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WATCH: Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Signs Landmark Civil Unions Bill

Illinois Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn holds up the signed Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act during standing-room-only ceremonies this afternoon in Chicago. Applauding behind Quinn is openly-gay State Rep. Gregory Harris, who introduced the bill in the House and made the signing ceremony announcement last week on Facebook.

"We believe in civil rights, and we believe in civil unions," Quinn said. "We believe in liberty and justice for all."

Watch ABC Chicago's report, AFTER THE JUMP ... 

More from the Sun-Times:

The new law provides more than 650 spousal benefits and protections. If you enter a civil union, you can now visit your loved one in the hospital to make medical decisions and not be turned away. You can take time off to care for your partner and not lose your job," Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. "You can build and protect your family. This legislation represents a giant step toward equality."

Illinois becomes the sixth state to allow civil unions. Five states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriages. The law will take effect on June 1.

Watch ABC Chicago's report, AFTER THE JUMP ...

Man Claims Glaxo's Parkinson's Drug Made Him a Gay Sex Addict

Undesired side effects much? A man employed with the French defense ministry is suing British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, claiming that taking its Parkinson's drug Requip turned him into a "gay sex and gambling addict," reports AFP.

The 51-year-old man's lawyers say their client's behaviour changed radically after he was first administered the drug in 2003 for the illness, which causes tremors, slows movement and disrupts speech.

Didier Jambart, a married father-of-two who says he has attempted suicide three times, claims he became addicted to Internet gambling, losing the family's savings and stealing to feed his habit. He also became a compulsive gay sex addict and began exposing himself on the Internet and cross-dressing. His risky sexual encounters led to him being raped, his lawyers said.

The behaviour stopped when he stopped taking the drugs in 2005 but by then he had been demoted in his defence ministry job and was suffering from psychological trauma resulting from his addictions, his lawyers said.

The trial begins tomorrow. Jambart is seeking €450,000 or $610,000 in damages from Glaxo.

VIDEO: German Figure Skating Hotness Robin Szolkowy Wins Gold

 

After a two-year wait for another gold medal, German figure skaters Robin Szolkowy and Aliona Savchenko won the pairs title at the European Championships in Bern, Switzerland. This is the duo's third gold medal.

The Olympic bronze medalists scored a total of 206.20 points after a free skate routine to the "Pink Panther" theme. "Savchenko and Szolkowy swept the world and European titles in 2008 and '09 but went through the Olympic season without taking gold at a major championship," adds the Shanghai Daily.

Watch the EuroSport clips (en Deutsche) AFTER THE JUMP ...

Five Britons Face Charges for Distributing Leaflets Calling for Executions of Gays

Five Britons are facing charges of "distributing threatening material" and "stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation". The men allegedly distributed leaflets calling for the "death penalty" for homosexuals outside a mosque in Derby, as wellas  inserted the leaflets in private mailboxes, reports the BBC.

Three more men, all from Derby, have been charged with stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation. Ahjaz Ali, 41, Umer Javed, 37 and Mehboob Hassain, 44, are accused of distributing threatening material.

Two other men were charged on the same grounds on Thursday. The charges relate to the distribution of a leaflet, The Death Penalty, in Derby last year. The leaflets were distributed outside mosques in Derby city centre in July 2010. They were also posted through letter boxes in the city.

Alie, Hussain and Javed are also charged with several counts each of sending communication of threatening messages and displaying signs of writing with abusive or insulting messages.

The case will be a landmark prosecution and the five men are the first charged under the new  "gay hatred laws." Crown Prosecution Service attorney Sue Hemming tells the Press Association, "This is the first ever prosecution for this offence and it is the result of close working between the Crown Prosecution Service and Derbyshire Police."

All five will appear at Derby Magistrates' Court on 14 February.

GLAAD Demands NBC Apologize for Offensive Transgender Skit on SNL

GLAAD is demanding an apology from NBC/Comcast after this weekend's Saturday Night Live, which featured a parody of television that mocked transitioning and horomone therapy for transgender women.

"The piece was a mock commercial for estrogen replacement therapy and featured men with facial hair wearing dresses, meant to represent transgender women. This segment cannot be defended as 'just a joke' because there was no 'joke' to speak of. The attempted comedy of the skit hinges solely on degrading the lives and experiences of transgender women. Dehumanizing holding people up for ridicule simply on the basis of their identity fuels a dangerous and hurtful climate and puts people in danger, especially given how infrequently the media shines a fair and accurate light on the lives of transgender people."

This comes only two weeks after another offensive skit when SNL mocked Chaz Bono as "Cher's son-daughter."

GLAAD wants an apology, the clip excised from future reruns of the episode and removed from Hulu. The Estro-Maxx clip is on YouTube (for now) and can be viewed at NBC's website. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to Sign Civil Unions Bill This Afternoon

Illinois Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn will sign the landmark Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act into law during a well-attended ceremony this afternoon. The ceremony could be "one of the largest in state history", reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

The governor’s office has been publicizing the bill-signing for a week and expects as many as 1,000 people to show up at the ceremony, which will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. "We knew there was going to be a lot of interest in participating in what is a pretty historic moment. There’s only a limited number of states that allow civil unions, and a smaller amount that allow gay marriage," Quinn spokeswoman Brie Callahan said.

When the governor’s office signaled he would sign the legislation, it asked those interested in witnessing the event to RSVP. In the first 12 hours after that initial notice, 200 people responded, Callahan said.

The legislation, which does not alter state law recognizing marriage as being between a man and woman, would grant gays and lesbians new rights involving their partners regarding hospital visits, health-care decision-making and the disposal of remains and estates.

"The turnout is going to be beyond anyone’s expectations," said Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the bill’s chief House sponsor. "What people are saying to me is this is going to be a historic moment. I had a couple of women tell me they had waited 28 years for this and wanted to be there when it finally happens."

Quinn campaigned on civil unions and  urged legislators to fast track the bill. With the governor's signature, effective June 1, 2011, Illinois would become the sixth state to allow civil unions. Five states and the District of Columbia recognize gay marriages.

Focus Features Buys Black Lesbian Drama "Pariah" at Sundance

 

Focus Features has acquired Pariah, the coming-of-age drama about a Black lesbian teen in New York City, after its feature debut at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Pariah was created by writer/director Dee Rees.

The deal closed early Friday morning after Focus CEO James Schamus viewed the film and it was screened for Focus execs in Los Angeles. Other suitors for the film incuded the Weinstein Co. and Sony Pictures Classics. But the NBC Universal specialty division, which had also made a strong bid to acquire the romantic drama Like Crazy earlier in the week, liked Pariah so much it also hired Rees to write another undetermined project.

The film, executive produced by Spike Lee and produced by Nekisa Cooper, stars Adepero Oduye, Charles Parnell, Pernell Walker and Kim Wayans. It's a no-star inner-city drama, indicating that despite the recent takeover by Comcast of NBC Universal, Focus is still being allowed to pursue and release indie-minded, tough-sell films from new filmmaking voices.

The film is about 17-year-old "butch" lesbian Alike discovering her sexual identity with which contrasts with the feminine, obedient Christian girl desired by her family. Focus acquired the film for "less than $1 million", adds the Reporter. The studio has a good track record of financing critically- and commercially-successful independent LGBT features, such as Brokeback Mountain, Milk, and The Kids Are All Right, currently nominated for four Academy Awards. 

Kyle Smith at the New York Post enjoyed the film: "Its portrayal of a black middle-class family—in which both parents have good jobs and eat dinner every night with their two school-age daughters—is refreshingly free of cliche and in the title role Adepero Oduye is totally convincing, without being maudlin, as a 17-year-old girl who doesn't feel free to dress the way she wants to (in baggy, oversized clothes) or to date whom she wants to or even to be friends with whom she likes."

I've seen some early screeners of Pariah and it is very moving. Kim Wayans' character as the disapproving, gay-bashing "Christian" mother should generate a much-needed conversation in Black LGBT community.  Writer/director Dee Rees and producer Nekisa Cooper discuss the film AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

Hawaii Senate Passes Civil Unions Bill 19-6

Excellent news to report from Hawaii. Earlier this week a Senate committee advanced SB232, a civil unions bill "substantively similar" to the measure passed last year. The Senate overwhelmingly passed the measure on Friday, reports the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Senators voted 19-6 yesterday to approve Senate Bill 232, a proposal essentially the same as House Bill 444, Senate Draft 1, which passed both chambers last year. The proposal would grant all couples of the same or opposite sex the ability to enter into a civil union with all the rights, privileges, protections and responsibilities of traditional marriage.

The House could either approve SB 232 and send it to the governor or pass its own version. Both bodies need to agree on the language before sending a final bill to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supports civil unions.

House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro, with 21 co-sponsors, has introduced a bill similar to a measure that was not heard in the Senate. The bill was crafted by select lawmakers, members of the governor's policy team and civil unions advocates and addresses some concerns about implementation of a civil unions law. The proposal spells out processes such as how the state Department of Health would oversee licensing of civil unions, and ensures that the rights extend to applicable health, insurance and tax codes.

The Democratic-dominated House and Senate have promised to move quickly on the legislation. Adds KITV: "Supporters hope one amendment would move the effective date to July 1, 2011, and take effect without government rulemaking, which would mean civil unions could begin this summer."

HB 444, the previous Hawaii civil unions bill, passed the legislature in April 2010. Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle  vetoed HB444 last July to "protect" traditional marriage. Democratic Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the pro-equality former longtime congressman, has "promised to sign whatever civil unions legislation is approved."

Uganda: Anti-Gay Pastor Blasts David Kato's Funeral, Villagers Refuse to Bury Body

An unfortunate and absolutely vile update to the horrible murder of David Kato, the leading Ugandan gay rights activist who was brutally killed in his own home on Wednesday. As hundreds gathered at today's burial for the slain pastor, fights erupted after a local pastor grabbed the microphone and blasted homosexuality.

To add more disrespect: Villagers then refused to bury Kato's body. Kato's gay friends had no choice but to carry the body themselves to the burial site, reports Reuters.

"The world has gone crazy," the pastor told the congregation through a microphone. "People are turning away from the scriptures. They should turn back, they should abandon what they are doing. You cannot start admiring a fellow man."

Gay activists, wearing T-shirts featuring Kato's face with sleeves coloured with the gay pride flag, then stormed the pulpit and grabbed the microphone.

"It is ungodly," the pastor shouted, before being blocked from sight. "ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE US"

An unidentified female activist then began to shout from the pulpit. "Who are you to judge others?" she shouted. "We have not come to fight. You are not the judge of us. As long as he's gone to God his creator, who are we to judge Kato?"

Locals intervened on the side of the pastor and scuffles broke out before he was taken away to Kato's father's house to calm the situation. Villagers then refused to bury the body at which point a group of Kato's friends, most of whom were gay, carried his coffin to the grave and buried it themselves.

And yet another heartbreaking chapter in Uganda's state-sponsored anti-gay terror campaign, where gays cannot even be buried in peace ...

Meanwhile: Police report no leads on Kato's murder. Investigators refuse to link Kato's murder to his activism or the vicious anti-gay tabloid outing where his name and photo made the front page with the headline "Hang Them".

READ: President Obama's Statement on the Murder of David Kato

President Barack Obama released this statement on the horrible killing of David Kato, the leading Ugandan gay rights activist who was brutally killed in his own home on Wednesday.

I am deeply saddened to learn of the murder of David Kato.  In Uganda, David showed tremendous courage in speaking out against hate.  He was a powerful advocate for fairness and freedom.  The United States mourns his murder, and we recommit ourselves to David’s work.

At home and around the world, LGBT persons continue to be subjected to unconscionable bullying, discrimination, and hate.  In the weeks preceding David Kato’s murder in Uganda, five members of the LGBT community in Honduras were also murdered.  It is essential that the Governments of Uganda and Honduras investigate these killings and hold the perpetrators accountable.

LGBT rights are not special rights; they are human rights.  My Administration will continue to strongly support human rights and assistance work on behalf of LGBT persons abroad.  We do this because we recognize the threat faced by leaders like David Kato, and we share their commitment to advancing freedom, fairness, and equality for all.

You may recall that in December 2009,  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the proposed Ugandan bill that seeks the death penalty for gays as "oppressive". Clinton also released a strong statement on Kato's murder that can be read HERE ...