Equally Speaking
We’ll start out today's edition of HRC's daily webcast with a roundup of state news. First to New York, where the state GLBT group is taking the state Senate to task for not bringing up GLBT issues. The Empire State Pride Agenda says that the Senate – which is in a special session this August – has devolved into partisan posturing without taking up a number of pending equality bills. Despite widespread support for a marriage bill, conservative leaders in the Senate have vowed to block it.
In neighboring New Jersey, a lesbian couple married in Canada has been told they cannot file a joint tax return for 2006 – the year before civil unions became available. Roslyn Quarto and Judith Prichason would actually have had to pay over $400 more in taxes but they say it’s a matter of principle.
The Associated Press reported this week that restrictions in most state foster care programs leave youth vulnerable and GLBT youth are among those most affected. Most states cut off young people in foster care at age 18, leaving many without a safety net that leads to homelessness and sometimes crime. Many of these issues were brought up at a recent American Bar Association meeting.
Following his appearance at the HRC Foundation/Logo presidential forum last week, Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s campaign office was vandalized. Staffers found a plate glass window smashed when they came to work on Friday morning. Police say they are investigating.
Turning to some international news, Thailand’s Legislature is considering a bill that would allow those who undergo gender reassignment to change their official gender status. Thailand is considered by many to be one of the most tolerant countries for transgender people.
Finally, GLBT people in Australia are fighting back against recent hard-line positions the conservative government has taken on GLBT issues. Hundreds turned out for a noisy protest in Sydney advocating for equal marriage rights. The event came on the third anniversary of the passage of legislation barring same-sex couples from marriage.