Thursday, April 30, 2009

Today in GLBT News :: April 30, 2009

New Hampshire Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

Ring the wedding bells again! Bucolic New Hampshire looks to be State No. 5 in the gay-marriage juggernaut, as the state Senate passed a House bill that will likely go to a Democrat governor.

Iowans Eager to Cash In on Gay Weddings
The advent of marriage equality in Iowa has meant more than gay and lesbian families now having the right to enter into legally recognized wedlock; it’s also opened the door to new career opportunities.

NC Rep.: View of Shepard’s Death as Hate Crime a ’Hoax’
North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx referred to supporters of comprehensive hate crimes legislation as pulling a "hoax" on the American public in naming the bill after Matthew Shepard.

Maine Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill
The Maine Senate passed a gay-marriage bill, which now goes to the House and then to the governor.

In crowded LGBT sports calendar, how much is too much?
In 2006, the biggest complaint out of an otherwise successful Gay Games in Chicago was that the event lacked the "international" feel of previous Gay Games, caused by the decreased number of European and Australian registrations as a result of the creation of a competing Outgames event in Montreal. The hopes for a return of the international flavor in 2014, when the Gay Games are set to return to the United States, could be in jeopardy -- this time because of a potential schedule conflict with the EuroGames. Some sports activists the resulting "tournament fatigue" as a threat to global LGBT sports unity.

Chrysler Will File for Bankruptcy
Chrysler will file for bankruptcy after talks with a small group of creditors crumbled just a day before a government deadline for the automaker to come up with a restructuring plan.

GOP Seeks Way Out of Political Wilderness
Republicans announced policy programs to challenge Obama’s agenda and to counter perceptions that the GOP is a listless, leaderless "party of no."

Swine Flu Shuts Mexico Down: Business, Government at Standstill
Mexico is telling citizens to stay home, urging businesses to close for five days and suspending government service in what is effectively a nationwide shutdown because of swine fu.

U.S. House Passes LGBT Hate Crimes Bill By Big Margin
The U.S. House of Representative overwhelmingly passed an expanded hate crimes bill that includes LGBT protections over the objections of religious and right-wing groups.

Poll: Big Majority in U.S. Now Supports Gay Unions
Only 15 years ago, we would have been delighted that most Americans support civil unions. Now, we can be discontented that they don’t want to call it marriage. Call it progress.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force announces Creating Change co-chairs
The Task Force’s annual Creating Change will take place in Dallas next February.

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