Around The Nation

Connecticut

Catholic Group Demanding Knights Of Columbus Cease Funding Anti-Same Sex Marriage Campaigns

Knights Of Columbus Headquarters

NEW HAVEN, CT -- The Catholics United Education Fund, (CUEF), a lay Catholic advocacy group, delivered a petition with about 7,500 signatures to the Knights of Columbus on Tuesday, asking the Catholic fraternal organisation to stop using its money to oppose same sex marriage. CUEF submitted the petition to the Knights’ New Haven headquarters.

CUEF claims Knights Of Columbus have spent more than $600,000 opposing same sex marriage in the last election cycle. James Salt, the executive director of CUEF says the anti-gay lobbying by the Knights is alienating younger Catholics, causing them to leave the faith;

"As a young Catholic, I want my church to focus on serving the marginalized, not fighting for far-right political issues,’’ said Salt who also noted that the Knights should focus on serving the poor and vulnerable. 

The Knights of Columbus is the largest lay Catholic organization in the world and has donated more than $1.4 billion and 664 million hours to charitable causes.

Salt, citing a report last month from a coalition of Catholics who support gay rights, said the Knights donated more than $600,000 this year for ballot initiatives in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington State. Voters in Washington, Maryland and Maine approved gay marriage earlier this month, while Minnesota voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. The Catholic Church supported anti-gay marriage campaigns in those states.

The Knights and its affiliated insurance company have spent more than $6 million since 2005 opposing same sex marriage.

Massachusetts

Federal Judge Suspends Sex Reassignment Surgery For Convicted Killer

BOSTON, MA -- U. S. District Judge Mark Wolf, who ordered earlier this year that convicted murderer Michelle Kosilek must be allowed taxpayer-funded Sex Reassignment Surgery, ruled Tuesday that he would suspend his order until an appeal of his ruling by the administration of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

Wolf, acknowledged that his previous ruling on the Sex Reassignment Surgery was “unpopular and misunderstood,” also rejected a request for electrolysis treatment for Kosilek, saying that would have to come as part of a new case. 

In his original 126-page ruling, Wolf said that the treatment for Michelle Kosilek had been prescribed by Department of Correction doctors, and that the only justifications for denying the treatment were based on public opinion. Wolf found that surgery would be the "only adequate treatment" for Kosilek, and that "there is no less intrusive means to correct the prolonged violation of Kosilek's Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care."

According to court documents, Kosilek, a transgender female inmate, first sued the Department of Corrections 12 years ago. After two years of litigation, Kosilek -- in her first appearance before Wolf -- won the right to receive hormone treatments, although Wolf stopped short of ordering the gender reassignment surgery then.

The Patrick administration has appealed Wolf’s decision to the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Wolf advised the state it will probably have to pay for the attorney’s fees in the case, now about $800,000.

Kosilek's lawsuit has become fodder for radio talk shows and Massachusetts lawmakers, who said the state should not be forced to pay for a convicted murderer's sex-change operation – which can cost up to $20,000 – especially since many insurance companies reject the surgery as elective.

Kristina Wertz, Director of Programs and Policy for the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco, told LGBTQ Nation that "there is a strong medical consensus that health care related to gender transition is medically necessary for transgender people."

"We are heartened to see the court recognize that transgender people who are incarcerated are entitled to the same access to medically necessary services that all people in prison should receive," said Wertz, in an email statement.

Nebraska

Trial Date Set For Nebraska Woman Accused Of Faking Anti-Gay Hate Crime

LINCOLN, NE -- In Nebraska, the Journal Star reports that Charlie Rogers is set to have her day in court. Lancaster County Judge Gale Pokorny on Tuesday set a January 7, 2013 trial date for the 34-year-old lesbian who stands accused of faking a brutal hate crime last summer. 

“Charlie maintains her innocence and is looking forward to trial,” said Rogers’ lawyer, Brett McArthur. 

On Friday, McArthur filed a motion asking Pokorny to move the trial out of Lancaster County, saying a glut of media coverage surrounding the case will make it difficult to get a fair trial. 

On Tuesday, media were not allowed in the courtroom. Court staff said the room was closed because Rogers was one of more than 100 defendants set for docket calls and the room was full. Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly said last week that no plea agreement is in the works for Rogers and his office is ready to go to trial.

Michigan 

Michigan City's Council Votes To Draft Ordinance Preventing Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation

ROYAL OAK, MI --  During its meeting Monday night, the Royal Oak, Michigan City Commission voted unanimously (7-0) approving the drafting of an ordinance that would prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation.

WKBD-TV News Detroit reported that the proposed drafting of the antidiscrimination ordinance was proposed by City Commissioner Jim Rasor, who also has a law practice in Royal Oak.

“It’s a huge victory for diversity and economic development in Royal Oak,” Rasor said. “We had dozens of business owners, old, young, straight, gay people attending – no one against. “  

“I own a business and I am a job creator, I could walk in tomorrow to one of the young attorney’s office and say ‘Your heterosexual lifestyle is not compatible with this firm’s goals’ — He has no remedy under federal or state law for that,” Rasor said.

Voters overwhelmingly rejected a similar proposal in 2001, but Rasor thinks attitudes have changed since then.

The Michigan cities of Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Birmingham and Ferndale already have Human Rights Ordinances that bar anti-LGBT discrimination.