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 LGBT news from the Human Rights Campaign for Thursday, September 11th. I’m John Lake.
And I’m Tommy Lodge. First up, news from Florida.
A south Florida judge ruled that the state’s ban on LGBT adoption rights is unconstitutional. Monroe Circuit Court Judge David J. Audlin Jr., who presided over a case involving a 13-year-old boy being fostered by a gay man, said the ban prevents family court and child welfare judges from deciding what is best for a child. A similar case will be heard soon by a judge in Miami, but the effect on the state’s 31-year-old ban is unclear.
The New York State AFL-CIO urged the Legislature to pass a bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in the state. The union federation is also asking lawmakers to enact legislation banning employment discrimination against transgender New Yorkers and to provide programming to end bullying of LGBT youth in public schools. This call for equality passed without objection at the federation’s annual convention.
Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson announced yesterday that he opposes a ballot measure that would end marriage equality in California. Johnson stated he shares the view of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who opposes Proposition 8 but personally believes marriage should be between a man and a woman. Mayor Heather Fargo, who has conducted four marriage ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples since June, said she thought it was a good decision for Johnson to oppose Proposition 8 and that she will continue campaigning against it.
Miami’s Broward School Board unanimously voted to oppose a constitutional amendment that would end marriage equality in the state of Florida. School board officials said that there was a concern that proposed Marriage Protection Amendment could mean losing employees or getting slapped with lawsuits within the school district. Members of the district’s diversity committee brought the issue to the attention of the board, saying that the amendment would put a stop to health benefits for domestic partners. About 215 employees of the district, out of a total of 36,000, use domestic partner benefits
Top officials in the Church of Latter Day Saints restated their opposition to marriage equality, saying it damages the integrity of the family. While the statement supports domestic partnership benefits, the Mormon church says it remains an active supporter of Proposition 8, the ballot initiative in California that would put an end to marriage equality in the state. The church’s most recent official statement follows a June release that called for members of the Mormon church to donate time and money to passing Proposition 8. Affirmation, an LGBT Mormon support group, lauded the official release, saying that in no way does the statement condone any sort of hostility to members of the LGBT community.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will offer support Saturday outside the controversial “Love Won Out” conference in Anchorage, Alaska. PFLAG National Executive Director Jody M. Huckaby released a statement saying the “Love Won Out” conference is dangerous for kids and divisive for families. The conference, which promises to change the sexual orientation of gays and lesbians through prayer, came under fire this week after it was revealed that Governor Sarah Palin’s church was promoting the event. Govenor Palin has not publically expressed her views on the controversial practice.
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.