Saturday, August 08, 2009
Friday, August 07, 2009
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Go to http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs029/1101960178690/archive/1102643743669.html
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs029/1101960178690/archive/1102643743669.html
Phyllis Lyon below photo of her recently deceased spouse Del Martin at GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Cops Beat Women Protesting in Sudan
Cops Beat Women Protesting in Sudan
By MOHAMED OSMAN, AP
posted: 8 MINUTES AGOcomments: 32filed under: WORLD NEWS
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KHARTOUM, Sudan (Aug. 4) -- Sudanese police fired tear gas and beat women protesting outside a Sudanese court Tuesday during the trial of a female journalist accused of violating the Islamic dress code by wearing trousers in public.
Police moved in swiftly and dispersed about 50 protesters, mostly women, who were supporting Lubna Hussein, a former U.N. worker facing 40 lashes on the charge of "indecent dressing." Some of the women demonstrators wore trousers in solidarity with Hussein while others wore more traditional dress.
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Trousers are considered indecent under the strict interpretation of Islamic law, adopted by Sudan's Islamic regime which came to power after a coup led by President Omar al-Bashir in 1989. But activists and lawyers say the implementation of the law is arbitrary.
Hussein was among 13 women arrested July 3 in a raid by the public order police on a popular cafe in Khartoum. Ten of the women were flogged at a police station two days later and fined 250 Sudanese pounds, or about $120.
But Hussein and two others decided to go on trial. She has sought to publicize her case internationally, inviting human rights workers, Western diplomats and fellow journalists to witness her trial.
"I am not afraid of flogging. ... It's not about flogging. It's not about my innocence. It's about changing the law," Hussein said, speaking to The Associated Press after the hearing Tuesday.
She said she would take the issue all the way to Sudan's constitutional court if necessary, but that if the court rules against her and orders the flogging, she was ready "to receive (even) 40,000 lashes."
Hussein wore the same clothes Tuesday she wore when arrested, including the dark-colored pants that authorities found offensive. Although she was required to wear the same outfit to court so the judge and others could see the clothing, Hussein said she's been wearing it every day to highlight her case.
In the clashes outside the courtroom, witnesses said police wielding batons beat up one of Hussein's lawyers, Manal Awad Khogali, while keeping media and cameras at bay. No injuries were immediately reported.
"We are here to protest against this law that oppresses women and debases them," said one of the protesters, Amal Habani, a female columnist for the daily Ajraas Al Hurria, or Bells of Freedom in Arabic.
While the police broke up the demonstration outside the Khartoum Criminal Court, the judge adjourned Hussein's trial for a month to seek clarification from Sudan's foreign ministry.
At the time of her arrest, Hussein was working for the media department of the U.N. Mission in Sudan, which gives her immunity from prosecution. She submitted her resignation after her trial began last week because she wanted to go on trial to challenge the dress code law.
Defense lawyer Jalal al-Sayed told reporters Tuesday the judge wanted to know whether Hussein still has immunity because her superiors have not yet accepted the resignation.
Hussein's hearings first opened last Wednesday but immediately adjourned to give her the opportunity to resign.
Hussein has lauded her supporters, saying they showed that "Sudanese women from different political parties and groupings stand with us."
The case has drawn criticism from the United Nations. The U.N. Staff Union urged authorities last week not to flog Hussein, calling the punishment cruel, inhuman and degrading.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" about Hussein's case and said flogging was a violation of international human rights standards.
Skip over this content
By MOHAMED OSMAN, AP
posted: 8 MINUTES AGOcomments: 32filed under: WORLD NEWS
PRINT|E-MAILMORE
Text SizeAAA
KHARTOUM, Sudan (Aug. 4) -- Sudanese police fired tear gas and beat women protesting outside a Sudanese court Tuesday during the trial of a female journalist accused of violating the Islamic dress code by wearing trousers in public.
Police moved in swiftly and dispersed about 50 protesters, mostly women, who were supporting Lubna Hussein, a former U.N. worker facing 40 lashes on the charge of "indecent dressing." Some of the women demonstrators wore trousers in solidarity with Hussein while others wore more traditional dress.
Skip over this content
Trousers are considered indecent under the strict interpretation of Islamic law, adopted by Sudan's Islamic regime which came to power after a coup led by President Omar al-Bashir in 1989. But activists and lawyers say the implementation of the law is arbitrary.
Hussein was among 13 women arrested July 3 in a raid by the public order police on a popular cafe in Khartoum. Ten of the women were flogged at a police station two days later and fined 250 Sudanese pounds, or about $120.
But Hussein and two others decided to go on trial. She has sought to publicize her case internationally, inviting human rights workers, Western diplomats and fellow journalists to witness her trial.
"I am not afraid of flogging. ... It's not about flogging. It's not about my innocence. It's about changing the law," Hussein said, speaking to The Associated Press after the hearing Tuesday.
She said she would take the issue all the way to Sudan's constitutional court if necessary, but that if the court rules against her and orders the flogging, she was ready "to receive (even) 40,000 lashes."
Hussein wore the same clothes Tuesday she wore when arrested, including the dark-colored pants that authorities found offensive. Although she was required to wear the same outfit to court so the judge and others could see the clothing, Hussein said she's been wearing it every day to highlight her case.
In the clashes outside the courtroom, witnesses said police wielding batons beat up one of Hussein's lawyers, Manal Awad Khogali, while keeping media and cameras at bay. No injuries were immediately reported.
"We are here to protest against this law that oppresses women and debases them," said one of the protesters, Amal Habani, a female columnist for the daily Ajraas Al Hurria, or Bells of Freedom in Arabic.
While the police broke up the demonstration outside the Khartoum Criminal Court, the judge adjourned Hussein's trial for a month to seek clarification from Sudan's foreign ministry.
At the time of her arrest, Hussein was working for the media department of the U.N. Mission in Sudan, which gives her immunity from prosecution. She submitted her resignation after her trial began last week because she wanted to go on trial to challenge the dress code law.
Defense lawyer Jalal al-Sayed told reporters Tuesday the judge wanted to know whether Hussein still has immunity because her superiors have not yet accepted the resignation.
Hussein's hearings first opened last Wednesday but immediately adjourned to give her the opportunity to resign.
Hussein has lauded her supporters, saying they showed that "Sudanese women from different political parties and groupings stand with us."
The case has drawn criticism from the United Nations. The U.N. Staff Union urged authorities last week not to flog Hussein, calling the punishment cruel, inhuman and degrading.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" about Hussein's case and said flogging was a violation of international human rights standards.
Skip over this content
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Attack on gay club (youth group) prompts protests in Israel-BBC
Send a message of condolence and international support to Gay Tel Aviv now following the appalling murders and injuries that took place today in an act of terror against the gay and lesbian community. (Jo Harrison, Australia)
See below.
I can't find a damn thing on CNN except a quick one sentence blurb. What is wrong with them? Actually it wasn't a Gay club, it was a support group for Gay Youth housed in a basement apartment in Tel Aviv.
SRaphael
Attack on gay club prompts protests in Israel
Hate crime? Israelis protest outside a gay youth club in Tel Aviv. (AFP)
Israeli demonstrators have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv after an attack on a gay community centre left at least two people dead and many others wounded.
Most of the victims were gay teenagers, who were taking part in a support group when a gunman burst in and started firing indiscriminately.
Within hours of the killing hundreds of people gathered outside the centre for a silent candle-lit vigil.
The attack has been described as the worst anti-gay attack in the country's history.
Gay leaders have described the attack as a hate crime targeting lesbians and gay men.
Yaniv Weisman is the head of the Israeli Youth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association.
"There is a big anger and if it will be known that behind this action it's a religious movement, we will punish the people behind it," he said.
"The gay community here is very strong and there would be a reaction from the gay community.
"The people in the government would be the first one to give us answers."
In many parts of Israel homosexuals often face opposition and sometimes violent protests, especially gay pride festivals in Jerusalem have seen angry confrontations between gay and lesbian activists and hardline religious groups.
But Tel Aviv has a reputation of being a liberal and secular city and many people have been shocked by news of the attack.
- BBC
Gay Youths Killed in Tel Aviv : Stream of Messages I put on Facebook
The minutes posted are not accurate but are based on facebook time I posted Aug 1, 2009 Saturday evening time
Sharon Raphael I just heard on the news that gunmen went into a Gay Community Center in Televiv and killed LGBT participants. I don't know how many were killed. A spokesperson for the Center implied the killers might be from the right wing Jewish religious community. LGBT demonstrators took to the streets to express their horror and anger. I think LGBT persons in the United States should come to the support of that Center.
52 minutes ago · Comment
Options
Sharon Raphael Still trying to find website or email address for Gay/Lesbian Center in Tel Aviv. We should send condolences and ask the government to act not only getting the shooters but in attacking their own homophobia. SR
27 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/world/middleeast/02israel.html
2 Shot Dead at Gay Center in Tel Aviv - NYTimes.com
Source: www.nytimes.com
A man opened fire on a crowd at a gay community center in Tel Aviv, killing three people.
29 minutes ago · Comment · Like · Share
Sharon Raphael Tel Aviv sorry.
40 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael These were teenagers," Yaniv Weisman, chairman of the Israeli Gay Youth organization, told The Jerusalem Post. With tears in his eyes, Weisman added, "They came to this center from across the country to talk to one another and receive help. This was supposed to be a safe place for them. Someone knew what they were doing when they came here. This is not a pub or a club." Jerusalem News
42 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphaelcorrection above is from the Jerusalem Post
39 minutes ago · Delete
(Sharon Raphael) ....(Zak) warned in a column last year that Israel is a place which, on the one hand has liberal laws, but on the other does not attempt to counter homophobia," Danny Zak, a gay activist and journalist, told the Jerusalem Post during the demonstration. "A murder was waiting to happen," Zak added.
Jerusalem Post
35 minutes ago · Delete
Sharon Raphael I understand the target of the attack were youths having a support group at the Center.
44 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277945034&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
45 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael Please put on line more information on incident I have mentioned below. Any suggestions on what we can do would help. Need the address or websitee of the Gay Center in Televiv where this happened. It is said this is the worst Gay type hate crime of this kind in Israel. There is a history of homophobia among the religious right wing. We have to be careful not to paint all the religious groups in this category.
49 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael I just heard on the news that gunmen went into a Gay Community Center in Televiv and killed LGBT participants. I don't know how many were killed. A spokesperson for the Center implied the killers might be from the right wing Jewish religious community. LGBT demonstrators took to the streets to express their horror and anger. I think LGBT persons in the United States should come to the support of that Center.
52 minutes ago · Comment
Sharon Raphael I just heard on the news that gunmen went into a Gay Community Center in Televiv and killed LGBT participants. I don't know how many were killed. A spokesperson for the Center implied the killers might be from the right wing Jewish religious community. LGBT demonstrators took to the streets to express their horror and anger. I think LGBT persons in the United States should come to the support of that Center.
52 minutes ago · Comment
Options
Sharon Raphael Still trying to find website or email address for Gay/Lesbian Center in Tel Aviv. We should send condolences and ask the government to act not only getting the shooters but in attacking their own homophobia. SR
27 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/world/middleeast/02israel.html
2 Shot Dead at Gay Center in Tel Aviv - NYTimes.com
Source: www.nytimes.com
A man opened fire on a crowd at a gay community center in Tel Aviv, killing three people.
29 minutes ago · Comment · Like · Share
Sharon Raphael Tel Aviv sorry.
40 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael These were teenagers," Yaniv Weisman, chairman of the Israeli Gay Youth organization, told The Jerusalem Post. With tears in his eyes, Weisman added, "They came to this center from across the country to talk to one another and receive help. This was supposed to be a safe place for them. Someone knew what they were doing when they came here. This is not a pub or a club." Jerusalem News
42 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphaelcorrection above is from the Jerusalem Post
39 minutes ago · Delete
(Sharon Raphael) ....(Zak) warned in a column last year that Israel is a place which, on the one hand has liberal laws, but on the other does not attempt to counter homophobia," Danny Zak, a gay activist and journalist, told the Jerusalem Post during the demonstration. "A murder was waiting to happen," Zak added.
Jerusalem Post
35 minutes ago · Delete
Sharon Raphael I understand the target of the attack were youths having a support group at the Center.
44 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277945034&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
45 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael Please put on line more information on incident I have mentioned below. Any suggestions on what we can do would help. Need the address or websitee of the Gay Center in Televiv where this happened. It is said this is the worst Gay type hate crime of this kind in Israel. There is a history of homophobia among the religious right wing. We have to be careful not to paint all the religious groups in this category.
49 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Sharon Raphael I just heard on the news that gunmen went into a Gay Community Center in Televiv and killed LGBT participants. I don't know how many were killed. A spokesperson for the Center implied the killers might be from the right wing Jewish religious community. LGBT demonstrators took to the streets to express their horror and anger. I think LGBT persons in the United States should come to the support of that Center.
52 minutes ago · Comment
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