The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania has suspended funding to the nation's third-largest Boy Scout council after the group 'capitulated to a national Scout ban against homosexuals,' reports Reuters news. They canceled the second half of an annual $400,862 grant to the Boy Scouts' Cradle of Liberty Council.
New York City is home to one of the country's first all-gay public high schools. The Harvey Milk High School opened last week and will serve about 100 students in the coming school year, according to CNN. The school is an expansion of a 20-year-old in-school program for LGBT students.
DontAmend.com is asking Americans to sign a new online pledge to vote against any politician of any political party who supports adding anti-gay language to the U.S. Constitution. The online pledge is at: www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/votepledge/ .
A poll on AOL last week asked 'Do you consider being gay a sin?' The numbers were still coming in, but at one point it was 51% Yes, 49% No, Total votes: 447,283. Asked 'How would you define marriage?' 62% said A union between a man and a woman; 38% A union between any two people.
The Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force (LGIRTF) applauded the introduction of the Senate companion bill to HR 832, The Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA) by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. PPIA seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend immigration benefits to U.S. citizens and permanent residents in committed same-sex relationships, who seek to sponsor their foreign-born partners. 'The introduction of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act in the Senate comes at a critical time, as U.S. immigration law tears apart more and more couples and families,' said Suzanne Goldberg, Chairperson of LGIRTF's Board of Directors.
As Windy city Times reported in June, transsexuals are upset with author Northwestern University psychology professor J. Michael Bailey. The Chicago Tribune reported last week on the controversy surrounding The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism, Bailey's controversial book. 'Several women, whose stories are recounted in Bailey's book, have filed complaints with the university saying Bailey never told them 'that they were the subjects of a research study.' The women ... said they were never asked to sign consent forms allowing Bailey to use their stories,' the Tribune reported. 'During the interviews we were never told it would end up in a book,' said Angelica Kieltyka, a transsexual in the book. Northwestern in investigating the complaints.
Transgender employees under the control of the Pennsylvania Governor's office now have protections against discrimination, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Gov. Ed Rendell signed an executive order last week that, according to the Inquirer, gives broader protections than almost every other state. The new order uses the expansive terms, 'gender identity or expression' in its definition of those protected. Kentucky is the only other state to enact such protections through executive order.
Hawaii is coming back into the limelight over gay marriage, according to the Hawaii Channel. The state made history when the Hawaiian supreme court was poised to rule in favor of gay marriages before a Mormon-funded campaign pushed through a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Two Hawaiians hope to test the law by asking the state to recognize their Canadian marriage licenses. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union say it will certainly be discrimination if the state accepts a Canadian marriage license from heterosexuals but refuses licenses from homosexuals. But other lawyers on KITV news said the constitutional amendment will still trump individual rights.
The Cathedral of Hope, the anchor church in the gay-affirming Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, has withdrawn from the national organization, reports the Dallas Morning News. The 3,000-member church voted nearly 7 to 1 in favor of leaving the national organization after the Rev. Michael Piazza turned over his credentials as pastor to end an investigation into possible financial wrongdoings. With the departure of Cathedral of Hope, the national MCC will lose its largest church and the $500,000 annual contributions that came with it.
Cumberland County College, in New Jersey, will have 'Safe Zones' this year, thanks to openly gay student Chris Bylone. The Daily Journal reports that Bylone founded PRIDE, a gay and lesbian support group, at the college last year. And this year, the group will work with supportive faculty to place stickers in windows of classrooms and offices that have faculty who are willing to talk to students who may feel unsafe for being gay.
A gay student group in Lubbock, Tx., is suing the school district for equal access, according to KCBD. The group asked for the right to post flyers and make announcements over the public address system—like other student groups. The principal, superintendent and school board denied the request. The Lubbock Independent School District filed a response in the case, suggesting that the gay student group is a 'sex' group. The district said their abstinence policy combined with the Texas law against children under 17 years old from having sex, gives schools the right to legally discriminate against gay student groups.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) announced that Dick and Jane Gephardt have become members. The congressman from Missouri and his wife have long been openly supportive and accepting of their lesbian daughter, Chrissy. As a very public figure, Dick Gephardt has taken every opportunity to speak positively of Chrissy Gephardt to the media and at political events. He has made his daughter an official part of his presidential campaign and acknowledges her partner, Amy, on his Web site.
An ex-gay group charges that the National Education Association (NEA) discriminates against ex-gays, reports CNS News. The Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) attempted to get exhibitor space at the NEA national convention in New Orleans. After their $550 check was cashed, PFOX was told their money would be refunded and they would not be allowed to exhibit. PFOX and the NEA went to arbitration and a decision is expected soon.
Genre Magazine, thought to be the nation's largest gay men's magazine, was sold to Window Media last month. Window Media owns other media outlets in Washington, D.C., Houston, New York and Atlanta. After discussing editorial vision with the new owners, editor-in-chief Andy Towle will no longer head the magazine.
The Advocate editor-in-chief Judy Wieder is reportedly fuming mad about comments in a new book, according to the New York Post's Page Six. Wieder, the long-time editor of the nation's oldest mainstream gay magazine, reportedly has tried to stop distribution of Michael Thomas Ford's new book, Last Summer, in which he criticizes Wieder for her interviewing techniques.
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