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 Monday, September 29. I’m David Paul.
And I’m Alison Delpercio. First up, news from California.
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, elected officials, and community leaders will honor late LGBT rights pioneer Del Martin on Wednesday. The memorial will take place at the Rotunda of San Francisco’s City Hall. Martin and her partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, were the first same-sex couple to be wed in California in June.
Meanwhile, conservative groups are calling on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto legislation that would formally declare May 22 "Harvey Milk Day" in the state. The bill passed by lawmakers would encourage public schools to celebrate the slain San Francisco supervisor's life. Milk is considered to be the first openly gay man elected to a major office.
About 100 people attended a dedication ceremony in honor of hate crime victim Matthew Shepard this weekend. The ceremony took place at University of Wyoming, where a bench in honor of the gay student who was murdered nearly 10 years ago was unveiled. Shepard's parents both spoke at the ceremony.
A New Mexico board of education voted in new a policy that gives administrators final authority over student publications after the community expressed outrage over published pictures of lesbian couples in the high school yearbook. Photos of two lesbian couples, along with narratives describing their relationships, made it into last year’s yearbook. Clovis Municipal School District Superintendent Rhonda Seidenwurm said the school district's previous publications code did not allow principals to review student publications.
In international news, a new study found that mental health services do not adequately meet the needs of bisexual people in Ontario, Canada. The results showed social biphobia and stereotypes about bisexuals have far reaching negative effects on the mental health and well-being of bisexual people. The survey was done by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health and the Sherbourne Health Center in Toronto.
And finally, a 19-year-old Florida man admitted to killing a person for allegedly spreading rumors about his sexuality. Hector Sanchez told investigators that he killed 24-year-old Levi Rollins because Rollins told people he was gay. Sanchez is charged with murder and is being held without bond at the Duval County jail.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning into Equally Speaking.
Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow morning.