04/06/2006
Gay history under consideration as a mandatory requirement in California schools: "A bill is being considered by the state Senate that would mandate that California's schools teach about the pro-societal impact of homosexuals in America. Opponents say this bill is for indoctrination and supporters say it will battle discrimination."
A hate crime hearing inspired by the recent violent attacks by Jacob Robida at New Bedford, Massachusetts' Puzzles Lounge inspired New Bedford City Councilor Joe DeMedeiros to spontaneously come out of the closet Tuesday night in front of 200 fellow citizens: "Just over a year and a half ago, I did probably the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in my life, and that's tell my Portuguese immigrant mother that I was gay. And this perhaps replaces that as the most terrifying thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror when I got home. So I felt the responsibility to do this tonight."
Rhode Island lawmakers urged to approve gay marriage.
Notre Dame does turnaround on gay film fest: "After hearing from hundreds of students, faculty members, alumni and administrators in the last 10 weeks, Father Jenkins said he saw 'no reason to prohibit performances of 'The Vagina Monologues' on campus.' The gay film festival will also continue. 'I am very determined that we not suppress speech on this campus,' Father Jenkins said in a statement. 'I am also determined that we never suppress or neglect the Gospel that inspired this university.'"
Posted 2:00 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
The jessies operate Duke, right?
Jesuits for those who don't understand the term.
The jesuits have always been a more open/liberal branch in catholicism.
All that emphasis on higher education opened their minds up a long time ago. They have always run afoul of the official vatican stand on many things.
Anyway; good for them
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Apr 6, 2006 2:35:55 PM
LOL i meant Notre Dame , not Duke
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Apr 6, 2006 2:36:36 PM
Well, I went to ND and am partially responsible that this issue has ended up twice in the NY Times now in two months --
and the Holy Cross Fathers (a French order) founded and still runs Notre Dame and they are at times at odds with the Vatican (after Vatican 2 and when they side with the bulk of cafeteria plan American Catholics) and other times they make nice with the Vatican (mostly when the Vatican demands). With the rise of religious fervor here -- and the rabid right making most conservative catholics more vocal -- the pro-life and other factions at ND have renewed push there and in the American Catholic mind. Gay and lesbian catholics and ND alumni like myself have to keep everyone's feet to the fire now -- mostly through the press -- thanks so much NYT!
Posted by: David Barber | Apr 6, 2006 2:52:15 PM
I'm all for advancing our cause but mandating gay history lessons in public schools?! C'mon!!! What fairy wingnut thought this up? It's a completely unrealistic idea that only gives fodder to our enemies.
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 6, 2006 3:38:37 PM
Well, since creationism and school prayer is making its way into schools, really, there should be any number of things that should also be taught. There are no standards any more, except what the fake Christian paraders want.
Watch it...next, there will be lawsuits demanding affirmative action and degrees in creationism, and placing creation "scholars" in scientific academies.
Posted by: brian nyc | Apr 6, 2006 4:53:57 PM
Gay marriage is such a hot issue here in RI, it comes up everywhere. I hear it from random couples and groups every weekend when I go out. When I want to see Brokeback Mountain in Warwick/East Greenwich there were multiple couples, young and old of the straight variety. Me, being a loud applauder of the film, said something to the point of "and this is why everyone should be free to be whom they are and treated equally." I got an overwhelming cheer from the crowd. I'd never felt so moved by random people before.
Yet, there are still those who "fear for the children." Yeah, well I've met some of the children of straight couples and I don't think two lesbians or two gays could mess it up any worese.
Posted by: Rob (lrdarystar) | Apr 6, 2006 7:01:24 PM
I'm an ND alum and I couldn't be more delighted, and suprised, by Father Jenkins' announcement. After his comments on the Vagina Monologues and the Queer Film Festival 10 weeks ago, I felt it was just a matter of time before an announcement nixing them was released. I'm proud of my university today.
Posted by: Brian O'Connor | Apr 6, 2006 7:32:50 PM
>>Gay history under consideration as a mandatory requirement in California schools
I lived through "Black History" being made a mandatory requirement in high school, and a few people I know didn't live through it. It sparked riots and assaults in my school for weeks after it was announced. It wasn't the White kids doing the rioting, and it wasn't the White kids doing the stabbing and beating. White kids just happened to be the minority, and became the targets of the newly empowered Black student body.
The Majority Rules.
Mandatory Gay Studies will mean high emotions in the student body, and they will be fueled by the attitudes of the parents and the group mentality that already tortures high school students. In spite of their often rebellious speech and their non-conformist wardrobe, few teenagers are really willing to be outsiders.
If this becomes mandatory, I predict disaster.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Apr 6, 2006 10:17:37 PM
Jay - I suppose every gay blog needs a right wing representative in the States, eh?
Yes, the two out of ten....the right wing gay who supports, works for, and votes for the neocon/theocon right wing with reasoning that is often socio-economic ( how else could they justify such self-hating exercises).
You know my favourite American story. There is this man - a GOP neocon operative - who worked for Jesse Helms and other right wing heroes. Well, he lives in MA, with his legal spouse whom he married - a partner of thirty plus years and three adopted children.
Yes, this man criticises the gay progressive left and actually helps candidates who vote against the MA miracle and vote for the Federal Marriage Amendment.
The man, when confronted with the bollocks in your face hypocrisy, said that they believed that their children deserved such protection. Vomit here.
Jesse Helm's granddaughter, an elected state judge in NC, is lesbian and lives with her partner. Your vice president's daughter who dissed Kerry, and her partner is not even on the metre.
Beverly and Tim La Haye's son who works in their rabidly anti-gay ministry. Phyllis Schaffley's son working for his mother. Kitty Kelly's biography of your president and the National Catholic reporter's bio of the Fuhrer Papen, no longer available in print.
I firmly believe that you can be a conservative and a gay or lesbian. We used to have progressive tories in Canada. There were liberal social agenda Republicans as well.
I also firmly believe that a gay or lesbian person can NOT be either a new Canadian Conservative or a Republican in the USA. The Neocon Dominionist Theocrats are in total control and their political agenda is toxic to your lives, and ours in Canada
Posted by: Raymond | Apr 8, 2006 6:22:23 PM