by Peter DelVecchio

Clinton to review State Dept. LGBT policies

Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton testified at her Senate confirmation hearing Jan. 13 that she would review department regulations that deny same-sex domestic partners of LGBT employees benefits available to spouses, towleroad.com reports.

Responding to questioning by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), Clinton said, “[M]y understanding is that other nations have moved to extend that partnership benefit. And we will come back to you to inform you of decisions we make going forward.”

Under current law, unlike married spouses, the partners of LGBT personnel receive no assistance when they accompany their employee-partners to mandatory overseas postings. Gay partners are also denied access to affordable health insurance and relocation resources.

Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA), the State Department “employee affinity” group, praised Clinton’s testimony and plans to present her with a letter signed by more than 2,000 current and former employees of the State Department and other foreign affairs agencies requesting fairness for LGBT personnel. Gays and lesbians serve overseas “in some of the most dangerous locations, but continue to be denied equal treatment for their families,” said GLIFAA President Michelle Schohn.

Michigan city repeals LGBT ordinance

The City Commission of Kalamazoo, Mich., voted Jan. 12 to repeal a new anti-LGBT-discrimination ordinance that had sparked discord in the city, the Kalamazoo Gazette reports. The measure expanded an existing ordinance prohibiting real estate discrimination to include discrimination in employment and public accommodations, and also required companies doing business with the city to prove they have their own gender-identity discrimination policies.

Individual commissioners said the repeal would afford the city a cooling-off period and permit the opposing sides to try to negotiate a compromise. Mayor Bobby Hopewell expects a new ordinance to be enacted, saying, “My intention is that we will have an ordinance that will provide protections to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals.”

Marriage bill imminent in Maine

Maine state Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Hancock County) announced Jan. 13 he will sponsor a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in that state, the Ellsworth American newspaper reports.

“It is time to fully end discrimination in Maine,” Damon said. “It is especially important that the children of same-sex couples … be secure in the knowledge that their parents are married, just like anyone else.”

Damon’s bill would include a gender-neutral marriage definition, recognize other states’ marriages and protect religious groups’ right to define marriage for themselves.

Maine Republicans are drafting a measure to amend the state’s constitution to forbid same-sex marriage.

Democratic Gov. John Baldacci supports civil unions, but has opposed gay marriage in the past. As for Damon’s bill, Baldacci acknowledged gays “still face discrimination,” adding, “I will consider what I hear as the Legislature works to find the best way to address discrimination.”

Financial difficulty for Log Cabin Republicans

The gay Republican group Log Cabin Republicans ended 2008 at least $100,000 in debt, the Washington Blade reported Jan. 9 The organization’s president, Patrick Sammon, attributed the shortfall to lower-than-expected 2008 donations.

“Really what we anticipated was that 2008 would be a better year fundraising-wise based on what we’ve seen in other presidential election years,” Sammon said. “We just didn’t see the fundraising materialize the way that we expected.” The group was widely criticized in the LGBT community for its decision to endorse the McCain/Palin presidential ticket.

Sammon also pointed to the general economic downturn as part of the problem. “It think we’re in a place that’s similar to other organizations,” he said, adding that the group’s 2009 budget will be 35-45 percent less than last year’s.

Sean Kennedy’s killer up for parole

Stephen Moller, sentenced in June 2007 to three years in the South Carolina slaying of openly gay 17-year-old Sean Kennedy, could be released on parole in February, boxturtlebulletin.com reported Jan. 5.

Moller approached Kennedy as Kennedy exited a bar in 2007, called him “faggot” and punched him in the face. Kennedy died of a brain injury suffered when he hit the pavement. Moller left a voice message on Kennedy’s friend’s cell phone after the attack saying, “You tell your faggot friend when he wakes up he owes me $500 for my broken hand.”

Kennedy’s mother is urging people to write authorities demanding Moller not be paroled, at Dept. of Probation and Parole Services, 2221 Devine St., Suite 600, P.O. Box 50666, Columbia, SC 29250. Letters must include Moller’s full name and ID: Stephen Andrew Moller—SCDC ID # 00328891.

Unquote - Quote

“At last … Luke and Noah consummate their love.”

—Los Angeles Daily News columnist Greg Hernandez in a blog post about As the World Turns’ gay couple making love after more than a year together.

“Come and touch it, Dave.”

—Come-on line attributed to New York Knicks center and married father Eddy Curry in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Curry’s former limo driver, as reported in the New York Post.