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 26th. I’m Brad Mayer.
And I’m Candace Gingrich. First up, exciting news on a hearing in Congress on transgender workplace issues.
Today marks the first-ever Congressional hearing focusing exclusively on the need for workplace protections for transgender Americans. The hearing is an historic opportunity to educate Members of Congress on transgender employment issues and lay the groundwork for future congressional action on the need for fully-inclusive workplace protections. Check HRC’s Back Story Blog for the latest news on the hearing and also to hear audio from a media conference call hosted by HRC yesterday in anticipation of the hearing.
A lawsuit from Lambda Legal has been filed in Miami, Florida against Jackson Memorial Hospital for refusing visitation to the partner and children of a dying woman. Staff refused to accept information from the partner about the dying woman’s medical history. Last month, HRC released its first installment of the Health Care Equality Index, measuring how equitably hospitals in the United States treat GLBT patients and employees. A PDF of the Health Care Equality Index is available on HRC’s website at HRC.org/issues/health.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued a press release Tuesday urging community members to contact FX Networks to express concern about baseless anti-gay claims by Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council that was featured uncensored, and unchallenged, on the June 24th episode of 30 Days. In an episode titled "Same-Sex Parenting," a woman opposed to gays raising families, lives for 30 days with two gay fathers and their four adopted sons. FX refused to remove the statement from the episode.
Prominent New York State Republican and vocal opponent of GLBT civil rights, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, confirmed he will not seek re-election. Bruno has a history of repeatedly blocking gender identity and anti-bullying legislation from the Senate and just last year rejected legislation that would have allowed gay and lesbian couples to marry. Bruno has been the state’s top Republican since 2006 and is considered the longest serving state legislative leader in the country.
Earlier this week, a South Carolina school district avoided the threat of litigation by voting to allow any and all proposed student clubs to operate, regardless of focus or mission. However, the new policy gives parents the option to forbid their children — under the age of 18, at least — from participating in any club they deem unsuitable. Another provision, in correlation with the district’s abstinence-based curriculum, prohibits student clubs from discussing sexually explicit topics. Last month, Irmo High School principal Eddie Walker said he would quit at the end of the next school year because a gay-straight alliance would conflict with his personal beliefs.
On Tuesday, Cuba’s Roman Catholic Church protested the government’s growing support of GLBT rights, including a law allowing sexual reassignment surgery and also an event to combat homophobia. An article written in the monthly magazine of the Archdiocese of Havana claimed that homosexuality should not be accepted and criticized Cuba’s Sex Education Center, a high-profile center run by President Raul Castro’s daughter. Cuba’s parliament is currently considering proposals to extend to gay and lesbian couples the same benefits given to married couples.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow morning.