Equally Speaking
Equally Speaking
Friday, May 25, 2007
First up on HRC's daily webcast, a new study details Americans’ familiarity with GLBT people. The study by the Pew Research Center says that 41 percent of Americans have a close friend of family member who is gay or lesbian. It also emphasized a point we have known for a long time: straight Americans who know GLBT people are more likely to support GLBT equality.
A gay couple is California has won a case against Adoptions.com after the website barred them from posting a profile as prospective adoptive parents. The company, based in Arizona, says they believe children are best raised by married opposite sex-couples – a position opposite of mainstream professional opinion. A settlement announced this week stipulates that if the company continues to bar same-sex couples, they cannot post profiles of any California couples because it will violate state non-discrimination laws.
A recent attack against a gay Montana man may have been hate-motivated. Earlier this month Stephenpaul Richey was beaten by two men inside his apartment and left to die. He says they yelled anti-gay epithets during the attack and the local police say they are investigating whether bias was the motivation for the crime. Montana has a hate crimes law but it does not include sexual orientation or gender identity.
In more positive news, an openly gay man has been appointed by Oklahoma’s governor to a high-level post. Jim Roth will serve as one of three members of the agency that regulates state utility companies. Also this week, the United Kingdom got its first transgender mayor. Jenny Bailey was elected by the Cambridge City Council to lead the English city.
Another bit of British news: a new poll shows citizens overwhelmingly support new GLBT non-discrimination laws. Eighty-five percent of people say they support the law that went into effect last month that bans discrimination in employment, accommodations and adoption. Further, a majority of people say more should be done to promote GLBT equality.
Finally, as you’re making your way back from the beach on Monday, don’t forget to tune into HRC’s XM Radio show – "The Agenda with Joe Solmonese." You’ll hear from New York state Representative Danny O’Donnell on the new marriage bill, New York Times Food Writer Kim Severson and TV Guide’s Damian Holbrook.