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 Tuesday, January 29th. I’m Tommy Lodge.
And I’m Betsy Purcell. First up, news from Florida.
Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Florida say they're receiving a huge rush of petitions as the deadline approaches to get the measure on the November ballot. HRC staff has been on the ground for several weeks organizing fair-minded voters to oppose the measure. Florida holds its presidential primary today.
Doctors disagree on medical options for transgender youth. Many physicians say that transgender children may suffer severe psychological distress about their gender identity, making it emotionally harmful to wait until puberty to transition. In England, however, transitioning is not allowed until age 16.
Opponents of Maryland marriage equality legislation have indicated that they will try all of the options available to them to kill the bill. Conservative groups had organized about 1,000 protestors within hours of introduction of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. Anti-equality activists are unmoved by a section of the bill that allows churches to refuse to marry same-sex couples.
Eight groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, have joined to form the Pride Coalition in Austin, Texas. The coalition will provide a unified voice for the local GLBT community, which has struggled to coordinate in the past. Austin has the sixth largest GLBT population in the country.
The Utah state legislature will consider a bill to repeal a ban on adoption by unmarried couples, including same-sex couples. The bill will likely face an uphill battle in Utah, where voters have approved a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and other domestic unions. Utah’s legislature is also considering a workplace anti-discrimination bill this session.
Diego Sanchez of Massachusetts has become the first transgender person appointed to a national political party’s convention committee. He will serve on the Platform Committee and as an at-large delegate at the Democratic National Convention. Sanchez said he plans to push for a national AIDS strategy, promote anti-discrimination laws, and improve immigration policy.
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.