Tag Archives: LGBT rights

Polish Woman Fined For “Gay Abuse”

A woman in Poland has been fined over $5000 for calling her young gay neighbor names like “faggot” and “queer.” A judge in north-west Poland ruled the 44-year-old woman had infringed Ryszard Giersz’s dignity by repeatedly verbally abusing him in public. The woman, identified in court as Anna S, was also ordered to pay Mr Giersz damages of 15,000 zloty …

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Louisiana: Governor’s Commission Won’t Consider Adoption By Gay Couples

After a New Orleans-based LGBT rights organization pled their case to allowed unmarried partners to adopt in Louisiana, they were immediately shot down by one of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s flacks. “If anything, they (state marriage and adoption laws) should be strengthened,” Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe, a member of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s 29-member Commission on Marriage and the Family, said. …

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ENDA Introduced In Senate

Sen. Jeff Merkely (D-OR) introduced a fully inclusive version of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act to the U.S. Senate today, backed by Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA.) The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, of which Merkley is a member, will hold hearings on the bill before bringing it to the full chamber. The House …

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Wisconsin’s DP Law Goes Into Effect

Wisconsin’s domestic partners law went into effect yesterday and gay folks appeared at county clerk offices around the state to apply for the 43 protections granted by the new legislation. Anti-gay groups including the Alliance Defense Fund are suing to overturn the law, saying it violates the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

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WA: Low Rate Of Bad Names On Petitions

The rate of bad names found so far on Washington’s domestic partners repeal petitions indicates that the measure may make the ballot, although it’s very early in the count. The secretary of state’s office said Monday evening that it has completed its second day of checking signatures on Referendum 71 – the attempt to repeal Washington’s “everything but marriage” same-sex …

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Portugal Upholds Gay Marriage Ban

The Constitutional Court of Portugal has upheld a ban on same-sex marriage, denying the claim of two women who demanded the right to wed. The court said its five judges ruled 3-2 against an appeal lodged by the women two years ago. Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, divorced mothers in their 30s who have been together as a couple since …

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Promo Clip: March On Washington 2009

JMG reader Sean Chapin sends us his official promotional clip for the 2009 National Equality March on Washington.

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Tomorrow: Australia Marriage Rallies

Equal Love advises us that tomorrow (ish…depending on where you are right now) will see Australia’s largest same-sex marriage rallies ever. Protests will take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra. Go here to find locations and times.

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Two Gay Iraqis Accuse U.S. Military Of Joining In Executions

The Washington Blade is reporting that two gay Iraqis claim to have photos of U.S. soldiers preparing to execute gay men in Iraq. The men displayed some of their photos at a Washington fundraising event last week. One of the Iraqis, who goes by the name “Hussam,” showed the audience of about 80 people gruesome images, including shots allegedly of …

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Brazilian LGBT Group Granted UN Status

Over the objections of 19 countries, the United Nations has granted official status to a Brazilian gay group. The Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders will now be able to take part in meetings on a broad range of topics, including health and human rights. Last year similar organizations from Spain and Sweden were granted official status.

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El Paso Backs Gays

The El Paso city council has unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming the city’s dedication to “acceptance, tolerance, and diversity.” The resolution was necessary after a confrontation between five gay men and security guards at a Chico’s Tacos restaurant June 29, City Council members said. Police were called, and an officer initially tried to charge the gay men with “homosexual conduct,” …

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August 15th: National Gay Kiss-In

A nationwide kiss-in is planned for 15 cities on August 15th. The Great Nationwide Kiss-In is scheduled for Aug. 15. Events are planned for at least seven cities, including Boston, New York, Houston, Portland, Ore., and three California cities — Irvine, San Diego and San Francisco. A Web page and Facebook page promoting the demonstrations says more events are in …

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Haters Challenge Wisconsin’s DP Law

Anti-gay group Wisconsin Family Action has filed a challenge to the state’s new domestic partners law, claiming it is in violation of the ban on same-sex marriage. “Elected officials should never pass laws that violate the will of Wisconsin voters who legitimately amended the state constitution in a fair election,” Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action and lead petitioner …

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Romania Bans Same-Sex Marriage

The Alliance Defense Fund, a U.S.-based anti-gay group, claims to have guided Romania’s parliament to a ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions. Roger Kiska, a member of Alliance Defense Fund’s legal counsel, is stationed in Europe. He tells OneNewsNow that Romania adopted a strong civil code enshrining traditional marriage in law. “It’s defined throughout the code — spouse as …

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HomoQuotable – LZ Granderson

“While those who were at Stonewall talk about the fear of being arrested by police, 40 years ago, blacks talked about the fear of dying at the hands of police and not having their bodies found or murder investigated. The 13th Amendment was signed in 1865, and it wasn’t until 1948 that President Harry S Truman desegregated the military. That’s …

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Obama To NAACP: Our Gay Brother And Sisters Are Still Denied Their Rights

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Pakistan Grants Transgender Rights

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that transgender people are “full and equal citizens” and should be accorded all the rights and benefits of federal and provincial governments. The following story is from DAWN, Pakistan’s leading English language newspaper, which while sympathetic, refers to trans folks as “transvestites,” “hermaphrodites”, and “gender-confused.” “They are citizens of Pakistan and enjoy the …

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Lithuania Censors Media References To Homosexuality

Lithuania’s parliament has passed a bill censoring information about homosexuality in media accessible by children, including television, movies, and the internet. Vowing to defend family values in the predominantly Catholic nation, lawmakers overturned a presidential veto on the legislation, which bans publicly disseminating material deemed harmful to the mental health and “intellectual or moral development” of minors. The measure lists …

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It Was A Gay-Free Day For Sotomayor

Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats brought up LGBT rights or same-sex marriage during the first day of Sonia Sotomayor’s SCOTUS confirmation hearings. Good thing? Bad thing? The hearings continue tomorrow and Wednesday, so there’s plenty of time left. Below is Sotomayor’s statement at the conclusion of today’s session.

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NAACP At 100: No Gay Marriage Policy

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