This year 19 schools received full five-star ratings including, Carleton College; Humboldt State University; Ithaca College; Oberlin College; Oregon State University; Princeton University; San Diego State University; Syracuse University; The Ohio State University; The Pennsylvania State University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Riverside; University of Maine, Farmington; University of Oregon; University of Pennsylvania; University of Southern California; University of Vermont; and Washington University in St. Louis.

“Although not all schools earn a five-star ranking, their voluntary presence and participation in the index shows they are committed to ‘coming out’ for their students and creating truly equal and impactful communities of higher learning,” said Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride executive director.

Campus Pride: Find Your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Friendly College or University.

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In a letter to Regina Griggs, PFOX’s Executive Director, PTA President Chuck said, “Through our Exhibitors screening process, we have determined that your organization’s mission, goals and objectives are not in harmony with the National PTA’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy; and there for, do not align with our Associations core vales and beliefs.”

“The PTA has become a left-wing advocacy group instead of serving the needs of all children,” responded an unhappy Griggs.

PFOX says is a family organization that educates the public on the message of hope and support for students, families and educators affected by homosexuality, gender confusion, and school bullying.

However, according to long time LGBT activist Wayne Bensen of TruthWinsOut.org, from its inception, PFOX was a tool funded and used by the religious right to deny equality to GLBT Americans and as a way to mock the successful pro-gay organization.

Our research found the PFOX mission is to primarily convince gay people think they can become straight, especially young gay people, and tell folks gays are promiscuous child molesters, who spread diseases and thus need to be cured.

They have especially targeted public school students and their parents for this nonsense and serve as a conduit for right wing legal organizations to threaten schools of they don’t include PFOX ex-gay literature in their schools.

While there is no valid scientific research to back up PFOX’s contentions about people being able to be cured of homosexuality, there are, conversely, numerous studies showing that the “reparative therapy” championed by PFOX is ineffective and even injurious to children.

They also seem to like to be victims and claim there is widespread discrimination against “ex-gays, ” even though most people know there is really no such critter as an “ex-gay.”

“PFOX is not for “ex-gays” which PFOX has not proven actually exist outside politics, but they are simply anti-gay and anyone with common sense knows this, including the PTA”, said Besen, adding “PFOX is far and away the sickest and most profoundly disturbed group of people I have dealt with in more than twenty years of activism. There is not a sane, rational voice within this entire organization and hasn’t been since the group’s founding by the Family Research Council in 1998.”

http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/06/9109/

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4/30/10-by Paula Brooks
Seton Hall University is now considering whether to cancel a course on same-sex marriage after Newark Archbishop John J. Myers issued a statement saying the course would conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In the statement, Myers said the church teaches that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

” Recent news that a course on same-sex marriage is proposed for the fall schedule at Seton Hall University troubles me greatly. This proposed course seeks to promote as legitimate a train of thought that is contrary to what the Church teaches. As a result, the course is not in synch with Catholic teaching,” Myers said.

“Consequently, the board of trustees of Seton Hall have asked the board of regents to investigate the matter of this proposed course and to take whatever action is required under the law to protect the Catholicity of this university.”

The course is being offered by Seton Hall’s Department of Women and Gender Studies, and would look the contemporary political situation regarding same-sex marriage, such as Proposition 8 in California. It would also teach various cultural perspectives of marriage.

W. King Mott, the openly gay Seton Hall associate professor of political science scheduled to teach the course, has in the past clashed with the church and university officials. In 2005, he was demoted from his post as associate dean of Seton Hall’s College of Arts and Sciences after he challenged the church’s view on homosexuality in an op-ed published in New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Myers, a staunch conservative archbishop, does not have the authority to cancel the class, but as chairman of Seton Hall’s board of trustees and president of the school’s board of regents, the governing body that oversees academic issues, he can exert pressure to do so.

In 2002, Archbishop Myers was among the two-thirds of sitting bishops and acting diocese administrators found to had allowed priests accused of sexual abuse to continue working in a Dallas Morning News expose`. Meyers did not get demoted.

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4/19/10-by Paula Brooks
The former head of Duke University’s College Republicans claims his sexual orientation is the reason he no longer has his job.

Justin Robinette, a Duke junior, was impeached last week as chairman of Duke’s College Republicans and was requested to resign from that organization because of “conduct unbecoming of a person in a position of leadership.”

However Robinnette says,“Comments were made directly to me and my executive board before and after the meeting concerning my sexual orientation, calling me a supporter of the faggot center, calling me ironic, calling me disgusting.” Robinette also described the reasons held against him as “petty” and said most had occurred prior to his re-election as chairman on March 16.

Carter Boyle, the new chairman of the chapter, said Robinette’s sexuality wasn’t linked to the impeachment, but that Robinette disrespected members of the board, deliberately had ignored members of UNC’s College Republicans, did not attend events and used the organization’s funds for personal use.

Cliff Satell, former vice-chairman of the university’s College Republicans and president of the Duke Conservative Union, said he attended the meeting as a neutral observer. He said both sides were at fault, but he was appalled at the way the impeachment was carried out.

“There was no debate, no opportunity for rebuttal,” Satell said. “It was clear back room deal-making had been done.”

Although several members of the organization’s executive board knew Robinette was gay, executive director Samuel Tasher found out only the weekend before the meeting took place, Satell and Robinette said.

“The fact that it went from a few people knowing to a lot of people knowing was a catalyst to his impeachment,” Satell said. “If he wasn’t gay, he would still be chairman.”

http://www.dailytarheel.com/content/leader-duke-college-republicans-forced-out

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4/9/10-by Paula Brooks
A “gender-neutral” dormitory on the campus of Southern Oregon University has been hit by anti-gay vandalism.

According to the DailyTidings, residents of Southern Oregon University’s gender-neutral dorm found anti-gay graffiti scrawled across their hallway walls and doors early Thursday.

Ashland police believe the graffiti was intended to intimidate residents of the dorm, which began housing students in a mixed-gender environment this academic year.

“Whoever wrote it knew people there or at least knew the names of some of the residents, because it was directed specifically by first names,” said Sgt. Jim Alderman with the Ashland Police Department. “A lot of the students do have their names on their doors.”

“Because of the nature of the graffiti and where it occurred on campus, in this one dorm area, it becomes an intimidation,” he said. “It makes it a more serious crime than just graffiti or criminal mischief.”

The dorm includes residents who don’t identify with their biological gender, men and women who want to live together or people who are simply more comfortable living in a mixed-gender environment, according to the university.

Southern Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Ashland, Oregon,just north of the the California border.

Police have no suspects in the case.

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4/2/10-by Paula Brooks
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi has rejected a $20,000 donation from the American Humanist Association, intended to underwrite an alternate prom for students of Itawamba County Agricultural High School, replacing one canceled by a local school district after a lesbian student demanded that she be allowed to attend with her girlfriend.

After the Itawamba school board told McMillen that she could neither bring her girlfriend to the dance nor appear in a tuxedo, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the school district on Ms. McMillen’s behalf.

A federal judge has since ruled that McMillen’s rights had been violated but did not require that the prom be reinstated.

Todd Stiefel, a Raleigh philanthropist, had given the $20,000 to the American Humanist Association, and directed that the money be used help pay for an alternative prom, after hearing about the case.

But apparently the ACLU felt the source of the money would be too controversial.

“Our staff has been talking a lot about your donation offer and have found ourselves in a bit of a conflict. We have fears that your organization sponsoring the prom could stir up even more controversy. Although we support and understand organizations like yours, the majority of Mississippians tremble in terror at the word atheist,” said Jennifer Carr, the fund-raiser for the A.C.L.U of Mississippi, in am E-mail to the donor.

However to make this even more complicated, according to the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition, the group organizing the prom , the A.C.L.U. of Mississippi did not have authority to decline the gift.

“We asked someone at the A.C.L.U. to assist us in handling all the donations, and that person told them we were not interested and that is not true.”

The Humanist Association said it had placed virtually no conditions on the gift. “You’d think they would have learned a lesson from the very case they’ve been working on,” Stiefel said. “The school board was trying to avoid a controversy by silencing a controversial minority, and now the A.C.L.U. is making the same mistake.”

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3/27/10-by Paula Brooks
The Harford County Public School District in northeast Maryland has stopped filtering student access to LGBT-related web sites, after it was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on the issue.

The schools systems filter system had prevented students from accessing many well-known state and national LGBT groups, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, as well as a variety of religious organizations that support gay rights, but had allowed access to sites that condemn homosexuality.

According to the DC Agenda, Alli Harper of Baltimore’s Brown, Goldstein & Levy law firm, which cooperated with the ACLU on the issue said,

“One of the problems with Harford’s filtering scheme is that it only allowed students access to information on one side of the public debate on LGBT issues.”

Harper noted that one student was blocked from researching a paper “arguing the ‘pro’ side of the marriage equality issue and had to get an extension to do the assignment outside of school, while students making an anti-gay argument were able to access the information needed on school computers.

In a March 19 letter addressed to Robert Tomback, the district’s superintendent, and Mark Wolkow, who leads the district’s board of education, the ACLU said, “We have brought together a group of concerned HCPS students, parents, teachers and alumnae to continue to brainstorm how we can work with you and to make our school system a safer and more supportive place for our LGBT and allied community members, and added “This is a positive step toward inclusiveness in HCPS policy.”

via DC Agenda.

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About a dozen Bleckley County High School students staged a rally at the Bleckley County courthouse in Cochran, GA to protest their high school allowing a gay student to take his boyfriend to the prom.

Last week Bleckley school system officials said they would allow gay honor student Derrick Martin to bring his boyfriend to the high schools prom. “You don’t have the right to say no,” Bleckley County H.S. Principal Michelle Masters said. “As a principal, I don’t judge him. I’m taught not to judge. I have to push my own beliefs to the background.”

However some of the student protest were saying they did not want there town to become known as pro-gay and that the school’s decision to allow Martin to attend the event with his boyfriend has brought too much attention to their small town.

According to Macon.com:

“People who don’t know the area will think it reflects on everybody,” said John Smith, a grandfather who owns an air-conditioning business in Cochran.

Before he stopped by the rally, he asked county officials Thursday if a separate prom could be held at the city’s recreation center, he said.

The rally’s organizer, Amber Duskin, sent text messages to high school students Wednesday asking them to show up.

The senior said she asked her high school to return her prom ticket money and does not plan to attend because of Martin.

“I don’t believe in going up there and dancing with gay guys like that,” she said. “It’s also not just him bringing a boy. It was bringing all this attention to it.”

via Students protest Bleckley prom decision – Education – Macon.com.

While Martin, who came out as gay during his sophomore year in high school, said the rally did not changed his plans to attend the prom with his boyfriend, the media attention brought by this story has gotten Martin put out of his families home. Martin’s father is a math teacher at Bleckley County High and is the school’s Teacher of the Year.

The boy is currently staying with friends.

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3/25/10-by Paula Brooks
Threats and security concerns have prompted a Texas university to place restrictions on a play in which Jesus is portrayed as gay.

The production, called “Corpus Christi”, was originally scheduled as part of a Tarleton State University student’s theater project at the school in Stephenville, Texas and was to be presented at 4 p.m. Saturday. The onetime performance was also originally scheduled to open to the general public.

John Otte, 26, an openly gay theater major, chose to present Corpus Christi, a play that depicts a gay Christ-like character in modern-day Texas, as a project for his advanced directing class.

However his choice has stirred up a controversy among conservative Christians who say they were particularly riled that the play will be performed this Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week.

“It’s just sticking a thumb in the eye of the standards of this community,” said Carroll Cawyer of Stephenville, “That’s what a lot of people are upset about.”

Tarleton president, F. Dominic Dottavio, had earlier said in a letter to the university, he allowed the play to be presented on campus because Tarleton “is committed to protecting and preserving the freedoms of thought, speech and expression.”

But a news release from the school today has changed that time says the 8 a.m. Saturday morning and is restricting the audience to invited guests and relatives of the cast only.

The new TSU statement says the school “has a responsibility to provide a safe and secure educational environmental for students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

School officials had been expecting trouble according the campus police chief, Justin Williams and the university police department had requested assistance from local deputies to provide security for the play.

Stephenville is a town of around 15,000 people about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth

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Photo: Woody Marshall/Macon Telegraph

The parents of an 18-year-old Georgia honors student who won the right to bring his boyfriend to his high school prom, have kicked him out of the house.

This week Derrick Martin, a student at Bleckley County High School in Cochran, GA, won the right to bring his boyfriend to his high school prom after he pressed local school officials on the issue after hearing about Constance McMillen, a Mississippi lesbian who asked to take her girlfriend to the prom, and who’s request lead her school eventual canceled that event rather than allow to happen.

Now, Macon, Georgia-based news site, macon.com, is reporting the school’s decision to allow Martin to bring his boyfriend to the prom and the resulting media attention have resulted in Martin being asked to leave his families home and he was now staying with a friend.

Supporters have rallied around Martin, and are offering to help pay for everything from boutonnieres to a stretch limo for Martin and his boyfriend, but so far there has been no word on anyone helping Martin find a new place to live.

http://www.macon.com/2010/03/24/1070478/gay-rights-backers-reach-out-to.html#storylink=omni_popular

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3/23/10-by Paula Brooks
A student at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, has cause quite a stir after he chose for his advanced directing class project, a play that stars a gay Christ-like leading man who performs a marriage ceremony for two of his disciples, who are gay too.

John Otte, 26, an openly gay theater major, chose to present Corpus Christi, a play that depicts a gay Christ-like character in modern-day Texas and he has stirred up a controversy among conservative Christians who say they were particularly riled that the play will be performed this Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week.

While open to the general public, the play wasn’t meant to be advertised or promoted and was intended to be seen mostly by friends and family of the actors, but that has not stopped some in the community for getting upset.

“It’s just sticking a thumb in the eye of the standards of this community,” Carroll Cawyer of Stephenville told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “That’s what a lot of people are upset about.”

Stephenville is a town of around 15,000 people about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

Otte, however told the Star-Telegram the play is intended to convey a message of tolerance and love, “we all share this world,” said Otte, “we’re no different. Everything Christ has said applies to us as well.”

An official Tarleton State press release has defended the right of Otte to choose the play, and the right of others to object. “If someone wants to protest, that is part of his or her First Amendment rights,” said the statement, “just as it is the student’s First Amendment right to put on the play.”

Tarleton president, F. Dominic Dottavio, also said in a letter to the university last week, he allowed the play to be presented on campus because Tarleton “is committed to protecting and preserving the freedoms of thought, speech and expression.”

Mark Holtorf, Otte’s theater professor, also defended the presentation of the play. “Having lived in Stephenville for more than 20 years, I am very committed to this community and I take care when selecting productions,” he said in a news release.

However the school also says it is expecting trouble and the university police department will be assisted by local deputies and will provide extra security during the presentation, according Justin Williams, the campus police chief.

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3/23/10-by Paula Brooks
U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson said today he wouldn’t force a Mississippi school district to hold a prom it canceled after a lesbian student asked to bring her girlfriend.

The ACLU had sued the Itawamba. Mississippi school district in U.S. District Court to force it to sponsor the prom and allow the student to escort her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. Constance McMillen first approached school officials at Itawamba Agricultural High School about bringing her girlfriend in December, and again in February. They said no.

McMillen then enlisted the aid of the Mississippi Chapter of The American Civil Liberties Union, who sent the school a demand letter saying they were violating McMillan’s right to free expression. The school district then canceled the prom for everyone rather then let the student attend with her girlfriend saying McMillen’s challenge to the rules had caused disruptions.

McMillen and the ACLU were also looking for preliminary injunction to force the district to hold the prom they canceled after the student challenged the districts decision not to let her attend with her girlfriend.

Davidson did say the school district had violated McMillen’s constitutional rights, but denied the motion for the preliminary injunction.

Davidson said in his ruling a private prom parents are now planning will serve the same purpose as the school prom and wrote “requiring defendants to step back into a sponsorship role at this late date would only confuse and confound the community on the issue.”

He’ll still hold a trial, because of the civil rights violation, however he did not set a date for that trial.

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3/23/10-by Paula Brooks
In stark contrast to similar request by Constance McMillen, a lesbian high school student in Mississippi that this month prompted school officials there to cancel her prom, an 18-year-old Georgia High School student has won approval to bring a same-sex date to his high school prom in Georgia.

Derrick Martin, an honor student and senior at Bleckley County High School in Cochran, GA, is gay and after asking Bleckley County school officials permission in January to take another boy to the prom, Martin got word last week that his high school will allow it.

Martin came out as gay during his sophomore year in high school.

At Bleckley County, prom dates from outside counties must be approved in advance, so Martin went to his principal and asked. After first saying no, Bleckley County H.S. Principal Michelle Masters reverse that position and told Martin there was no school policy covering the subject of same-sex dates.

“You don’t have the right to say no,” principal Michelle Masters said. “As a principal, I don’t judge him. I’m taught not to judge. I have to push my own beliefs to the background.” (via Macon.com.)

Charlotte Pipkin, the superintendent of schools, said the school board didn’t take any votes on Martin’s request, but the board did discuss the matter during a board meeting.

“Students are allowed to bring their date to prom,” Pipkin said. “There’s nothing that says who the date is.”

“I want this to be an enjoyable event, and I don’t want anything to take away from that,” added Pipkin.

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3/22/10-by Paula Brooks
Today in the Aberdeen, MS federal courtroom of U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson, the Mississippi School administrators who canceled a high school prom after a lesbian student asked to bring her girlfriend, testified today that they had discussed not sponsoring the prom even before the student challenged a school policy that prohibits same-sex dates.

Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old lesbian high school student at Itawamba County Agricultural High School, is challenging an Itawamba County school district policy that says no same-sex dates at the prom and is suing the district in a U.S. District Court after the school official cancelled the prom rather then allow her to escort her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo to the event.

McMillen first approached school officials about bringing her girlfriend in December, and again shortly before a Feb. 5 memo about prom rules was circulated to students. Same-sex prom dates had been banned in the past, but she had hoped school officials would grant her request. However, McMillen was instead told two girls could not attend the prom together and she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo.

This prompted McMillen to enlist the aid of the American Civil Liberties Union, who then issued a letter to the school district demanding that McMillen be allowed to bring her girlfriend and wear what she wanted.

Instead of allowing her and her girl friend to attend the event together, school district officials responded by canceling the prom, saying they felt it was the best decision “after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students.”

McMillen testified today the district’s decision has led to hostility toward her on the campus of the 715-student high school is located in Fulton, a town of about 4,000 in rural north Mississippi.

Itawamba County school district Superintendent Teresa McNeece and school board Chairman Eddie Hood testified that they had discussed not sponsoring the prom even before McMillen challenged the rule that prohibits same-sex dates, saying they had concerns about liability problems, including possible use of alcohol and drugs at a school-sponsored event, but that the finial decision to call off the April 2 prom came after McMillen’s challenge to the rules had caused disruptions to school operations.

“We were being hounded every day. Our students were being hounded,” McNeece said, “We were having a tough time of any bell-to-bell instruction.”

However, on cross- examination, neither school administrator was able to give specific incidents of classroom disruptions.

Itawamba Principal Trae Wiygul then testified he’d been “bombarded” with e-mails, most from people criticizing the district’s decision to cancel the prom.

“I’ve been called every name known to man,” Wiygul said. “I’ve been called a bigot and homophobic.”

ACLU attorney Kristy Bennett told the court that the district violated McMillen’s First Amendment rights and that it was the decision to cancel the prom and not McMillen’s request to bring her girlfriend, that had caused the disruptions the school district officials described.

“Any disruption came after the actual cancellation of the prom,” Bennett said, and added the district “shouldn’t be able to censor Ms. McMillen’s speech simply by canceling the prom.”

At the close of today arguments, Judge Davidson did not say when he would issue a ruling in the case, but one is expected by some time early next week.

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The complaint, brought by three Fresno City College students, claimed during one of Health Sciences Instructor Dr. Bradley Lopez lectures, he said, “It’s a biological misapplication of human sexuality, that’s what homosexuality is…. why… it does not support pro-creation, that’s a pretty valid reason… in other words, it’s a dead end.”

Lopez was also purported to say during a recorded lecture, “In 37 countries, people undergo psychological therapy… if you’ve got obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia or any other disorder that does not fit with the rest of society’s norm, then you get psychological counseling… and the reason why is abnormal behavior is defined as “greater than 95% of the population” which is heterosexual, so those who are homosexual, in my opinion, should get psychological counseling.”

Lopez was also accused by the complaint to have used the Bible to teach scientific facts in his classes after Lopez assigned his class to research the Bible for Jesus’ genetic makeup, and discussed apocalyptic Christian prophesies during a lesson on climate change.

In a report issues last week Christopher Villa, vice president of student services, said, “Dr. Lopez engaged in conduct that could result in the creation of a hostile learning environment by unreasonably interfering with students’ learning by making insulting comments directed at homosexuals,” and added that while instructors are free to offer opinions that may offend students or be at odds with other professionals, Lopez went too far by making statements “unrelated to any legitimate course objective.”

Villa also said in his report that Lopez had violated campus regulations prohibiting religious indoctrination “by assigning readings from the Bible, reading the Bible in class, and otherwise relying on the Bible as an authority in the assigned subject matter.”

“Instructors are not required to hide their own religious belief or non-belief,” said Villa, “but they may not engage in religious indoctrination as Dr. Lopez did here”

Fresno City College is a publicly funded school.

The school has said it will “will take appropriate action” to address the violations.

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Melanie Nathan, 3-14-10.   Annie Lennox went to South Africa and found that there is hope -Amidst a need so great – and what makes it so awful is that we tend to forget – forget because it is so invisible.  On CNN today Annie Lennox said the killer is worse – and what is is so bad is that its target is women and children.  On her website she shows a video of a child near death, who with diet and medication, survived sure death, – the result a normal healthy seven year old. You need to see it to believe it.

The stigma of HIV is so high that people are afraid to talk openly about the issue, or  is close their status. South Africa has a tradition of activist songs and singing, as a way to create solidarity and communicate messages

After personally witnessing Nelson Mandela describe the African HIV pandemic as a genocide, with women and children becoming the frontline victims, Annie Lennox set out to try and do something about it. That is how the SING campaign started. To raise funds and awareness to bring about support and change. The money raised by SING helps prevent the spread of HIV in South Africa, and also supports those currently living with HIV. The awareness it raises is just as valuable – education is a powerful tool.

Comic Relief manages the SING fund, and assists in coordinating the SING campaign.

When people get together to sing, they become encouraged and inspired. In the words of Nelson Mandela: “Let us use the universal language of music, to sing out our message around the world.”

As one of the world’s most renowned singer songwriters, Annie Lennox decided to write an anthem that could be used as a symbol of unity and empowerment, and help spread the message to the world.

In the spring of 2007, she invited 23 of the most internationally acclaimed female artists to record their voices on “SING”. The recording incorporates the South African activist song, JIKELELE, which means global treatment. JIKELELE was written and recorded by The Generics, who are all members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), the main beneficiary of SING funds. JIKELE calls for the implementation of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission programme across South Africa.

Watch the SING video here

Annie was first invited to Cape Town in 2003, to take part in the inaugural concert of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 HIV campaign. It was there that she witnessed first hand the plight of people struggling to cope with the situation – in clinics, orphanages, hospitals and townships.

After years of fighting and winning the struggle against apartheid, the South African people are being devastated by a pandemic which has wiped out a generation of men, women and children.

The country has one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates, and a third of all pregnant women are HIV positive. Many still do not have access to the medication and support that can prevent mothers passing the virus to their unborn babies.

Whilst in South Africa, Annie had the opportunity to meet Zackie Achmat, the founder of TAC, an exceptional grassroots network working across the entire nation. Eighty per cent of TAC members are women.

WHAT IS THE MONEY SPENT ON?

All the money generated by Annie Lennox and the Sing campaign goes to projects that fight HIV in South Africa. Here are some examples of how that money is spent:

Funding for a £300,000 grant  to TAC over three years has come from the SING fund, underwritten by Comic Relief. TAC’s work includes programmes that:

• help people get access to testing and treatment
• educate South Africans about HIV
• prevent further transmission

TAC is also a strong advocate for women’s rights, and lobbies pharmaceutical companies and the government about treatment costs and policies.

More money has been pledged to TAC via the SING campaign in the coming
months. Read more about TAC here.

Annie’s performance at the television charity event Spendenmarathon in Germany in November 2008 raised hundreds of thousands of euros for the Vrygrond Community Development Trust , which in conjunction with the Elton John Aids Foundation will use the money to build a community day care centre in Capetown. The centre will provide care and support for those affected by HIV, vulnerable children and caregivers.

HOW MUCH HAS BEEN RAISED SO FAR?

Here are some further examples of the sums of money raised by Annie and the SING campaign.

Sales of the SING record and associated merchandise have raised over £100,000 so far.

At the 20th anniversary of Elle magazine in Berlin in July 2008, an auction raised UR20,000 for the SING campaign.

After Annie appeared on Idol Gives Back, the charity spin-off of American Idol in the United States, they made a donation of $500,000 directly to TAC.

All this adds up to hundreds of thousands of pounds – money generated by Annie personally, and by the SING campaign. Every penny lessens the grip that HIV has on South Africa.

LEZGETREAL IS CALLING on you our readers, in business, in politics, individuals to please go to Annie’s page and donate generously.     http://www.annielennoxsing.com/

CLICK HER TO DONATE NOW THANK YOU

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Melanie Nathan

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

www.privatecourts.com
www.visualcv.com.melnathan

At issue is a memo put out to the Itawamba County high school students that laid out the criteria for bringing a date to the prom, and one requirement was that the person must be of the opposite sex.

McMillen said she approached school officials shortly before a memo about prom was circulated at school on February 5 and was told by the assistant principal and later the superintendent, that she would not be allowed to arrive with her girl, and that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom. They also said, that she and her girlfriend might be thrown out if their presence made any other students “uncomfortable” at the April 2 event.

Constance hey just wait a cotton pickin’ minute here and then enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, who said the schools district policy was a direct assault on her First Amendment right of free expression.

They demanded the school respect those rights or be sued. The school officials responded by canceling the whole prom and said:

“It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors… However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students.”

When we read this statement, we LGBTs knew what this meant; The Itawamba School District was trying to vilify McMillen to all her classmates, students that might have been indifferent or even supportive of her sexual orientation before, will now, the school administrators hope, blame her for the prom being cancelled. We also know that an “unofficial” prom may be organized and McMillen will not be invited. It is probable that McMillen is not the only LGBT student at the school, so the school district is effectively endorsing a “no gays allowed” prom.

The LGBT community has been tweeting and FaceBooking this story all over the internet to try to bring attention to McMillen’s plight and we have been very successful in that effort, the world over now knows about this very courageous young woman and her standing up to these bullies for her Constitutional Rights as an American Citizen.

Yesterday, Ellen DeGeneres weighed in from both her Twitter Page and Her Ellen Show Website and said,

“A school in Mississippi just canceled their prom because one of their gay students wanted to bring her girlfriend. That makes me sad. Prom should be for everyone, and schools should be teaching acceptance rather than intolerance. I hope these administrators will learn how their decision has hurt not just the student and her girlfriend, but all of the students at the school who simply want to enjoy their prom. Let’s work together to make this a world full of kindness and compassion so that no one is punished for loving another person.”

via This Prom Story Breaks My Heart – The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

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3/10/10-by Paula Brooks
The Mississippi school district that had refused to allow a lesbian student to escort her girlfriend to a high school senior prom has decided not to host the prom at all after its decision was challenged by the ACLU.

In a statement issued late yesterday, Itawamba County school district officials said, “It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors”. “However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students.”

Constance McMillen had enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties Union after the district refused to let McMillen and her girlfriend arrive as a couple at the April 2 prom. At issue was a memo issued to the Itawamba County high school students that laid out the criteria for bringing a date to the prom, and one requirement was that the person must be of the opposite sex.

The ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition gave the district until today to change its policies, saying McMillen had a constitutional right to have the same privileges as her fellow, straight students, and that the way she dresses falls under her right of free expression.

Instead, the school board met and issued a statement announcing it wouldn’t host the event at Itawamba County Agricultural High School, “due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events.”

Itawamba County is a rural area of about 23,000 people in north Mississippi near the Alabama state line. It borders Pontotoc County, Miss., where more than a decade ago school officials were sued in federal court over their practice of student-led intercom prayer and Bible classes.

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3/10/10-by Paula Brooks
An 18-year-old lesbian high school student is challenging a Mississippi school district policy that says no same-sex date at the senior prom.

Constance McMillen has enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties Union after the district refused to let McMillen and her girlfriend arrive as a couple at the April 2 prom. District officials also denied McMillen’s request to wear a tuxedo.

At issue is a memo issued to the Itawamba County high school students that laid out the criteria for bringing a date to the prom, and one requirement was that the person must be of the opposite sex.

The ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition have given the district until today to change its policies. Attorneys say McMillen has a constitutional right to have the same privileges as her fellow, straight students, and that the way she dresses falls under her right of free expression.

“Prom is one of those high school moments everyone should get to experience and enjoy. I didn’t go to prom last year, so this is my only chance to go,” said McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at the school in Fulton, a small town of about 3,900 in the northeastern corner of Mississippi. “We just want to be able to be ourselves at our own prom.”(via ACLU ).

McMillen said she approached school officials shortly before a memo about prom was circulated at school on February 5 that said same-sex dates would not be allowed, because she knew same-sex dates had been banned from prom in the past. McMillen met with the assistant principal and later the superintendent, who told her that they would not be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom, and that she and her girlfriend might be thrown out if their presence made any other students “uncomfortable” at the April 2 event.

“Prom is supposed to be about all students being able to express themselves, have fun, and make memories that will last the rest of their lives,” said Kristy Bennett, Legal Director of the ACLU of Mississippi. “Constance has a constitutional right to take the person she’s dating to the prom, just like any other student at any other public school.”

Last year, officials at Tharptown High School in Franklin County in northern Alabama, reversed an earlier decision they had made to bar Cynthia Stewart, from attending the prom with a female date after the ACLU issued a similar demand letter.

The Anti-Gay Florida-based Christian legal group, Liberty Counsel, has offered free assistance to the school district.

Itawamba County in northern Mississippi, and borders Pontotoc County, where a federal lawsuit ended another school’s practice of student-led intercom prayers and Southern Baptist doctrine Bible classes more than a decade ago.

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But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these~ Matthew 19:14

According to 9NEWS.com in Denver, Colorado, a Catholic preschool in Boulder, Colorado is throwing out a 5-year-old because the child’s parents are lesbians.

According to teachers at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School, a meeting was held Tuesday to discuss the issue. The staff was told a student would not be allowed to re-enroll because of his or her parent’s; sexual orientation. The staff members were also told not to talk to the media.

In a statement sent to 9NEWS, the Archdiocese said, “Homosexual couples living together as a couple are in disaccord with Catholic teaching.”

A statement on the Archdiocese website also said, students in Catholic schools are expected to have parents who abide by policies of the school and church. The Archdiocese as well stated students with gay parents in Catholic schools would become “confused.”

The Archdiocese however didn’t say whether students whose parents are divorced, non-Catholic or might use birth control will also not allowed to attend the preschool as well.

Father Bill's Inspiration?

Father Bill Breslin, the pastor at Sacred Heart of Jesus School, addressed the school and parish community in a letter posted to his blog, that in part said, he was protecting the child, apparently from the Church’s bigotry, and added “the Catholic Church invests in parish schools so as to assist children in becoming disciples of Christ and to stand as a light shining in the darkness that has rejected Christianity and the truth of being human, including the meaning of human sexuality.”

Notwithstanding the Archdiocese explanation for the child’s ejection and Father Bill’s platitudes, some parents are considering pulling their children out of the school anyway and parents with children attending Sacred Heart plan on meeting next week to discuss the issue.

Father Bill’s Linkedin Page

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Scott J. Hamilton, was tapped to helm the organization and brings significant nonprofit experience to Cimarron.

Hamilton, a native Oklahoman, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, has worked in New York City for the past 24 years where he was a vocal advocate of the LGBT community, particularly for those living with HIV and AIDS, and senior lesbians and gay men.

Margaret Cox, board past chair and a member of the search team, said the organization is fortunate to have attracted an individual with broad nonprofit and LGBT experience, coupled with an understanding of Oklahoma’s political landscape.

“I can think of no one better to be our first full-time executive director. Scott has the skills, the experience, and the heart to do great things for Cimarrron and for our community, our city, and our state.”

“Cimarron has had tremendous success in educating teachers and school administrators about the dangers gay kids are exposed to as a result of bullying. Our efforts have resulted in creating bully-free schools and, in the case of the Oklahoma City Public School System, had an impact in changing policy to explicitly protect LGBT young people from bullying. We will continue this program in 2010 when we hold Stop Hate in the Hallways 3,” Hamilton said.

He also said that Cimarron is developing a new program directly for members of Oklahoma City’s LGBT community. Hamilton explained that finishing touches are still being added to the program, but promised that a detailed announcement would be made in early next month.

As Hamilton was coming aboard in this newly created role, the Cimarron board was also signing a lease for new office space in Oklahoma City.

Laurette Taylor, board co-chair, said the challenge was finding space that was at once visible, and still provide a degree of privacy. “We recognize that many lesbians and gay men in Oklahoma are not out, or perhaps are not out at work, and we wanted to provide a space where everyone would feel comfortable and welcome. Our new office really meets this criteria,” she said.

Taylor also noted that the new office is fully handicapped accessible.

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2/6/10-by Paula Brooks
Two Iowa GOP State Representatives, Jason Schultz, and Matt Windschitl, this week, co-sponsored legislation which seeks to remove LGBT students from the 2007 Iowa Safe Schools Law that protects students from harassment and bullying in Iowa’s schools and the measure has been referred to the Iowa House Education Committee for consideration.

Iowa’s Safe Schools Law requires both public and private schools to establish policies prohibiting harassment and bullying against students by employees, school volunteers, or other students.

Sexual Orientation and Gender identity are currently covered under the Safe Schools Law, but the bill introduced by Schultz, and Windschitl would strike those protections.

Said Ryan Roemerman, Executive Director of Iowa Pride Network, “When our state is facing record budget deficits and unemployment, House Republicans feel their time is best spent picking on Iowa’s LGBT youth,” “There is no better example as to why we have this law, so youth in Iowa don’t grow up to be like these bigots.”

via Iowa Pride Network: House Republicans Seek to Bully Gay Students.

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According to the Washington City Paper…

Margaret C. Hemenway, identifying herself as a D.C. Public Schools parent, claims to have filed a complaint with Chancellor Michelle Rhee over her seven-year-old child’s “sense of innocence.” At what exact moment was the first-grader’s innocence whisked away from her, never to be returned? The moment little Hemenway’s teacher at Tenleytown’s Horace Mann Elementary allegedly announced to her first-grade class that she was planning to marry a woman. Think. Of. The. Children…. (via The Sexist – Washington City Paper)

According to Ms. Hemenway’s account…

Our first-grader astonished her father at the end of the past school year as he dropped her off at our local Washington DC public school, Horace Mann Elementary, where he had attended school in the early 60s. She relayed to him that her teacher announced her impending marriage– to another woman — to the class. Following her revelation, this teacher encouraged questions from the children.

Our daughter also mentioned a book the teacher read aloud, “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” about two male “gay” guinea pigs, promoted by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Lobby for children. Since homosexual activists cannot reproduce their own children, recruitment to their cause (especially at a young age, before parents have raised such sensitive and controversial topics with their children) is essential to the political agenda of promoting homosexuality and “gay” marriage. (via PFOX-ExGays)

LGR did try to contact the official’s at the Horace Mann School and the District of Columbia Public School System to get their side of the story yesterday… Mann directed us to the DCPS HQ and Chancellor Rhee’s office. The Chancellors office has yet to get back to us with a statement.

We also went out to see if we could get an additional comment on the situation from Ms. Hemenway herself….

Now we are wondering… would this be Margaret Calhoun Hemenway we are looking for? … A 15-year veteran of Capitol Hill and a former Bush White House appointee, who served at the DoD in the capacity of a White House liaison for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield?

Is this also the same Margaret Calhoun Hemenway who is a contributing editor for Family Security Matters.org, a regular Muslim basher, Birther extraordinary and daughter-in-law to the Birther lawyer John D. Hemenway who was recently reprimanded by a federal judge for his part in the preparation, filing, and prosecution of a legally frivolous suits involving President Obama’s birth certificate?

Is this too, the same Ms. Hemenway who also seems to have had a long-standing relationship with the Karl Rove creation, Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, the group that added the term “Swiftboating” to our political lexicon and gave new meaning to shady smear campaigns forever?

I don’t know… but an available address we found on the web would put a Margaret Calhoun Hemenway and a Margaret C. Hemenway in the Spring Valley section of DC and thereby in the Horace Mann School boundaries…

But if this is the same Margaret C. Hemenway, and since we are practically neighbors and my twins will be attending Horace Mann in a couple of years… I’d really like to talk about all of this with you if you have the time.

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This move comes in the wake of a ruling last month by the European Court of Human Rights judgment against Italy that said displaying the Christian symbol violates children’s right to freedom of religion.

Three years ago, an Italian mother, Soile Lautsi, took her cause to the European Court of Human Rights after failing to get crucifixes removed from the school at which her two children were being taught at a town in north-east Italy by Italy’s Constitutional Court.

Classroom crucifixes were made compulsory in that country by two laws put into place under Italy’s fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini that made Catholicism the official religion of Italy.

Similar laws were also put in place in Spain under Spain’s fascist Dictator Francisco Franco. Under Franco, Catholicism in its most conservative variant was made official religion of the Spanish State. The Spanish Public Education was essentially handed over to the Church, Civil servants had to be Catholic, and some official jobs even required a “good behavior” statement by a priest. Divorce and homosexuality were also forbidden, as were artificial contraception and abortion.

The verdict prompted anger in fiercely Catholic Italy, where an opinion poll showed 84 percent of the public was in favor of crucifixes in schools, and was condemned by the Vatican. The Italian government has also said it would seek to appeal the decision to the Strasbourg court’s 17-member Grand Chamber, however if that petition is rejected, or if an appeal is subsequently thrown out, then Italy would be obliged to comply with the courts order.

The European Court ruling prompted Spain’s ruling Socialists to take action  Wednesday and a Spanish parliamentary commission approved by 20 votes to 16 a motion calling on Madrid to implement November’s ruling by the Strasbourg court.

Some observers however are saying that the Spanish Government actions to remove the crucifixes are part of a larger conflict between Spain’s current government and the Roman Catholic Church.

Last month after the Spanish Parliament passed a bill that will allow abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy and, in cases of extreme fetal deformity, at any time during pregnancy, the Catholic Church announced it will excommunicate Spanish law makers who voted in favor of the bill.

That call prompted several Spanish Socialist politicians and political commentators to push back and call for an end of the Catholic Churches Tax Exempt status.

Many in Spain say the rapidity with which by the Spanish government acted on the issue and its willingness to implement the ECHR’s ruling even before the final outcome of the Italian appeal is known, is a not so subtle warning to the Vatican to stay out of Spanish politics.

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Last week, Ontario health officials expanded their H1N1 vaccination program to include elementary school children and adults over 65 with chronic health problems beginning Monday free of charge.

Sault Ste. Maries’ Algoma Public Health Unit, which issued the forms to the School District, indicated that the collection of information on other genders besides male and female in the Health Units jurisdiction was a requirement of the Ontario Ministry of Health.

However, Sault Ste. Marie Catholic School Trustee Kathleen Rosilius has taken issue with the consent forms and questioned the appropriateness of distributing the vaccination consent forms in Catholic schools, telling the conservative LifeSiteNews that the forms are, “agenda-driven, social-engineering.”

Unlike other health units in Canada that have experienced shortages of the H1N1 vaccine, a few small northern health units including Algoma, were initially provided proportionately more vaccine because of concerns about transportation and weather problems in that part of Canada, so the the rural Canadian health district decided to expand its vaccination program to other less than high risk groups.

On Wednesday however, the World Health Organization (WHO) and a pharmaceutical company warned the doctors in Canada not to use a batch of H1N1 swine flu vaccines after reports that the shots were leading to great number of severe allergic reactions…. There have been 24 confirmed cases of a type of severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis in Canadians who have received an H1N1 flu shot, including one person who died after getting vaccinated…

While elementary school students Canada have not been considered a high risk group, and it is not known if this Health District received the vaccines in question, children are highly susceptible to the H1N1 virus and it is well known that influenza will spread rapidly amongst elementary school students, then on to others including those who may be considered high risk, so vaccinating children contributes to reduce transmission to others….

So notwithstanding some Catholics getting their panties in a bunch over the consent form wording… all in all it is generally a pretty good idea to have your elementary school aged child vaccinated… at least it will be after the Canadian government health officials get it figured out why the vaccinations are killing people…

And as a gay mom… I would have to say that I would be far more concerned about the fact that vaccinations that are supposed to be keeping my children safe and well might not be doing that… instead of worrying the wording on a permission slip does not fit my view of the world.

Too bad doctors and scientist can’t come up way to make safe vaccines or a vaccination for bigotry and ignorance…

via Sault Ste. Marie Catholic School Board Using Gender-Confused H1N1 Vaccine Consent Form.

Photo via Kodomut on Flickr

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IN PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 40 TO RECEIVE MAMMOGRAMS, GILLIBRAND URGES FED TO CLARIFY NEW RECOMMENDATIONS

New Guidelines Released This Week Claim Only Women Over 50 Need Routine Mammograms As Part Of Breast Cancer Screening Many Doctors, Experts Object To Recommendations, Giving Women Conflicting Messages on How to Protect Themselves -

Washington, DC – After having participated in a public awareness campaign to encourage women over the age of 40 to receive mammograms, U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand today called on the federal government to clarify new recommendations for women on how to prevent breast cancer. New guidelines released this week by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force suggested that only women over 50 need to get routine mammograms as part of breast cancer screening. Many doctors and experts objected to these recommendations, sending conflicting messages to women about how they can prevent breast cancer.

“I am concerned that women are being given differing messages about how to prevent breast cancer,” Senator Gillibrand said. “In addition to getting my own mammogram each year, I have been involved in public awareness campaigns to encourage other women my age to do so. I understand that there were many independent scientists involved in making this decision, but that there are also many respected medical experts that are disagreeing with the recommendations. I plan to seek some answers here so that women are getting a uniform message about how to protect themselves.”

Doctors, medical experts, and news reports from around New York have raised concerns about the new recommendations.

“I think this would be a huge mistake,” said Dr. Paul Fisher, a radiologist at the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center. “There’s almost unanimity that mammography saves lives.”

Dr. Jane Carleton, an attending physician specializing in breast cancer at the Don Monti Cancer Center at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, said cutting back on mammograms could allow some small breast cancers to become larger, more lethal growths. “We continue to see tragedies in women who present with much larger breast cancers because they have not had mammograms,” Carleton said.

At Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, Dr. Victor Scarmato, chairman of radiology, questioned the new recommendations. “Their conclusions are against the conclusions of the American Cancer Society and other cancer and screening advocacy groups,” Scarmato said.”There are many in that population whose lives are saved because of the procedures [mammograms] even if the yield is not as great as in older women,” Scarmato said.

“We are very concerned that the insurance companies will use this to restrict coverage for screening, taking away the option for what women and their doctors feel is best for them,” said Hillary Rutter, LCSW, Director of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.

Dr. Derek ten Hoopen of West Ridge Obstetrics and Gynecology said that his colleagues would continue to recommend screening for 40- to 49-year-olds until the data used by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force was better analyzed.

Holly Anderson, executive director of the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, said that screening guidelines trigger anxiety. “We’ve been dealt a breast cancer diagnosis. It sounds very scary to hear these guidelines and the recommendation is to not be screened in the 40 to 49 window.”

Full text of the letter is below.

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Sebelius:

Earlier this week, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) came out with new recommendations that suggest that women ages 40-49 no longer need routine mammogram screenings. As I’m sure you’re aware, this has caused mass confusion among women who, like myself, have long been told that every woman over 40 should receive a mammogram every year. As a 42-year-old woman and Senator, I volunteered my time to speak in Public Service Announcements to remind women my age that they need to get screened. Therefore, I share my constituent’s confusion over this new message coming from the government.

I understand that these new recommendations were developed by independent scientists, however many respected medical experts and advocacy organizations such as the American Cancer Society, disagree with the recommendations. I, therefore, implore you to work with these respected patient advocacy groups, radiologists and oncologists across the nation to come up with a clear message to women about how best to protect themselves.

I would also encourage you to consider the weight that recommendations have across the medical and insurance industry. When the government changes their recommendations for screening, insurance companies will often choose to change their reimbursement policies as a result. I do not want women that are a high risk for breast cancer, because of their genes or family history, to be denied screenings because insurance companies refuse to reimburse the doctors.

I would encourage you to convene a meeting of interested parties so that this confusing message can be resolved and so that women can receive the best medical care that science can provide. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Note from Melanie Nathan, your blogger: I started my regular mamograms when I turned 40 and continued to have them each year thereafter. I used my birthday as a reminder of when the next one was due. No one in my family had ever had breast cancer, although there had been other types of cancer causing extended family and grandparents. Each year my Mamogram was clear and that did not deter me. In 2003 I went for my regular mammogram and the readiologist noticed a tiny calcification. Stating it was probably nothing I had a biopsy to be safe. Long story short it was VERY early stage Ductoral carcinoma in situ. After radical surgery, they found a little more than anticipated or more than had shown on the mammogram. I did not need Chemotherapy or radiation. That in itself was a huge relief. They had caught it so early. Seven years later, I have since married and we have a four year old together. I will see my 12 year old Batmitvah next year. I am alive. Had I not been diagnosed then and had they not had earlier base grams to diagnose from, I do not think I would be writing this piece today. The way I see this recommendation -? Well its tantamount to saying Melanie your life is worth nothing. Its okay if you would have died – because 1299 others would have lived – or whatever number they attribut to it. In fact I bet my fellow breast bearers out there will agree that their ten minute anxiety to save my life was worth every moment of said anxiety.

GALS- lets fight – this is not okay. Thank you Senator Gillibrand for your keeping a stern stand on this issue.

BY: Melanie Nathan

Delong is said to have allowed students to read the article “The Gay Animal Kingdom” from the June 7, 2006 science and culture publication, Seed magazine.

The controversy and Delong’s suspension began after the parent of one of the Delong’s students saw the website, thought it was not appropriate for her child and complained to the local school board.

Delong of Carlinville, Ill, is a straight married teacher who identifies as an ally of the LGBT community. He acknowledged his suspension to the local paper, but declined to comment further until he spoke with his union representative.

The article by Jonah Lehrer talks about the research of Joan Roughgarden, a biology professor at Stanford University who said she has documented homosexual societies among the more than 450 animal species.

A Facebook group called “Bring back Mr. Delong” has been created to show support and share information about this situation. Delong has the support of more than 400 parents, students and friends, seeking to have him reinstated.

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Diane Cleveland, a 39-year-old social studies teacher, and Walter Filson, a 56-year-old law enforcement teacher, were put on unpaid, voluntary leave of absence this past week, said a spokeswoman for the Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) in Anoka, Mn, after the school district was forced to pay a $25,000 settlement to the harassed student, Alex Merritt, 18, and his family.

According to an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Cleveland said “The boy’s ‘fence swings both ways,’ when the student wrote a report on Ben Franklin, Cleveland allegedly said before the entire class that the boy had a ‘thing for older men.’”

The other teacher, Walter Filson, also said in front of other students that the Merritt ‘enjoys wearing women’s clothes, ‘ and when Merritt decided to report on Abraham Lincoln, Filson allegedly said, ‘Since you like your men older …’ the Human Rights report said.”

The department also noted that the school district’s own investigation had identified witnesses who substantiated allegations that teachers Cleveland and Filson had made regular “gay” jokes in the classroom, and did nothing to stop subsequent “homo and gay jokes” by classmates, sometimes smiling and laughing after the students’ comments.

The student was forced to transfer to a school 25 miles from home to escape the harassment the report also noted.

The district had previously reassigned Cleveland and placed her on two-day unpaid suspension after the student’s mother had complained to the school district and requested that her son be removed from Filson’s and Cleveland’s classrooms.

Cleveland’s reassignment included working on a weeklong, “social studies curriculum development and reflecting on equality and diversity in the classroom,” according to the Department of Human Rights report. However, the report also said, Cleveland completed only one day of the assignment, then called in sick the remainder of the week.

The MnDHR report makes no mention of if any disciplinary was taken against Filson.

http://www.humanrights.state.mn.us/settlements/case51679.html

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One of the commission members is paraplegic and discussed the issue with regards to his own physical limitations and the difficulty of his own wife has had helping him find proper accommodations. Commission Executive Director Robert Appel mentioned this. “One of our commission members is a parapalegic who uses a wheelchair and he talked about his challenge with his wife trying to find a bathroom that is available to him because the person who assists him in this biological function is his wife,” stated Appel.
Robert Appel also stated: “I would say that the commissioners were favorably impressed. I think it personalized the issue and brought some deeper understanding of the concerns of students whose identity is not consistent with biogolical sex.”

Kyle currently goes to Burlington High School which has gender-neutral bathrooms, but he is not just speaking on his own behalf. At a Queer Youth Summit earlier this year the issue of gender-neutral bathrooms was deemed as being one of the more important issues facing LGBT teens.

When I was attending Coastal Georgia Community College in Brunswick, Georgia, I was lucky enough that they had a single gender-neutral bathroom on campus. While it often meant that my brakes between classes meant dashing across campus to use the facilities it not only made my life easier, but made life easier for those who are uncomfortable with transpeople. It prevented harassment of myself while on campus.

What follows is the video from that report. With luck it should be working. If it does not work, here is the link to the story. Teen pushes for gender-neutral bathrooms

This is a busy time for many families, including those with LGBT parents, and the resources are flowing everywhere we look with deals, steals, and bargains for back to school. If you are an LGBT parent with children getting ready to go back to school, you might feel a little added pressure to get things done perfectly for your school age child(ren).

Luckily Mombian Dana Rudolph has gathered the resources you need to get you through in one place and put them on her blog on Bay Windows:

Back-to-school resources for LGBT parents

Back-to-school time can be fraught with tension for many parents as we realize our children’s shoes are too small, they need new knapsacks, and for reasons that surpass understanding, a perfectly working locker padlock somehow isn’t cool enough to be acceptable this year.

For LGBT parents, there is an additional concern about how our children’s new teachers and classmates will react to knowing our kids have LGBT moms or dads. Do you approach teachers and school administrators beforehand to inform them about your family and detect any potential problems?

…Regardless of the approach you take, it never hurts to be prepared, either to help allies eager to be inclusive or to take action against bias and bullies. Here are some useful resources. (Note that there is an overlap between resources that help children of LGBT parents and those that help LGBT youth. Many of the issues each of these groups face are the same-not to mention that some children of LGBT parents are LGBT themselves.)

I encourage you to visit her article for resources such as Safe Classrooms by COLAGE, links to organizations with resources for administrators and more.

According to MEC, many educators have been participating in LGBT education qualification courses, “but some of them abandon the course because they can’t deal with the subject”, says Claudilene Santos, a psychologist and one of the instructors.

Beto de Jesus, an educator and a representative of ILGA in Latin America, says that ‘teachers often don’t notice that learning is far beyond books, it’s in everyday life. When a teenagers is discriminated, either because he’s gay or because of his skin color, the teacher doesn’t stop teaching his class to discuss the problem because he thinks his syllabus is more important.” Beto believes the qualification program is a big step, but must grow bigger and be strengthened.

Since 2000, Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, PA has been publishing on both its website and in its catalogue and student handbook, affirmative action statements saying the school will not discriminate against individuals based on their “sexual orientation” and “union membership.”

But after the school decided to deny a gay employee health insurance for his spouse and his union filed a grievance over the denial, Westmoreland County Community College President Daniel Obara is now in effect saying that he was asleep at the switch, and for the last nine years the school has been “accidentally” considering sexual orientation a protected class.

Obara says there is another statement that does not contain protections and that it is the only one approved as an official policy by college trustees — in a 1998 vote. He is also “blaming the one who is not here anymore,” for inserting the language covering sexual orientation in the schools non-discrimination policy without his informed approval for this whole mess and accordingly, has directed the Westmoreland County Community College IT Department to begin the extraordinary undertaking of removing references sexual orientation from WCCC non-discrimination language, including the college’s Web site….

Additionally, in an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, College President Daniel Obara is saying that the decision to delete the sexual orientation reference has zilch to do to the grievance filed in March on behalf of Andrew Doherty, a gay employee who was married in Massachusetts and was denied health insurance for his spouse.

“They have absolutely nothing to do with each other,” Dr. Obara said.

Nevertheless, Obara did admit in the Post-Gazette article he learned about the conflicting language on the school web site and publications from the college’s attorney during an internal meeting called a month ago to discuss the employee’s case.

Doherty, a WCCC employee for nearly five said it doesn’t make sense, “why now after nine years?” he asked. “How many institutions do you know that are taking people out of a non-discrimination policy?”

Conversely, the schools now-retired affirmative action officer, Mary Stubbs, whom Dr. Obara said added the words, is not happy about being rolled under the bus and has said any revisions to the catalogue and website she proposed would have been forwarded for review to the public relations staff and others, including the then vice president for academic affairs and student services… one Dr. Daniel Obara… when non-discrimination language was first published in 2000.

“I would never take it upon myself to change a statement in the college, and anyone who told you that ought to know better,” she said. “Of course not — not without having it approved.”

Asked about that, Obara also took a page from President Ron Regan… a la’ the Iran- Contra scandal… and said the proposed wording change might have crossed his desk and he signed off without his noticing it.

You know if I were Mr. Doherty or any other gay facility member or student at Westmoreland County Community College, I’d be telling my attorney… to look into suing the school for false representation… because the original non-discrimination policy was the only reason I came to WCCC in the first place.

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Thursday, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court formally issued notice it intends to review the case of McConkey v. J.B. Van Hollen, et.al…

This a case were a University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh professor William McConkey and father of a gay child, is challenging the legality of the 2006 referendum amendment to Wisconsin ’s constitution banning same-sex marriage and civil unions…. McConkey argues that amendment should be nullified because the two questions in the referendum should have been voted on separately.

McConkey’s case was dismissed last year by Dane County Judge Richard Niess, who said in his ruling those the issue is “two sides of the same coin.”

But McConkey appealed to the Wisconsin District 4 Court of Appeal, who in turn asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review the case, saying, “The validity of the marriage amendment is a matter of significant public interest with statewide implications.”

A win in the Wisconsin Supreme Court would not legalize gay marriage in Wisconsin, as the state would still define marriage as a heterosexual union, but it would allow gay and lesbian couples who have been denied a marriage license the right to file lawsuits in Wisconsin to change that.

In 2006, almost 60% of Wisconsinites approved that states amendment. But less than three years later, recent polls indicate that percentage would be significantly lower now. Only 55% of people in a nationwide poll conducted by Quinnipiac University said they were opposed to gay marriage last month. And 57% said they favored allowing gay couples to form civil unions that would provide marriage-like rights.

Until recently, other states that have allowed marriage equality have done so only because of judges have forced the issue, but that is also no longer the case.

People everywhere are beginning to recognize that those who are gay didn’t choose to be gay… We were just created this way. They see it wasn’t an orientation we decided to choose and they understand that there are people out there who just happen to be gay.

Legislatures in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have also recognize this and not wanting to be on the wrong side of history, have recently voted in favor of marriage equality in those states. In light of these attitude changes, and the current political climate it is very doubtful marriage equality opponents in Wisconsin could even this same amendment though the Wisconsin legislature today.

A win in the Wisconsin Supreme Court will give marriage equality supporters elsewhere a model to begin taking on similarly written Defense of Marriage amendments in other states, making this a very important court case indeed.

The decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected sometime in fall or winter of 2009.

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“Now all of a sudden I’ve got someone who wasn’t a spouse before, that I had no responsibility for, who is now getting claimed as a spouse that I now have financial responsibility for,” Steele said. “So how do I pay for that? Who pays for that? You just cost me money.”

Delegates to the convention in Savannah rose from their breakfasts and gave Steele a standing ovation.

Earlier this year, social conservatives criticized Steele after a GQ magazine interview quoted him saying he was opposed marriage equality but wasn’t going to “beat people upside the head about it.”

Later this weekend, Steele will appear at the NRA convention in Phoenix, where he will probably tell the folks there that allowing gay marriage will cost them their guns….

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The letter also requested Orszag to work with Secretary of Commerce Locke and the Census Bureau to “formulate an approach consistent with federal law that, at the same time, maintains the accuracy and integrity of the Census.”

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts its survey every 10 years, and during the last decennial census, no state had legalized same-sex marriages, but since then Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa have approved marriage-equality, making same-sex marriages legal in those states. Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire have also approved marriage-equality laws that will be in place by the time of the census.

But citing the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions, the Bush Commerce Department declared that lawfully married same-sex couples who say they are “married” on census forms would have their status changed to “unmarried partners” in the final tally.

“We are deeply concerned about the implications of this policy for same-sex couples and for the integrity of the Census as a whole and firmly believe the Bureau’s primary objective should be to collect data and report it, not collect data and alter it,” the letter says.

Opponents say counting same-sex marriages in state where it is legal is equal to Federal reorganization of those marriages, but the letter told Orszag that the congress members believe that publicly reporting data collected on the status of same-sex couples in the United States is not equivalent to federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

“The Census is a vital tool of our democracy. Truthful answers must be recorded and publicly reported in order to ensure the most accurate count and the most democratic process. Americans who are legally married must not be marginalized,” said Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.

“We are simply asking the Census Bureau to report the facts as they exist. This should not be controversial,” said Massachusetts Congressman Barney Franks.

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Thirty-one of Rhode Islands 75 House members have cosponsored that states marriage equality bill, but Rhode Islands powerful Roman Catholic lobbies ardently opposes the measure. Providence’ Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has been pushing hard in his opposition as well and using scare tactics, telling Rhode Island Catholics their religious freedoms are in danger.

Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri is also adamantly against marriage equality. Last month Carcieri announced he and his wife had joined the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and appeared at an event announcing a NOM ad blitz in Rhode Island.

In the previous 12 years the Marriage Equality issue has come before the Rhode Island legislature, it has never made it pass the committee level. No decisions were made Wednesday about the fate of this year’s bill.

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The case arose when Lara Embry filed a petition seeking shared custody of a child she had raised with her former partner, Kimberly Ryan. The couple had two children together. Each gave birth to one child, and each adopted her non-biological child through a second-parent adoption in the state of Washington, where the family lived. The couple moved to Florida, and their relationship ended several years later. They agreed to share custody of both children and did so successfully until Ryan unilaterally decided to separate the children, who are deeply bonded as siblings, and cut off all contact between Embry and one of the children.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Leslie Talbot, of Leslie M. Talbot, P.A., represented Lara in her initial suit for shared custody. In February 2008, a Florida trial court held that Florida would not recognize the couple’s second-parent adoption. NCLR, Karen Doering, and the law firm of Carlton Fields represented Lara in the appeal. Former Judge John R. Blue and Cristina Alonso, attorneys with Carlton Fields briefed and argued the case before the Second District Court of Appeal on March 18, 2009.

“We are pleased this decision resolved an important constitutional issue and protected the legal bond between adoptive parents and their children,” said Blue. “The court affirmed the longstanding rule that Florida must honor valid adoptions from other states, which ensures the permanence and stability of parent-child relationships across state lines.”

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin

Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, who 13 years ago voted for the federal Defense of Marriage Act that prohibited federal recognition of same-sex marriage, said while appearing Friday on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” he no longer holds the same views when in comes to Marriage Equality….

“We all grow as we get older, and we learn things and we become more sensitive to people and people’s lives,” Harkin said. “And the more I’ve looked at that, I’ve grown to think differently about how people — how we should live. And I guess I’m at the point that, you know — I’m to that point of live and let live,” Harkin said.

Harkin also said if a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is on the Iowa ballot, as an Iowa voter, he would vote against it, but added, thinks the issue will fade before Iowa voters get a chance to weigh in and he rejected the idea that the issue will help the Republicans in the 2010 mid-term elections.

“There’s always going to be some who feel that they have to push this issue, and for whatever reason, they’re going to try to push it and try to divide people up, but they’re on the losing end. They’re on the losing end of history…. I think in 2010, the elections will hinge on the economy, health-care reform, what we’re doing in energy and whether families are doing better … it’s not going to have one whit to do with gay marriage,” Harkin said.

Harkin is perhaps best known as an advocate for people with disabilities and was the chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this nation’s first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities.

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Robertson has also predicted that the end of the world was coming in November or October 1982, that storms or possibly a tsunami would hit America’s coastline destroying millions of lives sometime in 2006 and that “mass killings” were to come during 2007, as a result of a terrorist nuclear attack on the United States.

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Maine’s opposition to marriage equality are prepared to take this to the voters. They are beginning the process of getting the roughly fifty-five thousand signatures that they need in order to put the recently signed bill before the voters. When it goes to the voters will depend upon when the list is submitted.

Outside groups are already looking into ways to help, and could make this into a California style Proposition 8 battle. Marriage opponents are planning on canvassing in malls, churches, and neighborhoods. The people who are driving this are, indeed, hoping for national interests to come along and help them out.

“There ain’t no way we’ll lose it, this is our life..”

In 2008, the attempt to veto civil unions failed when these same groups failed to raise more than fifteen thousand signatures. In 2005, a voter driven veto attempt to remove sexual orientation from Maine’s Human Rights Act failed at the polls. However, despite these victories, the marriage equality groups are vowing not to be complacent about this issue and are preparing their own counter-campaign to get people to not sign these petitions.

Funding such an effort will be an issue. With the economy in trouble, it could prove difficult for these groups to raise money in order to counter the expected rush of big out of state money coming into the anti-same-sex marriage groups. “Now that it is the law of the state of Maine, we will protect that law,” said Betsy Smith of EqualityMaine. “It’s disappointing we would need to raise a lot of money to protect a law in Maine.”

“We’re not gonna take it anymore.”

The biggest question for those looking at the petitions will be, how much of a fight do you want playing on your airwaves. How many ads like those which ran in California calling your friends, your neighbors, your relatives nasty, derogatory things do you want to wade through each and every day until the election?

http://equalitymaine.org/

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/states/maine.php

Quoted Lyrics are from the Twisted Sister song “We’re Not Gonna Take It” written by Dee Snider.

Bridgette “Sei” LaVictoire is a trans-lesbian who lives in Vermont and has a strong passion for LGBTI rights. She has a BA in History and her hobbies include sci-fi, anime, fantasy, action movies, video games, and more. Currently, she is working on her MA in Individualized Studies at Goddard College. Her specialization is in cultural history and cultural comparison.

Q Does the President or the White House have a reaction to the Governor of Maine signing a same-sex marriage bill?

MR. GIBBS: No, I think the President’s position on same-sex marriages has been talked about and discussed.

Q He opposes same-sex marriage.

MR. GIBBS: He supports civil unions.

Q Does that mean that he’s going to say or do anything against what the citizens of Maine –

MR. GIBBS: Not that I’m aware of. I think the President believes this is an issue that’s best addressed by the states.

I guess not everyone was excited about the news as we were yesterday….

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Briefing-by-Secretary-of-State-Hillary-Clinton-and-Press-Secretary-Robert-Gibbs-5-6-09/

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KnowThyNeighbor is a site online which posts information about anti-gay petitions and the people who sign them.

KTN was started in 2005 in response to an initiative petition to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

Recently, the website launched a searchable database of those who signed a petition to ban gay adoption and foster care rights in the state of Arkansas as well.

KnowThyNeighbor.org publishes the names of petition signers to “alter the dynamic of the petition process in several important ways”:

1. Anti-gay marriage activists and supporters have now lost their veil of anonymity. KnowThyNeighbor.org believes that citizens who sponsor an amendment to take people’s rights should never be allowed to do so under the cover of darkness.
2. Gay citizens are inspired to speak out in defense of their equal rights. Finding the names of friends, neighbors, family, co-workers, etc… has helped trigger many into a state of activism. Uncomfortable but desperately needed conversations continue to take place every day as a result.

3. Putting the names online has led to the discovery of rampant fraud in the signature collection process. Both civil and criminal investigators have been assigned to further investigate.

On April 28, 2009, KTN Arkansas was launched and the names of over 83,000 anti-gay adoption and foster care petition signers were put online.

The information was a matter of the public record provided by the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office, and KnowThyNeighbor.org scanned the paper petitions then transcribed them into pdf versions of the actual documents.

In 2008, Arkansas voters approved a ballot measure (sponsored by the Family Council Action Committee) making it illegal for same-sex couples to be adoptive or foster parents.

“This is about responsibility and dialogue,” said Tom Lang, KnowThyNeighbor.org’s director. “These petition signers need to stand behind their signatures and be responsible for this dehumanizing attack on the gay community. It’s disgraceful that they have chosen to exercise their prejudice at the expense of children who are now being denied access to loving adoptive and foster parents. Such activity must be challenged and cannot be allowed to pass under the cover of darkness.”

Those who signed the petition to place this measure on the ballot are listed here.

It looks like someone has finally noticed that bullying in schools is a serious problem. After the two suicides of young boys caused by bullying there have been a lot of people calling for something to be done. The Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) that was introduced today would amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. Schools and districts receiving federal funds would be required to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment. This would also include bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. States would also be required to report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education.

The Human Rights Campaign released this statement:

Human Rights Campaign Applauds Re-Introduction of Safe Schools Improvement Act
Legislation would mandate that schools adopt policies to meaningfully address bullying and harassment, including of LGBT students

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, applauded the reintroduction of the Safe Schools Improvement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives today by Representatives Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). The Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) would amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (part of the No Child Left Behind Act) to require schools and districts receiving federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Act would also require that states report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education.

“Tragically, last month alone, two eleven-year-old boys, Carl Joseph Walker Hoover and Jaheem Herrera, took their own lives after suffering bullying by classmates who perceived them to be gay. Their deaths remind us of the true costs of anti-LGBT school bullying and harassment to our families and communities,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We place our children in grave danger when we fail to adequately help school administrators and teachers create safe learning environments for all students, including those who are, or are perceived to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. We stand with the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network in calling upon Congress to quickly pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act.”

Bullying and harassment of students who are, or are perceived to be, LGBT is widespread. While current federal law provides important support to promote school safety, it does not comprehensively and expressly focus on issues of bullying or harassment, and in no way addresses the challenges faced by LGBT youth in our nation’s schools.

In the 2007 National School Climate Survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), nearly three-fifths of students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and more than a third felt unsafe because of their gender expression. In addition, 44% of LGBT students surveyed reported experiencing physical harassment and 22.1% reported being physically assaulted at school in the last year.

Numerous education, health, law enforcement and youth development organizations support federal legislation to combat bullying and harassment, including the American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American School Health Association, National Association of School Psychologists, National Education Association and National Parent Teacher Association.

In the 110th Congress, SSIA was introduced by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and had 80 co-sponsors in the House.

I hope we can get strong support for this piece of legislation. As a parent I worry about my kids everyday. As a martial arts instructor I am constantly seeing the results of bullying and helping kids overcome it. This is an important issue and something that deserve the attention of the federal government.

Lezzymom has two kids and a wonderful partner. Her political commentary has appeared on C-Span and CSPAN.org. Visit her Lezzymom blog for more of her insights.

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This photo, which appeared yesterday on TheDirty.com, shows a woman – with some very prominent similitudes to Beauty Queen and traditional marriage supporter Carrie Prejean- clad only in her of pink unmentionables, showing off a rather nice pair of silicone enhanced tatas.

In a statement issued today , Ms Prejean said, “On April 19, I chose to answer a question during the 2009 Miss USA pageant in an honest and personal manner that expressed my views of the long-established definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. That answer, and my commitment to stand by my beliefs, has since resulted in attacks on me and my integrity as a woman. We live in a great country; a nation that was built on freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Yet my comments defending traditional marriage have led to intimidation tactics that seek to undermine my reputation and somehow silence me and my beliefs, as if opinion is only a one-way street.

“I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be. But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others’ opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks.

“With that in mind, I will continue to support and defend marriage as the honorable institution it is. I will continue to stand with the overwhelming majority of the American people and the voters of my home state of California. If this whole experience has taught me anything, it is our precious right to speak freely, and how we as Americans can never allow anyone or any group to intimidate or threaten us to keep silent.”

Oh my what would Maggie Gallagher say?

Bringing in the Sleaze… Bringing in the Sleaze… We shall come rejoicing… Bringing in the Sleaze

http://www.popcrunch.com/miss-california-nude-picture-carrie-prejean-naked-photo-scandal/

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Eleven of the 14 committee members voted in favor of the bill, two voted against it and one proposed letting voters decide the issue in a statewide referendum.

Yesterday’s vote in Maine came nearly a week after an estimated 3,500 people packed a marathon public hearing in the Augusta Civic Center. The public was not invited to speak at yesterday hearings, but the deliberations were interrupted by an outburst by a protester, who was escorted by police from the State House, shouting that the bill was morally wrong.

During the debate leading up to yesterday’s vote, several committee members said they were compelled to look at the bill through lens of law and Maine’s constitution, and not those of religion.

While the bill would allow Marriage Equality in Maine and change state law so that same-sex marriages legally performed in other states would be recognized in Maine, it also allows religious institutions and clergy to refuse to marry gay or lesbian couples.

Marriage Equality opponents acknowledge the likelihood of a House vote in favor of the bill, there is support in the Senate for sending the bill out to public vote and unless both chambers agree on a single version of the bill, it will die. Sen. David Hastings, R-Fryeburg, is offering his own Senate version of the bill that would send it out to a referendum. Opponents say they will continue their efforts next week to defeat the legislation when it hits the floor of the Maine Senate.

Even though Gov. John Baldacci has not taken a position on the Marriage Equality Bill, he did suggest in a statement release yesterday that some kind of statewide referendum by Maine voters would be appropriate. “Let me just say, it was very clear to me that the turnout of people who were there that this is an issue that people feel strongly about and they’re going to want to make sure that they have their say,” Baldacci’s statement said and added, “In our state, I think they’re going to want to be part of the decision-making. I don’t know what form that’s going to take or how it’s going to be done, but you just can’t help but feel that way.”

However, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, said he respectfully disagreed with Senators Hastings and Governors Baldacci desire to let voters decide.

“If the landmark civil rights legislation of the 1960s had only been sent out to voters, it would have failed. We are elected to make these decisions, tough as they may be. It is what we are here to do,” Damon said in a statement.

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One such student is Nikki Heiskil, a student who planned to attend the prom as part of a same-sex couple with girlfriend Ashley Beaty. Initially the couple were asked not to attend their school’s prom, by Principal Sharon Vaughn and told to return their tickets because it was not a “girl-girl” prom.

Vaughn told Ashley Beaty the prom was advertised as “boy-girl”, and she encouraged Beaty to still attend the prom claiming that she does not discourage homosexuals from attending prom, as long as they do not enter the prom as a couple because this can trigger “unwanted media attention”.

She added that prom attendees should dress “gender-appropriate” and that the Ringgold High prom is in fact a “boy-girl event at Ringgold High School.”

After the story was reported by Beaty and Heiskill to the local media, Principal Sharon Vaugh reversed her decision and decided to let the girls attend the prom. Vaughn told the local media that the couple’s sexual preference had nothing to do with her decision to ask the girls to return their tickets, and said Heiskell was prohibited from the prom because she quit school earlier this year and was in poor standing when she quit.
However, when Principal Sharon Vaughn did make contact with the teen lesbian couple to notify them of her reversed decision, the principal assured that Heiskell was not initially banned from the prom because of her sexual preference and that she did not want to ruin Beaty’s prom night; but that Heiskell would have to wear a dress.

The school’s dress code doesn’t mention their policy on prom attire.

The school held their prom on Saturday, though the young couple has not been reached for comment. We were also unable to obtain a picture of the couple, or the dress in question. If you would like to ask Principal Vaughn why she chose to enforce a non-existent dress code policy after reversing her decision to bar the same-sex couple from prom, the school’s phone number where she can be reached for comment is (706) 935-2254.

Photo gallery: Iowa begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses. (Des Moines Register)

Marriage licenses have been issued to same-sex couples across the state of Iowa today, when the ruling overturning the ban on gay marriage took affect. Many couples that have begun the process by applying for marriage licenses, are now preparing for the passage of a three-day waiting period before they can officially tie the knot.

Some couples however, under certain circumstances, did in fact tie the knot today, making today the day they will celebrate their wedding anniversary from now on.

The Des Moines Register reports that Shelley Wolfe, 38, and Melisa Keeton, 31, were the first gay couple in Polk County to marry under the new ruling.

They applied for their marriage license this morning then immediately got a judge to waive the standard three-day waiting period. They wanted to get married quickly, because Keeton is 25 weeks pregnant. They’ve been together nearly three years.

“For us, while I’m only 25 weeks pregnant, already into the third trimester, I’ve had a lot of medical issues,” said Keeton, who was waiting in line to have their marriage license notarized. “To me it’ll be a lot less stressful because we’ll have legal rights. Really, today is about making it legal.”

Some couples were not so lucky:

Although some magistrates have recently spoken out about opting out of performing marriages overall (possibly to avoid participation in a same-sex wedding in their background), it is not clear whether same-sex couples expecting to get married on Thursday will have any trouble finding someone to marry them.

If the marriage events in California in 2008  are any indication, it could be expected for gay friendly officials and small businesses with marriage related services to come out of the woodwork. It is also a time for anti-gay initiatives to come out of the woodwork as well.

According to the Des Moines Register Jefferson County Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution this morning asking lawmakers to take action against same-sex marriage.

“We expect the Iowa legislature to resolve the issue,” said Stephen Burgmeier, chairman of the three-member, all Republican board. “We hope it either leads to a public vote or to a constitutional amendment.”

Also, petitions opposing same-sex marriage have been dropped off to county clerk’s offices around the state.

Many petitions have only a handful of signatures, yet the number of petitions dropped off seem to outweigh the number of couples who applied for licenses at this time.

A group of residents delivered a petition that asks County Recorder Charlotte Fleig to deny the licenses today.

She said she will issue the licenses but, as of 9 a.m., no same-sex couples had requested a license, although there was at least one same-sex couple who called to inquire about the process.

George Wallace standing against desegregation at the University of Alabama in 1963.

“In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” ~ George Wallace, January 14, 1963

KTVO in Iowa is reporting that in a last minute attempt to stop same-sex marriages in his county, Jefferson County, Iowa supervisor Stephen Burgmeier says he will attempt to fight the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to allow marriage equalitymo.

“I believe the Supreme Court has over-stepped their bounds, the governor has not done his job and the legislature has not done their jobs,” said Burgmeier.

Burgmeier, a Republican, has drawn up a resolution that he says he’ll present at a Jefferson County board meeting on Monday, which will start at a special time of 7:30 am, requesting the county leave in effect the Iowa Code, that says only marriage between a male and female is valid.

A portion of the resolution reads, “WHEREAS, on April 3rd, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court issued an opinion that is in conflict with that law and Constitution and only applies to Polk County District Court and not to Jefferson County, Iowa.”

Burgmeier believes it’s his job as an elected official to take a stance on the issue and to do something about it.

“There is a law in the books that says in Iowa, a marriage is between a man and woman. It has not been repealed. It is still in effect. The Supreme Court addressed only one case in one county, which was Polk County. So, there are 98 counties out here that we have not had our day in court,” Burgmeier said.

The supervisor plans to fight the ruling with Iowa Code section 331.302, which he calls the “Home Rule,” which he believes allows the county government to exercise power over state law.

“It allows counties to decide on their own on some issues and we will have to see if this is one of those issues,” he said.

The Burgmeier will be working against the clock on Monday, as the county board will only have a half an hour before the courthouse doors open for business to make a decision. If Burgmeier’s resolution passes, he says supervisors will advise the county recorder not to give marriage licenses to any gay couples on Monday when offices open at 8 a.m.

“I think it’s an issue that’s big enough. I think leaders lead and if we have the opportunity to lead, then we should lead,” he said. Burgmeier however said he doesn’t have any idea how the other two county supervisors will vote Monday.

All of Burgmeier’s bluster aside, Iowa’s Attorney General Tom Miller has told county officials they don’t have the power to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples and said, “If necessary, we will explore legal actions to enforce and implement the court’s ruling, working with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health and county attorneys.”

In 1963, Alabama Governor George Wallace, who had been overwhelmingly elected to the Governorship of Alabama because of his opposition to desegregation of the state, was determined his state would remain segregated. To stop court ordered desegregation at the University of Alabama by the enrollment of black students Vivian Malone and James Hood, Wallace claimed “Home Rule” and stood in front of Foster Auditorium on June 11, 1963 blocking their entrance. But after being confronted by federal marshals, Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, and the Alabama National Guard, he stood aside.

Much later in his life, Wallace was remorseful about his opposition to civil rights, and apologized for his earlier segregationist views to black civil rights leaders, saying while he once sought power and glory, he now realized he needed to seek their forgiveness for the harm he had caused.

His last term as Governor of Alabama(1983–1987) saw a record number of black appointments to government positions.

But to this day, it is Wallace’s earlier actions, viewed by history as the very epitome of intolerance and bigotry, and not the good he finally did, that is his legacy. And whither he wanted it or not, Wallace will be remembered always for his actions to hold on to a national disgrace like segregation… forever and nothing more.

I wonder…. Does Supervisor Burgmeier not see the parallels here?

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The Chicago Tribune is reporting an Iowa woman is organizing a statewide prayer service against gay marriage on Monday, the first day of legalized same-sex unions in that state.

Gloria Villanueva, of Bonaparte says she is opposed to last month’s ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage and wants her voice heard. Villanueva is urging people to go to their local courthouse on Monday and pray at 7:45 a.m.

She says she plans to show up at the Van Buren County courthouse in Keosauqua

Lez Get Real urging all of our Iowa readers to join Ms. Villanueva at the courthouse that morning if you can, to go pray with her and explain to her why your God says she is wrong….

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-gaymarriage-praye,0,5709906.story

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La Figa called the creator of Buzzfree Prom, Liza Orchard, who claimed “The poster doesn’t foster a fear of being homosexual but a fear of going to jail.” Orchard added that if you are the weakest person in the cell “you will appear to be the queen in the group”.

Since La Figa ran the story, the ad campaign has been removed from the Buzz Free Prom site, and this statement can be found on their homepage:

We have received complaints from individuals regarding a BuzzFree Prom poster. It has been removed from the BuzzFree Prom website and product line. We apologize if this poster offended anyone, for certainly that was not the intent; BuzzFree Prom strives to direct teens’ attention to messaging which encourages them NOT to drink or use other drugs on prom night or any other night. BuzzFree is solely responsible for its content.

Good job to La Figa and also to Buzz Free Prom for staying accountable to our kids!!