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Newsletter of the Rainbow Alliance
at the University of Florida The Rainbow Alliance is the staff and faculty organization at the University of Florida concerned with matters related to sexual orientation and gender identity. RA welcomes all members of the University community who share its goals to join. |
News BriefsVatican Publishes Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage On July 31, the Vatican released a 12-page document titled "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons." The document is the result of two years of research by Vatican lawyers and expresses opposition to same-sex unions and gay adoption. The Catholic church further calls on Roman Catholic lawmakers in Europe and North America to block any legislation that allow same-sex unions. Rome's gay community responded with demonstrations outside St. Peter's basilica. Activists around the globe decried the Vatican's action as coercive and cold-hearted. The Church asserted that the document does not promote discrimination against homosexuals, but simply states that homosexual unions could never have the same standing as traditional marriages because homosexual couples cannot bring new life into the world. Canada, Netherlands and Belgium now allow gay marriage and Britain is considering civil unions. Several other countries have given gays rights just short of those enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. Read more at CNN.com Pollsters Detect Backlash Against LGBT Rights Progress A recent Gallup Poll suggests that for the first time since the 1980s, support for the gay lifestyle including the much-discussed idea of same-sex marriages has begun slipping. Pollsters acknowledge that recent events have played a role in what might be a "gay backlash." Support for homosexuals dropped
compared to survey results in May. The current poll was Pollsters peg the shift to the court ruling, which both sides of the debate have said could clear the way for legalized same-sex unions, even marriage. Talk of gay marriage might have made many Americans wary, energizing people predisposed against the homosexual lifestyle and scaring fence-sitters with lukewarm support for the gay cause, say experts. Read more: in Fox News, in the New York Times Episcopal Church Approves Gay Bishop; Postpones Same-Sex Marriage Rite On August 6, the Episcopal church made history be electing the first openly gay priest to become a bishop. The Rev. Gene Robinson was elected by a vote of 62 to 43 in the House of bishops at the church's triennial convention in Minneapolis. Robinson had laready been approved in the House of Deputies, a body composed of lay people. The last time a General Convention rejected a candidate for bishop was in the late 1800s. Even with the controversy surrounding Robinson, the support of his diocese, his daughter, his former wife and his partner convinced many that his ministry qualified him for the post. The Episcopal church has experience much tension over the last 20-30 years between conservative and liberal factions, and yet each time a controversial decision was taken, the church has found a way to hold together. The Episcopal church is the American branch of the Anglican communion, which includes the Church of England and many other Anglican churches around the world. The Convention voted to postpone consideration of creating a special rite for the church to administer for same-sex couples. The question will be taken up again in three years at the next General Convention. Read more on CNN.com Sirius Satellite Radio Launches LGBT Channel Satellite radio broadcaster Sirius has launched OutQ, a new channel devoted 24/7 to programming geared toward gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and the transgendered. The channel, which debuted April 14, features well-known GLBT personalities such as John McMullen (formerly of GayBC radio), Michelangelo Signorile, gay youth activist Corey Johnson, and others. OutQ is the first radio station devoted to GLBT programming that''s available from the burgeoning satellite radio industry, a relatively new medium of entertainment delivery that sends digital audio-only programming directly to special receivers from orbiting satellites. Like satellite TV, a pay subscription is required (currently $12.95 a month) and service-specific equipment must be installed (often available at a discount as part of a subscription agreement). Unlike satellite TV the equipment for which receives only the subscription service broadcasts satellite radio tuners typically receive all the standard free AM/FM radio stations from the local airwaves as well as the Sirius signal. From its three orbiting satellites, Sirius broadcasts 100 channels of noise-free, CD-quality radio to subscribers'' cars and homes throughout the continental United States. As OutQ joins the Sirius lineup, Advocate.com spoke with programming director John McMullen, best-known as founder of Stellar Networks and its subsidiary the GAYBC Radio Network. McMullen hosted actor-playwright Harvey Fierstein and Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation executive director Joan Garry on his inaugural Sirius OutQ show on April 14. Bride's Magazine: First Report on Same-Sex Unions Bride's, established in 1934,
is the oldest and largest of the national wedding magazines,
with a circulation of over 400,000. Bride's September-October
issue, on newsstands now, contains a full-page article on same-sex
weddings. This is the first time that any of the five top-selling
bridal magazines has published such a feature. Bride's made the decision to publish when they learned from reatilers that same-sex couples were becoming an important part of their bridal registries. Also, they were getting more questions from readers about appropriate etiquette and attire for same-sex ceremonies. Bride's editors also noted that The New York Times and other newspapers had begun publishing notices of same-sex ceremonies. So far, Condé Nast, the publisheers of Bride's, reports no adverse advertising reaction. Nina Lawrence, vice president and publisher of the Condé Nast Bridal Group, said that Bride's was trying to address generational changes in weddings and marriage ceremonies. The generation that is getting married now "is the most inclusive generation ever," she said. "If we were creating a product for people who were getting married 20 years ago, we'd be out of business." |
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