Compiled by Dawn Wolfe
Politics
Stonewall Democrats praise selection of John Edwards
WASHINGTON, DC – National Stonewall Democrats hailed Senator Kerry's selection of North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his nominee for Vice President. "The selection of Senator Edwards solidifies the most pro-gay, pro-family ticket in the history of presidential politics," said Dave Noble, NSD Executive Director.
Senator Edwards has held a strong record on issues of equality since being elected U.S. Senator from North Carolina in 1998. Along with Kerry, Edwards has actively promoted tax equity for same-sex couples, employment non-discrimination legislation, equitable enforcement of federal hate crimes laws, and recognition of civil unions. The Kerry/Edwards ticket also supports extending federal benefits to same-sex couples.
Highlights of John Edwards' record on LGBT issues include sponsorship of legislation that would bar employment bias based on sexual orientation and sponsorship of hate crimes legislation. He also is against Don't Ask Don't Tell, advocate of increased funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, supports the right of gay Americans to adopt children, and firmly opposes the federal anti-marriage amendment.
To learn more about the record of Senator John Edwards, visit www.stonewalldemocrats.org
Group plans to monitor churches to watch for campaigning from pulpit
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A group that seeks to preserve the separation of church and state plans to send volunteers to Johnson County church services starting in July to make sure there's no election-year campaigning from the pulpit.
About 100 ministers representing Johnson County churches attended a meeting earlier this month at First Family Church in Overland Park, where the Rev. Jerry Johnston urged them to help oust Kansas lawmakers who voted against a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples.
Now, a Johnson County-based group called The Mainstream Coalition, headed by Caroline McKnight, is sending letters to more than 400 churches in the county reminding them of the IRS rules on campaigning.
The Mainstream Coalition said it will ask its volunteers to report their observations after each church visit, and any major violation of the rules could be filed with the IRS.
Family Rights
Mothers seek legal protection for child they're raising
CINCINNATI – Lambda Legal will ask an Ohio appeals court July 12 to follow state law and allow a lesbian couple to legally protect their relationship with the child they are raising together.
Lambda Legal represents Cheryl and Jennifer McKetrick, a lesbian couple who were denied a shared custody agreement for their child by a Warren County court last year. Breaking from legal precedent, the lower court found that because Cheryl and Jennifer might provide some security for the child through other documents like powers of attorney or wills, the court didn't need to approve a formal custody agreement.
Lambda Legal will argue that Ohio has a long history of allowing voluntary shared custody agreements. As recently as 2002, the state's Supreme Court recognized the harm caused to children when there is no legal relationship with a parent. The Court ordered that the best interest of the child should be the guide in establishing shared custody agreements.
Appeals court tosses out order in lesbian custody case
DENVER – A woman who was ordered to share custody of her adopted daughter with her former lesbian partner is vowing to continue her legal battle.
The two women intended to raise the girl together but ended up in a custody dispute after one partner converted to Christianity and the couple split up.
The Colorado Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld the joint custody arrangement handed down by a Denver judge even though the adopting partner's name is the only one listed on the girl's adoption papers.
The ruling did contain one victory for the woman, who has sole responsibility for her daughter's religious upbringing. The court threw out the District Judge's order that she not teach the girl anything that might be considered "`homophobic." The court sent the case back to the lower court to determine whether that order violates the woman's First Amendment rights.
Law
Transgender pharmacist alleges discrimination at grocer
DENVER – A biologically male pharmacist undergoing gender transformation has filed discrimination complaints against King Soopers, alleging management barred her from wearing women's clothes at work.
Kim Dower filed complaints last week with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Denver Anti-Discrimination Office.
Dower alleges she was considered an exemplary employee when she told management in March about her plans to dress in women's clothes at work. She said her then-supervisor told her that would be grounds for dismissal.
Lambda Legal to appeal the solicitation of sodomy conviction
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Lambda Legal will appeal the conviction of a man who was charged with solicitation of sodomy despite the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling last summer that clearly struck down all remaining sodomy laws in the nation.
Earlier this year, Joel Singson was convicted of solicitation to commit sodomy. The incident began after a discussion with an undercover police officer in the men's room of a store in a Virginia Beach mall. If Singson loses at the end of the appeal process, he faces a three-year jail sentence with two and a half years suspended.
Miami Beach provides transgender protections
MIAMI BEACH – Miami Beach City Commission expanded its nondiscrimination law to provide protections to transgender people on July 7.
Miami Beach is the 71st jurisdiction in the country to expand its law.
Increasingly, Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Nike, and American Airlines are amending their policies to include gender identity and expression in their nondiscrimination policies.
The Transgender Civil Rights Project of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force helped develop the new language which protects not only transgender people, but anyone who suffers discrimination because they do not fit traditional gender stereotypes.
Lawyers hope to push for repeal of adoption ban
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Family law attorneys want to get rid of Florida's ban on adoptions by gay people. By unanimous vote, the executive council of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar has decided to push for a repeal.
Florida is the only state in the nation with a complete ban on adoption by gays, whether single or as a couple.
Before the Family Law Section can press lawmakers to repeal the ban on adoptions by gay people, the idea needs to be approved by the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar.
A dozen mainstream groups, such as the American Medical Association, the American Bar Association and the American Psychiatric Association have all come out in support of allowing gay people to adopt.
For more information visit the Florida Bar at www.flabar.org.
High court says anti-gay remarks by judge protected by First Amendment
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment protects the comments of a George County court judge who said he believed homosexuals should be put in a mental institution.
The Mississippi Judicial Performance Commission last year asked the Supreme Court to publicly reprimand and fine the judge, citing him for judicial misconduct.
The judge's remarks about homosexuals were published in a 2002 letter to the George County Times, a weekly newspaper in Lucedale.
The Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision July 1, said it would not punish the judge for the remarks.
One justice,in a dissent, said the issue was the Supreme Court acting in behalf of the public to insure exemplary conduct among its judges.
Gay former employee denied benefits for spouse by Continental Airlines
WEST HOLLYWOOD, California – Continental Airlines has denied a request by former flight attendant David A. Lee to have his husband listed as his spouse for purposes of the free flight privileges that are routinely granted to the husbands and wives of heterosexual past employees.
Lee and his partner were wed in Vancouver, Canada, on April 1, 2004. Marriages between same-sex couples have been recognized in the Canadian province of British Columbia since July 8, 2003.
The wronged newlyweds want the company's past and current employees – as well as its frequent flyers – to know about this injustice. They are investigating filing a formal lawsuit against Continental, but hope they will be successful in persuading the airline to change its policies without having to incur the time and expense of litigation.
Contact Continental Airlines at 1-800-WE-CARE2 (1-800-932-2732).
Health
U.N. report: AIDS virus continues to outrun efforts to combat it
LONDON – The world is losing the race against the AIDS virus, which last year infected a record 5 million people and killed an unprecedented 3 million, the United Nations reported July 6.
The virus has now pushed deep into Eastern Europe and Asia, and tackling it will be more expensive than previously believed, according to the most accurate picture to date of the global status of HIV infections. The number of people living with HIV has risen in every region.
Nine out of 10 people who urgently need treatment are not getting it, and prevention is only reaching one in five at risk, the report said.
The AIDS epidemic is now entering its globalization phase, according to the report, which is compiled every two years and released ahead of the International AIDS Conference, which kicks off this weekend in Bangkok, Thailand.
For more information: http://www.unaids.org.
Religion
Presbyterians reject allowing ordination of gays
RICHMOND, Va. – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) legislative assembly narrowly rejected a measure July 9 to allow individual presbyteries to ordain gay clergy and lay officers.
Under the 259-255 vote, the current interpretation of church law forbidding the ordination of gay clergy will remain binding on the church, including on the regional bodies, known as presbyteries.
The church has looked the other way when some of its clergy and lay leaders professed their homosexuality.
For more information visit the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at www.pcusa.org.
In Other News
Top three car insurance companies in NY will respect gay couples' marriages
NEW YORK – The three largest car insurance companies in New York – which, together, provide insurance to a third of all drivers in the state – will respect the marriages of same-sex couples, providing them with the same rates and coverage as married heterosexual couples, Lambda Legal reported July 6. In recent months, the organization has been working with couples throughout the state who were married in Canada to ensure that their marriages are fully respected.
Allstate, State Farm and Geico auto insurance companies have agreed to comply with state law and respect all same-sex couples who are legally married. Electric auto insurance also treats its legally married lesbian and gay clients equally.
