LGBT Jews, Katherine Kersten Taken to Task, Bush Signs Gay Meth Bill

Hillel creates a handbook for LGBT Jewish students. And of course, Minnesota's LGBT folks are involved. "Much has changed since 1991, when a group of LGBTQ staff members starting meeting secretly during annual Hillel conferences, passing on through hotel concierges information about when and where they would gather. The Keshet Caucus (keshet is Hebrew for “rainbow”) still meets, although since the mid-1990s the group’s discussions have been listed on the conference schedule.

“But we still meet in a room with a door,” said the University of Minnesota Hillel’s Rabbi Sharon Stiefel, who identifies as a lesbian and has led programs for LGBTQ Jewish students. “That’s important, because some people aren’t out.”

Deborah Morse-Kahn gives Katherine Kersten a tongue-lashing. "Katherine Kersten, your God is too small. You write on any topic of your choice as long as your interpretation of Christianity is at the heart of your rant and you do grave injustice to all of those whose Christian beliefs vary from your own, and I want you to stop. Despite your best hopes, this is not a Christian Nation. This is the United States of America, a pluralistic society, built on the concept of the commonwealth, root common weal, common well-being. All of us in it together, each imbued with equal standing and value, with all the fantastic and marvelous messiness of our cultures, our ethnicities...and our faiths."

Bush isn't exactly a friend to the gays, which is why I was surprised to see this bill get signed. And, whatever you may think of Hillary and her LGBT record, she hits a home-run with this one. "Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the world’s oldest HIV/AIDS organization, has been awarded $303,000 in federal funds to fight the growing role of crystal methamphetamine use in the HIV/AIDS epidemic on a national level. The appropriation, signed by President Bush, was sponsored by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY). “HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men in the United States are up 13% since 2001. In New York City, infections among young MSM are up by one third. Crystal meth is one factor fueling this rise in HIV infections among gay men,” said Janet Weinberg, Senior Managing Director of Development and Legislative Funding."