The Roundup
USA: Southeast Alaska Gay and Lesbian Alliance's first winter prom was held this weekend at the Silverbow Inn and Bakery. "We chose this week because this is a week of glamor - the fashion week in New York and the Oscars," said Vini Lata. "In a small town like Juneau, people need an outlet to find people like themselves, let down their guards and have fun."
Pentecostal preachers who happen to be gay gather to talk about the challenges they face in reaching out to sometimes deeply closeted Pentecostal gays.
In New York, lesbians Louise M. Bizzari and Barbara A. Hackett are suing the Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center, saying Bizzari was banned from the facility over her sexual orientation. The center says she was banned over bad behavior, on which they declined to elaborate.
In California, builder Gary Grossman has set up an $80,000 scholarship fund for disenfranchised GLBT kids. He was fortunate to have his parents' acceptance when he came out, and wants to help kids who aren't so lucky.
Virginia's proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage easily won final approval on Saturday by both chambers of the General Assembly. The measure would have to be approved again by the Legislature next year and ratified by voters in the 2006 general election before it would become part of the Virginia Constitution.
California is considering adding sexual orientation to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices, a pledge by which a candidate promises not to use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical health status or age.
A study released today by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute reveals that 82% of Asian Pacific American LGBT people surveyed had experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation, and the same percentage had experienced discrimination based on their race or ethnicity. Alain Dang says, "The queer movement must combat racism and the Asian Pacific American community must combat homophobia to create truly inclusive movements for social change."
Remember the suicide workshop that a federal health agency nixed the words "gay," "lesbian," "bisexual" and "transgender" from? They're being restored to the title after the agency was flooded with hundreds of e-mailed protests from Oregon mental-health advocates.
Debate will continue at the South Carolina Statehouse this week on a proposal to change the state constitution to redundantly ban same-sex marriages - something state law already does. The House is likely to approve the amendment on Wednesday.
Police in Nashua, New Hampshire, are learning how to better understand the gay and lesbian community and the difficulties faced by gay and lesbian officers. Members of the Gay Officers Action League held a training session requested by Chief David Dubois who saw the presentation at a national conference and thought it would help his officers, one of whom is openly gay.
Canada: In New Brunswick a group is helping gay youth identify safe places to go for help or support by placing an "Ally Card" in the windows of supportive businesses willing to identify themselves as a safe haven.
Senegal: Tears trickle down Serigne's scarred face as he recounts what it's like to be gay in his Muslim west African homeland of Senegal. He rubs his throat, still sore from the choke-hold of an attack. "Being a homosexual here means being marginalized ... It's double to be gay and sick with HIV - that's another thing," said Serigne, who isn't infected. Cultural taboos are threatening Senegal's HIV prevention efforts.
Singapore: Here's something from Singapore we don't quite get While they're saying that Singapore has a long way to go to be open and inclusive, bar top dancing and bungee jumping were introduced to allow opportunities for creative expression and get Singaporeans used to risk taking. Singapore recently banned a gay party called Snowball. Gay groups decried the recent decision by authorities to ban Snowball, because it "went against the moral values of a large majority of Singaporeans."
Today's Roundup
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