May 02, 2008   | COMMENTS     

Fla. gay bias bill could re-emerge in 2009 legislative session

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — An anti-discrimination bill that would have added sexual orientation as a protected class under the Florida Civil Rights Act was brought to a halt in the Florida Senate on April 23, according to Express Gay News, a Blade sister paper in Fort Lauderdale. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted Deutch (D-Delray Beach), had a breakthrough moment last month when Sen. Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) agreed to co-sponsor it. Atwater, the bill’s first Republican sponsor, was influential in getting the bill heard in the Senate’s Commerce Committee on April 8. The bill passed the committee with a 7-1 vote, but it failed to get scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. On April 23, Senate President Ken Pruitt instructed legislators to stop working on bills whose companion bills are stalled in the House of Representatives. The Deutch bill’s companion, sponsored by Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca Raton), which includes gender identity and expression, failed to get a hearing in the House. In a debate that mirrored the national ENDA debate in Congress, gay rights and civil rights organizations were split on whether to support the Deutch bill. Equality Florida and ACLU urged legislators to oppose the bill because it was not fully inclusive like the Skidmore bill in the House. Meanwhile, the Palm Beach Human Rights Council continued to lobby for its passage. Deutch’s legislative aides said the bill’s movement through one committee means that Deutch will likely sponsor a similar bill next year. It’s not clear whether he will re-introduce it with additional protections covering gender identity and expression.

Top Presbyterian Church court reviews gay marriage case

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is reviewing the case of a longtime minister found guilty of violating church law for officiating at the weddings of two lesbian couples. During a hearing last week, an attorney for Rev. Jane Spahr said the California minister acted within her rights and did not violate church law when she married the couples. An attorney for the Presbytery of the Redwoods, Stephen Taber, said that no one is above church law. He said someone disagreeing with those standards can protest or seek to change them but is bound not to disobey them. Spahr was found guilty last year by a regional judicial committee and was given a rebuke — the lightest possible punishment. The top church court is expected to issue a ruling early next week.

Jackson, Wainwright and others honored by GLAAD in L.A.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two television series were in repeats — as winners — at the annual awards honoring good work in media presentations of gays and lesbians. “Brothers & Sisters” and “Ugly Betty” received awards for outstanding drama and comedy series during the 19th annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards at the Kodak Theatre last week. Both ABC network shows, which feature openly gay or transsexual regular characters, received the same awards last year from GLAAD. On “Brothers & Sisters,” Matthew Rhys plays Kevin, a lawyer whose dating life is frequently depicted on the drama. “Ugly Betty” features Marc St. James, the flamboyantly gay assistant played by Michael Urie, as well as Alexis Meade, the transgender editor played by Rebecca Romijn. Other winners included “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” for outstanding reality program, Janet Jackson for the Vanguard Award and Rufus Wainwright for the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, in honor of the late casting director who fought homophobia in the entertainment industry.

‘Day of Silence’ demonstrators face off at school near Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — Supporters and opponents of a Day of Silence for gay and lesbian students faced off outside Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Wash., last week and exchanged angry words. Police kept both sides apart on April 25 and tried to control the crowd with yellow tape. A protest organized by Rev. Ken Hutcherson of the Antioch Bible Church in Redmond drew about 100 followers. Hutcherson, who has a daughter at the school, says any gay rights demonstrations should have been held before or after classes. Student organizers say the Day of Silence supports students who fear retaliation because of their sexual orientation. About 50 gay rights supporters wearing armbands and carrying rainbow flags quietly demonstrated outside the school as classes started.

Fort Wayne, Ind., AIDS memorial vandalized

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — The creator of an AIDS memorial in a Fort Wayne cemetery says he will repair damage caused by vandals. Otis Vincent, whose gay son, Stephen Vincent, succumbed to AIDS in 1995, says someone pushed over a large pedestal that held an angel statue as part of the Northeast Indiana AIDS Memorial at Lindenwood Cemetery.