Tag Archives: LGBT rights

“Everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a man and woman, everything that directly or indirectly stands in the way of its openness to the responsible acceptance of new life … constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace.” – Pope Benedict, in the 15-page annual papal message. Also standing in the way of …

More than two dozen Democrats in the House have sent Homeland Security a letter protesting the proposed new travel rules for HIV+ foreigners. The letter says that the so-called “streamlining” of the process of allowing HIV+ individuals to enter the United States places the burden of the decision on those lacking the necessary medical expertise. The letter goes on to …

Yesterday on Meet The Press, Rudy Giuliani was asked if he agreed with Mike Huckabee that homosexuality was an “aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle” Giuliani: “No, I don’t believe it’s sinful. My moral views on this come from the Catholic Church. I believe that homosexuality, heterosexuality, as a way of somebody leads their life isn’t sinful. It’s the acts—it’s the …

Saying they “will not shy away from difficult discussions”, the Dutch government has pledged 2.5M euros to fight homophobia at home and abroad. The money will be spent between 2008-2011 and will be used to target young people, mostly Muslim youth in schools and sports organizations. The Dutch also plan to request the legalization of homosexuality from the countries to …

Democratic Senate leaders, acquiescing to their anti-war constituents, yesterday stripped the Matthew Shepard Act from the defense funding bill to which it was attached. Matthew Shepard’s mother has released a statement regarding yesterday’s decision: We are truly dismayed to find that Congress now will put aside its leadership on passage of federal hate crimes legislation that includes sexual orientation and …

We celebrated prematurely. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has learned today that despite an order by the Iranian Chief Justice to nullify his death sentence, Mr. Makvan Mouloodzadeh was executed in Kermanshah Central Prison at 5 a.m. this morning, Iranian time. Neither Mr. Mouloodzadeh’s family or his lawyer were told about the execution until after it …

Ha ha haHo ho ho And a couple of tra la la’s Australian Labor Party Prime Minister candidate Kevin Rudd has trounced anti-gay Bush lackey John Howard. Howard lost so badly, he no longer even has a seat in Parliament. Rudd’s historic win means that Labor now runs the government in every Australian state and territory. Also for the first …

I can’t imagine that many of you were going to in the first place, but the HRC has issued an alert requesting that teh gays not patronize Wal-Mart this holiday season. The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay rights group, is giving Wal-Mart (WMT) a red “do not buy” rating in its new consumer guide, bestowing a lump of …

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder …

Surprising international observers, the Nicaraguan National Assembly has announced the decriminalization of gay sex, effective next March. Under the current law, gay sex is punishable by one to three years imprisonment, as is providing sexual health information or services and advocating for LGBT rights. The new civil code does away with all of those restrictions. Most Central and South American …

I had a brief but fascinating exchange on a feminist blog yesterday. Not to get too into the nuts and bolts of the conversation, the takeaway message I received from a couple of the commenters was that men cannot ever be considered feminists, regardless of their positions on women’s rights. The author of the blog was generally kind to me …

Today Nancy Pelosi is expected to announce a postponement of the final vote on the defense funding authorization bill to which the Matthew Shepard (hate crimes) Act is attached. The Out Of Iraq Caucus, a group of as many as 20 gay-supportive Democrats, are threatening to vote against the act because it would provide funding for President Bush to continue …

Some nice advances for LGBT rights around the country: -Toledo, Ohio has become the first major city in the state to offer domestic partners benefits. Both same-sex and unmarried couples who prove they cohabitate, have intermingled finances, and are over 18 years-old can register to receive the same city benefits as married couples. Registering with the city also serves as …

Crediting the pressure of its global protest efforts, the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission announced yesterday that the impending execution of a gay Iranian man has been halted. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has learned that the Iranian Chief Justice, Ayatollah Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi, has nullified the impending death sentence of Mr. Makvan Mouloodzadeh, …

THIS WEEK: In a private meeting with British members of Parliament, an Iranian official has said that gays in Iran deserve to be tortured and executed. Mohsen Yahyavi is the highest-ranked Iranian politician to admit that that the death penalty for homosexuality exists in Iran. Last year the hanging of two teenage boys for alleged homosexual crimes caused an outcry …

“Mark Twain wrote in one of his journals that, ‘In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.’ Gays and lesbians who serve under the Ban are those patriots. The personal cost can be …

“Over the last several weeks, the question of GLBT equality was placed on center stage by the appearance of Donnie McClurkin at one of my campaign events. McClurkin is a talented performer and a beloved figure among many African Americans and Christians around the country. At the same time, he espouses beliefs about homosexuality that I completely reject. The events …

Both the New York Times and the Washington Post have published editorials in support of Barney Frank’s ENDA tactics. A couple of excerpts: WaPo: Many gay rights activists opposed the bill because the final version didn’t include protection for transgender people, including those who have changed their sex, who are living their lives as the other sex or who do …

Glasgow, Scotland was chosen as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games after Changing Nigeria, a group of Nigerian LGBT activists, presented organizers with an 11-page report detailing abuses of gay citizens. Abuju, Nigeria had been a leading candidate, but lost the vote 47-24 at a meeting held in Sri Lanka. Founded as the British Empire Games in 1930, the …

Matt Foreman – National Gay & Lesbian Task Force “We are deeply disappointed that House leadership decided to ignore the position of a vast majority of LGBT organizations, ignore the legal assessment that this bill may not even provide adequate protections for gays, lesbians and bisexuals, and ignore the fact that this vote might make it more difficult to persuade …