tagged w/ LGBT News
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A South Carolina high school principal said he'll resign from his post after the district approved an organization for gay students that he said conflicts with his religious beliefs.
Eddie Walker, the principal of Irmo High School in Columbia, S.C., announced his intention to step down to faculty and students on Wednesday, saying he'll end his tenure following the 2008-09 school year. The decision, outlined in a letter to Lexington-Richland School District 5 officials, said the reason was the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance Club for students.
Walker said the club — which he said would be the first based on sexual orientation, preference or activity at the school — conflicts his "professional beliefs and religious convictions" as well as the school's abstinence-only education and may prompt students to have sex.
"I feel the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High school implies that students joining the club will have chosen to or will choose to engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes," he wrote.
Walker added he prayed about the issue before stepping down and asked board members to "respect my choice as I respect your choice to disagree with me on this issue."
Gay-rights group Faith in America said Walker's decision is based on prejudice that is harmful to students and likened his decision to policies that once allowed segregation to flourish.
"We truly believe it is unfortunate that this principal cannot see the immense harm that is caused when a social climate of rejection, condemnation and violence is justified with misguided religious belief," said Brent Childers, executive director of the group.
One Irmo High School student, saddened by Walker's decision, said the principal was leaving for the wrong reasons.
"The reason he's leaving is not a good reason," Brion Hayes told FOX affiliate WACH-TV. "He does a good job; he cares about the students that go to his school."A South Carolina high school principal said he'll resign from his post after the... more
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The military cannot automatically discharge people because they're gay, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday in the case of a decorated flight nurse who sued the Air Force over her dismissal.
The "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass" policy prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members but requires discharge of those who acknowledge being gay or engaging in homosexual activity.
Wednesday's ruling led opponents of the policy to declare its days numbered. It is also the first appeals court ruling in the country that evaluated the policy through the lens of a 2003 Supreme Court decision that struck down a Texas ban on sodomy as an unconstitutional intrusion on privacy.
When gay service members have sued over their dismissals, courts historically have accepted the military's argument that having gays in the service is generally bad for morale and can lead to sexual tension.
But the Supreme Court's opinion in the Texas case changed the legal landscape, the judges said, and requires more scrutiny over whether "don't ask, don't tell" is constitutional as applied in individual cases.
Under Wednesday's ruling, military officials "need to prove that having this particular gay person in the unit really hurts morale, and the only way to improve morale is to discharge this person," said Aaron Caplan, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state who worked on the case.The military cannot automatically discharge people because they're gay, a federal... more
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On May 15, the California Supreme Court released its decision on the gay marriage ban. Activists were waiting on the courthouse steps with bated breath.On May 15, the California Supreme Court released its decision on the gay marriage ban.... more
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For California, gay rights have been in a fickle state ever since San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom opened the cities City Hall doors and offered gay couples a place to legally wed. Approximately 4,000 people took advantage of the Mayors offer before the Supreme Court deemed same sex marriages as illegal. This prompted 24 gay couples to sue the state of California with the support of the city of San Francisco and gay rights organizations. Their diligence seems to have paid off but will this ruling be overturned again?For California, gay rights have been in a fickle state ever since San Francisco Mayor... more
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Gay Rights Watch is reporting that "Oregon anti-gays admit possible failure" in their pursuits to repeal Oregon's Domestic Partnership law and Anti-discrimination law. [...] I remain cautiously optimistic, and also grateful for all the people who work so hard for our equality laws in Oregon!Gay Rights Watch is reporting that "Oregon anti-gays admit possible failure"... more
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The “ex-gay” group gathered about 700 supporters and curious bystanders in San Jose to discuss how to fight their same-sex urges. One man, a minister named Anthony Jones, said he attended so he can “learn” more about the gays: “I’m hoping to learn approaches on how to minister to homosexuals to know and understand what their lifestyle is.” And what better way to learn about a group than to saddle up to those who want them dead. Gawd!
Meanwhile, ex-gay defamer Wayne Besen gathered a couple dozen true believers to protest ex-gay therapy. One protester, Joyce Rogers, had this to say: “These poor, deluded people inside are being told an absolute lie: that you can pray away the gay. If that’s the case, then you can pray away the straight, too.” That’s how we did it!
More At Link
[via Queerty]The “ex-gay” group gathered about 700 supporters and curious bystanders in... more
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In an exclusive Chicago sit-down with The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, Democratic front-runner Barack Obama discusses "don't ask, don't tell," Rev. Wright, and what he would do for LGBT Americans if he becomes president.
By Kerry Eleveld
[Via Advocate.com]In an exclusive Chicago sit-down with The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, Democratic... more
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California gays are applying for marriage licenses in county clerk offices all over the state only to be rejected. Their symbolic gesture comes weeks before the California Supreme court will decide weather marriage equality will be allowed. California gays are applying for marriage licenses in county clerk offices all over... more
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Al Gore announced on Current.com that he supports gay marriage. Since his announcement the larger media establishment is asking "Will Gore's comments up the ante for the candidates if they want to be seen as sincere?"
I sincerely appreciate Gore's endorsement. It was simple and straight forward. It was logical and humane. Currently, top tier democratic candidates appear indecisive about gay rights. At best their answers assume a wink in the general direction of their gay and lesbian voter base. "Come on," their imagined wink says, "you know I would support you if I could." Well, no we don't. We are left guessing what your cryptic signals mean. Does your support of civil unions, but not marriage mean I should vote for you because at least you don't want to change the constitution? Would you vote for someone who advocates for separate and unequal rights? It leaves gays and lesbians in an awkward position in November. Either vote for the republican candidate whose stance is clearly against you, or vote for the democrat who is partly against you.
My advice to the candidates is simple. Stop dancing around the issue, and take Gore's lead. Heterosexual democrats will be impressed by your sincerity. They will vote for you even if you support gay marriage. Stop trying to win evangelical voters. Write them off. They only represent 30% of the voting base. Go after the more reasonable 70%. Stand up for us. Be a leader. Respect our humanity. We need you now more than ever. Al Gore announced on Current.com that he supports gay marriage. Since his... more
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Thousands of elementary schools across the country will take part next week in the fifth-annual No Name-Calling Week, providing a opportunity for educators to address the growing problem of homophobia in the nation's schools.
Aimed at grades 5-8 with additional lesson plans for earlier grades, No Name-Calling Week - Jan. 21-25 - is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds.
Thousands of elementary schools across the country will take part next week in the... more
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Members of Congress began returning to Washington today with three LGBT rights bill still in play - the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Whether any of them advance will be up to the will of the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate. The Democratic-led House reconvenes Tuesday. The Senate returns Jan. 22.Members of Congress began returning to Washington today with three LGBT rights bill... more
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'60 minutes' aired an incredible journalistic piece on what could be called the US' most unnecessary policy; "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Now a few days after, they are being hailed for the piece by most but drawing fire from some.
What do you guys think? Some would say "Who cares!? These people are willing to put their lives on the line like any other American solider, why not let them fight!?", while others would say "It's bad for the morale of the squad or the unit when they are having to worry about something like that and there is just no place for it!"
Thoughts?
'60 minutes' aired an incredible journalistic piece on what could be called... more
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That's right, Jodie Foster has finally admitted she does indeed prefer the female of the species.
Not a huge surprise, but good that she hasn't felt pressured into baring her soul before.
Click the link for a bit more info on Foster and her 'friend,'
That's right, Jodie Foster has finally admitted she does indeed prefer the female... more
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Some Brave Soliders are sticking up for those 65,000+ soliders in the Armed Forces who have to hide who they are to defend their country. Some Brave Soliders are sticking up for those 65,000+ soliders in the Armed Forces who... more
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This was one of the weakest political efforts I have ever witnessed. The Human Rights Campaign (for LGBT equality) lobbied for less than the original bill. HRC admitted it would be an easier bill to pass without coverage for Transgenders. I'm very confused and disheartened. We cannot choose the people in our community to protect. Our community is what it is. All need protection, not just a few groups. It seems to me that politicians and many members of the queer community have forgotten Gwen Araujo and Brandon Teena, amongst many other celebrated transgendered individuals who have been horrifically murdered in hate crimes. This was one of the weakest political efforts I have ever witnessed. The Human Rights... more
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Historically gay communities like the Castro and West Hollywood are undergoing a change as gays move out to surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs and heterosexuals move in.Historically gay communities like the Castro and West Hollywood are undergoing a... more
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Barack Obama: You raise an important point. Although your initial question was whether there's been a backlash against me, I see none of that within the Democratic Party. I think there are still geographical differences in terms of attitude toward gay and lesbian issues. I think downstate, there is a difference. On the Southwest Side, the Northwest Side of Chicago, where the Catholic Church is still a significant institution, there is a difference. And, to a certain extent, within the African-American community, because of the strong affiliation with the church, there is still some resistance.
My attitude is that candidates for office, persons in elected office, are ultimately responsible for what they say and what they do. I think the question is, are they forceful, clear, strong advocates on behalf of these issues. Are they doing everything that they can to lobby on behalf of these issues. They're not always going to be successful, even within the Democratic Party. And there are going to be people in this U.S. Senate race who support me who may not feel the same way I do on gay and lesbian issues. That's going to be true of the other candidates as well. The important thing is, what do people see me saying publicly, how am I acting publicly, how am I voting publicly. Because what I do think is unacceptable is saying one thing in one forum, and saying something else in another. What you do have to expect is consistency, and not playing to a particular audience.
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Obama: Yes. Im proud of the fact that a year ago, I was one of the key speakers at the first anti-war rally in Chicago, at the Federal Plaza. I was one of two elected officials at the rally, myself and Julie Hamos from Evanston. I said at that time, six months before the war was actually launched, that it was ill-conceived, that there was no evidence of an imminent threat from Saddam Hussein, that there was no connection between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, that Hussein was a dangerous and brutal dictator, but that working unilaterally, we could contain him and ensure our security. And I anticipated that an invasion of Iraq was going to cost us billions of dollars, and thousands of lives. ... Nothing that has happened since that time has disabused me of that position.
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Obama Seeks U.S. Senate seat
by TRACY BAIM
2004-02-04
Wow this article has so much of the same man we see today in it as Barack is interviewed by the LGBT community
Barack Obama: You raise an important point. Although your initial question was whether... more
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Seriously? Not sure what his rational of thinking is but Obama is going on a tour through South Carolina with a grammy award winning gospel singer who is KNOWN for being against gay rights and has even been called a "gay hater". I wonder if it is that he is behind in the polls all together from Hillary but according to the article even more so behind in the black vote. Just remember the LGBT vote is NOT one to be thought of as a red headed step child...it may come back to hurt him. Seriously? Not sure what his rational of thinking is but Obama is going on a tour... more
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No the headline is not a punch line to a joke. It is 100% true and legit. For the first time ever, 2 prison inmates, one serving a 10 year manslaughter involuntary sentance and the other serving a life term for murder that met behind bars will be wed a Quebec Penitentiary. The two will not be granted any aditional time together or special rooming services and will still only see each other during common times. Once again, Canada continues to take leaps and bounds where the USA; well not so much.
Direct link:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101607prison.htmNo the headline is not a punch line to a joke. It is 100% true and legit. For the... more
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