News
National News in Brief: September 23
A Maggie Gallagher at the premier of ‘8’ surprised many
Maggie Gallagher, chair of the National Organization for Marriage, surprised attendees of the premiere of ‘8’ when she was spotted in the audience. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Gallagher attends ‘Milk’ screenwriter’s Prop 8 play
The star-studded premiere of Dustin Lance Black’s play ‘8’ based on the Proposition 8 trial had an unexpected audience member last week — National Organization for Marriage’s board chair, Maggie Gallagher.
The marriage equality opponent, Gallagher, is portrayed in the play by Tony-nominated actress Jayne Houdyshell. According to Andy Towle of Towleroad.com, who captured several photographs of the anti-marriage leader, Gallagher engaged in debate with marriage advocates outside of the play, but beyond crinkling a loud bag of snacks she brought in throughout the show, was otherwise not disruptive during the performance.
The show features Ellen Barkin, Bob Balaban, Matt Bomer, Campbell Brown, Anthony Edwards, Morgan Freeman, Cheyenne Jackson, Larry Kramer, Christine Lahti, John Lithgow, Rory O’Malley, Rob Reiner, Yeardley Smith and Bradley Whitford. The script is based on the transcripts of the historic ‘Perry v. Schwarzenegger’ trial, currently being appealed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judge: Prop 8 trial video will be released
SAN FRANCISCO — A Federal District Court judge has ordered the tapes released from the 2010 Proposition 8 trial, despite pleas from gay rights opponents to keep the tapes secret.
“Foremost among the aspects of the federal judicial system that foster public confidence in the fairness and integrity of the process are public access to trials and public access to the record of judicial proceedings,” Chief Justice James Ware wrote in his ruling, which is stayed until Sept. 30. “Consequently, once an item is placed in the record of judicial proceedings, there must be compelling reasons for keeping that item secret.”
In 2010, Judge Vaughn Walker struck down Prop 8, the California constitutional amendment barring marriage between citizens of the same sex. The Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial was allowed to be recorded, and the sponsors of the case, American Foundation for Equal Rights have called for the release of the tapes as a matter of transparency.
Michigan House approves ban on DP benefits
LANSING, Mich. — Despite vocal opposition during debate, last week the Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives passed two pieces of legislation, stripping the state’s public universities of their right to offer domestic partnership benefits to same-sex partners of employees.
Citing the 2004 Michigan Constitutional amendment, known as Proposition 2, Rep. Dave Agema (R-Grandville) pushed HB 4770 and 4771 to prohibit the benefits, according to the Michigan Messenger.
The fate of the bill now rests in the state Senate, also Republican controlled. Whether or not Gov. Rick Snyder would sign the measure is unclear, as one of the governor’s legal counsels, Michael Gadola wrote to the majority leaders in both houses calling into question the constitutionality of both bills.
Australia implements trans-friendly passport policy
CANBERRA, Australia — In a move that may lead to changes around the world, Australia has announced that it will allow transgender or intersex citizens to choose against identifying with either “M” or “F” on passports.
According to the blog ThinkProgress, citing challenges that trans and intersex residents face in security while traveling, Australia will allow residents to apply for passports with the gender designator “X.” Australia also will no longer restrict gender marker changes to trans people who have already undergone gender reassignment surgery, and allow the changes after an applicant receives a doctor’s note.
Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus launches
WASHINGTON — Reps. Barbara Lee, Jim McDermott and Trent Franks are launching the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, which will take a leading role in the House of Representatives in advocating for stronger HIV/AIDS policies both at home and abroad.
“American leadership in the global fight against HIV/AIDS began a decade ago when Republican and Democratic leaders stood together and refused to allow a deadly disease to claim a generation of African teachers, nurses, doctors, parents and children,” said senior adviser Michael Gerson in a press release from the caucus. “The HIV/AIDS caucus announced today will remind Congress of a great bipartisan achievement – and of a continuing responsibility to save lives.”
National
United Methodist Church removes 40-year ban on gay clergy
Delegates also voted for other LGBTQ-inclusive measures
The United Methodist Church on Wednesday removed a ban on gay clergy that was in place for more than 40 years, voting to also allow LGBTQ weddings and end prohibitions on the use of United Methodist funds to “promote acceptance of homosexuality.”
Overturning the policy forbidding the church from ordaining “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” effectively formalized a practice that had caused an estimated quarter of U.S. congregations to leave the church.
The New York Times notes additional votes “affirming L.G.B.T.Q. inclusion in the church are expected before the meeting adjourns on Friday.” Wednesday’s measures were passed overwhelmingly and without debate. Delegates met in Charlotte, N.C.
According to the church’s General Council on Finance and Administration, there were 5,424,175 members in the U.S. in 2022 with an estimated global membership approaching 10 million.
The Times notes that other matters of business last week included a “regionalization” plan, which gave autonomy to different regions such that they can establish their own rules on matters including issues of sexuality — about which international factions are likelier to have more conservative views.
Federal Government
Republican state AGs challenge Biden administration’s revised Title IX policies
New rules protect LGBTQ students from discrimination
Four Republicans state attorneys general have sued the Biden-Harris administration over the U.S. Department of Education’s new Title IX policies that were finalized April 19 and carry anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ students in public schools.
The lawsuit filed on Tuesday, which is led by the attorneys general of Kentucky and Tennessee, follows a pair of legal challenges from nine Republican states on Monday — all contesting the administration’s interpretation that sex-based discrimination under the statute also covers that which is based on the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The administration also rolled back Trump-era rules governing how schools must respond to allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, which were widely perceived as biased in favor of the interests of those who are accused.
“The U.S. Department of Education has no authority to let boys into girls’ locker rooms,” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement. “In the decades since its adoption, Title IX has been universally understood to protect the privacy and safety of women in private spaces like locker rooms and bathrooms.”
“Florida is suing the Biden administration over its unlawful Title IX changes,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on social media. “Biden is abusing his constitutional authority to push an ideological agenda that harms women and girls and conflicts with the truth.”
After announcing the finalization of the department’s new rules, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told reporters, “These regulations make it crystal clear that everyone can access schools that are safe, welcoming and that respect their rights.”
The new rule does not provide guidance on whether schools must allow transgender students to play on sports teams corresponding with their gender identity to comply with Title IX, a question that is addressed in a separate rule proposed by the agency in April.
LGBTQ and civil rights advocacy groups praised the changes. Lambda Legal issued a statement arguing the new rule “protects LGBTQ+ students from discrimination and other abuse,” adding that it “appropriately underscores that Title IX’s civil rights protections clearly cover LGBTQ+ students, as well as survivors and pregnant and parenting students across race and gender identity.”
Rehoboth Beach
Former CAMP Rehoboth official sentenced to nine months in prison
Salvator Seeley pleaded guilty to felony theft charge for embezzlement
Salvator “Sal” Seeley, who served as an official with the Rehoboth Beach, Del., CAMP Rehoboth LGBTQ community center for 20 years, was sentenced on April 5 by a Sussex County Superior Court judge to nine months in prison and to pay $176,000 in restitution to the organization.
The sentencing took place about five weeks after Seeley pleaded guilty to a charge of Theft in Excess of $50,000 for allegedly embezzling funds from CAMP Rehoboth, a spokesperson for the Delaware Department of Justice told the Washington Blade.
Seeley’s guilty plea came shortly after a grand jury, at the request of prosecutors, indicted him on the felony theft charge following an investigation that found he had embezzled at least $176,000 from the nonprofit LGBTQ organization.
“Salvatore C. Seeley, between the 27th day of February 2019 and the 7th day of September 2021, in the County of Sussex, State of Delaware, did take property belonging to CAMP Rehoboth, Inc., consisting of United States currency and other miscellaneous property valued at more than $50,000, intending to appropriate the same,” the indictment states.
“The State recommended a sentence of two years of incarceration based on the large-scale theft and the impact to the non-profit organization,” Delaware Department of Justice spokesperson Caroline Harrison told the Blade in a statement.
“The defense cited Seeley’s lack of a record and gambling addiction in arguing for a probationary sentence,” the statement says. “Seeley was sentenced in Superior Court to a nine-month prison term and to pay a total of $176,000 in restitution for the stolen funds,” Harrison says in the statement.
Neither Seeley nor his attorney could immediately be reached for comment.
At the time of Seeley’s indictment in February, CAMP Rehoboth released a statement saying it first discovered “financial irregularities” within the organization on Sept. 7, 2021, “and took immediate action and notified state authorities.” The statement says this resulted in the investigation of Seeley by the state Department of Justice as well as an internal investigation by CAMP Rehoboth to review its “financial control policies” that led to an updating of those policies.
“As we have communicated from day one, CAMP Rehoboth has fully cooperated with law enforcement,” the statement continues. “At its request, we did not speak publicly about the investigation while it was ongoing for fear it would jeopardize its integrity,” according to the statement. “This was extremely difficult given our commitment to transparency with the community about day-to-day operations during the recent leadership transition.”
The statement was referring to Kim Leisey, who began her job as CAMP Rehoboth’s new executive director in July of 2023, while the Seeley investigation had yet to be completed, following the organization’s process of searching for a new director. It says Seeley left his job as Health and Wellness Director of CAMP Rehoboth in September of 2021 after working for the organization for more than 20 years.
“Mr. Seeley’s actions are a deep betrayal to not only CAMP Rehoboth but also the entire community we serve,” the statement says.
United Methodist Church removes 40-year ban on gay clergy
Republican state AGs challenge Biden administration’s revised Title IX policies
University students have a right to protest
Former CAMP Rehoboth official sentenced to nine months in prison
Christian Siriano to serve as grand marshal of Annapolis Pride Parade
Md. governor signs Freedom to Read Act
HHS reverses Trump-era anti-LGBTQ rule
4th Circuit rules gender identity is a protected characteristic
PHOTOS: Capital Pride Pageant
