LA LGBT center joins Arizona boycott
Advocate. com reports the country’s largest gay and lesbian center has officially cut ties with Arizona following that state’s enactment of a strict law aimed at combating illegal immigration.
The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center announced May 17 that it is joining the growing economic boycott of the state. Cities including Los Angeles and West Hollywood have already severed economic ties with Arizona.
“As of today, the center will prohibit staff travel to Arizona for conferences or other professional activities and will take steps to end all relationships with businesses headquartered in Arizona,” said center chief of staff Darrel Cumming.
Minn. guv vetoes funeral-rights bill
365gay.com reports Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Pawlenty recently vetoed a bill that would have given gay partners the right to decide what to do with the remains of their deceased loved ones.
Pawlenty said the bill was unnecessary because “partners can draw up a living will.” But gay-rights advocates countered that married couples don’t have to take that step.
The bill would have also allowed gay partners to sue for wrongful death.
Church offers to find school for couple’s son
MSNBC reports the head of education for the Boston Archdiocese offered to help find a different Catholic school for a boy denied acceptance at a Hingham Catholic school because his parents are gay.
In a May 13 statement, superintendent Mary Grassa O’Neill said she spoke with a parent of the 8-year-old boy and “offered to help enroll her child in another Catholic school in the archdiocese.”
The parent called the archdiocese’s response “compassionate,” but said she was uncertain she would enroll her son in another Catholic school.
The boy was to enter third grade in the fall. But the woman said the parish priest began asking questions about her relationship during a meeting.
On May 10, she learned her son’s acceptance had been rescinded during a conference call with the priest and the school’s principal, Cynthia Duggan, because her relationship was “in discord” with church teachings.
— Larry Nichols