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National News Briefs

Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman

Politics

Gay leader slams Clinton
NEW YORK – Calling Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton "a complete disappointment" because of her opposition to equal marriage rights, the director of Empire State Pride Agenda told associates he will not participate in a March 10 fundraiser hosted by several of her gay supporters.
The controversy comes as Clinton embarks on a multistate fundraising swing for her re-election campaign.
The refusal by the director to lend his name or raise money for the March 10 fundraiser set marriage equality as a new benchmark for candidates seeking political support from the gay community.

Civil Rights

Transgender teacher to return to classroom
EAGLESWOOD TOWNSHIP, N.J. – To students at Eagleswood Elementary School, she used to be Mr. McBeth. Now, after undergoing a sex change, 71-year-old Lily McBeth is ready to return to teaching as Miss McBeth.
After two hours of public debate and a private meeting with McBeth and her lawyer, a New Jersey school board took no action on calls by several parents to bar McBeth from returning to the school where she taught for five years before her surgery.
Earlier this month, the board voted 4-1 to accept her application to return to the classroom.

Anti-discrimination order unconstitutional
RICHMOND, Va. – Orders outgoing Gov. Mark R. Warner and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine issued banning job discrimination against gays by state agencies are unconstitutional, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell ruled Feb. 24.
In his legal opinion, the Republican attorney general said the two Democratic governors illegally altered state public policy by treating gays and lesbians as a protected class of employees.
Kaine, a lawyer, said he had "some grave doubts" about the opinion's legal accuracy and would not rescind his order.
The attorney general's opinion does not have the force of law but it could serve as a basis for a lawsuit to overturn the order.

Marriage Rights

Judge gives nod to anti-marriage amendment
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A judge on Feb. 23 upheld the way lawmakers took up a resolution banning equal marriage rights in Tennessee, rebutting plaintiffs' claims that the Legislature did not follow the rules in preparing the amendment.
The amendment, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, passed the Legislature in 2005 and will be voted on Nov. 7 in the statewide general election.

Family Rights

Utah House passes anti-gay DP benefits bill
SALT LAKE CITY – Cities, counties and other entities using tax dollars to pay for employee health care benefits could not offer benefits to anyone other than traditionally defined dependents under a bill that passed the Utah House on Feb. 22. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The bill is seen as a push back against Salt Lake City, which has made two attempts in recent months to expand the health care benefits it offers employees, including an executive order by Mayor Rocky Anderson to allow same-sex partners to have health care. The order is awaiting a district court ruling after the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund filed a lawsuit.
On Feb. 21, Anderson vetoed an extended benefits plan approved by the City Council that would have offered health insurance and other benefits to designated adults, including relatives and roommates, with a documented financial dependency on city employees.

Justice

Court refuses to hear Shepard killer's appeal
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A federal judge has refused to grant a review to the case of Russell Henderson, one of two men convicted in the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard.
The U.S. District Judge rejected Henderson's motion for a writ of habeas corpus. Henderson's attorney argued that Henderson was never told of his right to appeal, thus effectively denying Henderson his right to appellate counsel.
A state district court and the Wyoming Supreme Court previously rejected Henderson's motion.
In April 1999, Henderson pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery and murder of Shepard. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

National Security

Army charges troops for gay Web sex videos
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Army has recommended that seven 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers be discharged following allegations they engaged in sex acts shown on a gay pornographic Web site.
Three soldiers face courts-martial on charges of sodomy, pandering and engaging in sex acts for money. Four others received nonjudicial punishments.
"I'm not going to make excuses for service members who are taking part in sexual conduct for money," said Steve Ralls, a spokesman for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "It would be absolutely criminal regardless of whether they were heterosexual or gay."

Religion

Gay man and lesbian seek to become Episcopal bishop
SAN FRANCISCO – A gay man and a lesbian are candidates to become bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California in an election that could worsen the rift over homosexuality in the bitterly divided church.
The Rev. Bonnie Perry of Chicago and the Very Rev. Robert Taylor of Seattle are among the five candidates in the running to replace the current bishop. Both have longtime same-sex partners.
Each province within the Anglican Communion can make its own decisions because the group lacks a governing body like the Vatican for Roman Catholics.
Leaders of the Episcopal Church have apologized for the divisions caused by Gene Robinson's elevation to bishop but have not expressed regret over his election.

Miscellaneous

Several dozen protest coach at Penn State game
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – About three-dozen people protested against Penn State coach Rene Portland and the university during the Lady Lions' game against No. 6 Ohio State on Feb. 26.
The protesters, who had tickets, then came inside the Bryce Jordan Center and watched the contest without causing a disturbance. They laid out a rainbow flag on three rows of empty seats, then waved the large banner during halftime.
Former player Jennifer Harris has filed a federal lawsuit against Portland, accusing the coach of asking her to try to look more "feminine" and of maintaining a discriminatory policy against lesbians or those who she thought were lesbians.

'Brokeback' shirts auctioned for charity
LOS ANGELES – Two shirts worn by actors Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in "Brokeback Mountain" have been auctioned for $100,000.
Focus Features, distributor of the film, donated the two shirts to The Children's Charity of Southern California. The charity auctioned them on Ebay.com.

International

French court grants parental rights
PARIS – France's highest court ruled Feb. 24 that homosexual parents may extend parental rights to their partners.
The Cour de Cassation approved such shared rights when the couple is living in a stable union and when it is in the child's best interests.
It was the first time the high court granted such broad rights to a homosexual couple in France.
The court also noted that parental rights include the responsibilities for protecting children and caring for their health, welfare and education.

Gay film hit in South Korea
SEOUL, South Korea – A gay-themed movie has racked up big box-office in South Korea.
"King and the Clown" – about a delicately effeminate male clown caught between the affections of a despotic king and a fellow performer – has sold more than 11 million tickets through Feb. 19 since its Dec. 29 premiere, making it the third-most popular film ever in the country. Even President Roh Moo-hyun has seen it.
In April 2004, South Korea's government removed homosexuality from a list of "socially unacceptable sexual acts."

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