Americans Against Discrimination

(Des Moines, Iowa)  A group that helped to outlaw gay marriage in California is turning its focus to Iowa, hoping to begin the long process of overturning a state Supreme Court decision earlier this year that legalized same-sex marriage.

The National Organization for Marriage has launched the Reclaim Iowa Project, targeting legislative races in the state in an effort to elect candidates who support putting the issue of gay marriage before voters.

http://www.365gay.com/news/group-that-opposes-gay-marriage-now-targeting-iowa/

In San Francisco today, a federal court will begin hearings in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Lawyers Ted Olson and David Boies — who faced off in the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court challenge in 2000 — brought forth the case to try to overturn California’s Proposition 8, which they say violates the equal-protection clause. The Times this morning has an interesting profile on how Olson, a lifelong conservative who has aided the Reagan and Bush regimes, came to this role. Largely, it had to do with director Rob Reiner. A few days after Prop 8 passed, the Hollywood Democrat bigwig and his wife, Michele, were having lunch with two prominent political consultants and lamenting the vote:

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/08/hearings_to_begin_today_in_fed.html

By Ali Davis, Contributing writer 08.04.2009 5:01am EDT Culture & Ideas

This weekend’s attack at the gay and lesbian center in Tel Aviv left me with a familiar feeling: helplessness. That awful moment of wanting to do something but knowing you’re half a world away.

I spent much of Saturday scouring the Internet for news and shaking my head. Fortunately there are a lot of people out there who had better ideas than me.

In Israel, LGBT leaders met with representatives from the Social Affairs Ministry to highlight the awful statistics on hate crimes and abuse against young people. Minister Isaac Herzog agreed that this weekend’s attack was a form of “social terror” and has ordered his ministry to set up a special program to help LGBT youth.

Community workers in Israel have already noticed that the immediate and moving response from the LGBT community and its supporters has helped to break the silence around hate crimes – phone centers have added staffers as more people than ever before have gained the courage to report attacks.

http://www.365gay.com/blog/davis-positive-steps-in-the-face-of-tragedy/

August 4, 2009

As many as three explosive devices reportedly detonated in two track stadiums of the Outgames in Copenhagen, leaving one person with minor injuries.

Before the men’s 4×200-meter track relay in the afternoon, two bombs were thrown onto the track and exploded instantly, according to a witness writing in an e-mail obtained by Advocate.com. An Outgames athlete was taken to a local hospital with injuries to his right hand from flying shrapnel. He has since been released.

Participants on the field were unharmed but shaken by the incident.

(Full Story) http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=137495293997&h=i9Xmk&u=yd1xL&ref=mf