Texas tries to revive the 'fairness doctrine' with college LGBT Groups
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Saturday, 30 April 2011 18:38
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 749
The Texas House of Representative wants to pass a bill forcing college campuses that provide money for a Gay Straight Alliance Club to provide equal funding for a Traditional Values club, according to Advocate.com. LGBT activists view the measure as a stealth attack on many Gay-Straight Alliances.
Tony McDonald, chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas said he hopes the bill will cause the Universities in the state to remove funding from the Gay-Straight Alliance clubs and similar organizations.
Texas's bill mimics an FCC policy called the fairness doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine required television and radio stations to provide equal air time when they covered controversial issues. When the FCC appealed the fairness doctrine in 1987, according to Time Magazine, it provided an opportunity for conservative talk radio to rise. Rush Limbaugh and other prominent commentators have criticized attempts to revive the fairness doctrine using logic that is nearly identical to the wording used by Texas politicians who support the bill.
Asexuals do not have many on-campus organizations yet, but the Gay-Straight Alliances do accept Asexuals into their ranks.
King and Spalding decide not to pursue DOMA, Paul Clement resigns
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Monday, 25 April 2011 22:16
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 501
Paul Clement, the former head of King and Spalding law firm, step down as head of the appellate division earlier this week, according to LGBTQ Nation. Clement's decision to step down was prompted by the decision of the law firm he represents to decide not to defend the House of Representatives in its case against the Obama administration over the defense of marriage act.
King and Spalding withdrew from the case in part because of pressure put on the firm from LGBT advocacy groups. Clement defended his decision to resign from King and Spalding by saying legal and ethical reasons compelled him to remain on the case, despite the controversial nature of the law. He added lawyers often defend unpopular clients.
Read more: King and Spalding decide not to pursue DOMA, Paul Clement resigns
Environmental activists seek advice from LGBT community about dealing with Obama
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Monday, 18 April 2011 14:25
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 531
Environmental activists are seeking help from an unlikely source. Members of environmental groups are reaching out to leaders of the gay community to figure out how to put pressure on the Obama administration, according to Politico.com
The LGBT community has faced significant gains under the Obama administration, despite the plans of the administration not to act on the controversial Don't ask, don't tell policy and the recent decision not to have the justice department defend the Defense of Marriage Act.
Environmental activists, many of whom supported Barack Obama's 2008 presidential run have not seen the same types of gains. Environmental activists hope to score a major victories, rather than the minor victories they have seen. The few gains environmentalists have seen, relate to the 2010 BP oil spill.
Tommy Williams introduces legislation to limit transgender marriage rights
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 18:52
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 513
Texas senator Tommy Williams is considering a bill that would make same-sex marriages in Texas legal under certain circumstances. Senate Bill 723 would not allow a court-ordered sex change document as proof of identity for marriage. The bill was inspired by the case of Nikki Arguz.
Nikki Arguz married a firefighter who passed away. The firefighter's family is now trying to prevent Arguz from getting benefits. The bill would curtail the right of transgender individuals who have court documents proving they had a sex change.
Read more: Tommy Williams introduces legislation to limit transgender marriage rights
Liberty High School in Missouri sends student home for wearing pro-eqaulity t0shirt
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Thursday, 14 April 2011 12:54
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 672
A student at the Liberty Valley High School in Missouri was sent home for wearing a “Queer or Straight” Equal t-shirt. The bisexual student was asked to take the shirt off. Jesse Irey, the student asked to live the Liberty, Missouri high school claimed the issue was over the word queer. The Liberty High School proclaims its building to be a hate-free zone.
School district officials allowed to restrict the speech of students if the speech is found to be disruptive to the educational environment. A recent case in Pennsylvania over the Keep a Breast's “I Heart Boobies” bracelets forced a federal injunction against the Pennsylvania Easton Area school district's ban on the bracelet.
Read more: Liberty High School in Missouri sends student home for wearing pro-eqaulity t0shirt