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, April 15th. I’m Sultan Shakir.
And I’m Candace Gingrich. First up, an update on "7 Days to a Better Financial You."
Religious leaders and community members demonstrated yesterday at an Atlanta post office to highlight the tax inequalities same-sex couples experience because they are unable to marry. Members of the local press, including the Atlanta CBS affiliate, covered the event, which featured opening remarks by HRC’s own Harry Knox. To read remarks from the participating clergy, visit the Back Story blog at hrcbackstory.org.
In Colorado, the trial of a lesbian couple who attempted to marry has been postponed until early May. Defendants Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder refused to leave the Denver clerk and recorder’s office after being denied a marriage license. The judge in the case has said he has other trials that have priority.
Three members of a Massachusetts family face trial on hate crime charges following an incident at an apartment building they own. The father, son and daughter allegedly burst into an apartment and attacked two male tenants while screaming anti-GLBT epithets. The attorney for the family denies the hate crime charges, calling the incident a landlord-tenant dispute.
Supporters of an Illinois measure to define marriage as only between a man and a woman are in the final stages of signature gathering. They have until May 5th to get more than 270,000 signatures. If they achieve their goal, a non-binding referendum proposing a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage would appear on the November ballot.
Colleges and universities around the nation are doing more to market themselves to college-bound GLBT high school students. According to the executive director of Campus Pride, a national non-profit for GLBT students, campuses are realizing being GLBT-friendly is good for enrollment figures and building a diverse student population. Campus Pride has held several GLBT college fairs across the country.
An anonymous donor has added 4,000 dollars to the original 1,000 offered for information leading to an arrest in the murder case of Simmie Williams. The gender variant 17-year-old was gunned down almost two months ago in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Investigators are hoping the larger $5,000 reward will bring in fresh tips.
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.