NEW YORK STATES WANTS TO STOP BULLYING IN SCHOOLS

New York State is taking a stand on Bullying in schools which will include sexual orientation. Although quietly introduced in the State Senate, the legislation, which includes language protecting transgender students and teachers, has been a priority of advocates for gay and lesbian rights but was ignored for nearly a decade in the Senate.

Republicans introduced the bill this week, but no sponsor was listed.

“We are focused on property tax relief,” said Scott Reif, a spokesman for the Senate majority leader, Dean G. Skelos. He said the bullying bill would not come up at a special session on Friday, and he declined to comment further on it.

Senate Republicans could bring it to the floor at another session later in the month, but it was not clear if they would do so. However, it would be unusual to go to the trouble of introducing a bill in the off-season without an intention to pass it.

Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, a gay-rights organization, said the legislation is an important recognition that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students are often harassed at school.

“In a ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,’ ‘Will and Grace’ world, kids are coming out at a much younger age,” he said. “As a community, we have done a woefully inadequate job of protecting them.”

The legislation would require training to help teachers recognize and respond to bullying and require schools to keep track of bullying cases, including incidents in which students are harassed for their sexual orientation. Similar bills have been passed in the Democrat-controlled Assembly several times. [SOURCE]

If you look at the Lawrence King murder, this needed to be in effect much more earlier because this could have helped stop such a sad killing. When will people learn??

GAY US CITIZEN JAILED FOR MAN-CRUISING IN INDIA

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A 55 yr old male American citizen was arrested for luring young fishermen into gay sexual acts in the tourist town of Mahabalipuram in 1998. Damn!

Magistrate of Tirukazhukundram court pronounced the sentence on July 27 after finding Miles Patrick, a resident of New York, guilty of inducing young fishermen into homosexuality by showing pornographic films and giving narcotics.

The court sentenced Srinivasan, a local associate of Partick, to three-year rigorous imprisonment for aiding and abetting him in his acts.

The two were arrested by the Mahablipuram police last year on a complaint from 25-year old local fisherman Desamuthu.

Patrick, a painter, frequently visited Mahabalipuram, famous for its ancient sculptures and the shore temples, in 1998 and stayed there later. [SOURCE]

Same-sex loving remains illegal in India. Although urban citizens have become more accepting in recent years, the law is still intact.

MICHIGAN: HATE CRIME LAW TO INCLUDE GAYS

In Michigan, Gays are finally going to get some justice. They are now being included in the hate crime law.

Michigan’s hate crime law would expand to include intimidation of gays and lesbians and people with disabilities, and would make hanging a noose or burning a cross on someone else’s property specific crimes, under changes urged by civil rights groups today.

Those changes will be put on a fast track in the House next month, said Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He said he would introduce a bill today to strengthen the state’s ethnic intimidation law.

Condino said the hate crime law changes will be debated during the Legislature’s lame-duck session this fall. He said the proposed changes would toughen Michigan’s hate crime law and bring it in line with those of 31 other states.

The changes are supported by a wide array of civil rights organizations and law enforcement. [SOURCE]

I am honestly surprised that gays still are fighting to be included in Hate Crimes in the U.S.! That's nuts! Its like they are saying their not equal enough to be saved from hate.. Whatever.. That makes my blood boil..

U.K. INCREASES MINORITY REPRESENTATION BUT EXCLUDES GAYS

In the U.K, the government wants to increase the representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people to the boards of public bodies. However, when looked closely at this new plan, sexual orientation was not included.

Uh Oh... Definately going to have some upset Gays in the house:

Harriet Harman, Secretary of State for Equality, said:
"Our ultimate aim is to have fair representation of women, black and Asian, and disabled people at every level of our democracy, including in public bodies.

"I'm going to keep a sharp eye on appointments made by each government department."

In response to the Harman's words Derek Munn, head of public affairs for gay equality organisation Stonewall, said:

"Given the government's aim of extend equal protect to sexual orientation, Stonewall expects this to apply in every area of the government's work and public appointments are no different." [SOURCE]

FIGHT.. FIGHT... FIGHT.. Just jokin.. but still I wonder why gays were left out??

U.K.: LEGITIMISED HOMOPHOBIA??

Across the big pond in the U.K., upset has occured with the gay community. A court ruled in favour of Lillian Ladele, who claimed that she was discriminated against because of her religion when she refused to conduct civil partnership ceremonies while employed by Islington council.

Peter Tatchell, the gay rights and human rights campaigner, said that the ruling in favour of Lillian Ladele is "a dangerous subversion of the democratic principle that everyone should have equal rights and responsibilities under the law."

"The tribunal has ruled that people of faith are above the law," said Mr Tatchell.

"They can plead conscientious objection and be exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.

"If this judgment stands, it will pave the way for religious people to have the legal entitlement to discriminate on conscientious grounds against people of other faiths, unmarried parents and many others who they condemn as immoral." [SOURCE]

Wow, this is insane.. What Tatchell is saying is true. He goes on talking about how Firemen, cops and other public services can soon deny help to those gays in need if their religious rights are againt homosexuals. CRAZY STUFF PEOPLE!!