Monday, June 30, 2008
Momentum gaining for gay marriage
by Nina Wu
The Star Bulletin
There is a quiet, but steadily growing movement to reintroduce the legalization of same-sex marriage at the Hawaii Legislature next year.
California's Supreme Court ruling on May 15 only makes the movement stronger here, according to Alan Spector, co-chair of the Family Equality Coalition. The May ruling became effective June 16, but still could be overturned by a constitutional amendment if it gets on the California ballot for November.
"The time has absolutely come to double our efforts, and re-engage the public as well as the Hawaii Legislature on this issue," said Spector.
full article
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
60 people arrested for disrupting Bulgaria's gay pride march
from FOCUS Information Agency
Sofia - Bulgarian police arrested 60 people Saturday opposed to Bulgaria's first gay pride march after they tried to storm the small group of about 100 marchers in the capital Sofia, AFP reports, citing the interior ministry.
Security concerns had already forced organisers and municipal authorities to change the route of the march twice and deploy a large number of police to prevent clashes.
"Bulgaria is in the EU now. People have to accept us like normal human beings. We are not criminals," 51-year-old German engineer Peter Moews who lives in Sofia told AFP.
"Hostility comes from misunderstanding. Most people think that we are all feminine and wear women dresses but this is not true," he added.
full article
Bolthouse Farms donated $100,000 to ban gay marriage
Nick Langewis over at PageOneQ tells us a popular juice company is anti-gay and supports the ban on gay marriage in California.
Bolthouse Farms donated $100,000 to ban gay marriage in California.
William Bolthouse, with proceeds from the sale of his company's organic juices in stores such as Whole Foods, gave the money to the Alliance Defense Fund, which has been active in the California courts in attempting to overturn the recent ruling, and in opposing a new suit, filed by Equality California, arguing that rules for revising the state's constitution were not properly followed in putting the initiative on the ballot.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Video: Gay History - New York - The First March
As a remebrance to Stonewall, which started on June 28, 1969, The Center has been involved in creating some wonderful videos.
The First March in New York is a great video which talks with people who were there.
One stated "We called it the first RUN". Pointing to the volatile environment.
Another notes, "it wasn't a parade, it was a political march".
Chicago: Groups address police brutality
by Yasmin NairEdge Chicago, IL
Chicago recently became a finalist in its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. An umbrella group of local activist organizations and Amnesty International USA ( AIUSA ) is using this media attention to highlight Chicago police brutality. At a June 19 press conference outside Mayor Daley’s office and an evening community forum at the Broadway United Methodist Church in Boystown, the group argued that Chicago did not have a right to host the Olympics given its record on police brutality, especially towards members of the LGBTQ community. Sponsors of the events included queer groups Amigas Latinas, Equality Illinois, and Gay Liberation Network.
A central case is that of Alexander Ruppert, a gay man who alleges that he was severely beaten by police officers in June 2006. Ruppert received 16 stitches to his left eye, and his injuries, photos of which were displayed prominently at the press conference, include a fractured nose. Ruppert could not be present because of his medical condition, and was represented by his attorney Jon Erickson.
According to Robert Schultz, a field organizer for AIUSA, the Ruppert case is only one of many which create a "pattern of abuse" against LGBTQ people. Wendy Park, of the American Civil 
Liberties Union, called for "meaningful reform." This includes changing a police union contract provision which prevents the Independent Police Review Authority from investigating anonymous complaints about "anything short of criminal conduct" on the part of police officers, even though anonymous citizen complaints against citizens are routinely addressed. Schultz said that "Chicago is a global city and we take pride in that- but that brings responsibilities and obligations. One is the rule of law, which should apply to both police and civilians."
Liberties Union, called for "meaningful reform." This includes changing a police union contract provision which prevents the Independent Police Review Authority from investigating anonymous complaints about "anything short of criminal conduct" on the part of police officers, even though anonymous citizen complaints against citizens are routinely addressed. Schultz said that "Chicago is a global city and we take pride in that- but that brings responsibilities and obligations. One is the rule of law, which should apply to both police and civilians."Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Unleashed dog led to slaying at park, court told
by Rachel Pomerance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia: A bucolic park where people, but not dogs, can roam free was the scene for years of skirmishes between two of its patrons that ended last year with one of their deaths.
But whether Charles Martin Coats, 57, of Stone Mountain stabbed William Scott Carr, 50, of Snellville last year to defend himself or was motivated by anti-gay sentiments is yet to be determined.
"Get your blankety-blank dogs on a leash!" Coats told Carr on one occasion, said prosecuting attorney David Keeton. The two traded insults, with Carr telling Coats to "mind his own business." Carr and his male partner were nervous about Coats, and kept a copy of a police report filed over one of their tiffs in their vehicle's glove compartment should there be another run-in at Gwinnett's Yellow River Park where paths occasionally crossed.
full article