Law
- Law
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7 August 2006Vermont claims jurisdiction over lesbians’ custody battle + The Vermont Supreme Court ruled on Friday that its courts, and not those in Virginia, have exclusive jurisdiction over a case involving two lesbians battling for custody of a child they had while they were in a relationship.The Associated Press reports that the unanimous ruling conflicts with a series of decisions in Virginia, where courts ruled the state's anti-gay-marriage laws controlled the case. -
7 August 2006Pennsylvania Senator endorses anti-homophobia law + Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum on Wednesday became the 170th member of Congress to affirm that they do not discriminate in their own employment practices based on an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and expression."We welcome Senator Santorum's signature affirming the need for basic equality in his own hiring practices," said Riki Wilchins, executive director of the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition. -
4 August 2006Gay army applicants test Don’t Ask policy 5 Three openly gay applicants in Philadelphia were rejected by a local military recruiting centre on Tuesday because they are "morally and administratively ineligible," one applicant said."Our applications were denied, none of us were accepted," Jarrett Lucas, 20, told Philadelphia Daily News, outside the Army Recruiting Station. -
4 August 2006Maryland to review gay marriage ban + Maryland's highest court announced this week it will review a lower court's ruling that a 1973 state law limiting marriage to heterosexuals is unconstitutional.Late last month, the Maryland Court of Appeals accepted the case as part of its fall term. -
4 August 2006“Only gay in the village” jailed for burglary 1 A gay burglar was caught by police after his victim recognised the "distinctive" way he walks, a court was told yesterday.Lance Williams, 19, was one of three men who broke into the home of Nigel Jones and robbed him at knifepoint.Only Williams was caught after Mr Jones remembered the "camp" way he was walking and pointed it out on CCTV in the Welsh town of Rhymney, which has a population of under 6,000.
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4 August 2006Five youths arrested on suspicion of homophobic attack + Following an investigation by the Bromley Community Safety Unit, five youths were arrested this week on suspicion of homophobic affray and false imprisonment, with four of the youths also arrested for criminal damage.The youths who cannot be named for legal reasons age from 14 to 16 years old and live in the areas of Sydenham, Shortlands and Beckenham.
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4 August 2006Gay man sentenced for reckless HIV transmission 3 The first gay man prosecuted for recklessly passing on HIV has been sentenced today, despite a warrant still being out for him.Mark James of West Sussex admitted to the charges last April but failed to turn up for sentencing last week as well as today, prompting the Isleworth Crown Court judge to pass down sentence in his absence. -
3 August 2006Gay issues contribute to increase in celebrity libel cases + Libel cases brought by the likes of gay artist Sir Elton John and footballer Ashley Cole over "gay orgy" allegations have contributed to a two fold increase in defamation cases over the last year.The number of reported defamation cases involving claims by celebrities against newspapers has more than doubled in the last year, a legal information service revealed today. -
3 August 2006Irish lesbian couple hope for gay marriage success + An Irish lesbian couple who married in Canada have been granted a court date to seek recognition of their union in Ireland.Drs Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan were told this week that there hearing will take place on October 3rd 2006.The couple said that they are looking forward to a positive outcome to their case despite the recent High Court decision rejecting Sue Wilkinson and Celia Kitzinger's bid to have their Canadian marriage recognised a civil marriage in the UK. -
3 August 2006Police seize gay clubbing drug + Police have seized 1 million of the date rape drug, GHB in a raid in Stanley, County Durham.The drug, which is colourless and odourless when dissolved in water has in the past been linked to drinks being spiked by sexual predators.GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy has become popular within the gay scene. -
3 August 2006San Diego homophobic attack trio behind bars + All three San Diego men accused of violently attacking a group of men near the Southern California town's Gay Pride Festival are behind bars.According to San Diego's NBC affiliate, channel 4, police arrested the third suspect, a 16-year-old male without incident on Tuesday night, charging him with attempted murder. -
3 August 2006Court rejects anti-gay T-shirt appeal + The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals this week denied an appeal for the full court to hear the case of a student who was prohibited from wearing a T-shirt with anti-gay statements.The appeal followed a 2-1 9th Circuit panel decision in April in favour of the Poway Unified School District in California.
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2 August 2006Wisconsin labour unions unite against gay marriage ban 1 Labour unions in Wisconsin are uniting to fight a proposed ban on gay marriage and civil unions in what could become a powerful force in this November's referendum.According to The Associated Press, the groups, representing employees ranging from teachers to prison workers, say they are worried the amendment will take away their ability to bargain for benefits such as health insurance for the domestic partners of gay and straight employees.
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2 August 2006Arrest made in gay pride attack + Police in San Diego yesterday said they have arrested one person in connection with the hate-crime attack on five victims at a gay pride festival ended Saturday night."We're still trying to put together what we've got.
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2 August 2006Gay man loses police discrimination case + A former policeman who claims he was discriminated against for being gay has lost his case.Ben Stokes, 23, a former member of the Nottingham Police claims he was discriminated against by his force after his sexuality was revealed when he started a relationship with a male teenager.
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1 August 2006Rhode Island woman ordered to stop homophobia + A Rhode Island judge has ordered a woman to stop directing hate slurs at her gay neighbour, saying the insults amounted to "hateful conduct" and interfered with the man's right to live in peace.The attorney general's newly formed civil rights advocate's office sued Theresa Deschenes in its first case, accusing her of harassing a gay neighbour with AIDS and threatening him with violence.
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1 August 2006Humanists and Christians tussle over gay marriage 10 The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has expressed its disapproval of yesterday's judgement meted out by the High Court to the lesbian couple seeking to have their Canadian marriage recognised in the UK.Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division of the High Court, ruled that Sue Wilkinson and Celia Kitzinger, who legally married in Canada, could only be recognised as civil partners in the UK. -
31 July 2006Gay legal groups fight Nebraska discrimination + The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal asked a federal appeals court last week to reconsider its ruling upholding a Nebraska law that bans all protections for same-sex couples."The federal appeals court panel that decided this case just ignored the US Supreme Court, which has ruled that states can't pass laws just to discriminate against gay people," said Matt Coles, director of the ACLU's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. -
31 July 2006Lesbian couple to appeal “insulting” gay marriage snub 10 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveA lesbian couple who failed in their bid to have their Canadian marriage recognised in the UK based on their human rights have branded the judgement "insulting" and "punitive."Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson, a British lesbian couple married lawfully in Canada, have announced plans to appeal against this morning's High Court decision rejecting the validity of their marriage in the UK. -
31 July 2006Madrid Mayor conducts gay wedding despite opposition from his own party + The mayor of Madrid has been criticised by his own party for officiating at the gay wedding of one of his staffAlberto Ruiz Gallardon is a member of the Spanish People's Party (PP), who themselves opposed the introduction of gay marriage in the country last year.Señor Ruiz Gallardon conducted the ceremony of Javier Gomez, a PP strategist and Manuel Rodenas, a city council employee.
