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 LGBT news from the Human Rights Campaign for Thursday, August 28th. I’m David Paul.
And I’m Candace Gingrich. First up, sad news from California.
Longtime LGBT rights activist Del Martin has passed away. HRC President Joe Solmonese issued a statement yesterday, saying her death is a great loss to the entire LGBT community, but that her life is an inspiration. In June, Martin and her partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, became the first same-sex couple to marry in California. HRC sends its deepest sympathies to Phyllis and the rest of Del’s family.
On Tuesday, Michelle Obama addressed a large group of LGBT delegates and leaders, including Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Barney Frank, and HRC President Joe Solmonese. During her speech, she called for LGBT inclusion in hate crimes bills, an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the repeal of the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. This year, there are almost 300 openly gay delegates at the convention.
In other exciting convention news, HRC Back Story lead blogger Chris Johnson moderated an HRC-sponsored panel yesterday called "LGBT Issues in 2008: What a Difference Four Years Makes." The panel featured Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, Washington Post editorial board member Jonathan Capehart, and Arizona State Representative Kyrsten Sinema. If you missed the live webcast, visit HRCBackStory.org to watch the recorded video.
Tuesday night, musicians Melissa Ethridge, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright, and Thelma Houston rocked Denver at HRC’s “Rock to Win” concert. The concert was a DNCC premiere event held to benefit HRC and celebrate LGBT equality at the convention. "Rock to Win" also honored the creators and cast of Milk, the much anticipated film about slain LGBT civil rights hero, San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk.
The Massachusetts Family Institute announced it will not participate in a petition drive to block out-of-state, gay and lesbian couples from being married in Massachusetts. The group’s president said that they could not win on this issue because thousands of marriages will have taken place before the proposed ballot question could go to voters in November 2010. MassResistance, the group organizing the petition drive, must collect more than 33,000 signatures from registered voters by October 29th to put it on the ballot.
The death of a gay man who was shot last month by San Diego Harbor Police during a gay pride-related event has been ruled a homicide. According to the county coroner’s final report, Steven Paul Hirschfield was not involved in a brawl with police officers prior to being shot, contrary to previous reports. Hirchfield’s family has filed two claims seeking 20 million dollars from the San Diego Harbor Police.
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 morning.