'Empathy' defense in Araujo case
By Ivan Delventhal, STAFF WRITER
HAYWARD -- An attorney for one of three men charged with killing a transgender teenager indicated Wednesday that he is seeking to rely on the testimony of a psychiatrist to help explain why his client helped bury the slain Newark teen. Meanwhile, jury selection continued for a seventh day Wednesday as the prosecutor and defense attorneys began to exercise peremptory challenges to excuse prospective jurors.


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Y defends same-sex policy
By BEN EVANS : The Herald-Sun
bevans@heraldsun.com
Mar 25, 2004 : 10:03 pm ET
DURHAM -- Local YMCA leaders told a Durham City Council committee Thursday that they plan to stand firm behind a policy in which same-sex couples aren't eligible for family memberships. Responding to some City Council members' complaints that the policy is discriminatory, Y leaders, including YMCA of the Triangle CEO Doug McMillan, said they rely on the state's criteria of a family as including a married couple.


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Sunday sermons to decry lesbian pastor's acquittal
By RICHARD VARA
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Religion Editor
The pastors of about a dozen major United Methodist churches in the Houston area will denounce last week's church acquittal of a lesbian minister from their pulpits Sunday and are urging other Texas pastors to join them.


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Licensing for gay marriages planned
But Romney aide says word is `premature'
By Kathleen Burge, Globe Staff, 3/26/2004
In the state's first official acknowledgment that gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in May, town and city clerks were notified this week that they will be trained to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples.


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no.. but us queer folks have to listen to all that hetro talk...

Parents fear gay youth group could 'plant ideas'
PARENTS have slammed a new youth service project that could see children as young as 13 discussing gay, lesbian and transexuality issues.


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Gay rights activist is resigning
By Rhina Guidos and Jacob Santini
the Salt Lake Tribune
    Citing a "vicious" legislative session biased against gays, the head of Salt Lake City's sole gay and lesbian community center announced her resignation Thursday.
    Paula Wolfe, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Utah (GLBTCCU) since 1999, said this year's legislative session was "one of the more vicious ones that I've seen."


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shows the hate and ignorance out there....

Ordinance banning discrimination against gays draws huge response
The Associated Press
3/26/2004, 12:08 a.m. PT
BEND, Ore. (AP) — Bend city councilors have been flooded with hundreds of e-mails urging them to approve or kill an ordinance to outlaw discrimination against gays. The proposed ordinance would make it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation or sexual identity. It's aimed at preventing prejudice against gays, lesbians and transgendered people in housing, employment or in public places such as restaurants.

The seven city councilors will hear testimony on Wednesday.

"This is the biggest thing we've had," said Councilor Chris Telfer. "Usually we're lucky to get a handful of responses. This is huge." Councilor John Hummel, who sponsored the ordinance, said some opponents go too far in their vilification of homosexuality. "There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with government," Hummel said. "But I don't see how the debate is helped by the nasty, derogatory nature of some of the responses."


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Unable to marry, gay couples contrive . . . Legalities that bind
Scott Craven
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 24, 2004 12:00 AM
COURTNEY DEMILIO'S MARRIAGE IS BUILT ON LOVE, trust and sharing. More importantly, it's built on a thick folder of legal documents. Demilio, 30, and Cynthia Davis, 39, of Scottsdale are among the gay couples who have sought to create the legal union denied to them by marriage law. With an attorney's help, they've filed wills, powers of attorney and co-parenting agreements to protect themselves in case of death, disability or separation.


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good news... finally!!

ASU to protect gender identity
By Marija Potkonjak, Tribune

Arizona State University has revised its nondiscrimination policy to include "gender identity," making it the fourth public university to extend such protections to transgender students and employees.


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more good news ..!!

Housing policy written for transgender students
Sarah Hofius - Staff Writer
Starting this fall, the Office of Residential Life will formalize the college’s transgender housing policy. Under the official policy, students who identify themselves as transgender can contact Residential Life to pursue alternative housing arrangements. The staff at Residential Life will set up a meeting with Lisa Maurer, coordinator of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Education, Outreach and Services. Maurer will evaluate the students and help them find suitable housing options.


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I want to move to spain... it sounds so much more humane on the plains in spain, even when it rains....

- A transsexual Spanish sailor said on Thursday he will be allowed to stay in the Navy as a woman after a medical report said this did not interfere with his duties.


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Library opens transgendered collection
By Ashley Dinges, Daily Staff Reporter
At age 13, Dallas Denny went to the library in her Southern hometown and looked up the words “transvestite” and “transsexual” in the library card catalogue. She found two results.
Yesterday, Dallas was present at the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, where her personal collection of more than 1,500 titles related to transgender issues —the National Transgender Library and Archive — was officially unveiled as part of the University’s Labadie Collection. Denny, founder of the American Educational Gender Information Service, spoke at the ceremony. She is also the editor in chief of Transgender Tapestry, one of few publications to deal specifically with transgender issues.


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Church sets voter drive to fight gay marriage
By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff, 3/26/2004
The Massachusetts Catholic Conference is beginning its first statewide voter registration drive, in hope of ousting lawmakers who favor gay marriage or otherwise fail to follow the church's moral teaching in the State House.


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Kansas 4th State In Week To Drop Anti-Gay Amendments
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
(Topeka, Kansas)  Legislation approving an amendment to the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage died in the Kansas Senate Thursday night.