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 Monday, June 16th. I’m Sarah Birnie.
And I’m David Paul. First up, news from Chicago.
An openly gay Chicago elected official is proposing changes to the city's domestic partner benefits plan to ensure that the partners of city workers remain insured if they wed in California this week. The current plan contains a provision that prohibits the same-sex domestic partners from receiving benefits if either partner is married.
Puerto Rico's house of representatives denied a measure to toughen a ban on same-sex marriage. The measure would have amended Puerto Rico’s constitution to state that marriage is between a man and woman and that no other types of unions could be recognized. Some critics said the amendment was unnecessary because local laws already ban same-sex marriage while others argued it was discriminatory.
The Pew Research Center released new findings that show marriage for gay and lesbian couples will be a hot button issue in the November elections. According to the study, fifty five percent of marriage equality opponents call the issue very important, while only twenty nine percent of supporters consider it an important voting issue. Opposition toward marriage for gay and lesbian couples has decreased significantly among college graduates, women, and senior citizens.
A survey by the Montana Human Rights Network shows that nearly ninety percent of the voters in the state favor protecting gays and lesbians from employment discrimination. The report also showed that Montana residents tend to focus on religious and political issues more than LGBT issues. Activists are using the findings to push legislators to pass a bill that would ban discrimination against gay and lesbian workers.
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said last week that those opposed to homosexuality were intolerant and suffered from mental diseases. The president spoke during the First National Conference of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals in Brasilia, promising to try and criminalize homophobia and approve civil unions.
Yesterday, the chief of Budapest police reversed his decision to ban the city’s Gay Pride march next month. The new decision approves of the march and its route as originally suggested by organizers. Police failed to perform important protective measures during last year’s pride march.
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.