Hunter Poll Finds Clinton Has Support of 63% of LGB Likely Voters
In the first public, political survey ever conducted by a university-based team of scholars with a nationally representative sample of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGBs) Americans, results released today show that Senator Hillary Clinton has the support of 63 percent of LGB likely voters in the Democratic primaries, followed by Senator Barack Obama with 22 percent and John Edwards with 7 percent. The Hunter College Poll also finds that during the process of “coming out,” LGBs become more liberal and more engaged in the political process than the general population.
“We found a stunning transformation in political views in the LGB community of a magnitude that is virtually unparalleled among social groupings in the U.S. population,” said political science professor Kenneth Sherrill of Hunter College, one of the study’s investigators. The Hunter College Poll was conducted with 768 respondents by Knowledge Networks, Inc. from November 15th through November 26th, 2007.
Other findings include:
•
Nine in 10 LGB likely voters will vote in the Democratic primaries and 21 percent say that lesbian and gay rights will be the most important issue influencing their vote in 2008.
•
72 percent of LGB likely voters consider Senator Clinton a supporter of gay rights, with Senator Obama at 52 percent and former Senator Edwards at 41 percent. On the Republican side, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was at 37 percent, followed by Senator John McCain at 13 percent.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Ultra-conservative Lott to Resign
The House will get rid of another sell-out to big business and homophobia. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/26/lott.resign/index.html
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Hate Crimes On The Rise
Though reporting is voluntary, reports around the US show a rise in hate crimes. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/11/19/hate.crimes.ap/index.html
Monday, November 19, 2007
Gov. Strickland Supports Local Democratic Parties
Gov. stops in Valley
By Tribune Chronicle
WARREN — Gov. Ted Strickland made two stops in the Mahoning Valley Sunday, touting Ohio as once again the most important state in the election of a president in 2008.Strickland made appearances at fundraisers for the Mahoning County Democratic Women and the Trumbull County Democratic Party. He appeared earlier in the afternoon at the Maronite Center in Youngstown and then moved on to DiVieste’s in Warren.Strickland spoke to attendees at the fundraiser about the state of the economy and Ohio’s national influence. “I believe Ohio and Ohioans will determine who the next president will be, and so there’s going to be a lot of activity. Both parties will be hugely involved in Ohio,” Strickland told Tribune news partner WYTV 33 News. “There are 88 counties in Ohio, and he’s been in 70 of them already,” said Frances Carroll of Youngstown, representing her group, the Democratic Federated Women of Canfield. “I really think he’s going to be out and about and not stay in Columbus,” she said. After the 2 p.m. stop in Youngstown, Strickland appeared at a $100 to $500-a-plate dinner and cocktail hour sponsored by the Trumbull County Democratic Party at DiVieste’s on North River Road in Warren.
The Governors office also sidestepped the issue of domestic partner benefits by stating that his ruling that the State may not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation only included pay, not benefits.
By Tribune Chronicle
WARREN — Gov. Ted Strickland made two stops in the Mahoning Valley Sunday, touting Ohio as once again the most important state in the election of a president in 2008.Strickland made appearances at fundraisers for the Mahoning County Democratic Women and the Trumbull County Democratic Party. He appeared earlier in the afternoon at the Maronite Center in Youngstown and then moved on to DiVieste’s in Warren.Strickland spoke to attendees at the fundraiser about the state of the economy and Ohio’s national influence. “I believe Ohio and Ohioans will determine who the next president will be, and so there’s going to be a lot of activity. Both parties will be hugely involved in Ohio,” Strickland told Tribune news partner WYTV 33 News. “There are 88 counties in Ohio, and he’s been in 70 of them already,” said Frances Carroll of Youngstown, representing her group, the Democratic Federated Women of Canfield. “I really think he’s going to be out and about and not stay in Columbus,” she said. After the 2 p.m. stop in Youngstown, Strickland appeared at a $100 to $500-a-plate dinner and cocktail hour sponsored by the Trumbull County Democratic Party at DiVieste’s on North River Road in Warren.
The Governors office also sidestepped the issue of domestic partner benefits by stating that his ruling that the State may not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation only included pay, not benefits.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Judge O'Neill Granted Veterans Award
http://www.ohiodems.org/index.php?page=blog&full=284 He is expected to run against Republican LaTourette for US House in a district including northern Trumbull County.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Barney Frank Endorses Hillary Clinton For President
Barney Frank, the only out gay man in the US House of Representatives, has said he is backing Senator Hillary Clinton in her bid for the White House.
Toledo Moves Forward
Toledo City Council yesterday approved an ordinance making Toledo the first large city in Ohio to offer gay and other unmarried but committed couples the opportunity to register their relationship with city hall. Under the ordinance, couples will be able to obtain recognition of their "domestic partnership" from the clerk of council.The purpose of the registry is to create an official list which employers can use to verify their employees' relationships when they offer benefits to unmarried partners, supporters said. The measure passed 10-2, with Councilmen Rob Ludeman and Joe Birmingham — both Republicans and both set to leave office when their terms end this year — casting the no votes.Mr. Ludeman gave a detailed explanation for his position, saying among other things he thought it would create a cost burden on city taxpayers because the city could wind up recording the domestic relationships of couples far beyond the city's borders. Such a record-keeping function, he said, should be a county one.. And he cited a "very personal reason based on my faith. This is one more attempt to tear down the institution of marriage between a man and a woman," Mr. Ludeman said.Mr. Birmingham did not explain his vote. Councilman Joe McNamara, who introduced the measure, said the ordinance does not create same-sex marriage, which is banned in Ohio under the 2004 "Defense of Marriage" constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union strictly between a man and a woman.
Mr. McNamara said the ordinance would tell the business world that Toledo is a tolerant, diverse city. He added that the registry won't cost the city anything, but said it would put Toledo on the map as a progressive city. "I think I was elected, in large part, for trying new things and new ideas," said Mr. McNamara, who was elected to council in 2006.Before the vote, he said, "Toledo sometimes seems to be in a rut. This type of progressive legislation helps our reputation [and] our work force." Present in council chambers to show his support was Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, who said he would explore having the county enact a similar measure administratively, although it cannot pass ordinances."We want to make sure this a region that is progressive and protects civil rights," Mr. Konop said.The domestic partnership registry lessens the administrative burden on employers and other entities beginning to deal with providing rights to domestic partners that had been reserved for spouses, advocates have said. In addition to health benefits when approved by employers, a central registry would provide official recognition when domestic partners exercise rights to visit their partners in the hospital and pick up children at schools. The other Ohio city with a domestic partnership registry is Cleveland Heights, on which Toledo's ordinance was based.That city's registry was created after an initiative passed in November, 2003. Since then, 165 couples have registered, some from as far away as California and who applied through the mail. In Toledo, applicants would pay a $25 fee and receive a certificate and a card to carry.Both members of the partnership would sign an affidavit stating that they are in an intimate relationship, share the same residence, are at least 18, are not married to anyone else, and are not blood relatives. The partnership could be dissolved with a notice of termination filed by either party. Neither party could form a new partnership until their previous partnership has been officially terminated or the previous partner dies. Michelle Stecker, a lawyer who helped write the ordinance, said she and her partner, Carol Bresnahan, vice provost of the University of Toledo, secured partner benefits, but then struggled over how to prove their relationship, even though they own a house together and share their financial assets. They ended up using their health club membership as evidence of their relationship.Yesterday was their seventh anniversary as a committed couple, and they hope to be the first to register as domestic partners in Toledo, Ms. Stecker said. "We need to have something that's uniform where all these different public and private entities can say, 'Yes, they are a couple,' to have access to emergency rooms and other domestic partner benefits," Ms. Stecker said. She said she has worked on the legislation for more than a year.Ms. Bresnahan said, "I think it's exactly the right thing to do. It's very consistent with what the city wants to do, which is attracting talented people to come to Toledo and to stay here if they already live here." The ordinance received fast-paced consideration from a council that often subjects controversial measures to months of discussion.The proposed ordinance was introduced in council's agenda review meeting just a week before yesterday's vote. In a hearing on Friday, city Law Director John Madigan told council's law and criminal justice committee that the registry would not violate the "Defense of Marriage" amendment.Mr. McNamara noted that the city's Department of Human Resources maintains a domestic partnership registry for city police officers and firefighters who have negotiated benefits in their collective bargaining agreements to take sick leave or funeral leave for domestic partners as they do for immediate family. Contact Tom Troy at:tomtroy@theblade.comor 419-724-6058.
Mr. McNamara said the ordinance would tell the business world that Toledo is a tolerant, diverse city. He added that the registry won't cost the city anything, but said it would put Toledo on the map as a progressive city. "I think I was elected, in large part, for trying new things and new ideas," said Mr. McNamara, who was elected to council in 2006.Before the vote, he said, "Toledo sometimes seems to be in a rut. This type of progressive legislation helps our reputation [and] our work force." Present in council chambers to show his support was Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, who said he would explore having the county enact a similar measure administratively, although it cannot pass ordinances."We want to make sure this a region that is progressive and protects civil rights," Mr. Konop said.The domestic partnership registry lessens the administrative burden on employers and other entities beginning to deal with providing rights to domestic partners that had been reserved for spouses, advocates have said. In addition to health benefits when approved by employers, a central registry would provide official recognition when domestic partners exercise rights to visit their partners in the hospital and pick up children at schools. The other Ohio city with a domestic partnership registry is Cleveland Heights, on which Toledo's ordinance was based.That city's registry was created after an initiative passed in November, 2003. Since then, 165 couples have registered, some from as far away as California and who applied through the mail. In Toledo, applicants would pay a $25 fee and receive a certificate and a card to carry.Both members of the partnership would sign an affidavit stating that they are in an intimate relationship, share the same residence, are at least 18, are not married to anyone else, and are not blood relatives. The partnership could be dissolved with a notice of termination filed by either party. Neither party could form a new partnership until their previous partnership has been officially terminated or the previous partner dies. Michelle Stecker, a lawyer who helped write the ordinance, said she and her partner, Carol Bresnahan, vice provost of the University of Toledo, secured partner benefits, but then struggled over how to prove their relationship, even though they own a house together and share their financial assets. They ended up using their health club membership as evidence of their relationship.Yesterday was their seventh anniversary as a committed couple, and they hope to be the first to register as domestic partners in Toledo, Ms. Stecker said. "We need to have something that's uniform where all these different public and private entities can say, 'Yes, they are a couple,' to have access to emergency rooms and other domestic partner benefits," Ms. Stecker said. She said she has worked on the legislation for more than a year.Ms. Bresnahan said, "I think it's exactly the right thing to do. It's very consistent with what the city wants to do, which is attracting talented people to come to Toledo and to stay here if they already live here." The ordinance received fast-paced consideration from a council that often subjects controversial measures to months of discussion.The proposed ordinance was introduced in council's agenda review meeting just a week before yesterday's vote. In a hearing on Friday, city Law Director John Madigan told council's law and criminal justice committee that the registry would not violate the "Defense of Marriage" amendment.Mr. McNamara noted that the city's Department of Human Resources maintains a domestic partnership registry for city police officers and firefighters who have negotiated benefits in their collective bargaining agreements to take sick leave or funeral leave for domestic partners as they do for immediate family. Contact Tom Troy at:tomtroy@theblade.comor 419-724-6058.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Republicans Sell Out Ohioans To Utility Companies
COLUMBUS (AP) — Subtle changes buried in an energy bill plotting the future of Ohioans' electricity rates guarantee that today's prices will never fall and make it nearly impossible for producers of green power to gain a foothold in the state, a newspaper reported Monday.
The amendments were added by the Ohio Senate to Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed energy bill, which the Ohio House has scheduled to debate at the leisurely pace of one hearing per week into the new year.
Strickland, a Democrat, is still pushing for aspects of his proposal in the House. He had asked the Republican-led Legislature to pass the bill by Dec. 31, which now appears unlikely.
Before passing the bill, the Senate added dozens of amendments to the administration's version of the bill, most technical sounding but some with significant consequences, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Monday.
Among their actions, the Senate set February 2008 rates as the starting point for future increases, as opposed to Strickland's proposal that rates be determined by actual costs of generation, plus power plant costs and a rate of return.
They also weakened a provision that would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their power with renewable sources, such as wind, solar or biofuels, by 2025, and said it would not be required if it resulted in rate increases of more than 3 percent.
The city of Cleveland, environmental groups and the Ohio Consumers' Counsel argue that the changes to the bill's renewable energy section mean no wind turbines would be built here, no wind turbine manufacturers would come to Ohio, and no jobs would be created.
Strickland's administration has argued that turning to alternative fuels is essential to ensuring that Ohioans have a steady power supply and attracting new jobs to the state.
The amendments were added by the Ohio Senate to Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed energy bill, which the Ohio House has scheduled to debate at the leisurely pace of one hearing per week into the new year.
Strickland, a Democrat, is still pushing for aspects of his proposal in the House. He had asked the Republican-led Legislature to pass the bill by Dec. 31, which now appears unlikely.
Before passing the bill, the Senate added dozens of amendments to the administration's version of the bill, most technical sounding but some with significant consequences, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Monday.
Among their actions, the Senate set February 2008 rates as the starting point for future increases, as opposed to Strickland's proposal that rates be determined by actual costs of generation, plus power plant costs and a rate of return.
They also weakened a provision that would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their power with renewable sources, such as wind, solar or biofuels, by 2025, and said it would not be required if it resulted in rate increases of more than 3 percent.
The city of Cleveland, environmental groups and the Ohio Consumers' Counsel argue that the changes to the bill's renewable energy section mean no wind turbines would be built here, no wind turbine manufacturers would come to Ohio, and no jobs would be created.
Strickland's administration has argued that turning to alternative fuels is essential to ensuring that Ohioans have a steady power supply and attracting new jobs to the state.
Monday, November 12, 2007
How Many Republicans Are Hypocrites?
A senior Florida Republican has been found guilty of soliciting oral sex from an undercover police officer.Bob Allen, a former co-chairman of the campaign to select Senator John McCain as the Republican US Presidential candidate, was spotted by police in Titusville, Florida on July 11th acting suspiciously at the men's toilets in a park. Officers decided to send a policeman undercover to investigate, and within minutes Mr Allen allegedly agreed to pay him $20 (£10) to allow him to perform oral sex.He will be sentenced later this week and faces up to 60 days in jail and a fine. Republican party representatives said he will be removed from office. Mr Allen said he will ask for a re-trial. He resigned from the McCain campaign when he was arrested but maintained he is innocent and will not resign from the state legislature. Mr Allen told police that he was not loitering in the public toilet looking for sex.The undercover police officer gave evidence that Mr Allen twice peered over the top of a toilet cubicle he was occupying, then entered the cubicle. They discussed payment for oral sex, but Mr Allen was concerned the park toilet was too public.As Mr Allen then indicated to the police officer to follow him outside to his car, he was arrested. Representative Allen had sponsored a failed bill in the Florida statehouse earlier this year, the Lewdness and Indecent Exposure Bill, designed to increase the penalties for committing "unnatural and lascivious acts or exposure or exhibition of sexual organs committed within specified distance of certain locations." Since his election in 2000, he has been one of the most homophobic politicians in the Florida state senate.He received the title of "Wicked Witch," which is reserved for "The Worst of the Worst," from Florida's Rainbow Democratic Gay & Lesbian organisation.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Kentucky Republicans Bank On Homophobia To Win
Down to the last two days before voting booths open, Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher urged supporters to disregard polls that show him behind, while his running mate referred to the Democratic candidates as “San Francisco treats.”
Several Republicans — including the entertainer, Pat Boone — criticized Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear and his running mate Daniel Mongiardo this weekend for being endorsed of the Committee for Fairness and Individual Rights, a group that advocates equal treatment of gays and lesbians.
Boone, the singer and descendent of Daniel Boone, recorded a phone message for the Kentucky Republican Party that asked voters whether they “want a governor who’d like Kentucky to be another San Francisco.” Those calls went out to tens of thousands of homes Friday. Click here to listen to Boone's message.
Then, last night, Fletcher’s lieutenant governor candidate Robbie Rudolph echoed that to a crowd of more than 200 GOP faithful in Lexington. “Do you want a couple of San Francisco treats or do you want a governor?” he asked.
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, called it Rudolph’s “Rice-a-Roni speech” — referring to its famous jingle.
Beshear’s campaign dismissed it as a last minute ploy “to divert voter attention from the issues of honesty and integrity in state government.”
Several Republicans — including the entertainer, Pat Boone — criticized Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear and his running mate Daniel Mongiardo this weekend for being endorsed of the Committee for Fairness and Individual Rights, a group that advocates equal treatment of gays and lesbians.
Boone, the singer and descendent of Daniel Boone, recorded a phone message for the Kentucky Republican Party that asked voters whether they “want a governor who’d like Kentucky to be another San Francisco.” Those calls went out to tens of thousands of homes Friday. Click here to listen to Boone's message.
Then, last night, Fletcher’s lieutenant governor candidate Robbie Rudolph echoed that to a crowd of more than 200 GOP faithful in Lexington. “Do you want a couple of San Francisco treats or do you want a governor?” he asked.
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, called it Rudolph’s “Rice-a-Roni speech” — referring to its famous jingle.
Beshear’s campaign dismissed it as a last minute ploy “to divert voter attention from the issues of honesty and integrity in state government.”
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Take Action Against Pittsburgh Bigot Church
Pittsburgh joined dioceses in San Joaquin, Calif., and Quincy, Ill., in granting preliminary approval to separating from the national church. The dioceses contend the national church has wrongly abandoned scriptural authority.
Jefferts Schori said she had written a letter warning Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan she would discipline him if he continued to support measures that would lead to Pittsburgh's departure from the church.
Perhaps it is time the gay community take action of some sort against the Pittsburgh dioceses. Pickets. Letters. Something
Jefferts Schori said she had written a letter warning Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan she would discipline him if he continued to support measures that would lead to Pittsburgh's departure from the church.
Perhaps it is time the gay community take action of some sort against the Pittsburgh dioceses. Pickets. Letters. Something
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Church ordered to pay $10.9 million for funeral protest
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/funeral.protest/index.html
A federal jury in Baltimore, Maryland, Wednesday awarded $10.9 million to a father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by members of a fundamentalist church carrying signs blaming soldiers' deaths on America's tolerance of homosexuals.
A federal jury in Baltimore, Maryland, Wednesday awarded $10.9 million to a father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by members of a fundamentalist church carrying signs blaming soldiers' deaths on America's tolerance of homosexuals.
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