GLBT News

The VItal Voice just got wind that barring a very unlikely "no" vote to close off the street by its City Council, Belleville will be hosting its first ever Gay Pride event on Saturday, June 21, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will be held on 2nd street between W. Main and A street(s) outside of Club Escapade, which is located at 133 W. Main street.

The confirmed speakers are:

The Honorable Tom Holbrook, Illinois State Rep.
Mr. Lynn Clapp, Chair, Belleville Human Relations Commission
Mr. Mark Kern, Chair, St. Clair County Board.

The GLBT press has struggled to obtain interviews with the democratic candidates this entire campaign season. This week proved fruitful with local outlets in Indiana and North Carolina scoring interviews with both the democratic presidential candidates. The interviews with Sen. Obama were his first with the local gay media. To read the interviews with both senators done by a coalition of Indiana's LGBT media outlets go to this link to Reality Magazine.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The District of Columbia Aquatics Club (DCAC) and the Washington Wetskins Water Polo Team are extending an invitation to the LGBT community to support the upcoming 2008 International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships (IGLA) by either competing in or attending the annual tournament. More than 1,200 athletes are expected to convene in Washington, DC during the four-day competition to be held June 19–22. The IGLA Championships provide competition in the sports of swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming.

Please see the following website for more information:
http://www.copenhagen2009.org/?TId=32375775643

Via the A.P.

By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS, Associated Press Writer

ATHENS, Greece - A Greek court has been asked to draw the line between the natives of the Aegean Sea island of Lesbos and the world's gay women.

Three islanders from Lesbos — home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised love between women — have taken a gay rights group to court for using the word lesbian in its name.

One of the plaintiffs said Wednesday that the name of the association, Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, "insults the identity" of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians.

When the first congregation of the Metropolitan Community Church was formed 40 years ago, it became a place of worship and solace for homosexuals who were shunned from other Christian institutions.

Alive and thriving four decades later, MCC has hundreds of congregations around the world. Also still rampant is the homophobia that exists in churches black, white or otherwise.