In the News:

Task Force increases reward to $25,000 in
      Detroit anti-gay homicide case
OutSpoken Blog: Still not safe
In the states: New Hampshire and Colorado
Join us for our Leadership Awards in New York
      and Washington, D.C.

Task Force increases reward to $25,000 in Detroit anti-gay homicide case

The Task Force has further increased its reward to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of Andrew Anthos in Detroit, Mich. The Task Force has been working closely with its state partner, Triangle Foundation, to draw attention to this case. Beginning today, Triangle Foundation staff and volunteers will conduct a canvass of Anthos’ former neighbors and of the bus stop near his home, seeking witnesses.

“The Detroit Police Department’s mishandling of this case is an insult to the memory of Mr. Anthos, to his family and to our national community. This is a glaring example of why we need a federal law that authorizes the federal government to step in when local law enforcement agencies refuse to address hate-motivated violence, including crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.”
— Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force

[ Read the full Task Force statement ]
[ Read the Triangle Foundation statement ]
[ Visit our Hate Crimes Protections 2007 Action Center ]

OutSpoken Blog: Still not safe

“My neighborhood, Park Slope, is often affectionately called ‘Dyke Slope.’ Living in such a queer-friendly place, hate crimes were the last thing on my mind. But reading the papers showed me that hate crimes happened all around New York, and all around the country. And a few weeks ago I got a phone call from one of my gay friends. He told me he had just experienced a violent anti-LGBT hate crime inside his Brooklyn apartment complex. I was shocked. I was upset. I realized hate crimes can happen anywhere, and unfortunately, they do.”
— Sarah Kennedy, Vaid Fellow

[ Read and respond to the blog entry ]

In the states: New Hampshire and Colorado

The Task Force has been supporting the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition in its efforts to achieve full marriage equality in that state. On April 4, New Hampshire took a step toward becoming the fourth state to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. By a bipartisan vote of 243 to 129, the state House passed civil union legislation that would give same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities offered to heterosexual married couples in the state. The legislation also would require New Hampshire to honor civil unions legally performed in other states that recognize same-sex relationships. The bill now moves to the Senate. If passed there, it goes to Gov. John Lynch’s desk for signing into law. He has not indicated whether he will sign it.

The Task Force also has been assisting the efforts of Equal Rights Colorado, which has Colorado on the verge of passing into law legislation allowing second-parent adoptions. The measure would allow for a second adult parent, upon the written consent of a single parent, to adopt a child. The bill passed the state House in mid-March and passed out of Senate committee on April 3. It’s now headed for a vote by the full Senate. If it passes, it moves to Gov. Bill Ritter, who has not signaled whether he would sign it.

Join us for our Leadership Awards in New York and Washington, D.C.

On Monday, April 16, we’re holding our New York Leadership Awards at the Grand Hyatt, honoring U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel and Steven Goldstein, CEO and chair of Garden State Equality, with special guest speaker the Rev. James Forbes, senior minister of the Riverside Church. Click for details and tickets. Our DC Leadership Awards will be held on Saturday, May 5, at the Omni Shoreham. Please join us as we honor the Service Employees International Union and the cast and executive producer of Noah’s Arc, with special guest Wilson Cruz. Get tickets and information on sponsorships.

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