- The Log Cabin Republicans, the national LGBT Republican group, has endorsed the McCain/Palin ticket for the presidency. Steve Schmidt, the McCain campaign’s senior advisor (who apparently has a lesbian sister), then met with the group.
- Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), one of two openly gay House members, said Sarah Palin’s personal life is fair game for the media, because the McCain/Palin campaign were “the ones that made an issue of her family.” Barack Obama said that politician’s families, and especially children, are off limits.
- The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), is scheduled to hold a hearing September 24 on the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act. The Act would grant the same-sex partners of federal employees the same benefits as the spouses of straight counterparts.
- Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich released a YouTube video urging Californians to vote for Proposition 8, making marriage of same-sex couples illegal once again. In it, he says: “Four appointed lawyers — that’s all judges are — overruled more than four million California voters.” Fact is, in California, Supreme Court judges are elected for twelve-year terms. I wonder what his lesbian half-sister Candice, who works for HRC, thinks of his position.
- 365gay.com profiles Deborah Mell, who is running to be Illinois’ first lesbian legislator.
- A federal appeals court in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ruled that Osseo Area Schools violated federal law by preventing a student gay rights club from publicizing its events and using school space for meetings. It issued a permanent injunction ordering the school district to give the club the same access and resources as all other clubs.
- The New York State Supreme Court ruled that Gov. David A. Paterson was acting within his powers when he issued an executive order requiring government agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the state. Taken together with a recent Massachusetts ruling permitting out-of-state same-sex couples to marry there, this “seems to have made same-sex marriage big business for the Bay State,” says the Washington Post. If nothing else, Massachusetts requires a three-day waiting period between getting a marriage license and having the ceremony, meaning that out-of-state couples often spend several days boosting the Mass. economy.
Around the world:
- The Australian government introduced legislation into the Federal Parliament to end discrimination for same-sex couples, creating equality in social security, veterans affairs, medicare, tax and educational assistance. Attorney-General Robert McClelland says “It will not only remove discrimination against same-sex couples, they also remove discrimination against their families and most specifically their children.”
- The City Council of Sydney, Australia has decided to recognise parts of the city as gay and lesbian precincts and to create “homophobia-free zones.” It will encourage local businesses to use signs and stickers to declare themselves homophobia free, and will consider revoking late-night trading privileges for venues whose patrons commit homophobic abuse or violence. Some LGBT activists view it as a “PR stunt” that could in fact promote more violence.
- The British Army’s Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, will open proceedings for the fourth Armed Forces LGBT Conference in London next month.
- The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld a one-month jail sentence for a Lebanese and a Bulgarian woman accused of “indecent acts” on a public beach in Dubai. They were reportedly “kissing and fondling” each other. (Thanks, UK Gay News.)