Minn. school district settles gay harassment suit
A school district in Minnesota agreed to pay a $25,000 settlement to a high school junior who was subjected to harassment by two teachers around his perceived sexual orientation, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
Teacher Diane Cleveland commented that the boy’s “fence swings both ways”; when he wrote a paper on Ben …
Tags: Fence, gay, Harassment Suit, Minneapolis Star Tribune, School Harassment, Sexual Orientation, Star Tribune, Swings, Tribune ReportsVictory for Gay Rights in Sight
Gay rights activists are understandably up in arms over recent missteps and continuing inaction by the Obama administration on issues important to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. A brief, filed by Obama’s Justice Department in a case challenging the legislation which prohibits recognition of same-sex marriage, was out of line in drawing parallels between incest and gay marriage. President Obama’s foot-dragging on reversing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prevents gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the military, is especially confounding as the U.S. continues to engage in two wars.
Still, 40 years after rioting patrons at the Stonewall Inn in New York City sparked the gay rights movement; full equality for LGBT people is finally in sight.
Disappointment with President Obama on these issues should be balanced with other actions he has taken recently such as declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month and extending some (albeit not all) benefits to federal employees who are gay. There are smaller victories as well.
See Victory for Gay Rights in Sight
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Minnesota Poll: A subtle shift on gay unions
With the state Supreme Court in neighboring Iowa rewriting that state’s definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, Minnesotans are divided on the subject in this state, a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll finds:
• One-third say the state needs a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage;
• Just over one-third say that there should be no change in current state law, which bans such unions, and that it should be left to the Minnesota Supreme Court to rule on the law’s constitutionality;
• One-fourth believe same-sex marriage should be legalized.
The survey of 1,042 adults was conducted April 20-23, and has a margin of sampling error of 4 percentage points, plus or minus.
See Minnesota Poll: A subtle shift on gay unions
Minneapolis Star Tribune - * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/minnesota-pol…
Bill to allow same-sex unions introduced in Minnesota
Bill to allow same-sex unions introduced
The next round of the perennial battle over same-sex marriage in Minnesota was officially joined on Thursday. A bill that would define marriage as a civil contract between “two persons,” rather than a man and a woman, was introduced in the state Senate, sponsored by five DFL members.
It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but no hearings have been scheduled.
The bill would strike language from state law that specifically prohibits marriage by persons of the same sex, along with language that refuses to recognize same-sex marriages from another state or country.
Debate over the bill is likely to be fierce if the recent track record in the Legislature is any guide. Between 2004 and 2006, gay marriage opponents proposed bills to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would have decreed marriage is a union of a man and a woman only. The bills didn’t get out of the Legislature, but opponents said last year they would try again in 2009. So far, gay rights advocates are seizing the offensive this year, after trying and failing to pass a bill in 2008.
See Bill to allow same-sex unions introduced
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/bill-to-allow…
Mormons take lead on ’social’ bills
CHEYENNE — Mormons comprise more than 10 percent of the membership of the Wyoming Legislature, yet Mormon lawmakers are not known for voting as a bloc or working together to promote legislation.
That may be changing.
Mormons are taking a higher profile this session in promoting bills linked to controversial social issues including assisted suicide, gay marriage and abortion.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the primary sponsors of bills dealing with all three topics, and a cadre of about eight LDS lawmakers have teamed up as the original co-sponsors of six related bills.
Members of that group say their collective support of the bills is more coincidence than strategy, and they insist that no Mormon caucus exists in the Legislature.
But watchdog and social-issue advocacy groups say it could be a troubling sign if LDS legislators are working to inject their religious beliefs into the lawmaking process.
See Mormons take lead on ’social’ bills
.Casper Star-Tribune Online - Casper,WY,USA
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/mormons-take-…
Is niece’s boyfriend gay?
Dear Amy: My dear 19-year-old niece, “Laura,” is in love with a terrific guy, “Franklin.” I recently met him and he’s definitely sweet and fun and shares all her interests. They are truly best friends. What’s not to love?
Well, I’m very suspicious that Franklin is gay, but in denial.
I’ve known a number of gay people in my life and my gaydar is pretty accurate. Laura, on the other hand, is a small-town girl and pretty naive in this regard.
If this were a “Will & Grace” friendship with all the cards on the table, or if Laura were a gay nephew, I would welcome Franklin into our family with open arms.
As it is, I fear that if I’m right (and maybe I’m not, of course), their marriage would end in devastating heartbreak.
I would blame myself if I ignored all the pink flags and let it happen.
I could talk to Laura’s mother about this, but if she asked, “What can I do?” I would not have any idea.
ANGUISHED AUNTIE
See answer @ Is niece’s boyfriend gay?
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/is-nieces-boy…
