BY CANDY PARKER

What did you miss this week in the world of LGBT news? Check out our Lesbian.com round-up and you’ll be ready to gather ’round the rainbow-colored water cooler to talk about five of the biggest, best and most interesting stories for June 15-21.

5 marriage equality cases get their day in court

On Monday, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals set August 6 as the date on which it will hear arguments for the five marriage equality cases pending before the court. The Cincinnati-seated court announced that arguments for cases in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee would take place at 1p.m. in what could be a historic day for marriage equality in those states.

Only the Michigan case pertains directly to the right of same-sex couples to marry. The others address issues related to birth and death certificates and state recognition for same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

Obama announces executive order protecting LGBT workers

Speaking at a Democratic National Committee gala in New York City Tuesday, President Obama received a standing ovation after announcing an executive order which would bar federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers.

“We don’t benefit as a country or an economy – businesses don’t benefit if they’re leaving talent off the field,” Obama said. “And that’s why I’ve directed my staff to prepare for my signature, an executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity… Because in the United States of America, who you are and who you love shouldn’t be a fireable offense.”

Obama went on to encourage passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

“It would be better, by the way, if Congress passed a more comprehensive law that didn’t just cover federal workers. And we need to keep working on that, so don’t take pressure off Congress,” Obama added.

Texas Governor skewered for comparing homosexuality to alcoholism

Comedians and late night talk show hosts continued to lambaste Texas Governor Rick Perry for comments he made the previous week before a gathering at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club. Stephen Colbert, John Stewart and others chided Perry for comparing homosexuality to alcoholism.

“Whether or not you feel compelled to follow a particular lifestyle or not, you have the ability to decide not to do that,” said Perry. “I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way.”

The latest to take aim at Perry’s remarks is Funny or Die who rebuked the governor in the best way possible – with uproarious hilarity – in the following NSFW video released this week.

Dutch “gay-only village” hoax goes viral

The gay rights group Pink Monday Foundation pulled the rainbow-colored wool over the eyes of international news outlets this week with the announcement of plans for the establishment of GayVillage, a purportedly “protected,” LGBT-only community to be constructed in the Netherlands.

The elaborate hoax gained credibility via a professional-looking website and promotional videos touting the development, as well endorsement by the mayor of Tilburg, the GayVillage’s announced location.

Pink Monday said that the outrage sparked by the stunt was exactly what they were hoping for. “The negative reactions we got are positive for Pink Monday. We are happy that people think a gay village is a crazy idea.”

News outlets were incensed by Mayor Peter Noordanus’ participation in the ruse, claiming that their credibility had been impacted. Noordanus said he had “underestimated the impact of my quote,” adding, “I did this with the aim of drawing attention to gay rights and not to trick the media and society.”

Presbyterian Church USA approves same-sex marriage

On Thursday, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) voted to amend its Book of Order to redefine marriage, replacing the phrase “a man and a woman” to “two persons.”

The 429-175 vote by leaders of the PCUSA launches a path toward gay marriage throughout the denominations 10,000 churches across the country. A majority of the churches 172 regional bodies must now approve the change before it becomes official, a process which could take up to a year.

“This is a glorious day for the church and for LGBT people who have been seeking full inclusion here for decades,” said Rev. Randy Bush, the co-moderator of the board for Covenant Network, a pro-LGBT church group.

In a separate vote, the PCUSA also voted to allow pastors to officiate same-sex marriages in states where marriage equality is the law. No further approvals are needed on that measure, made final by the group’s 371-238 vote.

The post LGBT week in review: Marriage equality advances, gay village hoax goes viral first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The Rev. Joanne Carlson Brown (left), and the Rev. Christie Lagergren Brown with their dog Thistle. (Photo courtesy of the Browns)

BY KELLY MORRIS
TheSeattleLesbian.com

Though it violates the United Methodist Church law, two ministers exchanged vows in Seattle, Washington earlier this month.

Tibbetts United Methodist Church’s Joanne Carlson and Woodland Park United Methodist Church’s Christie Newbill wed at Brown’s church in front of 300 people. District Superintendent Patricia Simpson officiated the wedding.

Read more at TheSeattleLesbian.com

The Seattle Lesbian online magazine reaches more than 188,000 readers per week globally.

The post Lesbian ministers marry; violate United Methodist Church law first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The gift itself (Photo: Zoe Amos)

BY ZOE AMOS
Lesbian.com

Miami Herald humor columnist, Dave Barry, occasionally reports implausible facts, and to be sure his readership doesn’t think he is trying to be funny, he adds, “I am not making this up.” Gentle readers, what you are about to read is absolutely true. I am not making this up.

This story begins on a bright sunny day a few weeks back. Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, would begin at sunset. Hanukkah is a minor holiday, but it is not without its traditions. People eat potato latkes (fried potato pancakes) served with sour cream and applesauce, play a game with a spinning top called a dreidel, and give little presents to the children including Hanukkah gelt, literally gold or coins, or more likely, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Candles placed in the menorah are lit each evening in remembrance of a time when one day’s worth of oil in the temple lasted eight—a small miracle.

On that bright sunny day as I gazed out the sliding glass doors at my home, I heard a clatter on the roof. It sounded as if something had fallen and was bouncing along the shingles as it made its way down. Quickly, I slid open the door and saw a hawk soaring low overhead. The gift it dropped onto my roof rolled over the gutter and fell into the garden before me.

The hawk flew out of sight. I walked a few steps to see the object. It was light brown, a bit mud-caked and looked man-made. I picked it up and knew immediately what it was – a carved wooden dreidel! What an amazing gift!

Was it a coincidence I received a dreidel on the first night of Hanukkah? Did it come from a spirit sending me a message? And if so, from whom?

I cleaned up the dreidel and pondered its meaning. It was very old, and it seemed like it could be from the 1950s or 60s. There was a hint of paint left on it and most of the words were obliterated. Usually a dreidel has a Hebrew letter on each of the four sides telling the player what to do in the game – put in a coin, take out half the pot, do nothing or take all. The letters also translate to mean, “A great miracle happened there,” a reference to the temple. This dreidel had six sides and the writing was in Spanish.

At this point, I should mention my Jewish heritage. Most of my relatives escaped the pogroms in Russia and immigrated to the United States around 1900 or shortly thereafter. As a child, I celebrated holidays, but didn’t attend temple. Slowly, many family members quit observing altogether, including me, although I consider myself to be a spiritual person. This event seemed to combine religion and spirituality.

I posted a picture of the dreidel on Facebook to get feedback and received dozens of comments. Some thought it was a good luck omen and suggested I buy lottery tickets. Others expressed their amazement at this timely gift. My mother thought the gift was a message from my grandfather, who took Judaism seriously.

While the meaning of this unexpected gift is open to interpretation, it reminded me of my heritage. Over the past weeks, I have kept the dreidel on my desk where I see it often. I am grateful for my ancestors who risked their lives to flee oppression. I recalled the stories my great-grandmother told of leaving Lithuania by boat at age sixteen, and how she had to adjust to a new country and learn English. I was reminded that religion and spirituality don’t always make sense. Sometimes things just happen. What I know is, I was given a Hanukkah gift and I will treasure it always. That is a small miracle.

Addendum: On the day after Christmas, I was near my sliding glass doors when I heard a soft thud against the glass. I looked outside and a few feet from where I found the dreidel, I found another light brown item of similar size. Curious, I picked it up. It was a small dinner roll with a beak-shaped triangle missing. Had the same hawk delivered a gift of bread? This is when I decided to share my story. I am not making this up.

Link to how to play dreidel: http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Dreidel

Zoe Amos brings her lesbian point of view to articles and stories on diverse topics. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. “Superior” a novella, is now available on Amazon. Read her short stories on Kindle and Nook. Check out her other life at: www.janetfwilliams.com.

The post From A to Zoe: I am not making this up first appeared on Lesbian.com.

(Photo: Reuters)

BY ALANA HOROWITZ
Huffington Post Gay Voices

Pope Francis reportedly was “shocked” by a bill that would allow gay couples to adopt children in Malta. The Holy See’s reaction may come as a surprise to those who have viewed him as progressive on gay rights. LGBT magazine “The Advocate” even named him their person of the year, citing his comments about homosexuals. “Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?” he told reporters in Italian in July.

Despite his July comments, the pope has a long history of being against gay rights. He has come out strongly opposed to same-sex marriage and called it “a destructive attack” on God’s plan.

Read more at Huffington Post Gay Voices

The post Pope Francis reportedly ‘shocked’ by gay adoption bill first appeared on Lesbian.com.

In the first eight months of his pontificate, Pope Francis has impressed, charmed and inspired many people around the world with his outreach to non-Christians, his statements of concern for the poor and disabled, and his personal humility. At the same time, other Catholics have expressed dismay over the pope’s statements about homosexuality and his remarks that the church is “obsessed” with some social issues. Some news accounts contend that the pope’s popularity has created a “Pope Francis effect,” producing a “significant global rise in church attendance,”  based on reports by Catholic clergy in Italy, Britain and and other countries of a recent rise in Mass attendance.

But has the pope’s popularity produced a Catholic resurgence in the U.S., where 10 percent of adults are former Catholics? Not so far, at least in terms of the share of Americans who identify as such, or the share of those who report attending Mass weekly. The United States is home to the world’s fourth-largest Catholic population and the pope appears to be well-liked, rated favorably by 79 percent of Catholics and 58 percent of the general public.

Read more at TheSeattleLesbian.com

The Seattle Lesbian online magazine reaches more than 188,000 readers per week globally

The post No booming ‘Pope Francis effect’ in U.S. first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY

A 20-year-old Muslim man in Nebraska stands accused of a hate crime afterallegedly attacking his sister with a crowbar because she is a lesbian. The Associated Press reports that Ahmed Mohammed Tuma was arrested Nov. 8 on suspicion of attempted assault, criminal mischief and making terroristic threats. The three counts also carry a hate crime enhancement. Police told KLKN-TV that Tuma believes his sister’s relationship with another womanis a disgrace to her family and against their Muslim beliefs.

Tuma’s 22-year-old sister, whose name has not been released and has not appeared on camera, was with her fiancee at the time of the attack. Although the victim and her girlfriend were able to get into their car and lock the door, they say Tuma then attempted to push the vehicle into oncoming traffic.

Read more at Huffington Post Gay Voices

The post Man allegedly attacks sister with crowbar for being a lesbian first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Barb Mariani and
Tippi McCullough (right).

BY REBECCA KLEIN
Huffington Post Gay Voices

Longtime teacher Tippi McCullough thinks it’s wrong that she was forced to resign from her job at Mount St. Mary Academy in Arkansas, and now she wants an apology.

On Oct. 16, the same day that McCullough married her female partner, Barb Mariani, school administrators told her that she should resign from the Catholic school or face termination. Principal Diane Wolfe reportedly told McCullough she had violated her contract’s “morality clause,” which allows the school to fire employees who stray from Church lifestyle teachings.

Read more at Huffington Post Gay Voices

The post Catholic school teacher forced out after marrying lesbian partner first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY Huffington Post Gay Voices

The Boys Scouts of America faced a barrage of conservative criticism after opting to lift a controversial ban on gay youth participants earlier this year, but now, it’s the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. (GSUSA) that’s taking the right-wing heat. As Right Wing Watch is reporting, pastors Kevin Swanson and Dave Buehner of Generations Radio urged listeners not to purchase Girl Scout Cookies: “The individualism of feminism has been devastating to this country. I’d say you ought to say no the Girl Scout cookies, too,” Swanson noted. “I don’t want to support lesbianism, I don’t want to support Planned Parenthood and I don’t want to support abortion, and if that be the case I’m not buying Girl Scout cookies.”

Unlike the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts have never objected to openly gay participants. “We recognize the basic human rights of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals,” officials wrote in a 2003 mission statement. “All citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, have the right to housing, employment, and to be free from violence and harassment.

Read more at Huffington Post Gay Voices

The post Pastors call for anti-lesbian boycott of Girl Scout cookies first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Pope Francis  (Photo: Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

BY ZACK FORD
ThinkProgress

Praise has abounded for the new tone Pope Francis set for the Catholic Church in his extensive interviewpublished last week, but in terms of his actions, it doesn’t look like a lot has changed so far. In particular, one Australian priest has been bothdefrocked and excommunicated by the Vatican apparently for his support of LGBT equality and women priests. Father Greg Reynolds was not provided an explanation for being cut out of the Church.

It’s telling that he refuses to answer the question of whether he approves of homosexuality, because there is no reason to believe that he does. It was only three years ago that he was describing marriage equality as “a scheme to destroy God’s plan,” suggesting that allowing same-sex couples to adopt is a form of discrimination against children. He may not care if priests are gay, but he certainly cares if they abide the anti-gay teachings of the Church. Indeed, Francis’ tact seems to be focusing on the issues more than the people, but this is a distinction without a difference; while his renewed emphasis on issues like poverty is laudable, discrimination against LGBT people isn’t any more tolerable just because it’s framed differently.

Read more at ThinkProgress.org

The post Is the Pope all talk on LGBT tolerance? first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Pope Francis at his inauguration mass (Photo: Gregorio Borgia/AP)

BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Washington Blade

LGBT Catholics have welcomed Pope Francis’ comments that the church has grown “obsessed” with same-sex marriage, abortion and contraception. “Pope Francis’ words and example have opened up new opportunities for the Catholic Church to welcome and dialogue with LGBT people,” Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry in Mount Rainier, Md., said. “His words will give courage and hope to thousands of pastoral ministers and Catholic faithful who have been doing this work for many decades, but who have often received penalties and discouragements from church leaders who did not share this pope’s broad vision.”

Others were skeptical. “He says not to interfere with the lives of gays, but in the countries where lawmakers are debating laws of equality, the Catholic hierarchy lobbies ferociously to ensure that these laws don’t advance (the same pope played a part of this in Argentina,)” Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Federation of Argentina President Esteban Paulón told the Blade on Friday. “This leads us to ask ourselves who is the Pope? Is he the same Bergoglio of the holy war and demonic plan (about marriage equality) or the ‘compassionate’ Francis toward gays.”

Read more at Washington Blade

Washington Blade is America’s leading gay news source

The post The response to Pope Francis’ gay marriage comments first appeared on Lesbian.com.