“NewsWrap" for the week ending May 23, 2009 (As broadcast on "This Way Out" program #1,104, distributed 5-25-09) [Written by Greg Gordon, with thanks to Rex Wockner with Bill Kelley] Reported this week by Chris Coleman and Rick Watts Events in more than 50 countries around the world marked the 4th annual IDAHO on May 17th – that’s the International Day Agaiinst Homophobia and Transphobia. It’s held to commemorate the elimination of homosexuality on that day in 1990 from the World Health Organization’s list of mental disorders. In a groundbreaking online action, some 359 people from 48 countries across 6 continents participated in a YouTube-posted awareness video called "IDAHO 2009: One Voice, One Message, Heard Around the World". The backdrops included the Sydney Opera House, the Great Wall of China, the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Eiffel Tower. At least 27 cities in France held IDAHO discussions, film screenings, and other political and cultural events, including a national conference on transgender issues at the national parliament. The country’s Health Minister announced that day that France would be the first country on earth to stop using the World Health Organization’s remaining classification of trans people as “mentally disordered.” Several cities across the U.K. also held IDAHO events, including the raising of the rainbow flag over=2 0police stations in Liverpool and Manchester. A party was held in London to inspire same-gender couples to hold hands in public. A religious service to mark IDAHO was held in Belfast’s oldest church. And a photo exhibit focusing on homophobia in south Wales was held in Swansea. The 27-member-nation European Union issued a strong statement calling for renewed mobilization against homophobia and transphobia. It called sexual orientation- or gender identity-based discrimination “a blatant violation of human dignity.” IDAHO rallies were also held in Montreal and Sydney. A few brave gay activists in Cameroon endured hostile comments during a national call-in radio program, while similarly courageous LGBT young people in Iran sent an open letter to the Students’ Union. Hundreds marched in Ankara and other major cities in Turkey to protest the rising tide of anti-queer violence in that country. Last year, Costa Rica’s President Ă“scar Arias issued a decree declaring May 17th as the national day of fighting discrimination against sexual minorities. This year, there were government-sponsored presentations in workplaces across the country against intolerance, and a first-ever Inter-University Festival for Sexual Diversity was held on several college campuses. Many government buildings also flew the rainbow flag. Cuban President Raul Castro’s openly lesbian daughter Mariela led a conga line around 2 city blocks in downtown Hav ana to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The festive event featured several drummers and costumed stilt-walkers. Educational panels and other presentations about sexual diversity were also held. Chanting “Love is not a crime,” Chinese activists held a symbolic “die-in” to protest the lack of discrimination protections in Hong Kong and the exclusion of same-gender couples from domestic violence laws. A Beijing IDAHO observance focused on a “Rainbow in Motion” multi-campus bike ride that organizers said was designed to raise general public awareness of LGBT people and their concerns. A pre-IDAHO event was held on the afternoon of May 16th in Singapore. Some 2,500 people, all wearing pink, stood in a formation to spell out the word “LOVE” during an outdoor festival-like event at Speakers' Corner, a government-designated park for free speech and public assembly. This was the first public LGBT event that was not severely restricted or banned outright by the government. Thousands of people of varying orientations, some with children, and several with pink ribbon-adorned dogs, also enjoyed various cultural performances as they picnicked on the grass. The (South) Korean Gay Men’s Human Rights Group issued an English-language statement that may have best summed up the purpose of IDAHO: “... we by no means will be satisfied simply with celebrating this day and boosting our own morale. 20On the contrary, this is the day to declare that the phobia of all sexual minorities and of all transgressions against existing gender roles is a serious ailment requiring treatment.” People in several Russian cities simultaneously released brightly colored balloons into the air on May 17th. The balloons had messages on postcards attached to them, mostly with personal stories urging others who found them to fight homophobia. But another attempt to hold yet another banned Pride event in Moscow on May 16th was violently broken up by riot police. Up to 80 people were arrested, including Russian organizer Nikolai Alekseev, British human rights activist Peter Tatchell, Chicago activist Andy Thayer, and at least 3 women from Finland – a lesbian couple and their adult daughter. This year's effort to demonstrate Pride came just hours before the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Moscow this year because Russia won the contest last year. The competition has a huge gay following across the continent. While activists had urged performers to express their solidarity with the Pride action, none did. Police arrested Alekseev, Tatchell, Thayer, and a few others in the middle of interviews with reporters, in some cases shoving cameramen out of the way to get at them. Protestors were dragged into waiting buses. Most were released within 24 hours, and no serious injuries were reported. But about 600 people took part in a first-ever peaceful Pride ma rch on the same day in the Latvian capital of Riga. The City Council had first granted a permit for the event, then withdrew it. An appeals court allowed the march to proceed just a day before it was scheduled. People from 20 different countries participated – some brouught to Riga by human rights group Amnesty International to demonstrate global solidarity for the event. Previous LGBT marches in the city have been disrupted by extreme right-wing nationalist groups. In a significant turn-around, Latvian state police said they’ve launched an “administrative investigation” into an unauthorized counter-march that had been organized by religious groups and nationalists. An estimated 20,000 people also partied at Belgium’s 14th annual Pride parade in Brussels. In U.S. news, the New Hampshire state House unexpectedly rejected amendments this week to the marriage equality bill it had previously passed. Democratic Governor John Lynch has demanded stronger language to protect religious institutions from discrimination lawsuits, or from being forced to perform same-gender weddings or to provide benefits to the partners of lesbian and gay workers. While the amendments were defeated by 2 votes, House lawmakers did reject efforts to kill the marriage bill entirely, and asked the Senate, which had already approved the amendments, to negotiate compromise language. Equality activists remain confident that a bill Lynch can accept will land on his desk and be signed into law. Legislation to create domestic partnerships for Nevada’s same-gender couples, providing many of the rights of marriage, passed the state Assembly by a vote of 26-to-14 this week. It now returns to the Senate, which had passed the measure by a vote of 12-to-9, to accept amendments the House had added. Republican Governor Jim Gibbons, however, has vowed to veto the bill in any form. But Democratic Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed legislation this week to provide health insurance and a few other benefits to the domestic partners of Colorado state workers. The legislation covers both same-gender and unmarried heterosexual couples, who must have been in a committed relationship for at least a year. It also includes the right to receive state employee pension benefits, the right to make medical decisions for an incapacitated partner, and the right to inherit if a partner dies without a will. And finally, two stories this week seemed to underscore the phrase “and the children will lead them.” But one youngster’s efforts met with resistance. A Ramona, California 6th grader was forbidden to give a presentation about Harvey Milk in her class. Natalie Jones said that she was inspired to learn more about the gay rights pioneer after watching the Oscar-winning film about him. But she was called into the principal's office the day before her planned presentation at Mt. Woodson Elementary School. Natalie was told she could no t talk about Milk because it violated the school district's strict policy on "family life and sex education." Bonnie Jones, Natalie's mother, called the ordeal "unbelievable" in a press release issued by the American Civil Liberties Union. They’ve filed a complaint against the school demanding an apology, the chance for Natalie to give her presentation, and a clarification of the district's so-called “sex education” policy. But a 3rd-grader in Denver, Colorado successfully organized a rally in support of marriage equality this week in the state capital. Nine-year-old Ethan McNamee lined up speakers and secured the required permits to stage the event. His teacher Kyle Kimmal at Montclair Elementary School assisted organizationally, and a few of his classmates helped him make signs. Parents were notified about Ethan’s project, and only students who wanted to get involved participated. Ethan told reporters that he got the idea to organize the rally after hearing kids make antigay remarks on his school’s playground, and learning that a same-gender couple in his neighborhood couldn’t get married. More than 200 people turned up to show their support on the steps of Colorado's state capitol. Ethan told the crowd: "I believe I am doing the right thing. I hope this rally will make an impact and let our voices be heard." ------------------------------------ Note: The California Supreme Court was expected to announce its Proposition 8 marriage equality rul ing on Tuesday, May 26th. We'll have comprehensive coverage of their decision, and reaction to it, next week on “This Way Out”. A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!