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 Tuesday, April 8th. I’m John Lake.
And I’m Sarah Birnie. First up, an update on "7 Days to a Better Financial You."
Today a Virtual Town Hall will be held as part of HRC’s "7 Days to a Better Financial You" educational campaign. The Town Hall will feature financial planning resources and advice, as well as an overview of HRC’s federal legislative efforts to secure tax equality for GLBT families. To participate in the Virtual Town Hall, and to learn more about the "7 Days" campaign, visit http://www.hrc.org/7Days.
HRC is currently accepting applications for its 2008 Campaign College. The program brings 40 college students to Washington, D.C. for intensive political training. Participants are then placed on political and ballot campaigns across the country. For more information, and to apply online, visit http://www.hrc.org/campaigncollege.
In Arizona, state legislator Kyrsten Sinema has started a petition drive to prohibit employee discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. More than 150,000 signatures are needed by July 3rd to put the issue on the November ballot. Sinema has said she will abandon her petition drive if supporters of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage drop their efforts.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints officials have finally agreed to meet with the GLBT Mormon support group Affirmation. Founded in secret by gay students at Brigham Young University in 1977, Affirmation has traditionally been ignored by church leaders. The meeting is scheduled for August.
In other religion news, Dignity USA will sponsor a series of events during Pope Benedict the Sixteenth’s visit to the United States April 15th to the 20th. DignityUSA is the oldest organization of GLBT Catholics. Other groups are also expected to protest during the Pope’s visit.
Former Republican Representative Bob Barr has formed a presidential exploratory committee and may seek the Libertarian party nomination. Barr helped author the Defense of Marriage Act, but also argued against a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. One-time Democratic primary contender Mike Gravel is among the six candidates currently in the running for the nomination.
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.