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Today’s Headlines
Nigerian Lesbians Flee After ‘Wedding’
Child Abuse Survivors Take Gay Sex Risks
HIV Rates Up for Black, Hispanic Gay Men
Ex-Gov. Agrees to Temporary Joint Custody

ELIZABETH, N.J., April 27 (UPI)

Former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who resigned after announcing he is gay, Friday agreed with his wife to share custody of their daughter. McGreevey and Dina Matos McGreevey were at a hearing in Union County, where a judge said they have consented to a parental mediator to help them make decisions about their daughter, Jacqueline. The joint custody will continue at least until their divorce becomes final. The split has been a nasty one, featuring dueling books — Mrs. McGreevey’s is due out soon — and the former governor’s application for sole custody. Mrs. McGreevey only learned of her husband’s sexual orientation shortly before it became public knowledge in 2004. Judge Karen Cassidy told the couple she has 600 cases on her docket, and they will have to wait their turn in line.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

ATLANTA, April 27 (UPI)

HIV rates were higher among African-American and Hispanic men, according to U.S. HIV diagnosis rates from 2001-2004 for gay and bisexual men. In addition, black men who have sex with men were significantly less likely to be alive three years after AIDS diagnosis than were Hispanic or white men who have sex with men, according to the study published in the American Journal of Public Health under First Look. The researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said the poorer outcomes for minority men may be tied to later diagnosis or lack of adequate access to treatment. Among men who have sex with men, overall HIV diagnosis rates remained stable from 2001 to 2004, however, rates increased among younger age groups: 14 percent among those ages 13 to 19 and 13 percent for those ages 20 to 24. HIV intervention programs should be tailored to the needs of and behavioral context for black and Hispanic youth for effective prevention and to address stigma, distrust and health literacy to improve access to HIV prevention and care, the study authors suggest.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

BOSTON, April 27 (UPI)

Homosexual and bisexual men who were victims of childhood sexual abuse are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, says a U.S. study. Those who reported regular childhood sexual abuse were at significantly greater risk for being HIV positive, were 7 times more likely to have ever exchanged sex for money and were 6.4 times more likely to be a current drug user than those who did not report abuse, according to the study published in American Journal of Public Health under First Look. Researchers at the Boston College, University of Minnesota, University of Texas School of Public Health and Boston University School of Public Health recommend further research to help determine how childhood sexual abuse contributes to sexual risk taking in homosexual and bisexual men and the types of interventions that may be most effective.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

ABUJA, Nigeria, April 28 (UPI)

A lesbian who wed four women in Nigeria has gone into hiding with her partners to avoid being punished under Islamic law. Aunty Maiduguri and her four wives fled after police demolished the theater where their ceremony was held last Sunday in Kano State, the BBC reported Saturday. Under Islamic law, a man can have up to four wives while lesbianism is outlawed in Nigeria. The women, reported to be local actresses, violated religious law because they were born Muslim, the BBC reported. If the women are found guilty of lesbianism they could be caned or stoned to death, the BBC reported.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

 

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Today’s Headlines
NH Approves Same-Sex Unions
Syphilis Rising in US Gay Men
Gay NH Bishop to Make Union Official

CONCORD, N.H. (AP)

The Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop and his partner want to be among the first gay couples in New Hampshire united under a soon-to-be-signed civil unions law.

New Hampshire is set to become the nation’s fourth state to offer civil unions for gay couples after legislation approved by the state Senate on Thursday was sent to Gov. John Lynch, who has said he would sign it.

“My partner and I look forward to taking full advantage of the new law,” the Rev. V. Gene Robinson told The Associated Press.

Robinson, 59, was elected the ninth Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire four years ago, making him the church’s first openly gay bishop. His elevation divided the Anglican community.

Robinson’s partner of 18 years, Mark Andrew, 53, is a state health care administrator. They live in Weare, a small town west of Concord.

Robinson said his long journey to where he is today began as a boy in Kentucky when he found he was not attracted to women. As an adult, he spent two years in therapy seeking a “cure” for his homosexual urges.

He told his girlfriend, Isabella, about his sexual struggles, but they married anyway in 1972, moving to rural New Hampshire and having two daughters. Robinson eventually realized he would not change and the two divorced.

“The hardest thing is coming out to yourself. You’ve internalized the same homophobia as the rest of the culture,” he said in an interview four years ago.

Soon after the divorce, Robinson met Andrew who was then working for the Peace Corps in Washington. A year and a half later, the two settled in Weare, where Andrew began accompanying Robinson to his daughters’ after-school activities.

In 1988, Robinson became assistant to New Hampshire Bishop Douglas Theuner. He lost elections for bishop in Newark, N.J., in 1998 and in Rochester, N.Y., in 1999.

Robinson said he feared for his job when he first told Theuner he was gay. But when he decided to seek elevation to bishop, he did not waver in the face of calls for him to back away.

“God and I have been about this for quite a while now and I would be really surprised if God were to want me to stop now,” Robinson said in response to one such call.

To many, Robinson has become a symbol of progress. He was welcomed two years ago at New York’s gay pride parade by marchers and spectators who reached out to touch his hand, cheered, cried and thanked him.

Robinson has said before that he would marry Andrew if he could.

“I think this moves us one step closer to the American promise to all its citizens of equality under the law,” he said. “New Hampshire understands fairness and has acted on that value,”

But Robinson said more needs to be done. In particular, he said gay couples should have full civil legal rights under federal law.

“I don’t think it will happen until we get several more states,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a majority, but it has to be a significant number embracing full marriage rights until we can expect that at the federal level.”

Robinson predicted gays would have full equality in 20 years, and he attributed the gains to gays being open about their homosexuality.

“Fifteen to 20 years ago, most Americans would have told you and been reasonably honest that they did not know a gay or lesbian. Now, there’s not a family left, or a co-worker, that doesn’t know someone,” he said.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ATLANTA, April 26 (UPI)

The rate of syphilis has risen sharply among U.S. homosexual and bisexual men, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The agency said the overall syphilis rate rose 19 percent between 2000 and 2003, and this increase was exclusively in men. Although the gender of infected people’s sexual partners was not specified in the statistics, the incidence of syphilis in women dropped another 53 percent during this time period, while the incidence in men rose by 62 percent. That led the CDC concluded that homosexual and bisexual men are the principal population group represented. By comparison, the incidence of syphilis in the United States between 1990 and 2003 plummeted by 90 percent. Public health officials attribute this to a nationwide prevention campaign aimed at heterosexuals. CDC said the recent upswing in rates of the disease from 2000 to 2003 might be caused by increasing illicit drug use, safe-sex fatigue, and prevention messages getting drowned out by the buzz about new medications keeping AIDS patients alive. We’ve fallen behind in our prevention efforts, said Kahlil Ghanem of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. We have to get back on track with prevention messages if we want to curb this outbreak. Officials noted that, while syphilis can be easily cured with antibiotics, it can cause dementia and death if left untreated. The research is published in this week’s online edition of The American Journal of Public Health.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

CONCORD, N.H., April 26 (UPI)

New Hampshire lawmakers Thursday approved a measure legalizing civil unions between gay and lesbian couples. The Nashua Telegraph said the final vote was 14-10, with all Democrats supporting the bill and all Republicans opposing it. Gov. John Lynch has said he will sign the measure. This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination, the governor’s communications director Colin Manning told the newspaper. It is in keeping with New Hampshire’s proud tradition of preventing discrimination, and Gov. Lynch will sign it into law. The bill, which will take effect Jan. 1 if signed into law, will allow gays and lesbians over age 18 to form civil unions. It will recognize civil unions from other states, the newspaper said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

 

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Today’s Headlines
IA House Approves Gay Rights Bill
Republicans Say Lesbian Lobbyist Violated House Rules
Lesbian Couple Sues Osceola and Officers Over Beating

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)

A lesbian couple who claim they were beaten by police are suing the city of Osceola and two officers.

Ann Senior and Jessica Anderson have accused two police officers of beating them outside a bar in 2005. Court records show the women had called police to report a threat of men harassing them.

The women claim the officers — Rich Thomas and J.J. Murray — used excessive force and assaulted them. They are asking a federal judge to order the city to reimburse them for their medical bills and compensate them for emotional distress. They say the officers have a prejudice against homosexuals.

Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus says the officers are still working and have no disciplinary history.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SALEM, Ore. (AP)

House Republicans are complaining about a lesbian lobbyist because she attended a long debate about gay rights last week with her partner — state Representative Tina Kotek — at her desk on the House floor.

Kotek and labor lobbyist Aimee Wilson sat together as the House passed bills to give same-sex couples the benefits of marriage and to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. Kotek kissed Wilson on the cheek after the bills passed.

Today, the House Republican leader complained that Wilson’s presence violated House rules that prohibit lobbyists from being on the House floor while the chamber is in session.

House Minority leader Wayne Scott has asked House Speaker Jeff Merkley and the House chief clerk to investigate the matter. Kotek has declined comment.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)

Gays and lesbians may soon enjoy more civil rights protections after the Legislature approved a bill Wednesday that would allow them equal opportunity in employment, housing and other areas.

The House had blocked the measure for weeks but voted to approve it early Wednesday night, sending it to the Senate where it passed hours later.

Gov. Chet Culver said he plans to sign the proposal, calling the bill historic and commending lawmakers for their votes.

“I think it’s a good bill, a very strong bill,” said Ralph Rosenberg, who heads the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which enforces the civil rights laws. “It sends a strong message.”

The House added an amendment to clarify that the proposal wouldn’t alter a state law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

House Minority Leader Chris Rants, R-Sioux City, opposed the measure, saying he wanted to underscore the state marriage law.

“A lot of Republicans wanted to protect marriage,” Rants said.

Rants had earlier threatened to lock up Republicans and force Democrats to find enough support in their party to approve the measure. But Democratic leaders used a rare procedure to force all lawmakers at the Statehouse into the House, where the doors were locked and the vote was taken.

Rants said he eventually allowed Republican lawmakers to vote as they wish.

“I don’t break arms,” Rants said.

After the vote, an emotional House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, left the chamber to compose himself. Murphy said he’s twice pushed for new protections for gays and lesbians and was losing hope that it would pass.

“I was probably a little tired and a little emotional” after the vote, Murphy said.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have enacted similar protections for gays and lesbians. In Iowa, several local governments have enacted ordinances providing those protections, including Ames, Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City and Johnson County.

Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, said the bill was not about offering special protections for gays.

“It’s about ending discrimination,” she said. “It’s time to extend civil rights protections to all Iowans.”

Wessel-Kroeschell said the state’s anti-gay stance has led to many bright and talented young people leaving the state. The effort got significant backing from the business community, where executives are struggling to find workers. They pushed the Legislature to not limit the pool of potential workers available, she said.

“Businesses and big companies are way ahead of the state on this,” Wessel-Kroeschell said. “Businesses know that employees and more productive when they are secure in their jobs.”

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.