Big Gay News
National
Iowa Republican Hopes To Be First Openly Gay Presidential Candidate
Radio Iowa reports that retired political consultant Fred Karger hopes to be the first openly gay presidential candidate. And he’s a Republican. He recently spent $100,000 to run a 90-second commercial about himself on FOX News in seven different Iowa media markets. He told a news conference in Des Moines in November that he wants to emulate candidates like Shirley Chisholm. Karger stated, “I’m a fighter. I’m fighting for millions of people around this country who are members of my community and so many others who are deemed second-class citizens.” Calling himself an independent Republican, Karger noted, “I think the Republican Party has moved so far away from mainstream America that it is losing tremendous support—people like me.”
Illinois-Legislature-Approved Civil-Union Measure Heads to Governor
According to the Chicago Tribune, same-sex civil-union legislation passed the Illinois Legislature. It now heads to Governor Pat Quinn, who’s expected to sign the measure into law. The Illinois Senate voted 32-24 in favor, following House approval. Under the legislation, same-sex couples would gain several state-level marriage benefits.
Virginia Lawmaker Claims Pat-Downs Part of “Homosexual Agenda”
WTOP reports that Virginia Republican lawmaker Eugene Delgaudio sent a controversial e-mail to members of a conservative nonprofit, calling the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) nondiscrimination hiring policy a “Gay Bill of Special Rights.” Delgaudio said, “That means the next TSA official that gives you an enhanced pat-down could be a practicing homosexual secretly getting pleasure from your submission.” He also wrote to donors that Congress’s “homosexual agenda” will lead to “men hand-in-hand skipping down to adoption centers to ‘pick out’ a little boy for themselves.”
New Jersey Attorney General Says School Board Allowed Gay-Student Bullying
According to NBC, New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow has announced that findings from a state investigation show the Emerson School Board was responsible for allowing antigay bullying against one student to persist for at least six years. The findings cite numerous complaints by parents to school officials, but add that the school did little to follow up with parents of the children accused of bullying. Eventually, the student’s parents took him out of public school, and home-schooled him. The findings are only preliminary, and the case now moves to conciliation. If that process fails, it would go to an administrative law judge for trial.
World
Kenya’s Prime Minister Threatens Gay Arrests
The BBC reports that Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga made comments indicating his government would arrest gays and lesbians caught engaging in homosexual acts. He stated, “We will not tolerate such behaviors in the country. The constitution is very clear on this issue, and men or women found engaging in homosexuality will not be spared.” After criticism from gay-rights activists, Odinga explained he only was saying that the country’s constitution bans same-sex marriages. In Kenya, homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Hundreds March in Delhi’s Gay Parade
According to the Associated Press, hundreds sang, danced, and marched their way through the Indian city of Delhi in late November in its third Gay Pride parade. GLBT and allied marchers carried flags and signs along the parade route. Sunil Gupta told reporters, “It’s a celebration of the fact that the community is here, and it’s not a kind of complaining parade. I guess underneath it, there is a kind of quiet demand for rights in various areas, but today is really just about a celebration.” Written & Compiled by Bradley Traynor
