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, April 30th. I’m Sarah Birnie.
And I’m John Lake. First up, important news about the “Rock to Win” concert.
The Rocky Mountain News has reported that Melissa Etheridge will perform this summer at the Human Rights Campaign’s “Rock to Win” concert in Denver. The show is scheduled for August 26th during the Democratic National Convention. Etheridge won an Oscar for the song I Need to Wake Up from the film An Inconvenient Truth.
Scientists have discovered an HIV Aids treatment that might help sufferers avoid the problem of drug resistance. The new treatment targets the ITK protein instead of the proteins in the HIV virus itself. Because this treatment is still effective when the virus mutates, it could significantly reduce the amount of drugs a patient needs.
In related health news, a British study shows Hepatitis C infection rates among HIV negative gay men are not any higher than in HIV negative straight men. The study involved more than 4500 men over a one year period. HIV positive individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, seem to show a greater tendency for Hepatitis C than the general population.
A same-sex New York couple attempted to obtain a marriage license on Monday. Dozens of supporters stood outside the Oyster Bay clerk’s office as Dan Pinello and Lee Nissensohn conducted a two hour sit-in. The pair risked arrest, but left after they were issued tickets for trespassing.
A new study about the health care experiences of transgender people in Europe will be presented later this week in Berlin. It shows transgender Europeans often face great difficulty in accessing health care, including gender reassignment services. The study is the result of the largest and most comprehensive data collection on transgender people’s day-to-day lives ever.
A public high school principal in Tennessee has been accused of outing two male students as gay. The boys’ names were posted on a list of students believed to be couples, and the list was distributed to parents, students and teachers. Both students say they have had to deal with verbal harassment from teachers and students as a result of the principle’s actions.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
Have a great day, and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow morning.