The furor over “queer theory” and other reseach at Georgia’s public colleges and univesities has grown since this week’s issue of Southern Voice went to press, and shows disturbing signs of developing into a full-fledged witch hunt.

What started with comments from state Rep. Calvin Hill (see my editorial on that here) now includes Rep. Charlice Byrd, who spoke from the General Assembly well late this week to denounce “a major misuse of the state university system’s budget.”

“Did you know that the state universities offer such special interest classes and expertise on “Male prostitution”, “Queer Theory,” and “Oral Sex”? Yes, ladies and gentlemen… you heard right,” Byrd said, repeating Hill’s misunderstanding of topics listed in an “expert guide” distributed by Georgia State University.

 See More anti-gay attacks on Ga. universities
Sovo.com, GA

srael has joined a group of United Nations member states calling for the institution’s first gay rights declaration, an initiative which has met with resistance by an Arab-backed opposition.

The declaration that was presented Thursday at the UN General Assembly calls for decriminalization of homosexuality. Israel joins states calling for support of UN gay rights declaration
Ha’aretz, Israel -

The scandal surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) could delay passage of a civil unions bill in the state, according to observers familiar with the state’s General Assembly.

Blagojevich made headlines last week when the FBI arrested him and John Harris, his chief of staff, on charges of fraud and bribery, including allegations that Blagojevich conspired to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. See Blagojevich scandal could delay Ill. civil unions effort
Sovo.com, GA -

An unprecedented declaration seeking to decriminalize homosexuality won the support of 66 countries in the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, but opponents criticized it as an attempt to legitimize pedophilia and other “deplorable acts.”

The United States refused to support the nonbinding measure, as did Russia, China, the Roman Catholic Church and members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Holy See’s observer mission issued a statement saying that the declaration “challenges existing human rights norms.”

The declaration, sponsored by France with broad support in Europe and Latin America, condemned human rights violations based on homophobia, saying such measures run counter to the universal declaration of human rights.

“How can we tolerate the fact that people are stoned, hanged, decapitated and tortured only because of their sexual orientation?” said Rama Yade, the French state secretary for human rights, noting that homosexuality is banned in nearly 80 countries and subject to the death penalty in at least six.

France decided to use the format of a declaration because it did not have the support for an official resolution. Read out by Ambassador Jorge Argüello of Argentina, the declaration was the first on gay rights read in the 192-member General Assembly itself.

Although laws against homosexuality are concentrated in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, more than one speaker addressing a separate conference on the declaration noted that the laws stemmed as much from the British colonial past as from religion or tradition.

 See In a First, Gay Rights Are Pressed at the UN
New York Times, United States - .
UN (But Not the US) Comes Out Big for Gay Rights Village Voice
UN split over gay law reform call Queensland Pride
Coalition asks UN to decriminalize homosexuality AFP

US balks at backing condemnation of anti-gay laws The Associated Press
UN Splits On Gay Rights Issue On Top Magazine
UN’s first look at gay rights gets mixed results SmartBrief

International gay rights groups expressed concern that the U.S. had not yet signed a proposed statement this week calling on the United Nations and countries throughout the world to condemn discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The statement, proposed by France on behalf of the European Union, was scheduled to be presented to the U.N. General Assembly in New York next week. More than 50 countries have signed the statement. Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Photo/Mark Garten. See US stalls signing UN gay rights statement Washington Blade