GOP Candidates Express Support for “Don't Ask, Don't Tell”

At a Nov. 28 debate, Republi-can candidates for the 2008 presidential nomination expressed support for the federal “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” law which bans openly lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel from the armed forces. The candidates were asked a question on DADT by retired Brigadier General Keith Kerr, who served for 43 years in the military and is gay. Rep. Duncan Hunter said most military members are “conservative” and forcing them to work with homosexuals “is a disservice.” Sen. John McCain said “leaders almost unanimously tell me that the present policy is working.” Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee joined the chorus: “People have a right to whatever feelings and attitudes they wish, but when conduct puts cohesion at risk, I think that is what is at issue.” Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who once supported open service, told Kerr the law “has been there for 15 years and it seems to be working.” Kerr became the focus of attention after it was revealed he served on a military veterans board for Dem. Hillary Clinton. After the debate Kerr stressed he was not a campaign plant. “I absolutely have nothing to do with the Hillary campaign, although I do support her,” he said in an interview available on YouTube.

Larry Craig faces more gay allegations

The other gay shoe has fin-ally dropped for Idaho Sen. Larry Craig. In August Craig was busted by an undercover cop in a Minneapolis airport bathroom for cruising. Initially Craig said he would resign, but later insisted he was not gay and would serve out his term, defying his fellow Republicans. Craig's local paper, The Idaho Statesman, reported Dec. 3 that four men had come forward and were willing to publicly say they had sex with Craig, including a prostitute who had sex with disgraced evangelist Ted Haggard. Mike Jones, who went public with his Haggard trysts, told the Statesman he had sex with Craig in 2004 or 2005. A Washington, D.C. man, David Phillips, said Craig picked him up in the 1980's at a gay strip club, the Follies. Greg Ruth and Tom Russell said they were also cruised by Craig in the early 1980's. A fifth man said he got the public bathroom treatment from Craig in 2006 in a Denver airport bathroom. Craig had no comment for the story, but has continually said he is heterosexual. Russell said he went public because of Craig's denials. "I'm disgusted because it's hypocritical, and he's lying,” he told the Statesman. “He's lying through his teeth."

Villaraigosa Takes HIV Rapid Test as part of L.A. Initiative

Change sometimes starts from the top. On the eve of World AIDS Day, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio VIllaraigosa kicked off a drive to encourage one million city residents to get tested for HIV/AIDS by taking the test himself. “If we are going to eliminate HIV in Los Angeles, we need to get past the stereotypes and stigma, and make HIV testing a part of routine healthcare for all Angelenos,” the mayor said after taking a rapid swab HIV test Nov. 30. Instead of focusing on high-risk behavior groups, the L.A. initiative is focused on reaching minority communities and neighborhoods currently underserved by AIDS counseling and testing. Run by the city's AIDS Coordinator's Office, the program is being funded through grants and in-kind assistance from AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Gilead Sciences and rapid swab test maker OraSure. The program hopes to expand testing to 50 different sites around the city. County health officials estimate there are 15,000 Angelenos who are HIV positive and do not know they are infected. “this initiative is not about any one person taking a test, it's about one million Angelenos-black, white, Latino and Asian, gay and straight together taking responsibility for the future health of our city,” Villaraigosa said.

LCR Lay Into Romney's Flip Flops

Move over John Kerry. The latest politician to get slapped with the “flip flop” label is a Republican, specifically presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Gay political group Log Cabin Republicans is running a 60-second radio ad in early primary state New Hampshire that argues Romney, when running for Governor, said he'd balance the budget without raising taxes, but then “Mitt flopped” and raised taxes anyway. “Mitt Romney's record doesn't match his rhetoric on taxes and almost every other issue,” said LCR President Patrick Sammon. “No matter what he says now, Romney's record on taxes doesn't add up.”

Details put “F-Word” on its list of top 50 men under 45

Almost-gay magazine Details has published its annual “Power 50” list, a compilation of the most influential men under the age of 45. But the man ranked No. 9 isn't a man. It's the word “faggot.” Details describes the f-word as common schoolyard taunt, “But some bullies grow up, get famous, and keep on using it.” Pundit Ann Coulter, actor Isaiah Washington, Celebutant Paris Hilton and entertainer Jerry Lewis all received criticism for using the word in 2007. “This past year has turned a spotlight on the importance of the words we use, and how this kind of vulgar, abusive, dehumanizing slur contributes to putting people in harm's way,” said GLAAD president Neil Giuliano.

Canadian politician with anti-gay ties dropped by conservative political party

Anti-gay rhetoric comes with consequences in Canada, even among conservatives. Just ask Craig Chandler, a member of the Alberta Conservative party who was apparently ousted because he founded a group linked to a homophobic letter, according to Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail. After a closed door meeting Dec. 1, the party's executive committee said it would not endorse Chandler for an upcoming election. Chandler formed Concerned Christians Canada, a group that wrote a letter in 2002 comparing gays to child molestors and pimps. The Canadian Human Rights Commission had Chandler apologize for the letter last year. Chandler has accused the party of being intolerant.

Delegate Pushes for D.C. Needle Exchange Program

Washington, D.C. needs a needle exchange program to fight HIV/AIDS, according to Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton. In November, the city released a report showing Washington first in the nation in infections. "The report does a disservice in creating headlines that the District has the highest AIDS rate without mentioning the possible effect of many years without fully operating and life saving needle exchange programs," Norton said. The nation's capitol has been under a federal ban that prevents government funded needle exchange programs. Holmes-Norton has gotten the ban repealed in Congress and expects a Presidential signature to finally kill it. Holmes-Norton is encouraging the city to start developing a program now "to hit the ground running as soon as the omnibus bill is signed."

Protestors arrested during Russian election

More than a dozen gay and lesbian political activists were arrested at a Moscow polling site Dec. 2 after protesting the actions of politicians and political parties, according to German news website Gay Republic Daily. Protestor Nikolai Alekseev allegedly wrote “No to homophones, no to Luzhkov” on his ballot, a form of social protest in Russia. Alekseev was apparently referring to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who has cancelled two scheduled Pride events. Two weeks before the election, LGBT groups encouraged voters to write protest statements on ballots, since all major Russian political parties have ignored LGBT issues.

Retiring State Department official rips Rice for partner inequities

Former ambassador Michael E. Guest took his boss Condoleeza Rice to task when he capped 26 years of service at his retirement ceremony in November. According to The Washington Post, Guest said he was leaving the State Department because of its unequal treatment of same-sex partners. “I've felt compelled to choose between obligations to my partner, who is my family, and service to my country," Guest said, calling the situation a “stain on the Secretary's leadership.” Ironically Rice has long been the subject of gay rumors herself. Same-sex partners are refused training, denied medical care and must pay for services that are covered for married partners of State Department employees.

Australia steps closer to comprehensive partnership rights

Down Under may be the next nation to eliminate same-sex partnership discrimination in its laws. Attorney General Robert McClelland is reaching out to his counterpart in the Australia Capitol Territory, which passed a civil partnership law that was rejected by the federal government, The Australian reported. The federal position on partnership has changed since McClelland's new boss, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, was elected in November. McClelland is looking to develop partnerships on a national level. In other LGBT news, Rudd made history by naming the first openly gay woman to the Australian Cabinet Dec. 5 when he picked Sen. Penny Wong Ying Yen to be minister for water and climate change.

Former LAPD officer testifies about anti-gay harassment

Mitchell Grobeson, the former LAPD Sergeant who recently received a major financial settlement from the city of Los Angeles, testified in a civil trial that top administrators undercut a police chief who wanted to make the force better for gay officers, according to The Daily News. In 1993 former Commander Daniel Watson said the LAPD didn't need to make changes or adhere to a settlement agreement on LGBT issues, Grobeson testified Nov. 27. Grobeson testified then, and Chief Willie Williams seemed to want a change on the force for out officers, but Watson and others made that difficult, The Daily News reported. Grobeson is suing for back pay and reinstatement to the LAPD.

This page compiled by Christopher Lisotta from The Associated Press and other news reports.