year that involved sexual harassment, 43% said they had been physically harassed and 21% said they had been physically assaulted.
In Wisconsin, the Christian Civil Liberties Union has filed a claim in Milwaukee, requesting the right to burn a public library's copy of Baby Be-Bop, a book for young adults that contains gay themes, Advocate.com reported. Baby Be-Bop, written by Francesca Lia Block, centers around a teen struggling with his sexual orientation and an attack by a anti-gay gang.
Equality Maryland Executive Director Kate Runyon left her position after six months, the Washington Blade reported. Runyon, who did not provide a reason for her departure, resigned effective June 12. Equality Maryland and the Equality Maryland Foundation have begun a national search for a new executive director; in the interim, Foundation Board President David Toth is managing the organizations.
The Utah Pride Center recently honored Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., with its 2009 Pete Suazo Political Action Award, the Deseret News reported. Earlier this year, Huntsman came out in favor of civil unions as well as a legislative initiative that favored same-sex couples. However, Huntsman did not show up to accept his award; he has been lying low as he prepares for his U.S. Senate confirmation hearings after President Barack Obama nominated him as ambassador to China.
Scientists have found that more than 450 species of animals exhibit gay behavior—and that homosexuality may be crucial for those species to survive, according to PinkNews.co.uk. U.S. researchers Nathan Bailey and Marlene Zuk wrote in a paper, "Trends in Ecology and Evolution," that " [ t ] he variety and ubiquity of same-sex sexual behaviour in animals is impressive. Many thousands of instances of same-sex courtship, pair bonding and copulation have been observed in a wide range of species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, molluscs and nematodes."
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs has released a report that states the number of anti-gay murders jumped 28 percent between 2007 and 2008, WCAX.com reported. Last year's 29 killings constitute the highest number in a decade. The organization has said that its figures are more accurate than the FBI's because the bureau does not record crimes against trans individuals.
The ACLU is accusing the staff of a Fresno, Calif., hospital of preventing a lesbian from visiting her partner, according to KMPH.com . A lesbian couple —Kristin Orbin and Teresa Rowe—had been walking in a 14-mile march when Orbin suffered a seizure and was taken to Community Regional Medical Center. Rowe claimed she offered to have Orbin's legal papers, which name her as her partner's healthcare agent, faxed to the hospital, but was reportedly told by staff the paperwork did not matter.
In Texas, the defense attorney in a murder trial is claiming "gay panic," saying his client beat and stabbed the victim in self-defense, according to EDGE Boston. Defendant Eric Smith, 36, allegedly stabbed Marin Byerly, 58, in the chest and eye with a screwdriver, used a cinder block to beat him on the head and the tried to get rid of Byerly's nude body back in September 2007.
The 24th annual AIDS Walk New York attracted 45,000 participants and raised $5.6 million, according to a Gay Men's Health Crisis press release. Since its start in 1986, the walk has raised more than $111 million for dozens of HIV/AIDS service organizations. This year, the event's Opening Ceremony featured actress/singer Hilary Duff, Carson Kressley ( Queer Eye for the Straight Guy ) , Brooke Smith ( Grey's Anatomy ) and Michael Urie ( Ugly Betty ) .
In Maine, the state's human-rights commission has concluded that transwoman Brianna Freeman was likely the victim of illegal discrimination in 2007 when a Denny's manager stopped her from using a women's restroom, according to an Advocate.com item. In addition, the regional manager and director of operations told Freeman to use the men's restroom until her sexual-reassignment surgery was complete. Freeman's complaint is the first of its kind that the commission has handled.
The ACLU is accusing the staff of a Fresno, Calif., hospital of preventing a lesbian from visiting her partner, according to KMPH.com . A lesbian couple —Kristin Orbin and Teresa Rowe—had been walking in a 14-mile march when Orbin suffered a seizure and was taken to Community Regional Medical Center. Rowe claimed she offered to have Orbin's legal papers, which name her as her partner's healthcare agent, faxed to the hospital, but was reportedly told by staff the paperwork did not matter.
In Baltimore, Md., 21-year-old Mark Floyd has been arrested in connection with the murder of lesbian couple Lydia Steed and Allisha Royster, ABC2News.com reported. The couple, who had been stabbed several times, was discovered days after the killings. Floyd was dating a stripper who had moved in with the couple; however, Steed and Royster had kicked her out a few weeks ago.
Read more national news online at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com, and find out about Schwarzenegger's new gay connection and Barney's move regarding DOMA.
