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 24th. I’m Sarah Birnie
And I’m John Greene. First up, news from Massachussetts.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has revealed several new ads will feature same-sex couples. The ads are part of a four point six million dollar advertising campaign that will debut in April. Massachusetts is not the first state to target GLBT travelers; Pennsylvania launched the hugely successful “Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay” campaign in 2003.
The Reverend Gayle Baldwin has written a letter to Episcopal leaders in the hopes of starting a dialogue after a North Dakota bishop refused to license her to minister in that state. Baldwin was ordained in 1980, and came out as a lesbian ten years ago in Wyoming. She has been a professor at the University of North Dakota since 2000.
A new study shows people who volunteered for an HIV-vaccine trial but did not take part after going through the enrollment process, were chiefly concerned about the possibility of a false-positive result. Other concerns included possible side effects, inadequate incentives to participate, and having to commit several years to a trial. Addressing trial participant concerns is critical to future vaccine research since the only way to know if a vaccine will work or not is to test it with human subjects.
In related news, scientists have discovered certain mutated strains of HIV are easier for the body to fight off in subsequent infections. This finding could help design an HIV vaccine in the future. The HIV virus is so dangerous because it mutates to avoid detection by the immune system.
Many gay fans of the New York Rangers hockey team are concerned about anti-GLBT epithets some rowdy fans routinely shout at games. Several gay fans have stopped going to games because of the hostile atmosphere. Madison Square Garden, which owns the team, has been criticized for not doing enough to address the problem.
The State Department recently released its annual report on human rights violations around the world, including discrimination and violence against GLBT people. The report identifies at least 37 countries where GLBT citizens have been assaulted or killed, and at least 15 countries with documented police abuse. Data about 120 countries was included in the multi-thousand page report.
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.