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, June 25. I'm Shelena Williams
And I'm Tommy Lodge. First up, news from California.
The demand for marriage licenses in Orange County, California stayed far higher than usual this past week as gay and lesbian couples continued to wed. The county issued more marriage licenses on Thursday and Friday than it did on June 17, the first day gay and lesbian couples could wed in the state. Between Tuesday and Friday the county issued 538 marriage licenses.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asking California members to join the effort to amend that state's constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. The church plans to work with a coalition of churches and other groups that put the California Marriage Protection Act on the ballot to assure its passage. More than 750,000 Mormons currently live in California.
Yesterday, a panel of appellate judges in Brooklyn heard arguments on whether the state legislature must recognize marriages for gay and lesbian couples performed elsewhere. Governor David Paterson recently took steps to ensure that all state agencies recognized marriages for gay and lesbian couples performed elsewhere. The case held yesterday, entitled Godfrey v. Spano, predates Governor Paterson's decision and was considering whether recognition of marriages for gay and lesbian couples first requires approval from the Legislature.
Arizona police arrested four suspects Sunday in connection with a possible hate crime that occurred at the Pride in the Pines festival. Officials say the four suspects may be charged under hate crimes statutes along with charges of aggravated assault, and assault and disorderly conduct. Equality Arizona released a statement saying the brutal attacks should serve as a reminder to all that there is still much work to be done to prevent hate crimes.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis told a liberal Roman Catholic church in Minneapolis that it can't hold its annual gay pride prayer service because the event goes against the teachings of the church. St. Joan of Arc Church has held the prayer service for several years in conjunction with the annual Twin Cities Pride Celebration. The archdiocese suggests that the church hold a "peace" service with no mention of rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Yesterday, Heinz withdrew a television ad aired in England that featured two men sharing a kiss and apologized to viewers after they received hundreds of complaints that it was offensive and inappropriate. The commercial was pulled after less than a week on air after viewers complained to the Advertising Standards Authority. Other complaints included that the ad was unsuitable to be seen by young viewers and that it raised the difficult problem of parents having to discuss the issue of gay and lesbian relationships with their children.
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.