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Michelle Obama recognized lesbian mother; marriage battles
National roundup: Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2014-05-21

This article shared 10417 times since Wed May 21, 2014
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To recognize military spouses' service and sacrifice, First Lady Michelle Obama invited a group of military wives and family members to the annual Mother's Day Tea at the White House, according to the American Forces Press Service. At the event, Obama recognized military spouses' sacrifice by noting a couple of mothers in the audience—including Judith Chedville, who originally left the service in 2004 because she couldn't serve in good conscience under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Chedville ( in attendance with spouse Alicia Butler and their 1-year-old daughter, Jordan ) re-enlisted after "my husband repealed the policy in 2011," Obama said.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit temporarily put on hold a federal district court's decision that overturned Idaho's ban on marriage equality, according to an National Center for Lesbian Rights ( NCLR ) press release. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden appealed U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale's decision to the Ninth Circuit, and filed motions asking the court to stay Dale's decision until the Ninth Circuit completes its review of the case.

Oregon's ban on same-sex marriages was struck down May 19 by U.S. District Judge Michael McShane, who ruled that the prohibition violated the federal constitutional rights of gays and lesbians, OregonLive.com reported. McShane allowed his order to take immediate effect. Oregon is now the seventh state where a federal judge has struck down a gay marriage ban since the U.S. Supreme Court last year invalidated key sections of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Also, a federal judge declared Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional on May 20, saying it's time to toss such laws "into the ash heap of history," USA Today reported. The ruling by Judge John E. Jones III makes Pennsylvania the last Northeast state to allow same-sex marriages, although the state could challenge the decision before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The state's Democratic attorney general, Kathleen Kane, had declined to defend the law in court. Republican Gov. Tom Corbett took up the case, with lawyers for his administration arguing that states have the right to determine the definition of marriage.

Convicted national security leaker Pvt. Chelsea Manning ( formerly Bradley Manning ) might get treatment for gender dysphoria in an unprecedented case that sheds new light on how the military treats transgender soldiers, according to ABC News. A week after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved a request from Army leadership to evaluate potential treatment for inmates diagnosed with gender dysphoria, Manning may be transferred to a civilian prison. Manning's attorney, David E. Coombs, has said that the military's refusal to provide medical treatment to her is "flat-out transphobia."

Recently, the U.S. Naval Academy hosted its first-ever same-sex wedding, according to NBC News. The historic event involved David Bucher, a 49-year-old Academy graduate who works at the Pentagon, and partner Bruce Moats, 50, tying the knot. "We're here to break barriers—and take advantage of the rights we have," Moats said. Same-sex marriage went into effect in Maryland, where the academy is located, in 2013.

For the second time in a week, the Arkansas Supreme Court overruled a county judge who struck down as unconstitutional all state laws that banned same-sex marriage, USA Today noted. The high court's action on May 16 halted the issuance of licences to same-sex couples pending all appeals. Before the emergency order, more than 450 couples had received licenses in three counties. The state supreme court initially suspended Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza's May 9 pro-LGBT decision on May 14, saying his opinion had omitted a statute that prohibits clerks from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.

The first-ever National HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day ( NHALTSAD ) will be held June 5, according to a press release. This day commemorates the profound experiences and unique issues of long-term survivors, both HIV-positive and negative, who are still alive despite the toll from surviving the most significant epidemic of our time. Let's Kick ASS—AIDS Survivor Syndrome is the lead sponsor and organizer for this AIDS observance day. This year's theme, "We're Still Here," reflects the strength and resilience of the generation of survivors who lived through the darkest decades of the AIDS epidemic—the 1980s and 1990s.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has unveiled new HIV-prevention guidelines that recommend high-risk people—including gay men who don't use condoms, people in relationships with HIV-positive partners, and intravenous drug users—take a daily pill to prevent infection, SFGate.com reported. The guidelines support the use of what's known as PrEP, for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Studies have shown that prophylaxis therapy— in which uninfected people take the HIV-treatment drug Truvada—can cut the risk of infection by more than 90 percent; however, they must take the drug daily to get the full preventive effect.

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 was Hepatitis Testing Day in the United States, according to the CDC. Among the facts the CDC wants the public to know is that each type of hepatitis ( A, B and C ) is caused by a different virus and spread in different ways; and that chronic hepatitis—which most people don't know they have—is a leading cause of liver cancer. Among the symptoms of hepatitis are abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting; fatigue; mild fever; and dark urine, according to WebMD.

A new study has shown that sexual orientation is not a predictor of parenting stress among first-time adoptive parents, according to a report from The Williams Institute. The article is based on the first longitudinal study of parenting stress in early childhood among lesbian, gay and heterosexual adoptive parents. The study suggests that pre-adoptive factors such as social support and mental health could impact post-adoptive stress. The full study is at http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/?p=18489.

The 2nd annual Give OUT Day ( www.giveoutday.org ) took place May 15, bringing together hundreds of LGBTQ nonprofits and thousands of donors to support the LGBTQ community, according to EdgeOnTheNet.com . In 2013, the inaugural Give OUT Day engaged almost 5,500 donors who gave over $600,000 to 400-plus groups from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. In addition, 35 percent of donors discovered a new group to support on Give OUT Day, and 13 percent were first-time donors to an LGBTQ organization.

The Common Core state standards establish guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in math and English language arts from kindergarten through 12th grade—but one Florida legislator fears it will lead to turn kids gay, according to The Huffington Post. State Rep. Charles Van Zant ( R ) said the American Institutes for Research, assigned to develop Common Core-based tests for Florida, "are promoting as hard as they can, any youth that is interested in the LGBT agenda." Van Zant holds a doctorate in theology from Cuba's Western Baptist Theological Seminary, according to the state House website.

In Wisconsin, sexual-orientation and gender-identity discrimination protection recently won Milwaukee County board approval, following a flare-up over whether such protection could be misused by sex offenders, according to JSOnline.com . The board voted 12 to six in favor of adding sexual orientation as well as gender identity and expression to the county's anti-discrimination ordinance. Supervisor Deanna Alexander said while she backs the discrimination protection, she wanted to ensure that it would not be used by male pedophiles or sex criminals donning drag as a way to get inside women's public restrooms.

A former gay-porn star who spent the last six years in prison said he doesn't hold a grudge against the identical twin brother who ratted him out, The New York Daily News reported. Taleon Goffney is hoping to start a new life after serving time for elaborate burglaries and other crimes. He and twin brother Keyontyli starred together in such skin flicks as Marc and the Twins, but accomplice Keyontyli cut a deal to implicate his brother six years ago and avoid major prison time. Taleon told the Philadelphia Daily News that his brother was "just scared and trying to give them everything he can."

The National Coalition for Sexual Health ( NCSH )—which consists of nearly 40 leading health and medical organizations—issued a call to action to increase what it calls "the shockingly low uptake of essential sexual health care services in America," in addition to launching a new guide and website to help people get the services they need, according to a press release. The coalition says that more than half of all U.S. residents are not getting recommended sexual health care services, including HPV vaccination, chlamydia screening and HIV testing. The guide, "Take Charge of Your Sexual Health: What you need to know about preventive services," is at www.ncshguide.org/ .

Laura Ricketts, part-owner of the Chicago Cubs, has become board chair of LPAC, a lesbian-backed super PAC that is endorsing candidates such as Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, according to The Chicago Tribune. Ricketts, 46, a Chicagoan active in Democratic fundraising, helped start the group in 2012. The single mother of a 4-year-old, Ricketts is a director of the Cubs and board chair of Cubs Charities. She is on the Democratic National Committee's Executive Committee and the board of EMILY's List, which supports pro-choice Democratic women running for office.

A San Antonio judge has blocked the state's effort to halt a divorce and child custody case involving a same-sex couple, according to the Associated Press. The Texas attorney general's office argued before State District Judge Barbara Nellermoe that it has an interest in defending Texas' ban on same-sex marriages. Nellermoe refused to allow the state to intervene in the case; she previously ruled Texas restrictions on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional.

New York lawmakers heard testimony on a bill that would ban licensed therapists from counseling gay and lesbian minors to change their sexual orientation, accodring to Reuters. The so-called "conversion therapy" has seen increasing scrutiny recently from medical professionals and gay and lesbian rights advocates who say it damages the health and identities of gay youth. If the measure becomes law, New York would become the third state to ban the practice with minors since 2012.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders ( GLAD ) marked the 10th anniversary of the very first marriages of same-sex couples in the United States, which took place in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004, according to a press release. The marriages resulted from a groundbreaking decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Nov. 18, 2003, in the case Goodridge v. Department of Public Health. In Goodridge, GLAD represented seven same-sex couples who had sought and were denied marriage licenses.

In Wisconsin, the Janesville School District superintendent has issued a public apology for the showing of a video she describes as pro-gay marriage, CBS Minnesota reported. Craig High School's Gay-Straight Alliance showed "Kids React to Gay Marriage," a 16-minute video of children reacting to marriage proposals between same-sex couples and sharing their thoughts on issues like gay-marriage bans. Superintendent Karen Schulte said in a statement the video was biased and violated the school district's policies on controversial and political issues.

The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, has fired a woman in charge of distributing food to the homeless and hungry after learning she is gay and in a same-sex marriage, according to LGBTQ Nation. Social Ministries coordinator Colleen Simon was unintentionally outed when a newspaper article mentioned that she was married to the Rev. Donna Simon of St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church. after the article was published, Colleen Simon said a series of emails and discussions began, and she was eventually asked to resign.

The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) Foundation released the inaugural edition of Equality Rising—a brief overview of many of the successes and setbacks of LGBT activists, advocates, and allies around the world in 2013, according to a press release. Released in advance of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17, this report aims to educate the public about many of the notable events from last year in the growing global-equality movement. A copy of the report is at www.hrc.org/equalityrising.

A federal judge has ordered the state of Kentucky to pay $70,325 in fees to the attorneys for four same-sex couples who won a ruling striking down the state's ban on recognizing gay marriages performed in other states, according to USA Today. U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II awarded the lawyers a $10,000 bonus, saying they "undertook a difficult, unpopular case and achieved remarkable success." Heyburn stayed the award pending the outcome of an appeal Gov. Steve Beshear filed at the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The U.S. Department of Defense released a memorandum regarding the observance of LGBT Pride Month in June, according to an American Military Partner Association press release. The memorandum, signed by the Director of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, Clarence A. Johnson, partially states, "The LGBT community has written a proud chapter in this fundamentally American story by reminding us that integrity and respect remain corner stones of our military and civilian culture. During the month of June, let's rededicate ourselves to equity, dignity and respect for all, and celebrate the diversity of the DoD workforce."

Officials in Rochester, New York, say their city will extend transition-related health coverage to transgender and gender non-conforming municipal employees, according to the Associated Press. Mayor Lovely Warren and City Councilmember-at-Large Matt Haag announced the decision in Rochester at the Empire State Pride Agenda's spring dinner. Rochester joins a handful of U.S. cities offering employees transition-related coverage, including Seattle, San Francisco and the District of Columbia; Boston is considering a similar measure.

Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker has reiterated his support for marriage equality in a new ad, On Top Magazine noted. In the ad, Baker and his brother Alex discuss the moment Alex came out to his brother. Charlie Baker remembers his brother asking, "What would you say if your brother told you he was gay?" and him answering, "I'd say it's no big deal." In his 2010 unsuccessful bid for governor, Baker chose Richard R. Tisei, an openly gay lawmaker who is now in a Congressional race, as his running mate.

New York City cab driver Gabriel Diaz—who wore a swastika armband while on the job—has been suspended for 30 days, the Associated Press noted. Diaz told the Daily News he believes in the "ideology of National Socialism" and will continue to show off the Nazi symbol when he's not at work. He said that if a Muslim can drive a cab wearing a turban and "a homosexual can walk around with a big rainbow flag," why can't he wear a Nazi armband? The Anti-Defamation League has condemned Diaz.

The 29th annual AIDS Walk New York ( AWNY ) drew 30,000 participants to Central Park, raising $5.1 million for GMHC and 40 other AIDS service organizations throughout the tri-state area, according to a GMHC press release. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the crowd, speaking of the city's determination to stop new HIV infections. Celebrity participants included six-time Emmy winner Tyne Daly and Bobby Steggert ( Broadway's Mothers and Sons ), as well as the show's author, four-time Tony Award winning playwright Terrance McNally. Steggert closed the opening ceremony with his performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone."

A judge in the Florida Keys said his decision to retire early came after an "inappropriate invasion of my privacy," according to TBO.com . Judge David Audlin, 56, announced in April that he was retiring with four years left on his term; May 9 was the Monroe County chief circuit judge's last day. A blogger found a profile for Audlin in January on Manhunt, a website that bills itself as the world's biggest gay hookup site. Audlin did nothing illegal, and no one had called on him to resign.

Maine ethics investigators are recommending more than $50,000 in fines for a national anti-gay-marriage organization for failing to register and disclose its activities in Maine's 2009 same-sex marriage referendum, according to the Bangor Daily News. The Maine Ethics Commission launched an investigation into the National Organization for Marriage ( NOM ), alleging the group had violated Maine law by not registering as a ballot question committee and providing detailed reports about its fundraising and spending. NOM was the largest contributor to the 2009 anti-gay-marriage campaign, and dumped roughly $2 million into the state; that money was integral in defeating the fledgling marriage-equality law.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle has ruled that conservative-run group Judicial Watch Inc.—which was seeking records about a conference for gay lawyers—cannot access papers that would out Justice Department employees, Courthouse News reported. The organization had its eye on the National LGBT Bar Association's 2012 Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair because U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at it. Judicial Watch argued that public interest in emails that could have outed those worked outweighs privacy concerns—but Huvelle disagreed.

A Catholic high school in San Francisco has been criticized for refusing to include a portrait of a female student wearing a tuxedo in the school yearbook, the Associated Press noted. Students at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory high school ( and Katie Emanuel, who said she was Urbana's girlfriend ) wore ties over their T-shirts and dresses on campus to protest the administration's decision to omit senior Jessica Urbina's photo. Principal Gary Cannon told reporters that the controversy was a good learning opportunity for students, but stressed that Sacred Heart is run in accordance with Roman Catholic Church teachings.

Michael Shiosaki, the husband of Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, has talked about life as the "first gentleman" of the city, according to The Seattle Times. "I have a heightened level of responsibility for everything," Shiosaki said. "The people sleeping in the doorways, the streets that are in bad shape." Murray is the first openly gay leader of Seattle, but Shiosaki is not the first-ever first gentleman; that ground was broken by Henry Landes, the husband of Seattle's first female mayor, Bertha Knight Landes.


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