Wednesday, November 30, 2005

St. Augustine high school students fight to form GSA

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According to an article on 365gay.com, students at a high school in St. Augustine, Florida, are fighting to form a gay-straight alliance, or GSA, at their high school. The school, which has already been threated with a lawsuit, now has ten days to allow it. According to the article:
Pedro Menendez High School senior Marissa Burrier and other students at the school sought permission from principal Robert Allten to form a GSA last month. Allten refused to allow the GSA but said he would approve an unofficial “tolerance group” which would not be considered an official school club and would not have the privileges other clubs receive. “We just wanted to start a club where all students could feel safe, regardless of their sexual orientation,” said Burrier. “We need a place on campus where all kids, gay and straight, can come together in a safe place to talk about how they feel.” Burrier and her fellow students sought the help of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality Florida. The NCLR told Allten on Tuesday by letter that if he did not act with ten days to approve the GSA he would be hauled into federal court. “The principal’s denial of the students’ request to start a GSA and his attempt to force the students to change the club’s name and deny it official club status is clearly illegal,” said NCLR Regional Counsel Karen Doering. “Under the federal Equal Access Act, schools that permit students to form other non-curriculum based clubs must allow students to form GSA’s, and must give these GSA’s the same status and privileges as other club."
Now, hopefully, the principal of this high school will take very, very careful steps for the next few days. Ultimately, he will need to decide to do the legal and ethical thing: allow the GSA to form. Back when I founded the GSA at Reynolds High (the second such group in my system), I don't think I had near as many problems as this high school. I never had to threaten a lawsuit and the principal of my high school was pretty much willing to work with me and I believe he did as much as he could, given the political atmosphere around Winston at the time, to protect LGBT students. The students who founded the first GSA in my school system though didn't have it so easy. Those students enlisted the help and aid of the local GLSEN chapter (which is no longer in existence, see www.glsen.org for more info). I don't know all of the details, and someone correct me if I'm wrong... the situation with our school board got so bad that it almost came really close to bringing a lawsut against the system. I do not understand at all the reasoning that must go through these people's heads. Principals and school boards must do a whole hell of a lot of rationalizing to get around the fact that not allowing this GSA is breaking a federal law. Some may say its because these people are standing for moraity and do not want homosexuality in the schools. Well guess what? Tough shit. The public school system is run by the government, hence, NO ONE can let their own personal, private religious or moral views dictate policy, laws, or rules for anyone else. That is America. I'm sorry if you don't like it. If you want to live in a theocracy... try an Islamic Arab country... America isn't a theocracy, it never was and it never will be. Get over and if you don't like it move somewhere which will allow you to tell everyone else how to live, based not upon the "law of the land" but rather your own fundamentalist brand of religion which is seeking to grasp control of and kill America's precious democracy and all of our freedoms.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

The Vatican & Gays: Quotes of Note

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For me, to make someone suffer penalties because of their sexual orientation is on the same level as making people be penalized for their gender, or race. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Anglican Church of South Africa (1) I have no doubt that God does call homosexuals to the priesthood, and they are among the most dedicated and impressive priests I have met. Father Timothy Radcliffe, former master of the Dominican order (1) Such persons [homosexuals] must be accepted with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided From the Vatican "instruction" banning gays from the priesthood (1) We're speaking to Catholics in the pews and urging them to consider what Jesus would do if he saw his neighbor treated this way. The Human Rights Campaign (U.S.) (1) Once you enter the priesthood, you give up sexual activity, whether you're straight or gay. We're taught to love and forgive and be open. To single out people is to go against what we're being taught. Some people, they make it seem like if a priest is gay, they are less than a priest. I don't believe that. Bernadette Ruiz, a stay-at-home mother of three boys, Austin, TX (2) I'm disappointed in the Vatican. I know priests who are gay, and I fear it will make them uncomfortable - maybe even marginalized. I resent the missed opportunity to welcome young men who are gay, but are put off. We may never know the good priests we have lost from this. Patsy Heuchling, 80, a retiree from Winchester, Mass. (2) Original source 1 Original source 2

Poland Gay Rights Update: Gays march in Warsaw

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From the beatroot blog:
Over 1000 gather peacfully at Plac Konstitucji, in the centre of the Polish capital, surrounded by several hundred police. Under gloomy skies and in light rain the demonstrators listened to speeches and music booming out of sound systems, as the rest of Warsaw did their Sunday shopping. The action came in response to violence from police and rightwing thugs in Poznan last weekend, when several protestors from the Campaign Against Homophobia were beaten and arrested. Left wing members of parliament from the SLD, SdLP, Greens and the Democratic Party gave suppport to the protest. An expected counter-demonstration from far-right politicians and hooligans did not happen - except for a small press conference from the League of Polish Families in the square. A handful of skinheads hung around the four corners of Plac Konstitucji, making calls on their mobiles (I was suprised that they seemed to know how to work them!) trying to get more of their little buddies to come along. The demonstration is part of a nationwide action this weekend involving six Polish cities, including Gdansk, where the local chapter of the Solidarity trade union gave its support.
Original source ======= What Polish gays are now going through can be compared to what American gays went through back in 1969 during the Stonewall riots. Polish LGBT folk have been crying out for support from LGBT folk across Europe. LGBT Americans should stand up to support their LGBT brothers and sisters in Poland NOW. A great article about the protests appears on the website of the Washington Blade. According to the article:
Poland — a conservative and Roman Catholic country that joined the EU last year — has been grappling with the issue of how far to go in accepting homosexuality, as gay rights groups grow more vocal. Unlike last Sunday's banned rally, local officials have authorized all of this weekend's planned demonstrations. The socially conservative Law and Justice party won recent parliamentary and presidential elections. The new government, led by Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, favors traditional Roman Catholic values and opposes the legalization of gay marriage. President-elect Lech Kaczynski twice banned gay pride marches in Warsaw during his time as the capital's mayor.
The demonstrations within Warsaw were a reaction to the demonstration in the city of Poznan where gay rights activist, who were doing nothing more than participating in the right to peacefully assemble (a right Americans take for granted), were drug on the ground, beaten and arrested by police. You can view one of my earlier posts about that by clicking here. It surprises me that the media is ignoring what is happening in Poland, a formerly communist country which was also once controlled by the Nazis. How can you let human rights abuses in a formerly communist and Nazi country go unnoticed? It seems ludicrous to me.

Monday, November 28, 2005

The Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

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I don't really know how many people are aware that currently there is legilstion sitting in a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee which would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" gay ban in all branches of the U.S. Military. For myself, I had heard something or another about it, but not much. I don't think there was ever much attention given to it by anybody, including the government and the media. I found a great article in Q-Notes about it though. According to the article:
One hundred Members of Congress now support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1059), a Congressional bill that would repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. The bill, introduced in March by Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA), is co-sponsored by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including nine members of the House Armed Services Committee. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) recently became the 100th co-sponsor.
I took the liberty of going to the House website and looking up H.R. 1059 myself. H.R. 1059, which being called the Military Readiness Enhanement Act of 2005, now has 104 co-sponsors in the U.S. House. It has been stuck within the House Committee on Armed Forces' subcommittee on military personnel. And I'll give you one good guess as to why this particular piece of legislation is being bottled up. The current leadership within the House, the Senate and the Administration just do not want to see this legislation proceed any further. If it passes then all hope of "saving America" from the "evils" of homosexuality will be lost forever. The scope of this piece of legislation and the effect it will have on America is a great one. The Act (H.R. 1059)not only repeals the ban on letting gays serve openly it also creates a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation:
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN THE ARMED FORCES.
    (a) Establishment of Policy- (1) Chapter 37 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`Sec. 656. Policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation
    `(a) Policy- The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, may not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation against any member of the armed forces or against any person seeking to become a member of the armed forces.
    `(b) Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation- For purposes of this section, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is--
      `(1) in the case of a member of the armed forces, the taking of any personnel or administrative action (including any action relating to promotion, demotion, evaluation, selection for an award, selection for a duty assignment, transfer, or separation) in whole or in part on the basis of sexual orientation; and
      `(2) in the case of a person seeking to become a member of the armed forces, denial of accession into the armed forces in whole or in part on the basis of sexual orientation.
    `(c) Personnel and Administrative Policies and Action- The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, may not establish, implement, or apply any personnel or administrative policy, or take any personnel or administrative action (including any policy or action relating to promotions, demotions, evaluations, selections for awards, selections for duty assignments, transfers, or separations) in whole or in part on the basis of sexual orientation.
    `(d) Rules and Policies Regarding Conduct- Nothing in this section prohibits the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, from prescribing or enforcing regulations governing the conduct of members of the armed forces if the regulations are designed and applied without regard to sexual orientation.
    `(e) Re-Accession of Otherwise Qualified Persons Permitted- Any person separated from the armed forces for homosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexual conduct in accordance with laws and regulations in effect before the date of the enactment of this section, if otherwise qualified for re-accession into the armed forces, shall not be prohibited from re-accession into the armed forces on the sole basis of such separation.
    `(f) Sexual Orientation- In this section, the term `sexual orientation' means heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality, whether the orientation is real or perceived, and includes statements and consensual sexual conduct manifesting heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.'.
The reason why the anti-gay bigots of America don't want this legislation to pass is very simple: If the military can't discriminate against the "fags and the queers" then neither can the total entirety of the American government, which means... sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual) would become a federally protected class just like race, religion, sex, etc. I hope that more co-sponsors will come on board to help push H.R. 1059 out of committee. I hope that it passes. I hope that America can one day reach the ideals which were laid down for her more than 200 years ago: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness and that all men (and women, too) are created equal. The text of H.R. 1059 can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.1059:

Sunday, November 27, 2005

UNCG Administation's unconstitutional punishment of students

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From the Student-Customer Rights Campaign @ UNCG Original Source
-----Original Message----- From: LPNC@yahoogroups.com [mailto:LPNC@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Allison Jaynes Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2005 11:56 AM To: LPNC@yahoogroups.com Subject: [LPNC] UPDATE: free speech zone issue So, here's the latest: Rob and I each got an emailed summons to appear at a "pre-hearing conference" (similar to an arraignment) tomorrow at 10am. This is where we will plead guilty or not guilty and set up a date for a hearing which may include a "jury" (basically a board of appointed employees, NOT a jury of our peers). According to the Student Code of Conduct, our penalties can range from a warning to probation with restrictions. They have done all kinds of crazy stuff along with this such as:
  • Gave us 4 business HOURS of notice before the pre-hearing conference since they emailed us at 2pm Tuesday, when the university closes for the whole week Tues at 5pm.
  • Never responded to the email I sent asking for a town hall type meeting during which we could confront the administration about the rules.
  • Again asked for a list of names of those who were present. I refused once more, of course. They are just dying to punish us all. The only reason Rob and I are the ones singled out is because they already knew our names.
I've talked to 3 different FIRE lawyers over the past week and they are behind us 100%. They are in the process of sending a formal letter to several heads at UNCG explaining that their policies are unconstitutional and demanding that they eliminate them and drop any punishment towards us, or else litigation will be pursued. They informed me that the entire UNC system is one of the worst in the country and they will lie at every turn. FIRE said they will blow this thing wide open and said I shouldn't be surprised if reporters start calling me. I am absolutely confident that we will bring UNCG down on this issue. And help the plight of freedom-minded students at other schools in the UNC system. And I just want to re-emphasize that it couldn't have been done without the full support of the wonderful libertarians on this list who took off an entire workday to drive all the way over here and help us out. -Allison Jaynes UNCG College Libertarians "I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." -Ayn Rand
I don't know about the other people who read this blog or other students who are generally supportive of students' rights, but this seems so off-base and illegal that it almost sounds as though the story is made up, but, of course, I know it isn't. Just a message to those UNCG students trying to get these unconstitutional rules regarding "free speech zones" off the books... please keep me informed of any other protests you might be having. I feel so strongly that these "rules" need to go and feel outright enraged that the University is trying to punish students who did nothing but use their First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly and protest. What the University is doing is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! ~MATT HILL ====== The Student-Customer Rights campaign @ UNCG is another blog which I run. I originally posted this message there, but thought I would post it here to get out the word about UNCG's unconstitutional treatment of students who were protesting against the unconstitutional rules which are now being used to punish them. UNCG! Wake up before you get sued!!!

"Conservative" is not equal to "Republican"

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Evidentally, there are some folk around the Greensboro blogoshpere who think I'm a "Gay Republican" and while that isn't a bad thing... it is just not true. I laughed when I read this post on the Greensboring.com web forums. Although I'm not far from being a Republican (the ultra-liberal lefty Democrats at UNCG are starting to get on my nerves) I'm not quite there. I'm not saying I will change my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, but no one really knows what the future will bring right? For now, though, I'm a Democrat; a very proud, more conservative-minded, Southern Democrat who just happens to be gay and support equality for all (Gay and Civil Rights is about the only thing I'm liberal on... except the whole dislike of Bush thing). I guess you could just call me a North Carolina Democrat... like the rest of our state party, I'm wierd and off from the national norm. Talk to everyone later! :)

If drunk str8s can have Elvis weddings in Vegas...

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From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Saturday, November 26, 2005 Court about to grapple with gay marriage CATHY SORBO The Washington Supreme Court will be deciding, anytime now, if gay Washingtonians really are equal to non-gay Washingtonians with regard to the age-old ritual of marriage. I can't help but be baffled by anyone who opposes the legal recognition of a gay union. I've read the forums of gay marriage opponents. They think that homosexuality "just ain't right." Well, it's not right for everyone, that's for sure. They feel that homosexuality "is not natural." Pairing up with the one you love seems completely natural to me. Breast implants, birth control and Lycra are not natural, but that doesn't mean it should be illegal to have breast implants, an IUD or bike shorts. Well, maybe the bike shorts. With legal recognition of same-sex unions comes the acknowledgment that gays actually exist on all levels of society, something that homophobics would rather not have to do. They might just have to have the conversation with their children as to why so-and-so has two moms or two dads. It means they are going to have to confront their aversions and fears regarding gay people, and that is going to be uncomfortable for some. To read the full op-ed click here

LGBT student group at Oxford University asks for new gay gown

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From the Oxford Student (U.K.): LGBSoc call for new gay gown By Jack Shenker, Nov. 27, 2005 It has defined Oxford for 600 years and been copied the world over, but sub fusc, the archetypal image of Oxford academia, could be due for a remarkable facelift. If the university’s Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Society has its way, formal hall, finals exams and graduation ceremonies could soon become a lot more colourful. The Society has launched a campaign to persuade Lord Patten, Oxford’s Chancellor, to allow the Society’s President to where a rainbowcoloured gown and a feather bow in place of a more traditional black cap and gown. According to the current President, the makeover is long overdue. “The LGB President is no ordinary student,” Amy Garner, who holds the post, told this newspaper. “She is a figurehead for the LGB community and it is important that she is instantly recognisable. Sub fusc is an intrinsic part of Oxford University life and we feel that a special gown should be worn by the President to reflect her special scholarly status.” Despite no word from Lord Patten’s office as to whether formal permission for the gown will be granted, High Street retailers are already preparing to meet the anticipated demand for the new gowns. “As with all requests from Oxford University we do our utmost to serve and provide (however odd the request may be ),” said Adrian Plafreyman of Walters and Co. on Turl Street. “We could and would make an Academic gown in a rainbow colour scheme. It think it would take about two weeks to make and cost around £190,” he added. Original source ====== Now, besides the fact that a fully-colored rainbow gown might just be a little outlandish (if not just plain wierd looking), I'm really happy that the LGBT Oxford students are trying to create change. I just doubt the effectiveness of having a rainbow gown. Why not go with somehting a little less outlandish, something that all of the LGBSoc's members could wear... maybe a sash or a pin. Who knows if the Administration of Oxford University will allow this? I know for sure that if I tried to wear a rainbow gown to graduation at UNCG I would be told to leave and not participate in the event.

Poland Gay Rights Update: Gays march in Krakow, other marches planned

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From 365gay.com: Polish Gays March For Civil Rights by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff Posted: November 27, 2005 12:01 am ET (Warsaw) Dozens of gay rights activists braved near freezing temperatures and heavy rain to march through the streets of Krakow Saturday - part of a weekend blitz of Polish cities - to demand the government abide by European civil rights laws. Carrying signs saying "Reanimation of democracy" and "We are all different, we are all humans" the marchers denounced last weekend's mass arrests of gays in the city of Poznan, (story) where riot police detailed 65 gays and lesbians who refused to disband when they attempted to hold a gay pride march. The arrests are seen as a part of a major crackdown on gays by the far right Law and Justice party. During September's election campaign Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, the new Prime Minister said that if gays try to "infect others with their homosexuality, then the state must intervene in this violation of freedom." Warsaw mayor Lech Kaczynski elected this fall as Poland's President under the Law and Justice banner also has a long history of homophobia. In June, he refused to grant permission for a gay pride parade in the capital. Nevertheless, more than 2,500 people ignored the order and marched anyway. Opponents threw eggs and stones at the marchers, and police detained 29 people. An LGBT rights march is planned in Warsaw today. Kaczynski is still the mayor until December 22. To read the full article click here

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Piedmont Triad LGBT Holiday Guide

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I thought this would be a good idea: List holiday events related and not related to LGBT folk and groups. Winston-Salem: Greensboro:

Religious bigotry: The NC Baptists & Vatican have more in common than they thought.

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So, I have decided that at the end of every week (that being Saturday, of course) I will do a weekly ranting of the news and events. It will be a time for me to offer my own insight, opinions and commentary on the events, news and happenings which have transpired over the past week. It will also be a time for discussion, debate and critical inquiry into the things to which I have devoted my life: LGBT rights, activism, advocacy, politics and religion. Many things have occurred this week. There are so many issues which have fabulously graced the face of my blog that I am having a difficult time trying to decide on which ones to write. The biggest issue that sticks out in my mind, however, revolves around religion and the inclusion of LGBT folk. The first little happening involving LGBT people and Christianity occurred last week, with the ant-gay vote of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. Of course, the bigots had to choose my native city of Winston-Salem to hold their little convention in and because of that my city’s name has been tarnished, in part because it is now associated with the Baptist Convention on numerous press reports, news pieces, press releases and media advisories. I feel as though I must give an apology on behalf of all the fair-minded folk living in Winston and say that what the North Carolina Baptists did is NOT representative of the spirit of the City of Winston-Salem. The North Carolina Baptist State Convention accomplished nothing but a furthering of the outcasting of LGBT folk from the Christian church when it took a vote to expel member churches which may be “gay-friendly.” There are numerous Christian churches within Winston-Salem, many of them Baptist, which are accepting of LGBT folk and affirming. The one that sticks out in my mind is the Wake Forest Baptist Church, once a Baptist Convention bastion and stronghold. The Convention, however, broke ties with church after it began to become more accepting and affirming of LGBT Christians. What else would you expect from Wake Forest Baptist? Remember, they were the ones that had to push Wake Forest University to welcome African-Americans as students by first welcoming African-Americans as members, well before most North Carolina Baptist churches were willing to do the same. See, to me, the North Carolina Baptist Convention, along with the Southern Baptist Convention, represents nothing but intolerance, bigotry and hatred for everything they see as “different,” with “different” always becoming somehow “sinful” or “below” them. Now we find out that the Vatican document banning gay priests has been leaked to the media. When I first read the headline, I laughed. How does something “leak” from the Vatican, an institution most well-known for its scandals and centuries-old cover-ups? The Vatican, as well as the Papacy, has to be the most guarded and “lock and key” institution the world over. The document, which was due to be released November 29th, is actually a Vatican “instruction” which does nothing but repeat the same old anti-gay mantra which has been spilling from the Vatican City for decades: Gays are “intrinsically disordered” and not fit for the priesthood. Someone please tell me why it must take so long for religious institutions to catch up with the world. It took how many centuries for the Church to apologize to Galileo? “Oops… well Mr. Galileo, we know it has been five hundred years, but guess you were right, the world isn’t the center of the universe.” So now we have American bishops speaking up and, basically, flat out telling the Holy Father that they will not comply with his orders. Of course, they didn’t come out and say directly, “We won’t obey you,” but they came close. Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, Washington (who also just happens to be the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops) has gone on record as saying, “witch hunts a gay-bashing have no place within the church.” “There are many wonderful and excellent priests in the church who have a gay orientation, are chaste and celibate, and are very effective ministers of the Gospel,” he wrote in his diocesan newspaper on October 28th. In a November 12 column Bishop Matthew H. Clark of Rochester, NY, wrote that the diocese he oversees will continue to evaluate “young gay men who are considering a vocation to priesthood.” The American Catholics just need to keep doing what they are doing: Stand up to the anti-gay bully and homophobe of Rome (Lord, forgive me for speaking so rashly about the Holy Father… in this instance it is truth, though, and you are a God of Truth, right?) Someone (and not just LGBT Catholics and activists) need to stand up for right and against wrong. Gay priests aren’t the problem. Prejudice and bigotry rooted deeply within doctrine and practice is. I’m not one to bash traditional doctrine or practice. All of my friends wil be the first to tell you that I am unexplainably and extremely doctrinally traditional for a gay man. But the Vatican is not using doctrine for doctrine’s sake. They are using doctrine (ones which, in my opinion, should have been tossed out the window fifty to one hundred years ago) to cover up their mistakes and further bigotry and hatred. The Vatican is using gay priests as a scapegoat to the ever-growing problem of pedo- and ephebophilia (the attraction of an older person to a newly post-pubescent adolescent) within the ranks of the Roman Catholic clergy. Unless the Vatican can stop deflecting form the real problems and starts to address the ways in which clergy sex abuse scandals were concealed by members of the Church hierarchy, the problem of child sexual abuse will continue within the Church. No amount of anti-gay “inquisition” will rid the Church of its pederasty. Many people will say I have been harsh on the North Carolina Baptists and the Vatican. Still others will say I have been irreverent and disrespectful. I am sure some with think I have taken on a heretical nature by calling the Holy Father a homophobe. All I know is that as a gay man who is also a Christian, I feel both maligned and once again cast out from the flock as the earthly leaders of Christ’s Church continue to make policies and issue “instructions” which seek to limit God’s never-ending grace and the love of Christ to even fewer people; people whom they seek to place into a second-class citizenship and state of even more hostile discrimination, hatred, harassment and prejudice.

Vatican update: Irish primate contradicts Vatican over issue of gay priests

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According to a a short article from Catholic World News, the Irish primate, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, has come out contradicting the Holy Father's order to ban gays from the Roman Catholic clergy. The report on the Archbishop's remarks, which were made on November 24th, was originally reported on by the Irish Times. The Irish Times reported that the Archibishop told another newspaper that, "You don't write off a candidate for the priesthood simply because he is a gay man." Thanks, Archbishop, for standing up for what is right.

Gay student's essay on coming out censored by school

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From the Daily Herald (Dupage County, Illinois): Student’s censored essay tells his story Posted Wednesday, November 23, 2005 This essay, called “The Importance of Coming Out,” was submitted by 17-year-old Stephen Delaney to his school newspaper, The Pride, at Wheaton Warrenville South High School. The school’s administration censored the article: At some point in everyone’s lifetime, they find that they are somewhere a minority. While diversity is said to be celebrated in America, today’s teens know that real life can be a different story. There are many pressures to conform to what is normal and to do what everyone else is doing. However, I have found through my self-discovery of who I am that one should never deny who they are. I have vaguely known I was gay since the third grade. I’m not quite sure when I fully embraced it and became ready to tell others, but I know that I did first come out during the spring break of my sophomore year. I came out to a best friend, one whom I knew I could trust and count on for support. I already knew that she was completely gay-friendly and I could not have received a better response from her. The next girl I told was also a best friend and still is, but there was some trouble associated with her, in that she told someone else. It was understandable, but as a tip for those looking to come out, if you only want one person to know, stress just how completely you want them to keep it to themselves. To the friend who is reading this, I still love you! Ha ha. Anyway, soon, I told a third friend and then openly told a bunch of friends who did not attend South. Soon, I had my first boyfriend and that was when I became comfortable enough to tell all of my friends. In June of that year, I came out to all of them. While Wheaton is considered to be rather conservative and Christian, I have to say that I still found my friends to be the most accepting and loving group one could ask for. After coming out, I couldn’t believe it took me so long to do so. Coming out has not been a completely easy process, what with the trouble of telling my parents and the drama that came with that. Even then, it all turned out for the best. However, my main objective of this article is to urge other homosexuals to come out. Even if it is just to one friend, letting out that huge secret is such a relief. Hopefully, the friend you choose to trust will give you such a positive response that you will gain the confidence to tell more people and it will become easier and easier. Even in the textbook for AP Psychology, there is information on a study that linked increased physical illness to the concealment of homosexual identity. It’s basic: It’s not healthy to hide who you are from everyone in your life. The other important thing is that you are doing the gay community no help when you will not embrace it within yourself. People develop stereotypes about homosexuals because they don’t know many. If those same people found that one of their close friends was gay, especially that they never suspected, they would be forced to reevaluate their opinions. Don’t be afraid to be honest. I speak from the experience I know best, which is homosexuality, and while my main point of this article was to be true to that if you happen to be homosexual, the larger theme can also be taken. Be who you are, because covering it up is never going to help you. If you are only putting up a facade for people to like, then they don’t really know you and thus, can’t truly like you until they know who you are. The friends that you really want are the ones that like you for your true self. Original source

Can the Holy Father make the people obey the church latest stand against gays?

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From the Winston-Salem Journal: Saturday, November 26, 2005 Ruling on ordaining gays brings on doubts By Stacy Meichtry RELIGION NEWS SERVICE
"Witch hunts and gay-bashing have no place in the church," statement made by Bishop William Skylstad (Spokane, Wash.), the president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops.
VATICAN CITY | Pope Benedict XVI could face the first major test of his authority as the Vatican prepares to enforce instructions that bar openly gay men from entering seminaries and the priesthood. In giving his personal approval to a document outlining the ban, Benedict has made it clear that Rome intends to rein in local practices that have in recent years led to a perceived prevalence of homosexuality in the American priesthood. There are serious doubts, however, as to whether the document actually compels church leaders to carry out Benedict's wishes. According to the forthcoming document, which has been widely leaked to the media in anticipation of its official release Tuesday, the new "Instruction" reflects church teaching that has already been in place for years but seldom enforced. Citing the Catholic Catechism, the document notes that the church already regards people with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" as "objectively disordered." "In light of such teaching," the document states, the Congregation for Catholic Education "believes it necessary to state clearly that the church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture." Candidates experiencing "transitory homosexual tendencies" are not disqualified, but must "clearly overcome" them three years before being ordained as deacons - a formal step that precedes becoming a priest. Although the document draws a distinction between "transitory" and "deep-seated" tendencies, it stops short of defining those terms explicitly. That move, observers say, appears to grant local bishops, seminary rectors and the superiors of religious orders considerable leeway in deciding how and whether to enforce the new norms. "I think there's going to be a lot of resistance," said the Rev. Mark Francis, the general superior of the Clerics of St. Viator based in Rome, a religious order of priests. "What does 'deep-seated homosexual tendencies' really mean? How is that to be interpreted?" he asked. "When push comes to shove, a lot of the decision-making is going to be left in the hands of local people." According to the Rev. Robert Gahl, an ethics professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, the four-page instruction is based on church teaching that says homosexuality is not innate, but a condition subject to change. The term "deep-seated" would therefore apply to candidates who are struggling to make that transition. "Everyone is capable of change," Gahl said. "But being deeply rooted is something that is seated - it's not just passing." The Vatican instruction also stipulates that spiritual directors who work with seminarians are obligated to "dissuade" candidates who display "deep-seated tendencies," but warns them to maintain confidentiality and not report their findings to superiors. The document also warns that "it would be gravely dishonest for a candidate to hide his true homosexuality to gain, despite everything, ordination." Although the document appears toothless on a technical level, Gahl expects local officials and seminary directors and candidates to adhere to the Vatican's instructions in good faith. "Penalties aren't specified for disobedience, but the church presumes that the people working in priestly formation will have the good of the church in their heart and will want to comply with the directives that come from the Holy Father," he said. Some American bishops, however, have already indicated that they are reluctant to drastically alter policies that have allowed gay men into the priesthood for many years. Writing in his diocesan newspaper Oct. 28, Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., the president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, declared that "witch hunts and gay-bashing have no place in the church." "There are many wonderful and excellent priests in the church who have a gay orientation, are chaste and celibate, and are very effective ministers of the Gospel," he wrote. And in a Nov. 12 column, Bishop Matthew H. Clark of Rochester, N.Y., wrote that his diocese will continue to evaluate "gay young men who are considering a vocation to priesthood." Before he was elected pope in April, Benedict served as the chief enforcer of Catholic doctrine as the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Now that he is pope, Benedict is expected to bring the full weight of his new office to bear on disobedient churchmen. However, Benedict is working against a long history of Vatican documents and declarations on homosexuality that have been largely ignored. As far back as 1961, the Sacred Congregation for Religious, a Vatican department in charge of religious orders, recommended that "those affected by the perverse inclination to homosexuality or pederasty should be excluded from religious vows and ordination." And few flinched in 2002 when the head of the Congregation for the Divine Worship and Sacraments, which collaborated on the new guidelines, called the ordination of gay men "very risky." "A homosexual person or someone with homosexual tendencies is not, therefore, suitable to receive the sacrament of holy orders," Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez wrote in a letter published in the congregation's main publication, Notitiae. Original source: Page B7, Religion section, The Winston-Salem Journal, November 26, 2005.

Broward County, FL, schools keep LGBTQ issues out of school curricula

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From the Washington Blade: Broward County, Fla., schools silent on homosexuality Activists, educators speak out on invisibility of gays in sex-ed By PHIL LaPADULA | Nov 26, 10:20 AM In April 2002, the Broward County School Board approved a partnership agreement with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network after a much-publicized fight with conservatives. The agreement allowed GLSEN representatives to train teachers, staff and administrators about gay and lesbian issues, including anti-harassment issues. But the training never took place, according to Dee Palazzo, former chair of GLSEN Fort Lauderdale. The school system never followed up on the agreement, and GLSEN Fort Lauderdale recently disbanded. The school system’s diversity training program currently does not include gay issues, Palazzo said. No mention of gays in school A front-page story that ran last week in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel highlighted the absence of any discussion of gay issues or homosexuality in the Broward County School System’s curricula, including its sex education curriculum. Broward Schools Superintendent Frank Till defended the absence of gay issues in the school systems curricula. “You can’t teach everything, and there are some things we are not in the best place to teach,” Till told the Sun-Sentinel. “We have to stop pretending that we can be all things to all people.” Till did not return repeated phone calls from the Express seeking his comments, nor did he respond to an e-mail. Broward County School Board Chairperson Stephanie Kraft also did not respond to phone calls and an e-mail seeking her comments on the issue. But some educators and gay activists think a “silence-is-golden” approach to gay issues in the schools does a disservice to both gay and non-gay students. “LGBT people should be included in history and literature classes as well as in health education programs,” said Riley Snorton, communication director for GLSEN’s national organization in New York. Expert: Most sex-ed curricula exclude gays But the Broward school system is apparently not alone in excluding gay issues from it curricula. “Most school systems, unfortunately, do not include sexual orientation in their sex-ed curriculum,” said Adrienne Verrilli, director of communications for the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. SIECUS provides training in comprehensive sexuality education to teachers and other educators. Gay issues are “absolutely part of the training,” Verrilli said. But, Verrilli said, every school system treats sex ed different. “What is actually taught is determined very much on the local level,” she said. Martha Fugate, executive director of the YES Institute, a Miami-based group that deals with gay youth issues, thinks school officials and anti-gay conservatives are deluding themselves if they believe gay issues are not already in the schools. ‘Adults avoid issue, not kids’ “Students deal with these issues every day,” Fugate said. “It’s the adults who are afraid of this topic, not the kids.” The YES Institute conducts workshops for teachers and community leaders on sexual minority youth issues and suicide prevention. The group is sometimes asked to address students. Fugate thinks fighting to have gay issues included in school curricula “is not the way to go.” She thinks a better approach is for outside educational groups to come in and initiate a dialogue in the schools. “I think it begins with a dialogue and authentic communication in which the opinions of all sides are respected,” Fugate said. Fugate thinks liberals and conservatives can find common ground in the need to keep students safe from anti-gay bullying and harassment. She also believes educators should frame the issue as one about gender, gender roles and gender conformity. More about gender than sex? “When people hear the word gay, they automatically think of sex,” Fugate said. “But in the schools, the issue is really about gender. Boys are called sissies in elementary school before they even realize they are gay. But there are effeminate boys who are not gays, and masculine girls who are not lesbians.” Robert Lupo, co-chair and executive director of GLSEN South Florida, conceded that the group has had more success in reaching out to educators in Miami-Dade County than in Broward. He said GLSEN is in the initial stages of setting up a meeting with the Broward County Teachers Union to discuss possible training workshop on gay issues. “We are working to continue initial conversations with school officials in Broward so we can replicate some of the success we’ve had in Miami-Dade,” Lupo said. Original source

Friday, November 25, 2005

Update on Poland gay rights abuses: LGBT activists beaten & arrested during demonstration

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I originally posted on the anti-gay actions of the Polish government just about four days ago (Polish gays plead for help). During a demonstration by LGBT activists (a demonstration that the Polish government refused to allow, although activists did it anyway) in Warsaw, police started to arrest the participants as on lookers and counter demostrators hurled derogatory names and chanted, “We are going to do with you what Hitler did with the Jews." Needless to say, the police did nothing with the counter-protesters. It seems as though gay rights abuses are still happening, however, this time in the Polish city of Poznan. From the beatroot blog:
To the usual deafening silence, gays and lesbians and human rights campaigners were denied the right once again to protest against officially sanctioned homophobia in Poland. Last Saturday, protesters in Poznan – who went ahead with an Equality March even though the local council had denied them permission to do so – were beaten and arrested by cops and intimidated by local right wing thugs. See how the Polish authorities respect human rights in this video. And where is the blacked out front pages about that one then? Last night, Marian Pilka (Marian is a male name in Poland), an MP from the ruling Law and Justice party, called for gays to have psychiatric treatment and to ban the 'promotion' of homosexuality. And word is getting around. On his first trip to London since becoming PM, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz had to use a side entrance when visiting Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street so as to avoid protests from activists.
Keep an eye out on the the beatroot blog for more updates about the Polish gay rights abuses. The blog is run by a British journalist in Poland.

Gays help internet group in stoppping online predators

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From the Washigton Blade: Gays help expose online predators Internet group asks gays to be more vocal in stopping teen abuse By LOU CHIBBARO, JR. Friday, November 25, 2005 Gays involved with a group that conducts controversial online sting operations against adult men who solicit sex from underage teenagers of both sexes are calling on the gay community to take a more visible stand against the sexual exploitation of children and teens. Perverted Justice, the group some have criticized as vigilante, participated in a Nov. 4 nationwide broadcast of the weekly program “Dateline NBC,” which used hidden cameras to show men arriving at a house in Fairfax County, Va., for that they believed were meetings with underage teens of both sexes for sexual encounters. Instead, much to their shock and horror, they were greeted by “Dateline NBC” reporter Chris Hansen, who informed them that the “teens” between the ages of 12 and 15 with whom they thought they were about to have a sexual tryst were actually adults members of a group called Perverted Justice. Members of this nationwide Internet group say they train for and carefully carry out online sting operations to expose men seeking out underage teens for sexual encounters. The group’s leaders said they avoid illegal entrapment by waiting for the adult men to initiate a sexual assignation. Perverted Justice refers successful stings to local law enforcement authorities, who often prosecute the men involved. In a development not mentioned in the “Dateline NBC” program, two gay men and a lesbian are among the group’s 32 volunteer members and teen “impersonators.” “I have been with Perverted Justice two and a half years, and I can say that I’m treated with respect and welcomed with open arms,” said gay Michigan resident Greg Brainer. Xavier Von Erck, one of the group’s leaders, said Perverted Justice has no connection to religious right groups and considers itself non-sectarian. Von Erck, who is not gay, said the organization supports equal rights for all people, including gays, and welcomes all who supports its mission. “We don’t consider men who solicit underage males to be part of the gay community,” Von Erck said. “If you go for a 13-year-old or a 12-year-old, it’s all the same,” he said. Brainer called such predatory behavior “outrageous” and “just plain wrong,” and said he is hopeful that more gay men and lesbians will begin to speak out more openly against such behavior. He said Perverted Justice members don’t link adults who solicit sex with underage teens with the gay community, and the gay community should “get over” its fears about being tarnished by the issue of pedophilia. To read the ful article click here

Bishop V. Gene Robinson criticizes Vatican

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From Reuters: Anglican bishop criticizes Vatican over gays By Daniel Frykholm Thu Nov 24, 1:42 PM ET STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Gay U.S. Anglican bishop Gene Robinson said on Thursday a Vatican document barring practicing gay men from becoming Roman Catholic priests showed a profound misunderstanding of homosexuality. The document, due to be published next week, says men with "deep-seated" gay tendencies cannot become priests and that only those who have overcome their homosexuality at least three years before ordination can do so. "I think the Vatican, or whoever wrote this statement, should spend a little more time listening to its gay and lesbian members rather than putting out statements," said Robinson, having read media reports on the document. "This strikes me as language from people who profoundly do not understand gay and lesbian people ... who know next to nothing about being gay or lesbian," Robinson, whose ordination as bishop in 2003 plunged the Anglican Church into crisis. The document reinforces existing Roman Catholic policy that many in the Church believe has not been properly enforced, but Robinson told Reuters during a visit to Stockholm it would only force people to lie about their sexual orientation. "It's very clear here that if you want to be a priest in the Roman Catholic Church and you know you're gay, you have to lie about it," he said. DEEP DIVISIONS Robinson was the first openly gay man to be ordained as a bishop in the U.S. Episcopal church, sparking deepening divisions among the world's 77 million Anglicans. Earlier this month, almost half the world's Anglican archbishops demanded action from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams over "unrepented sexual immorality" in the church. Williams has always been personally tolerant of gay clergy. Robinson said there were probably many Roman Catholics like himself. "There are plenty of gay men who have faithfully served the Roman Catholic Church, who know themselves to be gay and who are faithful to their vow of celibacy. To exclude them from the ordained ministry is a real mistake," he said. "It appears that being celibate is not good enough." The document, parts of which were read to Reuters by a Vatican prelate on Tuesday, differentiates between "deep-seated" gay tendencies and a "transitory problem," but also says homosexuals cannot relate "correctly to men and women." "That's offensive to me, and this language just strikes me as profoundly separated from the real lives of gay and lesbian men and women that I know," said Robinson. During his visit to Stockholm, Robinson met leaders of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, which allows gay clergy and recently decided to hold formal blessing ceremonies for registered same-sex partnerships. Original source

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Column by Chris Cannon in the Winston-Salem Journal's 'Relish'

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Maybe that first vote jinxed the election for gay people Thursday, November 24, 2005 By Chris Cannon special to relish original source Going to the ballot box every year, I often think about the time before I was old enough to vote. It was the 1990s. Bill Clinton was in office, economic times were prosperous, and I spent the age of technology and the dot-com era in college. For the most part, life was peaceful, and I found plenty of jobs to pay my way through college. I spent many a night partying and being a happy, gay, single college student. Then something just shifted after we reached 2000 - the first year I ever voted. If you just didn't pay attention this year, or blinked, you probably missed election day, Nov. 8. That morning, the few people I saw who were wearing "I voted" stickers reminded me to stop at the polling place on my way home. It wasn't what you'd consider a "big" election. No presidential or congressional races to be decided. The ballot I completed contained only three pages. For me, the No. 1 issue that I vote on is gay rights, and that was not fully at stake this year, at least not in my district in Greensboro. I carried with me a voter guide that included local candidates' positions on gay issues, and all of the candidates in my district were considered gay-friendly. There was a little bit of excitement on my way home, when I heard over the radio that Texas and Maine were voting on gay-rights issues. Texas was voting on a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. Maine was voting on whether to repeal the state's new law protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination. Tuning the channel that evening to my new favorite television show, Commander in Chief, I hooked up my laptop in the living room and watched the numbers come in for the Texas and the Maine votes. Fifty-five percent of Maine voters agreed that LGBT people should not be discriminated against. On the other side, Texas overwhelmingly denied same-sex couples the right to marry, making gay people in Texas second-class citizens. I was happy with Maine's results, frustrated with Texas' results, but not surprised by them. I always believed that I had jinxed the election for gay people as a hopeful first-time voter. I was 20 years old in 2000 when I first voted, and it was the big Gore vs. Bush face-off, Elizabeth Dole's Senate run, and then there was Florida. Of course we know who won each of those. It was discouraging, so I vowed to never miss a vote again. The Republican party, never in favor of gay rights, took control of both the House and the Senate in 2002. Then again in 2004, the Republicans maintained control of both the House and the Senate, John Kerry lost to Bush, and Richard Burr won John Edwards' Senate seat. Eleven states voted that year against legally allowing gay marriage. Fortunately, it was kept from being added to the North Carolina ballot. Whether or not I am jinxing the election, every year I will continue to cast my vote in favor of gay rights or for the gay-friendly candidate over all other issues. Sexual orientation is a huge part of who I am. The hope is that if I continue to vote on the issue that is most important to me, gay rights will be accepted into law and I will never have to vote on it again. Then I can focus my vote on other important issues such as the economy, education and health care.

From GoTriad

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Gay minorities fight cultural, religious barriers By: Addison Ore, Special to Go Triad (Thursday, November 24, 2005 1:00 am) http://www.gotriad.com/article/articleview/16936/1/14/ At first glance, WNBA superstar Sheryl Swoopes and actor George Takei, best known for his role as Mr. Sulu on TV's "Star Trek," may appear to have little in common. Swoopes, 34, is in the prime of her career, having recently won her third Most Valuable Player award as a forward for the Houston Comets. Takei, 68, is on the downside of a career that peaked during the 1970s with his role as the helmsman of the Starship Enterprise on "Star Trek." But look again. Then you'll see that Swoopes and Takei do share something rather remarkable in common. Last month, they both came out in the press, revealing their homosexuality. Celebrities coming out always makes for sensational headline fodder because it happens about as often as Haley's Comet. Still, what makes the revelations from Swoopes and Takei even more remarkable is that they represent populations often lacking in representation. Swoopes is an African American; Takei is a Japanese American. Coming out for both Swoopes and Takei meant overcoming a lot of deep-rooted religious and cultural barriers. Swoopes was raised by a single mother and grew up in the Baptist church. Her mother, a devout Christian, has had a difficult time with her daughter's announcement. Swoopes recently told The Advocate, a gay and lesbian newsmagazine, that telling her mother was the hardest part of her coming out. "I consider myself a Christian, and my mom is a Christian, and she's really into the church and the Bible," Swoopes says. "So, of course, she says that's not right and the Bible says this and that, so we had that talk." Tamara Mason, an African American who works as a program specialist for the National Conference for Community and Justice in Greensboro, came out to her mother during her senior year at Guilford College. Like Swoopes, Mason also was raised in the Baptist church, and she has two uncles who are pastors. She struggled with her early realizations that she was attracted to women because she heard over and over again in church that homosexuality was very bad. Mason says her mother was "mad at me for about five minutes" after coming out. Since then, they really don't discuss it. Mason now has come out to other family members, but she knows there is no changing their minds on the issue of homosexuality. "People are raised to trust what they hear in church and treat it as the truth, the Gospel, the Word, and that's why they are reluctant to be open-minded about anything different," says Mason, 25. Mason, who now identifies herself as bisexual, says the stigma of homosexuality is so strong in minority communities because "it is more rooted in religious rigidity than cultural rigidity, but for many minorities, religion is cultural." Takei spent part of his childhood growing up in a U.S. internment camp feeling ashamed of his ethnicity and his sexuality. In an interview with Frontiers magazine, Takei says he struggled with "feeling ashamed because you're Japanese American and feeling like you're different because of your homosexuality." "American society has changed incredibly from the time I was a teenager to today, both in terms of Asian Americans in the theater and television and film, but also for gays and our self-image and the ability to move in our society," Takei says. There's no doubt that by coming out, Takei and Swoopes will help to improve the self-image and visibility of other gay minorities. But it always will be a difficult path to navigate for those with deep religious roots. As I write this column, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, meeting in Winston-Salem, has voted overwhelmingly to expel any member church that "knowingly affirms, approves or endorses homosexual behavior." I asked Mason how she felt about the convention's vote. "It's disappointing to me personally, but I'm challenging a lot of what I grew up learning about what is Christian and what is not," she says. "The message I heard was that Jesus taught us to love everyone with no conditions. Now, we're trying to place conditions on this love." There's a slam-dunk that even Swoopes would be proud of. Addison Ore is the executive director of the Triad Health Project and a local freelance writer whose monthly column, A Broad View, focuses on issues facing the Triad's gay community. Contact her at vaore@aol.com.

New marriage equality battle in Massachusetts

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From Reuters: Battle intensifies over gay marriage in Massachusetts Wed Nov 23, 2005 7:19 PM ET By Jason Szep BOSTON (Reuters) - Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would outlaw gay marriage in Massachusetts said on Wednesday they had more than double the number of signatures needed to put the issue to voters. But gay rights lawyers threatened a legal challenge to stop the ballot initiative, underscoring deepening tension over the divisive issue a year after Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage. A loose coalition of conservative and Christian groups seeking to ban same-sex marriage had to gather at least 65,825 signatures before state lawmakers could decide whether to put the question to a public referendum in 2008. On Wednesday, as a deadline passed to submit the signatures to town and city clerks who must check their authenticity, jubilant officials at the Massachusetts Family Institute and other conservatives announced they had found solid support. "We have more than surpassed our goal of 120,000 signatures, and we expect there will be a significantly larger tally than that when the final numbers come up," the institute's president, Kristian Mineau, told Reuters. Massachusetts' highest court ruled in 2003 that it was unconstitutional to ban gay marriage, paving the way for America's first same-sex marriages in May the following year. Conservatives and some religious groups say the issue is so important that voters should decide it, not the state Supreme Court, a position backed by Massachusetts' Republican governor, Mitt Romney, a devout Mormon with White House ambitions. LEGAL SHOWDOWN Gay rights lawyers are girding for a legal showdown. They say that under the state Constitution, a ballot initiative cannot reverse a judicial decision. They plan to sue the state's attorney general, who approved the ballot initiative on September 7. "We're going to be wrangling over one little sentence in the Constitution," said Gary Buseck, legal director at the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, which successfully argued the 2002 case that opened the door to gay marriage in the state. As the battle intensifies, the country is looking on. Texas this month became the 19th U.S. state to approve a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. But reflecting a mixed national mood, Maine voters this month rejected a conservative-backed proposal to repeal a gay-rights law. An ABC/Washington Post poll in January found that 41 percent of American adults thought gay marriage and civil unions should be legal and 55 percent did not. But that poll also showed a conflicting view among people in the prime marrying ages of between 18 to 29 -- 55 percent of that group supported gay marriage and 42 percent did not. The U.S. Supreme Court has not taken a case on gay marriage, leaving states to decide the issue. "Massachusetts is ground zero for the definition of marriage," said Mineau. If the signatures on the petition are approved by December 7, his group and other conservatives would then need further approval by 25 percent of the 200-member state Legislature over two straight sittings -- one in 2006 and the other in 2007 -- before the issue could be put to voters in 2008. The initiative, if passed, would not seek to annul about 6,500 marriage licenses already issued to same-sex couples. Original source

'In strong terms, Rome is to ban gay priests'

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From the New York Times: In Strong Terms, Rome Is to Ban Gays as Priests By IAN FISHER and LAURIE GOODSTEIN Published: November 23, 2005 ROME, Nov. 22 - A new Vatican document excludes from the priesthood most gay men, with few exceptions, banning in strong and specific language candidates "who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture.' " The long-awaited document, which has leaked out in sections over the last few months, was published Tuesday in Italian by an Italian Catholic Web site, AdistaOnline.it. The document appears to allow ordination only for candidates who experienced "transitory" homosexual tendencies that were "clearly overcome" at least three years before ordination as a deacon, the last step before priesthood. It does not define "overcome." Several critics worried that that language would make it nearly impossible for men who believe their basic orientation is gay - but who are celibate - to become priests. The anticipation of the document has divided Catholics, especially in the United States, igniting contentious debate over whether this is an appropriate response to the recent sex scandals and whether celibate gay men can still be good priests. On both sides of that divide, there was general agreement on Tuesday night that the document presented a strong deterrent to homosexual men, but with some limited room for seminaries to make exceptions. The document puts the onus on bishops, seminary directors and the spiritual advisers "to evaluate all of the qualities of the personality and assure that the candidate does not have sexual disorders that are incompatible with priesthood." A candidate, in turn, would have to be honest about his sexuality. "It would be gravely dishonest for a candidate to hide his own homosexuality, regardless of everything, to arrive at ordination," the document states. "Such an inauthentic attitude does not correspond to the spirit of truth, loyalty and availability that must characterize the personality of one who considers himself called to serve Christ." Vatican spokesmen refused to comment Tuesday, saying the document would be published on Nov. 29. But an Italian reporter, Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican specialist for Il Giornale who saw the entire document two weeks ago, said the Adista document matched the one he saw. An anonymous church official was quoted by The Associated Press as saying the document, a short five pages with footnotes, was genuine. While church documents as early as 1961 banned homosexuals from the priesthood, conservative Catholics complain that the ban has often been ignored. Some liberals say the priesthood has been enriched, and amplified in numbers, by gay celibate men. Thus many conservatives called the document a necessary correction, saying the number of gay men in seminaries has deterred heterosexual men from applying. "I don't think it's anything new or different from the church's constant teaching, but it's new in the sense that the teaching has been widely disregarded in seminaries," said the Rev. Joseph Fessio, editor of Ignatius Press, which published many of Pope Benedict XVI's books before he was elected last April. The document draws a clear line at banning active gays, and what many experts said was a less clear one banning candidates with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies," while leaving the term undefined. Generally, it says, homosexuals "find themselves in a situation that seriously obstructs them from properly relating to men and women." "It's a clear statement by the Vatican that gay men are not welcome in seminaries and religious orders," said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author of "In Good Company: the Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity and Obedience" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2000). "It raises the bar so high that it would be difficult to imagine gay men feeling encouraged to pursue a life in the priesthood," he added. "It's a very stringent set of rules they're applying. Really the only people that would be able to enter, according to the document, would be people who had a fleeting homosexual attraction." To read the full article click here

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Vatican document banning gays from priesthood leaked to press

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From the Washington Blade & the Associated Press: Vatican: sexually active gays unwelcome in priesthood Document leaked in advance of official release VATICAN CITY (AP) | Nov 22, 3:47 PM AP Photo. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVIThe Vatican says homosexuals who are sexually active or support "gay culture" are unwelcome in the priesthood unless they have overcome their homosexual tendencies for at least three years, according to a church document posted on the Internet by an Italian Catholic news agency. The long-awaited document is scheduled to be released by the Vatican on Nov. 29. A church official who has read the document confirmed the authenticity of the Internet posting by the Adista news agency. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the document has not yet been officially released by the Vatican. The document said that "the church, while deeply respecting the people in question, cannot admit to the seminary and the sacred orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support so-called gay culture." "Those people find themselves, in fact, in a situation that presents a grave obstacle to a correct relationship with men and women. One cannot ignore the negative consequences that can stem from the ordination of people with deeply rooted homosexual tendencies," it said. "If instead it is a case of homosexual tendencies that are merely the expression of a transitory problem, for example as in the case of an unfinished adolescence, they must however have been clearly overcome for at least three years before ordination as a deacon." Vatican prohibitions on active homosexuals becoming priests are not new. A key 1961 Vatican document on selecting candidates for the priesthood made clear homosexuals should be barred. However, the sex abuse scandal among priests in the United States and elsewhere has led some to call for new restrictions. Estimates of the number of gays in U.S. seminaries and the priesthood range from 25 percent to 50 percent, according to a review of research by Rev. Donald Cozzens, a former seminary rector and author of "The Changing Face of the Priesthood." The Vatican press office announced in November 2002, at the height of the clergy sex scandal in the United States, that the Congregation for Catholic Education was drawing up guidelines for accepting candidates for the priesthood that would address the question of whether gays should be barred. However, the document reportedly had been in the works well before then. The document, called an "Instruction" is only five pages, including footnotes. It was signed by the prefect and secretary of the congregation on Nov. 4 and says it was approved by Pope Benedict XVI on Aug. 31. The sex abuse scandals have forced an unprecedented introspection into the clergy and how to train future priests. In September, Vatican-directed inspectors started visiting all 229 American seminaries. Part of their mission is to seek any "evidence of homosexuality" at a time when some Catholics have put forward the highly contested premise that gay priests were more likely to be responsible for criminal behavior such as serial, same-sex molestation. The Vatican has often visited the issue of homosexuality, reflecting an unbending theological opposition but also an acknowledgment that discrimination based on sexual preference is not justified. In 2003, homosexuality was described as a "troubling moral and social phenomenon" in a document by the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then headed by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict this year. Vatican teaching also holds that homosexuals are "intrinsically disordered." The church, however, says gays and lesbians should be treated with compassion and dignity. Original source

Conservative Episcopal church refuses to hand over assets to the Rochester Episcopal diocese

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From the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: All Saints refuses to hand over keys Dissolved Irondequoit church tells visitors from Episcopal diocese it will not surrender its assets Marketta Gregory Staff writer
"We no longer acknowledge your authority"
(November 22, 2005) — A delegation from Rochester's Episcopal diocese — including the bishop and an attorney — requested the keys and assets from All Saints Episcopal Church Monday but left empty handed. "We no longer acknowledge your authority" since the parish was voted out of the diocese on Saturday, said Raymond J. Dague, an attorney representing the Irondequoit church. The church had been withholding money owed to the diocese as a way to take a stand against the diocese and the Episcopal Church USA, which supported ordaining a gay bishop without the approval of the worldwide church, called the Anglican Communion. "We wanted to come by and request that the assets be transferred. It's the responsibility of the diocese to protect the assets," Philip Fileri, chancellor for the diocese, told Dague and a handful of others who stood in the parking lot of 759 Winona Blvd. "The church isn't open and we did not bring the keys," Dague said. Back and forth the attorneys went, arguing politely over whether the diocese has the legal right to take over the property. The bishop and others stood silent. Not all of the requirements to dissolve a church have been met, Dague alleged. "We respectfully disagree with you," Fileri said, adding that the place to talk about the issue was not in front of TV cameras. Later, after the two attorneys had exchanged business cards, Bishop Jack McKelvey told reporters that not everybody in the Episcopal church has to believe the same thing but that there needs to be a sense of fairness when churches are linked together. All Saints' refusal to pay close to $16,000 put an unfair burden on the other 52 congregations, the diocese has said. "I had hoped that we would be together under one tent, but apparently that is not possible," McKelvey said. "I'm very much concerned about the people of this congregation... I'm saddened that we have to come to this place." The people of All Saints will continue to pray for the diocese, Dague said once the diocesan representatives had left. But he reiterated that the building is owned by the congregation — "The diocese does not hold the title," he said. In addition, the parish has been around longer than the diocese, he added. In all that discussion with the other attorney, "I heard a hint of a possible lawsuit," Dague said. McKelvey had a news conference Monday afternoon and fielded more questions from the local media about what would happen next. He didn't offer any specifics, however. "We're trying to deal with this one step at a time," McKelvey said, indicating that he hoped to avoid a lawsuit. Original source ====== Please, Please, Archibishop of Canterbury, the Queen... someone over there in England... step up and say or do something before our church is torn completely to shreds!

Chapel Hill school board to send letter in support of LGBT youth to North Carolina State School Board

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From the Durham Herald-Sun: 'Human diversity' draws ire BY CAROLYN NORTON : The Herald-Sun cnorton@heraldsun.com Nov 19, 2005 : 5:42 pm ET CHAPEL HILL -- City school officials don't approve of a recent state Board of Education decision that deletes specific categories of potential discrimination from the standards for high school counselors and social workers. The state board has grouped them all together in the new standard, placing them in the rubric of, simply, "human diversity." But Chapel Hill-Carrboro officials plan to send a letter to the state school board, asking them to put the more specific references -- such as race, creed, color, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or national origin -- back in. "Students need to know that elected officials are supportive of people with different sexual orientations, and are prepared to support them in our schools," said Superintendent Neil Pedersen. "It's a real issue that we must address in a forthright and positive manner." The issue lies in the standards and indicators for school counselors and social workers, which the state uses to evaluate education programs for teachers and other school personnel. The standards for counselors said they must be prepared to explain categories of potential discrimination, including "race, creed, color, sex role orientation, national origin and handicapping condition." The social workers' standards stated they must be prepared to understand how students are affected by "race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, family, community values, religion, sex, gender identification and sexual orientation." A critical issue At its November meeting, the state school board agreed to replace all the categories with "human diversity" -- a decision city school officials said they feared could perpetuate discrimination against students, especially those who are gay or lesbian. While the change in standards would not affect current mental health workers in the schools, Pedersen said he worried it could influence those the district hires in the future. "It is critical that our staff understand the issues surrounding sexual orientation," Pedersen said, in a memo to the local school board. "Substituting the word 'human diversity' does not give sufficient direction to our institutions of higher education on how to prepare prospective counselors and social workers." But the change won't just affect students, board member Jamezetta Bedford noted. "Our counselors not only work with students, the policy doesn't only support faculty -- but parents, too," she said. "I fully support this." Original source Equality NC Statement on Chapel Hill School Board Letter Equality NC Applauds Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools' Stand Against Discrimination Equality NC applauds the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System for taking a stand against the State Board of Education's recent decision to remove the list of protected categories, including sexual orientation and gender identity, from the standards for training school counselors and school social workers about diversity and discrimination. The city school system announced last week that they will be sending a letter to the State School Board asking them to put the list of protected categories back in. "Students need to know that elected officials are supportive of people with different sexual orientations, and are prepared to support them in our schools," said Superintendent Neil Pedersen told the Herald-Sun. "It's a real issue that we must address in a forthright and positive manner." "It is critical that our staff understand the issues surrounding sexual orientation," Pedersen said, in a memo to the local school board. "Substituting the word 'human diversity' does not give sufficient direction to our institutions of higher education on how to prepare prospective counselors and social workers." Original source

Colorado Springs school district settles lawsuit with gay-straight alliance and ACLU

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From the Washington Blade & the Associated Press: Colo. Springs school district settles lawsuit over gay student group Gay-Straight Alliance now has same rights as other groups COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) | Nov 22, 9:11 AM The district will pay $90,000 in attorney's fees and fully recognize the Gay-Straight Alliance. Colorado Springs School District 11 has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of students by the American Civil Liberties Union after the Gay-Straight Alliance group was denied certain privileges at Palmer High School. The school board approved the settlement Monday by a 6-1 vote. The district will pay $90,000 in attorney's fees and fully recognize the alliance and other student groups not directly related to curriculum. Alfred McDonnell, the students' lawyer, said he was pleased with the settlement because it gives the club the same rights as others. District lawyer Eric Bentley said the district didn't believe it discriminated against the students, but decided to settle because the lawsuit was financially draining. "The district defended the case all that time because it believed in the policy," he said. "It's simply become extremely expensive." Palmer High School had created a two-track system for student groups. Groups deemed to be related to the curriculum were allowed to use the public address system and post notices. Organizations deemed to have no direct connection to curriculum — including the Gay-Straight Alliance — could meet at the school but not use the PA system or post notices. The federal lawsuit was filed in 2003, arguing the policy was discriminatory and other clubs not related to curriculum, such as the Mountain Biking Club, were given more privileges. Original source

Monday, November 21, 2005

Being openly gay saves lives by facing down fear

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Here she is again, the columnist very quickly becoming one of my fav's... Deb Price from The Detroit News: Monday, November 21, 2005 Being openly gay saves lives by facing down fear By Deb Price / The Detroit News After painstakingly hiding his gay feelings since boyhood, radiologist Wayne Wolfson finally got the shove he needed to begin his journey out of the closet -- a heart attack. The none-too-subtle warning two years ago that life is short prompted Wolfson to tell his secret to close friends, a married couple who directed him to a gay-friendly psychologist. This time, it was the physician who got the doctor's order: Head directly to Affirmations, Metro Detroit's gay community center. There, after circling the building five times on a wintry Saturday morning, Wolfson, then 47, ducked into "Coming Out Over Coffee," an informal drop-in session in which people of all ages and backgrounds share the fears, hopes and joys that accompany the first scary steps toward being a self-respecting openly gay person. For 90 minutes, Wolfson sat with his coat hood still on. He didn't say a word. "I was trying to be inconspicuous but, of course, was the most conspicuous person there," he recalls. "Fortunately, the stories of other gay men and lesbians reached out to me, and they brought me back again and again. And each time became easier." Those of us who're gay have one choice: Live in fear or face down that fear and, by doing so, conquer it. Only by finding the courage to fling open our closet doors can we enjoy the life-affirming exhilaration that comes from being ourselves. As Wolfson advises, "Take back your own life and dignity, and then try to make up for lost time." The coming-out groups springing up at gay community centers all over the country are doing life-saving work by enabling people who've squandered years -- often decades -- running from themselves to laugh and cry together and, in the process, find their way into the healing sunshine. (Call Affirmations at 248-398-7105.) Often the fears manufactured inside closets turn out to be overblown. Wolfson worried that when he came out to his 75-year-old mother, she might need CPR. Instead, she asked if he'd met a special someone yet. Today, Wolfson is far different from the closeted gay man who, despite professional success, struggled with depression, loneliness and thoughts of suicide. He volunteers at a center for homeless gay youths, worked to try to defeat the anti-gay amendment added to Michigan's constitution last year and has indeed found someone special. "My significant other recently came out, so we are finding our way together," says Wolfson, who adds being openly gay is "like seeing the world in color for the first time." In an era filled with gay TV characters, the closet can seem so last century. Yet telling another person, face to face, that you're gay is rarely easy at first. Coming-out workshops can help smash closet doors. Todd Plank, who gives back by leading the group that helped him, continually hears about heartbreaking damage closeted people did before reaching the Gay Alliance in Rochester, N.Y. "One man literally came to our last workshop straight from signing divorce papers. It was his second marriage, and he'd struggled his whole life," says Plank, a former Jehovah's Witness who says the pain of being shunned by his family is outweighed by feeling self-respect. Life really is short. If you know you're gay, come out over coffee or come out over tea. Just don't wait another year or even another month. Risk discovering the joy of being true to yourself. You can reach Deb Price at (202) 662-8736 or dprice@detnews.com. Original source

Polish gays plead for help

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From UK Gay News: Please Help Us – Polish Gays Call to Europe
“We are going to do with you what Hitler did with the Jews,” counter demonstrators chanted.
Riot police close in a group of gay rights activistsWARSAW, November 21, 2005 — An impassioned plea has come from many gays in Poland today in the wake of the heavy-handed action of the riot police in Poznań on Saturday when more than 60 people were arrested during a peaceful demonstration. The message was simple: “Please help us”. The march was organised by a number of Polish women’s and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights organisations. Earlier last week, the march was ruled illegal by the Mayor of Poznań, Ryszard Grobelny, who is thought to have issued the edict under considerable political pressure from the Polish government. Despite the ban the march went ahead but was blocked by the police. The participants were arrested and interrogated. An email today from KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia) in Warsaw pleaded for help from other member states of the European Union. “Polish LGBT organizations ask all our friends in Belgium and England to organise demonstrations during those days,” wrote Tomasz Szypula, the secretary general of KPH. “It is very important for us because [the] Polish government is totally ignoring our calls. Please show your solidarity. Last Saturday 68 people taking part in The Equality March in Poznań were arrested. I was one of them.” They asked for urgent representations to be made to both the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, (the United Kingdom currently holds the presidency of the European Union) at to Jose Barroso, the President of the European Commission. Both are holding separate talks with the Polish Prime Minster this week. First to react to the plea from Poland was the Brussels-based IGLA-Europe. The organisation said it was “deeply disappointed and concerned” about the level of continuing and blatant discrimination against gays. “We are deeply concerned with the development is Poland for the last few months,” commented Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe. “Such discriminatory acts by the Polish authorities as banning peaceful demonstrations in Warsaw earlier this year and in Poznań last weekend, closing down the Poland’s equality body are sending very worrying messages that Poland completely disregards its obligations it agreed to implement by joining various European organisations. “It is time for the European organisations and states to send their firm message to the Polish authorities that such behaviour is not tolerable and contradicts European agreement and values,” she insisted. ILGA-Europe is calling on both European organisations and individual European governments to immediately denounce such intolerable actions by the Polish authorities. By joining the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation of Europe (OSCE), Poland agreed on the principles of non-discrimination, equality and freedom of peaceful assembly. While there has been little coverage of Saturday’s arrests in the mainstream media outside Poland, the most comprehensive has been from perhaps the least likely place – Aljazerra. “Sixty-eight activists could face fines of up to 5,000 zlotys (US$1500) or up to one month in prison, said Miroslaw Adamski, spokesman for the district prosecutor's office in Poznan,” the Qatar-based news organisation reported. The Polish News Agency reported that about a dozen counter-demonstrators threw eggs at the marchers and some shouted: “We are going to do with you what Hitler did with the Jews”. While Polish hate crime law does not include sexual orientation, it does include anti-Semitic remarks. And a spokesperson for the Poznań police is reported as saying that they would charge those who made the remark for being offensive to an ethnic group. But Szypula is unconvinced. “A similar statement was made last year in Krakow by the police – but the police did nothing,” he said. Original source

California man found guilty of anti-gay hate crime murder

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From the Washington Blade & the Associated Press: Man guilty in brutal gay hate-crime murder Victim's ears cut off, anti-gay slur written on his back SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) | Nov 21, 10:00 AM A jury convicted a man Friday of first-degree murder for the brutal killing of a retired immigration agent who was found with his head smashed in, his ears cut off and a slur against gays written on his back. The jury of 11 women and one man deliberated one day before finding Gregory Michael Pisarcik guilty of murdering 53-year-old Narciso Leggs Jr., said Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy. The jury agreed with special circumstance allegations of murder during a robbery and penetration of a foreign object, said Murphy, allowing the murder to be deemed a hate crime. "The victim was a very nice man with a family who loved him," said Murphy. 'We had a good trial and the jury did the right thing.' Pisarcik, 28, is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 3 and faces life in prison without parole. Murphy said Leggs, who was gay, met Pisarcik in Laguna Beach. The two went back to Leggs' apartment in Santa Ana. Leggs was found dead June 29, 2002. His landlord had called police when he didn't see Leggs for a few days. Leggs' head was smashed with a full champagne bottle and the apartment was ransacked. Leggs' ears were cut off with scissors and a large flashlight had been inserted in his rectum, Murphy said. Leggs' car and handgun were missing, and Pisarcik was later spotted driving the car in Ventura. He led police on a chase across several freeways, firing the handgun out the window. When the chase halted, Pisarcik refused to come out of the car for an hour. Associate Public Defender William Kelly had asked the jury to convict Pisarcik of second-degree murder. "I argued there was a sudden explosion of rage, and an unpremeditated killing," Kelly said. Leggs had worked for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service for 22 years and had been retired from the federal agency about five years. Pisarcik, originally from New Jersey, lived in the Huntington Beach area and had many misdemeanor convictions for theft and narcotics violations, prosecutors said. Original source

UF Student arrested for taking preacher's anti-gay banner

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From the University of Florida Alligator: Preacher's banner taken By KATIE WILKINSON Alligator Writer A UF student was arrested for stealing a Turlington Plaza minister's sign, which read "Beware queer university," Friday afternoon. Jennifer Arce, 23, approached campus evangelist David Miller from behind, snatched the sign and fled on foot toward University Avenue on Newell Road, where she was stopped by University Police. Miller, who was detained by UPD on Nov. 10 for disturbing nearby classes while preaching, chased after Arce, yelling, "Catch that thief! Beware of thief!" said witness Lauren Dobson. Arce ran through Turlington Plaza, past a game of 4-square being played by about 30 students, who cheered her on. Miller pursued her while calling UPD on his cell phone, Dobson said. Several students watched them run down the road to University Avenue, where two police cars were waiting to arrest Arce. "They put her in handcuffs and put her in the police car," Dobson said. "Students who walked by and saw the situation began yelling at the preacher, calling him a homophobe and a jerk." After giving the police a sworn complaint of what happened, Miller went back out to Turlington to continue preaching about 40 minutes later, said witness Randolph Hawkins, who was tabling on Turlington at the time. "I came a first time, they throw me in handcuffs in a car for 30 minutes," Miller said to about 50 students after the incident in Turlington Plaza. "I came a second time, someone steals my sign, and I have to chase her halfway across the campus - off campus even. She physically assaulted me." Miller said he was protesting the school's attitude toward homosexuality because he feels that dormitories are "recruitment grounds" for homosexuals. Miller said he first heard about this "recruiting" from his daughter, a resident assistant at Mallory Hall. Resident assistants are encouraged to refer any student who has homosexual thoughts to homosexual groups, which perpetrates homosexuality, he said. Miller said he is on Turlington preaching because UF created the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs department last year. He said the campus attitude toward homosexuality is "disturbing." After preaching for about an hour, Miller said he was going to meet with Eugene Zdziarski, dean of students, in order to try and get the LGBT Affairs department disbanded. Arce was arrested on felony charges of robbery by sudden snatching, said UPD spokesman Lt. Joe Sharkey. The case will be reviewed by the State Attorney's Office. Arce also is being investigated by Judicial Affairs in the matter. Arce declined to comment. Hawkins, who watched the incident, said the situation was very interesting and shocking. "You always see those guys out there but that was very different from how it usually ends up happening," Hawkins said. Original source