Attention Denver - The Gays Have Landed

Today, over 350 openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender delegates will descend upon Denver, just four days before the Democratic National Convention is set to get underway. The main topic, of course will be equal rights and anti-discrimination laws.

But the GLBT interest and activism won’t stop there. The Stonewall Democrats, whose conference begins today at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, will also be working around the clock to make the most of the convention by creating strategies to help various candidates of the Democratic Party become elected in state and local races. This will also give states a chance to sharpen their fall election skills.

John Marble, a spokesman for the Stonewall Democrats said, “I think a lot of delegates, especially LGBT delegates, are looking at how they can use the convention effectively. If we do this right, we can really use this as an organizing convention.”

Read more about GLBT involvment at the DNC here at gayagenda.com.

Oregon’s Coquille Tribe Recognizes Gay Marriage

Kitzen Doyle was only 14 and Jeni Branting was 16, when they first met, and Jeni is the only person Kitzen has ever dated. In 2001 they became engaged and Kitzen legally changed her last name to Branting in 2005.

Even with the thought it may never legally be recognized by the state or the federal government, the two had planned to marry.

Now, thanks to a historic decision by the Coquille Indian Tribe, the two will exchange vows in May of 2009 and they will be recognized as a married couple by the tribal government. The Coquille is the first Native American tribe to officially sanction same-sex marriage.

Find out more about the tribe by clicking here.

The tribe’s decision will only apply to the benefits and rights afforded to tribe members. Jeni Branting, now 27, isn’t a tribe member at this point, so she doesn’t have access to the health care programs and other opportunities afforded to members, but once they are married, they will both be fully recognized as Coquille Indians by the tribe.

The Coquille tribe, along with eight other federally recognized governments in Oregon, are sovereign nations. These nations are exempt from some local and state laws and permitted, to build casinos, even though the state constitution makes casinos illegal otherwise.

Brazil Congress Rejects Gay Adoption

The lower house of Congress in Brazil has rejected part of a pending law that would have allowed gay couples to adopt children.

A statement came down Wednesday from the Chamber of Deputies saying a measure that would give gay couples the right to adopt was withdrawn because Brazilian federal law does not recognize same-sex civil unions.

A proposal which would grant same-sex couples the same rights as married heterosexual couples has been pending in Brazil’s Congress for over 10 years. This has prompted many states to take action on their own.

Same-sex civil unions have been permitted in in Southern Rio Grande do Sul since 2004. In 2006 a Sao Paulo state court allowed a gay couple to adopt a 5-year-old girl.

The bill will now returns to Brazil’s Senate for further debate.

Gay & Lesbian Police March in Pride Parade

A COLOURFUL parade kicked off a day of music, dance and revelry as Doncaster celebrated its second annual Pride festival yesterday.

The “Walk of Unity” from Mansion House to Market Place was well attended not only by members of the public but also gay and lesbian police officers, who had been given permission to march in
uniform.

At 3pm the stage show began, with acts including DJ Marky Mark, Kylie Minogue tribute act The Kylie Experience, local band My Sobriquet and jazz performers Fiona and Glenn as well as headliner Katrina Leskanich, formerly of 1997 Eurovision winners Katrina and the Waves.

Get the rest from yorkshirepost.co.uk.

Olympic Diver is Out and Proud

The first Australian Olympian to declare his homosexuality, Matthew Mitcham (20) is a favorite to medal in the upcoming Beijing games.

The gold medal hopeful’s journey has not been easy. Those close to him have seen Mitcham, 20, battle depression, retire in his teenage years after physical and emotional burn-out, then nine months later resume his sport and build himself into the champion he is today.

One person who has been by his side for the entire tumultuous journey is his partner, Lachlan.

“We can’t afford for Lachlan to go at the moment,” Mitcham said. “But Johnson & Johnson offer grants to go to Beijing and I’ve nominated Lachlan as the support person I want to go.”

Read full story >>

More photos of Matthew here. Video of his diving below: