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, March 10th. I’m John Lake
And I’m Betsy Pursell. First up, ticket information for this summer’s True Colors Tour.
Tickets for the 2008 True Colors Tour are available today at 10 am local time before they go on sale to the general public. The 24 city tour kicks off May 31st in Boston, and includes headliners Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, Rosie O’Donnell, host Carson Kressley, and many more. Visit hrc.org/truecolors for more information.
In election news, four gay men and a lesbian are running for Congress this year. Political observers say each candidate faces an uphill battle. Only one openly GLBT person, Representative Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, has ever been elected to a first-term seat in Congress.
A 1993 law banning foreign visitors and immigrants with HIV may be repealed. The U.S. is one of only 13 countries to have such a ban. Nearly all of the nation’s public health organizations and experts say the ban is unnecessary to protect public health.
A development firm is planning to build the first resort community in Arizona catering to GLBT retirees. Similar communities exist or are being developed in retirement hot spots Florida, California and New Mexico. In traditional retirement communities, GLBT people often feel they must keep their sexuality a secret.
GLBT Catholic groups Dignity USA and New Ways Ministry are planning to send Pope Benedict the sixteenth a message affirming the presence of GLBT people in the Catholic Church during his April visit to the United States. Pope Benedict has been known as a conservative, anti-GLBT theologian since he was a cardinal. He is an outspoken opponent of proposed domestic partnership legislation in Italy.
A new survey shows 65% of Pennsylvanians support civil unions in the state, while only 37% are opposed. Pennsylvania is one of several states considering a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The amendment would also block civil unions and possibly limit domestic partner benefits.
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.