Manning's Twin Transitions & Greenwald's True Terror

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A report on US Army Private Chelsea (nee Bradley) Manning's 35-year prison sentence by Free Speech Radio News anchor Dorian Merina features comments by Manning's attorney David Coombs and analysis by Courthouse News reporter Adam Klasfeld. Then consider how Manning's latest revelation -- the decision to live as a woman -- may test military mettle.

Brazilian David Miranda and his American husband, The Guardian's investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald, tell their horror story about harassment at Heathrow to CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.

And in NewsWrap: winning weddings ring in New Zealand marriage equality, New Mexico's largest counties leap the broom while a Pennsylvania county defies that U.S. state's hetero-only marriage law, and New Jersey's new "prayer cure" ban pits Christians against Christie, and more news reported by Wenzel Jones and Pam Marshall (produced by Steve Pride).

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NewsWrap for the week ending August 24, 2013

SUMMARY

Winning Weddings - New Zealand becomes the fourteenth country in the world to begin legally marrying same-gender couples …

Countdown Crescendo - Australians push for equality ahead of their September 7th national elections …

Will It Grow As It Goes? - officials in two counties in the U.S. state of New Mexico issue marriage licenses to lesbian and gay couples, which has Republican lawmakers howling …

Independently for Virtuous Liberty - an official in Montgomery County defies Pennsylvania's specific law banning them to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, as oral arguments are set to begin in an ACLU lawsuit challenging the law …

Weeding the Garden State - New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie signs a second-in-the-nation bill to ban so-called "reparative therapy" for minors, becoming the second-in-the-nation state to be sued by the rightwing Liberty Counsel for enacting it, joining California, which was the first …

California Class Conflict - the Golden State now braces for an effort to challenge a recently-passed bill requiring equal access for transgender students to programs and facilities in public schools …

Baby Unbestimmt - Germany becomes the first country in the world to allow alternatives to "male" or "female" on the birth certificates of intersex babies …

Welcome to Jail - topping this week's Russia/Olympics confluence, the International Olympic Committee appears satisfied with Russian government reassurances that "everyone will be welcome at the Games in Sochi," although the same statement reaffirms that the recently enacted law criminalizing "the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships" will be enforced against competitors and fans alike, as Russian President Vladimir Putin issues an ostensibly "antiterrorism" edict banning "gatherings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets" in Sochi during the Olympics …

She Has A Point - a Swedish high jumper's rainbow-colored nails turn red with love ….

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NewsWrap for the week ending July 20, 2013

SUMMARY

Crowning Achievement - The Queen's Royal Assent makes England and Wales the 16th and 17th countries in the world to open civil marriage to same-gender couples …

The Money Pit - U.S. House Republicans stop wasting taxpayer money defending DOMA …

Elope with Pride - gay Aussie couple wins a "dream wedding" in New Zealand, and the first kiwi same-gender couple to wed may do so at 30,000 feet …

Unintended Consequences - Alistair Stewart of Britain's Kaleidoscope Trust warns that advances in the West like marriage equality have lead to a "perverse" worsening of LGBT freedoms in the developing world …

Martyrs' Roll Call - Cameroon gay and AIDS activist Eric Lembembe is horrifically tortured to death, while 20-year-old Hashim al-Asimi is shot to death in Yemen for being gay …

We Are Trayvon, Too - key witness in the high-profile Florida trial of George Zimmerman tells CNN that 17-year-old victim Trayvon Martin may have worried that wannabe cop Zimmerman was following him with rape in mind, while 35 American LGBT organizations issue a joint statement calling for a Justice Department probe into the killing because "Trayvon Martin deserves justice and his civil rights" …

Numero Uno - singer and gay bar owner Benjamin Medrano is elected mayor in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, a rural northern city of about 230,000, becoming Mexico's first "out" mayor …

Island Hopping - Pink Dot Singapore begets Pink Dot Okinawa ....

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NewsWrap for the week ending May 11, 2013

SUMMARY

On a Roll - Delaware becomes the 11th U.S. state (along with the District of Columbia) to open civil marriage to same-gender couples, and Minnesota and Illinois could be next …

And Rolling On - debate on the third and final reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill in Britain's House of Commons has been scheduled for May 21st and 22nd, while Australia's Greens push for a new vote on marriage equality ahead of general elections there …

Heels Digging In - more than 35,000 people sign a petition opposing marriage equality in Estonia …

No Anti-Homo Promo - Albania's parliament passes historic LGBT-inclusive hate crimes legislation …

One Zambia vs. Two Lovers - the persecution of two gay men continues in Zambia …

Not Lovin' It - Auckland, New Zealand demonstrators protest the offensive treatment of a McDonald's staff member who was told by his manager that he'd be disciplined if he "acted gay" during his shift …

Inglorious Bastards - winners in Sydney, Australia of the annual "Glorias" –- the Gay & Lesbian Outrageous, Ridiculous and Ignorant comment Awards –- include New South Wales roads minister Duncan Gay, "Herald Sun" columnist Andrew Bolt, rightwing U.K. politician John Sullivan, and American Southern Baptist Convention President Reverend Fred Luter ….

Complete NewsWrap text and this week's podcast to be posted May 14th.

New Zealand Marriage & Bishop Gene Robinson

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New Zealand MP Maurice Williamson argues brilliantly for equality as his country becomes the thirteenth in the world to open civil marriage to same-gender couples.

Recently-retired "out" gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson is less than retiring when talk turns to his personal journey and his timely new book, God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage (a conversation with award-winning WNHN broadcaster Arnie Arnesen).

And in NewsWrap: Paris protests get uglier as wedding equality draws near, Ireland's constitutional convention issues marriage parity proposal, half-baked policy change gets Boy Scouts of America less-than-honorable mention, dozens of allegedly gay and lesbian high school students expelled in Ghana, celebrated Sydney street crossing robbed of its rainbow, and more news reported by Tanya Kane-Parry and Michael LeBeau (produced by Steve Pride).

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NewsWrap for the week ending April 22, 2013

SUMMARY

Pokarekare Ana - New Zealand becomes the first country in the Asia Pacific region, and the thirteenth in the world, to open civil marriage to same-gender couples …

Paris in the Stresstime - France's road to expected marital equality is a bumpy one …

More Than Luck - a convention in Ireland proposes a constitutional marriage equality amendment …

Stuck in the Mud - U.S. Republican Party doubles down on its opposition to civil marriage for same-gender couples …

Short on Honor - the Boy Scouts of America offers a half-measure change to its ban on openly gay members …

Students Struck - two of the leading Catholic schools in Ghana expel a total of 53 students for "practicing homosexuality" and trying "to convince more students to practice the act," or "the detestable act of lesbianism" …

Colors Won't Fade - the removal of Sydney's cherished Oxford Street rainbow crossing sparks a "chalk revolt" across Australia and in at least one other seemingly unlikely corner of the world ….

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Urvashi Vaid & "Straight to Vegas"

The veteran rights advocate questions the LGBT movement's status quo in Irresistible Revolution: Confronting Race, Class and the Assumptions of LGBT Politics (interviewed by Chris Thomas of WBAI's OUT FM).

Gay "beard" Wenzel Jones deals deceptive fun in "the marriage capital of the world."

And in NewsWrap: New Zealand one vote away from marriage equality, Michigan's Odawa Indians okay same-gender weddings, civil unions law peaks in Colorado, Elizabeth's Commonwealth speech disappoints activists on "other grounds," there's nothing really new at the Vatican, and more news reported by Natalie Peoples and Johnnie Torres (produced by Brian DeShazor and Steve Pride).

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NewsWrap for the week ending March 16, 2013

SUMMARY

Chill the Champagne - The second time is one charm away from marriage equality in New Zealand …

Like Before The Others Came - upstate Michigan Native American tribe becomes the third in America to marry same-gender couples …

Nearing the Summit - civil unions for lesbian and gay couples are all but a done deal in Colorado …

Tossing the Leftovers - federal appeals court overturns Virginia's sodomy statute citing the U.S. Supreme Court's 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision ruling that state's law to be unconstitutional …

Nonprofit Orientation Cured - U.S. Internal Revenue Service revokes the tax-exempt status of the gay "cure"-peddling National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) because the group had failed to submit required tax forms for three years …

Half-Hearted Wave - much anticipated speech on human rights by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II that activists expected to be LGBT-inclusive buries them instead in "other grounds" …

Keep It Down - holy landlords! Italy's biggest gay sauna shares space with priestly housing …

Two Peas in a Priory - "meet the new Pope, same as the old Pope" ….

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Manning's Plea & Obama's Brief

The possible consequences of Private Bradley Manning's truth is assessed by journalist Kevin Gosztola following the whistle-blowing Wikileaker's February 28th court martial proceedings (with Dorian Merina of Free Speech Radio News).

President Barack Obama explains the "evolutionary" embrace of equality evidenced in his administration's Prop 8 Supreme Court brief (taken from a March 1st news conference).

Plus: The U.S. Congress passes -- finally -- an inclusive Violence Against Women Act! Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, Rape Abuse Incest National Network founder Scott Berkowitz, and Wisconsin Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore speak out on the issues for LGBT people, Native Americans and undocumented women in Alice Ollstein's report for Free Speech Radio News.

And in NewsWrap: marriage equality proposal flops in Finland, three "civil partnership" tries and you're out in Poland, bills advancing marriage rites progress in the U.K. and New Zealand, Canada's Supreme Court finds an anti-gay street preacher guilty of hate speech, and more news reported by Pamela Brooks and Michael LeBeau (produced by Steve Pride).

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NewsWrap for the week ending March 2, 2013

SUMMARY

Finn Flop - A marriage equality proposal dies in a Finnish parliamentary committee …

And You're Out - three different bills creating civil partnerships for same-gender couples in Poland each fail to survive a first legislative reading …

Hand in Cookie Jar - the UK's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, "Bigot of the Year" Cardinal Keith O'Brien, resigns amidst charges of sexual improprieties with several male priests, but his replacement is equally bigoted …

Calling the Caterers - marriage equality measures, each with strong religious exemptions, pass committee muster in both British and New Zealand parliaments …

With Friends Like These - an avalanche of "friend of the court" briefs, from political leaders to business and labor leaders and professional associations, meet the filing deadline and urge the U.S. Supreme Court to declare California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional …

It's Legal, Just Shut Up - Russia's Foreign Minister defends his country's proposed bill to ban "homosexual propaganda" …

Just Saying - a court in Balti, the second biggest city in Moldova, reportedly overturns a local "no homo promo" law as an unconstitutional violation of human rights …

It Ain't Necessarily So - Canada's Supreme Court rules that the inflammatory anti-gay fliers of a "cured by religion" street preacher constitute hate speech …

Meet Marryin' Soham - the new Groom Wanted website in India promises gay men "the freedom to express themselves" ….

Read the complete NewsWrap text ... or listen to this week's podcast.

Obama Inaugurates Equality

Gay inaugural "firsts" enliven U.S. President Barack Obama's second, ably elucidated by MSNBC analysts Rachel Maddow, Jonathan Capehart, Andrea Mitchell, and Frank Rich.

Plus -- One Today delivered by gay Cuban-American inaugural poet Richard Blanco.

And in NewsWrap: Russians okay "no promo homo" law and look for gay tattoos, U.K. government formally proposes marriage equality, Maltese civility and Kiwi nuptials equality take baby steps forward, marriage-seeking gay couple drops their Taipei lawsuit, Rhode Island's House approves marital parity, gay loyalties split at the Super Bowl, and more news reported by Rick Watts and Pamela Brooks (produced by Vash Boddie and Steve Pride).

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NewsWrap for the week ending January 26, 2013

SUMMARY

From Russia, With Hate - LGBT rights activists are assaulted and arrested in Moscow and at least one other Russian city protesting the proposed law to outlaw so-called "homosexual propaganda," which the country's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approves in its first reading, while Kaliningrad becomes the tenth Russian region to enact a similar law, and Russia's Defense Ministry says the buttocks and genital areas of all new recruits should be closely examined for tattoos, which it says are strong indications of homosexuality …

Political Pre-Nup - U.K. government formally publishes legislation to open civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples in England and Wales …

Broad Agreement, Long Engagement - both major political parties in Malta express support for some form of legal recognition for same-gender couples …

Because It's Good For You - a select committee of the New Zealand Parliament hears testimony about the benefits of marriage equality as part of the legislative process to make it legal …

Three Strikes - Polish lawmakers reject civil unions for lesbian and gay couples …

Judicial Discouragement - the gay couple in Taiwan that had sued for marriage equality announces that they're dropping their case …

As If It Never Even Happened - a court in Beijing rules that women in unhappy marriages with gay men can end them through more socially-acceptable annulment rather than divorce …

Hope Springs Eternal - Rhode Island House overwhelmingly passes a bi-partisan marriage equality bill …

Rock Mountain Pass - Colorado Senate committee passes a civil unions bill along party lines …

LGBTailgate Parties - gay American football fans can root for either team in the upcoming Super Bowl, which features Baltimore Ravens linebacker and outspoken equality ally Brendon Ayanbadejo, and San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who says he'd welcome a gay player on this team ….

Read the complete NewsWrap text ... or listen to this week's podcast.

NZ Marriage Progress & Crotch-Level Camera

Adoption rights and religious exemptions advance New Zealand marriage equality, as the legislation's sponsor "out" MP Louisa Wall explains in the conclusion of Ross Stevenson's two-part conversation with her in Auckland.

Excerpts from CBS-TV's April 1980 Harry Reasoner-hosted Gay Power, Gay Politics recall the documentary that sensationalized gay San Francisco's "dirty laundry." (Includes the voices of venerable activists Cleve Jones, Armistead Maupin, Ivy Bottini, Jim Kepner, and Harry Britt, and political consultant Pacy Markman.)

And in NewsWrap: Australia's Parliament turns down civil marriage proposal, similar French legislation is less than equal, Jamaica's Education chief trashes tolerant textbook, British producer of pro-gay Ugandan play gets bailed, Barney thumbs his nose at "Don't Ask" repeal critics, and more news reported by Wenzel Jones and Rick Watts (produced by Steve Pride).

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NZ Marriage Strategy & DNC LGBT Planks

Lesbian Labour MP Louisa Wall is leading the legislative initiative to make marriage equality the law of New Zealand; she discusses the history of the effort with Auckland correspondent Ross Stevenson.

U.S. Democrats plank down their best pro-gay platform yet; party bigwig Eric C. Bauman and activist Rick Watts (of NewsWrap fame) talk with Pacifica Radio's Davey D at the Democratic National Convention.

And in NewsWrap: pro-gay Kampala play performances put their British producer in prison, Iranian "expose" reveals a global gay conspiracy, Texas beauty school turns ugly over gay student, Benedict's adult film debut puts the Pope in porn, and more news reported by Christopher Gaal and Jason Proctor (produced by Steve Pride).

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Romanovsky & Phillips / Gay Games @ 30

Tracing the tunes and the times of the music and comedy duo with Dixie Treichel. Plus: Romanovsky & Phillips sing The Prince Charming Tango.

Remembering the 30th Anniversary of the Gay Games with on-scene coverage from the first quadrennial event in 1982 by Debi Fidler and Joan Sprague.

And in NewsWrap: New Zealand's Parliament pops the question, Tasmanian lawmakers also propose marriage, gay-affirming play shuttered in Uganda, anti-gay/anti-woman planks signal dry rot in GOP platform, Christian conservatives blame gays for Hurricane Isaac, and more news reported by Abby Dees and Wenzel Jones (produced by Steve Pride).

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NewsWrap for the week ending September 1, 2012

SUMMARY

One Down - Legislation to open civil marriage to New Zealand same-gender couples wins overwhelming approval in the first of three readings in Parliament …

Optimistic Suspense - the lower house in the Australian state of Tasmania passes a marriage equality bill and sends it to an uncertain future in parliament's upper house …

Say Oui - French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault tells fellow Socialists that his government plans to introduce a marriage equality measure in Parliament in October …

Say Nein - German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejects taxation equality for lesbian and gay couples …

Theater of Cruelty - authorities in Kampala shut down a gay-affirming play before it could be staged as planned at the National Theatre of Uganda …

The Busted Network - Egyptian police reportedly track down a man they say is responsible for operating a "gay sex network" …

Didn't Say Gay - right-wing homophobes and "pro-life" factions have to read between the lines in speeches at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida to find the virulently anti-gay anti-woman planks spelled out in the party's platform …

Bipartisan Cooperation - an enterprising local gay bathhouse offers free admission and discreet back door entry and exit to GOP delegates

You Don't Need a Weatherman - Southern Decadence begets Hurricane Isaac?

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NewsWrap for the week ending July 28, 2012

SUMMARY

An Expected Journey - A marriage equality bill is introduced in the New Zealand Parliament but has a long and winding road ahead …

Warm Up the Bagpipes - Scotland's government announces that it will sponsor a marriage equality measure in Parliament later this year …

That's A Lot O' Books - Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie make history with their 2.5 million-dollar donation to the coalition fighting to preserve the marriage equality law in the state of Washington …

Aiming For A Bullseye - Minnesota-based retail giant Target Stores, where a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as exclusively heterosexual will be on the state ballot, continues to break new commercial ground with Pride t-shirts, greeting cards for same-gender couples, and lesbian & gay wedding registries …

Pluck You - homophobic head of the Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A restaurant chain – one of the largest in the U.S. – causes a furor by admitting that they're "guilty as charged" of donating millions of dollars to right-wing anti-gay causes …

Where No Dyke Had Gone Before - America's first woman in space Sally Ride was also its first lesbian ….

Complete NewsWrap text and this week's podcast to be posted July 30th.