Happy Friday! (Sorry for the delay in posting today, I promise the reason is both awesome and understandable. Let’s just put it this way, a cat, a modem cord, an early morning trip to the dentist.) Anyway!
Lots of coo stuff is coming your way this month, Reel Pride starts next week and on the 27th (mark your calendars now) there will be a Health Awareness Event at the Community Center (1055 N Van Ness Ave Suite A) from 9 am to 4pm. Come by beforehand to check out our awesome new digs! But just in case you can’t wait, this Saturday night is the Taste of River Park event with wine tasting, fashion shows, and yummy food. Or you know, you could stay at home and watch the new Dr. Who. Or head to the Starline for a live show by Olivia May. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, you must first be edified with a few news and notes from the past week!
Glee favorite and Wicked star Kristin Chenoweth spoke out this week about being both a Christian and a gay rights supporter.
Maryland’s governor Martin O’Malley (D) has promised his support to a gay marriage bill if it gets to his desk.
Another reason (as if you needed it) to hate the proposed North Carolina anti- gay marriage bill.
Prop 8 Update: As you might have heard the current issue in front of the CA Supreme Court is whether or not supporters of Prop 8 have the right to argue for it (since our governor and our attorney general both declined to support the bi). Arguments were heard on Tuesday in which supporters of Prop 8 argued that they, regular people not publically elected people, should have the right to do so… in this case only. If the Supreme Court agrees with them, a new trial will begin. If the Supreme Court finds that they don’t have the right, the case will be dismissed meaning that Judge Walker’s overturn of Prop 8 wil stand, ie, gay marriage will be legal again here in CA. The Court has 90 days to rule. We will keep you posted.
A campaign to legalize gay marriage in Maine has gathered more than 25,000 signatures in only 3 weeks.
Some more good news from the Obama Administration: The Department of Health & Human Services on Wednesday unveiled a new policy to enhance hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples
The fight for gay men to be allowed to donate blood in the UK just took a small step in the right direction. Instead of being barred for life, the new policy says that gay men can donate as long as they haven’t had gay sex in a year. (Go ahead, raise your eyebrows, but the local GBT groups are calling this a move in the right direction, even if it is a small one.)
A new study says that the distinctive health issues faced by the LGBT community are not given enough attention in medical school curriculums.
In Scotland, a soldier has been the first to be convicted for “transgender prejudice.”
In Texas a college professor is suing the school that didn’t allow her to interview for a full time position because she is gay.
So there you have it, a bit of a mixed bag this week as always.
And lastly, something too good (?) to pass up…. Schweddy Balls. This new flavor of ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s pays homage to an old SNL skit with Alec Baldwin and is vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and loaded with fudge-covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls. I… really can’t add anything to that. Click here for more details and a video of the original skit.
That’s all for me… have a fun, and safe, weekend!
