* Volume 22 *
In This Newsletter
Lesbians' Death Sentence Denied
The situation of a lesbian couple reportedly sentenced to death in the autonomous Puntland region of Somalia became murkier February 23, as the regional government denied even that a trial had taken place and the newspaper that broke the story retracted it and apologized. Yet the United Nations' Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) has named the women and claims to know where they're being held.
Early reports had an unnamed lesbian couple sentenced to death for "exercising unnatural behavior" by a court in Bosaso on February 19 while a crowd of hundreds cheered. IRIN described this as the first case of its kind in Somalia and said the death would be by stoning, although Agence France Presse (AFP) said Puntland executions are rare and performed by firing squad. IRIN cited unnamed local sources as saying the couple had come to the attention of authorities when one woman sued her partner for refusing to pay for her medical treatment; the BBC said the treatment was for a sexually transmitted disease the partner had acquired in the U.S. and passed on to the plaintiff. IRIN's latest report names the women as Ishmahaan Awil, 21, and Farhia (last name unknown), 19, and says they are being held incommunicado in Bosaso's main prison. The date of the execution was expected by Somali media to be announced in the coming week.
The Puntland government has a track record of denial when accused of human rights abuses. But in addition the Qaran newspaper -- the basis of the AFP report -- printed a retraction and an apology to its readers. Qaran is based in Mogadishu, home of Somalia's government, which is at odds with the self-declared autonomous Puntland regional government.
Legislative Updates: CO, NE, MT, UT, AR, TX, WV, KY, AZ
Because of the large number of updates MSH has made a seperate page for this. Please click on the following link to read the updates.
UT to Make Marriage a Felony?
The Utah state Senate on February 8 unanimously approved a bill targeting polygamy -- after ensuring the measure would make it a felony to perform a marriage for a gay or lesbian couple. It is believed that SB 146 would only apply to gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies if the parties involved sought some legal benefit of marriage. But a more liberal Salt Lake family law attorney, Laura Milliken Gray, believes lawsuits are certain to ensue. The bill moves next to the Utah House. (Enactment of a similar anti-polygamy measure will soon be sought in Arizona.)
The "Salt Lake Tribune" contacted the Reverend Silvia Behrend of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, who presides at gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies but always includes in them a statement that marriage of the couples is illegal in the state. She said, "So now they want to haul me off to jail? Would I continue? Yes, because it is a fundamental tenet of my faith that all people are created equally and have inherent worth and the right to celebrate their commitment."
Paper's Gay Series Upsets Readers
More than 350 subscribers to The Roanoke (Va.) Times have cancelled their subscriptions in the past two weeks to protest a controversial four-part series about the city's growing gay and lesbian community, according to newspaper officials. The record number of cancellations to the 100,000-daily circulation paper coincided with hundreds of angry phone calls, e-mails, and letters to the editor that have been received since the series ran between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4. Angry readers have called the coverage everything from "inappropriate sex education" to "glamorizing immoral lifestyles." "There was a huge shock to Roanoke," said Times editor Mike Riley. "No one knew it or fully accepted it that this is a haven for gays."
The series, which editors said involved months of reporting by several reporters that dated back to last summer, included eight stories. Topics ranged from how gay men and lesbians meet and date in the conservative southern city to the jobs they hold to their religious beliefs. The series is available online at http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/livinggay/.
In addition, Managing Editor Rich Martin penned two columns -- on the first and last days of the series -- explaining the project to readers and inviting comment. Among the reasons Martin cited for running the series was the reaction in the community to the Sept. 22 shooting at a predominantly gay cafe in town, which left one patron dead and six wounded. The prime suspect in the case reportedly told police he wanted to "waste" some gay people. Among the complaints were those from readers who objected to the series being run so prominently on Page One, where each day's story would be given the main art space. "We do not need photographs of homosexuals kissing in our newspaper," read one letter to the editor. "I was mortified." Local gay leaders also have supported the paper's work on the touchy issue. "I think the series has been balanced and well-handled," said the Rev. Catherine Houchins of The Metropolitan Community Church in Roanoke, which serves the gay and lesbian community. "I think they presented, not promoted."
LOST
This is dedicated to Robin and her lover
Most relationships give some warning when they are about to end. This one was no different, there was a warning, but its finality was the most heartbreaking of them all. On Friday, the 9th of February, they were told that she had cancer and that she would have about a month to live. I watched the not sick partner turn from a woman full of life to a woman that was dying with her partner. She went from laughter and fooling to despair.
On Monday when she came to work after a long weekend of hopelessness and as I watched her walk towards her workstation, she looked like a woman on the way to the gallows. All life was gone out of her. On Tuesday, she came to work but received a phone call to go to the hospital right away as her partner had been admitted. Silently I prayed that she would be careful in driving there. She did not make it to the hospital in time to say good-bye to her friend. From a month to four days together. Four days! Where is the justice in that? I only pray that in those four days they had, so precious and so short, that they found time to share a few laughs between the tears.
Let this be a lesson for us all. Live each day with your partner as though it could be the last day you will ever have together. It could well be. Our time together is not guaranteed. Let no one into your special relationship. When choosing your friends, make friends together that will be there for you if and when you should need their comfort later on. Enjoy every minute that you have and never go to bed without telling each other how much you mean to each other. You may never have the chance if you wait till morning.
Discrimination
The Curran House, located at 312 South 3rd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, was reported this afternoon as having refused a woman a room because she was going to share the room with another woman. The Innkeeper, Vickie Stringer reportedly said that her husband "would not like that" and refused the room reservation.
In order to verify this story, a call was placed at around 8:40p.m. on Sunday February 4, 2001 to the Inn, and Innkeeper Greg Stringer answered the phone. The caller, a male, tried to make a reservation for next weekend and was asked if he would be bringing his wife. When he said "no", that he would be bringing his boyfriend, Mr. Stringer said he was completely full. The male then asked when the first opportunity would be to stay at the Inn, and Mr. Stringer said that if it was for "two gentlemen" he would "not have them under his roof."
The caller asked if he was aware that his Inn was a public establishment advertised by the visitor's center here in Wilmington, and Mr. Stringer said yes, but that did not matter. He repeated that he would not have two men under his roof staying together.
The link below is to the site for the Inn, and it contains the phone numbers and contact information to register protest for these discriminatory actions.
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/bbc/p240924.asp Send a message that this type of discrimination will not be tolerated. (1-800-763-6603 toll free number to the Curran House)
Submited by: Sophia866
Politicians Retirement
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions in this election year. Our Senators and Congressmen do not pay into social security, and of course, therefore they do not collect from it. Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. Many years ago they voted in their benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all it is a great plan.
For all practical purposes their plan works like this. When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time by the cost of living adjustments. For example, Senator Robert Byrd, and Congressman Bob White and their wives, may expect to draw $7,900,000.00, with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average lifespan for each.
Their cost for this excellent plan is $"0", nada, zilch. This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan.
This fine retirement plan funds come directly from the General Funds -- our tax dollars at work! With Social Security, which you and I pay, or have paid, into every payday for our retirement, with an equal amount matched by our employer, we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month from OUR Social Security plan. Or, we would have to collect our benefits for 68 years and 1 month to equal Bradley's benefits. Imagine for a moment that you could structure a retirement so desirable that people would have extra amounts deducted from their pay to enhance their own personal retirement income. A retirement plan that worked so well, that Railroad Employees, Postal Workers, and others who were not in the plan would clamor to be included.
This is how good Social Security could be, if only one small change were made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan out from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us and then watch how fast they would fix it.
If enough people read or receive this in a email, maybe a seed will be planted, and maybe good changes will evolve.
Submitted by: Okiefemme
Sells Off Stickers Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan has closed the book on a campaign for tolerance that proved divisive, but a new chapter is beginning in its struggle over the status of gays and lesbians. On February 22 the City Commission voted 5 to 1 to sell at cost its remaining "We Are Traverse City" bumper stickers to the group Hate-Free Traverse City, the dissenter sharing the American Family Association (AFA) of Michigan's preference to destroy them. But even as the city government closed the book on the sticker episode, it was reviewing signatures on a petition for a November referendum to amend the city charter to prohibit any ordinance or policy extending any "protected status" to gays, lesbians and bisexuals. That proposal, modeled after one in Cincinnati, Ohio that was approved by a federal appeals court both before and after the U. S. Supreme Court struck down Colorado's similar Amendment 2, was carried by Traverse City Citizens Voting Yes for Equal Rights Not Special Rights with the support of AFA-Michigan, the state chapter of Donald Wildmon's Tupelo, Mississippi-based national AFA.
The move to proactively prohibit civil rights protections in Traverse City is one of a group of similar campaigns being mounted in Michigan cities by the AFA, repeating a series of campaigns that failed last year. Kalamazoo Citizens for Equal Rights is expected to turn in signatures on February 23 on its essentially identical petition. Grand Rapids and Grand Ledge campaigns have already fizzled. Royal Oak residents will vote May 1 on whether or not to adopt an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on a list of categories including "male or female heterosexuality, bisexuality or homosexuality." As it happens, one of the biggest signature-gathering periods in Traverse City, using AFA volunteers from all over the area, was the weekend Fred Phelps and a half-dozen of his Westboro Baptist Church clan were picketing the Traverse City government building and a handful of local churches whose denominations he believes to be "soft on gays." But while Phelps proudly declares that "God Hates Fags," both TC campaigner Rathburn and AFA-Michigan leader Gary Glenn insist they are acting out of "love and compassion."
Opposing the anti-gay initiative is the Traverse City Campaign Against Discrimination, but TCCAD has made no attempt to block the signature-gathering process. That's despite the assertion of the statewide Triangle Foundation's policy director Sean Kosofsky that signature-gatherers "were flat out lying" to city residents by saying their proposal "is for equal rights." The petition must still go through several steps before it reaches the November referendum: the City Attorney must review and approve the petition, the City Commission must approve a resolution for the proposal to be placed on the ballot, and then the state Attorney-General must approve it as well.
Short Time Topic's
Introduce yourself to 1,100 fascinating women at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Women's Night, March 3 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Ellen DeGeneres presents Megan Mullally of "Will & Grace" with the Creative Integrity Award.. Dancing, dinner, and lots of stars--an evening you do not want to miss. For information call (310) 996-1188 or visit http://www.womensnight.com
End of the Xena-Gabrielle Tease? Here's an even better rumor: that the season finale (also the permanent end of the series) of syndicated Xena: Warrior Princess will do a little more than just tease us about the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle. A couple of weeks ago they were about to speak frankly about it with an anachronistic television reporter when his broadcast sank into static as his camera battery died, leaving one brief break in the static where we could only hear Xena say, "Technically..."
Opinions & Editorials
My Name Is Miss To You
Written By: Bestwolf
Ms always strikes me as being spelled by someone that can't spell, or said by
someone with a deep southern accent and that would be Miz. Anyway, not long ago,
my ex's new lover started calling me Miss .... and at first I thought she was just being
an A**, but then I thought maybe it was out of respect. LOL, forget that, but all of a
sudden I realized I liked it. I am Miss, out of choice. Why should I have become a Mrs.
like her when it would only have hurt two people, me and the man I would have married
because society dictated the way women were to live, married with children. Of course
when I was younger there were a lot of convenient marriages of lesbians to gay men,
they being the best looking men around now and then, but when I dreamed of having
triplets one night....that’s another story.
Most of my adult life when confronted by men that don’t know an adam from an apple, I
was addressed as Mr. by sight, but lets face it I still sit to pee and refuse to get a
shenus to stand up to do so, thus I am a woman, not married, and demand to be called
Miss, NOT Ms.
If this profile fits you, don't be afraid to get the respect you deserve, and never be
ashamed to be called MISS, in fact make them spell it right, MISS. Of course if you
are a feminist, you can be called Ms, that will separate the lesbians from the feminists.
Lesbians can spell.
Abortion
Written By: Crazy Aussie
It is the woman's body and only she has the right to choose what to do with it. When something goes wrong with the pregnancy the baby is always sacrificed in favor of the mother, unless the mother refuses treatment. A lot of people agree that this is acceptable and abortion should be available in such a case. But I think that's a little too simplified. What if the pregnancy threatens the woman's quality of life, what if it only threatens her quality of life for a period of time, e.g. for the 9 months that she is pregnant? What about mental illnesses which are much harder to diagnose and quantify? What about if the woman will be ostracized and disowned by her family if she went through with the pregnancy. What about if she would lose out on her career? What about if she simply does not want the 9 month pregnancy? Where and who draws the line? Why would you be more sympathetic to the woman whose family would disown her then you would to the woman who would lose out on career opportunities?
Morality ranges between individuals. Laws uphold morality and are made by courts and politicians in accordance to what they interpret as the social values of the time. But issues such as abortion and euthanasia are difficult to legislate because they interfere with out rights to determine what happens to our own bodies, because they go against our intrinsic views that killing is bad, and because, in the case of abortion, we are dealing with what some define as life or a potential for life.
People's views on abortion will vary according to their beliefs and morals. The issue of abortion often turns into an issue not of morality, but of forcing others to share your morality. I don't know what my personal views on abortion are, whether I would be able to undergo the procedure. I do know that I would not want to be the one to deny anyone access to an abortion. That stems from my view that fetus is not yet a child and a life in its own right and therefore does not and should not have the same rights as a child. It has the potential for life and to be a child, but then so does a sperm, which then leads to the morality of contraceptives. However someone who steadfastly believes that a fetus is life and has the same rights as that of a born child would disagree with me. I personally think that their logic is flawed but freedom of speech and thought allows them that view and gives them the right to voice it, within the confines of the law. Those same rights however allow me to voice my own view, that abortion is and should be a personal decision and it is not up to other people to approve or disapprove of it. Law, as it stands at the moment, places liberal confines on it, and those are enough. As Michael Jay Tucker so eloquently explained it, "If the anti-abortion movement took a tenth of the energy they put into noisy theatrics and devoted it to improving the lives of children who have been born into lives of poverty, violence, and neglect, they could make a world shine."
Ask Not
Written By:Bestwolf
In 1960, President John F Kennedy stated in his inaugural address, “Ask not what
your country can do for you…. Ask what you can do for your country…”
Here it is ladies, forty years later and “our” country is still not doing anything for the
lesbian community. It is about time that those famous words, spoken by a fallen
man, are put to use by the lesbian community. It is time to make us strong as a
nation within a nation.
As a woman, being treated as a second-class citizen by the male population, does
not sit well with me. As a lesbian, I am thought to be even lower than that. I
consider myself a good citizen of this country, faithfully paying my taxes to a male
dominated government that continuously puts me down simply because I am a
woman. As a lesbian, they use my tax dollars to make laws against my basic rights.
As a lesbian, I am not asking for “special” rights. I am simply asking for the same
rights that are enjoyed by the “so-called normal” citizens of this country.
“Ask not what your country can do for you….” Because we all know that “our”
country will not do anything for us under the leadership of George Bush. If you
want “your” country to do anything for you, you must first become a part of “your”
community. United we stand, divided we fall. How true these words are. If you
wish to go down with the ship, then sit there and do nothing. If you care about
yourself at all, to help yourself, you must be willing to help others in your community
as well. Do not go crying to your community for help if you are not willing to give
something back to the community.
“Ask what you can do for your country…” Perhaps you are poor and feel that you
have nothing to give. Wake up sister, not all of us are wealthy. Some of us struggle
with businesses that you do not support going to a business owned by “straights”
instead for the same service offered. Why? You would rather help someone have
a good business that continuously “votes” against anything that will make your life
better? Perhaps you do not know that one of our “own” offers this service?
Enough of the excuses. I have heard them all.
If you are a LOO business, or know of one, share it with the rest of us. It is really
simple to do. Just send an e-mail, or snail mail to this newsletter stating the business,
where it is, if you have employees, looking for employees, etc, etc. Blow your own
horn, otherwise how will we be able to use your services?
If you would like to express your Opinion about topics that concern woman, Please feel free to email us at the below email address with your opinion,and name in which you would like it written by posted.
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