Equality

With civil unions, Bisbee, Ariz., joins gay-rights revolt against red states

Submitted by ONE Community on May 24, 2013 - 8:19am

Until recent weeks, this old mining town tucked in the mountains of southeast Arizona was known as a mecca for artists, retirees, and tourists who linger in eclectic shops, bookstores, and cafés. Now many also regard it as a beacon of hope for gay rights.

In a state with a conservative edge, Bisbee, population 5,600, in early April became the first municipality in Arizona to legalize same-sex civil unions. On Tuesday, after threats by Arizona's attorney general to sue Bisbee for exceeding its powers and interfering in state affairs, town leaders tweaked the ordinance to omit references to "spouses" and "marriage" and to refer to its civil unions only as contractual agreements. Read more »

ONE Community

Boy Scouts of America Statement (on equality for young gay members)

Submitted by ONE Community on May 23, 2013 - 3:49pm

The Boy Scouts of America Statement:

"For 103 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, with a focus on working together to deliver the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

"Based on growing input from within the Scouting family, the BSA leadership chose to conduct an additional review of the organization's long-standing membership policy and its impact on Scouting's mission. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change. Read more »

ONE Community

New gay-rights battleground: Virginia

Submitted by ONE Community on May 23, 2013 - 9:37am

Welcome to the gay rights battleground of Virginia.

Yes, you read that right. In the 2013 off-year elections, a state that once leaned solidly to the center-right has become the newest focal point in the national debate over same-sex relationships. A gubernatorial race already defined partly along culture-war lines has grown even more contentious since last weekend, when Virginia Republicans nominated as their lieutenant governor candidate a firebrand minister who has called gays “very sick people psychologically” and suggested a connection between homosexuality and pedophilia. Read more »

ONE Community

Gay Marriage In The U.S.: What's Next In The Fight?

Submitted by ONE Community on May 22, 2013 - 10:04am

Momentum in the states to allow gay marriage may be about to stall.

Recent victories have given same-sex marriage advocates hope that the tide has turned in their long-running fight for marriage equality, given the number of states approving same-sex marriage has doubled since Election Day 2012.

But 36 states still ban such unions, and there’s little sign of change in those states anytime soon. Read more »

Peace Corps says same-sex couples can apply to serve together

Submitted by ONE Community on May 22, 2013 - 6:00am

(Reuters) - The Peace Corps said on Tuesday it will start accepting applications next month from same-sex couples who want to volunteer together as part of the overseas service program.

But not all of the 76 countries that host the program established by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961 will be open as assignments for those couples, an agency spokeswoman said.

"The Peace Corps is only going to consider placement for same-sex couples in countries where homosexual acts are not criminalized," spokeswoman Shira Kramer said.

"We're obviously aiming to foster the most productive and safe environments for same-sex couples," she added. Read more »

ONE Community

Bisbee approves civil unions, again

Submitted by ONE Community on May 22, 2013 - 12:24am

BISBEE — New language for a proposed civil union ordinance didn’t change the outcome of a vote by Bisbee City Council members Tuesday night.

The council voted 5-2 to pass a revised version of an ordinance originally adopted April 23. After Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne warned that his office would file a lawsuit to prevent Bisbee from enacting the ordinance, city attorney John MacKinnon revised the local legislation.

Tuesday night a crowd number about 85 people showed up at the council chambers to again take up debate on civil unions. Read more »

ONE Community

Obama delivers LGBT-inclusive commencement address at all-male college

Submitted by ONE Community on May 21, 2013 - 11:30pm

ATLANTA — President Barack Obamaon Sunday delivered an LGBT-inclusive commencement address at Morehouse College, a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta.

Obama challenged graduates to “transform the way we think about manhood,” and encouraged them to take responsibility for their families and their communities.

"Keep setting an example for what it means to be a man. Be the best husband to your wife, or your boyfriend, or your partner. Be the best father you can be to your children. Because nothing is more important. [...] Read more »

ONE Community

Gay Marriage Amendment Withdrawn From Immigration Bill Debate

Submitted by ONE Community on May 21, 2013 - 8:50pm

The Senate “Gang of Eight” immigration reform bill survived perhaps its toughest challenge late in the day, as the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to approve an amendment that would have allowed gays and lesbians to sponsor their partners for immigration in the same way married heterosexual couples would be able to do under the proposed legislation.

The amendment by Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was introduced and then withdrawn after he saw that his amendment could potentially kill the bill.

Republican members of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” that co-wrote the immigration bill said they could not countenance the amendment and would walk away from the entire legislation if passed. Read more »

ONE Community

Presbyterian Church Of Scotland OK's Gay Ministers

Submitted by ONE Community on May 21, 2013 - 3:15pm

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The Church of Scotland’s General Assembly on Monday (May 20) passed a historic vote to allow actively gay men and lesbians to become ordained ministers.

After more than six hours of debate, more than 700 commissioners attending the Presbyterian church’s 2013 General Assembly in Edinburgh voted in favor of gay ministers, but in a mind toward compromise agreed to allow parishes that disagree to opt out of the new rules.

The decision will now need to be endorsed by the church’s 48 regional presbyteries and, if it survives the regional ratification, will become official at next year’s General Assembly. Read more »

ONE Community

Griner: No talking sexuality at Baylor

Submitted by ONE Community on May 21, 2013 - 9:58am

Former Baylor women's basketball star Brittney Griner says that Kim Mulkey, her college head coach, told players not to be open publicly about their sexuality because it would hurt recruiting and look bad for the program.

"It was a recruiting thing," Griner said during an interview with ESPN The Magazine and espnW. "The coaches thought that if it seemed like they condoned it, people wouldn't let their kids come play for Baylor." Read more »

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