Queer News

The New Jersey Supreme Court today ruled to guarantee Gay/Lesbian couples the same
protection under New Jersey law as their heterosexual counterparts. The ruling gives the
legislature six months to include gays in the state's current marriage statutes, or create a
new law in which gay couples “would enjoy the rights of civil marriage.” The former would
have New Jersey as only the second state, (after Massachusetts) to include gays in their
marriage laws, the latter would create civil union laws similar to those in Vermont. This
lesser option would be akin to the separate-but-equal status that blacks were relegated to
during segregation. Still, most GLBT groups feel that even the guarantee of civil unions
would be a step in the right direction towards eventual equality. (Read Full Story Here)

Like a feeble relation who refuses to stay in his room during the dinner party, President
Bush broke his election time quarantine this week and hit the campaign trail. In a scene that
should not only disgust, but frighten, Bush performed his old chestnut “It’s The Queers”
routine for a packed house of over 4,000 in Indiana’s Silver Creek High School. “Just this
week in New Jersey, another activist court issued a ruling that raises doubt about the
institution of marriage.
We believe marriage is between a man and a woman” Bristled Bush in reference to New
Jersey’s recent pro-gay court ruling. The crowd rose to their feet in complicity, and red,
white, and blue pompoms danced to the rhythmic chants of “U-S-A – U-S-A”. (Read Full
Story Here)

The worst joke to come out of Washington this week was not Kerry’s gaffe, but
the indignant facade adopted by the right wing in response. President Bush
called Kerry’s remarks “insulting” and “shameful”. The Republican National
Committee e-mailed reporters that it had posted an Internet advertisement
that calls on Kerry to apologize to U.S. Military personnel. The ad ends with
“Our soldiers are waiting.” Even middle of the road Senator John McCain and
the increasingly apathetic Hillary Clinton are demanding an apology from
Kerry. (Read Full Story Here)

The gay and lesbian community has accomplished something that no politician, no
religious leader, and no bloodbath on any killing field ever could: we have united the
world’s three major religions. Leaders of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian world have
come together in the name of homophobia, and this holy alliance has succeeded in
having Israel’s Gay Pride parade cancelled. While top Muslim leaders called
homosexuality a crime and insisted that police punish those involved in the pride parade,
prominent Jewish leader, Rabbi Yosef Elnikaveh, equated allowing the parade to
proceed with condoning “mental illness”. Last to come to the table, Pope Benedict,
weighed in with a letter sent to Isreal’s Prime Minister, the Pope declared that even the
right to freedom of expression has its limits if it “would offend the religious sentiments of
believers.” Suggesting a belief that freedom of expression is limited to only some people.
(Read Full Story Here)

While President Ford lies in state in the nation’s capitol this week, the news media will
busy itself doing what it does best; creating a palatable piece for your consumption.
Suddenly Ford’s pardon of Nixon’s participation in the Watergate crimes is being
referred to as his “healing of the nation“, his
parting words of criticism to Bush and company have him being trumpeted as some sort
of revolutionary; even our own Planet Out has erroneously cast Ford as a defender of
gay rights. Unfortunately, like most media interpretations these days, these veneers
collapse under even the lightest of scrutiny. Read Full Story Here

How ironic that New Jersey’s Civil Union laws should take effect on Monday,
February 19th, President’s Day. Like a karmic smack in the face to Bush and
company, lets hope this sends a wake up call to political panderers, the
religious right, and other intolerant dinosaurs, that you cannot stop the
progression of human rights. Some are celebrating in the streets, others lining
up for licenses, and still others decry the reminiscence of their separate-but-
equal essence of the Jim Crow laws; but love it or simply settle for it, New
Jersey now offers lesbians and gays their version of Gay Marriage.
Read Full Story Here

Perhaps inspired by his rousing appearance at The New York GLBT Center
this past week, Activist/Author Larry Kramer penned an open letter to the
American public offering the challenge, “Gays are hated. Prove me wrong.”
Published in the L.A. Times under the more tabloid title of “Why do straights
hate gays? An aging 72-year-old man isn't hopeful about the future.", the letter
has been the cause of much accusation and at least as much denial. Like most
answers in life, it all depends on whom it is that you ask. Read Full Story Here

It seems nothing in life is categorically black or white; even that stark mirror of our own
mortality, death, has wiggle room enough to sometimes be a good thing. Such were the
feelings of many in the LGBT community upon hearing of the demise of one of the chief
orchestrators of the American anti-gay industry, Jerry Falwell. Joining them in their less
than gloomy observance of Falwell's passing were many in the feminist community, the
Jewish community, and those thinking republicans who recognized that he played a major
role in the ultimate undoing of their party’s credibility. Read Full Story Here