Obama signs HIV/AIDS bill extension; implements lifting of AIDS travel ban

(Washington) President signed an extension of the / bill this morning.

The provides care, treatment and support services to nearly , most of whom are low-income.

Obama also announced that the and Human services has finally crafted a new regulation

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Court nixes $5M verdict against Phelps

(, Va.) A on Thursday tossed out a $ verdict against who carried with like “Thank for ” outside the Maryland funeral of a U.S. .

A three- of the 4th U.S. Circuit said …

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A transgender star sparkles in India’s TV firmament

The neighbourhood is choked with , , spice stands, saree shops and bangle stalls. It’s from central casting.

The TV star, not so much. With a long stride and a curvy that sends her chiffon dupatta fluttering around her, Venkatesan emerges from the dust and the , more than ready for her close-up – but with a somewhat anxious air that suggests she is a bit worried about just what that close-up may bring.

is, as she mentions at least once in every conversation, ’s first star. Once an named Ramesh, she began to to female ago, to the horror of her family.

Today she is a star, both in and in the , including the large community in . Her had an in the tens of millions. She has helped advance the political of , typically reviled but recently afforded a of accommodation by the government in . Her second show – which she is producing and directing and writing herself, as well as hosting – has just hit the air and early are that it’s a hit too.

Yet , 30, also lives in a of half-acceptance – sharing a home with a family that still calls her Ramesh and forbids her to wear a saree in front of them; hitting the town with her to flirt and party but insisting on a dark and empty restaurant when she meets a to tell her story. “Weakness is death, strength is life,” she every e- – but strength, it would seem, can be exhausting.

See A transgender star sparkles in India’s TV firmament

and

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UK Roman Catholic church-funded marriage agency backs gay and unmaried parents

Terry Prendergast, the of Care, claimed there is “no evidence” that children do better if they are brought up in a traditional two-parent family.

He claimed that those who live together out of are trying to good lives but find themselves “consigned to the ” by the church.

His comments – to be made this weekend to Quest, a group of – go directly against the church’s teaching, which holds that is sinful and that families should be based on the of a man and a .

Mr Prendergast said: “We see, for example, that statistically children do best in a family where the is steady, stable and loving – you should note here perhaps that I stress , not married, since there is no evidence that suggests that children do best with .”

He claimed that was present in the of married, and cohabiting where there was “commitment, consent and ”.

He went on: “They want to live good lives according to the of the Gospels. They are an advert for the Church, an advert that the Church often ignores or consigns to the wastebin.”

See Catholic church-funded marriage agency backs gay and unmaried parents .co.uk

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Changes in San Diego reflected in San Diego’s Pride Parade, Festival

The hundreds of San Diegans who marched for rights in the mid- walked through a city largely indifferent, even antagonistic, to the cause.

What they have made.

Today, up to 9,000 will take part in the Parade, including the mayor, and seven of the eight City Council . are expecting 175,000 from across the country and as far away as , and Britain.

While ’s parade may never be as big as those in or Los Angeles, there are many of how has changed into a city in the of the campaign for rights.

In November, in the days after California voted to ban same- , the largest in the nation occurred in . More than 20,000 marched, double any other city’s turnout.

The size of ’s came as a to many, including , the rights and lecturer who founded the Memorial Quilt and was an intern for slain and . Jones is the of today’s parade and several others around the country.

See Changes in San Diego reflected in today’s Pride Parade, Festival

Union Tribune

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‘I am a gay American, and I am a second-class citizen’

Story Image

Courtney Deckard |

of the Bloomington group conduct a -in on outside the . Along with , the group also chanted “1,138 federal rights denied. I am a American and I am a second-class .”

Honoring the of the riots in on June 28, 1969, Bloomington residents Aydt and her group Bloomington’s first-ever -in for Thursday at the downtown. The riots occurred when of the community in Village at the Inn fought back against the
oppression they faced from various government-sponsored systems.

was formed in response to the Proposition 8 decision, which upheld the of same- in California and thus established what Aydt called “an Orwellian precedent, allowing certain more rights than others.” See ‘I am a gay American, and I am a second-class citizen’

Indiana Daily Student

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Delaware is 21st state to pass lesbian-gay bias law

Dover, State sent a bill to the governor on June 25, passing it through both houses of the legislature in only an hour.

The House passed the measure at 8:30 pm, shortly after the passed an identical bill. In previous , the killed the bill.

Rep. Pete , one of the bill’s champions, said that Gov. Jack had expressed support for the measure

When it, will become the 21st state with such a law. But, unlike seven similar passed since 2002, ’s does not include .

See Delaware is 21st state to pass lesbian-gay bias law

Chronicle

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Thousands turn out for Jerusalem’s Gay Pride parade

About 2,000 in a parade have marched peacefully through .

In past years, the event in the provoked violent , even stabbings, by ultra-Orthodox and . But this year, except for one -throwing incident, there were no .

Police said they arrested the -tossing . Others put up and demonstrated in an ultra-Orthodox section of , far away from the parade See Thousands turn out for Jerusalem’s Gay Pride parade Ha’aretz

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Gay Pride event in Des Moines draws biggest turnout

Sunday’s festival in had its in its 30 years following the ruling by the Iowa that allowed same- .For and Bob , who were married June 6 after waiting 25 years, the day was the perfect opportunity to celebrate their .The couple, decked out in , carried yellow-and-red reading “Just Married.” They strolled down the parade to the sound of , congratulations and the clicks of . See Gay Pride event in Des Moines draws biggest turnout DesMoinesRegister.com

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Gay Muslims in the UK

from www.tomdickandsally.com - takes a look at the lives of in the UK.
With the advent of civil it is easy to forget that significant sections of the community in the UK live in . There are approximately 125,000 in the UK and most live with of and .
Although, leading clerics assert to be against the teaching of The Quran, there are tentative of the beginnings of an acceptance within the establishment and the internet provides an important forum for to connect and support each other.
Most could never imagine that someone praying beside them at their local Mosque could possibly be . teaches that is evil, and as a result most men and will remain in the closet or choose not to follow their . With around 1.25 million in the UK, it is estimated that the challenge of being in this community affects around 125,000 individuals every day.
This significant minority is likely to be living with of , and ; aware of how their community will judge them and even ostracise them. Iftekhar Hai, Director of Interfaith Relations for the United Muslims of America, says that is unnatural. He points to a verse in the where the says “For ye practice your on men in to women: ye are indeed a transgressing.”
“According to the , there’s ,” Hai said. “It’s not right and proper.”

However, there are now alternative views being expressed. A number of scholars are arguing that in the men are punished for raping and abusing other men, not for engaging in consensual . Indeed, it is argued that the were made by men, whereas there are now some writers of the closet to redress the balance.
In the context of this oppressive , seek alternative means of support in the community. An example I came across recently is the website forum Al-Fatiha, a support group for . A short visit to this site reveals just how deep and complex the issues are. One posting reads:
“I feel like a rag doll in the middle of a tug of war, and for all of you who are in the same boat, you know what a difficult position this puts us in…I’ve come to realize that I cannot be the only one in the world in this predicament. So if you are a in a similar situation, I’d to talk to you, and maybe we could help each other out.”
Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Britain’s most senior , described as a harmful, immoral vehicle for spreading disease, so it is no that the internet remains the only place where many or can reveal their true selves.
As part of a piece on gay Muslim life, The Times contacted members of this community and described it as “underground”. The article reveals a world where thousands of lives have been wrecked by sham marriages, lying, unacknowledged HIV and crippling isolation.
Among a number of powerfully descriptive stories, “Zac”, 24, tells how he has been prevented from living as a man. He describes how his had forced him into an arranged with his Pakistani cousin in the hope that it would “make me straight”. He is now “trapped” at home with his wife, overwhelmed by of and resentment towards his .
But what about your experience?
The support group Al-Fatiha are embarking on a historic of who are , , , , intersex, , and questioning or exploring their and/or (LGBTIQQ).
The results of the survey will tell Al-Fatiha about the muslim community, people’s experiences and concerns. The results will guide Al-Fatiha’s educational and advocacy work on behalf of LGBTIQQ Muslims, and will be shared with the entire community. To fill out the survey, click here.
It can be difficlt and confusing to come out in a which doesn’t allow you the to be who you are, but in terms of the , there are number of support who offer help and advice, including Imaan and Al-Fatiha.

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