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 Friday, September 5th. I’m Betsy Pursell.
And I’m Brad Mayer. First up, news from HRC.
HRC is hosting Camp Equality, a campaign training program, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Crystal City, Virginia, this weekend. Camp Equality is a nationwide training event that aims to mobilize LGBT voters in order to elect fair-minded candidates and defeat discriminatory ballot measures. To register for this weekend or to check out other dates in your area, visit HRC.org/campequality.
The creator and executive producer of Showtime’s "The L Word" has signed to write and produce a pilot for a spin-off series. Leisha Hailey, who plays Alice in the series, is set to star in the spin-off. The sixth and final season of the L Word is slated to run in January.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein recently unveiled a new initiative designed to reduce bias-based bullying and harassment in public schools. The regulations require school administrators to track incidents, conduct prompt investigations of complaints, and to advertise these new standards through posters and pamphlets. Mayor Bloomberg said these regulations have the ability to help further reduce the number of bias-based bullying and harassment inside New York City classrooms.
France’s human rights minister announced Wednesday that the country is calling for the European Union and the United Nations to take action against homophobia and violence against women worldwide. France plans to submit a draft declaration to the UN General Assembly in December aimed at fighting homophobia and decriminalizing homosexuality, which is punishable by prison in 90 countries. They are also aiming to set standards for EU intervention in cases of violence towards women.
In other international news, the Australian government introduced legislation in Parliament yesterday to grant a number of rights to gay and lesbian couples. The Same-Sex Entitlements Bill would remove discrimination against gay and lesbian couples in areas such as immigration, taxation, veterans’ pensions and elderly care. Parliament said it has no intention of repealing a law banning marriage for same-sex couples.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
We’ll be showcasing HRC’s great line of clothing every Friday here on Equally Speaking. Every purchase you make at HRC.org/shop goes toward the important work of the Human Rights Campaign. Thanks for watching, have a good weekend.