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 Thursday, June 11th. I’m James Servino.
And I’m Adam Marquez. First up, an update on marriage in Washington, DC.
After the DC council passed a bill last month to recognize legal marriages of same-sex couples performed elsewhere, anti-gay forces are trying to overturn the law through the ballot measure process. Yesterday, the local elections board held a hearing to determine whether the proposed referendum violated the Human Rights Act, which would make it illegal to put on the ballot. Follow our complete coverage at hrcbackstory.org.
The leader of the anti-marriage movement in DC is Bishop Harry Jackson, the pastor of a church in Maryland that many activists believe is not even a district resident. The Washington Blade reports that Jackson owns two homes in Maryland, and it raised questions about his voting registration in the district. The address he claims on his registration is a one-bedroom condo owned by another man.
Controversial Senator Jesse Helms continues to be a caustic figure as evidenced by a vote in the North Carolina legislature this week. Twenty-six members refused to participate in a vote honoring the late senator. Helms was reviled by the LGBT community for his steadfast opposition to HIV-AIDS programs in Congress.
Even after Donald Trump’s public support of Miss California Carrie Prejean several weeks ago, the pageant organization yesterday stripped her of her crown. They say she failed to honor her commitments to attend events and represent the state. You may recall her outspoken support for “opposite marriage” and endorsement of the anti-gay tactics of the National Organization for Marriage.
That’s the news from us today – thanks for tuning in.
Have a great day and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow morning.