Big Gay News – May 17, 2012

1-Mexico
Libertarian Nominee Slams Republicans For Gay Spokesman Flap

BuzzFeed.com reports that new Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson accused the Republicans of wrongdoing for the situation surrounding Mitt Romney’s openly gay foreign policy spokesman Richard Grenell. Johnson said: “It speaks volumes to the intolerance that continues to be present in the Republican Party. I believe the majority of Americans are fiscally responsible and socially tolerant. I believe the majority of Americans could care less about whether or not there is a gay individual working in the Romney campaign. The activists driving that agenda. That intolerance is why the world vilifies Republicans.”

 

2-USA
Columnist Dan Savage Stands By Comments On “Bullshit In The Bible”

CNN reports that Dan Savage is standing by his line that “we can learn to ignore the bullshit in the Bible about gay people,” a comment that prompted some high-school students at a conference to walk away from the anti-bullying speech. Teacher Rick Tuttle said: “It became very hostile toward Christianity, to the point that many students did walk out, including some of my students.” Savage explained: “I was not attacking the faith in which I was raised. I was attacking the argument that gay people must be discriminated against because it says right there in the Bible that being gay is wrong.”

 

BigGayNews from Massachussetts:
John Kerry Letter Backs Gay Couple

The Salem News reports that Senator John Kerry has written a letter to the Department of Homeland Security in support of a young married binational lesbian couple from Beverly. One of the women faces deportation to her native Pakistan because of the federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act’s definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. Kerry said: “She is certain that if she is forced to return to Pakistan, her life will be in danger, not only because of her sexual orientation and her marriage to a United States citizen, but for religious reasons as well.” The Defense of Marriage Act is still enforced in the U.S. even though the Obama administration announced in 2011 that it will no longer defend the constitutionality of the law in court.

 

BigGayNews from New Jersey:
Transgender Woman Denied Mammogram Wins Battle

Transgender women and men are often denied routine care. The New York Daily News reports that 44-year-old transgender woman Beth Scott won a settlement against her health insurance carrier after being denied coverage for a routine mammogram. Health provider Aetna stated a policy exclusion for treatments related to sex reassignment. Beth Scott had developed breasts after undergoing hormone therapy, and she had been advised her to seek the breast cancer check.

Her employer agreed to cover Scott’s future mammograms as well as prostate exams.

 

BigGayNews from Tennessee :
Tennessee “Don’t Say Gay” Bill To Get Axed

Huffington Post reports that a key Republican sponsor said he simply won’t bring a bill meant to eliminate public school discussion of gay issues. State Rep. Joey Hensley said: “With that assurance and the opposition of some people who didn’t want to vote on it, I’ve decided simply not to bring it up.” The wording of the legislation read “[N]o public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.” The state of Missouri is currently considering its own “don’t say gay” legislation.

 

3-United Kingdom

BigGayNews from the United Kingdom:
Cameron Prepared to Back Down on Support for Gay Marriage Law 

The Daily Mail reports that Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to put on hold his plans to legalize gay marriage after his party’s disappointing performance in local elections. Cameron’s support for gay marriage is controversial among backbenchers who would rather focus on the really important issues. A Cardinal by the name of Keith O’Brien has also criticized Cameron for “attempting to redefine marriage for a small minority of activists” and proposing reforms that would “shame the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world.”

 

BigGayNews from England :
Vatican Rep Wants Alliance With Jews, Muslims, to Combat Gay Marriage

JewishPress.com reports that a Vatican representative to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, wants Jews and Muslims to unite with Christians to fight the proposition of legalizing gay marriage in England. Mennini said: “It seems to me that, concerning the institution of marriage, and indeed the sanctity of human life, we have much in common with the position of the Jewish community, the Chief Rabbi and many of the more significant representatives of Islam.” Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone is considering legalizing gay marriage in the UK. Archbishop Peter Smith said: “We will work with anyone who agrees with us that to redefine marriage is not a good thing for society and will lead to more confusion.”

 

BigGayNews from England :
Doctors Neglect Gay and Bisexual Men

OnMedica reports that a survey showed doctors should be reminded of their duty to avoid neglecting the health needs of gay and bisexual men. Survey respondents averaged higher levels of domestic abuse, mental illness, and use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. About 50% gay and bisexual men are said to have taken drugs in the last twelve months, compared with 12% of men overall. How many gay and bisexual men have ever discussed prostate or bowel cancer with a healthcare professional? Only 10% have.

 

4-Australia
BigGayNews from Australia:
Gays Help Ease Sperm Shortage For Aspiring Mothers

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a recruitment drive aimed at gays has contributed to a meaningful reduction in the waiting times for Australian women seeking a sperm donor in their bid to get pregnant. Australian women were waiting up to 18 months for donor sperm about a year ago. The waiting time has decreased to about eight weeks, thanks partly to a local donor drive that targeted gay men.

 

BigGayNews from Australia:
“Being gay is like being left handed” 

Australia’s news.com reports that former High Court judge Michael Kirby told a federal parliamentary inquiry into same-sex marriage that he and his brother were both born with traits that set them apart from the mainstream. Justice Kirby said: “It’s like being left-handed. My brother is left-handed and I was gay. I rose to be one of the significant judicial citizens of this country, but I was always a second-class citizen.” Kirby has had a 43-year relationship with his partner.
He says society must come to terms with the fact that sexual orientation is not an anti-social choice, but rather a personality trait.