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, June 5. I’m Candace Gingrich.
And I’m Sarah Birnie. First up, the latest from California.
California's highest court refused to stay its decision legalizing marriage for gay and lesbian couples until after the November election. This decision will allow couples to get married starting June 17th. The initiative that would amend the state constitution to ban marriage for gay and lesbian couples has qualified for the ballot, and if passed, would amend the state constitution to treat gay and lesbian couples differently under law.
Yesterday, Representatives Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin announced the formation of the House LGBT Equality Caucus. The mission of the bi-partisan Caucus is to fight for GLBT equality in Congress. Fifty-two members of the House of Representatives will serve on the Caucus and more are expected to join in the coming months.
The New York State Assembly voted Tuesday to amend the state’s human rights law to include anti-discrimination protections based upon gender identity and expression. The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act will protect transgender New Yorkers from discrimination in housing, employment, and other areas of everyday life. The bill will next be sent to the state senate where it needs 32 votes to pass.
New York’s Office of Children and Family Services, the agency that runs the state’s juvenile detention centers, has adopted several new rules to accommodate transgender youth in its custody. Now, transgender youth may request special housing, be called by their chosen name and shower privately. The new guidelines aim to create better staff interactions with transgender children.
Former Georgia senator Sam Nunn, who helped pass the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” statute, said Tuesday that it is time to review the policy. He claims it is important to evaluate any military personnel policy to see how it is working and that after fifteen years a Pentagon study should be conducted. Nunn also defended the policy, saying that it allowed gays and lesbians the opportunity to serve honorably.
In related news, Charles Moskos, the sociologist who helped formulate the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy toward gays and lesbians in the military, has died at the age of 74. Moskos believed allowing out gays and lesbians to serve in the military would hurt morale and make recruits uncomfortable.
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.