by Rex Wockner - SGN Contributing Writer

Employment Gay-rights bill introduced in U.S. Senate
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which bans workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on August 5.

The proposed law would make it illegal to fire or refuse to hire or promote an employee based on his or her being straight, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender.

A similar measure was introduced in the House of Representatives in June.

President Barack Obama supports ENDA. Individuals who wish to lobby for the measure's passage can visit noexcuses.hrc.org.

Wisconsin partnership law takes effect
Wisconsin's same-sex domestic-partnership law took effect August 3.

It grants 43 of the more than 200 state-level rights and obligations of marriage, in areas such as family medical leave, hospital visitation, inheritance in the absence of a will, court incrimination, wrongful-death suits and real-estate transfers.

Starting in January, a second measure will extend health insurance coverage to same- and opposite-sex partners of state employees, said the GLBT lobby group Fair Wisconsin.

Opponents have sued to overturn the new law, claiming it violates a state constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage - as well as same-sex unions similar to marriage.

The amendment states, in part: "A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."

A spokeswoman for Fair Wisconsin said the partnership law does not confer a status substantially similar to marriage.

Gay man, Lesbians in line to become Episcopal bishops
Following a new Episcopal Church resolution that Gays and Lesbians, including those who are partnered, may be called to "any ordained ministry," leaders of the Diocese of Los Angeles have nominated a Gay man and a Lesbian for two assistant-bishop vacancies.

The Rev. John Kirkley and the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool will face off against four heterosexual nominees in an election at the diocese's annual convention at year's end.

At the same time, the Diocese of Minnesota has nominated a Lesbian priest, the Rev. Bonnie Perry, and two heterosexuals for its top bishop position.

The moves will cause further angst in the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch. The communion has been in turmoil since 2003 when the Diocese of New Hampshire elected openly Gay and partnered Gene Robinson as its bishop.

Hawaii coach punished for saying "faggot"
University of Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin has been punished by the university for using the word "faggot" at the Western Athletic Conference media football preview in Salt Lake City on July 30.

McMackin was suspended for 30 days without pay, took a voluntary salary reduction, must do work with the GLBT community on campus and must make a public-service announcement about how words hurt, among other things.

Part of the money from his salary reduction will pay for a GLBT student intern to conduct campuswide workshops in GLBT-awareness training.

McMackin said to reporters: "They [Notre Dame] get up and they do this little cheer, like this. You know, this little faggot dance. ... Don't write that 'faggot dance.' I was misquoted. ... Go ahead, say 'faggot dance.' No. Please cover for me on that ... I'll deny it."

Audio of the incident was posted by The Idaho Statesman newspaper.

A short while after uttering the slur, McMackin again tried to talk reporters out of reporting it.

"Please don't write that statement I said as far as Notre Dame," he said. "I don't want to come out and have every homosexual ticked off at me. You know what I mean. Because I don't have any problem with homosexuals. But I apologize for saying that and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't run that word. If you said dance, that's OK. But don't use the bad term that I chose, please."

Reporters didn't bite, which led to more apologizing.

"I would sincerely like to apologize for the inappropriate verbiage, words that I used," McMackin said. "I don't talk like that and I'm really ticked off at myself for saying that. I don't have any prejudices and it really makes me mad that I even said that and I'm disappointed in myself. ... I was trying to make a joke and it was a bad choice of words and I really - I really, really feel bad about it and I wanted to apologize. I'm going to apologize to my team. I'm going to apologize to the people in Hawaii."

A day later, back in Hawaii, McMackin continued: "I'm committed to do whatever I can to use this as a life lesson and to learn from my mistake. ... I've offended the Gay and Lesbian community and now I'm going to work with the LGBT community on campus to use this as a teachable moment for me and hopefully others."

With assistance from Bill Kelley

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