Robert Cover Public Interest Retreat

"Jennifer C. Pizer, Senior Counsel and Director of the Marriage Equality Project at Lambda Legal will be a featured speaker at the Robert Cover Public Interest Retreat, organized in part this year by WNEC Law students and open to all law students, Feb. 26-28th at the Sargent Center in Peterborough New Hampshire. This year, the theme is "Turning Point: Shaping Public Interest Law for 2015," and the retreat features a variety of public interest practitioners speaking on issues ranging from indigent criminal defense to representing children to international human rights. Register now."

Thanks to Professor Shay & Maren Law for this information

NOM investigation in Maine

Neil Broverman of The Advocate reports on the NOM investigation taking place in Maine. NOM would like to delay the investigation until a pending lawsuit is decided. You can read Neil's article HERE.

NOM is the National Organization for Marriage. It was active in both the Yes on 8 campaign in California as well as the Yes on 1 campaign in Maine. It has produced ads such as "The Gathering Storm" intended to intimidate voters by suggesting that same-sex marriage would be dangerous to children, heterosexual marriages, and to families in general. You can view the outrageous video on YouTube. There are responses to the video that can also be seen on YouTube... here is one of them called Weathering the Storm.

Gay rights groups denounce anti-Gay Buju Banton's Grammy nomination

Advocate writer Julie Bolcer reports that a full page ad has been placed in Variety by a coalition of gay rights groups in opposition to Buju Banton's Grammy nomination. Read the full article HERE.

Photo: Getty Images

Delay in Hawaii kills civil union bill

The Advocate reports:

"Posted on Advocate.com January 30, 2010
Hawaii Kills Civil Unions Bill
By Advocate.com Editors

The state House of Representatives on Friday decided to delay vote on a civil unions bill that had passed the state Senate last week, effectively killing the bill, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. The proposal, which would have granted same-sex couples in the state all the rights of marriage—except marriage itself—can’t be reconsidered this session unless two-thirds of the representatives vote to bring it back to the floor.

Supporters of the civil unions bill called for the house members to take a roll call vote, which would have put their position on the issue on record, but the members instead shouted “aye” or “no” before the vice speaker of the House ruled that the motion to delay the vote had passed.
The announcement caused civil right supporters to yell “Shame on you!” while opponents of the proposal cheered.
“It’s an election year and they’re more concerned about keeping their seats than doing what’s right,” said Stephen Nagle, who was wearing a rainbow lei to show his support for civil unions."

Title IX Blog: Student Non-Discrimination Act introduced

WNEC Law's very own Professor Erin Buzuvis, contributor to the Title IX Blog, posted today about the Student Non-Discrimination Act that was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. The post explains:

"Yesterday, Representative Jared Polis (D-Co.) introduced in the House of Representative a bill that would provide Title IX-like protection to LGBT students. If passed, the Student Nondiscrimination Act would offer remedies for discrimination that targets students because of their "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity."

Link to the full post at Title IX Blog HERE.

12 Days of Prop 8

12 days of trial have been completed. Find the links to all 12 live blogs HERE.

eHarmony agrees to settle LGBTQ discrimination suit

Below is the article from the AP as seen on Yahoo News:

Wed Jan 27, 8:56 am ET


LOS ANGELES – The online dating service eHarmony has agreed to settle a California lawsuit that claimed it discriminated against homosexuals.

Under a proposed settlement filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, eHarmony will link its straight and gay Web sites and allow people to use both without paying double fees.
Plaintiff's attorney Todd Schneider says the company also agreed to pay about $500,000 to an estimated 150 Californians to settle the class-action suit, plus around $1.5 million in court and attorney's fees.
The company didn't admit any wrongdoing.
A judge must approve the settlement. A court date is scheduled for Feb. 3.

Update: DADT

Last night in his State of the Union address, President Obama said he would work with Congress to put an end to Don't Ask, Don't Tell this year. It's great to hear him say it, but when will he take action? Domenico Montanaro of MSNBC writes that a hearing regarding DADT will be held on Tuesday during the Senate Budget hearings.

Read the whole article HERE

DADT and the State of the Union

 Advocate reporter Kerry Eleveld speculates on the possible mention of Don't Ask, Don't Tell in tonight's State of the Union address. It airs at 9p.m EST.
DADT & the State of the Union address

LGBTQ Students Plan Protest at Notre Dame

Students at Notre Dame and its sister school St. Mary's College were outraged when an anti-gay "cartoon" was published in the student-run newspaper. Check out the link below to see the "cartoon" and read more about the story.
The Advocate- LGBTQ Students Plan Protest

OUTlaw signs on as supporting group for LGBTBar's amicus brief

WNEC OUTlaw is signing on as a supporting group of the LGBTBar's amicus brief standing behind UC Hasting's decision not to fund a student group that openly discriminates against its LGBT students.
Background:
In 2004, the Christian Legal Society’s chapter at the University of California-Hastings filed a lawsuit after the school denied a funding request because of the group’s anti-LGBT discrimination policy. The question before the Court now is whether the “Constitution allows a state law school to deny recognition to a religious student organization because the group requires its officers and voting members to agree with its core religious viewpoints.”
 
(Thanks to OUTlaw's president Cecelia for this information)

U.S Legislators urge action against Uganda's Anti-LGBTQ bill

The proposed Ugandan bill would have penalties as severe as life in prison or death for homosexuals. U.S legislators are urging President Obama to publicly speak out against this bill. Please see the link below for more details.

U.S Reps call for action against Ugandan bill

Love for Haiti

Love For Haiti project:

Roxanne Lajoie is putting together a Valentine's Day fundraising project for Haiti called "Love For Haiti".

People will be able to buy flowers and/or candy with personalized notes to be sent to other students in the week before Valentine's Day, where the proceeds will go to Haiti.

She needs volunteers to sit in the common area to sell the items 12-1 and 5-6 during that time. If you're interested in volunteering, please email us at outlaw.wnec@gmail.com.

Proposition 8 Trial in California

Howard Mintz of MercuryNews.com has been in the courtroom everyday blogging about the Prop 8 trial. Below is a link to his day-by-day coverage.
Prop 8 trial: Day-by-day

We have arrived!

Welcome to the brand new WNEC OUTlaw Blawg! We hope this blog will be a useful tool for sharing news about our group as well as the larger LGBTQ community. Stay tuned!