by Karen Ocamb

‘Gay Exorcism’ Video Sparks Outrage

A 20-minute video posted on YouTube showing a 16-year-old Connecticut boy undergoing an apparent “exorcism” by an evangelical minister to drive out his “homosexual demons” sparked outrage in the LGBT community.

"It's insulting, it's outrageous and it's impossible," Washington Blade editor Kevin Naff told local Washington, D.C. station WUSA9. “[The 16 year old] appears to be having seizures. He's vomiting at one point in the video. He's being held down by a group of adults. This is child abuse and I hope that the Connecticut Child Services Department investigates it as such."

The station reported that the video was pulled by Manifested Glory Ministries after they received several threatening responses to the video on YouTube.

The religious right wing views the incident differently. "Where is the tolerance for a church who tried to help a young man who freely asked for help to overcome homosexual temptations?" asked Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, Christian Newswire reported June 25. "No church deserves to be maligned for trying to help a troubled teen who asked for prayer."

Noting that the Manifested Glory Church is a non-denominational black church in Bridgeport, Cass said, “White homosexual activists who demand tolerance for their sexual sin have no right to defame black Christians for practicing their Constitutional religious liberty…This church is being unjustly maligned for a spiritual practice that goes all the way back to Christ and the Apostles...People have been delivered out of homosexual lifestyles ever since the church began.”

Vote for Equality Prepares for Next Ballot Campaign

LGBTs and straight allies who want to repeal Prop. 8 might consider a more subtle form of street activism—the Vote for Equality education and outreach project at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

VFE has been operating since 2004 but stepped-up its efforts after the 2008 election, talking to voters to find out whether and how their minds can be changed, says project manager Regina Clemente. The project teaches volunteer leaders “the skills needed to effectively persuade voters and change minds through one-on-one conversations.”

In May, VFE canvassed the greater Pasadena area in precincts with 45-55% Yes voters. “We have knocked on over 10,000 doors, had 1,720 conversations and have been moving all voters at a rate of 7% and undecided/unsupportive voters at a rate of 15%,” says Clemente.

On July 11, VFE heads to South L.A. to talk to a key population. According to a June 19 L.A. Times poll, 56% of L.A. voters favor marriage equality, with 37% opposed. By race, whites support with 68% (27% oppose), but African American voters oppose 54%, with 37% supporting. (Latinos were more evenly divided, with 45% favoring and 46% opposing same sex marriage. Asians were not surveyed.)

Syd Peterson, formerly with Renna Communications, wrote the VFE script, which he says is continuously updated.

Clemente says VFE is being used as a model by other organizations, including the Courage Campaign, Equality Maine, API Equality L.A., and Equality California. “Specifically, the Courage Campaign has been using our canvass scripts, conversation tracking tools, in addition to other canvass materials and parts of our training to run their canvasses,” she says.

The Courage Campaign is continuing their inspiring Camp Courage training events—including one August 2-3 in East Los Angeles, says Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs (see couragecampaign.org).

Additionally, EQCA field organizers replicate VFE for their outreach in the Inland Empire and Orange County.

“Based on the November election, we need to change approximately 300,000 minds. And since we are still learning how best to do that, we don’t yet have a way to precisely estimate how long it may take,” says Clemente. “What we do know is that having quality face-to-face conversations takes a lot of focused work—and is a relatively slow process. The Center is committed to using whatever time we have before the next ballot initiative campaign to learn what type of voter contact is most effective, what messages truly move voters, and how to develop strong leaders who have the necessary skills to do this vital voter persuasion work.”

“The Center has never stopped doing the work that is necessary to lay a foundation for ultimate victory. Our Vote for Equality project is the best example of that ongoing work,” says Center CEO Lorri Jean. “And we’ll continue to do so until full equality is won, not just with marriage rights, but across the board.”

The next VFE canvass is July 11, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in South L.A. Arrive by 9:45 a.m. to sign in. For more info, visit lagaycenter.org/voteforequality

STONEWALL, 1969

Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village, the New York Times released new photos taken July 2, the final night of protests. This one shows a gathering outside the vandalized West Side Savings Bank at the intersection of Seventh Avenue South, West Fourth Street and Christopher Street.

ENDA Introduced in U.S. House

Openly gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) reintroduced an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. House of Representatives June 24, a bill urgently needed in this dire economy. The bill would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in both public and private employment. In 30 states it is legal to fire someone based on his or her sexual orientation, and in 38 states it is legal to fire someone for being transgender.

An estimated 85% of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their equal employment policies, and more than one-third also include gender identity, according to the Human Rights Campaign, which tracks diversity policies in businesses through an annual index.

Two years ago, the House passed an ENDA bill by a vote of 235 to 184—but protections based on gender identity had been stripped out and many in the LGBT community protested, promising to support no bill that excluded transgenders.

The new ENDA, however, which has 100 co-sponsors, underscores the deep interconnection between the need for workplace protections and the need to repeal both DOMA and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (the military is America’s largest employer but is exempt from ENDA).

One section drawing the most scrutiny is “Sec. 8(b) Employee Benefits—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require a covered entity to treat an unmarried couple in the same manner as the covered entity treats a married couple for purposes of employee benefits.”

And “Sec 8(c) Definition of Marriage—As used in this Act, the term ‘married’ refers to marriage as such term is defined in section 7 of title I, United States Code (referred to as the Defense of Marriage Act).”

Questions are now arising about how this might impact legally married lesbian and gay couples, and whether this version of ENDA stretches DOMA to cover employee benefits from private employers. And it’s not clear whether a repeal of DOMA would automatically invalidate these sections of ENDA.

“Democrats are in a very good place” to move on gay-related matters with a Democratically-controlled Congress and a pro-gay shift in public opinion, Frank told Roll Call June 24 upon leaving a private meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and fellow out representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) on how to advance LGBT bills.

This inclusive version of ENDA has the votes to pass the House—with support from five Republicans, thanks to a historic educational hearing on transgender issues and, Frank said, “the transgender community stopped yelling at me and [Pelosi]...and started lobbying sensibly.”

Holder Testifies on Hate Crimes Law

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder gave his unconditional support for the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee June 25.

Noting that he had appeared before the same committee on July 8, 1998 as then-Deputy Attorney General, Holder said, “one of my highest personal priorities upon returning to the Justice Department is to do everything I can to help ensure that this legislation finally becomes law,” adding that “President Obama strongly supports this bill...

“The President and I seek swift passage of this legislation because hate crimes victimize not only individuals, but entire communities. Perpetrators of hate crimes seek to deny the humanity that we all share, regardless of the color of our skin, the God to whom we pray, or whom we choose to love...

“Since the year I first testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on hate crimes legislation, there have been over 77,000 hate crime incidents reported to the FBI, not counting crimes committed in 2008 and 2009. That is nearly one hate crime every hour of every day over a decade.”

The hate crimes bill—which would allow the U.S. Justice Department to assist prosecutions of hate crimes committed against LGBT people that result in death or serious injury—passed the House on April 29, 249-175. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is committed to passing hate crimes legislation before Congress recesses in August, saying at a June 15 news conference that bias-motivated crimes are “terroristic acts” intended to intimidate a group of people.

Meanwhile, on June 19, five members of the infamous antigay Westboro Baptist Church descended on Los Angeles to protest gays, Jews, Israel and America. Fred Phelps’ wife Shirley Phelps-Roper, her sister and three girls (ages 11, 15 and 16) stood diagonally across from Beth Chayim Chadashim in West Los Angeles, the world’s first lesbian and gay synagogue, and tried to draw attention—to little avail. They then piled into a new white Cadillac and headed to Fairfax High School where they protested the selection of a gay man to serve as prom queen. They were met with singing counter-protesters across the street. From Fairfax, the group went on to the Westside Jewish Community Center and the Anti-Defamation League.

The LAPD took their presence seriously, following the recent shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Museum—but otherwise few paid attention.

White House Moves to Count Gay Couples, Protect Transgenders

On June 18, the White House said it was trying to find a way to include same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships in 2010 Census data.

"The administration continues to make progress on the president's longstanding commitment to promoting equality for [LGBT] Americans," White House spokesman Ben LaBolt told the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal reported that the Census Bureau had already collected data on same-sex marriages when reported, but Bush administration officials apparently thought the Defense of Marriage Act prohibited them from releasing the data.

LGBT demographer Gary Gates of the Williams Institute at UCLA told the Journal the move was "a very positive step," and said he wants to see more details.

The directive follows President Obama’s signing a memorandum providing federal employees with protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and an expansion of some benefits to same-sex partners. Some LGBT observers later noted that the benefits Obama granted were already available to gay federal employees but were granted at the discretion of the employee’s supervisor, not as a matter of policy.

On June 24, the New York Times reported that the Obama administration is also drafting guidelines to bar workplace discrimination against transgender federal employees, to be distributed to supervisors in the next couple of months. The inclusion of transgender employees among those to be protected by antidiscrimination laws is considered a breakthrough for transgender rights.

“The president is making a very clear statement that transgender people won’t be discriminated against,” Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, told the Times.

“I was aware coming into this job that this was a class of people for whom it was not clear that they were protected from discrimination,” said John Berry, the openly gay director of the Office of Personnel Management, “and I thought it was an opportunity to clarify that….In our own agency we have transgender individuals. I know they are present in the federal work force, and they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Vid Pick

L.A.-based filmmaker Andrew Putschoegl’s Family Values won the grand prize in the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City’s marriage equality video contest, Project Pushback. The People’s Choice Award went to Samantha Levin’s Blaire Wedding Project. See the top 11 videos at equalityvideo.org

Vid Pick

Equality California and the Jordan/Rustin Coalition have produced a marriage equality PSA starring Michael and Xavier, airing statewide. See eqca.org/michael&xavier

U.S. officially apologizes to Frank Kameny

Twenty-five years ago Dr. Frank Kameny was fired from his job with the U.S. government because he was gay. On June 24, the government apologized.

“[B]y virtue of the authority vested in me as Director of the Office Of Personnel Management,” openly gay OPM director John Berry wrote to Kameny, “it is my duty and great pleasure to inform you that I am adding my support, along with that of many other past Directors, for the repudiation of the reasoning of the 1957 finding by the United States Civil Service Commission to dismiss you from your job solely on the basis of your sexual orientation. Please accept our apology for the consequences of the previous policy of the United States government, and please accept the gratitude and appreciation of the United States Office of Personnel Management for the work you have done to fight discrimination and protect the merit-based civil service system.”

Ironically, one of the consequences of Kameny’s dismissal was his extensive involvement with the LGBT movement for equal rights, including the organizing of pickets outside the White House and the famed Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, and creating the slogan “Gay is Good.” His home was recently declared an official historical landmark.

Kameny also received the OPM's highest award, the Theodore Roosevelt Award, but wasn't aware he would be getting an apology, the Bilerico Project’s Bil Browning reported. In a tearful moment, Kameny yelled, "Apology accepted!"

Dodd Supports Marriage Equality

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) announced June 21 that he has changed his mind and now supports marriage equality.

“[T]he fact that I was raised a certain way just isn’t a good enough reason to stand in the way of fairness anymore,” Dodd wrote in an op-ed published in the Meriden Record-Journal.

“I have always been proud of my long record fighting for the civil rights of the LGBT community. I’ve co-sponsored legislation to strengthen hate crime laws and end discrimination in the workplace. I’ve spoken out against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and always supported equal rights for domestic partnerships,” Dodd said. “But I am also proud to now count myself among the many elected officials, advocates, and ordinary citizens who support full marriage equality for same-sex couples.”

Ventura County HIV/AIDS Center May Close

The Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, the county's only HIV/AIDS center, may be forced to close if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the legislature finalize a budget that right now includes about $80.1 million in cuts to HIV/AIDS programs and was proposed by the governor, the Ventura County Star reported June 23.

The legislature's Joint Budget Conference Committee proposed that the cuts—also affecting the state’s Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)—be reduced to $33.5 million instead. Ventura’s Rainbow Alliance serves 350 clients and provides emergency housing, food pantry services, mental health counseling and a case management program—all expected to be dramatically impacted by the cuts.

Meanwhile, on June 18, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation pressured L.A. County health officials to require that condoms be used in the adult film industry or shut down production, in light of a recent report that a number of people at the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIMHF) clinic have tested positive for HIV since 2004. AHF told Frontiers in L.A. that a number of porn stars have contacted them directly to seek help.

Frank Introduces Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana

On June 16, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced legislation—The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009—to decriminalize federal penalties for marijuana possession up to 3.5 ounces and the not-for-profit transfer of 1 ounce. Medical marijuana is used for numerous illnesses, including the nausea associated with cancer and HIV/AIDS (see mpp.org).

Meanwhile, a new study appears to link marijuana smoke to cancer. “Scientists at the University of Leicester have discovered that marijuana (cannabis) smoke alters DNA, the genetic material located in cells of the human body. Some forms of DNA damage can lead to cancer,” WebMD reported June 23.

Vid Pick

Andrew Sullivan has been live-blogging the violent turmoil in Iran, including the cell phone- taped death of a young woman named Neda. tinyurl.com/ltpnr9

The Gloved-One Dies

Singer Michael Jackson, who won 13 Grammys, died suddenly on June 25 at UCLA Medical Center as he was preparing for a series of comeback concerts. He was 50. The self-proclaimed “King of Pop”—known for wearing one glove and “moonwalking”—began a hugely successful career with the Jackson Five, and recorded the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. He was twice married—once to Elvis Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie—and had three children.

Accusations of child molestation—which were never proven and of which he was acquitted in 2005—left him a recluse. Earlier that day another pop culture icon, Farrah Fawcett, died of cancer. She was 62.

Quote - Unquote

"When I couldn't get back to sleep I rolled over and asked [NBC News anchor] Brian Williams what he thought."

—President Obama at the June 19 Radio & TV Correspondents Dinner on the sleepless difficulty of finding fresh jokes.

“Gays Destroy Another Marriage”

—reads the headline at Mike Rogers’ PageOneQ, linking to a story on rawstory.com about GOP South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s admission June 24 that the father of four had an affair with a woman from Argentina.

"Our current healthcare system fails LGBT Americans on many levels."

—Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introducing the Ending Health Disparities for LGBT Americans Act in Congress on June 23, the first comprehensive attempt to establish nondiscrimination policies for all federal health programs.

As of 5:44 a.m., June 9

American Deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan: 5,027 icasualties.org

American Wounded in Iraq: 31,354 antiwar.com/casualties

Iraqi Dead since 2003: 92,393-100,868 iraqbodycount.org

Cost of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars: $871,848,000,000+ costofwar.com

National Debt: $11,411,944,848,510.13 brillig.com/debt_clock

U.S. Trade Deficit: $313,098,000,000+ americaneconomicalert.org/ticker_home.asp