Stonewall ADR, founded and managed by Terrybeth Cherry, made it into the top four in Pepperdine University’s Business Plan Competition for a prize of $15,000. Although Stonewall ADR did not win the competition, it was the first time in conservative Pepperdine University history that a member of the LGBT community and an LGBT company was recognized. Terrybeth Cherry presented Stonewall ADR to a panel of five judges and an auditorium of full-time MBA students. Terrybeth Cherry is, herself, pursuing her MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School or Business and Management.
The current governor and conservative legislators of Massachusetts are fighting to push through a state amendment to ban gay marriage, which, if approved, would appear on the state ballot in 2008. The measure still has to pass during the next legislative meeting. The governor-elect has vowed to fight to preserve the states progressive measure to grant gays and lesbians the right to marry. Massachusetts, at present, is the only state that grants marriage rights to LGBT people, while a few other states recognize civil unions. The conservatives pushing for the ban on gay marriage claim that their plight is not out of hatred or “vengeance,” but solely an opportunity for the people of Massachusetts to vote. No matter how the conservatives phrase their intentions, the intentions are negative and meant to strip the LGBT community of human rights granted to people in the United States.
Last week a Massachusetts’ court ruled against a non-biological lesbian partner who was seeking child custody rights. The courts stated that during the year and five month relationship the plaintiff did not file for adoption of the child in question. Also, the court ruled that the non-biological partner was not present enough at home to establish an emotional bond that would merit court-ordered visitation rights. The plaintiff argued that she had been away from the child in order to support the family financially. It is important to ask that if this couple had been heterosexual would the court have ruled in favor of the defendant, or would the fate of the child have been different? The lawyer for the defendant stated that the ruling proved that the court was fairly applying child-protection measures to all couples, independent of sexual orientation. However, views of the court are still heterosexist. If the plaintiff had been a man the court may have taken more time to pause and reflect on his role in the child’s life. Male influence is traditionally viewed as vital to the healthy development of a child. The court system would like to believe that it is unbiased and that justice is blind, however, the court is still rooted deeply in heterosexist culture, especially when dealing with the welfare of children.
In a landmark event, Deputy President Phumzile Miambo-Ngcuka signed the civil union act into law, granting civil marriage rights to the South African Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community. South Africa is the first country in Africa to grant LGBTs the right to join together under civil law. It is interesting that a country which only just recently ended apartheid in 1994 has advanced civil rights for its LGBT citizens beyond anything that the federal government in the United States has even considered. Perhaps America should take cues from international policies implemented by socially advanced countries.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061130/lf_afp/safricapolitics_061130174543
On November 27th, 1978 Harvey Milk, the first gay city supervisor of San Francisco, and mayor Moscone were shot to death by Dan White, who only received seven years for the heinous murders. Milks death helped to push gay and lesbians to take action against discrimination. Milk is considered an icon in the fight for GLBT visibility and equal consideration under the law.