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 Friday, May 30. I’m Sarah Birnie.
And I’m Tommy Lodge… First up, news from New York:
New York Governor David A. Paterson told all state agencies to change their policies to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries. By recognizing same-sex marriages, adoption rights will be strengthened, couples will gain access to more healthcare plans and tax benefits, and they will have the legal protections of a marriage that do not apply to civil unions. New York State agencies have until June 30 to report back to Governor Paterson on how the plan will change existing policies for same-sex couples.
Starting June 17 same-sex couples will be able to wed in California, barring a stay of the state Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriages. The California Supreme Court has until June 16 to decide whether or not to stay the initial ruling. Opponents of the decision are asking the Supreme Court to wait until November for an expected ballot initiative that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Openly gay ex-marine and activist Eric Alva is the Grand Marshal of this year’s 39th Annual Chicago Pride Parade. Alva is the HRC’s national spokesperson for the fight to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and was the first soldier from the Iraq War to receive a Purple Heart. The San Antonio-native came out in 2007 after thirteen years of military service.
Affirmation, a support group for gay Mormons, is urging leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to respect the California Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriage. The church, known for its strong stance in opposition of homosexuality, has recently expressed its disappointment in the ruling, calling it “unfortunate.” Leaders of Affirmation say that the ruling does not affect Mormon church doctrine because the ruling is about civil marriage as an institution of the state, and no religion is being asked to marry couples they don’t wish to marry.
Gary Day, a disabled gay father from Florida, is suing the Social Security Administration after waiting two years to receive Child Insurance Benefits for his children. Represented by Lambda Legal, Day claims that the government’s unresponsiveness indicates anti-gay discrimination. According to Lambda Legal, Day provided all the necessary documentation to establish a legitimate parent-child relationship but the SSA has been uncooperative.
A New Mexico school district superintendent is taking responsibility for allowing photographs of lesbian couples to be included in the high school yearbook after parents and residents took offense to the images. More than one hundred and seventy people showed up to the Clovis school board meeting this week as students protested outside in support of the yearbook. Yearbook staff members said they included the images to accurately represent the student body while other members of the community claimed the students were trying to force a hidden agenda that promotes “homosexual lifestyles”.
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.