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, April 23rd. I’m David Paul.
And I’m Brad Mayer. First up, an update from California.
Supporters of an anti-same-sex marriage amendment in California will deliver their signed petitions to county registrars this week. The signatures must be verified before the amendment can appear on the November ballot. HRC staffers have been on the ground since January working with Equality for All to stop this initiative. For the latest on HRC’s work in California, visit the Back Story blog at hrcbackstory.org.
The Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection released its 115 page report on Monday. The report says lawmakers should "take seriously" the difference between civil unions and same-sex marriage, but did not make a specific recommendation. The state legislature created the commission to examine the legal issues surrounding civil unions, which became legal in Vermont in 2000.
In Utah, a Salt Lake County Councilwoman plans to propose a health insurance policy that would extend benefits to employees’ same-sex partners. If the proposal passes, the county would change its benefits plan to cover any "adult designee" who lives with an employee and is financially interdependent. The state’s capital, Salt Lake City, approved a similar policy two years ago.
Charges have been dropped in the case of a Georgetown student accused of assaulting another student while shouting anti-GLBT epithets. The U.S. Attorney’s office stated that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. Police have said they will not reopen the case to seek another suspect.
Newly released data show that the Army and the Marine Corps have sharply raised the number of recruits who have felony convictions. Critics see the increased recruitment of felons as a direct result of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which bans openly GLBT people from serving in the armed services. Every day, an average of two people are discharged from the military under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
The ACLU has sent a letter to the Peace Corps on behalf of Jeremiah Johnson, a former volunteer whose service was terminated early after an HIV test came back positive. The letter asks that the Peace Corps stop barring people with HIV from serving as volunteers. It cites a recent federal appeals court decision that found it illegal to bar people with HIV from serving in the Foreign Service.
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.