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posted Friday, July 8, 2011 - Volume 39 Issue 27
DOJ says DOMA unconstitutional DOMA, motivated by bias
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a brief in federal court on July 1, arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional because it was 'was motivated in large part by animus toward Gay and Lesbian individuals and their intimate relationships.'
The DOJ brief presented a detailed account of the more
Friedes: Marriage equality in WA achievable in 2012
Josh Friedes is synonymous with LGBT equality. It's what he knows. It's what he is good at. Friedes has served in a number of roles with Equal Rights Washington (ERW), the state's leading LGBT advocacy organization, since he arrived from Mass Equality and the Freedom to Marry Coalition of more
LGBT protections an issue in negotiations at Westin Hotel
Workers picket in show of strength by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer
Chanting 'Union power!' and 'Corporate greed has got to go!' more than 100 workers from Seattle-area hotels gathered in front of the Westin hotel on July 7 to call for livable wages, job security, and respect on the job.
This summer, contrac more
Kalebu found guilty in South Park rape and murder
On July 1, a King County jury convicted Isaiah Kalebu of aggravated first-degree murder. The South Park murderer and rapist will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole, putting an end to a haunting chapter in Seattle - and LGBT - criminal history.
RI governor signs civil unions bill, some unhappy
Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed his state's new civil unions bill into law on July 1, but nobody celebrated.
LGBT rights organizations had urged him to veto the bill, because it contained language allowing religious organizations - including service providers like h more
Gay and Lesbian elected officials host fundraiser to support Bob Ferguson for AG
Prominent Gay and Lesbian elected officials are scheduled to host a fundraiser to support Bob Ferguson's campaign for attorney general on July 14 at Nyhus Communications (720 3rd Ave., 12th floor) in downtown Seattle from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
The host committee includes King County C more
General Gayety: Seattle Pride notes
I had a peachy time marching in Seattle's Pride parade. My partner Anne and I, members of a Unitarian Universalist church in Seattle, marched with a host of Unitarians representing churches from all over Puget Sound.
Now it behooves me to make a few notes about this year' more
CT governor signs Transgender protection bill
Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy signed legislation on July 5 barring discrimination based on gender identity or expression.
The new law covers employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and all other areas under the jurisdiction of the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights more
Anti-bullying settlement announced following the suicide of California teen
The stories used to appear only in newspapers like Seattle Gay News. The headlines were somber, the topic was cruel: another Gay teen has died by suicide. But something happened when the 2010-11 school year began. An alarming number of teens - the youngest just 13 years-old - took their o more
California Assembly passes landmark LGBT education bill
California's state Assembly passed a landmark LGBT education bill on July 5.
The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act adds sexual orientation and gender identity to California's existing laws barring discrimination in school activities and instruction mat more
U.S. Embassy hosts Pride celebration in Islamabad, mullahs outraged
U.S. Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Richard Hoagland and members of Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA) hosted a Pride celebration on June 26, at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.
It was, the embassy said proudly, the 'first ever' in Pakistan's capital cit more
The religious right's shadow nation
by Wayne Besen - SGN Contributing Writer
Lately, it seems Christian fundamentalists have campaigned to pervert the notion of 'religious freedom' to mean they have the absolute right to control lives and dictate how other people live. If they are unable to coerce or browbeat non-believers into following their church's rules in more
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2011 Pride Calendar
Betty Ford, Former First Lady, Dies at 93
6 Atlanta officers fired over Atlanta Eagle raid
It's time to end the exclusion of the LGBT civil rights movement from history and social sciences.
Marriage licenses July 24 for gay couples in Albany?
Kid gets gay marriage in one minute, plays ping pong
Triangle Campground VIDEO
Tubing With Brian
by Rex Wockner - SGN Contributing Writer
Pride ralliers arrested in St. Petersburg, Russia
Fourteen activists were jailed overnight after police broke up the second Gay pride march in St. Petersburg, Russia, just two minutes after it started June 25.
The detainees said their jail cell was tiny and suffocatingly hot, and that police gave more
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY SEEKS VOLUNTEER GARDENERS
The Seattle Public Library is seeking volunteers to help maintain attractive grounds at 12 neighborhood branches this summer and fall. Volunteers will weed gardens, rake leaves and pick up litter. Work parties will be scheduled June through October - on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 9 a.m. and noon. For more information, more
Prop 8 proponents push on to undo verdict
The proponents of California's same-sex-marriage ban are pushing on with their latest attempt to undo the federal District Court ruling that found Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution.
On June 28, the people who put Prop 8 on the ballot in 2008 ap more
Emerald City Classic tourney recap
by Anthony Greer - SGN Staff Writer
This past weekend, roughly 500 softball players from cities all over the West Coast, Phoenix, and Denver participated in the Emerald City Classic, the Emerald City Softball Association's annual tournament.
On Saturday, the 47 teams played two different games, round-robin style more
HIV: Test week? What test?
by Dr. Eva Hersh - Courtesy of Healthy Living News
The HIV epidemic in the United States has been going on for 30 (thirty!) years now. Many of you don't remember a time before AIDS, but I do. The worst thing that could happen to you from sex was (people thought) herpes. Eeeeewwww, herpes. Did you know that once you have the h more
Two Gay service members attacked in Colorado Springs
Two Gay service members and several civilians were attacked in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at a fast food restaurant in the early morning hours of July 2. According to news reports, the attackers hurled anti-Gay and racial slurs as the assault took place.
The two soldiers more
No appeal of bankruptcy court DOMA decision - DOMA still unconstitutional
Assistant U.S. Trustee Jill Sturtevant announced on July 6 that she would no longer challenge a ruling by a U.S. bankruptcy court in California that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional.
The U.S. Trustee is a program under the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), as more
Ninth Circuit halts enforcement of DADT
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its own stay of a lower court's injunction barring enforcement of the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) policy July 6.
This move once again renders DADT unenforceable by the Pentagon.
'With the wait for cert more