Articles in Sara’s News
Sara’s News Roundup 12/22/10
Sara’s News Roundup 12/5/10
Juneau extends senior citizen sales tax exemption to same-sex domestic partners
Sara Boesser writes from Juneau.
A wonderful thing happened in Juneau, Alaska, last night.
It brought to my mind the famous 1969 poster, “What if they gave a war and nobody came?”
What happened is, for the first time in Juneau history, a GLBT-positive ordinance came up for hearing,…and with no discussion by Assembly members, it passed unanimously. It will become law in 30 days.
Willie Anderson of PFLAG was the only one to speak — for the ordinance. Willie, myself, my parents, and two plaintiffs for the 2005 Alaska state G/L benefits lawsuit (Maureen Longworth and Lin Davis) were in the audience. But we didn’t speak.
Can you believe it?! It was exactly 20 years ago I and many of you spoke for the first time before our assembly seeking an equal rights ordinance. And that was a roaring controversy, with multiple meetings hours long for people on both sides to pound away. And we didn’t win then. We compromised, for a tiny step forward instead.
But now…20 years later…we didn’t even have to speak. But I could feel all of us, all of you, all of our energy of years past, in the room.
Thank you all, so much, for everything you’ve done — we’ve done — together.
We have moved mountains to get to this point. And oh — how sweet it is!
Sara referred to a story in today’s Juneau Empire, “City extends senior citizen sales tax exemption to same sex couples” by Sarah Day. The story begins:
The senior citizen sales tax exemption will now apply to same-sex domestic partners, allowing the city code to comply with the Alaska Constitution.
The city code previously allowed those 65 and older an exemption on city sales tax. Their spouse, regardless of age, could also receive the exemption. The wording in this code excluded same-sex domestic partners, which is unconstitutional. While same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Alaska, a 2005 state Supreme Court ruling stated Alaska’s Constitution prohibits excluding a specific group of people from benefits like this.
So the city had two options – include same-sex domestic partners or cancel the sales tax exemption for all seniors.
Congratulations, Juneau!
Sara’s News Roundup 11/28/10
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) World AIDS Day [Dec. 1, 2010] theme: Universal Access and Human Rights
Avert.org
2) Listen: Gay Grandma Tells Love Story
Los Angeles, Advocate, November 25, 2010
3) Lesbian cadet who quit seeks return to West Point
Findlay, Ohio, Associated Press, November 26, 2010
4) German Zoo Attempts to Re-Orient Gay Vultures
Germany, Time, November 26, 2010
5) A journey for her peers
Houston, Houston Chronicle, November 19, 2010
6) The kids are all right? Not according to the lesbian lobby
The Independent, November 23, 2010
7) High Suicide Risk, Prejudice Plague Transgender People
Live Science, November 19, 2010
8) Marines most resistant to openly gay troops
Oceanside, Calif., Associated Press, November 27, 2010
9) Dawn of the flexisexual: The new word for the women who refuse to play it straight
Daily Mail, November 27, 2010
10) TSA Screening Reveals Transgender People’s Experiences for All of Us
Huffington Post, November 24, 2010
11) Thank God I’m Gay
South Florida Gay News, November 23, 2010
12) Going Legal in Russia ~ St. Petersburg holds first sanctioned gay pride demo
St. Petersburg, Russia, Gay City News, November 24, 2010
13) F to M trans anchor says “It get’s better”
Denver, Colorado, 9News
14) Kimpton most visible hotel group among gay, lesbian travelers
USA Today, November 26, 2010
Sara’s News Roundup 11/22/10
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Poll: Gay People Coming Out Earlier
U.K., Advocate, November 15, 2010
2) TRANS-POSITIONED
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, FORGE, Revised: 08/20/02
3) Lesbian family film “Kids” elbows into Oscar race
New York, Reuters, November 17, 2010
4) Acceptance of GW transgender basketball player a good life lesson
Sports Illustrated, November 16, 2010
5) Retired O-5 films lives of gay academy grads
Navy Times, November 22, 2010
6) Mormons Soften Language On Gays
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Tribune, November 13, 2010
7) Theologian says much of clergy is gay
Germany, Irish Times, November 22, 2010
8) Poll: Australians for Marriage Equality
Australia, Advocate, November 21, 2010
9) Transgender Candidate Wins Judicial Race
California, Advocate, November 16, 2010
10) Study: Source of Golden Rule reminder affects Christian attitudes about gay, lesbian people
Charlottesville, Virginia, Newsleader.com, October 26, 2010
11) Catholic school paper deletes student editorials on Catholic DVD, gay teens
St. Louis Park, Minn., Minnesota Public Radio, November 16, 2010
12) Navajo transgender shares story
New Mexico, Daily Lobo, November 16, 2010
13) Gates to release ‘don’t ask’ report to enable Senate hearings
Washington, Washington Post, November 22, 2010
Sara’s News Roundup 11/14/10
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Frank: ‘Zero chance’ for LGBT bills next year
Washington, Washington Blade, November 8, 2010
2) Sources: Pentagon group finds there is minimal risk to lifting gay ban during war
Washington, D.C., Washington Post, November 11, 2010
3) Coming to grips with an intersex adventure
Brisbane, Australia, Brisbane Times, November 3, 2010
4) My Take: Let’s aim for respect in post-election America
CNN, November 9, 2010
5) Fox Files: Transgender Youth
Kirkwood, MO, Fox2now.cm, November 9, 2010
6) Study: Lesbian Moms Don’t Abuse Kids
Advocate, November 10, 2010
7) An Interview with Charles Robbins, CEO of The Trevor Project
JohnShore.com, September 28, 2010
8) About 12 percent of students identify as gay or bisexual
Providence, Rhode Island, Brown Daily Herald, November 12, 2010
9) Catherine Ryan Hyde’s latest novel deals with transgender issues
San Luis Obispo, Tribune, November 8, 2010
10) Hawaii positioned to pass same-sex civil unions
Honolulu, Hawaii, Washington Post, November 6, 2010
11) Kye Allums and transgender athletes can have surgery and play in NCAA
OutSports.com, November 9, 2010
2) Gay bishop says he is not retiring, just resigning post
Los Angeles, McClatchy-Tribune , November 9, 2010
13) ACLU challenging half-pay for discharged gays
Albuquerque, N.M., 365Gay.com, November 12, 2010
14) Straight spouses advocate same-sex marriage
San Francisco, USA Today, September 14, 2009
15) When your partner comes out as Transsexual
Lesbian Life
16) Express Yourself: A Major New Showcase Of Gay Portraiture
Washington, NPR, November 2010
Sara’s News Roundup 11/7/10
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Democratic Senator pledges to block vote on gay marriage in Iowa
Iowa, 365Gay.com, November 4, 2010
2) Nepal’s First Openly Gay Travel Company Launches on Religious Holiday
Nepal, Fast Company, November 2010.
3) Iowa Judges Sacked Over Gay Marriage Ruling
Des Moines, Iowa, Huffington Post, November 3, 2010
4) Transgender George Washington player a fascinating, inspiring story
Washington, D.C., Rivals.com, November 3, 2010
5) Osmond Talks Teen Suicide on Oprah
Advocate, November 3, 2010
6) Trans Fit
Dallas, Texas, Dallas Voice, 28 October 28, 2010
7) Exit poll: Nearly a third of gays voted for GOP
Yahoo News, November 4, 2010
8) Russian Orthodox Church Pans Parade Decision
Russia, Advocate, November 3, 2010
9) Corvino: Gay is not “unnatural”
365gay.com, November 5, 2010
10) November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance
UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, November 2010
11) When will it get better?
NCR Today, October 28, 2010
12) Ill. Elects Gay-Friendly Gov.
Illinois, Advocate, November 5, 2010
13) African American gay man wins election to N.C. House
Greensboro/High Point, N.C., Gay Politics, November 2, 2010
14) Cicilline victory gives Congress 4th gay member
Washington, Washington Blade, November 3, 2010
15) Election results put LGBT advocates back on defense
Washington, Washington Blade, November 3, 2010
16) Robinson will step down as bishop of N.H. in 2013
Concord, N.H., Boston Globe, November 7, 2010
17) Gates urges Congress to repeal gay ban now
Melbourne, Australia , Associated Press, November 7, 2010
Sara’s News Roundup 10/31/10
Sara’s News Roundup 10/24/10
Sara’s News Roundup 10/17/10
