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Sara Boesser, writer of the weekly News Roundup, and Lauren Tibbitts, leader of the JDHS Gay Straight Alliance, were interviewed on “Call Dr. E” on KTOO radio earlier this week. If you missed the live show, you can listen to “Being LGBT in Juneau” in the KTOO archive HERE.

The show should be very interesting: I’m just having my 40th high school reunion this weekend. The other guest, Lauren Tibbitts, just graduated this summer from the same Juneau high school I attended. I realized I was a lesbian while attending my high school; Lauren realized she was bisexual in the same high school 40 years later. The show will be reflections on some of the differences 40 years can make in the same town being a GLBT teenager.

Thanks to Sara and Lauren for sharing their perspectives as LGBT women in southeast Alaska, and to Dr. Elaine Schroeder for moderating the show.

The return of Sara’s NEWS Roundup (7/5/10)

Monday, 5 July 2010 – 10:44 PM | Comments Off

Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) Court: Christian group can’t bar gays, get funding

Washington, Associated Press, June 28, 2010

2) British soap opera to include transgender character

U.K., 365Gay.com, July 3, 2010

3) Leviticus Loses: The Inevitability of Equal Rights for Homosexuals

Huffington Post, April 30, 2010

4) Balancing on the Mechitzah: Transgender in Jewish Community

Yes! Coalition, June 2, 2010

5) Iceland’s PM marries female partner

Iceland, Press Association, June 28, 2010

6) Tying the Knot After Six Decades

Washington, Advocate, June 25, 2010

7) Billie Jean King appointed to President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Washington, 365Gay.com, June 24, 2010

8) Understanding the “Reason” Why Fundamentalists Must Exclude Gays (and Other “Sinners”)

Huffington Post, June 28, 2010

9) Tobacco use high in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community

Salt Lake City, Deseret News, June 30, 2010

10) Caster Semenya in limbo after press conference is cancelled

South Africa, Times UK, June 11, 2010

11) Sweden Named Most Pro-Gay European Country

Sweden, Just Out, June 1, 2010

12) Lesbian teen bounced from prom goes on to meet president

Washington, Yahoo News, June 22, 2010

Sara’s News Roundup 5/30/10

Sunday, 30 May 2010 – 1:49 PM | Comments Off

I was on vacation over the holiday weekend, so I’m a few days late posting Sara’s NEWS and a special message about her vacation for the month of June. Have a great time, Sara, and I look forward to your return in July!

——

Hello Readers,

I’m writing to let you know I’ll be away from my trusty computer for a month starting tomorrow. I’ll still be able to receive emails, but won’t be in News-send mode.

As a result, my NEWS will pause until I return. My next NEWS will be either July 4th or July 11th.

In the meantime, let’s hope DADT passes the Senate, that California allows same-sex marriage (again!), and that ENDA passes for all of us: gay, lesbian, bi, and trans alike.

. . . Well — a gal can dream, can’t she? :-)

Until then, I wish you all a very good month of June,

Sara

###

Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) Get over gay fear, U.S. allies advise

Washington, Politico, May 26, 2010

2) CNN Poll: Nearly 8 in 10 favor gays in the military

Washington, CNN, May 25, 2010

3) Malawi president pardons gay couple after UN pressure

Malawi, Africa, Telegraph, May 29, 2010

4) Corvino: What about asexuality?

365Gay.com, May 28, 2010

5) Transgender rights advocates see a gradual series of victories

Reporting from Washington, LA Times, May 26, 2010

6) ‘Gaydar’ may actually exist: study shows gay people to be more detail-oriented, discerning

New York, NY Daily News, May 28, 2010

7) Cameras nixed at closing of gay marriage trial

San Francisco, California, 365Gay, May 25, 2010

8) Lesbian Pastor in Mpls Church Recognized

Minneapolis, Fox9.com, May 23, 2010

9) Anglican head reprimands US Church over lesbian bishop

U.K., Christian Today, May 29, 2010

10) Ann Woolner: High court needs a homosexual

Madison, Wisconsin, Cap Times, May 25, 2010

11) ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ affects women, minorities more

Washington, USA Today, May 28, 2010

12) Top backers of gay/transgender nondiscrimination bill push for a vote

Washington, Washington Post, May 15, 2010

13) Calif.: Clergy Can Perform, Deny Any Wedding

California, Advocate, May 28, 2010

14) Indonesian in transgender wedding ‘fraud’ trial

Indonesia, BBC News, May 17, 2010

15) QueerShidduch: A Matchmaking Service for Religious LGBT Jews

QueerShidduch, May 4, 2010

16) New Teaching Tolerance Film to Address Anti-Gay Bullying in Schools

Southern Poverty Law Center, May 21, 2010

17) This Land Is Your Land

Advocate, June 2010

Sara’s News Roundup 5/23/10

Sunday, 23 May 2010 – 10:03 AM | Comments Off

Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) Portugal’s president ratifies gay marriage law

Lisbon, Portugal, Associated Press, May 18, 2010

2) Quest for gender change faces legal hurdle

Fort Wayne, Indiana, News Sentinel, May 22, 2010

3) Gutierrez wants same-sex partner rights in immigration reform bill

Washington, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2010

4) Excellent Blog on Elena Kagan and the “Lesbian Panic”

Geneva, New York, San Francisco Chronicle, May 13, 2010

5) HIV among gay, bisexual men at alarming highs in Asia

Asia, Reuters, May 17, 2010

6) Pitts: ‘Healing’ homosexuality is a betrayal

Athens, Georgia, Athens Banner-Herald, May 17, 2010

7) Gay couple sentenced to maximum 14 years in Malawi

Blantyre, Malawi, Africa, Denver Post, May 21, 2010

8) New Zealand’s singing, yodelling, lesbian twins star in hit doc

New Zealand, The Star, May 22, 2010

Sara’s News Round-up 5/16/10

Sunday, 16 May 2010 – 8:13 PM | Comments Off

Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) Gay activists applaud Kagan – tepidly

Washington, 365Gay.com, May 10, 2010

2) Vets lobby Congress for repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

Washington, CNN Political Ticker, May 12th, 2010

3) Katie Melua confused by sexuality

3News.com, May 11, 2010

4) Transgender Rabbinical Students Finding Equality in the Jewish World

Los Angeles, Jewish Journal, May 11, 2010

5) Cardinal attacks former Vatican No. 2 on sex scandals

Vienna, Austria, 365Gay.com, May 10, 2010

6) College Team Teaches a Lesson in Acceptance

Oneonta College, New York, New York Times, May 5, 2010

7) Gay Hotel Chain Set to Launch

New York, Advocate, May 1, 2010

8) American Eagle Agrees to Rewrite Transgender Employee Policies

New York, NBC, May 12, 2010

9) Chely Wright, Acclaimed Country Singer, Comes Out as Lesbian

Los Angeles, Mog.com, May 5, 2010

10) Laura Bush, ‘where were you when we needed you?’

Washington Post, May 13, 2010

11) Transgendered Child: Born a boy, living as a girl

Vail, Colorado, KVOA.com, May 12, 2010

12) Smooth Transition for Military Gays in U.S. Allies

Washington, Advocate, May 14, 2010

13) LGBT Caucus Joins Alaska Democratic Party

Anchorage, Alaska, BentAlaska.com, May 2010

14) White House: Kagan ‘Volunteered’ Info On Sexuality Before SCOTUS Nomination

Washington, Huffington Post, May 14, 2010

15) Photo of Kagan playing softball strikes out with gays

Washington, 35Gay.com, May 14, 2010

16) US Anglican church ordains lesbian bishop

Los Angeles, AFP, May 15, 2010

17) Cubans march against homophobia

Havana, Cuba, Boston Globe, May 15, 2010

Sara’s News Round-up 5/9/10

Sunday, 9 May 2010 – 5:54 PM | Comments Off

A selection of LGBT news from Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) Young Gay Man Voted Mayor in Calif.

Campbell, Calif., Advocate, December 2, 2009

2) Wisc.: Trans Prisoners Can Receive Treatment

Wisconsin, Advocate, April 1, 2010

3) MLB Players Polled on Gay Teammate

Advocate, May 9, 2010

4) MA Governor Signs Anti-Bullying Law

Massachusetts, School Library Journal,05/05/2010

5) AG Paid $60,000 to Anti-Gay Activist Who Hired Male Prostitute

Miami, Florida, NBC Miami, May 7, 2010

6) Christians: When It Comes to Homosexuality, Man Up

JohnShore.com, March 13, 2010

7) Lesbian set to become Ohio’s first out state lawmaker

Ohio, GayPolitics.org, May 4, 2010

8) Lesbian Catholic school teacher banned from classroom

Canada, 365Gay.com, May2, 2010

9) George Rekers’ ‘rent boy’ escort scandal

The Week, May 5, 2010

10) Archbishop Calls Children “Spontaneously Homosexual”

Brazil, Advocate, May 6, 2010

11) Oakland lifts century-old ban on cross-dressing

Oakland, Calif., Mercury News, May 5, 2010

12) Duo didn’t wed, but they did divorce

Salt Lake City, Utah, Deseret News, May 7, 2010

Truman’s grandson on Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell & desegregation

Friday, 7 May 2010 – 12:36 PM | Comments Off

President Harry Truman desegregated the U.S. military in 1948. The anniversary of his birthday is tomorrow. In today’s “Frontlines” letter, Truman’s grandson Clifton Truman Daniel remembers his grandfather’s decision and asks President Obama to follow that example to end Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell, the military’s ban on open gay and lesbian service members.