National Roundup
Windy City Times
by Andrew Davis
June 3, 2009

In Minnesota, members of gay-rights group Project 515 are pleased that Gov. Tim Pawlenty has signed a measure that protects the property rights of all unmarried couples, including same-sex ones, according to Minnesota Public Radio. ( The group's name reflects the 515 state laws they feel discriminate against same-sex couples. ) Laura Smidzik, who leads the group, said, “I think people have no idea how much discrimination actually exists. And when you really dive into the 515 statutes I think it really changes the conversation and that's what our goal is.”

Former presidential candidate and ex-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said the “tide is turning” on same-sex marriage and that the subject will one day be a non-issue, RadioIowa.com reported. However, Dean also said he was “shocked” when same-sex marriage was approved in Iowa because he “knew so much about Iowa because [ he ] spent so much time here.”

In Massachusetts, Fabio Brandao pleaded guilty to nine criminal charges for taking part in an attack on three gay men and a woman last August in Boston, according to the Boston Globe. Four men in a white Honda drove up to the victims, yelling anti-gay slurs before attacking them. Brandao has to, among other terms, complete an anger-management program and pay the victims' medical bills, which total $4,250. The other three assailants have not been caught.

A new study released by the Williams Institute shows that married same-sex couples in Massachusetts have reported positive effects of marriage on their families, according to a press release. The release stated, in part, that “marriage has enhanced same-sex couples' commitment to each other and has improved the lives of their children. Families and communities have also responded positively to same-sex couple's marriages, giving gay and lesbian couples and their children a sense of security and legitimacy.”

The Levi Strauss Foundation announced that it will make separate $25,000 donations to the National Center For Lesbian Rights ( NCLR ) and the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, according to a company press release. Robert Haas, president of the Levi Strauss Foundation, said, “We're making this commitment to these leading equal-rights organizations because they are at the forefront of vital legal, public policy, community-building work to promote social justice. This is a critical time for businesses, community organizations and citizens to join together to achieve equal rights for all.”

There is more controversy in the life of Miss California Carrie Prejean. According to an ABC News item, lesbian sales rep Valerie Vetrano has claimed that she was in a same-sex relationship with Prejean's mother, Francine Coppola. Vetrano said that the relationship ended shortly before Prejean entered the Miss USA competition.

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The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to hold the first congressional hearings on the Uniting American Families Act, which would legalize same-sex binational couples, Advocate.com reported. “The hearings are really tremendous and an indication of the momentum and traction that the issue has on the Hill,” said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality.

ExxonMobil's shareholders have again rejected a proposal to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the company's equal employment opportunity policy, according to Advocate.com. Before merging with Exxon in 1999, Mobil had sexual orientation in its policy, but the category was removed when ExxonMobil was formed. Overall, 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their policies, and more than 35 percent have gender identity in theirs.

In Rhode Island, a Brown University poll showed that 60 percent of the state's registered voters are in favor of same-sex marriage, Advocate.com reported. A state legislative committee has not passed a marriage-equality bill despite the fact that a measure has been introduced annually for the past 12 years.

Retired Archbishop Rembert Weakland plans to donate the proceeds from sales of his forthcoming memoir to the Catholic Community Foundation, a Wisconsin organization, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The memoir, “A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church,” is due out in June. In the book, Weakland writes about his homosexuality and not adequately overseeing pedophile priests. Weakland, 82, resigned seven years ago after it was revealed that he had paid $450,000 to Paul Marcoux, a former Marquette University theology student who accused him of date rape in 1979.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources, COLAGE and Family Equality Council have released a curriculum designed to help communities of faith support LGBT people and their families, according to a Task Force press release. Among the items in the “All in God's Family” kit are Families Like Mine, a book about adults with LGBT parents written by Abigail Garner, whose father is gay; and a CD containing the exhibit “That's So Gay: Portraits of Youth with LGBT Parents.”

In Maryland, the Montgomery County Council voted to remove $55,000 in county funding from Food & Friends—a D.C. nonprofit that delivers meals to people living with HIV/AIDS and cancer—because of executive director Craig Shniderman's huge salary, according to the Washington Examiner. According to records, Shniderman made $357,447 in salary and benefits in 2007. The agency is reportedly “saddened and puzzled” by the decision.

Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell has implied that Pentagon officials are discussing the possible repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” according to Advocate.com. Morrell said, in part, “Although [ repealing the policy ] will require changes to the law, the secretary and chairman are working to address the challenges associated with implementation of the president's commitment.”

In Provincetown, Mass., 20-year-old Eric L. Patten was arrested and charged with a hate crime after he allegedly attacked a woman he believed to be lesbian, according to On Top Magazine. “Patten was screaming biased anti-gay language and punching [ her ] ,” Provincetown police Sergeant Carrie Lopes said. “There were all these women crying. They were just very agitated and visibly upset, not just by what they saw but by what they heard.” For decades, Provincetown has been known as a gay haven.

In Escondido, Calif., dozens of students from Escondido Charter High School wore T-shirts and held a rally to support Katlyn Salazar and Jasmine Melvin, a lesbian couple who were allegedly reprimanded for holding hands on campus, the North County Times reported. School administrator Shawn Roner denied admonishing the girls, and said that a misunderstanding is at the heart of the controversy. The school's policy allows hand-holding, regardless of sexual orientation.

In a night full of outrageousness at the recent MTV Movie Awards, rapper Eminem stormed out of the event after comedian Sacha Baron Cohen—reprising his Bruno character—descended and landed in the hip-hopper's lap, according to People.com. However, the night belonged to Twilight, which snagged five awards; Slumdog Millionaire did not win, despite six nominations.

The finale of the 2009 America's Gay Bachelor contest will take place at the W Hotel San Diego June 20, according to an organizational press release. The five finalists are Mr. Arizona, Mr. California, Mr. Indiana, Mr. Massachusetts and Mr. Rhode Island, and guest judges will include out singer Ari Gold. See www.AmericasGayBachelor.com for more info.

Actress/talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi have topped a new poll that asked U.S. mothers which celebrities they would feel most comfortable leaving their kids with, taking 31 percent of the vote, USMagazine.com. Jennifer Aniston came in second at 22 percent, beating Angelina Jolie and partner Brad Pitt, who got 18 per cent of votes. Oprah Winfrey received just 9 percent of the vote.

On The View, actor David Hyde Pierce—best known for his role as Niles Crane on TV's Frasier—revealed that he married his male partner last fall in California, according to TVGuide.com. Pierce, who got married a few weeks before the state's voters passed Proposition 8, was angered by the California Supreme Court's recent decision upholding the initiative, declaring it was not the judicial body's business.

A new book about the late talk-show host/mogul Merv Griffin allegedly reveals his same-sex romances with Hollywood stars, according to PerezHilton.com. In Merv Griffin: A Life in the Closet, Griffin is portrayed as having a very sexually active life, hooking up with actors such as Rock Hudson, James Dean and Liberace as well as having “a prolonged sexual affair” with Marlon Brando.

A daytime soap star has reportedly left a show because of a same-sex kiss. Chris Engen, who played Adam on The Young and the Restless, allegedly walked off the set because he refused to kiss Rafe, the only gay character on the serial ( played by Yani Gellman ) , according to Advocate.com. Adam will be played by Michael Muhney ( TV's Veronica Mars ) starting with the June 25 episode.

Drew Barrymore, Kathy Griffin, Sophia Bush ( of TV's One Tree Hill ) , George Takei, Kelly Osbourne and singer/actress Deborah Gibson were among the celebrities who took to the streets of Hollywood to protest the California Supreme Court's decision regarding Proposition 8, according to OneIndia.com. Osbourne said, “It goes without saying that if you love someone, you should be able to marry them—no matter.” In addition, Parade.com reported that George Clooney said, “This just should invigorate people to get it back on the ballot in 2010 and 2012 and every two years until all people are allowed a basic civil right.”