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, May 21. I’m Betsy Pursell.
And I’m Candace Gringrich … First up, sad news from Capitol Hill:
Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, a long-time champion of GLBT rights, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor following a seizure last Saturday in Cape Cod. David Smith, Vice President of Programs for the Human Rights Campaign and Kennedy’s former communications director, issued a statement, sending HRC’s thoughts and prayers to Senator Ted Kennedy and his family. Read the full statement at HRC.org.
Pope Benedict The 16th approved a letter written by the Vatican Secretary of State which reiterates the ban on gay men entering seminaries to train for the priesthood. All bishops of the Roman Catholic Church have received the letter as a measure to alleviate any confusion regarding the rules put forth by Benedict in a document outlining “the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocation with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies.”
New York State Representative Vito Fossella – who has worked against many pro-equality bills – announced he will not run for reelection. The announcement comes after the recent revelation that he has fathered a child in an extramarital affair. Fossella is well-known for voting against pro-equality legislation including the Matthew Shepard Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Just days after the California Supreme Court made its monumental decision on marriage equality, the state assembly showed its support for the community by honoring Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician from San Francisco who was assassinated in 1978. The bill, authored by Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno, proclaims May 22nd “Harvey Milk Day” to bring attention to Milk’s legacy and to encourage schools to educate students on his achievements.
A pediatric specialist at Children's Hospital Boston has come under fire for offering sexual reassignment surgery for children with the recent launch of his clinic for transgender youth. Dr. Norman Spack offers hormone therapy and counseling to his patients, arguing that because transgender individuals — especially transgender youth — are known to have a “high level of suicide attempts,” it is crucial to treat them in the initial stage of their transgender identity.
In international news, the French government is pushing the United Nations to pressure countries to abolish bans on homosexuality. The country’s minister for human rights emphasized the fact that 75 countries still consider homosexuality a crime worthy of imprisonment and in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Nigeria, it remains punishable by death. The push coincides with the observance of International Day Against Homophobia, which commemorates the date in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of disorders.
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.