The California Senate voted 23-11 last week to pass Assembly Bill 196, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Mark Leno that would
add gender identity, appearance and behavior to the state laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and housing. If the bill is
signed by the governor, California would become the fourth state to prohibit such discrimination in the workplace.
Arguing that six Louisiana nursing homes violated federal law by refusing to care for a stroke victim because he also has HIV,
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund has filed a federal discrimination complaint against the homes. A month before Cecil
Little, 50, was discharged from the hospital, his mother and his sister approached a nursing home within six miles of where they live.
That facility, Tangi Pines, agreed to care for Little but after learning of his HIV status, just three days before he was due to arrive,
the home backed out of the agreement. Five nearby nursing homes also revoked their agreements to provide care. Little is now living
in a nursing home 160 miles round-trip from his family.
The Human Rights Campaign July 25 decried the advancement of William Pryor's 11th Circuit Court of Appeals nomination after
last week's Senate Judiciary Committee vote. Pryor's nomination now moves on to a vote by the full Senate. HRC continues to
vigorously oppose the Pryor nomination and calls upon all fair-minded Senators to oppose the nomination when it is considered on
the Senate floor. 'William Pryor has actively sought opportunities to marginalize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans
throughout his career. It is very unlikely that he would be able to set aside his personal views and make clear, unbiased decisions as
a federal judge,' said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg.
The Episcopal Church in America and the parent Anglican Church in England are rallying support for one side or the other in a
fight some say will split the church forever. Today begins the Episcopalian General Convention in Minneapolis. At the Convention,
bishops will be asked to confirm the chosen bishop for New Hampshire, V. Gene Robinson, who is openly gay. Twenty-four U.S.
bishops signed a letter saying they would break from the church if Robinson is confirmed, according to the Atlanta Journal
Constitution. If he is not confirmed, Robinson says the more progressive wing of the church will break away. An openly gay man in
England was also appointed as bishop, but he withdrew his name to avoid such controversy.
U.S. publications made new strides in relation to gay marriages. The Washington Post, with a stated policy to only list wedding
announcements of those who are 'legally' married, has never run a gay wedding announcement, until now. The Post ran the
wedding announcement of syndicated columnist Deb Price and her partner Joyce Murdoch. The two were wed, legally, in Toronto
June 27. And a first for bridal magazines, this month Condé-Nast's Bride Magazine features a full-page story on gay weddings—the
first time one of the top five bridal magazines addressed the issue, according to The New York Times.
California is in a tizzy over the potential recall of Gov. Gray Davis. Davis will be subject to a recall vote in October. Gay
Republican Michael Huffington says he might get into the fray, but comments from a Republican strategist have taken the battle into
the gutter, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Scott Taylor reported told The Los Angeles Times, 'voters aren't going to
embrace the first bisexual gubernatorial candidate.' Some gay leaders cited Scott Taylor's comments as proof that the recall
campaign was an anti-gay movement.
Most people still oppose gay marriage, according to a Pew Poll, but the percentage is dropping. The New York Times reports that
the poll taken in 1996 indicated 65 percent of Americans opposing gay marriage, while the recent poll shows only 53 percent in
opposition. Perhaps surprisingly, white Roman Catholics and white mainline Protestants were shown to have become more open to
the idea as well.
Northwest Indiana GLBTs may get a safe space of their own, according to the Gary Post Tribune. This weekend, several hundred
interested people gathered for a Pride Community Center picnic to discuss the possibilities of creating such a place.
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