IMRU News for September 14, 2009
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has received forty thousand petitions from Californians urging him to sign the Harvey Milk Day bill into law, making May 22 a "day of special significance". The governor vetoed a similar bill last year.
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27154
An Orange County, California, school district settled an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed on behalf of a female student at Corona Del Mar High School. Newport-Mesa Unified School District was accused of condoning sexist and homophobic behavior. The District will provide mandatory training for administrators, teachers and students.
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27120
Neil Harvey, a police sergeant in Newport Beach, California, won his discrimination lawsuit. He claimed that he was repeatedly denied promotions owing to false rumors that he is gay. The City will pay him 1.45 million dollars in total compensation. They will also appeal the verdict.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/million-city-agreed-2559158-year-officials#
In Atlanta, Georgia last Thursday night, vice and narcotics officers raided the Atlanta Eagle, a well-known gay, leather club. Police claim they responded to complaints alleging criminal conduct, which they also observed. Patrons said that police yelled profanities, anti-gay and racist slurs. They ordered everyone to lie face down on the floor and many were handcuffed indiscriminately and aggressively. Eight people were arrested. The owners will file an official complaint.
Yesterday, hundreds of people and LGBT activists held a protest rally. Politicians running for city offices were among the protestors. Kyle Keyser, an openly gay mayoral candidate and co-founder of Atlantans Together Against Crime said, "We deserve answers, we deserve respect and we want answers". In a statement State Senator Kasim Reed indicated that he is “calling for an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation to be conducted by both APD and the Citizen Review Board”.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/Report__Atlanta_Gay_Bar_Raided/
http://www.projectqatlanta.com/news_articles/view/men_arrested_in_eagle_raid_remain_jailed/
http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27165
http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27159
In an unprovoked hate attack outside the Westend Package Bar in Newberry, Florida, a 31-year-old white man was badly beaten because of his sexual orientation. Eyewitnesses said anti-gay slurs were used during the attack. Police are looking for William Dennis Bracewell the third, who is believed to be in the area. The other suspect has not yet been named.
http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/09/10/news/news02.txt
D.C. City Council member Phil Mendelson, Democrat, wants prosecutors to bring Robert Hannah to trial for the September 2008 beating death of gay Maryland resident Tony Randolph Hunter. Hannah was charged with a misdemeanor rather than manslaughter, owing to a supposed lack of evidence. No facts have been made public. The LGBT community is angered because prosecutors have offered a plea bargain with no trial, and little or no jail time.
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27158
A federal judge sided with the request of anti-gay Protect Marriage Washington to keep private the identities of people who signed petitions to force a vote on expanded benefits for gay couples. However, Protect Marriage must disclose the names of its political donors. Washington Families Standing Together will now focus on a campaign to ensure that the enhanced domestic partnership law is retained by voters.
http://www.365gay.com/news/judge-shields-signatures-in-gay-rights-referendum/
The independently owned Holiday Inn Augusta–Civic Center in Augusta, Maine, gave discounts to marriage equality opponents coming to the city for last night’s rally supporting a ballot initiative to repeal the state's same-sex marriage law. The hotel offered the usual group block rate for rooms booked in bulk. They were unaware of the nature of the group referred to as the ‘Maine Jeremiah Project’ run by the Family Research Council and claiming to support “religious freedom in Maine”.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/09/11/Discount_to_Gay_Marriage_Foes_at_Holiday_Inn/
The volunteer-run Straight Spouse Network is a New Jersey-based support and advocacy group with 52 U.S. chapters and thousands of participants. They are individuals who discovered after marriage that their spouses are gay or lesbian and consider themselves “the unacknowledged victims of the victims of homophobia”. They now have a policy opposing laws that limit marriage to a man and a woman. They march in pride parades, try to persuade church groups not to use Bible to justify anti-gay attitudes, and meet with groups of gay fathers struggling to stay on good terms with their ex-wives.
http://www.365gay.com/news/straight-spouses-advocate-same-sex-marriage/
The Metropolitan Community Churches in Dallas -- Fort Worth, Texas, have launched an internet campaign called “Would Jesus Discriminate?” The intent is to provide an alternative to the perceived discrimination and intolerance with which some Christians interpret the Bible. The campaign suggests that Jesus never discriminated against gays.
http://www.365gay.com/news/gay-friendly-church-launches-anti-discrimination-campaign/
Several dozen individual Episcopalian parishes and four dioceses nationwide have split from the national church over biblical interpretations about gay relationships and other issues. Some have aligned with the newly created Anglican Church of North America. The schismatic congregations hope the US Supreme Court will let them take parish property with them, and are praying for that outcome. Many Episcopalians disagree on the issues, but don’t see that as a reason to leave. Los Angeles Bishop Jon Bruno has urged reconciliation.
http://www.365gay.com/news/breakaway-episcopalians-look-to-us-high-court/
Ten Episcopal nuns of the All Saints Sisters of the Poor in Catonsville, Maryland, converted to the Catholic Church, to protest gay bishops and blessings for same-sex relationships. They will continue to live with two nuns who decided not to convert. The community's chaplain, the Reverend Warren Tanghe has also converted to the Romish Church.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-09-09-episcopal-nuns_N.htm
Passage of a meaningful health care bill could be significant for the LGBT community, with better early treatment of HIV. Hate crimes legislation could pass, tacked on to the defense spending authorization bill. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been introduced in the House and the Senate. The House Education & Labor Committee will hear testimony on the bill on September 23. Three Democrats plan to introduce legislation this week to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and its discrimination against same-sex couples. The Administration must act aggressively to get the legislation passed.
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4179
http://www.365gay.com/news/nadler-baldwin-and-polis-to-introduce-legislation-to-repeal-doma/
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27182
Former Florida Congressman Mark Foley is nationally known for demanding tougher laws against child sexual predators and for sending suggestive emails to male teen interns. He is now a talk show host. “Inside the Mind of Mark Foley” explores the inner workings of Washington. It will air on WSVU in North Palm Beach, beginning September 22.
http://www.365gay.com/news/former-us-rep-mark-foley-to-host-talk-radio-show/
