"I'LL BE PRESIDENT of NOW for the next four years, and one of the things at the top of my agenda is sending George Bush to Texas." — Incoming National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy at NOW's national convention. Outgoing President Patricia Ireland had reached her term limit.
"TEN YEARS AGO, no TV network would air condom ads. Today, three of six networks allow them with some limitations on message, tone and time of day: CBS, NBC and Fox. The ads are still prohibited on ABC, UPN and the WB networks." — Sun-Times article on the lessening restrictions on condom ads on TV. The WB and UPN, with their lowest-common-denominator shows, don't allow condom ads? Maybe it would bring up the standards of some of their programs.
"This is an emotional topic for everyone and we believe a task force is the best way to first hear everyone's voice and then develop actions that will create safer schools for children and staff.'' — Cathy Figel, co-chair of the National Education Association's Gay and Lesbian Caucus, on the dropping of consideration of a resolution that would encourage schools to develop materials supporting the struggles of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and staff.
"Even though they may call themselves Focus on the Family, they are losing focus on kids, and what the needs are of our kids. We have a responsibility to help. That's our responsibility as educators, it's our responsibility as adults. We also have a responsibility to make sure that the rights of our members are protected.'' — NEA President Bob Chase. Associated Press reports that "the NEA said gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students have high dropout and suicide rates and are often treated with hostility by fellow students. Chase also said gay and lesbian teachers in some states face losing their jobs because of their sexual orientation."
"We have positions right now, throughout our organization, that protect the rights of women, that protect the rights of ethnic minorities, that protect the rights of physically challenged—go down the list. Should gay and lesbian kids be excluded from that? I don't think so. ... We are not in any way backing away from this issue if we don't pass or bring this resolution to the floor. That's not the intent at all. It's to look at it in a holistic, reasoned way, to make sure we do what we need to do to help all these kids.'' — Chase.
"All biology students learn that animals are diploid, carrying one set of chromosomes from their mother and one set from their father. In sperm and eggs, these double sets are halved to produce single, 'haploid' ones, which unite during fertilization. But in a paper in the 29 June issue of Science, researchers from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic describe a mite that is entirely haploid. The oddity is caused by a scheming bacterium that tampers with its host's reproductive organs and turns male mites into females. Mites are already an exception to the all-diploid rule. Like bees, wasps, and ants, these spiderlike arthropods have an unusual system for determining which egg turns into a son and which into a daughter: Unfertilized eggs develop into haploid males, while fertilized ones become diploid females, says geneticist Andrew Weeks from the University of Amsterdam. However, some species, like the citrus pest Brevipalpus phoenicis, consist entirely of females, which produce daughters via virgin birth. When Weeks and his colleagues started to study the genetics of B. phoenicis, they discovered something strange: Whereas most related mite species have four chromosomes ( two from each parent ) , B. phoenicis individuals have only two. Using genetic probes, Weeks showed that each chromosome carries different genes, which means they are a haploid set. While peering through his microscope, Weeks also spotted the possible culprit: Lots of bacteria of a previously unknown species were living inside the insects' cells. When Weeks killed the bacteria by feeding the mites on bean leaves floating in an antibiotic solution, the mites started producing males as well. But although they mated with the females, these males did not father any offspring." — From an article titled "Bug Makes Mites Transsexual" in the June 29 Academic Press.
"For centuries, sodomy laws have been used as a weapon against the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, sometimes with very tragic results. We commend those who have bravely fought to overturn this law, both at the legislative level and in the courts. Minnesota was the first state in the U.S. to pass a sexual orientation civil rights law that included gender identity. Now it is the latest state to reject an antiquated law that compromises our right to privacy." — NGLTF Executive Director Lorri L. Jean commenting on a state district judge in Minnesota ruling that a recent decision striking down the state's sodomy law applies to every adult.
"I don't want to go sex-negative on heterosexual sex venues in San Francisco, but I want to point out the San Francisco health department that lets straight people have closed doors and saunas, but not gay people. I want to make sure gay men have full-time bathhouses in SF." — Gay activist Michael Petrelis on opening the first Gay Bathhouse Night at Grand Central Sauna ( which caters to a mostly heterosexual clientele ) July 4. Petrelis says the bathhouse night will be a monthly event, to be held on the first Wednesday of every month, according to Adult Video News.
"Clos du Bois believes there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The Healdsburg wine company is quietly breaking new ground in the wine industry with its 4-year-old marketing campaign aimed at homosexual consumers. Clos du Bois stepped up its campaign this spring. Its ad in gay publications features a wine cork emblazoned with the Gay Pride rainbow—an instantly recognizable symbol in the gay community—emerging from a bottle of Clos du Bois Sonoma County chardonnay. 'There are a lot of people that view this as a risk. I would say it is important to have brand loyalty. That is what is going to keep Clos du Bois at the top of mind,' said Ruth Souroujon, marketing director for Clos du Bois." — From The New York Times News service.
"In its fifth year, the WNBA has acknowledged the obvious: Women's basketball has lesbian fans. And the Sacramento Monarchs would like to sell them more tickets. July 21, the Monarchs will host the team's 'First Annual Gay Pride Event,' a first for Sacramento professional basketball and a rarity in major-league sports." — Sacramento Bee, July 4.
"We're pretty excited about it. We've discussed it with a lot of groups. When people learn about it, they think it's a wonderful idea." — Sonja Brown, director of public relations for Maloof Sports and Entertainment, on the WNBA event.
"This appears to be a 180-degree reversal from last July, when the Monarchs' front office became embroiled in controversy over the posting of a local lesbian group's name on the Arco Arena message board. 'After last year, I have incredible respect for Joe Maloof,' said Kat Fox, who organized a Monarchs game party last summer for a group from the Davis Dykes, more than 400 e-mail friends and UC Davis alumni. Trying to heal any rifts caused by the controversy, Maloof made several amends, including the promise of a gay pride event. 'Call it politically correct; I just call it being nice,' said Shelly Crouse-Monarez, a Davis Dykes member." — The Sacramento Bee.
