San Franscisco Mayor on California Supreme Court Ruling for Same-Sex Marriage

"Today, the California Supreme Court took a bold and important step forward to end discrimination in California. The Court’s ruling to grant same-sex couples the right to marry affirms the very best of what California stands for – and proudly continues our state’s long-standing commitment to equality and justice. As San Franciscans, we have taken an irrevocable step toward resolving one of the most important civil rights issues of our generation, and the state's highest court has done the right thing with their ruling. San Francisco is the first government entity in American history to challenge the constitutionality of state marriage laws that discriminate against gay and lesbian couples. I believe that the path San Francisco pursued was not merely right – it was inevitable. It is America’s path – the road to true freedom and equality. The rights afforded by California's Constitution have triumphed, as they must, over laws restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples. In the late 1940s, California courts were among the nation’s first to strike down laws banning inter-racial marriage. The state’s Supreme Court has once again distinguished itself as a leading defender of our civil rights." San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, May 15, 2008

New York US Senator Hillary Clinton Supports LGBT Youth

PGN: How would you improve services for GLBT youth ?HC: I would be guided by advice by the LGBT community about the additional kind of services that would be needed on top of the general services that were available. For example, I’ve done a lot of work in supporting the LGBT community here in New York to deal with the special problems that adolescents face: the high suicide rates, the sense of alienation and the experiences with bullies. I think there’s a lot of very specific and difficult challenges that LGBT young people face. Obviously, I want to protect our young people and I want to give them access to the services that they need. I believe the idea of guidance at schools is important so that schools are well aware of how much more intense the mistreatment of LGBT kids happens to be. I think we need to do everything we can to try to protect our kids and give them a chance to have a productive and safe childhood and adolescence, and I would certainly zero in on that." Senator Hillary Clinton, interview in Philadelphia Gay News, April 4, 2008

San Jose State University Bans Blood Donation Discrimination

"I am suspending all blood drives at San José State University on the grounds that the U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s lifetime blood donor deferral affecting gay men violates our non-discrimination policy... which says "discrimination of any kind, including … sexual orientation is an affront to the entire university community and is strictly prohibited." I am troubled the FDA has not...made progress with additional research, nor disclosed if and/or when ]they] will vote again on the deferral for men who have sex with other men. Our purpose is to respect our policy of non-discrimination and the climate that the policy is intended to create on our campus... Lacking further action by the FDA, we are guided by the clear mandates of our non-discrimination policy. Our hope is that the FDA will revisit its deferral policy in a timely manner and we may soon be able to hold blood drives on this campus again." Don W. Kassing, President, San José State University, January 29, 2008

Al Gore Opposes Discrimination

"I think it’s wrong for the government to discriminate against people because of that person’s sexual orientation. I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women - to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don’t understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it by gays and lesbians. Shouldn’t we be promoting the kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one’s partner regardless of sexual orientation? ...And the loyalty and love that two people feel for one another when they fall in love ought to be celebrated and encouraged and shouldn’t be prevented by any form of discrimination in the law.” Al Gore, January 17, 2008

Nepal Supreme Court Rules for Equal Rights

"Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-sexual and inter-sex people are... 'natural persons'... And they should be allowed to enjoy all the rights defined by national and international human rights law and instruments." Nepal Supreme Court, December 21, 2007

New Jersey Supreme Court Rules on Sexual Orientation Harassment

"HELD: The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination recognizes a cause of action against a school district for student-on- student affectional or sexual orientation harassment. A school district is liable for such harassment when the school district knew or should have known of the harassment but failed to take actions reasonably calculated to end the mistreatment and offensive conduct. The overarching goal of the LAD is to eradicate the “cancer of discrimination.” This Court has liberally construed the LAD to further the Legislature’s broad remedial objectives." New Jersey Supreme Court, February 21, 2007

Canadian Prime Minister On Canada's Fight Against AIDS and HIV

"I certainly don’t need to tell those in attendance that the global HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the most heart-wrenching health crises the world has ever seen. HIV/AIDS is a killer that must be stopped. While the ultimate goal is to develop a cure, we must also work on preventative measures to halt the spread of this disease... and to contribute to the global effort to develop safe, effective, affordable, and globally accessible HIV vaccines. The benefits of the Canadian initiative will be numerous. There is no doubt the development of an effective HIV vaccine is one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time. But Canada is up to the task, because we’re a global leader. Through today’s initiative, Canada, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, will provide the resources necessary to help realize this worthy goal, thus sparing millions of people from the horrific reality of HIV/AIDS." Prime Minister Stephen Harper, February 20, 2007