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| Politics
and Policy |
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- Hate
crimes to get Senate vote as amendment, not stand-alone bill
The
federal hate crimes bill reportedly will be considered by the U.S. Senate as an
amendment to an as yet unspecified measure rather than as a separate piece of
legislation. The Senate leadership thinks treating hate crimes legislation as an
amendment would be "the most efficient way" to ensure its passage, according to
this article. The stand-alone hate crimes bill cleared the House on April 29 by
a 249-175 vote. Washington
Blade (6/8)     
- Supreme
Court won't hear appeal of military ban
The
U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear a challenge to the military gay ban is not
"bad news" for repealing the policy because it rightly shifts the debate to
President Barack Obama and Congress, according to Kevin Nix, spokesman for the
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "Times have changed," Nix said. "The
service members in Iraq and Afghanistan -- their attitudes toward gay people are
very different than some retired generals in their 50s and 60s who served in the
20th century. It's a different world." MSNBC/The
Associated Press (6/8)
- Parks
built coalition to back Nevada's DP legislation
 The
keys in Nevada to overcoming a gubernatorial veto and enacting a landmark
domestic-partnership law included winning the support of the gaming industry,
taking advantage of "tone-deaf opposition" and developing a strong coalition of
lawmakers and advocacy groups behind the bill. Out lawmaker state Sen. David
Parks, a Democrat, is credited with bringing together the winning coalition.
"I've never seen so many people from so many walks of life come together," said
gaming lobbyist Billy Vassiliadis, who was one of the bill's main backers. Las
Vegas Sun (6/5)
- Out
former journalist launches bid for Detroit council
Charles
Pugh, formerly a reporter and anchor for Detroit's Fox television affiliate, has
launched a bid for a seat on his hometown's City Council. A victory would make
Pugh the first openly gay person to serve on the council. Pugh, who is being
endorsed by the Victory Fund, is not concerned about personal attacks. He said,
"My agenda is Detroit's agenda. I just happen to be black, a man and gay." Chicago
Tribune/The Associated Press (6/9)
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Join us in San Francisco for the 25th
International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference
The 25th
International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference will bring together
hundreds of openly LGBT leaders involved in business, government, politics,
advocacy and community organizations. Join us in San Francisco, December 3 to
6, for three days of training, skills building, networking and discussion of
key issues facing out leaders.
The Leadership Conference exists to make
you more effective, more informed and more prepared to lead. Plenary sessions
and workshops are interactive, absorbing explorations of current events,
strategic solutions and best practices for out officials and community leaders.
But the atmosphere is relaxed and convivial, encouraging attendees to connect or
stay connected to their peers across the world.
Early-bird registration
discounts are available now. Go to www.glli.org/conference. |
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| Viewpoint |
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- Respect
for lawmaker shows power of being out
 The
unequivocal support among rural Arkansas lawmakers for out state Rep. Kathy
Webb, D-Little Rock, is a reminder that even in a so-called "red state," minds
can be opened when those with anti-gay views get to know LGBT people, writes
columnist John Brummett. "It seems that anti-gay sentiment applies only
generally, not personally," he writes. Arkansas
News Bureau (6/7)
- How will coming out
affect the singing career of "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert?
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Being openly gay will help Lambert's career. |
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Coming out will have a negative effect on his career. |
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It will make no difference, because everyone who watched "American Idol"
already knew he was gay. |
| Issues
and Society |
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- Politics
likely to play bigger role in San Francisco Pride Parade
The
June 28 San Francisco Pride Parade, reflecting the ongoing fight over marriage
equality in California as well as issues such as the military gay ban, will seek
to strike a balance between being a political event and a celebration of all
things LGBT-related, according to this article. "There's a movement to make it a
little more political this year," said Mikayla Connell, president of San
Francisco Pride's board of directors. "But if we tone it down because of what
others might think of us, we don't deserve to use the word 'pride.' " San
Francisco Chronicle (6/8)
- Conservatives
split over trying to overturn Wash. state's partner law
Conservatives
in Washington state reportedly are divided over whether a drive to seek a ballot
referendum to repeal the state's marriagelike domestic-partnership law is the
right strategy at this time. "My concern is, in running a referendum, you're not
really going to win," said the Rev. Joe Fuiten, founder of Positive Christian
Agenda. "All you accomplish is you divide up the community and really alienate a
lot of people from the church and from the gospel." Los
Angeles Times (6/8)
| Leadership
Spotlight |
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- Kameny's
lifetime of LGBT activism in spotlight
Pioneering
LGBT-rights activist Frank Kameny, who helped organize the first gay-rights
march in front of the White House and played an instrumental role in having
homosexuality removed from the list of mental illnesses, will be recognized for
his lifetime of activism during this year's Washington, D.C., pride festival.
"He's indomitable. There's no one else like him in the movement," said Dudley
Clendinen, co-author of a book about the gay-rights movement in the U.S. "He
doesn't relent. He doesn't really negotiate. ... The culture gradually came
around to recognize what he early on insisted was fair and true." The
Sun (Baltimore)/The Associated Press (6/8)
| Marketplace |
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- "Idol"
runner-up: Yep, I'm gay
"American
Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert, whose sexuality has been the subject of much
speculation, has come out as gay. "I don't think it should be a surprise for
anyone to hear I'm gay," he told Rolling Stone. "[Former 'Idol' contestant] Clay
Aiken's gay, and I'm gay, and we couldn't be more different. The only thing that
is the same about everyone in the gay community is that we're gay. ... Why can't
we talk about a human community?" Rolling
Stone (6/9) , USA
TODAY (6/9)
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With
the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to take on a case appealing the "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell" policy and Congress' inaction on the lifting the ban, The New
York Times is calling on the White House to issue a "stop-loss" order or some
other directive to prevent additional gay and lesbian military personnel from
being discharged. "How much better to use the [stop-loss] power to prevent the
loss of gay service members eager to keep serving," the Times writes. 
In
this video clip, the spouse of a gay soldier stationed in Iraq discusses the
difficulties of having his partner in harm's way without either one being able
to be open about their status because of the military's gay ban. The narrator of
the clip is not shown, nor is his name disclosed, out of concern that his
partner would be outed and discharged for being gay. 
A
recent Gallup poll that found that more than six in 10 Americans back marriage
equality suggests that the issue resonates better with the average person if
they're asked whether the government should have the ability to take away a
right rather than to grant one, according to blogger Nate Silver. "Generally
speaking, appeals to government noninterference are fairly popular; people don't
like government telling them what they do and they don't have the right to do,"
Silver writes. 