In Brief

Staff Reports

Same-Sex Marriage Bill Introduced In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS -- Three Illinois lawmakers, State Representatives Greg Harris, Deb Mell, and Kelly Cassidy introduced a marriage equality bill in the state's General Assembly Wednesday, HB 5710, the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.”

Democrat Harris, who co-sponsored and was a crucial element in obtaining passage of legal same-sex civil unions in Illinois last year, told reporters he doesn't know whether same-sex marriage legislation will undergo serious consideration during the General Assembly's spring session. He thinks the new bill will need a period of lobbying in order to build support. After the ruling in California on overturning the Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage, along with gay marriage gaining ground across the country, he said, Illinois could consider it soon. “The numbers all tell the same story — that in the last year, for the first time, the majority of Americans believe in full marriage equality,” said Harris.

Some political analysts have said that legislators could be hesitant to support same-sex marriage legislation in an election year, and the measure is likely to trigger strong opposition from conservative groups. The editor of conservative website Illinois Review, Fran Eaton said;

“We're not bigots for trying to hold the line on our religious beliefs, and that will be a concern in this fall's elections."

The LGBTQ equality rights group, Equality Illinois, is excited at the prospect of full marriage equality. During the debate and later passage of the Illinois Civil Unions law, the group's executive director Bernard Cherkasov, had remarked; “Separate is not equal."

After today's announcement, in a press release, Cherkasov said; "We commend these leaders for taking yet another step towards full equality for lesbian and gay families in Illinois, and we are grateful to them for their leadership. This is just the beginning: the road to marriage equality is sure to be long, but it is one that we must travel together."

State of Tennessee Cuts Funding for HIV Testing

Will Batts
Courtesy of the MGLCC

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE -- The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center was forced to suspend its Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing programme Wednesday after a representative from Planned Parenthood informed MGLCC that the organisation does not have the funds necessary to provide the HIV testing for the foreseeable future because the State of Tennessee has denied Planned Parenthood access to grants for HIV prevention. The cut in funding for Planned Parenthood has put MGLCC’s model HIV testing program in jeopardy. For more than three years, MGLCC has collaborated with Planned Parenthood to provide the only regularly-scheduled, after-hours HIV testing in the Mid-South.

In a phone interview with LGBTQNation Wednesday afternoon, Will Batts, Executive Director of MGLCC, said; “Our strong collaboration with Planned Parenthood to provide HIV testing has improved the lives of hundreds of people every year. Losing this vital program will put the health and well-being of many Memphians at risk. MGLCC considers the setback to our HIV testing program a great tragedy, but we hope the setback will be only a temporary one.”

Batts noted that despite the MGLCC’s core mission to focus on the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community, the HIV testing program offered at MGLCC has always been open to anyone needing a test. "MGLCC does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. MGLCC believes that helping clients find out their HIV status and find access to appropriate HIV care is an essential service not only for the individual, but for the health and well-being of our entire city. More than 500 individuals have been tested by the HIV testing program offered by MGLCC since the program’s inception in 2008."

Batts also told LGBTQNation that the MGLCC has been working diligently to obtain direct funding to expand their testing capacity and to create a stronger HIV education and outreach program for the LGBT community. He said that the infection rate in Memphis had reached a critical pandemic rate and that the loss of funding from Planned Parenthood was a serious blow. He added that the MGLCC will continue to explore other avenues of support so that the centre can resume this vital, life-saving service to the Mid-South.