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 Wednesday, June 4. I'm David Paul.
And I'm Shelena Williams. First up, the latest from California.
An initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California has qualified for the November ballot, the Secretary of State announced this week. If approved by a majority of voters in California, the amendment would threaten the recent California Supreme Court ruling that legalized marriage for gay and lesbian couples in the state. Recent polls show Californians are about evenly split on whether gay couples should be allowed to marry.
On a more celebratory note in California, wedding planners, bakers and hotels are booking significantly more business after the state Supreme Court's decision to overturn the ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples. A UCLA study projects that same-sex unions could provide up to three hundred and seventy million dollars for California's economy over the next three years.
The Human Rights Campaign Political Action Committee released a comprehensive report today on Senator John McCain. The report aims to shed light on Senator McCain's voting record and public statements on GLBT issues. To read the full report visit HRC.org/McCain.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has granted employment protections for GLBT individuals in state government. The Kentucky Fairness Alliance has praised Beshear for keeping his campaign promise to reinstate sexual orientation and gender identity in the state government's employment nondiscrimination policy. Kentucky now is the 26th state to offer employment protections to GLBT state government employees.
Same-sex civil marriages were performed for the first time in Tilos, Greece yesterday, sparking debate within the country. The Greek Justice Minister is accusing the local mayor of overstepping his authority and has declared the marriages quote "non-existent." Greek GLBT rights groups claim there is no legal obstacle preventing same-sex couples from entering into civil unions because the law does not specify that they must involve a man and a woman.
Out fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent passed away over the weekend at the age of seventy one. The French designer's fashions are internationally-renowned and many in the fashion industry describe his Avant-garde style for the modern woman as revolutionary. Saint Laurent headed Christian Dior's label before founding his own fashion house in the sixties. Saint Laurent is survived by his business and life partner, Pierre Berge.
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.