In Pennsylvania, the state Senate approved a constitutional amendment reaffirming the state's definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman by a vote of 38 to 12, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. However, the legislative body left existing legal recognitions of domestic partnerships between gay couples and unmarried heterosexual couples intact. The House has yet to vote on the issue.
A new report by the New Jersey-based National Women's Health Resource Center ( NWHRC ) reveals that, although women account for almost half of all AIDS cases globally, those at the most risk do not feel empowered to protect themselves from HIV. 'Women and HIV' shows, for example, that some do not insist that their partners wear condoms while others refrain from taking antiviral medication.
In New Jersey, Frank Whelan, a longtime Allentown newspaper columnist, has not been back to work after a dispute with his boss over his participation in a gay pride parade, The Express-Times reported. Whelan and Bob Wittman, his partner of 25 years, were grand marshals for the parade—but the editor at The Morning Call thought the honor was a public show of support for gay marriage that would violate journalistic ethics.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is this year's recipient of the 'Pink Brick' award, handed out annually by organizers of the San Francisco gay pride parade. The governor received nearly a third of the 3,043 mail-in ballots cast in advance of the parade, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
In California, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has introduced lesbian Tracy Jarman as his choice for chief of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department—a position not previously held by a woman in the city, according to Yahoo! News. Jarman, a 22-year veteran of the department, was assistant fire chief under Jeff Bowman, who resigned earlier this month.
In The Life Atlanta, Inc. ( ITLA ) wants individuals—especially women and transgenders—to submit proposals for the organization's 10th annual Black Gay Pride, on Aug. 30-Sept. 4. To submit workshop proposals, see www.inthelifeatl.com .
In Florida, Jacksonville's Christ Church of Peace is defending its decision to have a Web site that reveals of a list of 400,000 state residents who signed a petition against same-sex marriage, News4Jax.com reported. The church's pastor, who supports gay marriage, said he wants to add a new Christian voice to the whole debate.
A memorial plaque commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria Riot—the first known instance of transgender resistance against police harassment—was installed at the corner of San Francisco's Turk and Taylor Streets, according to a press release from the Transgender Law Center. Activists, ministers and police representatives attended the event.
The organizer of the Twin Cities Pride Celebration is suing Minnesota's largest paper, the Star Tribune, after the newspaper refused to run ads that promoted the event by showing two men kissing, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. GLBT Pride Twin Cities accuses the Star Tribune of discrimination and breach of contract in a lawsuit filed in Hennepin County.
A recent survey indicated that the purchasing decisions of 82 percent of American adults would not be impacted if they knew that a company marketed products or services to gays and lesbians, according to a press release from Fleishman-Hillard. The 2006 survey also found that 52 percent of Americans would do nothing if an organization launched a boycott against such a company.
The United Evangelical Church of Puerto Rico is cutting ties with the 1.3 million-member United Church of Christ ( UCC ) after the parent denomination endorsed same-sex marriage last year, The Advocate reported. Seventy-five percent of the Puerto Rican congregations voted to leave.
In Texas, a 17-year-old has been arrested in the murder of a Fort Bend man and two other suspects are being sought—but police say they still have not determined if the victim was killed because he was gay, 365Gay.com reported. Arnulfo Aguilar, 43, met the threesome in a Houston gay bar and invited them home. Aguilar's body was found by friends; he had been tied up and beaten.
The owner of Flava Life, a Miami-based company that produces gay adult videos and magazines, is being targeted by federal authorities for allegedly defrauding public schools out of millions in a scheme involving a non-profit student organization, the Washington Blade reported. Philip Bleicher, who owns Flava Life, also presides over the Student Leadership Network, the company in question.
The Fourth LGBTI Anti-Tobacco Summit—'Health and Social Justice: Tobacco as a Queer Issue'—will take place Tues., July 11, in Washington, D.C. For more information, e-mail lgbttobacco@gmail.net or contact D'hana Perry at 617-927-6451.
In New York, the Empire State Pride Agenda has released the names of 20 labor union and federation leaders across the state who support same-sex marriage equality. Among the names are Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers; and Chris Shelton, vice-president of District One, Communication Workers of America.
The non-profit pro-lesbian organization POWER UP just released its annual Top 10 Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz list, and the women on this year's list include Curve executive editor Diane Anderson-Minshall, Broadway actress Cherry Jones and actress Jenny Shimizu, AfterEllen.com noted. The awards will be presented Nov. 12 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Vital Bridges Gets Cooking on Aug. 4
The Grand Ballroom of the Peninsula Hotel, 108 E. Superior, will be filled with innovative food and sophisticated jazz music on Friday, Aug. 4, when the Vital Bridges agency hosts its second annual Chefs & the City gala.
The event will feature creative cuisines of more than 20 top local chefs, including John Bubala of TIMO, Chi Ping Xu of the Drake Hotel and Mark Baker of the University Club of Chicago. See www.vitalbridges.org .
YPC Reps Chicago
Chicago's Youth Pride Center ( YPC ) was selected to represent Chicago gay youth at a summit in Maryland that took place June 21-25.
YPC was chosen as one of just a few organizations nationwide to attend the 2006 National Training Institute for Youth Health Leadership. The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is the largest national organization that strives to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning ( LGBTQ ) youth.
YPC provides safe and confidential programs and services throughout the city of Chicago with special events for those under the age of 21. All YPC events and activities allow young people from across the city and surrounding suburbs to socialize in a fun, energetic environment. The youth of YPC participate in almost all major LGBTQ events the city has to offer.
