News: Marriage Language, Jupiter, Harvey Milk, Bahrain

California marriage ballot measure language changed: "Proposition 8 on the November ballot had been described as a measure to limit marriage between a man and a woman. But the Secretary of State's office says that description was changed to reflect a May 15 California Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. The ballot title and summary now describe the initiative as a constitutional change to eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry. The revised language also says California could lose several tens of millions of dollars in sales taxes if same-sex marriage were banned. Critics of the measure say the change accurately shows the initiative would take away a current right of Californians."

Close up on Jupiter.

Bunny boiler: Tricia Walsh-Smith puts another hit out on Kathie Lee Gifford, sells husband's condoms on eBay.

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom weds in Montana.

UK Survey: 4 of 5 Protestants say gay sex is a sin.

Shia Labeouf crashes car, arrested for DUI.

'Harvey Milk Day' bill awaits action in California senate: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken no position on the bill, which awaits action in the Senate after passing the Assembly, 45-28, with most Republicans voting no. Randy Thomasson, of Campaign for California Children and Families, which opposes AB 2567, said the bill is a new tactic in a long push to portray homosexuality in a positive light to kids. 'Harvey Milk Day is the equivalent of having Gay Day at every school in the state,' he said."

Bahrain MP: No homosexuals allowed.

Play about gay Christians offered up to bishops at the Anglican Lambeth Conference.

Lucas Grabeel on shooting Milk: "No one told me how great I was. The director hardly spoke to me. I was just doing my thing and talking to these amazing actors. In the beginning of shooting, I thought, 'You guys must hate me. I must be the worst actor. I don't know what to do' and they were like, 'You were hired to do the job. That's why he hired you.' It was an amazing epiphany."

Mario Lopez immortalized in oil.

UK activist Peter Tatchell slams Northern Irish homophobic politicians: "It is particularly hypocritical for unionist politicians to play the homophobic card when their hero, William of Orange, had male lovers."

Anti-gay New Jersey group National Organization for Marriage stepping into California gay marriage battle: "NOM, a taxable political advocacy group that can raise money without contribution limits, has quickly built up some fundraising muscle. It started a California chapter in January. By March, the group had raised just over $775,000, according to campaign finance filings. Only the California umbrella group ProtectMarriage.com has raised more for the cause. While NOM's biggest chunk in California _ $250,000 _ came from the Knights of Columbus, the group has also raised smaller amounts from individuals. The group says it has now raised more than $1 million in California and more than $2 million overall."

Naked Cowboy cuffed, mocked in SF.

Matthew McConaughey takes 20-day-old son surfing.

Washington Post looks at the transgender homeless: "It's hard to explain -- just as the spectrum of gender is hard to explain. Parents' and society's rejection of children who don't fit the norm is hard to explain, too. But most confounding of all is the forbearance these young people have in the face of intolerance and cruelty. They go -- like the definition of trans-- 'across, beyond and through' preconceptions. They are unlike anyone I have encountered before."

Director of Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival fires director Carol Coombes: "'Carol is British and in 60 days she might have to leave the country,' said Harvey Burstein, a festival founder and former board member. He said Coombes' visa requires she be employed in the film industry and that she was to get her permanent residency or green card in November. Coombes, fired on Friday, joined the festival in 2001 and became director a few years later. She declined to comment. 'It's a very unfortunate complication of a very heartfelt, thought-out decision,' said festival board member Mark Gilbert."

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Bahrain Targets Children in Bid to Rid Country of Gays

In February I posted about a crackdown in the Persian Gulf Kingdom of Bahrain intended to rid the country of gay people. Authorities proposed surveillance of hairdressing salons and beauty and massage spas (you know, all the places where gays hang out in huge numbers) as well as stricter surveillance at the nation's customs points ("homosexuals pretend not to be gay by posing 'manly' until they make it past immigration" according to committee secretary Jalal Fairooz).

Now it appears authorities are taking their surveillance one step further, targeting children who display homosexual tendencies, according to Gulf Daily News:

"The committee is also demanding that the Education Ministry carefully monitor students and punishes those veering towards homosexuality. MPs urged the ministry to raise awareness amongst students, possibly through lectures given by visiting health specialists, psychiatrists, or sociologists."

Gays and human rights groups in the region are understandably furious.

Previously
Crackdown on 'Dangerous' Gays Proposed in Bahrain [tr]

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Crackdown on 'Dangerous' Gays Proposed in Bahrain

MPs in Bahrain, which already prohibits homosexuality (it's punishable by up to ten years in prison or deportation), are proposing a tougher crackdown on gays which, not surprisingly, is informed by plenty of offensive and ignorant stereotypes:

"The proposal was submitted by MPs belonging to the Al Menbar parliamentary bloc. It is in response to what MPs see as Bahrain's growing gay problem and foreigners found to be gay face deportation, said committee secretary Jalal Fairooz. He said the study was being carried out despite the fact that the Education Ministry claims there are no homosexuals in schools. However, Mr Fairooz had no suggestions on how such a study could be carried out, saying it would be up to the government to decide. 'The Interior Ministry has told us that it already bans suspected homosexuals as they try entering the country from Bahrain International Airport,' said committee secretary Jalal Fairooz. However, he claimed the ministry said homosexuals pretend not to be gay by posing 'manly' until they make it past immigration. 'They look manly as they come to the airport, but when they get in they return back to their unaccepted homosexual attitude,' said Mr Fairooz. 'Homosexuals are found in huge numbers at hairdressing salons and beauty and massage spas, which the ministry regularly inspects.' However, he said many homosexuals were slipping through the net because the ministry was having problems determining if they were gay or not. 'Those who look homosexual or offer customers personal services are being caught by police and taken to the Public Prosecution,' he said. He described gays as 'dangerous' and a 'threat to our society and Islamic values'."

Gays to Face New Clamp [gulf daily news]

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