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Hatred against women and against female sex trade workers is a very serious problem. The high rate of violence against women and female sex trade workers should be of concern to police, prosecutors, legislators, and the general populace.

While Robert Pickton was not convicted of first degree murder, and was only sentenced to 25 years in prison, Canadian law has provisions that could keep him in jail for the rest of his life. Should the Crown successfully seek dangerous offender status from the courts, Pickton could be held in jail indefinitely.

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In 2001, Aaron Webster, a gay man, was murdered. The circumstances of the murder stink of a hate crime. But none of the people involved in his murder were ever charged with a hate crime. Aaron Webster's cousin, Denise Norman, has been fighting for justice. In an article, "Parole Is An Easy Way Out Of Jail," appearing on the Real Justice web site, Denise Norman tells Aaron Webster's story, the sentence given, Ryan Cran, the only adult convicted in connection with Aaron Webster's killing, and efforts to ensure Aaron's loved ones could be heard at Ryan Cran's parole hearing. A simple memorial page for Aaron Webster can be found on the Stop Hate web site.

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For many years, gay people were discriminated against, because people believed homosexuality was a mental illness. In 1973, homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. For years after homosexuality was no longer classified as a mental illness many people still considered gay people to be mentally ill and to be defective. Some trans-identified people feel gender identity disorder should no longer be classified as a mental illness.

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We have members and readers around the world. For that reason, we hesitate to give extensive coverage to the campaigns for the Democratic and Republican candidates for the United States Presidency. Once again, gay rights appears as an election issue. Hillary Clinton is cited as being in favor of civil unions. For some gay and bisexual people, civil unions are adequate. For other people in the queer community, civil unions are not a satisfactory option.

Language is important. Selecting a minority group and not allowing members of that minority group to get married, but allowing civil union status is clearly discrimination. While many people would instantly recognize that civil union is a state-sanctioned form of prejudice and discrimination, if members of visible minority groups were only allowed civil unions, they are not able to see how it is a form of prejudice and discrimination when it applies to the queer community.

Political and religious leaders are going to find it increasingly difficult to portray same-sex marriages as a major step toward the immediate destruction of the United States. Some European countries have allowed same-gender marriages for a few years. Canada allows same-sex marriages. Europe and Canada have not faced political, ethical, spiritual, or social unrest and disaster since allowing same-sex marriages.

Civil union sounds like a second-rate poor second-cousin to marriage. Providing legal rights, while using language that shows both prejudice and discrimination, is not satisfactory. The question gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans-identified people, and their allies is if they are prepared to accept civil union as a interim step toward fuller equality.

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Hate is not a spiritual value. The three major world monotheistic religions of the world, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam do not value hate. Unfortunately, some people have used religion as an excuse to discriminate against people, to assault people, and to kill. These actions are not in harmony with the beliefs of major world religions and are not supported by the vast majority of clergy and spiritual leaders.

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A few stories we’ve been following appear below: