Same-sex rape victim? Brigham Young University will discipline you. Really.

Brigham Young University (BYU) students who report that they were victims of same-sex rape can expect to feel the wrath of the school's anti-gay disciplinary policies. The victim can be punished while the perpetrator walks away. (via Erin Alberty at The Salt Lake Tribune)

BYU's "Honor Code" has this to say about "Homosexual Behavior":

Homosexual Behavior 

Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code. 

One's stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.

Kissing or holding hands with someone of the same gender can get a student suspended or expelled. Students who report that they were victimized by same-sex sexual assault will likely be subject to interrogation about their sexual activity, which can lead to suspension or expulsion.

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Hollywood Reporter gives Milk a rave review

The Hollywood Reporter is giving Gus Van Sant's Milk biopic of assassinated San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk two thumbs up.

According to reviewer Kirk Honeycutt, the film "is the first great film to look at civil rights from the perspective of the gay movement" and is "superbly crafted, covering huge amounts of time, people and the zeitgeist without a moment of lapsed energy or inattention to detail".

Honeycutt notes that the cast is excellent, but singles out Sean Penn's performance for "extraordinary depth and wisdom".

Read more.

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Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) indicted

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) has been indicted on seven counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms. Stevens' most recent HRC scores have been 0, 13, and 0.

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Delaware Lieutenant Governor candidate blogs about Stonewall Democrats event

Matt Denn, Delaware's elected insurance commissioner, is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. As he notes on his blog this morning, he got some politicking and some family time in this past weekend:

On the Boardwalk

We are having one of our usual, hectic Monday mornings at the Denn household, so the weekend update today will be somewhat abbreviated.

Unquestioned highlight of the weekend: after visiting the State Fair in Harrington and the Stonewall Democrats annual fundraiser in Rehoboth, the boys and I headed to the boardwalk where they enjoyed a nutritious post-dinner feast of Thrashers fries and soft ice cream and several games of Whac-a-Mole. (Mrs. Denn stayed home to engage in similar recreational activities such as weeding the garden.) Because I knew that I was going to change the boys into their pajamas before we got into the car to head home, I didn’t spend too much time trying to clean the food off their clothes. So if you saw a guy last weekend in a Matt Denn polo shirt walking down Rehoboth Avenue with two three-year-olds whose faces and clothing were smeared with chocolate ice cream and french fry debris, that was me, and thank you for not calling social services.

He doesn't take the kids along to hypnotize undecided voters with their cuteness; but that's the result anyway.

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Democratic congressman proclaims Pride parade participation

He's not just marching, he's telling the world. Rep. André Carson (D-IN-07) was elected to the House of Representatives earlier this year to fill the remainder of the term of his grandmother, Rep. Julia Carson, who passed away in December. Julia Carson's most recent HRC scores were 88, 88, and 100. André Carson is one of only two Muslims in Congress.

June 13, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Melissa Fisher, (317) 283-6516

2008 INPRIDE FESTIVAL PARADE

Indianapolis, IN- Congressman André Carson will demonstrate his support for the LBGT community by participating in the 2008 INPride Festival Parade this Saturday, June 14, 2008. The parade will begin promptly at 10:00 am and will start from the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. and College Ave.

"I am proud to join with my friends in the 2008 INPride Parade. As I have said time and time again, I am committed to supporting all of the constituents of the Seventh District of Indiana. There is no room for unconstructive judgment and bigotry in our community," said Congressman André Carson.

Who: Congressman André Carson & Supporters

What: 2008 INPride Festival Parade

When: June 14, 2008; 10:00 am

Where: Indianapolis, Indiana – Intersection of Massachusetts Ave. and College Ave.

GOP attacks Franken over lesbian jokes

Minnesota Republicans are apparently concerned about Al Franken's chances of unseating incumbent GOP Senator Norm Coleman. They don't have much to run against Franken with, so they're dredging up some of his ancient comedy routines and throwing them back at him to see if any of it sticks. This gem:

One of the other anecdotes... involved a local Franken appearance that was reported in the Star Tribune in 2001. He joked at a Human Rights Campaign dinner that he had asked organizers to pay him for his speech by "send[ing] a girl to my room. And they did. But she turned out to be a lesbian. Great! Next time you do that, could you at least send two?"

As of a 02 May 2008 poll, Franken is trailing Coleman by 10%, but he is still in a competitive three-way primary race. Once the Democratic nominee is chosen, the race will really begin.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) trailing in latest poll

Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is trailing his Democratic rival Bruce Lunsford by 5% in this year's U.S. Senate race from Kentucky, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll.

McConnell has certainly been no friend of the LGBT community. His most recent HRC scores have been 0, 0, and 0.

Opposition builds to bigoted Fort Lauderdale mayor

Opposition to Fort Lauderdale mayor Jim Naugle continues to build following bizarre remarks he made that buying a $250,000 single-occupancy toilet for the beach would cut down on gay sex in public bathrooms. Naugle also voted against moving a collection of LGBT literature into the city's library.

According to this morning's Miami Herald, hundreds of citizens have contributed about $10,000 to fund a full-blown protest rally against the mayor's bigotry tonight at city hall. Non-LGBT supporters will participate, and the Task Force's Matt Foreman will attend as well.