Tampa Bay Coalition
Eye on GLBT News &
Headlines
August 6th. ~ 17th.,
2001
Mass. Governor OK's Same-Sex
Benefits.
August 17,
2001: Massachusetts Acting Gov.
Jane M. Swift, who was criticized by her own gay stepson for opposing gay
marriage, has said she will extend some domestic partnership
benefits to gay and lesbian state
workers. But, stepson, Brian Hunt, is still not letting
up
South Dakota Governor Agrees
to Put Up Gay Group's Adopt-A-Highway Sign.
August 17,
2001: Gov. Bill Janklow, relented
and has agreed to a request by a gay
and
lesbian group to put up a sign
as part of So. Dakota's Adopt-A-Highway program. But,
not out of the goodness of his
heart, to dodge a lawsuit. Article Nando
Times.
ST. PAT'S President Forced Out
For Wanting to Let Gays March in Parade.
August 17,
2001: For his past eight month
battle for St Patricks Day Parade to improve it's
inclusiveness,
accountability and to let Gays and Lesbians march under their own banner.
William Flynn's, St
Patricks Parade President, reward was to be
forced to resign,
it was
revealed by official parade
documents. Article by New York
Post. I am going to try
and find
a way to contact him. He
deserves to hear our appreciation and thanks for
his efforts on our
behalf, don't you agree?
Anyone have contact info,
please, send it to TBC.
WA United Way Takes a Stand
Against Anti-Gay Discrimination for
Funding.
August 15,
2001: The UW Thurston County
Washington, has taken a stand for GLBT's civil rights.
They voted to require member
groups to sign non-discrimination agreement
to qualify for funding.
Illinois Gov. Revives
Anti-Bias Ban
Aug. 13, 2001:
Illinois Gov. George Ryan
deftly revived a legislative proposal that would ban discrimination
Ryan Uses Veto to Push Gay
Rights
Aug. 11,
2001: Illinois Governor calls
upon General Assembly to take a stand for
rights for gays
and lesbians throughout the
state. "I favor equal and fair
treatment for everyone, regardless of
who they are as a person" Ryan
wrote in a letter to members of the
Assembly.
Roanoke Scene of Hate Crime,
Three Attacked in
Gay-Bashing.
Aug. 10, 2001
Three people leaving bible
study class are attacked by three men screaming anti-gay
epithets while bashing
them. Two
men, one 36, the other
28, were getting into their car as the men
came from an alley and
started assulting them, Rev. Catherine Houchins, pastor of Roanoke's MCC,
was struck in the face
as she tried to call 911 on her cell phone. This
hateful attack comes at a time
when the community is
still healing from the horrific shooting at Backstreet Cafe. Last month the
animal,
Ronald E. Gay, was
given four life terms for killing Danny Overstreet and wounding six others.
Study Gay Teen Suicide Serious
Problem as Ever
Gay Teens remain 3 to 7 times
more likey to commit suicide than
non gay teens. Special~Suicidal
Tendencies,
a look at the life of a very
precious young man who left this world
way to soon. "His Bright Light The
Story
of Nick Traina". A touching
story of the life and struggles many
families endure when a family member
suffer
Man Killed Holding Fiansee's
Purse, Wasn't Gay.
August 7,
2001: Things aren't always as they
look. On one arm a purse the other on a man's shoulder,
this scene got a man
killed. Taunted with anti-gay slurs, then shot to death, because he was thought
to
be gay. He wasn't, he
was holding his fiancee's purse and was helping a blind friend to the restroom
when he was
shot.
His fiancee describes events of the shooting
and blind friend feel it's his fault.
Murder Victim Fred Martinez's
Mother and PFALG Asks For Vigils for
Justice.
August 6,
2001: Pauline Mitchel, Mother of
Fred Mertinez Jr., has
suffered a great loss. Her son,
the
victim of a deadly Anti-GLBT
Hate Crime, seeks help in
sending a strong message we
care about all the
Fred's living in our
communities and attend our schools.