A 78-year-old gay man made history last month when he married his partner of two years, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Otis Charles was the world's first openly gay Christian bishop when he came out in 1993 and now he's the world's first bishop to marry his gay partner in church. Charles retired 11 years ago as an Episcopal bishop. During his career, Charles was the bishop of Utah and the president of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass.
The states of Maine and New Jersey are the fourth and fifth states in America to pass statewide laws that give rights to domestic partners, reports the Montgomery County Record and AP. Through a new domestic-partnership registry, the Maine law provides rights of inheritance, guardianship and more to gay and heterosexual unmarried couples. The New Jersey law provides next of kin rights to gay partners.
MassEquality is preparing for May 17, when Massachusetts will become the first state in the Union to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 'As you might expect, with May 17th fast approaching, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of media outlets—from far and near—seeking information about same-sex marriage and couples who plan to get married. If you plan to be married, whether or not you'd be comfortable speaking with the media, we can use information about your marriage plans to help defeat the anti-gay constitutional amendment. Please let us know what you're planning by completing the easy form at www.massequality.org/may.php,&; the group stated in an e-mail.
The National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health strongly condemned the 'Conscientious Objector Policy Act,' recently passed by the Michigan House and awaiting the Michigan
Senate approval. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected under the Michigan Civil Rights Act. If passed, the bill will allow doctors to refuse to treat LGBT patients based on moral, ethical and/or religious beliefs. See www.lgbthealth.net
Denver Nuggets' player Francisco Elson apologized after calling an opponent 'gay' following a heated series between the Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, reports AP. Kevin Garnett hit Elson in the groin after the Denver center was penalized for several fouls against the Timberwolves. Elson acknowledged, through the Nuggets media relations department, that his comments were insensitive.
Within the next month, large scale 'Gay Days' will take place across the country. Gay Days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. starts June 1, and a billboard on a major expressway welcomes gay visitors to the celebration, reports WFTV. The Christian Action Network says gay people at the seven-day event are indecent and should be monitored by police. Gay Days at Disney World are expected to bring 140,000 participants and $100 million to the surrounding economy.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, organizers of a Gay Day at the Dollywood theme park criticized park owners for asking the group to stop using the Dollywood name and logo in their advertisements, reports 365gay.com . Dollywood representatives said they routinely ask groups to cease using Dollywood trademarks. Organizers expect 5,000 participants at this year's outing.
Supporters of the group Transsexual Menace were expected to picket the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign late last week, reports The Advocate. The group is angered over what it considers an exclusive stance on proposed federal legislation like the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and hate-crime laws. HRC said it supports a dual track that would allow an ENDA without gender protection to move forward while supportive legislators craft additional bills that would protect individuals based on gender expression.
Florida, the only state in the nation that explicitly bans adoption by gay individuals and home to several other anti-gay legal measures, is also home to one of the nation's only gay retirement communities and, now, is expected to be home to the nation's first 'gay'ted community, reports salon.com . Wilton Station is expected to be the first community in the country with manned gatehouses and strict community rules geared primarily for gay residents.
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