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, June 6th. I’m Sultan Shakir.
And I’m Tommy Lodge … First up, findings from a national poll on marriage equality:
A USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 63% of adults say same-sex marriage is “strictly a private decision” between two people, while 33% believe the government should have the right “to prohibit or allow” marriage for lesbian and gay couples. 79% of 18- to 29-year-olds polled believe the U.S. government has no right to intervene in the decision of gay and lesbian couples to wed. These percentages highlight the growing support for marriage equality across the nation.
An openly gay Pittsburgh councilmember filed legislation on Wednesday that would allow people living together in committed relationships to register with the city. Councilmember Bruce Kraus said the domestic partner registry would be open to both unmarried opposite-sex and same-sex couples, and would allow city employees to claim their partners under Pittsburgh’s health insurance plan. City Council President Doug Shields supports the proposal.
Controversy erupted in Seattle recently at a Mariners game when a lesbian fan was approached by an usher and asked to refrain from kissing her female date because it made a family nearby “uncomfortable.” The fan complained she’d been discriminated against and a Mariners spokesperson says the matter is being investigated. The usher claims the women’s public display of affection was inappropriate.
The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria announced that it will recognize Viacom with its Leadership Award for Business. The GBC, which is made up of more than two hundred and twenty companies, is honoring Viacom for over twenty five years of HIV and AIDS awareness programming in their BET, MTV, and Paramount Pictures brands. Viacom is recognized with a perfect score on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.
Two Brazilian army sergeants were arrested Tuesday inside a TV studio outside Sao Paulo after acknowledging on air that they are gay and in a long-term relationship. One of the sergeants accused commanders in the Brazilian Army of attempting to kill him on several accounts because of his suspected sexual orientation. The couple had been filming an interview for a national talk show called Super Pop when police arrived to make the arrest.
A man suspected of murdering several gay men in Stockholm, Sweden has been formally charged with one of the killings. The man is also being charged with the attempted murder and robbery of another gay man. Police say the accused would meet his victims on the internet and, once an address had been revealed, would enter the victims’ homes and attack them. The man’s computer, which contains a large list of names, has been seized for investigation.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
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