Equally Speaking
The following is a transcript of HRC’s morning news webcast "Equally Speaking." To view the current videos visit the main Equally Speaking page.
Good morning and thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking, your morning dose of GLBT news from the Human Rights Campaign for Wednesday, August 27th. I'm Betsy Pursell.
And I'm Sarah Birnie. First up, an update from the Democratic National Convention.
Tuesday was an important day for the Human Rights Campaign at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. During the day, HRC participated in a luncheon for LGBT delegates hosted by Congressman Barney Frank and the Victory Fund. Last night, Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright, Margaret Cho, and Thelma Houston performed at the HRC Rock to Win event. For up-to-the-minute details on HRC's Denver activities, visit the HRC Back Story blog at HRCBackStory.org.
Senator Ted Kennedy made an appearance at the convention on Monday night, calling on his party's delegates to unify in support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Kennedy, a longtime civil rights champion, also called for LGBT equality. Kennedy traveled to Denver and delivered his powerful remarks despite ill health. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for a brain tumor.
Later today, HRC Back Story lead blogger Chris Johnson will be moderating an HRC-sponsored panel at the convention called "LGBT Issues in 2008: What a Difference Four Years Makes." The panel, which will be webcasted live on HRCBackStory.org, will feature Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, Washington Post editorial board member, Jonathan Capehart, and Arizona State Representative Kyrsten Sinema. To submit questions for the panel, email Christopher.Johnson@hrc.org.
A study released Tuesday shows that legalized same-sex couple relationships appear to be longer-lasting than those without a legal status. The study is the first to examine the experiences of couples in the five years since Vermont legalized civil unions. The study reports that same-sex couples not in civil unions ended 9.3 percent of their relationships, whereas only 3.8 percent of same-sex couples in a civil union ended their relationships.
Another study released Tuesday shows that nearly two-thirds of New York City's same-sex couples live outside of Manhattan, including 92-percent of those raising children. The study, conducted by the Williams Institute, was based on data from Census 2000. It found there are nearly 26,000 same-sex couples in New York City, but that 62-percent live outside of Manhattan.
Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer has filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Terry Goddard over proposed language to describe a referendum banning gay marriage in the state. Brewer says that the description of Proposition 102 on the 2008 ballot should not have to explain that state law already prevents same-sex couples from getting married. Goddard said the analysis of the proposal, which seeks to amend the state Constitution to define marriage as an act between a man and woman, should explain that current law forbids such unions.
That's the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you back here again tomorrow.