Around the Commonwealth

Louisville social justice organizations invite Mayoral candidates to a public forum

With one openly gay candidate running for Lexington’s top government position, organizations in Louisville have invited candidates running for Louisville Mayor to a public forum on February 02, 2010.

Kentucky’s 2009 LGBTI Recap

If ever there were a roller-coaster year, 2009 was it. A we await the new year, Kentucky’s exhausted LGBTI civil rights leaders, as well as the thousands of activist, supporters, and allies enjoy some much needed downtime before it all starts again in 2010.

Kentucky’s reporting of U.S. Senate candidates lag; one candidate blasts the U.S. Government

Major media outlets have largely ignored Darlene Price, as well as Maurice Sweeney, the only black person running for U.S. Senate to represent Kentucky.

Garrard County man running for House of Representatives because of Christianity

Earlier this week, Garrard County resident Roger Ayres filed to run against Representative Lonnie Napier (R) in the 36th District because “U.S. President Obama saying the United States is no longer a Christian nation made my blood boil.”

Openly gay Vice Mayor Jim Gray (Lexington) confirmed today that he is running for Mayor in 2010 against incumbent Jim Newberry

Lexington Vice Mayor Jim Gray, an openly gay politician who has been critical of the Newberry Administration in the past, confirmed today that he is running for Mayor in 2010 against incumbent Jim Newberry.

Hate crimes against gays increase 11% with Puerto Rico having one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. history this month

Data released by the FBI shows that hate crimes in the United States has reached a seven-year high, yet another increase from 2005’s report. 64 hate crimes related to sexual orientation or gender identity happened here in Kentucky.

National News

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hold hearings on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Top defense officials will tell the U.S. Senate on Tuesday that the military will no longer aggressively pursue disciplinary action against gay service members whose orientation is revealed against their will by third parties, sources told the Washington Post. Figures released Monday show that 428 people were discharged from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines last year for violating the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. The total is about one-third lower than in 2008, when 619 people were discharged.

Pennsylvania Senator proposes constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage; culture war continues

Pennsylvania Senator John Eichelberger (R – Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon and Mifflin) has introduced Senate Bill 707 to add an Commonwealth’s Constitution that reads: “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid and recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth.” The gay and lesbian culture war continues across the United States, which some are now referring to the “Divided States of America.”

Gays and Lesbians lack political power says political scientist in federal court

Stanford University Professor Gary Segura, a national political scientist testifying on behalf of supporters of same-sex marriage said Wednesday that gays and lesbians have little political power and can’t count on most of their friends in high places, including Governor’s or U.S. President Obama. “Gays and lesbians do not possess a meaningful degree of political power. They are not able to protect their essential interests,” said Segura, who heads the university’s Chicano studies program and co-directs its Center on American Democracy.

Republicans take Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat

For the first time in nearly 50 years, a Republican will hold the seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Senior Senator Ted Kennedy. Kennedy, one of the most powerful U.S. Senators in U.S. history, was a strong ally to the gay community. Republicans in Washington, D.C. and around the country said Scott Brown’s victorious U.S. Senate campaign in Massachusetts is a harbinger of a broader party surge, calling it a repudiation of President Obama’s agenda that gives them renewed confidence for the 2010 midterm elections.

Uganda lawmaker pushing for “Kill the Gays” law to visit the U.S. Capitol for prayer breakfast

In February, David Bahati, the mover of the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill is expected to attend a prayer breakfast in the American capitol of Washington in the District of Columbia. Uganda has been warned that passing the law would lead to sanctions from the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Gay marriage supporters fear the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling was a sign

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision last week, with conservatives in the majority, intervened in the San Francisco district court trial on behalf of the defenders of Proposition 8. The U.S. Supreme Court, in its opinion, decided that they — not homosexuals — faced a hostile public climate of harassment and intimidation. Historically, the U.S. Supreme Court does not get too far ahead of either public opinion or the law in the majority of states.

International News

Republic of Uganda may Withdraw Anit-Gay Legislation because of International Pressure

The law was proposed in Uganda’s Parliament following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual. However, at least one of those leaders has denounced the bill, as have some other conservative and liberal Christians in the United States.

U.S. Ends HIV/AIDS Travel Ban

During U.S. President Ronald Regan’s administration, the United States Government established a ban that prohibited HIV positive visitors and immigrants from entering the United States. Today, the ban was lifted.

Uganda continues to defy the world with proposed law to execute homosexuals; Worldwide outrage continues

Republic of Uganda proposes law to executive homosexuals. The worldwide outrage continues. In a groundbreaking move, a representative of the Pope in the audience read a statement strongly condemning the criminalization of homosexual conduct. A powerful U.S. Representative urged the Republic of Ugandan to ‘come to their senses’ and reject a controversial proposed law that would punish homosexuality with life in prison, without the possibility of parole or pardon.

Nations largest gay newspapers close, including the Wasington Blade

The nation’s oldest LGBTI newspaper, the Washington Blade closed today after having just turned 40 years old. The Washington Blade, owned by Window Media, the nation’s largest owner of gay newspapers, also closed the South Florida Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice, David Atlanta Magazine, bitchsession.com, Genre Magazine, and the 411 Magazine. Employees arrived at work this morning at all of the newspapers locations to find the doors locked and a sign posted on the front door.

Viewpoints

Liberty Counsel’s Agenda for 2010: Take Back America

In an email to members, the anti-gay, very powerful Liberty Counsel outlines its 2010 priorities. Perhaps this email would have been somewhat inspiring had it not been so misguided. It was Liberty Counsel that first sounded the alarm to dismantle California’s same-sex marriage law. Should the legislation filed by Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville), a Senior Representative in the Kentucky House of Representatives to repeal Kentucky’s ban on same-sex marriage, civil unions, and “similar institutions,” make it out of a House Committee, we’ll have one heck of a fight on our hands.

Obama/Oprah White House Christmas in Bad Taste

I found it bad taste for Oprah Winfrey to host the “White House Christmas” television special. We are in the middle of a major recession; states have no money, people continue to become homeless, jobs continue to shrink, people are starving right here in the United States, and homosexuals may soon be executed in the Republic of Uganda.

What can a Gay Kentuckian really do?

Viewpoint: I see the Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, and the Kentucky Equality Federation tirelessly show up for -fight after fight, and I think- geez, when will this ever end? And I also wonder, what can we really do for today’s gay teenager in Elizabethtown or Paducah? I came across an unexpected answer in my reading tonight.

World AIDS Day, AIDS in Kentucky and AVOL

Since the termination of the Kentucky AIDS Assistance Program people living with HIV/AIDS are in need of assistance today more than ever. With December 1st being World Aids Day, I can think of no better way to contribute to the Worldwide event than to make a donate to AVOL, or attend their Red Ribbon Ball on December 5th at The Red Mile in Lexington.

Church, state and gay marriage

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is warning the District of Columbia Council that the church will stop contracting to provide social services if the city approves same-sex marriage as planned. To which the only valid response is, “OK.”

Marriage equality lost, but not losing

But whether it is the National Organization for Marriage, the Liberty Counsel, the American Family Association, or the Family Foundation of Kentucky, anyone who denies that “American opinion is shifting” inhabits a fool’s paradise. Opposition to gay marriage is shrinking. In 1996, 65 percent took a negative view. Since then, support has fallen by about one percentage point a year. Basically, one (1) out of every eight (8) Americans has gone from opposing the concept to endorsing it.