Gay Politics Report

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June 29, 2012

A free twice-weekly news summary for the LGBT community

Top Story

No motive determined in shooting of teen lesbian couple
Police in Portland, Texas, say there is no evidence yet that a teen lesbian couple found shot in a local park last weekend were victims of a crime motivated by anti-gay hate. But national and state LGBT groups are calling for a thorough investigation of the incident, and vigils have been planned in several cities across the U.S. Mollie Olgin, 19, died from her injuries, and Mary Christene Chapa, 18, was wounded. Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Texas) (6/26), Houston Chronicle/The Associated Press (6/27)

Politics and Policy

Pentagon hosts first-ever LGBT Pride event
Out troops gathered in a packed auditorium at the Pentagon for the Defense Department’s first-ever official LGBT Pride celebration this week, and military personnel as far away as Afghanistan got to watch the historic event broadcast live on the Pentagon channel. “I’m driving here and I’m kind of tearing up and have shivers going down my back and my neck because two years ago, you would have never imagined this, and now it’s happening this year,” said 22 year-old Army Sgt. Bryan LaMadrid, who is openly gay. Metro Weekly (Washington, D.C.)/Poliglot (6/26), Washington Blade (6/26)

Gay candidate wins congressional primary in N.Y.
Sean Patrick Maloney could become the next openly gay member of Congress after winning a five-way Democratic primary in New York. Maloney, who served as a staffer in the Clinton White House and worked for two New York governors, will face Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-N.Y., in the general election this November. Gay City News (New York) (6/27), The Times Herald-Record (Middletown, N.Y.) (tiered subscription model) (6/27)

Actor blasted for anti-gay commentary about Boy Scouts
Chuck Norris didn’t do his research before penning an opinion piece that charged President Barack Obama with trying to force the Boy Scouts of America to accept homosexuality, according to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Norris’ choice for president, Mitt Romney, also believes the Boy Scouts should accept participants without regard to sexual orientation, GLAAD said in a statement that called Norris a “fame-hungry has-been.” Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (6/27)

N.Y. Conservative Party may drop married lesbian
Officials with the Conservative Party of New York say they were surprised to learn that a candidate who received their backing is an out lesbian and married to a woman. Janis Castaldi, who is running for the State Assembly, said marriage is a settled issue in the state and not a topic in her race, but officials said they would review the endorsement because the party does not back candidates who favor marriage equality. Daily News (New York)/Celeste Katz Daily Politics (6/25), The Huffington Post (6/26)

Tutu urges Jacksonville to pass LGBT ordinance
Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who once lived in Jacksonville, Fla., has written to city officials to urge them to support a proposed ordinance that would ban LGBT discrimination in employment and housing. The City Council could vote on the bill next month. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (6/25)

LGBT records of Romney's veep contenders explored
The Washington Blade's Chris Johnson delves into the records of elected officials thought to be under consideration to run as Mitt Romney's vice presidential nominee, finding little for LGBT advocates to love. Still, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., once voted for a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that did not include transgender protections, and one activist believes Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, might be persuaded to vote for ENDA if it comes to the floor. Washington Blade (6/28)

Cuban LGBT activists stage demonstration
Cuban activists are demanding the country's parliament live up to the international human rights agreements it has signed, especially those that pertain to LGBT rights. The move comes ahead of the country's second annual LGBT Pride celebration, which is scheduled for this Sunday. The Miami Herald (free registration) (6/28)

Young, gay Latinos lead effort to change Colo. Legislature
Seven openly gay and lesbian candidates advanced in Democratic primaries Tuesday for seats in the Colorado General Assembly, including two Latino men in their 20s. The number of LGBT state lawmakers in Colorado could double after elections this November, which could help Rep. Mark Ferrandino, an incumbent openly gay Democrat, become House Speaker. The Huffington Post/Latino Voices (6/27), GayPolitics.com (6/27)

Marriage equality campaigners have talked with 100,000 Mainers
SeacoastOnline (Portsmouth, N.H.)/The Associated Press (tiered subscription model) (6/28)

Opinion

Beyond LGBT equality, what social issues are you most passionate about?

Poverty/social justice	43.09%
Reproductive rights/abortion	18.88%
Women's rights	13.12%
Racial inequality/civil rights	10.64%
Other	7.80%
Drug laws	3.28%
Gun laws	3.19%

Beyond Politics

Rainbow Oreo photo a taste of what’s to come?
A photo of an Oreo cookie with a rainbow palette of cream filling went viral online this week, which may be exactly what Kraft Foods intended. Get ready for more LGBT-inclusive advertising as companies rush to exploit the national conversation on issues such as marriage equality, writes Dan Zak. The Washington Post (6/27)

AIDS quilt blankets National Mall
The AIDS Memorial Quilt has been spread out on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the first time in 16 years. Eight thousand panels of the quilt, which is managed by the NAMES Project Foundation, are on display, representing just a portion of the quilt's 1.3 million square feet. For those who can't be in D.C., a new website allows online viewing of each panel. The Huffington Post/The Associated Press (6/27), Time.com (6/29)

Position Title	Company Name	Location
Executive Assistant to the Vice President (New York)	United Nations Foundation	New York City, NY
IT Support Assistant	United Nations Foundation	New York City, NY
Director of Market Development, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves	United Nations Foundation	Washington, DC
Global Health Integration Officer	United Nations Foundation	Washington, DC
Senior Maternal and Child mHealth Advisor	United Nations Foundation	Washington, DC
Financial Manager	Seattle Counseling Service	Seattle, WA
Legal Assistant	National Center for Lesbian Rights	San Francisco, CA
Deputy Director of Development	Family Equality Council	Boston, MA
Communications Director	Freedom to Marry	New York, NY

Featured Content

SmartQuote

I think that we've come a long way, but the question is: 'Do we settle on where we are right now?'"

--Julie Rhoad, NAMES Project Foundation executive director, speaking about the battle against HIV/AIDS, as quoted by The Huffington Post



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