Feb 11, 2005   | COMMENTS     

Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the infamous radio host who has repeatedly referred to gay men and lesbians as “biological errors,” “mistakes” and “deviants,” will launch her radio program on D.C.-based XM Satellite Radio beginning Feb. 15. According to an XM Satellite Radio news release, Schlessinger’s show is scheduled to be broadcast weekdays on Ask!, XM channel 165, between 3-6 p.m. In 2000, the Advocate reported that Schlessinger’s then radio show “The Dr. Laura Program,” drew more than 20 million listeners on nearly 500 stations in the United States and Canada. Schlessinger is known for her unapologetic opposition to gay marriage, gay adoption and hate crimes legislation. XM Satellite radio has also granted G. Gordon Liddy his own radio program, which will debut on Feb. 14, on Extreme XM, channel 152, between 1-4 p.m.
YUSEF NAJAFI

Alan Keyes’ lesbian daughter to headline gay lobbying event
Maya Keyes, daughter of former Illinois Senate candidate Alan Keyes, is scheduled to speak Monday at a rally in Annapolis sponsored by Equality Maryland. The event, which will also feature a speech by Judy Shepard — the mother of murdered gay college student Matthew Shepard — is scheduled to coincide with the group’s lobby day. According to an Equality Maryland statement, the rally will focus on the group’s 2005 legislative agenda that includes passing the Medical Decision Making Act, the Hate Crimes Penalties Act and defeating a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. “Right now, it literally feels like open season on LGBT individuals in this country,” said Dan Furmansky, the group’s executive director. “We can’t just sit around while hate crimes are on the rise, children of gay couples are left without the same protections as other children, transgender individuals are victims of baseless violence and discrimination, LGBT individuals are demonized, and anti-gay organizations are working furiously to break down the separation of church and state. It’s time to say ‘enough is enough.’” The rally is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Feb. 14 in front of the Maryland State House.
JOE CREA

Vandals damage Reston church sign with pro-gay message
A sign outside a Unitarian Church in Reston proclaiming, “Civil Marriage is a Civil Right” was vandalized last week, according to a report on TimesCommunity.com. The Rev. Sydney Wilde said someone tore the sign between 4 and 6 p.m. last Wednesday. Wilde said the church had received “primarily a positive response” to the sign and that the church had seen an increase in visitors in the months that the sign had been up. No suspects have been named in the case. Rev. Wilde, who could not be reached by Blade press time, told TimesCommunity.com that the church plans to replace the destroyed sign with an even larger one. “We’re disgusted, of course,” Wilde said as reported in TimesCommunity.com. “This is a very important issue … it’s a human rights issue. We consider this a religious statement because it is so close to the core of what we believe.”
JOE CREA

Howard County MCC church moves to new location
The New Covenant Metropolitan Community Church of Columbia, a Christian-based church with a gay outreach, announced Feb. 1, that it intends to move to a new location. New Covenant MCC currently meets at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, in Columbia, Md. As of Feb. 13, the church plans to meet at the Oakland Presbyterian Church, located at 14301 Laurel Bowie Rd., Laurel, Md. Until Nov. 2004, New Covenant MCC was known as MCC Howard County, until it became an independent congregation. In the Feb. 1 news release, Stacy Rine, a member of the church’s board of directors, said the new location will provide more space and opportunities for the New Covenant MCC’s growing community. The new location will also provide office space for the church’s pastor, Rev. Lance Mullins. “I am very excited about the move,” Rine said. For more information visit www.mccbaltimore.org/ncmcc.
YUSEF NAJAFI