01.31.07
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 4:56 pm by pikapp44
Trying to avoid a heated battle over same-sex marriage, Hawaii lawmakers are considering a renewed push to grant gay couples similar benefits through civil unions. Democratic legislators, who hold overwhelming majorities in both houses of the state legislature in Honolulu, are supporting a proposed civil union bill as one of the party’s top priorities for this year’s legislative session. If it passes, Hawaii would become the fifth state to recognize either civil unions or same-sex marriage.
“Committed couples, regardless of their sexual preference or orientation, should have the same rights. That’s the bottom line: we should treat people equally,” said Gary Hooser, the state senate majority leader. “There’s broad support among Democratic party members.”
He said if approved, the civil unions law would grant same-sex couples the same rights and benefits as married couples. Hawaii already gives some rights in areas of insurance, property, pension, and hospital visitation to same-sex partners through its reciprocal benefits law.
Republican Gov. Linda Lingle will not take a position on the bill until it is approved by the legislature, said Linda Smith, her senior policy adviser. “We’ll give every bill a fair look if and when it comes to her desk,” Smith said.
Hawaii nearly legalized same-sex marriages more than a decade ago, before strong public opposition came from family advocacy groups and religious groups. A decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court would have allowed same-sex marriages, but a 1998 constitutional amendment and a law defined marriage as between two people of opposite sexes.
This year, the civil union bill has not yet generated a similar public outcry. The Catholic church in Hawaii opposes the idea, said spokeswoman Kelly Rosati. A spokeswoman for the Mormon church in Utah said she was not aware of any institutional involvement in Hawaii’s civil union debate.
Vermont and Connecticut already have civil union laws and New Jersey’s will take effect next month. Massachusetts is the only state to allow same-sex marriages.
Permalink
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Portal at 9:14 am by pikapp44
Boston Redevelopment Authority has approved construction on one of the first LGBT-friendly retirement homes in the nation. However, the development, called Stonewall at Audubon, is still awaiting the OK from the city’s zoning board of appeal before it can proceed, reports The Boston Globe .
The project was recently approved by the residents of the neighborhood after residents clashed with developers over the building’s height. Jack Creighton, president of the Audubon Circle Neighborhood Association, assured the Globe that any qualms with construction had nothing to do with the sexual orientation of Stonewall’s potential residents.
“This was a development project like any other, and we wanted it to fit in like any other,” Creighton said. He further told the Globe that condo owners in the area saw the proposed height of the building as “way out of scale” and merely wanted it to follow the neighborhood’s zoning law.
With the residents and developers finally agreeing on the building’s height at 75 feet, all that is needed now is the zoning board’s approval, which Creighton believes will happen.
Buyers like Joy Malchodi have already paid a deposit and are eagerly waiting for move-in day. “I have friends in New York and all over the country who are interested,” Malchodi told the Globe. “We baby boomers have to make a decision where to live as we get older, and we want to be surrounded by culture and liberal, accepting people.”
Permalink
01.29.07
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 4:04 pm by pikapp44
So far Roman Catholic organizations in only two cities—Boston and San Francisco—have said they have opted out of arranging all adoptions in response to laws designed to guarantee gay couples’ adoption rights. And on the political front what appeared to be a drive two years ago to encourage states to pass laws stopping adoptions by gays seems to have petered out, with only a handful of states taking that route.
In the United Kingdom, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans, and the nation’s leading Catholic cardinal are pressing Prime Minister Tony Blair to exempt Catholic adoption agencies from new antidiscrimination laws. The religious leaders contend the laws would force Catholic adoption agencies to place children with gay couples.
Carrie Evans, state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, a gay advocacy organization based in Washington, said there has been very little movement toward banning adoptions by same-sex couples state-by-state, though a number of measures were considered in the last few years. Currently laws restricting such adoptions exist in four states—with Florida specifically banning adoptions by “homosexual couples” and three others saying unmarried couples may not adopt.
Evans said the push for such statutes seems to have faltered because polls indicate many in the United States feel “such decisions need to be made by judges and child welfare experts” and not by lawmakers.
Permalink
01.26.07
Posted in PrideFest at 7:37 pm by pikapp44
Celebrate 30 Years of Pride
At The #1 Gay & Lesbian Destination in The USA
Indoor and Outdoor Events All Day Long
Fabulous Merchandise & Vendors - Food - Dancing - Non Stop Entertainment
Great DJ’s - GLBT Support & Education Info., Carnival Games & Rides, Country Western Dance Tent, AIDS Memorial Quilt, ArtsUnited’s Art Pavilion, and Demonstrations by The Broward Sheriffs Office.
Holiday Park/War Memorial Auditorium
800 N. Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale
12:00 noon to 8:00 pm
$8.00
Permalink
01.25.07
Posted in Advocate Articles at 5:10 pm by pikapp44
During a sit-down interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday, Vice President Dick Cheney said questions about his lesbian daughter and her recently announced pregnancy were “out of line.” Mary Cheney, 37, and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, 45, are expecting a baby in late spring.
Antigay Christian leaders have voiced dismay at news of Mary Cheney’s pregnancy, while the gay rights group Family Pride has said the vice president faces ”a lifetime of sleepless nights” for serving in an administration that has opposed recognition of same-sex couples.
During Wednesday’s interview, Blitzer said, “All of us are happy” that Mary is having a baby, adding that “some critics, though, are suggesting, for example—a statement from someone representing Focus on the Family: ‘Mary Cheney’s pregnancy raises the question of what’s best for children. Just because it’s possible to conceive a child outside of the relationship of a married mother and father doesn’t mean it’s best for the child.’ Do you want to respond to that?”
“No, I don’t,” Dick Cheney responded.
“She’s obviously a good daughter,” Blitzer continued.
“I’m delighted I’m about to have a sixth grandchild, Wolf, and obviously think the world of both of my daughters and all of my grandchildren,” Cheney said. “And I think, frankly, you’re out of line with that question.”"I think all of us appreciate…” Blitzer pressed.
“I think you’re out of—I think you’re out of line with that question,” Cheney said.
“Your daughter. We like your daughters. Believe me, I’m very, very sympathetic to Liz and to Mary,” Blitzer continued. “I like them both. That was just a question that’s come up, and it’s a responsible, fair question.”
“I just fundamentally disagree with your perspective,” Cheney responded.
Permalink
01.24.07
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 6:39 pm by pikapp44
A proposed federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage nationwide has been shelved in light of the congressional takeover by the Democratic Party, The Pueblo [Colo.] Chieftain newspaper reports.
The proposal’s sponsors, Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, said last week they have no plans to reintroduce their antigay legislation in the new Congress. “At this time I haven’t discussed it with anyone,” Allard told the newspaper on Thursday. “If we thought there was a decent chance to bring it to the floor for debate, I would, but with the new Congress, I’m not sure we will ever have that opportunity.”
A Musgrave spokesman confirmed that the congresswoman would not introduce the legislation this year.
To amend the U.S. Constitution, the proposal would have to win approval by two thirds of each house of Congress and be ratified by three fourths of the states. The proposal, which has been strongly supported by President Bush, has struggled to gain enough support in both the House and the Senate.
Permalink
01.22.07
Posted in Advocate Articles at 4:41 pm by pikapp44
“Grey’s Anatomy” has made headlines over an anti-gay slur used by an actor, led nominees for this year’s awards from the country’s leading gay organization that monitors the media.
The show itself has gotten unwanted attention since actor Isaiah Washington used the term “faggot” about castmate T.R. Knight in an on-set dustup in October with co-star Patrick Dempsey, then used the slur again at this month’s Golden Globes as he denied ever uttering it.
Washington apologized Thursday after being admonished by the network.
Nominees for feature film in wide release include “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Night Listener,” “Running with Scissor,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “V for Vendetta.”
Special prizes will go to singer Patti LaBelle, fashion designer Tom Ford and tennis great Martina Navratilova.
The 18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - consisting of 42 categories - are split into four individual ceremonies, held in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and San Francisco in March, April and May.
The awards “recognize and honor mainstream media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender … community and the issues that affect their lives.”
Permalink
01.19.07
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 12:12 pm by pikapp44
An Arizona legislator who proposed a same-sex marriage ban announced that he will not follow through with the bill this session, the Associated Press reports.
State Rep. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) decided against pushing the bill, which would amend the state’s constitution to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples, on Wednesday, according to the AP. There was no reason given for his about-face on the measure.
Arizona became the first state to defeat a same-sex marriage ballot initiative in last November’s election.
Permalink
01.18.07
Posted in Gay Portal, Gay Rights at 8:35 pm by pikapp44
GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano today released the following statement after having received a response from Isaiah Washington apologizing for his use of the word “faggot” on the set of Grey’s Anatomy in October 2006 and at the 64th Annual Golden Globe® Awards on Jan. 15, 2007:
“We are encouraged by Isaiah Washington’s statement today, and optimistic that it may mark a turning point in this deeply troubling situation. His acknowledgement of his actions — and of the hurt and harm his actions have caused — is an important first step toward healing his relationships with his castmates, his fans and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“Mr. Washington has scheduled a meeting with us for early next week, and we look forward to exploring opportunities for moving forward together and healing some of the wounds of the past four months.
Permalink
01.17.07
Posted in Gay Portal, Gay Rights at 4:12 pm by pikapp44
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) President Neil G. Giuliano today condemned Isaiah Washington’s on-air use of the word “faggot” during a backstage press conference at the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, calling on him to apologize and make amends for this second use of the slur in the past four months.
“When Isaiah Washington uses this kind of anti-gay slur - whether on set or in front of the press - it does more than create a hostile environment for his castmates and the crew of ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’” Giuliano said. “It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm’s way.”
Last October, rumors swirled about Washington having referred to “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star T.R. Knight as a “faggot” during an on-set altercation with Patrick Dempsey. The openly gay Knight confirmed today during his appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” that Washington had indeed used the slur.
Backstage at the January 15 Golden Globes ceremony, Washington repeated the slur while denying having used it to refer to Knight: “No, I did not call T.R. a faggot. Never happened. Never happened.” “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star Katherine Heigl quickly condemned Washington’s use of the slur, telling “Access Hollywood” that the comment was “hurtful” and adding, “I’m not OK with it.”
“As Ellen pointed out in her discussion with T.R., this is a word that’s used to abuse kids on school playgrounds,” Giuliano said. “We also know that, tragically, this sometimes can be the last word people hear before they’re attacked, beaten and possibly even killed. Washington’s repeated use of it on-set and in the media is simply inexcusable.”
Giuliano said that GLAAD is contacting Washington’s representatives today to arrange a meeting with him. “We want to sit down with him and give him an opportunity to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs. Over the past four months Washington has become part of a significant problem of anti-gay prejudice in this country. He has an opportunity now to be part of the solution.”
Permalink
« Previous entries