Equality in the News for July 25-31, 2009

In the State

Two 22-year-old gay men were brutally beaten after leaving a bar in downtown Wilmington on July 17th. They wonder if the attack was motivated by their sexual orientation. Star News Online also has the story, including commentary from the victims.

Q-notes reports that another man who was seemingly perceived to be gay by his attacker was beaten in Greensboro on July 4th.

Gay dance pioneer Merce Cunningham, considered "the world’s greatest choreographer” according to the New York Times, died ate age 90 last Sunday. Cunningham founded his influential dance company after a residence at the Black Mountain College in our own Asheville, N.C.

Wayne Bessen of the Falls Church News press relates the “God Has a Better Way” protest in Charlotte last weekend to a growing trend among the religious right to more actively oppose gay rights.

News 14 attempts to give both sides of the story from Pride Charlotte, interviewing festival participants, and the leader of the counter-protest.

If you’re interested, here’s Director of the Coalition of Conscience Dr. Michael Brown’s (the leader of the “God Has a Better Way Campaign) statement to the media. Always interesting to see what the opposition is saying.

In the Nation

The St. Louis Beacon covered the Equality Federation's Summer Meeting in St. Louis this week, attended by much of our own staff. The Federation is the national association of state equality groups like Equality NC. The AP also has the story, though not as good an article.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation offers a detailed update on the status and shape of the Matthew Shepard Act, the federal anti-hate crimes bill.

Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-New York) shares his plans for defeating DOMA, which include pushing for recognition of same-sex marriages across the country, regardless of the policies of individual states.

U.S. News gives us a progress report of the repeal of DADT, focusing on the efforts of congressman and Iraqi veteran Rep. Patrick Murphy.

La Voz de Houston tiene la historia de una de estas parejas gay que busca la egalidad en la inmigración.

Universo Gay nos da un resumen del movimiento de "ex gays" y sus peligros para los participantes.

Out in the World

The Box Turtle Bulletin reports of the proposed strengthening of anti-gay laws in Uganda. While the law already provides for lifetime imprisonment as punishment for sodomy, the new laws would ban all forms of free speech on behalf of gay people. The government proposals follow a three-day anti-gay conference in the capital city this past March, after which the government promised to take action against gay rights.

Lesbians in China are petitioning to allow gays and lesbians to donate blood, repealing the 1998 ban.

British Quakers are looking to extend religious and legal marriage to same-sex couples, even though it is currently in conflict with the law.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has announced that this fall, his party will propose the legalization of same-sex marriage. Albania is still a relatively conservative country and it seems that this proposal might be aimed at improving Albania’s eligibility for E.U. membership.