The California General Assembly passed AB205, which would give gay and lesbian registered domestic partners nearly the same rights and responsibilities of other spouses, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Gay Assemblyman John Laird co-authored the bill and says it has an ‘even’ chance of passing in the Democratic state senate. If the bill becomes law, it will not have the same impact as Vermont’s civil unions. California state law and the federal Defense of Marriage Act explicitly ban gay couples from receiving the more than 1,000 benefits enjoyed by heterosexual spouses.
The Tennessee Baptist Convention voted to oust a Nashville church that has a lesbian pastor. WATE TV reports that Glendale Baptist Church and its 200 members will no longer enjoy the benefits of the national convention. The Baptists have thrown out 10 other congregations in the last 15 years over issues relating to homosexuality.
The New Hampshire Episcopalians, on the other hand, elected their first gay Bishop, reports AP. The Rev. V. Gene Robinson won in a local vote, which still must be confirmed next month at the General Convention. The Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church in America, passed a resolution five years ago calling gay sex ‘incompatible with scripture.’ A debate will likely ensue prior to Robinson’s confirmation.
The Human Rights Campaign applauded Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton, a Democrat, for signing an executive order that prohibits discrimination against state employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity, among other factors. Kentucky is now the 10th state to use an executive order to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation against its public work force, and the only state to cover gender identity. Several counties and local governments in Kentucky have passed local ordinances in the past several years that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Planet Out Partners moved from red to black last quarter marking the first time the four-year-old company posted a profit. The company owns gay online giants PlanetOut.com and Gay.com as well as gay travel site OutandAbout.com. Early on, a cash-strapped Planet Out Partners gave up on the acquisition of Liberation Media, the queen of gay print media including Alyson Books, The Advocate, and Out.
Republican New York Gov. George Pataki weighed in again on the side of gay rights, according to CNSNews.com. Pataki stepped in on behalf of Jeanne Newland, who filed for unemployment benefits after she moved with her partner and was unable to find a new job. New York law allows one to collect unemployment if they move with a ‘spouse’ and are unable to find work. Newland lost her case at every level because she was not married. A pending New York Supreme Court Appellate case is expected to be on hold while the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board re-examines the case at Gov. Pataki’s urging.
Just like Chicago, Indianapolis now has a gay and lesbian chamber of commerce. The Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce opened after a year of planning. Including such members as IBM, Marriott, and the American Pianists Association, the Chamber hopes to make a difference in the lives of gay consumers and business owners. The Chamber has 40 corporate members.In Princeton, Ind., a rural town outside of Evansville, a community theatre group abandoned their production of the Laramie Project—the theatre piece about the reaction of Laramie, Wyo., residents after the death of Matthew Shepard—because of the protests of a local preacher. AP reports that Charlie Dietz, minister of Princeton Christian Church, said he thought the play might promote homosexuality.
Death-row inmate John Lotter, the man convicted of killing Teena Brandon, asked for DNA testing to prove his innocence, reports AP. Lotter is on death row for killing Brandon, but Lotter says Marvin Nissen, also convicted in connection with the crime, actually committed the murder.
A Houston high school student reported that a teacher’s aide assaulted him in class because he is gay. The aide, also an assistant coach, allegedly taunted the student with comments about his sexual orientation over the course of the school year. The Texas Gender Advocacy & Information Network and the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition are calling for dismissal of the teacher, as well as an investigation.
The City Council of Alameda, Calif., voted 3-2 to include same-sex partners in a tax exemption plan that allows owners to transfer property tax-free to their spouses, reports the Oakland Tribune. One of the councilmembers who voted ‘nay’ said she wasn’t ready to vote for the ordinance because she had not done her homework while the other ‘nay’ vote came from a councilmember who said the city could not afford to lose the money.
Hugh Hefner and Playboy Enterprises are under fire by a bikini model and former Playboy Mansion party-goer who says her career was tarnished when Playboy portrayed her as a lesbian porn star, reports Yahoo News. Jennifer Whitney appears on the cover of the video, Playboy Mansion Parties, Hottest Moments. Whitney admits she participated in an ‘artistic body painting promotion’ but said she did not give Playboy the rights to use her in a video.News tips? RaphaelNews@aol.com