Kentucky rejects ban on universities' domestic partners health insurance

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A House committee yesterday killed a Senate bill that would bar state universities and other public agencies from providing health insurance for domestic partners of employees.

Spokesmen for the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville yesterday said the committee's decision was appropriate. The decisions since 2006 by the universities to let employees purchase health insurance for their domestic partners triggered legislative efforts to ban the policy.

The vote on SB 112 came largely along party lines, with Democrats Bob Damron of Nicholasville and John Arnold of Sturgis voting with four Republicans for the bill. The nine Democrats who voted no included Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington and a longtime opponent of the measure, who snapped "of course not" when asked for her vote on the bill.

full article

CMU: What's that smell?

There's an attempt to quell students at Central Michigan University.

One of the professors (Gary Peters) is running for congress.

A student organization has been formed which doesn't support Mr. Peters. They claim he is biased and breaking the law. It seems, public employees who receive federal funds are in violation if they run for office.

As if this isn't enough of a mess at CMU, a student was assaulted by the Dean (see video below) and students were punished for passing out printed flyers.

Whatever is going on at CMU, it really smells!

We should be past applauding

I read this opinion on the Arizona University site and was so impressed I had to share it.

J.K. Rowling, the author of the popular Harry Potter series, just announced that one of her most prominent characters, Albus Dumbledore, is gay.

Yes, the Harry Potter books have enjoyed plenty of censorship and what the American Library Association calls "challenges" (where someone would like that book removed from the library shelves; the actual outcome varies,) however the banning of Harry Potter was usually focused on anti-Christian values, specifically witchcraft and fantasy.

In 2006, for instance, the short children's book called "And Tango Makes Three" was on top of the "Most Challenged" list, says the American Library Association. It is a cute story, about two penguins who are best friends. Together they form a union, and find a rock. They take turns sitting on this rock, and wait for it to hatch, to no avail. Finally, one of the zoo keepers gives them an egg, and they properly birth and raise a child, named Tango. This true story is based on a gay penguin couple from the New York City Zoo. Second on the list of banned books for 2006 is the popular young adult novel called "Gossip Girls", again for its homosexual themes.

And, personally, it was not until literally an hour ago (when one of my teachers called homosexuality a preference) did I think people need to be further educated about homosexuality. I often thought it was simply just closed minded idiots who believed homosexuality is a choice, especially when prestigious entities such as UCLA and the U.S. National Institute of Health run separate studies that find that homosexuality is genetic.

With all of the research and facts that keep going into why we are gay, we should be past the day that J.K. Rowling, or anyone for that matter, is applauded for including real, honest to life love, whether it be gay or straight love, in their novels, because, honestly, there is no difference.

National coming out day: University of Tennessee

The Lambda Student Union will be tabling at the Pedestrian Walkway on October 9 from 10 A.M to 3 P.M. in support of National Coming Out Day. There will be literature available to students, including a guide to those who wish to 'come out', a guide for straight allies of the LGBTQ community, and a guide regarding transgender issues. There will also be a phamplet about the Lambda Student Union available, as well as goodies for passersby. The official date of National Coming Out Day is October 11.

Preparations for Pride Week underway

Pride Week at the University of Utah is just more than a month away and students and staff at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center are working to finalize the week's events.

http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2007/08/30/News/Preparations.For.Pride.Week.Underway-2943716.shtml