House Passes Non-Inclusive ENDA, 235-184
On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the bill that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) withdrew her amendment adding transgender protections to HR 3685 at the end of the debate.
A Senate version of ENDA has not yet been filed. If passed by both houses, President Bush would likely veto the final version of the bill.
?When confronted with the possibility of Congress moving forward with a bill that stripped out protections for transgender people, the activist and grassroots backbone of our movement responded almost instantaneously in unprecedented numbers with conviction, passion and political savvy. We are frustrated with this course of action, but it will not stop us from pressing forward toward our ultimate goal: nondiscrimination protections for everyone in our community.? ? Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
How they voted:
Missouri
Democrats - Carnahan, Y; Clay, Y; Cleaver, Y; Skelton, N.
Republicans - Akin, N; Blunt, N; Emerson, N; Graves, N; Hulshof, N.
Kansas
Democrats - Boyda, Y; Moore, Y.
Republicans - Moran, N; Tiahrt, N.
Rosie O'Donnell Might Get Prime-Time MSNBC Slot
Emboldened by the popularity of its outspoken, anti-status quo star Keith Olbermann, MSNBC is looking to air programs with a similar mind-set. One option is to bring onboard Rosie O'Donnell to take the 8 p.m. CST weeknight slot. This placement would pit her against Larry King Live on CNN and Hannity & Colmes on Fox News.
UPDATE: Ms. O?Donnell will not be coming to MSNBC after all.
Lesbian Couple Named "Cutest" at Illinois High School
The student body at Waukegan High School in northeastern Illinois has voted two lesbian women as its "cutest couple." Brandy Johnson and Lupe Silva's photo will appear in the senior yearbook alongside those of the opposite-sex pairs that were runners up.
Topeka Church Loses Civil Suit
On October 31, a jury in Maryland ruled against the God Hates Everything clan of the Topeka, Kan., Westboro Baptist Church in a federal lawsuit. Albert Snyder had sued Westboro for invasion of privacy after church members picketed his son's, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's, funeral as part of their anti-gay hate campaign.
Compensatory damages were assessed at $2.9 million, the punitive damages award was $6 million and the emotional distress remuneration came in at $2 million.
Reaction to Warrensburg Commitment Ceremony Announcement
When the announcement of their November 13 commitment ceremony appeared in the September 26 edition of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal, John Scott, Jr., 29, and Elijah Davidson, 29, were pleased. Some of the other residents in their central west Missouri college town were not.
The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal reported receiving several letters opposing its editorial decision to publish the same-sex commitment ceremony announcement. "Your bold decision to promote this lifestyle is a flagrant attack on the traditional family God has instituted for us," wrote Warrensburg First Baptist Church pastor Bob Ingle.
A handful of advertisers have decided to pull their ads from the paper, and several subscribers have canceled their subscriptions over the issue.
Around 900 daily newspapers ran same-sex commitment ceremony announcements by the end of 2006, according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
To support the paper, write the editor here: news@dailystarjournal.com.
To read the \November 2, 2007 NewsBriefs, go to NewsBriefs - November 2, 2007.
Reaction to Warrensburg Commitment Ceremony Announcement
When the announcement of their November 13 commitment ceremony appeared in the September 26 edition of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal, John Scott, Jr., 29, and Elijah Davidson, 29, were pleased. 