[OutVoice] Bill Clinton explains "Don't Ask" and DOMA + Up With (Gay) People + global LGBT news

[tworadio at aol.com]

Airs on more than 175 local stations around the world... or
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"THIS WAY OUT: the international lesbian & gay radio magazine
Program #1,116 - distributed 8/17/09
(hosted this week by Greg Gordon and produced with Lucia Chappelle)
Bill Clinton defends his DOMA and "Don't Ask" decisions;
The ins and outs of Up With People;
Romania bans bias but rules out relationships, thousands march for
marriage in Dublin, the U.S. Senate sees an ENDA to workplace bias,
Maine's unmarriage initiative awaits ballot approval, California anti-
Prop 8 forces split over strategy, and more global LGBT news

- In "NewsWrap": Romania protects gays and lesbians from discrimination but outlaws their relationships, and thousands march in Dublin to protest the Irish Government's less-than-marriage proposal, but two young Aussie gay inclusion advocates are roughed up at a National (Hetero) Marriage Day celebration... the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is introduced in the U.S. Senate... Maine's marriage equality law faces a repeal attempt, while California's major LGBT advocacy groups differ on a ballot measure to overturn Proposition 8 in 2010 or 2012... U.K. activists petition the British Government for a formal apology to persecuted gay computing whiz and World War II hero Alan Turing... and more LGBT news from around the world (written by GREG GORDON, and reported this week by CHRIS COLEMAN and MICHAEL LEBEAU).

- Renewed hopes for the repeal of the U.S. military’s "DON'T ASK,20DON'T TELL" policy and the DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT under the Obama Administration have also recalled frustrations with the last Democratic administration.  Then-President BILL CLINTON's effort to fulfill a campaign promise to overturn the ban on military service by open gays and lesbians ultimately led to the discharge of thousands.  He further angered equality activists when he signed the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA.  That law forbids federal recognition of same-gender unions, and allows states to do the same.  Clinton gave the keynote address at the Netroots Nation conference in Pittsburgh last week, which brings together many of the movers and shakers of progressive online politics.  He got an unexpected opportunity to tell his side of the story when he was interrupted by gay blogger Lane Hudson, who demanded to know why the former president supported those oppressive policies.

- The ultra-conservative singing youth group UP WITH PEOPLE, born in response to the liberal counter-culture of the 1960s, has performed for 20 million people worldwide, including four Super Bowl halftime shows, and been parodied on "The Simpsons" and "South Park".  A favorite of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, the smile-drenched entertainers are often seen as the embodiment of conservative American ideals.  While the new documentary "Smile 'Til It Hurts" takes a look at Up With People's cult-like beginnings and impact on both society and its own performers, This Way Out's STEVE PRIDE met with former member ERIC ROOS
 to get the lavender side of the story (with copious Up With People performance clips). **********************************************************
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On the air since April 1988, "This Way Out" is the multi-award-winning internationally distributed weekly gay and lesbian radio newsmagazine.
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