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, October 23rd. I’m Margot Rosen.
And I’m Brad Mayer. First up, news from HRC.
The HRC Foundation is teaming up with the Trust for the National Historic Preservation to market Gifts of Heritage, a charitable program that accepts donations of architecturally or historically significant homes and then sells them to preservation minded buyers. The Gift of Heritage program allows donors who have an interest in supporting advancement of the LGBT community and historic preservation an opportunity to support both national institutions. Proceeds from any sales will benefit both HRC and the Trust equally.
In California, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has mobilized followers to give an estimated 77 percent of all donations to the campaign to pass Proposition 8, which would end marriage equality in the state. Figures released earlier this week by Californians Against Hate show that Mormon families have contributed more than 17 million dollars to support Proposition 8 since August. It was also reported that Mormons have contributed nearly 7 million dollars to pass Proposition 102, a similar ballot measure in Arizona.
Hollywood showed its support for marriage equality Tuesday night, raising 3.9 million dollars at a gala fundraiser hosted by Ron Burkle for the No on Prop 8 campaign. The sold out event featured performances by musicians Melissa Ethridge and Mary J. Blige. Members of the event’s host committee include producer Bruce Cohen, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, and Steven Spielberg and wife Kate Capshaw. Several guests made 25,000 dollar donations, including actor David Hyde Pierce.
Opponents and supporters of Proposition 8 held competing events at historically black churches in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles this week in an effort to sway churchgoing African Americans. The Reverend Roland Stringfellow, a former Baptist minister who came out as gay and is now a member of the United Church of Christ, spoke at a No on 8 gathering on Tuesday. A survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that those attending historically black churches are far more accepting of the LGBT community than white evangelicals or Mormons.
A senior at a Florida high school has been honored by the Playboy Foundation with the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award after fighting for the rights of her LGBT peers. Heather Gillman won a First Amendment case against her high school after her principal suspended students for showing support for LGBT rights. Gillman traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to receive the award and a 10,000 dollar cash prize.
The 14-year old boy accused of killing openly gay teen Lawrence King has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial. Brandon McInerney is charged with murder as a hate crime and will be tried in adult court. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 51 years to life.
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.