LGBT activists ready for new rights battles

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual conference for some 2,000 community leaders and organizers over the weekend helped recharge the batteries of advocates following tough losses on anti-gay ballot initiatives in California and three other states, according to these articles. “People came here on tenterhooks. Now we can send our people home with a renewed energy and renewed purpose,” said conference organizer Sue Hyde. The Denver Post (2/2) , The Fresno Bee (Calif.)/The Associated Press (free registration) (1/30)

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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/lgbt-activist…

Gay rights leaders express hope for future

(Denver, Colorado) Some 2,000 LGBT civil rights activists from across the country are headed home with a new sense of propose following a four day national conference in Denver.

The Creating Change conference sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the nation’s largest annual convening of LGBT rights …

National gay rights conference opens in Denver

(Denver, Colorado) Some 2,000 LGBT civil rights activists from across the country are meeting in Denver to plan strategies on the national and local level.The Creating Change conference, sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, opened Wednesday and will run through the weekend.

Organizers said it is the nation’s …

Foes of transgender protections Say Law Protects Predators

A blond girl heads from a playground into a women’s restroom. A scruffy-looking man, lurking outside, darts in behind her. “Your City Commission made this legal,” the words on the television screen read.

The advertisement came from opponents of a gender-identity provision added last year to Gainesville’s antidiscrimination ordinance. The provision allows the city’s roughly 100 transgender residents to use whichever restroom they choose.

Foes want to repeal the provision with a ballot measure on March 24. The issue has divided Gainesville, a generally gay-friendly university city in staunchly conservative north Florida.

Supporters of the transgender protections say opponents are using the dispute to unleash a broader attack on the rights of gay and transgender people in general.

The City Commission approved the restroom provision by a 4-to-3 vote a year ago. Opponents quickly began working for its repeal.

Organizations defending transgender rights are mustering their own campaign.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force says that 108 cities and counties nationwide have similar transgender protections.

See Foes Say Law Protects Predators
New York Times, United States

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LGBT Center Director Burns Out Gay City News

That’s not really fair to Richard Burns, after 22 years as executive director of New York’s LGBT Community Center, but I couldn’t resist the headline. Burns has actually shown remarkable staying power, but is moving on in February to become the chief operating officer at the Arcus Foundation, part of whose mission is LGBT rights. The group’s executive director is Urvashi Vaid, who once led the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. See LGBT Center Director Burns Out Gay City News

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Obama taps Kingston gay activist as part of advisory team

INGSTON — Barack Obama’s transition team has reached out to local gay activist Ginny Apuzzo to be part of an advisory team for the new administration.

The Obama team has asked that Apuzzo not go into any details of her new assignment, and she has agreed.

But only someone unfamiliar with Apuzzo’s career would be surprised by the appointment of the long-time community organizer, advocate for people with AIDS, and state and federal administrator to the temporary post.

Apuzzo attended SUNY New Paltz and taught high school history in Marlboro and Newburgh before becoming a Sister of Charity. In 1970, she came out as a lesbian, continued to teach at Brooklyn College, ran unsuccessfully for the state Assembly and won a court battle for what is now the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. She became a national spokeswoman for the effort to win understanding and support for people suffering from AIDS-related diseases.

One of her proudest achievements was negotiating to get Social Security disability payments for people with AIDS.

See Obama taps Kingston gay activist as part of advisory team
Times Herald-Record, NY -