|
» Nepal Issues Final Judgement Conferring Full Rights to LGBT Citizens
The Nepalese Supreme Court has ruled that gays & lesbians "are defined as a "natural person" and their physical growth as well as sexual orientation, gender identity, expression are all part of natural growing process. Thus equal rights, identity and expression must be ensured regardless of their sex at birth." Sunit Pant, Nepal's only gay MP campaigned for the decision. The court has directed the legislature to enact a marriage equality act and it is expected to do so. [Pinknews] |
|
Responses Reveal Critical Political Tactics
Biden, a Democrat from Delaware, took the legislative route, saying he "absolutely" believes gay couples believe the same "constitutional" benefits awarded their straight counterparts… |
|
» "Rejected."
"A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to the Oregon domestic partnership law approved by the Legislature last year. Opponents had tried to collect enough initiative signatures to put the issue to a statewide vote. But Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury ruled they did not get enough. His ruling was challenged in federal court, but a judge upheld Bradbury's decision." [AP] |
|
|
|
Austin R. Nimocks, lead lawyer for the group opposing the new law, told a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel that Oregon's system of qualifying initiatives and referendums was unconstitutional because it arbitrarily discounted some valid signatures. The judges gave no word on when they would rule, but anti-gay activists are hoping the state will review the verification system and give invalid signatories a chance to plead their case. Kaye McDonald, an assistant in the state's Attorney General's office, said that while the state could, in theory, begin reviewing the signatures, it would take months of legal wrangling and public hearings. And no one wants that - except for social conservatives, of course. |
|
Lula had the First National Conference of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals (GLBT), inaugurated by presidential decree, and called for "a time of reparation" in Brazil. That's so radical, our heads are about to explode. In a good way. |
|
Presidential candidate John McCain tried his hand at humor on this weekend' Saturday Night Live. In addition to poking fun at his unbelievable old age, the Republican jabbed at gay rights legislation, via pork barrel appropriations: …$160 million to the Department of Defense for developing a device that can jam gaydar. Now I don't know if this is anti-gay, or pro-gay, or if such a device would even work. but I do know this. Jamming gaydar is not a federal responsibility. That's something that's best left to state and local governments. Such a position, however satirical, speaks to McCain's backward belief that American voters, many of whom are undereducated, have a better understanding of constitutional rights than judges. The audience may have thought the "gaydar" joke a riot, but we found it nauseating, to say the least. |
|
An outspoken gay advocate and head of the National Center for Sex Education, Mariela Castro uses her position to affect positive social change. Now, with her uncle out of power and her father in, Castro's gearing up for a lavender invasion, proposing legislation that will bring bent boys and girls closer to their heterosexual peers. And she may be making all the right moves. |
» Matt Foreman Lets Loose
Outgoing Task Force director Matt Foreman spoke at the Creating Change conference this weekend. While we'd love to highlight all of his wise words - for example, the gay rights movement is laden with racism - we're going to highlight Foreman's thoughts on incrementalism: "…Over the last 34 years we’ve gone from a comprehensive bill, to an employment only bill, to a broken bill that doesn’t include gender identity and does allow blatant discrimination by religious organizations. In what world can you call going from this to this incremental progress?" Worlds where public image matters more than policy results? [Bilerico] |
» Bollywood Talks Gay
Scores of Bollywood stars spoke out against a recent anti-gay raid in India. While most of them expressed love of their gay friends and the such, others were a bit more restrained. Celina Jaitley, however, got to the heart of the matter: "In Britain, they've gay marriages. So why are we stuck with their obsolete laws? They left the country long back!" Word. [SIFY] |
|
|
|
Matthews: Romney Politics Depend on "Geography"
|
|
One Step Away From Being Full Blown Flamer!
Sure, its employment policies hinder some homo movement, but the international governing group just extended a bit of a queer olive branch: The European Union has become the first international body to have a treaty containing explicit language prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Britain and Poland refused to sign the Charter, for which they wanted a referendum. Spoil sports. |
|
Love Doesn't Necessitate Bodily Fluids?!
Virginia resident John Stec takes issue with The Roanoke Time's consistent support of gay rights and "equality". The engineer apparently doesn't believe gays should have, deserve or need any such things. Nor does he seem to understand the full extent of homosexual inclinations: A man or boy can love another man or boy without the exchange of bodily fluids. I love my father deeply. Affection is physically given and proven by an appropriate and occasional embrace and a kiss. I love some of my friends deeply. They know it. They know it by my conversation, my commitment to their well-being and by the things we enjoy together. And they know it without having to disrobe to perform sex. At least he's not entirely irrational. |
|
The Battle To End All American Battles
[HRC] is giving Wal-Mart a red "do not buy" rating in its new consumer guide, bestowing a lump of coal on the retail giant just in time for the holiday shopping season. No, not AutoZone! Where are we going to get our lube jobs!? |
|
Signs On As Economic Adviser
|