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 Monday, May 12th. I’m David Paul.
And I’m Sarah Birnie. First up, an update on the Lawrence King case.
A California judge postponed the arraignment of 14-year-old Brandon McInerney, charged with murdering 15-year-old GLBT schoolmate Lawrence King in February. Ventura County superior court judge Kevin McGee continued the arraignment until June 12 after McInerney's public defense attorney, William Quest, requested more time to prepare his case. The district attorney’s office has charged McInerney with premeditated murder and a hate crime.
A lesbian seeking a divorce has returned to court despite a ruling by Rhode Island Supreme Court that said same-sex divorce cannot be decided by Family Court. Last December the high court ruled that laws governing Family Court do not include same-sex couples. Because Rhode Island has no specific law banning same-sex marriage gay and lesbian couples can go to Massachusetts to marry, but those marriages are not recognized in the state.
Fans of ABC's Brothers & Sisters saw series regulars Kevin Walker and Scotty Wandell tie the knot in the season finale last night. While there have been other same-sex weddings on network TV, Scotty and Kevin's ceremony is the first of its kind in that it represents series regulars whose story line is an integral part of the show. As the characters live in California, legally their union is a domestic partnership,
As the 25th anniversary of the publication of the scientific paper announcing the discovery of the virus that causes AIDS approaches, there is a consensus that more human research is needed in pursuit of the quest of a vaccine. The failure of the latest effort to develop an AIDS vaccine has led to a renewed determination on the part of the scientific community. A number of scientific symposiums have been held to try to figure out what went wrong with the Merck vaccine.
Allowing a convicted killer to get sex reassignment surgery would pose insurmountable safety and security problems for the state prison system, the Massachusetts corrections chief said. Harold Clarke said allowing the surgery for Michelle Kosilek could make her a target for assault by other inmates. He said prison officials also have concerns that Kosilek - who is serving a life sentence without parole - could try to escape if she is taken out of state for the surgery.
The Australian Capital Territory has passed legislation creating civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. The bill lacks a provision that would allow for couples to have ceremonies because the federal government said it would veto the bill if the section remained in the legislation. The amended version, which was worked out with the federal government, passed the territorial legislature on Friday.
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.