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Today’s BGN Headlines
EU Fails to Challenge Russia on Human Rights (BGN)
Judge Wants HIV Witness Masked in Court (BGN)
Gay Man Killed in Boston (Gay City News)
Anti-gay church says God hates Reno (KTVN Reno)
German Memorial To Honor Gay Victims (CBS News)
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Sauna Rape (Pink News UK)
ACLU sues local school for limiting speech of gays (NFDN)
NHS Trust to pay surrogates to have babies for gay couples (Daily Mail)
Hate speech denounced in resolution (The Observer)
The drama of being transgender (Minnesota Public Radio)
Transgender Bank Robber Coming Back To Cleveland (WDEF Chattanooga)
British Editor Appointed to new PlanetOut Role (Pink News UK)

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TORONTO, Jan. 30 (UPI)

A southern Ontario judge who demanded a witness with HIV and hepatitis C wear a mask while in the courtroom is being challenged by two AIDS groups.

Complaints were filed in Toronto by the rights groups with the Ontario Judicial Council about Justice Jon-Jo Douglas, who presides in Barrie, about 90 miles north of Toronto.

The trial is for a man accused of sexually assaulting a fellow inmate in a provincial prison, The Toronto Star said. In November, after the alleged victim testified about his HIV status and hepatitis, Douglas reportedly demanded he wear a mask

Crown prosecutor Karen McCleave said the judge wouldn’t listen to her claims there was no need for such measures.

“The HIV virus will live in a dried state for year after year after year and only needs moisture to reactivate itself,” the court transcript quotes Douglas as saying.

McCleave replied she wouldn’t ask the witness to wear a mask in court when he faces no such requirement in the community.

The provincial Criminal Lawyers Association has also lodged a complaint with the judicial council about Douglas, the Star said.

© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.

Today’s BGN Headlines
Free Condoms for Carnival Guaranteed by Brazil (BGN)
Gujarat’s Gay Prince to Adopt Child soon (Times of India)
Carter Leads Moderate Baptist Meeting (BGN)
Okeechobee School District Asks if Gay Club Can Meet on Campus (TCPalm.com)
Public weighs in on domestic partnership bills (Everett Herald)
Transgender Bathroom Ordinance (WKRG News 5 Mobile)
Civil union shouldn’t be civil war (Baltimore Examiner)
KGB and Militia Raid Apartment of Gay TV Journalist (Gay Wired)
Gay marriages on the rise (Radio Prague)
Gay marriage not on ballot, but still issue at polls Tuesday (Sun-Sentinel)
Bill called ‘foot in the door’ for gay rights (Provo Daily Herald)
Anti-homophobic poster campaign launched (ABC via Yahoo!7 News)
Obama’s gay-friendly endorsement (Planet Out via Yahoo! News)
Openly gay LA city council member endorses Obama (Westside Today)
Bush Greets Frank’s Boyfriend (Pink News UK)
Larry Kramer won’t pick a presidential candidate (The New Republic)
‘Don’t Drop the Soap’ game causes controversy (KCTV5)
Pfizer seeks to prevent HIV (Wall Street Journal)
Right-Wing Attempts to Weaken Work Protection in Chile (Pink News UK)

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Today’s BGN Headlines
Hard Choice for Gays in Democratic Primary [BGN]
Parents Need to Tell Their Stories About Military’s Gay Ban [BGN]
Police Investigate Alleged Rape in Gay Sauna [Pink News UK]
Transsexual Seeks GOP Nomination For Minnesota Legislature [365Gay]
‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Turns 15 [Time]
City Commission Approves Transgender Ordinance [WCJB]
Gay Chief Executives Come Out Winners [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Activists to Protest Against Moscow’s Homophobic Mayor [Pink News UK]
Sad to be Gay [Guardian UK]
Transgendered Delegate Makes DNC History [Boston Herald]
McCain Accused Of Gay Baiting In Anti-Romney Attack [Huffington Post]
Column in East End Newspaper Angers Gay Group [Newsday]

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NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (UPI)

For the first time in decades, the three leading Democratic presidential candidates have similar positions on issues that resonate with gay voters in New York.

U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards all support same-sex civil unions and favor repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, The New York Times reported Monday.

Each of the candidates has also agreed to champion a federal anti-discrimination law that would protect lesbians and gay men.

“You would need a magnifying glass to see any real or substantive differences between the three candidates,” says Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights group.

Instead of the traditional issues, gay New York Democrats are talking about the conflict in Iraq, universal health care and whether it is more important to have a president with experience or exuberance.

Pollsters estimate that lesbians and gay men make up between 5 and 13 percent of the Democratic vote in the Empire State.

© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.

 

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Today’s BGN Headlines
School Shuts Down Site Over Porn Links [BGN]
Vt. Lawmaker Does Double Duty as Comic [BGN]
Cheney’s Daughter Joins Romney Camp [BGN]
Fatal Stabbing Shakes City’s Gays [BGN]
Gay Soap Opera Seeks To Promote Safe Sex Online [BGN]
VIDEO: Gay Marriage Bills Have Almost 50 Sponsors [BGN]
Trans City Councilwoman Speaks [gay.com]
Satellite Radio Hosts Gay Presidential Caucus [Yahoo Finance]
Gay Chief Executives Come Out Winners [Philadelphia Inquirer]
LGBT Community Unites Under New Coalition [Austin 8]
Arrests in Kuwait Target Transgender People [GayWired]
N.C. Episcopalians Back Inclusion of Gays [Monterey County Herald]

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