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, January 23rd. I’m Betsy Purcell.
And I’m Brad Mayer. First up, news from the states.
Washington state lawmakers will consider a bill to expand the state's domestic partnership law. The bill, introduced by Senator Ed Murray and Representative Jamie Pederson, would grant same-sex couples more than 170 of the benefits and responsibilities given to married couples. If enacted, the bill would include property, guardianship, and power of attorney rights.
Indiana state representatives are blocking a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Indiana already has a law restricting marriage, but opponents fear it could be overturned in court. To amend Indiana’s constitution, two consecutive, separately elected sessions of the legislature must approve the measure. If state representatives do not approved the amendment by March 14th, the soonest it could be brought to voters is 2012.
Seventy-one percent of Swedes say they support same-sex marriage, according to a recent poll. Sweden has allowed same-sex couples the right to civil unions with the same legal status as married couples since 1995. However, many GLBT advocates have pushed for the last distinction between opposite-sex marriages and same-sex unions to be eliminated. Sweden’s government is considering removing references to gender in its legal definition of marriage.
The authors of a study on a drug-resistant staph infection are seeking to clarify the study’s results. Media widely reported that the infection, known as MRSA, was affecting gay men. Anti-GLBT groups subsequently used the results to claim that gay men are “deviants” who practice “unhealthy behavior.” The researchers counter this claim, saying MRSA is not a sexually transmitted disease and is not limited to any segment of the population.
Despite recent reports that the U.S. military is no longer enforcing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the Pentagon insists that the ban on open service by gay men and women is still in effect. Discharges based on “homosexual conduct” have declined, leading many to believe that military leaders are ignoring the policy due to demand for able-bodied soldiers. A Pentagon spokeswoman disagrees, saying “The department will continue to follow congressional mandate on homosexual conduct.”
A documentary about a terminally ill police officer who fought a policy that prohibited the transfer of her pension to her same-sex partner has been nominated for an Oscar. “Freeheld,” directed by Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth, will compete in the Documentary Short category. The film is about Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester, who spent the last year of her life fighting the discriminatory policy. The filmmakers will also appear on HRC’s XM radio show ‘The Agenda’ this Monday.
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.