WASHINGTON (AP)– In a move hailed as a step toward fairness for same-sex couples, President Barack Obama is ordering that nearly all hospitals allow patients to say who has visitation rights and who can help make medical decisions, including gay and lesbian partners.

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Obama Orders Hospital Visitation Rights For Gay, Lesbian Couples

Not every confrontation that a gay person experiences in their life is based on their orientation. But sometimes it is very difficult to see any other possible explanation. Take the experience that Joe Paolucci, Thomas Hitchcock, and their special need twins had recently with Wal-Mart. Employees at the Niles, MI Wal-Mart store accused Paolucci of shoplifting some Bic lighters. Although he produced the receipt, they refused to back down, insisting that the two men go to a “detention room”. The employees, using vulgarities and hostility, frightened their special needs kids. (South Bend Tribune) Click the following link to read the full article.

Bob Emrich is the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church in Plymouth, Maine. He was also a campaign leader and spokesman for Stand for Marriage Maine, the organization primarily responsible for the passage of Question 1 which reversed the Maine Legislature’s law enacting marriage equality. Emrich was, in many ways, the voice and face of the anti-gay marriage movement in Maine. Click the link to read the full article

New York - The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments. No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution. It was adopted by a vote of 125-4

KC PRIDE announces the return of their news letter "Political Press". The news letter is available in hard copy or electronically through download on the political press page of the website. If you are interested in being a contributor or would like to be involved in some other way. Please contact Tim Doerr. His email is available on the "contacts page"

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Countering criticism that he's done little on gay rights, President Barack Obama commemorated the 40th anniversary of the birth of the modern movement by welcoming its leaders to the White House and reaffirming his commitment to their top priorities. Click the link below to read the full article