National News Notes
Point scholarships available LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBT students of merit, has opened its 2010 application season. Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2010-11 school year are eligible to apply for the multi-year scholarships. Apply online [...]
FBI: Anti-gay crimes up in 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to a new report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the number of victims of bias-motivated crimes based on sexual orientation increased by 11 percent in 2008. The figures show that hate crimes based on sexual orientation increased for [...]
Report looks at treatment of gay youth in juvenile court system SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Equity Project, a collaboration of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Legal Services for Children and the National Juvenile Defender Center, has compiled Hidden Injustice: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Juvenile Courts. [...]
Gay-themed book ok’d for fair NEW YORK, N.Y. — After meeting with media watchdog group The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, powerhouse bookseller Scholastic Inc. has decided to feature an LGBT inclusive book in its spring Scholastic Book Fairs, which will be held in middle schools across the nation. [...]
Gay adoption bill introduced WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) has introduced the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (HR 3827) which would codify sexual orientation non-discrimination in foster care placements and adoptions nationwide. According to reports, there are approximately 65,500 adopted children being raised by lesbian or gay [...]
Gay man tapped for Ambassador NEW YORK, N.Y. — The White House wants David Huebner to be the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa. If confirmed by the Senate, he will be the first openly gay Ambassador appointed in the Obama administration. He currently serves [...]
Compelling data at ENDA hearing WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee held a full committee hearing Sept. 23 on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would bar workplace discrimination, preferential treatment and retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in companies with 15 or [...]
Anti-tobacco effort readied WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Youth Advocacy Coalition has received a $100,000 award from the American Legacy Foundation to create a national tobacco working group targeting LGBT, questioning and intersex young adults ages 18-24, a demographic with much greater than average tobacco use. The working group will [...]
Youth charity to honor Bea Arthur NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Ali Forney Center (AFC), the nation’s largest agency dedicated to homeless LGBT youth, plans to name a residence in honor of Bea Arthur. A formal announcement will be made at a memorial service on Sept. 14 at the Majestic [...]
APA exposes ‘ex-gay’ myth TORONTO — The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution Aug. 5 stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments. The approval, by APA’s governing Council of Representatives, came at APA’s annual convention, during [...]
‘No Excuses’ for inaction WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Human Rights Campaign has launched a national effort called “No Excuses” to lobby Congress on key issues of equality. Timed to take advantage of the congressional summer recess, when members are in their local offices and meeting with constituents, the campaign calls [...]
Congress considers gay bills WASHINGTON, D.C. — A trio of bills seeking to advance the rights of LGBT Americans have been introduced on Capitol Hill and are currently making their way through the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The bills tackle the critical issues of hate crimes, employment non-discrimination [...]
Coalition pursues policy changes NEW YORK, N.Y. — A coalition of 17 LGBT equality organizations has announced the New Beginning Initiative, designed to push for concrete federal administration policy and regulatory changes benefiting LGBT people and eliminating discrimination from federal policies. This is the first time such a coalition of [...]
Court ruling returns foster child CHARLESTON, W.V. — The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ruled June 5 that a foster child should be returned to her lesbian foster parents, Kathryn Kutil and Cheryl Hess, reversing an anti-gay lower court ruling that sought to remove the child on the [...]
N.H. legalizes gay marriage CONCORD, N.H. — On June 3, Gov. John Lynch signed legislation that will give the legal protections of marriage to gay and lesbian couples in New Hampshire. Lynch signed the bill only an hour after the legislature took the final vote on the issue. The state [...]
D.P. benefits bill before Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. — National gay leaders hailed the introduction of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act in the U.S. Congress earlier this month. The legislation would provide domestic partner benefits for federal employees and their partners. The bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. Tammy [...]
Maine OKs same-sex marriage AUGUSTA, Maine — On May 6, Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a bill extending full marriage rights to same-sex couples in his state. The bill had already been overwhelmingly approved by the state Senate and House. With the governor’s action, Maine joined Iowa, Vermont, [...]
Faith-based effort for equality AUSTIN, Texas — Advocates for LGBT equality, looking to develop dialogue about gay rights with members of faith communities across the nation, will embark on the Sundays of Solidarity campaign — visiting churches, synagogues, and other faith community gatherings across the U.S. — for seven straight [...]
Gay marriage victory: Iowa DES MOINES, Iowa — On April 3, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously struck down the 1998 state ban on marriage for same-sex couples. The ruling recognized that the constitutional guarantee of equal protection requires that same-sex couples have “full access to the institution of civil marriage.” [...]
Prez signs onto U.N. declaration WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration has formally endorsed a United Nations declaration calling for an end to discrimination and other human rights abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The move is a reversal of the Bush administration’s refusal to sign the statement, [...]
