The Department of Justice is appealing lesbian flight nurse Margaret Witt's reinstatement in the military, according to a 365Gay.com item. In September, U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton ruled that Witt, a former major, had to be reinstated because her dismissal ( under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ) violated her constitutional rights. However, in appealing, the department did not ask that the lower court's ruling be frozen—meaning that Witt can re-enter the armed forces. President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates want to end the ban, but feel it should be done through Congress, not the judicial branch.
While talking with evangelical voters in Des Moines, Iowa, Republican Mike Huckabee praised the ouster of three state supreme court justices who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, according to Advocate.com . Huckabee spoke to more than 1,000 individuals at an event that marked the merger of a few groups into a single organization, the Family Leader. Huckabee, who is currently a TV commentator, may run for president in 2012.
After more than a year than a controversial inspection took place at the Fort Worth, Texas, gay bar known as the Rainbow Lounge, city officials have dropped charges against four patrons, according to the L.A. Times. During the inspection, Chad Gibson suffered a head injury; subsequently, people protested locally and nationally after patrons accused police officers of excessive force. Public-intoxication charges were dropped against Gibson, George Armstrong, Dylan Brown and Jose Macias.
Republican California state Sen. Roy Ashburn has done an about-face regarding how he does his job since coming out of the closet—so much so that his Equality California rating has skyrocketed, according to Gayapolis.com . Ashburn's score last year was zero; now it is 86—higher than some Democrats. Ashburn came out earlier this year amid rumors that he was arrested for drunk driving shortly after leaving a gay club.
In Massachusetts, prisoners are suing the state over its dispersal of HIV medication, according to an HIVPlusMag.com item. The suit claims that authorities routinely discourage prisoners from taking the drugs in order to save the state millions of dollars annually. New guidelines dictate that prisoners receive their daily medication in infirmaries instead of their own cells. As many as 300 inmates receive HIV medication.
Kristina Schake—who co-founded the consulting firm Griffin Schake and is a board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which is behind the lawsuit challenging Prop 8—is Michelle Obama's new communications director and President Obama's special assistant, according to Advocate.com . In a statement, Michelle Obama emphasized Schake's background in public-health issues and childhood nutrition. The position starts Dec. 6.
In New Jersey, Attorney General Paula Dow has found that the Emerson school board allowed a student, identified as "J.C.," to be bullied for years, according to NBCNewYork.com . Dow cited students circulating "derogatory drawings of J.C." and officials not reaching out to the supposed offenders' parents ( after J.C.'s parents filed at least 17 complaints ) as examples of the board's alleged inaction. An attorney for the board said that school system "denies any bullying took place and that all complaints were handled appropriately."
In Michigan, Saul Anuzis, the head of that state's Republican party, has endorsed Kyle Bristow, a right-wing extremist who has been involved in anti-gay and racist activities, Advocate.com reported. Bristow is the former leader of the Michigan State University branch of Young Americans for Freedom, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has classified as a hate group. Anuzis is hoping to overtake Michael Steele as chair of the Republican National Committee.
In Hawaii, it looks like a civil-union bill is poised to become law next year—especially since Democrat Neil Abercrombie has been elected governor, according to LGBTQNation.com . Abercrombie is a former 10-term congressman who supports gay rights; he has said that he would sign a same-sex civil-union bill if the state legislature passes it. The legislature passed a bill that would have given same-sex couples the rights of marriage, but Republican Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed it.
In New Jersey, the state legislature voted Nov. 23 to pass what some are calling the country's toughest anti-bullying measure, Advocate.com reported. The measure would require most public-school employees to be trained about how to spot bullying, and would mandate that all districts have panels to review complaints. The bill passed by a combined vote of 101-1 ( with five abstentions ) in the state senate and general assembly; however, Republican Gov. Chris Christie has not said if he will sign the measure.
In Rhode Island, marriage-equality opponents have been trying to change Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee's mind on the issue, according to Projo.com . Christopher Plante, director of the state's chapter of the National Organization for Marriage, attempted to convince Chafee aide Michael Trainor that voters ( and not legislators ) should decide the issue. However, Trainor later sent Plante a letter reiterating Chafee's belief that " [ m ] arriage equality is a basic right that should be extended to all Rhode Islanders—a question not only of fairness and justice, but of economic development as well."
In Kentucky, Bowling Green voters have passed two ordinances that protect LGBT residents from discrimination, the Toledo Blade reported. One ordinance adds 12 protected classes to the city's housing code, while the other protects those same groups from discrimination in the areas of business, employment, education and public services. One ordinance actually did not pass on election night; however, it turned out that both were approved after provisional ballots were counted.
A college-admission application form employed by more than 400 of the country's 3,000 colleges may have questions regarding sexuality and gender identity added to it, according to a Chicago Sun-Times item. The 35-year-old nonprofit known as the Common Application provides an application ( online and in print ) that students may submit to the 415 members. The University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College both asked the sexuality question, while Connecticut College and Tufts University have inquired about clarification of gender expression. A decision should be made during January.
Officials at one of the Common Application members, Tennessee's Belmont University, have blocked the pro-LGBT Christian organization Bridge Builders from being recognized, according to Out & About. The group has repeatedly made requests, only to be turned down each time. Robbie Maris, president of the group, said, "As a gay Christian, I feel a need to stand in this gap that's created at Belmont and in the church." Belmont University, located in Nashville, is a Christian institution with approximately 5,900 students.
The Washington, D.C. marriage bureau has declared the union of two Texas men who were wedded via Skype invalid, according to Advocate.com . Mark Reed and Dante of Dallas, Texas, got married via Skype with a minister in D.C. However, the bureau sent the couple a letter invalidating the marriage because all of the parties were not in the district, where same-sex marriage is allowed. The couple is looking into legal remedies.
Sarah Palin was apparently oblivious to the severity of daughter Willow's recent use of the word "faggot" against a boy who criticized Sarah's reality-TV show, according to Advocate.com . In an interview with Fox New's Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin said at one point, "Willow, ... my 16-year-old, she had had it up to here with somebody saying very, very hateful things about the family and saying mean things about her little brother Trig, and Willow finally responded and she used a bad word when she responded in defense of her family. And her response became national news. ... I had to explain to her, 'Willow, there is no justice here but you have to just zip your lip and let's move forward.'"
At the University of Colorado, a group of employees has formed to oppose the rehiring of Bill McCartney as the school's football coach, saying that he is misogynistic and homophobic, according to DailyCamera.com . In 1992, McCartney called homosexuality "an abomination against almighty God"; in addition, a 1989 Sports Illustrated piece showed that, in 1986-89, two dozen football players were arrested on charges including sexual assault. McCartney, 70, who initially retired in the mid-1990s, is the founder of the Promise Keepers men's ministry.
Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and his partner, Freedom to Marry Political Director Sean Eldridge, have pledged to match donations made to Equality Maryland; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders ( GLAD ) ; Empire State Pride Agenda; and Freedom to Marry for the remainder of 2010, according to an Advocate.com item. They will match up to $100,000 for Freedom to Marry, $50.000 for ESPA, $50,000 for GLAD and $25,000 for Equality Maryland. Hughes and Eldridge have been together for five years.
The creators of the anti-gay iPhone app the Manhattan Declaration want to know why the app was recently pulled from iTunes, according to Advocate.com . The app urges people to stand against same-sex marriage, and had been downloadable on iPads and iPhones. Apple executives said, "We removed the Manhattan Declaration app from the App Store because it violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people." However, the app's makers say that they are "perplexed" by the development.
