Gay rights advocates press

Gay rights advocates press for changes in law. HARRISBURG — Invoking U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's name as a symbol of the repressive attitudes they say they are fighting, gay-rights advocates Tuesday called on Pennsylvania lawmakers to outlaw certain types of discrimination against homosexuals and transgender people. Speakers noted the furor over Santorum's remarks in a recent interview with The Associated Press in which he compared homosexuality to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery.

I picked up another article on Alternet.org on Senator Santorum. It approaches the whole philosophy of Senator Santorum on the issue of government involvement in the sexual practices of the public... very interesting.

Gay students want respect, compassion. DANVILLE, CA -Gay students, their supporters and some parents turned out at Tuesday night's school board meeting to demand more tolerance and respect for gay and lesbian students on San Ramon Valley school district campuses. More than 300 people packed the multipurpose room of Charlotte Wood Middle School in a highly charged meeting. The students say the district is not doing enough to enforce Assembly Bill 537, passed in 2000, which safeguards students' gender identity and orientation. The students want the school board to form a safety committee to address intolerance. At a recent club fair at Monte Vista, students told the club, "Kill the fags" and "Go home, you don't belong here" within earshot of school administrators. Rachel Floyd, Queer Youth coordinator, said many students are afraid to "come out" or sound like whiners, and that anti-gay harassment is pervasive throughout schools in Contra Costa County. Floyd said many students may mean no harm when they use "faggot" or "gay" in conversation, but the words are hurtful and demeaning to gay students, even if not directed at them. "The effect is destructive," Floyd said. "Gay students commit suicide at seven times the rate of their straight peers. You can't use the 'N' word to refer to a race, yet homophobia is the last hold out on campus and it's huge."