Religious Left

by Val Walton The Birmingham News Central Alabama Pride Inc. filed a federal lawsuit today against Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford in his official capacity, contending he discriminated against the group when he refused to allow city workers to hang banners supporting Gay Pride Week. The suit said the city has hung flags or banners in support of many diverse events in Birmingham, including City Stages music festival and the Magic City Classic. The 20th Gay Pride Parade was held June 7 in Five Points South. Langford refused to issue a proclamation for Gay Pride Week and denied permission for banners on city property. The mayor said he denied the request because it is inappropriate for a government to endorse a lifestyle, and his decision should not have surprised anyone familiar with his personality and religious views. full article

A question was posed to Terry Kellog, a VP at Blue Cross Blue Shield or BCBS. Kellog was asked why BCBS still refuses to offer a product to any of its clients that extends health insurance benefits to the partners or children of the unmarried, primarily same sex couples. Kellog offered a widely expected litany of economic and business related excuses, noting that Blue Cross in Alabama does not offer benefits to domestic partners, either heterosexual or homosexual, arguing that ultimately, BCBS of Alabama’s customers don’t want to pay the alleged costs for additional coverage. Danny Upton, Executive Director of Equality Alabama, the state’s largest LGBT civil rights organization later said, the excuse by Blue Cross Blue Shield is unacceptable, considering the fact that 78 percent of the Fortune 100 largest corporations and 49 percent of the Fortune 500 offered health benefits to employee’s domestic partners. Alabama’s “liberal” Congressman, Artur Davis concurred with Kellog. adding, muc...