Price: Candidate's success to reveal state of transgender movement The candidacy of Dana Beyer, who could become the first transgender person to hold office in any state legislature, could prove a defining moment in American politics and the wider acceptance of transgender Americans, according to Detroit News columnist Deb Price. "Dana Beyer literally embodies what we need more of in politics: The courage to change," Price writes. The Detroit News (7/24)

Sullivan: Black churches should be taken to task for anti-gay views Journalist Andrew Sullivan in his blog calls on "p.c. white gay activists" to challenge the anti-gay stances of some African-American clergy. "Their silence during the HIV and AIDS epidemic among African-Americans helped usher many black men and women into avoidable sickness and early death," he writes. TIME /The Daily Dish (7/23)

Boy Scouts plan to fight to keep free building in fight over anti-gay policy The Boy Scouts of America, responding to the City of Philadelphia's demand that it pay rent, exit the city-owned building it uses for free or distance itself from its anti-gay policy, said it would challenge the city's position. A BSA spokesperson also said the city was in danger of losing $62 million in annual HUD funds, according to a federal law seeking to guarantee the Scouts equal access to facilities by state or local governments. The Philadelphia Inquirer (free registration) (7/25)

original address: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/15944/
Gay bashers arrested after parade attack

Jul 24, 2006By TBT staffRIGA - A total of 14 people have been detained for attacks on representatives of sexual minorities in the Latvian capital Riga on Saturday during the gay and lesbian pride festival.

National Police spokeswoman Sintija Kajina told the Baltic News Service that 13 of the detainees face administrative charges, while a criminal proceeding will be started against one person who was detained. The charges stem from an attack on gay and lesbian people who attended a service at the Anglican Church in Riga as part of the Friendship Days festival held last week.

An angry crowd threw tomatoes, eggs and excrement at people entering the church service. Later, they threw eggs and splashed water on a taxi in which Swedish participants of the Latvian gay festival were traveling to the airport. The taxi was chased on its way to the airport, and attempts were made to push it off the road. The key event of the gay festival, a gay pride parade, did not take place because the Riga City Council refused to grant the required municipal authorization. Gay and lesbian organizations are determined to continue legal action against the city council for banning the parade. They said they would go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, if necessary.

Latvian Interior Minister Dzintars Jaundzeikars said it was up to the Security Police to discover the instigators of the violence. The minister said most of the anti-gay protesters were Russian-speakers.

The interior minister said he was concerned that the police received the strongest criticism after the anti-gay incidents. In his opinion, officers did a good job.

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original address: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/15944/
Gay bashers arrested after parade attack
Jul 24, 2006By TBT staffRIGA - A total of 14 people have been detained for attacks on representatives of sexual minorities in the Latvian capital Riga on Saturday during the gay and lesbian pride festival.National Police spokeswoman Sintija Kajina told the Baltic News Service that 13 of the detainees face administrative charges, while a criminal proceeding will be started against one person who was detained. The charges stem from an attack on gay and lesbian people who attended a service at the Anglican Church in Riga as part of the Friendship Days festival held last week.An angry crowd threw tomatoes, eggs and excrement at people entering the church service. Later, they threw eggs and splashed water on a taxi in which Swedish participants of the Latvian gay festival were traveling to the airport. The taxi was chased on its way to the airport, and attempts were made to push it off the road. The key event of the gay festival, a gay pride parade, did not take place because the Riga City Council refused to grant the required municipal authorization. Gay and lesbian organizations are determined to continue legal action against the city council for banning the parade. They said they would go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, if necessary.Latvian Interior Minister Dzintars Jaundzeikars said it was up to the Security Police to discover the instigators of the violence. The minister said most of the anti-gay protesters were Russian-speakers.The interior minister said he was concerned that the police received the strongest criticism after the anti-gay incidents. In his opinion, officers did a good job.