- The genderless version of ENDA passed out of committee. Out Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) will attach an amendment putting gender identity and expression back in, before the bill reaches the floor. Gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who had earlier argued for removing gender protections in order to pass the bill, is now urging his colleagues to support the amendment, saying “We will now be able to do that in a procedural setting that allows us to maximize support for an inclusive bill without endangering our chances of getting any bill at all.”
- In non-LGBT-specific, but parent-relevant news, the U.S. House failed to overturn President Bush’s veto of a measure to expand funding for the Children’s Heath Insurance Program (CHIP).
- In a case of “Don’t ask, don’t tell, but at least do your research,” the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force advertised on gay social-networking site GLEE.com by mistake.
- A trial has been set for a lesbian couple in Englewood, Colorado charged with trespassing when they conducted a peaceful sit-in at the Municipal Building to demand a marriage license.
- City Commissioners in Dania Beach, Florida, have approved a resolution stating that the city “prides itself on being a community that is inclusive and welcoming, rather than divisive.” The move is a reaction to the anti-gay remarks of Mayor Jim Naugle of nearby Fort Lauderdale. (Thanks, National Gay News.)
- Meanwhile, in the selfsame Broward County, Florida, the foster-care agency ChildNet has contracted with the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) to recruit and train foster parents for LGBT children. Too bad Florida still won’t let those parents adopt.
- A Maine couple will today become the first same-sex parents in the state to adopt jointly under a new second-parent adoption ruling. (Thanks, PageOneQ.)
- New York City will soon equalize the fees for marriage licenses ($35) and domestic partnership registrations ($36), reducing the latter by $1. (Shouldn’t DP’s pay less, given that they get fewer rights?)
- The Associated Pressspoke with the lesbian moms who were part of the case to overturn an Oklahoma law banning recognition of out-of-state adoptions by same-sex couples. (Thanks, To Form a More Perfect Union.)
- The city of Philadelphia is raising the rent for the local Boy Scouts city-owned headquarters, asking the fair-market price of $200,000 a year instead of the current $1, because the Scouts do not permit gay boys to become members.
- Donald Fleischman, Chair of the Republican Party in Brown County, Wisconsin, has resigned after accusations of enticement and fondling of an underage boy. He denies the charges.
Around the world:
- Transitions Online has an interesting article on the LGBT community in Kyrgyzstan.
- Out lesbian mayor Kerry Prendergast of Wellington, New Zealand, won re-election.
- Students and others are protesting outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in the U.K. over the 7,000 lashings ordered for each of two gay Saudi men.
- The Singapore Parliament will begin debate next week on a motion to repeal the laws criminalizing gay sex. Not surprisingly, groups for and against the repeal are making their opinions heard.
- A Turkish judge postponed the trial against Lambda Istanbul, accused by Governor Muammer Güler accused of violating the nation’s “morality.”
- The U.K. House of Commons discussed new government guidance on preventing homophobic bullying, and debated what more should be done, especially in faith schools.
