Catholic Voters Told To Support Anti-Gay Candidates Or Lose Communion
by the Associated Press

(Denver, Colorado)  Catholics who vote for politicians who do not oppose same-sex marriage, abortion rights, stem-cell research, or euthanasia may not receive Communion until they recant and repent in the confessional, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Colorado Springs said.

Bishop Michael Sheridan's pronouncement was the strongest yet from a U.S. bishop in the debate over how faith should influence Catholics in this election year.

The discussion of withholding Holy Communion had previously been limited to politicians themselves.

Sheridan made his remarks in a pastoral letter published in the diocese's newspaper. He said he singled out abortion, stem-cell research, euthanasia and gay marriage for criticism because they are "intrinsically evil." 

The letter was sent to each parish in the diocese, including 125,000 Catholics in 10 counties.


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HRC WorkNet Unveils Two Resources To Help Employers Navigate Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual And Transgender Workplace Issues

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s workplace project, HRC WorkNet, today unveiled two new online resources to assist employers in navigating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in the workplace. One resource centers on how marriage for same-sex couples and the proposed state and federal constitutional amendments will affect employers and the other, a CD-ROM tutorial, focuses on LGBT issues in the workplace.

“These tools offer solid information to employers on how marriage equality might have an impact on their workplaces,” said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. “Meanwhile, as Congress and many states debate anti-marriage constitutional amendments, employers should know that these laws are anti-business.”

A new “Marriage and Your Workplace” section – www.hrc.org/worklife/marriage – provides the most current research on the impact of marriage for same-sex couples. It addresses what employers might expect from an employee who marries their same-sex spouse. Also, it explains why the Federal Marriage Amendment is bad for business and it provides tools for employers who want to take a position against the proposal.


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Despite a spate of cool flicks, MFA's gay and lesbian film fest drops the ball
By R.J. Grubb

The comedy "Touch of Pink" opens the festival on May 12.Every May, the city's annual Museum of Fine Arts Gay and Lesbian Film/Video Festival provides a generous refuge into homo cinema. But while this year's festival gathered a number of provocative works, it also curiously botches the job.

The festival begins May 12 with the romantic, culture-clash comedy "Touch of Pink" by writer/director Ian Iqbal Rashid. Poet turned filmmaker, Rashid is best known for his award-winning writing on the BBC TV series, "This Life." But after his debut feature screened at Sundance, Sony snatched up the rights. Ever since, they've kept a tight lid on distribution - even pulling the film from the Berlin International Film Festival. With few critics seeing it, there's quite a mysterious buzz surrounding the movie. And, indeed, it's one of the highlights at the MFA.



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Urdu and Hindi support for families of LGBs published
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK

Support material for the parents, friends and families of LGB people has been published in Urdu and Hindi for the first time.

Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (FFLAG) made the decision to publish its core material in a bid to reach out to those in minority ethnic communities who are experiencing difficulties with the issue of sexuality.

The organisation says that in the past, Hindi and Urdu speakers had been overlooked by support groups and networks. They say that the provision of material in the languages is the first stage towards promoting discussion and debate around the issues within the family.


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GOP argues gay marriage could cost U.S. billions
Dems say same-sex couples pay taxes, deserve benefits
Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Washington -- House Republicans, appearing at a hearing Thursday to promote a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, voiced a new argument against granting gay and lesbian couples full marriage rights: the costs to the federal government.

Rep. Spencer Bachus, an Alabama Republican, cited past government studies that found that giving gay and lesbian couples the same benefits as married heterosexual couples -- such as the ability to collect spousal Social Security and Medicare -- could cost the federal Treasury billions of dollars.

But Democrats denounced the comments, arguing that gay and lesbian couples also pay federal taxes and deserve the same legal protections and federal benefits as other couples.

"You don't save money by denying people rights in America," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.