International AIDS Bill Includes Jettison of HIV Travel Ban

The Senate Foreign Rel-ations Committee on March 13 approved the spending of $50 billion over the next five years to combat AIDS and other diseases in Africa and elsewhere in the world. Included in the Senate bill was a measure introduced by Sen. John Kerry to lift a travel ban, enacted in 1987 and reinstated in 1993, on people with HIV entering the United States. There is a waiver option, Kerry said, "but the process is incredibly restrictive." The Senate Committee vote comes two weeks after the House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed a similar bill. President Bush backed the House bill and the legislation appears to be on course to becoming one of the few achievements of Congress in a partisan election year. Like the House bill, the Senate bill would ease stipulations in the 2003 act that required that one-third of all prevention money be spent on abstinence programs, instead directing the administration to promote "balanced funding for prevention activities." House negotiators, responding to concerns from anti-abortion groups that AIDS money might be used for abortions, worked out a provision allowing the use of funds for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling services in family planning programs supported by the U.S. government.

Oklahoma Legislator Facing Death Threats Over Anti-Gay Remarks

Republican State Rep. Sally Kern has received death threats since telling a political group that "the homosexual agenda is just destroying this nation" and poses a bigger threat to the U.S. than terrorism or Islam. “I'm not gay-bashing, but according to God's word that is not the right kind of lifestyle," Kern said during an appearance before a group of Republicans. Her comments were recorded and posted on YouTube on March 7 by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Kern has said her comments were taken out of context, since she was talking about wealthy homosexuals who contribute to out candidates for office in Oklahoma and other states. "I was talking about an agenda. I was not talking about individuals," said Kern, the wife of a Baptist minister. "They have the right to choose that lifestyle. They do not have the right to force it down our throat. I have never said hate speech against anybody. I would never do that." Kern said she has received more than 3,000 e-mails and hundreds of telephone calls since her comments were posted online. She said a few supported her comments but that most condemned them and that some contained death threats and obscenities.

Gay Couple Sues for Campus Housing in Hawaii

So much for Aloha. Lambda Legal is filing a lawsuit against the University of Hawaii, representing Phi Ngo and Joseph O'Leary, a gay couple not allowed to move back into family housing after living there for one year. During the 2006-2007 school year, Ngo and O'Leary lived in family housing on the main campus of the University of Hawaii while O'Leary worked toward a degree in history. They reapplied for family housing for the 2007-2008 school year, but the University denied their request. In a letter dated May 30, 2007, the interim director of University Housing Services stated that the University "recognizes marital status as defined in Section 572-1 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes," which restricts the term "marriage" to different-sex couples. The letter goes on to state that "[u]ntil such time that the state revises its definition of marital status, we will continue to apply the existing definition to our assignment policy for married housing." "The University had no problem with Joe and Phi living in family housing last year,” said Brian Chase, Lambda Legal Senior Staff Attorney. “It makes no sense for the University to suddenly decide to discriminate against them just because they are gay."

Second Chance for Iranian Making Gay Asylum Case in UK

A gay Iranian man has received a reprieve from deportation after British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said new details in his case have come to light, Agence France-Presse reported March 14. Mehdi Kazemi, 19, came to Britain to study in 2005, but while he was away from Iran his boyfriend was charged with sodomy and executed. Kazemi has been living in The Netherlands since Britain first rejected his claim of asylum in 2007. “There are overwhelming reasons why people should not be deported to Iran in the current circumstances,” said Ben Summerskill of gay-rights group Stonewall, “and it is important that Britain is seen as a safe haven."

The State of Washington Strengthens DP Benefits

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed into law Mar. 12 a Domestic Partnership Expansion bill that will provide more than 160 new rights and responsibilities to registered domestic partners under state law. The bill passed the Washington State Senate on March 4 by a 29-20 vote. It passed the State House last month by a 62-32 vote. A 2007 law created a domestic partner registry that provided specific rights and responsibilities to same-sex couples as well as opposite sex couples with one partner over age 62. The bill the Senate passed will expand on the 2007 law.

GLSEN Conducts LGBT Parents Study

A new study has found that LGBT parents are more likely to be involved in their children's K-12 education than the general parent population. Morover, they are more involved in school activities and more likely to report consistent communication with school personnel. In addition, both LGBT parents and children of LGBT parents often report harassment because of their family structure. The study, conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, in partnership with the Family Equality Council and COLAGE, found that LGBT parents are more likely to attend a parent-teacher conference in the past year (94% to 77%) and more likely to volunteer (67% to 42%).

Obama Responds to Critics

Presidential candidate Barack Obama addressed the issue of racism on March 18 in response to controversial remarks made by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, an African American minister who reached out to gay people and people with HIV/AIDS. 

“Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems,” though, Obama said, Wright is “like family to me.”

Obama noted that racial divisiveness is often exploited for political gain. But this election “we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds.” —KAREN OCAMB

Oregon Legislators Work Initiative to Roll Back Gay Rights

Two Oregon legislators are working to get a statewide ballot initiative before voters that would repeal a 2007 law that prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing and employment, the Salem-News.com reported March 15. State Sen. Gary George and State Rep. Kim Thatcher are leading the way for the initiative. In an interview with local gay paper Just Out, George railed against the law. “My advice to the gay community is shut up, just don't talk about it,” Just Out reported George as saying. “If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel.”

“These arguments are based on plumbing ... one sexual organ fits in another...that's ridiculous! This is a very male-based theology."

—Sister Jeannine Gramick, a Catholic nun who is fighting the Vatican's current attitude towards gays and lesbians, on the Church's argument that same-sex unions are unnatural (from Times of Malta.com)

Norway Latest Government to Propose Marriage Law

The Norwegian government proposed a new marriage law March 14 that would give gay couples the same rights as heterosexual pairs, including church weddings, adoption, and assisted pregnancies. It was not immediately clear whether the proposal would make it through parliament without changes. "This new marriage law is a step forward along the lines of voting rights for all and equality laws," said Minister of Children and Equality Anniken Huitfeldt. The new legislation would replace a 1993 law that gives gays the right to enter civil unions similar to marriage, but refuses them the right to church weddings or to be considered as adoptive parents.

Vermont Upholds Visitation Rights in Custody Case

A woman involved in a high-profile custody dispute welcomed a Vermont Supreme Court ruling Friday upholding her visitation rights to a child she raised with her former lesbian partner. Lisa Miller-Jenkins, of Winchester, Va., has been fighting to bar custody to her former partner since the two split up in 2003, three years after their civil union in Vermont. In April 2002, Lisa Miller-Jenkins gave birth to the girl, and the three moved to Vermont. About a year later, Lisa Miller-Jenkins renounced her homosexuality, returned to Virginia and denied Janet Miller-Jenkins' access to their daughter Isabella, who is now 5.

UPS Includes Gay-Owned Businesses in Diversity Program

The Men in Brown just got cuter. United Parcel Service Inc., the world's largest shipping carrier, said Mar. 11 it has expanded its supplier diversity program to include businesses owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender merchants. The expansion is through a partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), which represents about 1.4 million businesses owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Launched in 1992, UPS's supplier diversity process provides opportunities for small businesses and those owned by minorities. UPS is a strong advocate for the LGBT community and recognizes the incredible business opportunities LGBT companies have to offer,” NGLCC's Aditi Dussault said.

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