AltWeeklies Wire
Transgendered Community Struggles to Overcome Stereotypes
Gender reassignment surgery used to be covered under the provincial health plan. But the government cut funding just as Michelle Anderson was halfway through. Now, she and other transgendered activists are working to promote trans acceptance in the community at large
Monday Magazine |
Sarah Petrescu |
08-07-2004 |
LGBT
Canada Immigration to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage
Activists are thrilled that Canada's immigration policy now allows citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their same-sex spouses.
Monday Magazine |
Adrienne Mercer |
08-07-2004 |
LGBT
Vanity Fair Chief's Acceptance of Payment for Film Tip Was Benignnew
Vanity Fair chief Graydon Carter has, in my opinion, turned a little nutty in the past two years, with the usual throwaway editor's note becoming home to Noam Chomsky-like screeds about the Bush administration, but he's not a crook.
New York Press |
Russ Smith |
08-07-2004 |
Media
What People in Spain Are Saying about Iraqnew
The torture at Abu Ghraib prison reminded a contributor to the International Herald Tribune of the sight of white people laughing in old photos of American lynchings and a writer in El Pais of "young, strong, jolly" German soldiers having their way with naked Jews.
Chicago Reader |
Michael Miner |
08-07-2004 |
Media
Private Contractors Played Key Role in Abuse of Iraqi Prisonersnew
Among those involved in the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib were private contractors - who may never be accountable for their acts.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
A.C. Thompson and Pratap Chatterjee |
08-07-2004 |
War
Photos Spur News Media to Change from Chroniclers to Diggersnew
The horrors at Abu Ghraib have finally changed how the media report on the war — and on the president who started it. George W. Bush could be in for some of the rough treatment that generally goes with the job.
Boston Phoenix |
Dan Kennedy |
08-07-2004 |
Media
Government's Assurances of Humane Treatment Can't Be Trustednew
Just last month, the Supreme Court heard three cases concerning the rights of "enemy combatants" being held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in U.S. Naval brigs off the American coast. One issue at stake is whether the government -- specifically President Bush -- should be trusted to handle prisoners in an appropriate manner.
Boston Phoenix |
Harvey A. Silverglate and Carl Takei |
08-07-2004 |
Civil Liberties
Times Reported What It Was Told but Not the Truthnew
The Gray Lady confesses its sins in hyping Iraq’s nonexistent weapons capabilities and terrorist ties. So what took so long? Reporter Judith Miller's coverage made it easier for the White House to justify an unnecessary war.
Boston Phoenix |
Dan Kennedy |
08-07-2004 |
Media
Secrecy Prevails in Catholic Church Sex Abuse Scandalnew
Deferring to Cardinal Roger Mahony's wish for secrecy, the Judicial Council of California and a number of local judges have ordered hundreds of claims of sex abuse into private negotiations, sealed off critical rulings about whether church documents should be confidential and slapped gag orders on victims and their attorneys.
L.A. Weekly |
Jeffrey Anderson |
08-07-2004 |
Sex
Retired Analyst Discloses Motives for War in Iraqnew
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski says she observed "a neoconservative coup, a hijacking of the Pentagon" when she worked in the Pentagon's Office of Special Plans during the year leading up to the invasion of Iraq.
L.A. Weekly |
Marc Cooper |
08-07-2004 |
International
FBI Invites Reporters to Leave Their Thumbprintsnew
A reporter visiting the FBI's Sacramento headquarters on FBI Media Day beats the polygraph test, leaves his thumbprint and footprint for who knows what purposes, and is assured by an FBI official that the Patriot Act has "minimal effect" on what the agency does.
Sacramento News & Review |
Harmon Leon |
08-07-2004 |
Crime & Justice
Florida Prison Tries to Turn Inmates into Better Soulsnew
In December, Gov. Jeb Bush dedicated Lawtey Correctional Institute as the state's first "faith-based," government-run prison in the country.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
08-07-2004 |
Crime & Justice
Flu Scare Yields Vaccine Makers $450 Million in Added Profitsnew
Warnings of a "killer" flu strain that led Americans to be inoculated in record numbers last fall were overblown hype, driven by experts connected with flu vaccine companies.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Tara Servatius |
08-07-2004 |
Science
Bioterrorism Act Puts Fear into Medical Researchersnew
A Texas Tech infectious disease expert faced multiple federal charges after carrying vials of bubonic plague into the country. The new Bioterrorism Act makes some scientists wonder how they'll continue their research.
Baltimore City Paper |
Rebecca Alvania |
08-07-2004 |
Science
Online Magazine Slate Captures Coveted Audiencenew
Now the fourth most widely read entity on the Web, Slate focuses on subjects that excite the chattering classes.
Seattle Weekly |
Nina Shapiro |
08-07-2004 |
Media
