On Friday, June 26th, the Obama Administration granted the Department of Health and Human Services the opportunity to change regulations on traveling into the country for individuals who are HIV-positive. A long-standing travel ban for those afflicted with HIV has been in effect since the 1990s, but the new regulations are expected to be a clean repeal of the old, discounting HIV status as a reason for denying entrance into the USA.
The government of the Republic of Ireland has decided to recognize the rights of same-sex couples by adopting a civil partnership bill. The bill does not grant equal marriage rights, but it does protect property and next-of-kin rights.
An allegedly routine police raid of a gay bar in Fort Worth, TX left one man hospitalized and six others arrested for public intoxication, disturbingly on June 28th, the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City. Columnist Dan Savage provides his commentary here; Chad Gibson, the man who went to the hospital for injuries sustained during his arrest, is at home but in fear of the effects of a developing blood clot. An internal investigation is ongoing.
On July 2, the Delhi High Court of India struck down a portion of section 377, a penal code that outlawed homosexual sex acts. Nonconsensual sex is still illegal, but sex between two consenting adults is now legal in the Indian capital state.
On Tuesday, June 30, the same day as the formal discharge of Lt. Dan Choi under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a Navy sailor was found murdered. August Provost had been complaining to his family about harrassment before his death but was worried he would be discharged if he told a commanding officer. His perceived sexual orientation is alleged to be the motivation for his murder.
Yesterday, Kalamazoo, MI passed an anti-discrimination bill aimed at gender identity and sexual orientation by unanimous vote. Citizens have 20 days from July 9 to collect signatures if they would like to propose a referendum for the November election repealing the bill.
As of today, Washinton, D.C. will officially recognize same-sex marriages that have occurred in other states and countries. The District of Columbia is still not issuing marriage licenses.
