Articles in News
Mel Green going to Netroots Nation
Mel the reluctant political blogger is going to Netroots Nation after all — on full scholarship through the LGBT Netroots Connect initiative. Wanna know what she said on her scholarship application? Then read this post.
Bent News, 5/24/11: Joplin tornado, Tennessee followup, DADT, and more
The Joplin tornado, follow-up on the latest antigay law in Tennessee, news on anti-LGBT violence, employment and marriage equality, media, and more in today’s Bent News.
WikiLeaks suspect Pfc Bradley Manning: Gay soldier frustrated with DADT & Prop 8
In advance of its broadcast tonight of the documentary WikiSecrets about the leak last spring of over a half-million classified documents on WikiLeaks, Frontline has an exhaustive archive of the Facebook postings of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the gay soldier allegedly behind the leaks.
Bent News, 5/23/11: Tennessee governor signs another antigay measure into law
A new Tennessee law bars local governments from passing nondiscrimination policies stricter than those in force at state level. That, and other LGBTQ news of the day.
Alaska students awarded $2,500 in scholarships from Pride Foundation
Two Alaska students, Kara Carlson of Fairbanks and Colleen McNulty of Anchorage, have been awarded $2,500 in scholarships from Pride Foundation, according to a press release from Tiffany McLain, the foundation’s regional development organizer for Alaska.
Wasilla High School & LGBT youth: A more complex picture
Last week we wrote about the “Bohemian Rhapsody” controversy at Wasilla High School and the wider picture for LGBT youth in Mat-Su schools. Since then, we’ve learned that things might be better for LGBT students at Wasilla High School than our story portrayed.
Sara’s News Roundup 5/15/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Virginians are almost evenly split on gay marriage, Post poll finds
Virginia, Washington Post, May 6, 2011
2) Marriage equality film comes to Harlem
Harlem, New York, Pam’s House Blend, May 5, 2011
3) Female-to-male transsexual people have more autistic traits
University of Cambridge, Mass., May 5, 2011
4) Brazil’s Supreme Court approves civil unions for gay couples
Brazil, Pink News, May 6, 2011
5) Brazilian volleyball player says he is gay after enduring homophobic taunts
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Associated Press, May 6, 2011
6) Phoenix gay dads adopt, raise 12 happy kids
Arizona, Arizona Republic, May 2, 2011
7) More companies covering transgender surgery ~ Advocates want corporate America to see sex reassignment as AMA does
MSNBC, February 21, 2011
8) Inclusive Message for Mother’s Day
Advocate, May 7, 2011
9) Betty White Reflects on Gay Following
Advocate, May 0, 2011
10) NCLR honors George Washington University transgender student athlete
San Francisco, Metro Weekly, March 16, 2011
11) Justice Dept. to Continue Policy Against Same-Sex Marriage
Washington, New York Times, May 8, 2011
12) More cancer among gay men, California study finds
California, CNN, May 9, 2011
13) Air Force lesbian who won reinstatement retiring
Seattle, Associated Press, May 10, 2011
14) LGBT Elders Raise Serious Fears About Long Term Care Facilities
Washington, Red Wire, April 5, 2011
15) Gay marriage bill introduced in NY State Assembly
New York, 365Gay.com, May 10, 2011
16) Larry King for N.Y. Marriage Equality
New York, Advocate, May 12, 2011
Bohemian Rhapsody “too gay” for Wasilla? — Beyond the snark, bad situation for gay kids in Mat-Su schools
Beyond the headline-catching absurdity of the short-lived Wasilla High School ban on “Bohemian Rhapsody,” there’s a more serious reality for LGBT students in the Mat-Su — one which hasn’t gained so much media attention.
Motion filed in Schmidt v. Alaska
A lawsuit by three same-sex couples against Alaska’s biased property tax rules progressed to the next step on Wednesday.
The national ACLU and the ACLU of Alaska filed a motion for summary judgment in Schmidt v. Alaska, a lawsuit challenging the state’s tax-assessment rules. The tax rules discriminate against same-sex couples by denying them equal access to a property tax exemption for senior citizens and disabled veterans.
Those who qualify and who live with same-sex partners are only permitted, at most, half of the exemption available to opposite-sex married couples because they are treated as roommates rather than as families.
Each of the three couples are denied full access to a $150,000 property tax exemption available to opposite-sex married couples. The couples are asking that the Alaska Superior Court declare this discriminatory law to be unconstitutional.
“Denying gay seniors and disabled veterans the tax protection for their family homes afforded to heterosexuals serves no purpose other than to treat same-sex couples like second-class citizens,” said Tom Stenson, Legal Director of the ACLU of Alaska. “People should not have to pay a higher tax simply for being lesbian or gay.”
The three couples challenging the unfair gay tax are described HERE, in Bent’s first post on the Schmidt v. Alaska lawsuit that was filed last year.
