In a change from his previous comments regarding civil unions, presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has stated his opposition to the civil union law passed by the New Hampshire Senate, the New York Sun reported. In a written reply to a question from the Sun, the Giuliani campaign said, 'In this specific case, the law states [ that ] same-sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same-sex unions from outside states. This goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it.'
By a vote of 59-37, the Iowa House has joined the state Senate in passing a bill that will outlaw sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, Gay.com reported. ( However, the House added an amendment that confirmed state law that marriage is only between a man and a woman. ) Gov. Chet Culver has said that he will sign the bill, which will make Iowa the 18th state to ban sexual orientation bias and the 10th to ban gender identity discrimination in areas of housing, public accommodations and the workplace.
The New York Public Library has acquired an archive of letters, flyers, manuscripts and other materials accumulated by the late gay-rights activist Barbara Gittings and her partner, photojournalist Kay Tobin Lahusen, a library press release announced. Among the papers are items that describe Gittings' founding of the East Coast chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first national lesbian organization. The Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen Gay History Papers and Photographs will be located in the library's Humanities and Social Sciences Library's Manuscripts and Archives Division.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee has voted to send the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act—which would expand the categories in the current federal hate crimes law to include gender identity and sexual orientation—to the full House, according to CNSNews.com . While the bill's supporters have said that the measure would cut down on a crime that happens everywhere, conservatives feel that the bill would punish thinking because resentment motivates most crimes.
Some scientists feel that males are more likely to be born gay while some females are born that way and others eventually adopt a same-sex orientation, according to The New York Times. One experiment revealed that heterosexual men were aroused by women while gay men were stimulated by images of other men; however, women blurred the lines by being aroused by images of males and females.
On April 27, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer became the first governor in the nation to introduce a same-sex marriage bill, 365Gay.com reported. Before the filing, a Crain's Internet poll revealed that almost two-thirds of the respondents supported Spitzer's plan to introduce the bill, according to NewYorkBusiness.com . Supporters also felt that same-sex couples should have the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
In California, Cinthia Covarrubias—who identifies as transgender—lost in the race for prom king at Fresno High School, The Washington Blade reported. School officials added Covarrubias to the prom-king ballot despite the fact that she is biologically female, complying with a state statute regarding the expression of gender identity.
The West Palm Beach, Fla., City Council has unanimously decided to prohibit gender identity discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing, 365Gay. com reported. The city already protects categories such as race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and even marital status.
June 1 will mark the second annual Blogging for LGBT Families Day, according to a press release from gay-parenting site Mombian, which developed the event. On the day, bloggers and writers of all sexual orientations will unite and write entries that support LGBT-based families. The founder, Dana Rudolph, chose the day because it is halfway between Mother's Day and Father's Day, and is also the start of Gay Pride Month. For more info, see www.mombian.com .
National Gay Newspaper Guild President Sue O'Connell has expressed the organization's opposition to a proposed U.S. Senate bill that would ban advertising newly-approved drugs for two years, according to a press release from Bay Windows, one of the publications in the guild. 'For people living with illnesses like HIV and AIDS especially, a statutory two-year silence on advertising new drug options makes no sense at all,' said O'Connell. 'Worse, it is likely to betray a patient's knowledge and ability to speak to their physician about new therapies as they emerge.'
Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and his wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, have gone to divorce court—and it was their first public encounter since he came out of the closet in 2004, 365Gay.com reported. The process has become quite contentious, with the two accusing each other of everything from bad parenting to homophobia. They have one child, five-year-old daughter Jacqueline.
In Florida, a federal judge has stopped attorneys from questioning student witness about their sexual orientation in a case involving the Okeechobee High School Gay-Straight Alliance, 365Gay.com reported. In September, students tried to form the organization on campus, but were told they could not. They then filed a federal lawsuit.
In Indianapolis, two religious billboards that support homosexuality have been vandalized, according to The Indianapolis Star. One ad had 'Lie, lie, lie' spray-painted over the original message, 'Jesus affirmed a gay couple.' Faith in America, a national gay advocacy group, leased space on 22 billboards across the city to spread pro-gay messages.
In a press release, GLAAD ( Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ) President Neil G. Giuliano praised trans journalist Christine Daniels, a sports writer formerly known as Mike Penner, for telling her story in 'Old Mike, New Christine,' a column that recently appeared in the Los Angeles Times sports section. Giuliano said that 'Christine's still-unfolding story sends a powerful message about the importance of living openly and honestly—as does the Times' public support of her transition.'
After seven years, Craig Bowman is stepping down as executive director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition ( NYAC ) , the country's only national organization that works solely for LGBTQ young people, according to an NYAC press release. Lara Crutsinger-Perry, NYAC's director of health programs, will serve as interim executive director.
The LGBT-rights organization known as Equality Forum will hold its International Equality Dinner on May 5 at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, according to an organizational press release. Tennis icon Martina Navratilova will receive the 12th Annual International Role Model Award. See www.equalityforum.com for more.
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is accepting workshop proposals for the 2007 Out & Equal Workplace Summit, scheduled for Sept. 27-29 in Washington, D.C, according to an organizational press release. ( Approximately 2,000 participants are expected. ) Regarding the proposals, organizers are looking for workshops from diverse presenters that educate participants on evolving issues that involve the LGBT workforce. For more information, see www.outandequal.org .
In Philadelphia, Senior U.S. District Judge Lowell Reed, Jr., struck down a 1998 U.S. law that makes it illegal for commercial Web sites to let children view 'harmful' material, Yahoo! News reported. In ruling, Reed said the judge said that parents can employ filters and other means that protect children while not inhibiting others from accessing sites.
On May 10-13, thousands of women are expected to converge at Miami Beach for Aqua Girl '07, for days and nights of music, dancing, comedy and dining. All of the proceeds from Aqua Girl benefits the Aqua Foundation for Women, a pro-lesbian, bisexual and transgender women's organization. See www.AquaGirl.org .
