TOP6NEWS - Date 6.28.05

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1-NEWS: Canadian Commons likely to approve ssm today
2-NEWS: Pro-gay group seeks support at PTA convention
3-NEWS: More on new book showing family diversity - of all sorts
4-NEWS: New gay channel goes on air Thursday
5-NEWS: M. Lazin: Gay movement is study in integrity
6-NEWS: Findlaw: Analysis of Lewis and comparison to Goodridge
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1-NEWS: Canadian Commons likely to approve ssm today

By JANE TABER and BILL CURRY AND GLORIA GALLOWAY Tuesday, June 28, 2005 Updated at 3:20 AM EDT From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Ottawa — The House of Commons is scheduled to give final approval to alter Canada's definition of marriage today after the federal Liberals once again used a late-night closure motion to bring debate on the legislation to an end.
The expected passage of the controversial bill comes less than a day after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper suggested the same-sex marriage vote lacks legitimacy because a majority of federalist MPs are opposed to the change.
MPs voted last night on whether to shut down debate at report stage and then to approve the bill at that stage, leaving the door open for third and final reading today and an adjournment of the House for summer immediately after.

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2-NEWS: Pro-gay group seeks support at PTA convention

By George Archibald THE WASHINGTON TIMES June 28, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The goal of safe-schools programs on behalf of children with same-sex attraction should be to "encourage them in their identity," workshop presenters for a pro-homosexual group told delegates at the national PTA convention.
    "Most gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) kids do not feel safe in school," said Roy Gilbert-Higginson, deputy director of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). "They stay away, they truant, they don't get value of an education."
    The Rev. Lawrence Rezash, pastor emeritus of St. John's United Church of Christ in Dayton, Ohio, said PFLAG has developed a program for school staff awareness and "interventions," with the help of Centerville High School and Wright State University, to increase acceptance of homosexuality and eliminate harassment in schools.

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3-NEWS: More on new book showing family diversity - of all sorts

Posted: June 27, 2005  2:00 pm ET
(New York City) A new book about the true story of a gay penguin couple and their quest to become parents is likely to set off another round of attempted gay book bannings.
"And Tango Makes Three," is being released this week by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
The book was written by Justin Richardson, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia and Cornell universities, with collaboration by playwright Peter Parnell, his partner, and illustrator Henry Cole.
It tells the story of Roy and Silo who reside at New York's Central Park Zoo.
We first told you about the couple in February 2004 when their love story became public.

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4-NEWS: New gay channel goes on air Thursday

By JULIE SALAMON
NY Times Published: June 28, 2005
Sex may sell, but it won't be selling Logo, MTV Networks' new gay channel, which is beginning on Thursday with little fanfare, after a four-month delay. [Margaret’s insert – little fanfare/publicity? It was an AP article in MANY papers yesterday] The channel's debut offering will be "The Evolution Will Be Televised," a 90-minute documentary about the emerging visibility of gay Americans beginning in the late 1960's. While movies will be the digital cable channel's mainstay, Logo will offer a variety of regular series, featuring travel programs, documentaries, concerts, performances by stand-up comics, sports, reality shows, awards ceremonies and original sitcoms. There will be regular news spots, co-produced with CBS, also owned by Logo's parent, Viacom.
"Don't go there" is the operative message for those looking for the titillation of sexy gay programs like Showtime's "Queer as Folk" and "The L Word" (though Showtime Networks, also owned by Viacom, is a sponsor on the new channel).

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5-NEWS: M. Lazin: Gay movement is study in integrity 

Malcolm Lazin is executive director of the Equality Forum In Philly Inquirer
Recently I was asked about gay integrity. What is it? Where do we find it? It caused me to consider whether, because of our collective experience, gays and lesbians have demonstrated increasing integrity.
Had I considered that 10 years ago, I might have said, "No." Today, my answer is, "Yes."
The word integrity has many definitions, all of which share a sense of being true to oneself and consistent adherence to a personal code of morality and ethics. In both ways, gays have been called on to show greater and greater integrity. They have.
In May, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Americans gathered at Independence Mall for the national celebration of the 40th anniversary of the GLBT civil-rights movement. That movement coalesced when gays and lesbians staged annual demonstrations in New York, Washington and Philadelphia from 1965 to 1969. The first of those demonstrations was in front of Independence Hall on July 4, 1965. Forty people participated.

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6-NEWS: Findlaw: Analysis of Lewis and comparison to Goodridge

By JOANNA GROSSMAN AND LINDA MCCLAIN
Tuesday, Jun. 28, 2005
Challenges to state marriage laws by same-sex couples continue to wend their way through the courts in a number of states. Earlier this month, in Lewis v. Harris, an appellate court in New Jersey weighed in on the issues, ruling against same-sex marriage.
This case is notable, however, as more than just another tally in the "no" column in this ongoing, hard-fought battle. It also showcases new claims by same-sex marriage opponents as to what the government's interest in marriage is.

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