March 19-April 1 . 2011 qnotes

NationalSLDN communications director namedWASHINGTON, D.C. — A South Carolinanative was named on March 10 as the newcommunications director for ServicemembersLegal Defense Network (SLDN), a nationallegal services and policy organization that fornearly two decades advocated for the repealof “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). SLDN alsoprovides legal services to those impacted byor fired under the statute.Zeke Stokes, who lives in Washington,D.C., with his partner of three years, willbe responsible for planning, implementing,managing and evaluating all communicationsfor the group as DADT repeal moves throughthe certification and implementation phases.He will report directly to the chief operatingofficer and work closely with the executivedirector on key communications strategies.— Compiled from releaseGOP will defend DOMAWASHINGTON, D.C. — LGBT rightsgroups condemned U.S. House Republicanleadership for formally voting to authorizeintervention to defend the Defense ofMarriage Act (DOMA) in court. The BipartisanLegal Advisory Group, convened by SpeakerBoehner, voted 3-2 to authorize the House toretain legal counsel. Minority Leader NancyPelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Whip StenyHoyer (D-MD) voted against the action.With at least nine cases challenging theconstitutionality of DOMA, spanning threeappellate courts and four district courtsin six states, the March 9 vote sets up anexpansive and expensive undertaking. InFebruary, the Obama administration announcedthat the president had concludedthat a key section of DOMA is unconstitutionaland the administration would nolonger defend the discriminatory law.— D.S.Lesbians burned by insurance co.VONORE, Tenn. — On Sept. 4, 2010, Lauraand Carol Ann Stutte’s rural Tennessee homewas burned to the ground in an apparenthate crime. Six months later, the lesbiancouple’s $206,000 homeowners policy remainsunpaid and the Springfield, Mo., insurancecompany that owns the policy — AmericanNational Property and Casualty, a subsidiaryof American National Insurance Company— shows no signs of following through ontheir obligations.The fire was preceded by months of deaththreats from a neighbor. As the couple’s homewent up in smoke, a detached garage had theword “QUEERS” spray-painted on the side ingiant black letters.To date, American National refuses topay out the couple’s homeowners policy andrefuses to pay their living expenses in full,as detailed in a policy rider — even thoughthe company acknowledges that the couplecontinues to pay the premiums.— D.S.AG calls for marriage equalitySACRAMENTO, Calif. — CaliforniaAttorney General Kamala Harris has fileda brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals forthe Ninth Circuit asking that the stay onthe U.S. District Court ruling in Perry v.Schwarzenegger — which more than sixmonths ago declared Prop. 8 unconstitutional— be lifted immediately, once again allowinggay and lesbian couples in California to marry.“For 846 days, Proposition 8 has deniedequality under the law to gay and lesbiancouples,” Harris stated in her brief. “Each andevery one of those days, same-sex coupleshave been denied their right to convene lovedones and friends to celebrate marriages sanctionedand protected by California law. Eachone of those days, loved ones have been lost,moments have been missed, and justice hasbeen denied.”At press time there had been no responsefrom the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.— D.S.Obamas host anti-bullying conf.WASHINGTON, D.C. – The President andFirst Lady called for a united effort to addressbullying at the White House Conference onBullying Prevention. Approximately 150 students,parents, teachers, non-profit leaders,advocates, and policymakers came togetherMarch 10 to discuss how they can worktogether to make America’s schools and communitiessafe for all students.“If there’s one goal of this conference,it’s to dispel the myth that bullying is just aharmless rite of passage or an inevitable partof growing up. It’s not,” said President BarackObama. “Bullying can have destructive consequencesfor our young people. And it’s notsomething we have to accept.”A delegation from the Gay, Lesbian andStraight Education Network was on hand topress for the administration’s support for thebipartisan Safe Schools Improvement Act, afederal anti-bullying bill introduced by Sens.Bob Casey and Mark Kirk.Global— D.S.Anti-gay couple can’t fosterDERBY, England — Eunice and OwenJohns, a Christian couple who were turneddown as respite foster care providers becauseof their negative views on homosexuality, losttheir legal challenge last month against theDerby City Council in the High Court.Lord Justice James Munby and JusticeJack Beatson ruled that laws protectingpeople from discrimination because of theirsexual orientation “should take precedence”over the right not to be discriminated againston religious grounds. They added that if childrenwere placed with caregivers who objectto homosexuality and same-sex relationships,“there may well be a conflict with the localauthority’s duty to ‘safeguard and promote thewelfare’ of looked-after children”Following the Court’s ruling, Eunice Johnssaid: “We have been excluded because wehave moral opinions based on our faith andwe feel sidelined because we are Christianswith normal, mainstream, Christian views onsexual ethics. We are prepared to love andaccept any child. All we were not willing todo was to tell a small child that the practice ofhomosexuality was a good thing.”— D.S.info: Have news or other information? Sendyour press releases and updates for inclusionin our News Notes: editor@goqnotes.com.March 19-April 1 . 2011 qnotes 13