6/8/07 - The week in review

Gay Rights:

• Isaiah Washington's contract isn't renewed by Grey's Anatomy. I guess homophobia isn't as popular as it once was... Bye, Bye, Burke! (article here)

• Domestic Partner Tax Reform was introduced to the Senate this week to provide the same tax treatment to Domestic Partnership Insurance as is given to Spouse insurance. (article here)

• Maine passed legislation changing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to allow gay and lesbian workers to take time off to care for a sick child or partner. Go, Maine! (article here)

• A Nashville, TN teacher gets suspended for equating calling something "gay" to using the N word. (article here)

• HRC, Truth Wins Out, Soulforce, and gay medical groups call for the rejection of Bush's nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. James Holsinger. Could it be because Holsinger thinks gays can be "cured" with religion? (article here)

• Gen. Peter Pace, the man who called homosexuals "immoral," will be replaced as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (article here)

Politics & Activism:

• Democrats want a law against voter deception. It seems organizations have been telling people the wrong day or place to vote, saying voting if you have outstanding traffic tickets could get you arrested, etc. Most of these deceptive practices were targeted to minorities and lower income persons, people who typically don't vote Republican. (article here)

• A British arms company secretly payed in excess of $1.5 billion over a decade to Saudi Prince Bander bin Sultan in connection with a defense contract. (article here)

• It is suspected that the U.S. imprisoned and interrogated some of its top terrorism suspects in jails in Poland and Romania between 2003 and 2005. Both countries are dependent on U.S. support for their strategic development. (article here)

• Wal-mart admits to selling counterfeit products. (article here)