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Civil Rights Roundup: 07/23/08

July 23rd, 2008
By DAVID SCHRAUB, Assistant Editor

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Your daily dose of civil rights and related news

The HIV/AIDS infection rate for American Latinos is skyrocketing. In some urban cities, the proportion of gay Latinos who are HIV positive rivals that of sub-Saharan Africa.

Being handicapped in one’s ability to have sexual relations constitutes a major life impairment under the ADA. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruling is here.

New York City will officially begin offering services in six foreign languages: Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Italian and French Creole.

I couldn’t resist linking to this Houston Chronicle letter to the editor, where a Texan says of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), “How dare he even set foot here.” Conyers was in town for a panel on abuse by local law enforcement officials.

The Chronicle also has an editorial up urging the state not to execute Jose Ernesto Medellin until the review ordered by the World Court can be completed. Legally, it’s Texas’ call whether to comply, but failing to do so could seriously undermine the protections of the Vienna Convention.

Did Chicago police engage in acts of torture to secure confessions during the 20 year period between 1972-1992?

Obama helps introduce bill to allow voter registration drives on VA campuses.

A group of progressive media watchdogs is handing over a petition to Fox News demanding they stop their racist attacks on Michelle Obama. Particularly egregious cases include calling her “Obama’s baby mama” and Bill O’Reilly saying that a “lynching party” was the way to deal with her.

Four Yonkers residents are suing the local police for civil rights violations stemming out of a warrantless search.

A Honduras man is urging immigration authorities create a new justification for asylum: sexual abuse. His three children were sexually abused by a relative. My knowledge of immigration law is slight, but based on what I do know I’m very skeptical his claim will succeed.

Latino groups are launching a huge new voter registration effort.

Latino transit workers in Boston are pissed about anti-Latino comments made by, of all people, the transit authority’s anti-discrimination chief.

The city of Minneapolis has approved a settlement regarding its city police force that would require it to more closely oversee diversity and race issues. The lawsuit had been filed by five Black police officers alleging a long history of discrimination.



This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 am and is filed under Civil Rights Roundup. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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    It is critical that we draw attention to the struggles of gay Latinos in this country who face the multi-tiered stigma of living with HIV/AIDS, their immigration status, and their sexual identity. We can also learn much from Latino gay men who are open about their sexuality, are US citizens, and not HIV positive. What can we learn about the resiliency of some Latinos--without overemphasizing their privilege. How can we create and maintain community-based programs and social networks that keep all Latinos healthy, productive, and contributing members of our society?
 
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