gay rights
Gay USA: January 31, 2012
NJ Republican Governor Chris Christie says he made a deal with the gay man, Bruce Harris, who he nominated to the state's high court to recuse himself on the same-sex marriage case! Christie wants to put gay marriage rights to a popular vote-and says that it is too bad Mississippi and Alabama could not have had state referenda on civil rights for African Americans in the 1960s. The Republican presidential contest gets wackier and wackier. This week, Newt Gingrich accused Mitt Romney, who wants to amend the US constitution to enshrine anti-gay bigotry, of being "PRO GAY RIGHTS." NEVER MIND: Cynthia Nixon now says that she did NOT choose her sexuality and that she is bisexual. We'll also review Cynthia in the Broadway revival of "Wit." The US Department of Housing and Urban Development formalizes guidelines banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in housing receiving HUD funds. The US military continues to discriminate against same-sex partners, even in ways that do not have to under the Defense of Marriage Act. Cops in Cleveland are sued for horribly abusing a gay couple. A restaurant owner in Knoxville denies service to a bigoted state legislator. Oh, Canada! If you do not appear to be the gender on your identification card, you can be barred from boarding a plane in Canada. A new book by an 88-year old male former hustler spills the beans on the extent of homosexual activity among Hollywood stars in the Golden Age.
Email this pageGay USA: Dec. 13-19, 2011
Republican Presidential hopefuls Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich make headlines on LGBT issues. The National Basketball Association backs gay rights for its players. A lesbian couple in Hawaii, acting independently, sues for the right to marry each other. Orlando sets up a domestic partner registry with some benefits. We will hear from a conservative City Commissioner who voted for it. LGBT rights supporters in Anchorage, Alaska file to put a measure on the ballot to protect rights based on sexual orientation and transgender status. The British government announces a plan to promote safety and equality for transgender people. And we'll have lots of New York theatre reviews: three one-man Irish monologues including John Hurt in "Krapp's Last Tape" at BAM (see review below); and on Broadway, Douglas Carter Beane's "Lysistrata Jones," a gayified version of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" with Harry Connick, Jr., and Lydia Diamond's sensational "Stick Fly" about an African American family on Martha's Vineyard.
Gay USA: Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2011
We'll look at the life of Barney Frank after his announcement that he will not see re-election to Congress from his newly drawn district in 2012. Major League Baseball bans discrimination based on sexual orientation as the gay softball world series settles a lawsuit that charged them with discrimination against bisexuals. A New York court is not sure that same-sex marriage was legalized legally. Read the story here. The anti-gay Australian Prime Minister was refusing to meet with the winners of a charity dinner with her because they are gay couples who want to talk to her about equal marriage rights, which she opposes. We'll hear from the couples. You can see them now here. In Russia, St. Petersburg is moving to fine those who engage in "gay propaganda" to minors. The US objects. And Russia objects to our objections. You can read more and find out what you can do about it here. Nigeria's Senate passes bill to criminalize same-sex marriage, attending a same-sex marriage, and public displays of affection between members of the same sex. Some in the Senate want the death penalty for homosexuality. Clinical trials for a gel to block the transmission of HIV are stopped in Africa. We review Alan Rickman in "Seminar" on Broadway. And we finish with a commentary by our late founder Lou Maletta from 2000.
Gay USA: Apr. 23-29 2010: "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Protests
This week, detailed coverage of the LGBT discharged soldiers and sailors who have been protesting the Obama administration's slow repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell; an elderly couple were abused by a Sonoma County hospital even after Obama's memo compelling hospitals to recognize same sex couples' right to make medical decisions; the employment non-discrimination act may be headed for the House of Representatives; Georgian prom occurred without incident; details on the latest gay rights/freedom of speech case heard in the Supreme Court; the latest on the Vatican and Mike Huckabee; and Andy reviews plays and a potentially trans-phobic Glee episode. Gay USA is a weekly news-hour that offers comprehensive news and analysis by and about the LGBTQ community and featuring hosts Ann Northrop and Andy Humm, as well as interviews with special guests.
Gay USA: Feb. 26-Mar. 5 2010
Efforts to repeal the ban on out gays and lesbians in the military gains some steam; there is good news for gay and lesbian parents in Louisiana and California, though the victory in Louisiana is under attack and there is a threat to gay foster parents in Arizona; a gay BBC presenter, Ray Gosling, faces murder charges for the mercy killing of his lover with AIDS twenty years ago; an out lesbian speed skater wins gold at the Olympics--and we'll show you the LGBT Pride House in Vancouver. Then, Andy reviews "Yank!," a musical about gay soldiers in World War II and a new "site-specific" production of "The Boys in the Band" as well as "Romeo and Juliet" from The Acting Company. Gay USA is a weekly news-hour that offers comprehensive news and analysis by and about the LGBTQ community and features Ann Northrop and Andy Humm.
Democracy Now!: Fri., Jan. 1, 2010
Democracy Now! looks back at 2009, including the Israeli assault on Gaza, Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration, Goldman Sachs and the AIG bonus scandal, the escalation of the Afghan war, drone attacks on Pakistan, the coup in Honduras, healthcare reform, the murder of Dr. George Tiller, the protests in Iran, the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, Blackwater and other private military contractors, the gay rights movement, the global food crisis, the ongoing occupation of Iraq, the Copenhagen climate summit and the growth of the climate justice movement, plus our exclusive interviews with former jailed activist Jeff “Free” Luers, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Barstow, Bolivian President Evo Morales, death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal and many more. "Democracy Now!" is a daily independent newshour.
GRITtv: Kate Clinton: My Retirement Plan
Humorist and activist Kate Clinton takes heart from the National Equality March and the new generation of activists for gay rights. She points out that we need both the established organizations that have done the hard work of pushing for legislation for years, and the young, new, excited generation willing to push boundaries and move on. Kate's not retiring yet, but she does have hope for the future.
GRITtv: The F Word: Equality March Shows What Grassroots Can Do
The National Equality March on the D.C. mall Oct. 11 drew one hell of a crowd. If for-profit media had given each equality marcher the air time dedicated to the 60,000 or so teabaggers that came to D.C. a month ago, they'd still be hogging the airwaves, dawn to dusk. Most reports estimate Oct. 11's turnout at 100-200,000. We might have learned that the march was organized by locally-focused, nationally-connected activists representing every race, class and faith.Imagine what we'd learn, given half a chance.
Democracy Now!: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009
President Obama has once again pledged to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and we talk with West Point graduate and Iraq war veteran Lieutenant Dan Choi, who’s facing discharge from the military for revealing he is gay, and with attorney and longtime gay rights activist Urvashi Vaid about the Obama administration’s stance toward gay rights. And author Barbara Ehrenreich documents what she says is the destructive power of the positive thinking movement in the United States, from breast cancer, to the workplace, to the economy, to politics as a whole. "Democracy Now!" is a daily independent newshour.
GRITtv: Marching For Equality in D.C.
When will we finally have equality for all before the law? The president's making a speech at Human Rights Campaign on the eve the National Equality March. We talk to three women who will be present and speaking out at the march: poet and activist Staceyann Chin, Sherry Wolf, author of "Sexuality and Socialism: History and Politics of Gay Liberation," and radio host "Aiyi'nah Ford, who was recently kicked out of a D.C. diner after engaging in a public display of affection with her partner.
