R. I. civil-union bill progresses
The Providence Journal reports that Rhode Island’s civil-union bill, passed by the House on May 19, reached the Senate Judiciary Committee. A vote to determine whether it would reach the floor was scheduled for June 29. Still included in the bill is an amendment that would permit religious organizations to deny same-sex couples the rights that the civil union is meant to confer.
A provision of the amendment allows religious organizations or affiliated individuals to not “treat as valid any civil union” if it would violate “sincerely held religious beliefs,” thus empowering hospitals, schools and businesses to refuse civil-union spouses the legal benefits of their union.
Fourteen members of the House urged legislative leaders to remove the amendment on June 27.
Prop. 8 decision appealed
The San Francisco Examiner reports that Proposition 8 supporters filed an appeal on June 27 to challenge Judge James Ware’s decision to uphold Judge Vaughan Walker’s ruling, which invalidated the law banning same-sex marriage.
Proponents of Prop. 8 wanted Walker’s decision thrown out on the grounds that he gave an interview after the proceedings in which he discussed his long-term relationship with a man. Ware denied the motion, saying there was no federal precedent for disqualifying a judge solely because he shares a characteristic, such as sexual orientation, with a litigant.
The appeal will be heard in the 9th Circuit Court, which is currently hearing the appeal of Walker’s original decision.
Man assaulted in Mass.
The Springfield Republican reports that a 30-year-old openly gay man was beaten on a street in Springfield, Mass., at around 3:30 a.m. June 28. Nine people, ages 12 to 19, are facing hate-crime charges. The victim says the females in the group encouraged the males to beat him up, and that others yelled disparaging remarks about the victim’s sexual orientation during the attack.
Nineteen-old year Shay Andre Edwards and eight juveniles were charged with unarmed robbery and civil-rights violations with injury.
Chicago Pride overcomes vandalism
CBS Chicago reports that vandals slashed the tires of 51 floats the night before the Pride parade on June 26, but 48 of those floats were repaired in time to participate.
The vandalized floats were stored at Associated Attractions Enterprises Inc., a parade float business, and the damage was discovered at 5 a.m., just seven hours before the noon parade. The owner, Chuck Huser, said that his company made more than 80 percent of the parade’s floats.
Without graffiti or any other hard evidence to explain why the tires were damaged, the vandalism cannot be prosecuted as a hate crime. Police are currently investigating the incident as property-damage crimes.
— compiled by Chandlee Taylor