Running for Office Washington, DC — In a reality TV twist, Chrissy Gephardt, daughter of Congressman and former presidential candidate Richard Gephardt (D-MO), won a slot on Showtime’s new politi- cal reality series “The American Candidate” and announced her candi- dacy as her first challenge on June 8. The show attempts to identi- fy through a series of competitions ' one individual from a select few who has the qualifications and qualities to be the “American Candidate.” Chrissy Gephardt served as the national LGBT outreach director on her father’s presidential campaign until January 2004. Over the course of 10 weeks, contestants will face a series of challenges designed to test their presi- dential mettle and to show viewers what really goes on in the making of a presidential candidate. The final episode will be a showdown between the remaining two candidates, and one person will emerge victorious — the “American Candidate.” J-FLAG Founder Murdered New York — Brian Williamson, an advocate for lgbt rights in Jamaica, was brutally murdered on June 9, 2004. Amnesty International urged I that a thorough investigation be con- ducted into his death. “Brian Williamson was a courageous individual prepared to speak out for one of the most margin- alized and persecuted communities in Jamaica: the gay and lesbian commu- nity,” stated Michael Heflin, Director of Amnesty International USA’s (AIUSA) OUTfront program on LGBT human "rights. . The police have initially concluded that the motive for the mur- der was robbery due to the reported removal from his home of a safe. “There remains a strong possibility that Brian Williamson’s profile as a gay man and advocate of homosexual rights made him a target for those with homophobic views,” explained Heflin. Brian Williamson was a founder member of the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), and one of the few individuals prepared to speak publicly about matters concerning the homo- sexual community. Philippines censors Lesbian TV shows New York — According to a press release from Human Rights Watch, threats made by a Philippine censor- ship Board’s top official against broadcasts showing lesbian relation- ships encourage discrimination and are a blatant assault on freedom of expres- sion. In May a government offi- cial sent a memorandum to the pro- ducers of several television shows: “Lesbian and homosexual relation- ships are an abnormality of human nature. To show such kind of abnor- mality/aberration on prime-time TV programs gives the impression that the network is encouraging lesbian and homosexual relationships.” “The Philippine govem- ment’s power to censor and ban films and broadcasts it deems unacceptable is a relic of dictatorship that should finally be scrapped,” said Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Project. “Using Marcos-era censorship powers against- images of lesbian life means con- demning part of the population not just to inequality, but to invisibility.” Help for 1t'ans Youth New York — In a publication released last month by Lambda Legal and the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, transgender youth have a new resource to help them educate others about their reality. The 25-page booklet, “Bending the Mold,” offers sugges- tions for making schools safer, helps teens address making bathrooms and locker rooms more accessible and identifies ways to raise the level of discussion about transgender issues in school. “Young people are identify- ing as transgender and beginning to transition earlier, and they need the tools to help them educate their par- ents, peers and schools,” said Michael Adams, Director of Education and Public Affairs at Lambda Legal. Pediatrician Offers Guidelines Burlington, VT — A newly revised clinical report titled “Sexual Orientation and Adolescents” appeared in the June issue of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) peer- reviewed journal Pediatrics. The report was co-authored by Barbara Frankowski, M.D., professor of pedi- atrics at the University of Vermont. According to the AAP, approximately five percent of young people consider themselves lesbian, gay or bisexual, and many adolescents know a friend, classmate, neighbor or relative who is nonheterosexual. The new report cautions that sexual orien- tation is not synonymous with sexual activity or sexual behavior. Frankowski and her col- leagues recommend that pediatricians be aware that one stark difference between non—heterosexual and hetero- sexual adolescents: the suicide rate. According to the report, studies show that non-heterosexual youth are two to seven times more likely to attempt suicide than their het- erosexual peers. They are also two to four times more likely to be threatened with a weapon at school, and are more likely to engage in the use of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. These behav- iors are not attributable to homosexu- ality per se, but are associated with societal stigmatization and the lack of support offered to non-heterosexual youths. “Gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens often have extra challenges like harassment at school, anger from par-, ents, and misunderstanding in their community,” says Frankowski. “The pediatrician’s office should be one safe"place for these youth to come with their concerns.” sneak Attack Washington DC — According to an “action alert” sent out by the American Civil Liberties Union, a bill proposed by Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum constitutes a “sneak attack” on the civil rights and health ' care access of anyone not considered in the “mainstream.” No employee should be allowed to discriminate against or harass their coworkers, customers, or clients because they can claim a reli- gious reason for it. And certainly no police officer, health care worker or counselor should be allowed to jeop- ardize someone’s health or safety by claiming a religious reason. But the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (S. 893) intro duced by Santorum could bolster the claims of employees that they do not have to comply with state and local civil rights laws that protect against sexual orientation or marital status dis- crimination. It could git employers’ nondiscrimination policies that go beyond the minimum that federal law requires, allowing employees to claim that their religion requires them to flout these policies. Got Balls? Washington, DC — The Federal Triangles Soccer Club (FTSC), Washington, DC’s gay and lesbian soccer club, are staging their annual Rehoboth Beach Classic soccer tour- nament from July 2 — 4, 2004 in Delaware. Organizers expect anywhere from 50 to 70 players to participate in thetoumament, which will be held at the fields of Rehoboth Beach 7:i:.:fi§1._;_'iih¢2 tmoerrcfisains te rest r Elementary School. Currently in its sixth year, the tournament is expected to draw players not only from Mid- Atlantic cities like DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, but also from New York, Boston, Atlanta, and San Francisco, as - well. “If you like playing soccer and like going to the beach then you definitely need to be here,” said FTSC board member Michael Pranikotf. The co-ed tournament fea- tures individual rather than team regis- tration and players are placed together based on position and skill level. Trophies go to the winning squad, as well as to the top goalie, the top goal scorer, and to the winner of a penalty kick contest. “This tournament will be a complete blast,” promises FTSC Vice President Wendy Chun-I-Ioon. To reg- ister online for the tournament, and for more details, including the schedule of events, visit http://www.federaltrian- gles.org/main/toumaments.html. Anti-Gay Aussie Wedgie Sydney — In Australia, Liberal Party Prime Minister John Howard has taken a page from George W. Bush re- election playbook by proposing an amendment to ban same-sex marriage, says a report on the website SFGate. The report quoted the French publication Le Monde to say that Howard has made it clear he plans “to amend [Australia’s] federal mar- riage law in order to prohibit any unions between persons of the same sex. The Liberal leader also doesn’t want homosexual couples to be able to adopt children from overseas.” To the disappointment of gay activists, Australia’s opposition Labor Party “indicated [that it] would support the legislation” because, at ”’ least in draft form, it has been “sweet- ened” by a clause that would allow same-sex partners to legally designate each other as beneficiaries in wills and other legal documents. The article suggests that Howard is using the issue as a wedge in an expected election this fall to dis- tract attention and divert opposition to Howard’s unpopular policies regarding involvement in Iraq. « Kansas court Reviews Limon Kansas City — In June, the Kansas Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal on behalf of Matthew Limon, the young man who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for an act of con- sensual oral sex with another male teenager, says a report on PlanetOut. Limon’s lawsuit had reached the U.S. Supreme Court. But the nine justices sent the Limon case back to the Kansas Court of Appeals for reconsideration last summer, in view of their decision in Lawrence v. Texas. The appellate court ignored the Lawrence precedent, ruling that the state of Kansas could set draconian limits on underage gay sex. Under Kansas law, no one under 19 has the legal right to have sex. A statute called the Romeo-and-Juliet law sets a maxi- mum sentence of about a year in prison for straight kids who are caught fooling around with their peers. There’s hope because the composition of the seven-member high court has changed dramatically with the appointment of three new jus- tices last year by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Rainbow Grannies Pride Despite death threats and hateful protests, Carrie and Elisia Ross-Stone, the lesbian grandmas who are riding bicycles on the Rainbow Ride Across America, persevere. The Ross-Stones are lesbian civil rights activists and grandmothers to Jareth, age 2. They are riding their bicycles from San Francisco to New York City to raise awareness and get support for equal civil marriage rights. They have met with many supporters of LGBT equality and have faced a few foes. They met with elect- ed officials in several cities, including the Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah who spoke out in support of equal civil marriage rights. They have met and rallied with progressive groups from African American, Latino, Native American, Feminist, and Youth organi- zations. The pair even paid a visit to the office of Marilyn Musgrave, the sponsor of the mean-spirited Federal Marriage Amendment. The Rocky Mountains ' proved a formidable climb for the 50- year-old women who see the literal ups and downs as symbolic of the struggle for LGBT equality. In addi- tion to their physical aches and pains, Carrie and Elisia have also been the targets of death threats and insults from hate—mongers. The Grannies are expected to reach New York City on July 10. V Compiled this month by Euan Bear.