Tens of thousands of dollars will be spent to make schools across Newfoundland and Labrador more welcoming to gay students, according to the province's education minister. “We know that many young people struggle with issues around sexual orientation – often with hurtful, or even tragic, consequences,” said Minister Clyde Jackman in a news release, reports CBC. “This cannot continue within a school system, and a society, which claims to celebrate diversity and to respect the value of every individual. This resource will help us take an important step forward in recognizing that we all have a responsibility for ensuring that all of our students are accepted, and respected, for who they are.” The province says $90,000 will be provided as support for administrators, teachers, and students who wish to establish gay-straight alliances in their schools. “The resource, entitled My GSA (or My Gay-Straight Alliance), will be provided this spring to all Newfoundland and Labrador schools offering Grades 7-12,” said the news release. The My GSA resource is funded through the provincial government's Violence Prevention Initiative ($50,000) and the Department of Education ($40,000), and developed in partnership with the Women's Policy Office and Egale Canada — the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-human rights organization. Newfoundland and Labrador’s version of My GSA is modelled after a similar resource currently available in some Ontario schools, according to the government’s news release.
In Australia, the Queensland Government has announced plans to change the state’s Criminal Code to remove doubts about how and when a partial defence involving a sexual advance can be used, essentially ending the so-called “gay panic” defence. There has been continued pressure on the Bligh Government to change the legal loophole after a substantial campaign by Catholic priest Father Paul Kelly, whose change.org petition had reached over 20,000 signatories in support of the defence’s elimination. Attorney-General Paul Lucas said the Government had last week received a recommendation from a special committee established in November last year to consider the matter. He said the Criminal Code currently contained a partial defence of provocation which could be used to reduce a conviction from murder to manslaughter where a defendant claimed they were provoked into committing the act. He also acknowledged that members of the community had recently raised concerns that this could be used to establish a gay-panic defence, where a defendant could claim the victim made a homosexual advance towards them and provoked them into committing a criminal act. “We made it crystal clear from day one that the Queensland Government does not believe that anyone should be able to use a claim of non-violent homosexual advance to reduce a conviction from murder to manslaughter,” Lucas said. “That’s why we listened to the expert advice of the Queensland Law Reform Commission in 2008 and ensured strengthened legislation was passed so words alone could not amount to a partial defence. “However, I received a number of representations from the gay community last year and consequently set up an expert committee comprised of key stakeholders to examine the laws. Lucas said the committee had completed its review and based on the recommendations of legal expert and retired Court of Appeal Judge John Jerrard, they will be amending the law to ensure the intent of the partial defence provisions are clear. “While the committee was not unanimous in its decision, the ultimate recommendation endorsed by the chair, recommended a change,” he said. The provisions contained in section 304 are to be amended to ensure that an unwanted sexual advance would not be enough to establish provocation unless there were exceptional circumstances. “It is not possible to remove sexual advances completely without affecting situations such as that of a battered woman who knows that her refusal of a sexual advance from her partner is a precursor to assault and she takes immediate action to stop this from happening,” he said. “There is no place for these kinds of acts in a civilised society. “These amendments make it crystal clear that someone making a pass at someone is not grounds for a partial defence and by no means an excuse for horribly violent acts.” Lucas said the Bligh Government would introduce a bill to Parliament this year and called on Opposition Leader Campbell Newman to provide bi-partisan support. “We know Campbell Newman was forced into a weak promise on the Civil Partnerships Act but the Shadow Attorney General, Jarrod Bleijie, made it clear last week that the LNP still wants to overturn the laws,” he said.
When a northwest Arkansas newspaper declined to run a same sex engagement announcement last week it set into motion a groundswell of support that has garnered the attention of local media and activists. According to Yahoo! News, Cody Renegar, 35, of Elkins, Arkansas asked the Arkansas Democrat Gazette to publish an engagement announcement for his June wedding commitment ceremony, something Renegar said happens for other couples who would like to announce their impending nuptials. "I called the newspaper and asked how I can submit our announcement for publication," Renegar said. "I was told that they won't publish them until it's legal." Renegar said the newspaper declined to run the announcement because of long-standing policy. According to newspaper representatives, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette charges a minimal fee and has content length requirements, but does run announcements on a regular basis for heterosexual couples, including mixed race couples. They do not run same sex announcements because the state of Arkansas does not legally recognize those unions. Gazette publisher Rusty Turner said Monday that he was not familiar with Renegar's request, but said it would not be published because of long-standing editorial policies. "We run announcements for marriages that are legally recognized in Arkansas," Turner said."It is a long-established policy of the newspaper." Turner said he was personally unaware of any similar requests from same sex couples. Renegar and his fiance, 28-year old Thomas Staed, plan to conduct a public commitment ceremony at their northwest Arkansas home this summer. Same sex marriage is not currently recognized under Arkansas state law, although other states and the District of Columbia do recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions. "We don't need a license to prove our love," Renegar said. "We'll get married in front of our family and friends...we know we're in love." On Saturday, the couple’s story was published and immediately drew the attention of friends and family on social media sites such as Facebook, as well as KNWA, a local television news outlet. "My friends are just amazing," Renegar said. "They started calling and texting me and asking when it would be in the newspaper." Local activist Jay Phillips was one of the people to join Renegar's cause. Through his contacts at GetEqual.com and Change.org, Phillips initiated an online petition drive to apply pressure on the newspaper to change its policies. "I contacted (publisher Rusty Turner) to give him an advanced notice of our intent to build public awareness of their discriminatory policy," Phillips said. "It's my opinion that he's willing to progress on the issue, but he is reasonably worried about blow-back from his conservative readers." Turner said there were no plans currently under way to examine the policy or grant an exception for Renegar. Phillips said some apprehension on the newspaper's part was understandable. "This is a very progressive area in a red state," Phillips said. "Mr. Turner is very justified to be cautious, but it is wrong." Renegar said he thought the newspaper's policy was outdated and simply needed to be changed to keep up with the times. "Maybe they just need to take another look at their policies and change them," he said. "It is the right of any couple to be able to share their love and happiness...it's validating."
Tuesday morning, nominations for the 84th Academy Awards were announced, The Artist and Hugo gathering the most nods. Among the surprises, Leonardo DiCaprio not nominated for Best Actor, Gary Oldman earning his first (!) nomination for his Lead Actor in Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, Albert Brooks not receiving a Supporting Actor nomination, Nick Nolte and Max von Sydow receiving Supporting Actor nominations. As well, there were only two Best Song nominees. Thankfully, the Academy recognized the terrific work of Christopher Plummer, nominated for Supporting Actor in Beginners, as well as Terrence Malick and his film The Tree of Life, receiving Best Director and Best Film nominations respectively.
The super sexy Henry Cavill poses with a lucky little fan on the set of Superman: Man of Steel.
0 comments:
Post a Comment