An LGBT activist’s view of entertainment and world news.
As an LGBT activist, the promotion of queer rights is #1 on my homosexual agenda. This weekly column serves as a forum for me to comment on issues and causes currently affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. My “rundown” of these topics is from the perspective of an LGBT activist; it is my goal that by keeping our community informed, we can all help contribute to the battle for equality.
Gay Marriage in Washington State
Washington State is about to become the seventh state and the second largest where same-sex marriage is legal. The bill is now headed to the House, where headcounts gives it a clear margin for victory. Washington United for Marriage, a coalition of groups working for passage of the legislation, said the vote in the House could come as early as next week. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat and longtime supporter of rights for same-sex couples but not always a strong supporter of marriage equality, announced Jan. 4 that she would support the bill. Local news media reported that the governor was in the Senate for the debate and she issued a statement immediately after the vote. “Tonight the Washington State Senate stood up for what is right and told all families in our state that they are equal and that the state cannot be in the business of discrimination,” said Gregoire. “I believe that this decision should be made by our state Legislature, and I’m proud our elected leaders recognized that responsibility.”
VA Anti-Gay Adoption Bill
The Virginia Board of Social Services voted 5-1 to introduce a new discriminatory mandate in the state’s adoption laws prohibiting adoptions by gay parents. Bela Sood, MD, stated that by discriminating, “we are creating barriers for children in establishing strong, stable attachments and a lifelong pattern of stability and belonging as soon as feasible.” Now the state House has started the process of converting the Board’s regulations into law. The House voted, 71-28, to allow private adoption agencies to deny adoptive parents who conflict with their religious or moral beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality, reports the AP. GOP governor Bob McDonnell is expected to sign the bill.
Jewish News’ Gay Cure Backlash
A column in the regional Jewish Telegraph newspaper has provoked a huge backlash from Jewish leaders who have criticized “malice” towards gay Jews in the article. Doreen Wachmann’s column explores her “reservations” about the “desirability” of living an openly gay lifestyle. At one point, Wachmann refers to a particular doctor’s experience treating “desire for sex with the dead” before mentioning the “Orthodox Jewish, Muslim and fundamentalist patients, who know the doctor will respect their religious beliefs and help them heal their ‘homosexual tendencies’ if that is their choice.” She continues: “The choice of whether someone wants to be cured of any condition should be the patient’s. Research shows that, contrary to claims by advocates of gay “cures,” treatment doesn’t change sexual orientation, but can potentially harm (there have been suicides in “Ex-Gay” programs). Those who claim to have become heterosexual will often later admit that they were never cured and were living a lie, including leaders and founders of the Ex-Gay movement. This “cure” is based on pseudo science and faulty reasoning. It harms. Ms Bachmann should get her facts right.
Gay Couple Sue Cleveland Police
A gay couple has filed a federal lawsuit against several Cleveland police officers stemming from an arrest last April. The men claim they were subjected to derogatory name-calling and then arrested in their underwear, despite repeated requests to change clothes. In a civil lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court, nationally-recognized civil rights attorney David Malik alleges several officers from the Cleveland Police Department violated the couple’s constitutional rights. “We were called faggots a lot by police, and I consider that a fighting word,” said Jonathan Simcox. Simcox and his partner, Steven Ondo, claim they were subjected to, “excessive force and undisguised prejudice,” because of their sexual orientation. According to the lawsuit, “6 or 7 members of the SWAT/and or Warrant Team” were on a sweep that day. Ondo and Simcox said officers then informed them they were wanted on a warrant that was issued for, “assaulting a peace officer.”
Tough Road for Gay Finland Candidate
Openly gay candidate Pekka Haavisto’s breakthrough into Finland’s presidential runoff defies fears that tolerance is waning in Finland. The gay environmentalist faces off Sunday against a veteran conservative. As Finland prepares to elect a new president, Greens candidate Haavisto’s sexual orientation is the elephant in the room. It hasn’t come up in newspaper editorials or been a major issue in election debates between him and his rival Sauli Niiniston. A poll published by national broadcaster YLE on Thursday gave Niinisto 62 percent support against 38 percent for Haavisto. Taloustutkimus interviewed 1,492 people in Jan. 25 to Feb. 1 for the survey, which had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.
That’s all folks and I hope you tune in next week!
