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 Thursday, May 29. I'm David Paul.
And I'm Shelena ... First up, two news stories from California:
A Los Angeles Field Poll released Wednesday shows that roughly half of Californians support gay marriage. In an effort to challenge this change of public opinion, anti-equality groups say they'll be working to raise over ten million dollars to ensure an amendment banning same-sex marriage is successful at the ballots in November. The Human Rights Campaign and Equality for All, both fighting to defend the Supreme Court's ruling allowing gay marriage, are working to raise similar funds to combat the anti-equality groups. You can learn more on how to donate at hrc.org.
The California Supreme Court will begin hearings this week to decide whether a doctor in the state has the constitutional right to cite religious grounds in refusing to treat GLBT patients. The question is at the heart of a case brought by an Oceanside woman who claims doctors of North Coast Women's Care Group discriminated against her when they refused to help her with artificial insemination on the grounds she is a lesbian.
Shareholders of ExxonMobil yesterday voted with record support for a resolution to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the company's official equal employment opportunity policy. Nearly forty percent of shares voted in favor of the policy, which is the first year it has included "gender identity." However, executives continue to resist even the smallest steps towards equality. ExxonMobil remains the only Fortune 50 company which omits sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policy.
A Boy Scouts council in Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against the city, which has threatened to increase the rent for the Scouts to use a city-owned facility as its headquarters. The city's decision to raise the Scouts' rent from one dollar to two hundred thousand dollars is as a result of protests from progressive Philadelphians who believe the city's nondiscrimination policy is in violation because the Scouts ban gays but continue to operate in a city-owned facility. As such, the city is charging the group the going rate for a private organization to use a public facility.
Felicia Melton-Smyth, a well-known supporter of GLBT rights in Wisconsin, was murdered Memorial Day while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Police in Puerto Vallarta are holding a man who has confessed to the crime. Authorities are still investigating the motive.
Gay rights advocates gathered this week outside a Lexington school board meeting in support of the creation of a gay-straight alliance at Irmo High School. The proposed club is sparking heated debate following the recent resignation of the high school's principal, whose resignation letter states that his religious and professional beliefs puts him at odds with the club.
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.