New York: After six months of trying, Albany County legislator John Frederick withdrew a proposal to amend county law discrimination protections to include the transgendered. The measure failed to garner support. ‡‡
California: Some Californians are opting out of the domestic partnership registry they signed up for because it seems to offer the obligations of marriage without the benefits. Ora Prohovnick says, "We're the only people in the world who have community property but no marriage, and none of us has a clue about what it's going to mean." ‡‡
USA: Gay leaders from around the country signed a letter protesting USA Next's campaign that said the AARP was for same-sex marriage. Like it's a bad thing, but we digress. They sent it to PhRMA, USA Next's big funder. ‡‡
Kentucky: Remember Boyd County, Kentucky, and the Gay-Straight Alliance fuss? Well, there's mandatory diversity training including gay issues as a result and some parents have sued saying their kid's budding homophobia is being stifled. ‡‡
Ontario: After two years of harassment, Lesley Morgan has left the auto plant where she'd been working when she made the transition to female. "They just don't like the fact that I was once a male." Siemens VDO Management wouldn't let her use the women's restroom and the one they gave her was repeatedly vandalized. Oh, and someone called her home telling her: "Freaks go away, or you'll need your health benefits." ‡‡
Utah: Utah State University's attorney says Amendment 3 likely prohibits extending the school's medical benefits to same-sex partners. Amendment 3 goes as far as saying no other domestic union may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equal legal effect. We say, health benefits are just a drop in the bucket. ‡‡
Maine: A bill adding protections for gays and lesbians to the state Human Rights Act just received a strong 25-10 vote of approval in the state Senate. The bill faces further House and Senate votes before going to Governor John Baldacci, who submitted the legislation. ‡‡
Georgia: The Georgia Supreme Court has refused to let lawmakers go to court to defend Georgia's constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, potentially signaling that a decision in the case challenging it is near. ‡‡
Zimbabwe gay group wins court victory, but mob attacks exhibit
Gays and lesbians staffing a booth at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair on Monday had to make a run for it after they were attacked by a shouting mob. At least three members of the Gays and Lesbian Association were physically attacked. Being gay is illegal in Zimbabwe, but a court order cleared the way for the group to participate in the book fair. Reports say the government was appalled at the High Court ruling which effectively recognized gay rights. President Robert Mugabe famously described gay people "as worse than dogs and pigs." Former President Canaan Banana was driven out of office after a sensational sodomy trial. newzimbabwe.com
