UNITED STATES
A major study on gay parenthood
and adoption has found:
More than 50% of gay men and 41%
of Lesbians have at least one child;
65,500 adopted children have a
Lesbian or gay parent;
14,100 foster children live with
a gay or Lesbian person
Gay and Lesbian parents are
raising at least 3% of the children in the United States
CALIFORNIA
The University of California,
Los Angeles became the very first university to have an
endowed chair devoted exclusively to the researching of
same-sex laws and public policy. More than $1 million
was donated by a local philanthropic gay couple. This
gift will greatly facilitate academic research in the
field of gay rights laws.
MASSACHUSETTS
It appears that gay marriage in
Massachusetts, the only state to allow it so far, is
safe from attack. The legislature has blocked a measure
to put a constitutional amendment about gay marriage on
the ballot. The proposal to allow a public vote failed
by the overwhelming margin of 45 for to 151 against.
NEW JERSEY
In February New Jersey became
the third state after Vermont and Connecticut to grant
gay couples the same legal rights as married couples.
Those couples who had been in civil unions or marriage
granted by other states or countries automatically
received the rights of civil union in New Jersey.
NEW YORK
The New York City Controller
estimated that allowing gay marriage in New York would
add $142 million to New York City's economy in the three
years following approval and $184 million to the
state's, as well as $8 million in additional taxes and a
savings of $100 million in health care costs.
CANADA
They say that the Canadian
Mounties (RCMP) always get their man. This is now
literally true since two male Mounties married each
other in the first such wedding between two RCMPs.
Canada is one of the countries that legally allows gays
to marry.
On the other hand, the Anglican
Church of Canada narrowly voted to defeat a resolution
that would have allowed their member churches to
officially bless gay civil unions. The Anglican Church
has been in turmoil since the consecration of openly gay
V. Gene Robinson as a bishop of the church.
GERMANY
A twelve year old boy became
the youngest person ever to receive permission for a
sex-change operation. He was determined to be
transgender at the age of ten.
GREAT BRITAIN
In January, now ex-Prime
Minister Tony Blair announced that faith-based adoption
agencies would not be exempt from anti-discrimination
laws. Such an exemption was sought by church leaders so
they would not be "forced" to place children with gay
couples.
ITALY
Thousands of Italians rallied
to support a proposed law to grant legal rights to same
sex couples such as hospital visits and inheritance.
NOTE FROM ROY: I was in Rome at the time and saw the
passion and hope expressed by demonstrators who face an
uphill battle to get the law passed. The Church is
against it; support mainly comes from the left wing of
Italy's government, including the Communists.
MEXICO
Macho Mexico has been among
the leaders in Latin America for gay rights. Mexico City
allows same-sex civil unions and even had
city-hired mariachi bands to serenade gay couples. The
city also allows conjugal visits for gay prisoners.
Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that soldiers cannot be
expelled from the military for being HIV-positive.
SPAIN
Legislation is being
introduced to compensate gays and Lesbians for their
harsh treatment under the dictatorship of Francisco
Franco. Under his rule homosexuality was a crime and
thousands were imprisoned or sent to mental hospitals
under appalling conditions.
Yes,
Yes, Yes.
