Equality in the News for August 1-7, 2009

Drop by check out our table in the community room at next weekend’s Gay and Lesbian Film Festival at Durham’s Carolina Theatre. Tickets on sale now.

In the State

Salisbury-native Anne Stanback, who lead the fight for marriage equality in Connecticut has been announced as the Keynote speaker for the 3^rd annual Salisbury/Rowan PFLAG Autumn Soirée. The event will be held on September 19^th at Catawba College. Congratulations Anne!

As part of “Equality Forward,” an HRC essay collection on race, sexuality and gender, Charlotte’s Bishop Tonyia Rawls shares the story of reconciling her sexual and gender identity with her religious calling.

Former troops speak out against DADT in Charlotte at a public discussion held in Town Hall. The meeting was sponsored by the HRC and Servicemembers United.

In the Nation

NPR reports that the American Psycological Association took a stand on “ex-gay” programs this Wednesday, resolving through a 125-to-4 vote that they oppose so called “reparative therapies” which claim to change one’s sexual orientation. The report also clarifies their position on homosexuality, which is described not as a mental disorder, but as a normal variant of human sexuality.

The U.S. census bureau released its plans for counting same-sex marriages in the nation … or not. They will release two versions of the 2010 census: one which will continue to automatically “unmarry” same-sex couples that report married status, and one which will report unedited responses. Only in 2011 will the census report state-by-state data on same-sex partners who identify as husbands or wives.

Bay Windows, New England’s largest LGBT newspaper, offers a quick update on the status of GLAD’s lawsuit against DOMA.

The Huffington Post has the story on DADT in this week’s piece. The title – “Slogging Towards Repeal” – really says it all.

365gay brings us updates on ENDA, and its progress in congress.

Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King are both to receive the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Out in the World

On August 1^st, five same-sex couples, in which one member was Dutch and the other American, were married in Amsterdam. The act was meant to send a message to the United States, mainly that marriage by the state is first and foremost a civil issue, not a religious one. Or as one newlywed put it, “Wake up.”

Also on August 1^st, someone opened fire on a gay youth club in Tel Aviv, killing two and wounding 15 more. Many say the tragedy was part of a greater conflict between liberal Tel Aviv and the neighboring Orthodox communities. Our hearts go out to Tel Aviv and its communities!