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Gay Rights 
Wed Aug 04, 2010 at 17:02:06 PM EDT
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The LA times reports that "A federal judge in San Francisco decided today that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry, striking down Proposition 8, the voter approved ballot measure that banned same-sex unions."
"Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment," the judge wrote. "Each challenge is independently meritorious, as Proposition 8 both unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation."
U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker who ruled on the measure is an appointee of President George H.W. Bush.
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Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 22:56:37 PM EST
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Like me, you probably have never heard of Gareth Thomas. That he is a famous rugger, that is, rugby star, might mean to you that he plays a game where pads are seen as unmanly.
But Gareth Thomas has done what few professional athletes have done: come out that he is gay.
And when you read what he has to say about it, you understand the dichotomy that so many closeted lesbian and gays feel: that their orientation is at once significant and not remarkable:
The 35-year-old joins stars like basketball's John Amaechi and hurling's Donal Og Cusack who have come out.
"Just because you are gay, it doesn't mean you fancy every man who walks the planet," Thomas told the Daily Mail.
"I don't want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player first and foremost. I am a man."
Cardiff Blues utility back Thomas said he had been through "all sorts of emotions" over the issue, since first knowing he was gay in his late teens.
He revealed that he was "anxious about people's reactions" to him being gay and that he felt he could not have come out earlier in his rugby career.
"It is the toughest, most macho of male sports, and with that comes an image," Thomas said.
"In many ways, it is barbaric, and I could never have come out without first establishing myself and earning respect as a player.
Those of us who happen to be straight have it easy - we don't have to 'establish' ourselves before talking about our personal lives.
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Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 19:17:16 PM EST
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The United Nations panel on gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender rights met on 10 December, International Human Rights Day, ([watch it all The United Nations General Assembly panel, and "helped build new momentum for ending human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity]). At it the Vatican's legal attaché delivered the following statement:
Mr. Moderator,
Thank you for convening this panel discussion and for providing the opportunity to hear some very serious concerns raised this afternoon. My comments are more in the form of a statement rather than a question.
As stated during the debate of the General Assembly last year, the Holy See continues to oppose all grave violations of human rights against homosexual persons, such as the use of the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. The Holy See also opposes all forms of violence and unjust discrimination against homosexual persons, including discriminatory penal legislation which undermines the inherent dignity of the human person.
As raised by some of the panelists today, the murder and abuse of homosexual persons are to be confronted on all levels, especially when such violence is perpetrated by the State. While the Holy See's position on the concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity remains well known, we continue to call on all States and individuals to respect the rights of all persons and to work to promote their inherent dignity and worth.
Thank you, Mr. Moderator.
Rev. Philip J. Bené, J.C.D.
Legal Attaché
Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations
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Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 09:23:08 AM EST
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There had been a fair amount of grumbling amongst gay rights advocates since last year's election, with many feeling that despite the hard work they gave to the Obama campaign, that the administration now sees them as a nuisance. This was compounded by the President not speaking forthrightly in favor of the NO on 1 campaign. Then add this latest revelation in the leaked email of the Treasurer of the DNC, and well...
The talk is heating up that instead of supporting that instead of supporting the Democratic Party with their time and money, gay rights advocates will instead support progressive candidates. Some may view this as an immature reaction to yet another loss, but I disagree - progressives and populists of all kinds still do not have a voice within the Democratic Party that equals their supporters.
And then look at the lack of public leadership amongst elected officials. Many members of our Legislature took a courageous stand on LD 1020, as did Gov. Baldacci. But on the Federal level, only Rep. Chellie Pingree had the courage to voice her convictions regarding equal marriage.
Hello Rep. Mike Michaud!
And while they are not Democrats, our two senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, were not only mum on the issue, they refused to even provide any kind of statement about it when asked.
And we wonder why 53% of Mainers voted Yes on 1? Three-quarters of our delegation didn't think it important enough to try to influence their constituents.
I'm curious as to how Snowe, Collins, and Michaud actually voted on Question 1.
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Mon Jul 27, 2009 at 12:00:00 PM EDT
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While our own politicians continue to "talk" about quashing "Don't ask, don't tell," the UK is now nine years on since allowing openly gay Brits to serve in all of their military branches. The Independent reports on how the forces finally learnt to take pride:
This month, for the first time in its history, the cover of the British Army's official publication Soldier magazine shows Trooper James Wharton - openly gay - clad in his dress uniform, complete with Iraq medal, next to the headline "Pride". It is the most obvious sign that almost a decade after the military lifted the ban on homosexuality it is finally comfortable with its new clothes.
British servicemen and women now march at Gay Pride in uniform, all three services have become Stonewall diversity champions and a few months ago the head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt made history when he became the first army chief to address a Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender conference. "Respect for others is not an optional extra," he said.
Perhaps most tellingly, senior officers from the US have been quietly holding talks with their British counterparts on how America can change its "don't ask, don't tell" police which has seen more than 12,500 members discharged since its inception 16 years ago.
I have never served in the military, and so have no first hand experience with unit cohesion and everything else that a military unit needs to function. But I have worked in a number of offices with openly gay colleagues, and have found the experience no different than offices where there were none. There are other countries that allow openly gay people to serve, including:
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Britain
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Uruguay
Compiled by the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara via the AP
Isn't it really time that our own nation was added to that list?
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