News: Pittsburgh DPs, Omarion, Janet, DADT, CA Marriage Ban

· Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl signs legislation that creates a new domestic partner registry and "although it carries no legal weight, it is expected to provide documentation for more than 100 Pittsburgh employers, including the city, that give benefits to domestic partners." Ravenstahl: "There's a lot of good, positive momentum in the city of Pittsburgh ... and we will continue to look for ways to show that Pittsburgh is truly a progressive city."

· After ending his 7-year relationship with Sony two months ago, R&B poptart Omarion signs with Timbaland's label.

· Janet Jackson is reportedly "developing a music competition" television reality series and "will serve as mentor to the up-and-coming singers and dancers." Target launch is September 10.

· Three California voters and four gay rights organizations ask the California Supreme Court to prevent a November ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage.

· PageOneQ reports the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints "will officially urge its members to take the church stance on marriage rights to the voting booth" and support the proposed November marriage ban. A gay Mormon group criticizes the decision and says "the Church should not be interfering with California politics."

· New York City public health clinics are no longer using OraSure's rapid oral HIV test because of inaccurate results. "The rate of false positives ... rose as high as 1.1 percent over the past eight months, or more than five times the level claimed in the kit's labeling."

· Report: Mexican government should declare HIV/AIDS a "national emergency" to ensure "universal, permanent and sustainable" access to antiretroviral drug.

· Lesbians are disproportionately impacted under the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy that prohibits openly gay people from serving in the military. "While women make up 14 percent of Army personnel, 46 percent of those discharged under the policy last year were women. And while 20 percent of Air Force personnel are women, 49 percent of its discharges under the policy last year were women." Pentagon officials cannot explain why the numbers for women spiked last year.

Comments

[j. brotherlove]

Hehe, you called Omarion an "R&B poptart". That made my day!

[Patrick S]

HaHa, I also like that term it is hilarious, he has called Omarion and Bow Wow "R&B poptarts" several times before.