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The Rest of Our World
The
Rest of Our World
Running
for Office
Washington, DC – In a reality TV twist, Chrissy Gephardt, daughter
of Congressman and former presidential candidate Richard Gephardt (D-MO),
won a slot on Showtime's new political reality series "The American
Candidate" and announced her candidacy as her first challenge on
June 8.
The show attempts to identify through a
series of competitions one individual from a select few who has the qualifications
and qualities to be the "American Candidate."
Chrissy Gephardt served as the national
LGBT outreach director on her father’s presidential campaign until
January 2004.
Over the course of 10 weeks, contestants
will face a series of challenges designed to test their presidential mettle
and to show viewers what really goes on in the making of a presidential
candidate. The final episode will be a showdown between the remaining
two candidates, and one person will emerge victorious – the "American
Candidate."
J-FLAG Founder Murdered
New York – Brian Williamson, an advocate for lgbt rights in Jamaica,
was brutally murdered on June 9, 2004. Amnesty International urged that
a thorough investigation be conducted into his death.
"Brian Williamson was a courageous
individual prepared to speak out for one of the most marginalized and
persecuted communities in Jamaica: the gay and lesbian community,"
stated Michael Heflin, Director of Amnesty International USA's (AIUSA)
OUTfront program on LGBT human rights.
The police have initially concluded that
the motive for the murder was robbery due to the reported removal from
his home of a safe.
"There remains a strong possibility
that Brian Williamson's profile as a gay man and advocate of homosexual
rights made him a target for those with homophobic views," explained
Heflin.
Brian Williamson was a founder member of
the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), and one
of the few individuals prepared to speak publicly about matters concerning
the homosexual community.
Philippines Censors Lesbian TV Shows
New York – According to a press release from Human Rights Watch,
threats made by a Philippine censorship Board’s top official against
broadcasts showing lesbian relationships encourage discrimination and
are a blatant assault on freedom of expression.
In May a government official sent a memorandum
to the producers of several television shows: "Lesbian and homosexual
relationships are an abnormality of human nature. To show such kind of
abnormality/aberration on prime-time TV programs gives the impression
that the network is encouraging lesbian and homosexual relationships."
"The Philippine government's power
to censor and ban films and broadcasts it deems unacceptable is a relic
of dictatorship that should finally be scrapped," said Scott Long,
director of Human Rights Watch's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Rights Project. "Using Marcos-era censorship powers against images
of lesbian life means condemning part of the population not just to inequality,
but to invisibility."
Help for Trans Youth
New York – In a publication released last month by Lambda Legal
and the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, transgender youth have a new
resource to help them educate others about their reality.
The 25-page booklet, "Bending the Mold,"
offers suggestions for making schools safer, helps teens address making
bathrooms and locker rooms more accessible and identifies ways to raise
the level of discussion about transgender issues in school.
"Young people are identifying as transgender
and beginning to transition earlier, and they need the tools to help them
educate their parents, peers and schools," said Michael Adams, Director
of Education and Public Affairs at Lambda Legal.
Pediatrician Offers Guidelines
Burlington, VT – A newly revised clinical report titled "Sexual
Orientation and Adolescents" appeared in the June issue of the American
Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics. The report
was co-authored by Barbara Frankowski, M.D., professor of pediatrics at
the University of Vermont.
According to the AAP, approximately five
percent of young people consider themselves lesbian, gay or bisexual,
and many adolescents know a friend, classmate, neighbor or relative who
is non-heterosexual. The new report cautions that sexual orientation is
not synonymous with sexual activity or sexual behavior.
Frankowski and her colleagues recommend
that pediatricians be aware that one stark difference between non-heterosexual
and heterosexual adolescents: the suicide rate.
According to the report, studies show that
non-heterosexual youth are two to seven times more likely to attempt suicide
than their heterosexual peers. They are also two to four times more likely
to be threatened with a weapon at school, and are more likely to engage
in the use of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. These behaviors are not
attributable to homosexuality per se, but are associated with societal
stigmatization and the lack of support offered to non-heterosexual youths.
"Gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens often
have extra challenges like harassment at school, anger from parents, and
misunderstanding in their community," says Frankowski. "The
pediatrician's office should be one safe place for these youth to come
with their concerns."
Sneak Attack
Washington, DC – According to an "action alert" sent out
by the American Civil Liberties Union, a bill proposed by Pennsylvania
Senator Rick Santorum constitutes a "sneak attack" on the civil
rights and health care access of anyone not considered in the "mainstream."
No employee should be allowed to discriminate
against or harass their coworkers, customers, or clients because they
can claim a religious reason for it. And certainly no police officer,
health care worker or counselor should be allowed to jeopardize someone's
health or safety by claiming a religious reason.
But the Workplace Religious Freedom Act
(S. 893) introduced by Santorum could bolster the claims of employees
that they do not have to comply with state and local civil rights laws
that protect against sexual orientation or marital status discrimination.
It could gut employers' nondiscrimination policies that go beyond the
minimum that federal law requires, allowing employees to claim that their
religion requires them to flout these policies.
Got Balls?
Washington, DC – The Federal Triangles Soccer Club (FTSC), Washington,
DC's gay and lesbian soccer club, are staging their annual Rehoboth Beach
Classic soccer tournament from July 2 – 4, 2004 in Delaware.
Organizers expect anywhere from 50 to 70
players to participate in thetournament, which will be held at the fields
of Rehoboth Beach Elementary School. Currently in its sixth year, the
tournament is expected to draw players not only from Mid-Atlantic cities
like DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, but also from New York, Boston,
Atlanta, and San Francisco, as well.
"If you like playing soccer and like
going to the beach then you definitely need to be here," said FTSC
board member Michael Pranikoff.
The co-ed tournament features individual
rather than team registration and players are placed together based on
position and skill level. Trophies go to the winning squad, as well as
to the top goalie, the top goal scorer, and to the winner of a penalty
kick contest.
"This tournament will be a complete
blast," promises FTSC Vice President Wendy Chun-Hoon. To register
online for the tournament, and for more details, including the schedule
of events, visit www.federaltriangles.org/main/tournaments.html
Anti-Gay Aussie Wedgie
Sydney – In Australia, Liberal Party Prime Minister John Howard
has taken a page from George W. Bush re-election playbook by proposing
an amendment to ban same-sex marriage, says a report on the website SFGate.
The report quoted the French publication
Le Monde to say that Howard has made it clear he plans "to amend
[Australia's] federal marriage law in order to prohibit any unions between
persons of the same sex. The Liberal leader also doesn't want homosexual...
couples to be able to adopt children from overseas."
To the disappointment of gay activists,
Australia's opposition Labor Party "indicated [that it] would support
the legislation" because, at least in draft form, it has been "sweetened"
by a clause that would allow same-sex partners to legally designate each
other as beneficiaries in wills and other legal documents.
The article suggests that Howard is using
the issue as a wedge in an expected election this fall to distract attention
and divert opposition to Howard’s unpopular policies regarding involvement
in Iraq.
Kansas Court Reviews Limon
Kansas City – In June, the Kansas Supreme Court agreed to hear an
appeal on behalf of Matthew Limon, the young man who was sentenced to
17 years in prison for an act of consensual oral sex with another male
teenager, says a report on PlanetOut.
Limon's lawsuit had reached the U.S. Supreme
Court. But the nine justices sent the Limon case back to the Kansas Court
of Appeals for reconsideration last summer, in view of their decision
in Lawrence v. Texas.
The appellate court ignored the Lawrence
precedent, ruling that the state of Kansas could set draconian limits
on underage gay sex. Under Kansas law, no one under 19 has the legal right
to have sex. A statute called the Romeo-and-Juliet law sets a maximum
sentence of about a year in prison for straight kids who are caught fooling
around with their peers.
There's hope because the composition of
the seven-member high court has changed dramatically with the appointment
of three new justices last year by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Rainbow Grannies Pride
Despite death threats and hateful protests,
Carrie and Elisia Ross-Stone, the lesbian grandmas who are riding bicycles
on the Rainbow Ride Across America, persevere.
The Ross-Stones are lesbian civil rights
activists and grandmothers to Jareth, age 2. They are riding their bicycles
from San Francisco to New York City to raise awareness and get support
for equal civil marriage rights.
They have met with many supporters of LGBT
equality and have faced a few foes. They met with elected officials in
several cities, including the Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah who spoke
out in support of equal civil marriage rights. They have met and rallied
with progressive groups from African American, Latino, Native American,
Feminist, and Youth organizations.
The pair even paid a visit to the office
of Marilyn Musgrave, the sponsor of the mean-spirited Federal Marriage
Amendment.
The Rocky Mountains proved a formidable
climb for the 50-year-old women who see the literal ups and downs as symbolic
of the struggle for LGBT equality. In addition to their physical aches
and pains, Carrie and Elisia have also been the targets of death threats
and insults from hate-mongers.
The Grannies are expected to reach New York
City on July 10.
Compiled this month by Editor Euan Bear.