Gay Houston Pages

Dot Gay May be on the Horizon

2011-02-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

Move over .com and make way for .gay!

...or .love, .eco, .car, .health, .radio, .ski, etc. In fact, there's a large list of all the possibilities various groups already want to see when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) completes its tasks to implement the new Top level Domains over on the .NXT Conference site. The custom domain will also mean cities and states can have their own top level domain like .nyc or .florida. We may also see brand ones like .coke (.canon and .unicef are already listed).

What's the catch, you may ask? Having your own top level domain like this will be coming with a hefty price tag. $185,000 plus a $25,000 annual fee according to the Washington Post. Pretty big catch! Luckily, the dotGAYalliance and dotGAY will be pushing to have the .gay extension included so we may see eventually sites like hotel.gay, sports.gay, or health.gay popping up.

Unfortunately, as has happened in the past with the Bush Administration stopping the .xxx extension, the Obama administration is quietly pushing to allow countries, including the US, to veto top level domains. That then leads to the trouble that having a central domain such as .gay (or any number of potentially controversial extensions like .abortion, .aids, etc) would allow countries who aren't friendly towards a particular subject to block any domain with that extension if it was approved by the ICANN.

Texan Activists set to Take Action on Tuesday at Noon

2010-12-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

If you were living under a rock this weekend (as I was, also known as getting ready for the holidays), you may not have heard the news. Saturday brought with it the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell following the Senate vote to the relief of many. That is great news, especially the men and women serving in our armed forces who have had to hide who they are every day in order to serve their country.

Prior to that news this weekend, several activists in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston were planning a rally outside Sentator Kay Bailey Hutchison's offices to let their voices be heard. After speaking with Michael Diviesti (@atxthumper) representing GetEqual (@getEQUAL) in Texas, the rally will be going ahead. "We will no longer sit by and allow votes like that of Sen. Hutchison on the repeal measure to go unnoticed. Although the repeal measure passed the Senate with a filibuster proof majority, Senator Hutchison attempted to silence those willing to defend the rights and freedoms of the United States with their lives by voting against the repeal. We will not be silenced. The freedom of speech is guaranteed to all Americans, not just those who the Senator prefers." Diviesti stated regarding the effort to let the Senator know that "Enough is Enough".

For more information about the rally, check out the original release on GetEqual's site.

Confused About "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? You're Not Alone...

2010-11-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

As one of my followers on Twitter mentioned recently, the news about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has been less than clear. He is, of course, absolutely right as it seems things are constantly going back and forth about whether it will be repealed or not (and even if it will be included in the Defense Authorization Act this year). I've been reading the stories as they appear on various news sites and have seen everything from the White House not approving any defense bill without the repeal of DADT to the lame duck congress won't be able to pass the defense bill with or without it due to the small time span.

While I won't be able to make anything clearer about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" myself as I'm not a member of congress, at least I can do some of the legwork by giving you a list of the most informative articles I've read lately to do with DADT.

While Wikipedia has its flaws in the communal editing and potential of false information being edited in by those who aren't up on their facts or are trolling, generally, it is always a good place to look for quickly updated information and source linkes. Don't Ask, Don't Tell article on Wikipedia

Advocate.com is also another source and is where most of the articles I've been reading has stemmed from. The latest one posted as of November 16, 2010 is A Midwestern DADT Repeal Effort.

Others Articles Posted Recently

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/yes_dadt_repeal_could_still_pa.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/mccain_is_still_on_the_wrong_s.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/the_morning_plum_131.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/on_dadt_its_imperial_presidenc.html

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/11/gates-launches-investigation-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-review-leak.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131223266

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sc-dc-1114-court-gays-military-20101112,0,6155475.story

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cindy-mccain-opposes-john-mccain-dont/story?id=12131423

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20022790-503544.html

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/11/17/obama-restates-commitment-on-keeping-dont-ask-in-defense-bill/

Overall, we're going to have to wait and see what comes out of the lame-duck congressional session. Taking a look through some of those links will help to piece together a semblance of where things are currently standing. If it's anything like a couple recent days though, tomorrow it may very well be a different story.

Tennessee Lesbian Couple Home Torched

2010-09-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

Carol and Laura Stutte's home was set on fire and "Queers" painted on their garage door while they were out of town celebrating their 15th anniversary. They believe a neighbor that has been harassing them for five years that recently threatened to kill them set their home on fire. The couple is thankful no one was injured and do not plan on rebuilding.

Adam Lambert May Kiss You at a Concert

2010-08-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

Adam seems to kiss his bandmate at every show. Lambert insists that when it comes to kissing, fans, it's on a voluntary basis: "The thing about kissing somebody is that you know if the person wants to be kissed or not. I would never kiss anybody who didn’t want to be kissed. The people I kiss are the people who give me that eye the entire night. I would never force myself on anybody."

Contestant on America's Next Top Model is a Lesbian

2010-08-23T19:46:00.001-07:00

Kayla, a 19 year old Hooters server on America's Next Top Model is a lesbian.

Kayla told Us Weekly that she has a live in girlfriend and was worried about how the other contestants would receive her being the only lesbian in the house.

The new season premieres on September 8th.

Texas firefighter dies, family says his transgender widow is ineligible for death benefits

2010-07-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

A Texas firefighter was killed on July 4th fighting a blaze. His family is sueing to void his marriage to his transgender widow and prevent her from getting his death benefits because she was born a man and Texas doesn't recognize same-sex marriages.

The attorney for the mother said the firefighter recently learned of his wife's gender history and he moved out of their home and planned to end the marriage.

Nikki Araguz said her marriage was not a fraud.

"I'm absolutely devastated about the loss of my husband. I'm horrified at the horrendous allegations accusing me of fraud. They are absolutely not true," Araguz, 35, told reporters during a brief statement at a news conference.

The 11-year veteran of the Wharton Volunteer Fire Department was trapped by falling debris in a burning production building.

A lawsuit was filed July 12th by his mother, Simona Longoria, she asked to be appointed administrator of her son's estate and that her son's marriage to Nikki Araguz be voided because the couple were members of the same sex.

Documents that were filed show Nikki Araguz was born Justin Graham Purdue and changed her name to Nikki Paige Purdue in February 1996.

Voiding the marriage would prevent Araguz from receiving any insurance or death benefits or property the couple had, with these things only going to her husband's heirs, said Chad Ellis, Longoria's attorney.

Darrell Steidley, one of Araguz's attorneys, said Thomas Araguz was aware his wife had been born a man and that the couple still was living together at the time of his death. The couple had been married for nearly two years.

"We're going to assert her rights as a spouse of a fallen firefighter," Steidley said.

Ellis said his client's efforts to void the marriage are supported by Texas law, specifically a 1999 appeals court ruling that stated chromosomes, not genitals, determine gender.

The ruling upheld a lower court's decision that threw out a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a San Antonio woman, Christie Lee Cavazos Littleton, after her husband's death. The court said that although Littleton had undergone a sex-change operation, she was actually a man, based on her original birth certificate, and therefore her marriage, as well as her wrongful death claim, was invalid.

"The law is clear, you are what you are born as," Ellis said.

Abbott's office has yet to issue an opinion.

Honorably discharged from Army, Gay soldier who criticized 'don't ask' policy is

2010-07-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

Lt. Dan Choi released a statement saying he had been honorably discharged from the military. He was arrested in March for handcuffing himself to a White House fence in protest of the policy,

"This is both an infuriating and painful announcement," Choi said. "But my service continues. ... Remaining silent when our family and community members are fired or punished for who they truly are would be an unequivocal moral dereliction that tarnishes the honor of the uniform and insults the meaning of America."

Choi said he received a phone call from his Army National Guard battalion commander letting him know that he is being discharged. According to Eric Durr, a National Guard spokesman, his discharge became effective on June 29.

"You prepare yourself," Choi said. "I built an armor up."

Choi is fluent in Arabic, an infantry platoon leader, serving with his unit in Iraq in 2006 and 2007.

On MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," he acknowledged his sexual orientation publicly for the first time, prompting the Army to initiate proceedings to discharge him.

Choi, who lives in New York City, founded KnightsOut.org, an advocacy and education organization of West Point graduates who are gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual. They estimate there are 65,000 gays in the military.

Since "don't ask, don't tell" went into effect, more than 12,500 gays have been discharged from the military.

‘Glee’ renewed for 3rd season before 1st is over

2010-05-24T16:12:00.001-07:00

Lady Gaga gets the “Glee” treatment Tuesday.

And a lot of pop stars can look forward to a “Glee” tribute because Fox has renewed the musical-comedy for a third season — even before the first-season finale/Gaga tribute airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday on WOFL-Channel 35.

Oh, wait, Fox says the episode will start at 8:59 p.m. Keep that in mind.

“In just one year, ‘Glee’ has transcended the television landscape and emerged as a global pop-culture phenomenon,” Peter Rice, chairman of Fox Entertainment, said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud to have talent like Ryan Murphy and the ‘Glee’ cast in our Fox family, and we can’t wait to see where Ryan takes the show in Seasons Two and Three.”

How do you feel about that, “Glee” fans?

Blood donation: Time to let gay men be donors

2010-04-19T15:40:00.001-07:00

In my job as an ICU nurse practitioner, I recently met Ben, a 35-year-old, physically active, healthy male whose mother Barbara was hospitalized after suffering an aortic aneurysm rupture.

Ben was there when his mother lost consciousness and large amounts of blood before being rushed to the hospital, where a surgical team fought more than 14 hours to save her life. During those 14 hours, Barbara received 18 units of blood and multiple units of other blood products to replace the critical fluids she had lost.

When Barbara finally emerged from the operating room, she was taken to the Intensive Care Unit with a tube into her lungs to aid her breathing, multiple intravenous medications to stabilize her blood pressure and heart rate, and numerous drains to quickly detect any further internal bleeding. Over the next few days, she needed additional blood transfusions, thereby decreasing the already low community supply of blood on reserve. However, she appeared to be improving.

As part of my job, I spoke with Ben and his family about the possibility of donating blood. Their donations would help replenish the supply that had been used by Barbara and other patients who experience serious health crises. The family, especially Ben, was enthusiastic about doing so.

But Ben, despite his age, health and willingness, is prohibited from donating blood. That's because Ben is gay and has sexual relations with his partner of 15 years. So even though Ben's blood counts are normal, he has not recently travelled to a foreign country and he is not an IV drug user, the fact he is gay automatically excludes Ben from donation of blood.

More than 70 percent of people alive today will need blood at some point in their life. Unfortunately, shortages of blood may affect your ability to receive blood at the correct time. More people must be willing to donate blood to improve the shortage, yet we exclude viable donors like Ben solely because he has had sexual relations with a man.

The current policy for blood donation, according to the American Red Cross and two other major sources of blood supply in this country, does not allow a male who has had sexual relations at any time with another male since 1977 to donate blood. This policy was created after 10,000 to 15,000 severe hemophiliacs, who have ablood disorder that commonly requires multiple transfusions, were believed to have been infected with HIV from tainted blood products from 1970 to 1980.

It is easy to understand why hemophiliacs and others who receive blood would be extremely concerned about the source of donor blood. However, it is important to note that since the 1980s the process of testing for HIV,AIDS and multiple other diseases transmitted through blood have significantly improved. In fact, between 1999 and 2007, more than 112 million units of blood were transfused and only four cases of transfusion-related HIV infections occurred.

Today, given our need for more safe, viable and willing blood donors, it is time for the ban on allowing gay male donations to end, especially for gay men who are HIV negative and have been in a monogamous relationship. Men like Ben are no more of a risk than a heterosexual couple.

While equal rights for gays and lesbians are important, this decision should be based solely upon the science, which has demonstrated the improvements in blood screening and safety make it reasonable for previously "high-risk" donors such as gay men to donate.

Ending the ban would allow men like Ben, who is HIV negative and in a monogamous relationship, to contribute to our critically low blood supply, which one day may be used to save you or one of your family members.

Sarah Frogge is an ICU nurse practitioner in Milwaukee, Wisc., and a doctoral student at the Duke UniversitySchool of Nursing.

Tea party leaders announce national federation to combat movement's unruly image

2010-04-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Several tea party leaders announced plans Thursday to form a national federation to promote the movement's conservative message and to counter the idea that the tea parties are politically unsophisticated and disorganized.

Tea party leaders from Memphis, Tenn., Richmond, Va., and Orlando, Fla., along with representatives of several other groups announced the new National Tea Party Federation during a rally outside the Minnesota Capitol. They said 21 tea party groups around the nation had joined the federation.

Memphis Tea Party founder Mark Skoda said recent media coverage had questioned whether the conservative tea parties, which number in the thousands nationwide, were too loosely organized to be politically effective in the national midterm election. He said the federation intends to convey a unified message about the tea party's brand of fiscal conservatism, which emphasizes limited government, less public spending and free markets.

He said the organization also hopes to rebut allegations about the movement: "Everything from calling the tea party members racist, that we are violent, that somehow we are fermenting another Kristallnacht. These accusations are indeed false and they won't stand."

The organizers said that the federation does not intend to direct activities by the farflung groups, but to improve communications among them, along with affiliate groups such as Americans for Tax Reform, Let Freedom Ring and Citizens United.

One of the affiliated organizations, the Family Research Council, works primarily to oppose abortion rights and gay marriage. Skoda said the tea party movement would not make those issues part if its core mission but could still find points of common ground with conservative social-issue groups.

"The family needs to have low tax rates, choice on health care, no mandate on health care, and the automony to make decisions. The family is an important part of our strategy," Skoda said.

Many tea party groups don't have formal memberships but Skoda said the movement represents about 500,000 people. Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a tea party favorite, participated in the rally.

Orlando Sentinel

Gay rights video featuring Anna Paquin's declaration of bisexuality causes Web site crash

2010-04-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (AP) — A gay rights campaign that features a declaration of bisexuality by Anna Paquin has received so much traffic that its Web site crashed.

The campaign was launched Thursday by Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund. The Web-based initiative hopes to educate for "the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality."

The campaign drew particular interest because the video features Paquin, the 27-year-old star of HBO's "True Blood," declaring she's bisexual.

The Web site, wegiveadamn.org, said Friday that it was "overwhelmed" by the "enormous traffic." Additional servers have been added.

The video also includes appearances by Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Mraz, Cynthia Nixon and others.

Orlando Sentinel

California legislator Roy Ashburn acknowledges he's gay, draws colleagues' support

2010-03-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

In the end, Sen. Roy Ashburn said he decided he owed his constituents an explanation.

He went on a radio show first thing Monday morning to talk about his sexual orientation.

Then the Bakersfield Republican returned to the state Senate floor, where colleagues greeted him with handshakes and hugs.

"I'm gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long," Ashburn, 55, told KERN conservative radio host Inga Barks.

Ashburn, who has voted consistently against gay-rights measures, last week refused to address reports that he was at a gay bar in Sacramento before his 2 a.m. arrest Wednesday for driving under the influence.

He told Barks he previously saw no reason for residents of his district to know details of his personal life.

But following his arrest, bloggers and public figures began openly discussing his visits to gay bars in Sacramento. He decided over the weekend to discuss the issue publicly.

"I felt with my heart that being gay did not affect, would not affect, how I do my job," Ashburn said on the radio. "Again, what happened through my own actions the other night changed all that."

Senate GOP leader Dennis Hollingsworth of Murrieta, a social conservative, spoke with Ashburn in the Senate. Hollingsworth did not return calls for comment, and Ashburn left the floor without talking to reporters.

On the radio, Ashburn, the divorced father of four, defended being secretly gay while voting against gay-rights proposals.

He said he voted the way he believed most constituents wanted him to vote.

"I have always felt," he said, "that my faith and allegiance was to the people, there, in the district, my constituents."

"As each of these individual measures came before the Legislature I cast 'no' votes, usually 'no' votes," Ashburn said, "because the measures were almost always about acknowledging rights or assigning identification to homosexual persons."

Ashburn has not been a vocal opponent of gay rights recently, but in 2005 he hosted a rally in Bakersfield, while running for Congress, and denounced gay marriage and domestic partnerships.

As a legislator, Ashburn has voted against bills to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation at work, in housing and public accommodations, among others.

California's first openly gay elected legislator, former state Sen. Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica, was visiting the Senate floor Monday and spoke with Ashburn.

She suggested Ashburn was going through a "painful" process, and that she doesn't expect him now to vote for every gay-rights bill that comes up while he finishes his term this year.

"I think that if you are ashamed," she said, "that you often do not value the civil rights of the group you belong to because you're ashamed to be in that group."

"I hope that now that he has taken that first step," Kuehl said, "that he'll see that we're actually a pretty fabulous group and totally deserving of full civil rights."

Kuehl said coming out is "such an important step for your own wholeness."

"It's just like race or anything else, where you try to get away with being somebody else and then you can't," she said. "Then you find out how wonderful it is being yourself."

Leaders of gay-rights groups, including the gay Log Cabin Republicans, empathized with Ashburn but didn't absolve him of his votes.

"He needs to try another excuse. He wasn't reflecting his constituents last year when he voted for (increasing) taxes" to help fill a budget deficit, said Charles Moran, the national spokesperson for the Log Cabin Republicans.

"His votes impacted my life," the Los Angeles-based Moran said. "He did make life more difficult for those of us who are openly gay."

Moran said Ashburn's revelation is the latest example of politicians who admit they're gay only when caught in a scandal or arrest.

"In Sacramento and in Washington," Moran said, "there is still a shroud around homosexuality and a taboo. It's all about image. You can't be true to yourself. You can't be authentic."

Moran, 29, said he will urge acceptance of homosexuality at a GOP state convention this weekend in Santa Clara.

Benjamin Lopez, state lobbyist for the Traditional Values Coalition, said that the coalition's founder, the Rev. Lou Sheldon, is offering to counsel Ashburn to help him turn away from being gay.

"I don't know why Roy strayed," said Lopez, who appeared with Ashburn at the anti-gay marriage rally in 2005.

"I think it's more sad than hypocritical," Lopez said. "We hope he comes to terms with whatever is making him make a choice to be a gay man."

The gay-rights group Equality California issued a statement inviting Ashburn to "use his experience to educate the people in his district on why he deserves the same rights and privileges as a gay man as any other Californian."

"People elected him to lead," said Geoff Kors, the group's executive director.

Kors said other legislators in conservative areas have voted for gay-rights measures and gone on to win elections.

Bakersfield residents, Kors said, are not as uniformly anti-gay rights as portrayed.

"I would be shocked," Kors said, "to see if there is any polling that shows that most people in his district believe that anyone should be fired from their job because of their sexual orientation or kicked out of public accommodations because of their sexual orientation. And yet he voted against bills to prevent that."

The Sacremento Bee

Betty White Confirms She'll Appear on Saturday Night Live

2010-03-08T18:06:00.001-08:00

Betty White fans, your prayers have been answered. The former Golden Girl will appear on Saturday Night Live in the near future, she confirmed to PEOPLE at Elton John's annual Oscars viewing party on Sunday night.

Fans have been clamoring for White, 88, to do SNL – an idea she called "ridiculous" just a few weeks ago – ever since her comic turn in a Snickers ad during the Super Bowl. One Facebook page devoted to the cause has attracted half a million fans.

When asked by PEOPLE, "Are you doing Saturday Night Live," she answered, "Yes," even if she remains perplexed by the groundswell of support.

"I don't know why or how," she says, "but it's been wonderful."

White didn't offer any details about the SNL gig, and it remains unclear when she will appear – or what it will entail.

Entertainment Weekly said she might appear on a special "Women of Comedy" episode with former SNL cast members Molly Shannon, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler – but executive producer Lorne Michaels reportedly denied that.

White's career resurgence hasn't come completely out of the blue. She did star with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in the romantic comedy The Proposal, and was recognized with a lifetime achievement award at the Screen Actors Guild.
People

Harry Potter speaks for gay suicide prevention

2010-03-01T18:16:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK —

Daniel Radcliffe is explaining why he has just filmed a public service announcement for The Trevor Project, the leading organization focusing on suicide prevention efforts among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth.

Because his parents were both actors, "I grew up knowing a lot of gay men and it was never something that I even thought twice about - that some men were gay and some weren't," the "Harry Potter" megastar said Friday. "And then I went to school and (for) the first time ... I came across homophobia. ... I had never encountered it before. It shocked me.

"I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals," he added. "Now I am in the very fortunate position where I can actually help or do something about it."

The result is a PSA that was filmed Friday at the organization's Wall Street offices. The announcement is scheduled to air sometime this spring.

Radcliffe first became aware of The Trevor Project, founded in 1998 by three filmmakers, while he was appearing on Broadway in the 2008 revival of "Equus." Their movie, "Trevor," which won an Academy Award for best short film, concerned a gay teen who attempts suicide. The Trevor Project allows young people to call in for counseling or just to talk.

"I have described myself as being 'gently eccentric' and slightly different as a person just because I've had a very different set of influences growing up than anybody else in my peer group did," the 20-year-old Radcliffe said. "I've always felt very lucky to have the life that I've had. I never had to cope with anything serious about my religion or sexual orientation or anything like that.

"I think it's important for somebody from a big, commercial movie series like 'Harry Potter' and particularly because I am not gay or bisexual or transgendered. ... The fact that I am straight makes not a difference, but it shows that straight people are incredibly interested and care a lot about this as well."

Seattle Times

Casey Johnson + Courtenay Semel's Grand Plans to Sell a Sex Tape For Fame, Fortune, and Follies

2010-01-24T18:23:00.001-08:00

New Sexual Assault Charge Gives Andy Dick a Bad (Last) Name

2010-01-24T18:00:00.001-08:00

Oh Andy Dick, what will you do next to make us continue caring about you? Grab a bouncer's crotch and attempt to kiss him? And get arrested for felony sexual assault? Done deal!

Facing one-to-five years in prison for his West Virginia stunt — all the more likely given his 2008 criminal record — Dick was bailed out by the owners of the Lucky Bone Comedy Club, where he was set to perform. Price tag for freedom? $60k.

[TMZ, LA Times]

So Much for the Mr. Gay China Pageant: Police Shut It Down

2010-01-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

Kathy Griffin making vulgarity on CNN a New Year's Eve tradition with 2nd quip in 2 years

2010-01-04T18:33:00.000-08:00

Rachel Maddow Performs Her Victory Lap

2010-01-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Colin Farrell's Brother Marries His Partner

2009-12-28T20:04:00.001-08:00

Colin Farrell and his son cheered on the actor’s brother as Eamon Farrell and his partner, Steven Mannion (pictured from right), tied the knot in a civil ceremony in Dublin over the weekend.

The couple were legally married in Canada over the summer, with Eamon Farrell saying at the time, “We have to get married abroad. It’s absolutely terrible. We have to go somewhere legal, which narrows it down to about five countries. Who wants a civil union? It’s just so legal. I want to be able to get married.”

Colin Farrell served as the best man at his brother’s summer wedding. At this weekend’s ceremony, he and son James attended the wedding, then helped Eamon and Steven celebrate the ceremony at Krystal’s nightclub.
Advocate

DC asks judge to dismiss gay marriage lawsuit

2009-12-28T19:23:00.000-08:00

The District of Columbia is asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit by opponents of same-sex marriage.

The plaintiffs, led by local pastor Bishop Harry Jackson, are seeking to get their proposed ban on gay marriage on the ballot. They are suing after the Board of Elections and Ethics turned them down.

City lawyers filed a response Friday. They say the ballot initiative would violate the city’s Human Rights Act because it seeks to deny benefits on the basis of sexual orientation.

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signed a bill legalizing gay marriage Friday and the measure is expected to pass congressional review.
365 Gay

Adam Lambert Has a Standing Invitation To Shove Men's Faces Into His Crotch on Chelsea Handler's Show

2009-12-21T05:37:00.001-08:00

South Africa to treat all HIV-positive babies

2009-12-14T05:56:00.000-08:00

(Pretoria, South Africa) South Africa announced ambitious new plans Tuesday for earlier and expanded treatment for HIV-positive babies and pregnant women, a change that could save hundreds of thousands of lives in the nation hardest hit by the virus that causes AIDS.

President Jacob Zuma – once ridiculed for saying a shower could prevent AIDS – was cheered as he outlined the measures on World AIDS Day. The new policy marks a dramatic shift from former President Thabo Mbeki, whose health minister distrusted drugs developed to keep AIDS patients alive and instead promoted garlic and beet treatments. Those policies led to more than 300,000 premature deaths, a Harvard study concluded.

The changes are in line with new guidelines issued a day earlier by the World Health Organization that call for HIV-infected pregnant women to be given drugs earlier and while breast-feeding. By treating all HIV-infected babies, survival rates should also improve for the youngest citizens in South Africa, one of only 12 countries where child mortality has worsened since 1990, in part due to AIDS.

Zuma compared the fight against HIV, which infects one in 10 South Africans, to the decades-long struggle his party led against the apartheid government, which ended in 1994 with the election of Nelson Mandela in the country’s first multiracial vote.

“At another moment in our history, in another context, the liberation movement observed that the time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight,” Zuma said. “That time has now come in our struggle to overcome AIDS. Let us declare now, as we declared then, that we shall not submit.”

In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that new infections are outpacing the gains from treating people with the HIV virus. He said that more must be done urgently to reach the U.N. goal of providing universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.

“That means countering any form of HIV-related stigma and discrimination,” Ban said in a statement. “It means eliminating violence against women and girls. It means ensuring access to HIV information and services.”

Zuma was greeted with a standing ovation when he entered a Pretoria exhibition hall filled with several thousand people.

In some ways, Zuma is an unlikely AIDS hero. As his Zulu tradition allows, he has three wives – experts say having multiple, concurrent partners heightens the risk of AIDS. And in 2006, while being tried on charges of raping an HIV-positive family friend, he testified he took a shower after extramarital sex to lower the risk of AIDS. He was acquitted of rape.

The one-time chairman of the country’s national AIDS council may never live down the shower comment. But Zuma has won praise for appointing Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi as his health minister. AIDS activists say Motsoaledi trusts science and is willing to learn from past mistakes.

South Africa, a nation of about 50 million, has an estimated 5.7 million people infected with HIV, more than any other country.

UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe, who took the podium shortly before Zuma, told the president: “What you do from this day forward will write, or rewrite, the story of AIDS across Africa.”

Zuma said in his speech broadcast across South Africa on state radio and television that the policy changes would take effect in April. They include treatment for all children under 1 year old, regardless of their level of CD4 cells, a measure of immune system health.

Patients with both tuberculosis and HIV will get treatment if their CD4 count is 350 or less, compared to 200 now, which means treatment would start earlier. Pregnant women who are HIV-positive also would start treatment earlier. That is in line with the new WHO recommendations that doctors start HIV patients on drugs when their level of CD4 cells is about 350.

The expanded treatment was expected to be free, as it is now, although Zuma did not confirm that. He said all health institutions, not just specialist centers, would provide counseling, testing and treatment.

He also called on South Africans to get tested for HIV. But, contrary to speculation in recent days, he did not take an HIV test Tuesday.

“I have taken HIV tests before and I know my status,” he said. “I will do another test soon as part of this new campaign. I urge you to start planning for your own tests.”

Kurt Firnhaber, who runs Right to Care, one of the largest private providers of AIDS treatment, counseling and testing in South Africa, said Zuma outlined “steps that aren’t rhetoric – if they’re implemented.”

He said the burden would now be on the government and foreign donors to find the money to meet Zuma’s ambitious goals.

On Tuesday, in response to a plea from Zuma, the United States announced it was giving South Africa $120 million over the next two years for AIDS treatment drugs. That is in addition to $560 million the U.S. has already pledged to give South Africa in 2010 for fighting AIDS.

Mark Heywood, executive member of the Treatment Action Campaign, an independent group that has challenged the South African government on AIDS, said the Zuma speech marked a departure in thinking that would have a global impact. Heywood shared the stage with Zuma on Tuesday.

“It was a very good speech in all its aspects – the empathy he showed, what he said about prevention and the need to test for HIV was all very positive,” Heywood said.

Zuma’s government had earlier set a target of getting 80 percent of those who need AIDS drugs on them by 2011.

Setjhaba Ranthako brought his 4-year-old daughter Tshegofatso to hear Zuma’s speech, saying education should start early.

“I’ve seen in President Zuma a person who’s willing to listen, and say, `Here I am, come with your views, and let’s turn your views into an effective campaign to combat the spread” of AIDS, said Ranthako, who works with a group that raises awareness about AIDS among men.

The crowd rose to their feet when Zuma finished his speech. Then he danced along with a choir that sang: “Zuma, you are blessed.”

365 Gay

Why Miley Cyrus Will Never Be a Gay Icon: The Lady Gaga Exhibit

2009-12-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Meghan, Cheyne survive wrong turns to win CBS reality TV show 'Amazing Race,' pocket $1M

2009-12-07T06:07:00.001-08:00

NEW YORK (AP) — Cool thinking at the craps table has won a San Diego couple $1 million on the CBS reality television show "The Amazing Race."

Meghan Rickey and her boyfriend, Cheyne Whitney, prevailed in the 15th edition of the Emmy Award-winning game show, which has contestants racing around the world while collecting clues and completing tasks. In the finale, televised Sunday, they beat two other couples to the finish line by being quickest to count out $1 million worth of chips at a Las Vegas casino.

Dan and Sam McMillen, bickering brothers who recently revealed to each other that they're gay, came in second place. The third-place finishers were Ericka Dunlap, former Miss America 2004, and her husband, Brian Kleinschmidt.

"The Amazing Race," which sends 12 two-person teams around the world in a series of pulse-pounding competitions, is a steady ratings performer for CBS on Sunday nights and has won seven Emmys for best reality show. Competitors darted through eight countries in 21 days, starting the final episode in the Czech Republic city of Prague.

All three couples in the finale were on the same airplane flight to Las Vegas, where the show's last leg was a race around casinos. They had to collect clues from an Elvis Presley impersonator, rappel down the side of the Mandalay resort and retrieve a bouquet by bungee jumping onstage where Cirque du Soleil performs.

Rickey and Whitney, 23-year-old students who have known each other since grade school and have dated for several years, dominated several legs of the competition. And things looked good for them when they were in first place after the bungee jump.

Their next clue was to go to the resort named for the most famous casino in Monaco. Yet a clueless cab driver sent them to the Venetian resort instead of the correct one, the Monte Carlo. They were in third place when they got to the right place, where they were to count out $1 million from a huge pile of chips.

But while nerves got the best of their competitors, Rickey and Whitney quickly reached their goal and were sent to find Mr. Las Vegas, who was to tell them the finish line. When they located entertainer Wayne Newton, he told them the finish line was at his house.

One embarrassing moment for Mr. Las Vegas: The McMillen brothers blanked on his name when they met him.

A frantic cab ride later, and Rickey and Whitney raced across the finish line.

"This has been such a learning experience," Rickey said. "Every step of the way it has been so neat."

It was a frustrating finish for Dunlap, driven to tears by her difficulty in the bungee jumping competition. But Dunlap, who is black, said she hoped the show melted away some of her family's resistance to her husband, who is white.

"I hope," she said, "that they fully accept him for who he is."
Orlando Sentinel

Family Ties Mom Meredith Baxter Comes Out

2009-12-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Adam Lambert Performs on the Late Show

2009-11-29T15:41:00.000-08:00

Caster Semenya Will Keep Her Gold Medal. And Her Privacy!

2009-11-21T20:26:00.000-08:00

Even if South African track star Caster Semenya does have both boy and girl parts, she's still a gold medal winner: The International Association of Athletics Federations ruled she can keep the gold medal she won in August in Berlin. But the bigger news? The results of the investigation into Semenya's gender (!) will be kept private.

The South African Ministry of Sport and Recreation says in a statement: "We have agreed with the IAAF that whatever scientific tests were conducted legally within the IAAF regulations will be treated as a confidential matter between patient and doctor. As such there will be no public announcement of what the panel of scientists has found. We urge all South Africans and other people to respect this professional ethical and moral way of doing things."

That means the planned release of the test results in February won't happen.

This would be great news, had preliminary results of that investigation not leaked back in October, which claimed Semenya has no ovaries, internal testes, or womb, and has ultra-high levels of testosterone.

Not that the blame game is over:

The South African ministry added they had been unhappy with way the testing had been handled: "We have asked the IAAF to apologize at the way the whole Caster Semenya saga was dealt with.

"Their response is: 'It is deeply regrettable that information of a confidential nature entered the public domain.' The IAAF is adamant that the public discourse did not originate with them.

"We also cannot prove the contrary. It is our considered view that this chapter of blame apportioning must now be closed. The sport bodies must be allowed to deal with the rest of the investigations in terms of their own regulations," the statement added.

But for Semenya, this is the closest thing she'll get to receiving closure on this whole debate, at least in the public eye.
Queerty

GOP radio host, blogger's attack on gay Dem Party chair condemned by NH Freedom to Marry group

2009-11-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A conservative Republican radio host, blogger and self-described citizen journalist is apologizing for calling New Hampshire's Democratic Party chairman derogatory gay names — comments his party and a leading gay activist are condemning.

Doug Lambert called gay Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley offensive names while a webcam was streaming to the Internet last weekend.

Lambert apologized to Buckley on the blog GraniteGrok. But New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition executive director Mo Baxley said Monday the Republican Party should muzzle Lambert and denounce his comments as hateful to gays.

Party spokesman Ryan Williams later condemned Lambert's comments as "completely inappropriate, offensive and hurtful."

New Hampshire in June became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage, reflecting its changing demographics from reliably Republican and conservative to more liberal. The law takes effect Jan. 1.
Orlando Sentinel

Morrissey Attacked With Open Container During Live Show

2009-11-11T18:48:00.000-08:00

Wanda Sykes, George Lopez bring new comedy, new colors to white men's late-night TV domain

2009-11-09T06:09:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the blink of an eye, late-night TV is shifting from a white men's club to the start of a rainbow coalition.

Wanda Sykes' weekly Fox comedy show debuts 11 p.m. EST Saturday, followed by George Lopez's four-night-a-week talk show on TBS, starting 11 p.m. EST Monday. They join "The Mo'Nique Show" on BET.

Lopez is counting on an audience hungry for something different — as in the first Hispanic to host a nighttime talk show on a major network, cable or broadcast.

Sykes is the first black late-night host since the late 1990s, when celebrities Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Keenan Ivory Wayans tried and failed to follow in Arsenio Hall's successful 1989-94 footsteps.

"There's a huge percentage of people not watching late-night TV at all," Lopez said, figuring that the shows headlined by hosts including David Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel draw from roughly the same audience pool.

For people of color, the actor and comedian said, "I don't think a lot of their needs are met with the current talk shows. I would pull a different audience."

Shari Anne Brill, an analyst with media-buyer Carat USA in New York, echoes Lopez's assertion.

"There is a huge, growing multicultural population in this country, and the current late-night fare doesn't really take them into account," she said.

But neither Lopez nor Sykes are talking about practicing exclusionary TV. Lopez's ABC sitcom drew a cross-section of viewers, and Sykes said she expects her show to attract the same mixed crowd she gets at her standup appearances.

"Young, old, male, female, all races, gay, straight. I love the audience that I draw," Sykes said.

She rebuts the idea she got the job because of her gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation (the actress-comedian, who appears on CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine," came out as gay in 2008).

"I do understand the importance of being on a late-night talk show as a black, gay woman. But I've been at this for 20 years. I don't think they (networks) were saying, 'Hey, it would be fun to get a black woman on late-night. Who fits that role?'

"I got this show in spite of being a black lesbian," she said, adding that viewers will tune in to see her or Lopez and not a type.

"It's all driven by the host. It's not what you're getting from a minority, it's us," Sykes said.

She doesn't see an "Obama effect" in the sudden late-night diversity, given that she was approached before the election of the first African-American U.S. president. But Lopez said his interest was piqued as he campaigned for the Democratic candidate.

"Being with Barack for a year and seeing the people and how their eyes and their faces filled with hope for him, for this country ... and, on a very smaller scale, to have a show that is fun and can galvanize people and bring them together" was appealing, he said.

The two shows, as sketched by their hosts, will take different approaches.

Lopez promises to bring "the party back to late-night," signaling a looser, hipper hour in the tradition of "The Arsenio Hall Show," said analyst Bill Carroll of media buyer Katz Television in New York. Sykes is planning Bill Maher-type panels with both lighthearted and serious discussion of politics and culture as part of her mix.

"In some ways, these shows are looking at breaking the mold," Carroll said. "Lopez Tonight," he suggests, could be "what late-night might look like in the future."

Sykes, whose show replaces Fox's "Mad TV," could compete successfully in her partial overlap with NBC's "Saturday Night Live," analyst Brill said. "Viewers could watch her show and then switch to 'SNL' in time for the news, which is the only part that's funny anyway."

Eva Longoria-Parker, Ellen DeGeneres and Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant are the scheduled debut night guests for Lopez. Sykes will welcome Mary Lynn Rajskub of "24," Daryl "Chill" Mitchell of "Brothers" and "The Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan.

John Ridley, head writer for Sykes, said he's wary of asserting that the show will "blow apart" the late-night model.

"If you look at all the shows, they're not different. Are we going to have a monologue? Absolutely. Guests? Yes. A panel? Yes. But it reflects Wanda's sensibility," he said.

And that, it's safe to say, is not akin to what Carroll calls the "predominantly middle-aged — to be kind — white men" that have long dominated late-night.
Orlando Sentinel

What the Gays Have Done With Britney Spears' "3" So Far

2009-10-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

What Not to Do In a Gay Bar

2009-10-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Spanish court says autopsy shows Boyzone star died of natural causes

2009-10-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

MADRID (AP) — Boyzone star Stephen Gately, whose body was found in a house on the Spanish resort island of Mallorca, died of natural causes, according to autopsy results released Tuesday.

A post-mortem showed Gately, 33, an Irishman, died as a result of a pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs, the Balearic Islands Superior Justice Tribunal said in a statement.

"The signer of the British group Boyzone died from natural causes, owing to an 'acute pulmonary edema'," the court statement said.

"The autopsy carried out this morning showed there were no signs of violence to the body," it said, adding that Gately's remains could now be flown home.

Gately was found dead on Saturday in a house near Port d'Andratx on the western tip of Mallorca. The singer had gone to Mallorca with his partner Andrew Cowles. The two were wed in a civil union in 2006.

The court said tissue samples from the singer's body would be sent to a laboratory in Barcelona for further analysis, and that unless information contradicting the autopsy result emerged, the investigation would be closed.

The court said Cowles gave a statement at the court in the Mallorca capital of Palma on Tuesday. Other witnesses were also expected to give statements.

Spanish news reports said the two had been out drinking and that the singer had later choked on his own vomit.

Spanish police said they were called to the scene on Saturday afternoon.

The house, situated on an exclusive tree-lined seafront street, overlooks a rocky bay reputed to have some of the best sunset views on Spain's favorite holiday island.

The four other members of the band flew to Mallorca following news of the death.

Boyzone was one of the biggest acts to come out of Ireland in the 1990s. The group was a major hitmaker in Britain and Ireland in the 1990s and announced a comeback tour at the end of last year.

Gately also released several solo singles and appeared in stage musicals. He made headlines when he announced he was gay a decade ago.

News of his death shocked the British and Irish pop world.

Elton John said Sunday that he and his partner, David Furnish, were "stunned by this tragedy."

Lady Gaga Speaks At Gay Rights Rally In Washington, DC

2009-10-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Madonna and Lady Gaga on Saturday Night Live

2009-10-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

What Self-Respecting Gay Couple Will Agree to Go On Seinfeld's Marriage Ref?

2009-10-01T14:45:00.001-07:00

Remember that comedian whose television show ruled the 1990s and turned Festivus into a national holiday? Well now Jerry Seinfeld is on the other side of the camera producing the reality show The Marriage Ref, a show with a premise as terrible as Bridezillas: Let's find couples that fight with each other, then bring in a marriage referee to call 'em down! Like couples counseling, but faster! Well, lest you thought Seinfeld would only inflict this pain on heterosexuals, you are wrong: He's casting for gays.

Maybe the premiere of Modern Family really does introduce a new era in television, where gay Americans are actually portrayed as family types, raising children and keeping a home, rather than always solving their best girlfriends' relationship and wardrobe problems.

Seinfeld's Refs, on NBC, just sent out this casting announcement (which follows one in June that didn't single out the gays):

I contacted you because we are searching the country for gay married couples. This could be an excellent opportunity to show on primetime television that marriage is marriage - a show about married life simply would not be complete without showcasing married couples in all forms. I am a casting associate producer for a new show on NBC called "The Marriage Ref." The show is produced by Jerry Seinfeld and will focus on couples that bicker naturally about every day issues - we will then bring in a marriage referee to settle arguments.

We are also accepting applications from straight couples. If anyone comes to mind I was hoping you could forward them my info or vise versa. .The show is going to air Sunday nights at 8pm on NBC and will feature celebrities like Chris Rock, Madonna, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston. Please let me know if you know any couples personally or otherwise that may be interested in this exciting opportunity. I have included a link to the preview on NBC.com below. Hope to hear from you soon!

(If you think you fit the bill, contact Theresa Horwitz at Shed Media at realityshownbc@gmail.com.)

This will either be an excellent way to showcase gay couples as stable, loving families who struggle with the same relationship quibbles as heteros — or a terrible way to show we don't know what the hell we're doing, either.

But how prescient, then, that GLAAD just released its 14th annual “Where We Are On TV” study (" a comprehensive review of scripted LGBT primetime characters in the 2009-2010 television season"),which finds "that 18 LGBT characters will account for 3% of scripted series regulars in the 2009-2010 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.3% in 2006, 1.1% in 2007, and 2.6% in 2008. The number of scripted LGBT series regulars found on mainstream cable networks continue to decline, from 40 in 2007, 32 in 2008 to only 25 this year."

Oh, but no word on reality television? The one segment of the small screen where we make up 86 percent of characters?!

Queerty

White House hosts HIV/AIDS forum in D.C.

2009-09-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

Obama plans national strategy, seeks input
There were several memorable moments at Monday’s White House-hosted community discussion forum on HIV and AIDS in an auditorium at the University of the District of Columbia — a young man who is thriving who contracted HIV via a blood transfusion when he was an infant, a homeless woman who dissolved into tears upon speaking of the lack of housing for those with AIDS and another woman who said she got the disease when she was date raped.

But a handful of openly gay men also provided some of the most pointed and dramatic moments as well. Matt Cavanaugh, a stack of D.C. Fights Back leaflets in hand, angrily demanded to know why D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty wasn’t in attendance.

“I’m tired of people dying, I’m tired of the fact that we continue every year to have more and more infections and I’m tired of waiting for the plan of Washington, D.C. that’s going to be at least as robust as the plan in Zambia,” Cavanaugh said. “I’m tired of the fact that the mayor isn’t here.”

Cavanaugh then used his remaining moments — each speaker was given 90 seconds to speak — to offer 30 seconds for Fenty to comment and explain why he wasn’t present. The room was silent.

Another gay man, David Phillips, chided the Centers for Disease Control for its politically correct euphemisms.

“It’s ridiculous that we cannot have frank, explicit education aimed at our communities,” Phillips said. “I’m not an MSM. I’m a gay man. I wanna suck cock. I wanna fuck another man.”

He also took a shot at U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who’d spoken previously but left before public remarks.

“I wish that Eleanor Norton was still here,” he said. “Statistically speaking, in the time it took her to speak and recite history to us, two people were infected with HIV. One of them was a gay man.”

The large auditorium appeared to be about 30 percent full. Several spoke of the need to have the Ryan White Care Act in effect for longer than a three-year period. The Act is set to expire on Sept. 30, but members of Congress have pledged that it will be renewed.

Jeffrey Crowley, who’s gay and is director of the White House’s Office of National AIDS Policy, presided over the event and reaffirmed what he said was President Obama’s commitment to a national HIV/AIDS strategy. The meeting was ostensibly an opportunity for locals to weigh in on what that should entail. A previous session was held in Atlanta. Others are planned in Albuquerque, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Francisco and other cities. Dates haven’t been set.

Shannon Hader, director of the D.C. AIDS Office, read brief prepared remarks from a laptop and said she was more interested in hearing from the crowd than speaking herself.

Norton spoke extemporaneously and faulted Congress for Washington’s cataclysmic HIV rates because Congress stopped the District’s needle exchange program for many years. Washington has the highest per capita HIV rates of any U.S. city, according to Hader’s office.
Washington Blade

What Did Barney Frank Say at Today's ENDA Hearings? … HIV Travel Ban Lifted? … 2010 Prop 8 Repeal

2009-09-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Uruguay law may not enable gay adoptions after all

2009-09-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Lawyers, judges, authors have doubts about law's application

A closer reading of an adoptions law promoted by Uruguay's gay rights groups suggests it might not enable adoptions by gay and lesbian couples after all.

With the law awaiting President Tabare Vazquez's signature, gay rights groups have been celebrating the prospect that Uruguay could become the first country in Latin America to give gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to adopt.

But nowhere in the law does it specifically say that homosexual couples have a right to adopt. And in some places, it suggests otherwise — for example by specifying how the child should take a mother and father's surnames.

Lawyers, judges and even the law's own authors now have doubts about how the law will be applied.

Under Vazquez, Uruguay already legalized gay civil unions and ended a ban on homosexuals in the military, despite strong disapproval from the Roman Catholic Church.

The church also campaigned against the adoptions law, which shifts much of the decision-making to the national Institute of Children and Adolescents, and away from a system in which individual lawyers, notaries and religious groups had a central role.

The new law would drop a requirement that children can only be adopted by legally married couples or single parents.

Deputy Margarita Percovich, who wrote the law, acknowledged that it doesn't directly mention same-sex adoptions, but said it would enable them because gays and lesbians already can legally form civil unions, and "the law enables couples in civil unions to adopt children without impediment."

But Attorney Juan A. Ramirez, an expert in civil rights law, told the leading newspaper El Pais that judges still won't be able to approve same-sex adoptions, because this intent isn't explicitly described in the law.

"Any objective interpretation of the law would conclude that either they forgot to mention that gay couples can adopt, or they didn't want to mention it. They didn't want to take the bull by the horns and resolve it clearly — they left it undefined," he said.

Family judge Estrella Perez said the judges association now plans to meet "to see how to resolve these doubts."

"We all have them."

And a lawyer for the institute, Edgard Marzarini, told reporters that he doesn't know how to resolve a same-sex adoption given the law's requirement that a child take a mother and father's surnames: "These are the holes that later give us problems."

Washington Blade

Lady Gagas VMA Performance

2009-09-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

What did you think of Lady Gagas performance last night at the VMA's? The jury is still out...

Lady Gaga - New Music - More Music Videos

Christina Aguilera Love the Gays!

2009-09-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

These Stanford Students Refuse to Marry Until You Can. So Won't You Support Them?

2009-08-31T17:38:00.001-07:00

Say what you will about flighty liberal college students jumping on a cause because that is what they do, but we've been taken by the kids behind the National Marriage Boycott, who are going around wearing something called "Equality Rings" while protesting discriminatory marriage laws. The gimmick: They are promising not to get married until gays and lesbians can, too. How very Brad and Angelina of them, right? Also: We'd like to know what the churn rate is upon graduation, when engagement and bachelorette parties are too hard to resist.

We've mentioned them before, but now they're seeking a $10,000 Idea Blob prize, which will help these Stanford undergrads launch 20 satellite campus operations this fall. Sound like a worthy cause? It just takes a click to help them get the cash, and time is almost up to beat the competition.

Queerty

Lady Gaga Pissed Off Her British Gays

2009-08-26T11:43:00.001-07:00

So Lady Gaga was hiding her penis for fans in Staffordshire, England, on Saturday, when the venue's manager up and cut her show off before she was done. Can you believe?!

It didn't help things that, like a true diva, Gaga showed up to the stage twenty minutes late, so she wasn't able to finish her set with "Pokerface." Which is, as all gays know, the only way to end an evening.

And she was really upset about it. So upset that she broke out her phone and made not one, but two 140-character updates.
Queerty

There's Gonna Be Hot Girl-on-Girl Sex In Darren Aronofsky's New Flick

2009-08-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

"Ecstasy-induced hungry aggressive angry sex." That's what Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis will be involved in with the upcoming Black Swan.

A sneak peek at the script (warning: spoilers in the link) for The Wrestler's Darren Aronofsky's new "psychological thriller about a ballerina competing against a rival dancer who may or may not be another version of herself" — say what? — reveals that "in this movie, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis have sex. … And not just nice sweet innocent sex either."

Yep, in this script Portman and Kunis aren't just playing lady lovers, but hardcore lady lovers. So: Maybe it'll be more than a gimmick to feature in the trailer to draw young male audiences to the cinema.

But probably not.
Queerty

Gone Too Soon: The Lateisha Green Story

2009-08-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Halloween used to be Moses Cannon's favorite holiday growing up. It was the one time during the year when no one would make a big deal about him dressing up like a girl. When Moses was 16 years old, he dressed up in girl's clothing, as he did for the last few years, except this time, he wasn't looking back. That year, Moses Cannon became Lateisha Green and transitioned from male to female.

Lateisha wasn't a cross-dresser. She lived her life freely as a female, a decision her mother, Roxanne Greene, admittedly had a hard time accepting because she knew that her child was unprepared to face society's ugly ignorance. What happened on November 14, 2008, was Roxanne's greatest fear. While 22-year-old Lateisha and her 18-year-old brother Mark sat in a car in Syracuse, New York, Dwight DeLee, 20, shot them both. Mark survived but Lateisha died. DeLee has been charged with murder in the second degree as a hate crime and was recently convicted of shooting Lateisha for no other reason than believing she was gay. This is only the second hate crime conviction involving the murder of a transgendered person in United States history.

As the one-year anniversary of Lateisha's death approaches in the fall, her family continues to cope with the enormous loss. Lateisha's mother Roxanne spoke with ESSENCE.com about her difficulty accepting Lateisha's death, giving up her son for a daughter, and why she'll be in the courtroom to see DeLee sentenced for killing her child.

When Lateisha was 16-years-old, she wrote her father and I a letter explaining how she felt about being gay, but I've known since she was about 6 years old. When we would go shopping, she would be in the girls' section looking at clothes. She didn't want us to talk about it. She wanted us to write back if we had anything to say. But I knocked on her bedroom door and said we need to talk. We didn't need a piece of paper between us to talk about this. I told her that I didn't have a problem with it but I tried to explain that the ignorance of some people would be hard to handle. She told me she didn't care because this is who she was and what she wanted.

There was a boy who lived around the corner that Lateisha used to talk to. He got mad because people found out he had something to do with Lateisha. He was still in the closet and embarrassed by it. When I got home, I saw all this blood in the bathroom sink. I found out they had taken Moses to the hospital and he had been slashed all over his face. I told her not to leave the house and she didn't, but this boy and some friends came to the house and did this. The doctor said they had just missed a vital vein and that he was a very lucky young man. All I could think was why?

After that incident Lateisha just stopped running. She got stronger. Suddenly, it didn't matter what people were saying about her. The night she died, Lateisha and her brother Mark drove up to a friend's house. There were people outside talking. The next thing they knew, someone came to the window and opened fire. Lateisha told Mark to take off. She was screaming out, "My heart, my heart." Mark was telling her no, you just got shot in the shoulder. You'll be all right. Mark was on his way to the hospital but all Lateisha wanted to do was come home. I was inside when they came to the house. I ran outside to see my baby on the ground. I got there right before she died. The autopsy report said that her lungs had quickly filled up with blood. The bullet ended up hitting the main artery in the back of her heart. I never thought in a million years that I would be burying my child.

Since Lateisha's death, I haven't known how to help my family, especially her father. He's hurting so badly. When Lateisha came out, he was hurt because he has always tried to protect her. She was such a sensitive child and would get so upset when the kids would jump her after school. But in the end, neither one of us could protect her. We're used to a having this happy-go-lucky person, who could just light up the room with us all the time. I never knew I could miss something so much in my life. I just want to scream sometimes. I've never felt this type of pain before. I'm bitter and I hate it.

I will definitely be there on August 18 to see Dwight DeLee sentenced. This is when he will have to look at me and tell me why he did this. I'll finally get to ask what did my son ever do to you that was so bad? Did his preference really bother him so much for you to take his life?

I hope like hell some good comes out of this. We've had to deal with threats as we leave the courthouse and messages on my phone. People act like we took something from them. They took something from us! I want DeLee to get life without parole. Transgenders are human beings like anyone else. Who are we to say that people shouldn't be who they want to be? Parents need to realize you can't turn your kid away. You're all they have and I knew that with Lateisha. If felt like as long as I supported her, she would know we were there for her and that's what matters.

I just received a letter from the state about the new hate crimes bill that would include protection for transgenders. I'm getting ready to go to Albany to speak and get this bill passed in Lateisha's name. I will never forget the look on my child's face the day she died in front of our house and I hope people can understand that.

Essence

Iraq's Gays Are Being Murdered By the 100s. Is Anyone Going to Care?

2009-08-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

After allegations that American soldiers were involved in attacks and murders of gay Iraqis were declared bunk, it's nice to see at least one organization acting responsibly in raising awareness for persecuted homos there. Human Rights Watch today reports "hundreds" of gay men have been tortured and killed in recent months, some at the hands of the nation's own security forces.

While attacking gays is nothing new in the country (so-called "tolerance" under Saddam Hussein's rule was always met with shaming and "honor" attacks), victims and doctors report a severe uptick in recent months, and an end to the violence — often found in Shiite Muslim regions — is nowhere in sight. Says HRW's gay division director Scott Long: "The government has done absolutely nothing to respond. So far there has been pretty much a stone wall."

According to Human Rights Watch, which is urging a government crackdown, attackers target people on the streets or storm homes, where they conduct interrogations and demand names of suspected gay men. Many end up in hospitals and morgues, the organization said, basing its conclusion on reports from doctors.

Men have been threatened with "honor killings" by relatives worried that their "unmanly behavior" will ruin the family's reputation, Human Rights Watch said.

Killings, kidnappings and torture of those suspected of homosexual conduct have intensified in areas such as the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, the watchdog said.

"The Shiite people started this war and especially what happened in Sadr City," Qaisar said, adding that his sister-in-law had warned him against going to the area.

muqtada_al_sadr

And what about Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia? It was only in May that his spokesperson was calling for an end to anti-gay violence, even while branding homos as vile. HRW says al-Sadr has shown no such restraint. In fact, he's got lists of names he's directly going after.

Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which is active in Sadr City, has joined in the attacks and defends its actions as a way to stop the "feminization" of Iraqi men, the report said.

"We have testimony that indicates that the nation's security forces are taking part in the attacks," Long said.

The group interviewed more than 50 people who gave accounts of abuses, beatings and stops at security checkpoints, he said.

"When the gay killings started and when they started go(ing) after them at checkpoints … we started to change our look," said Basim, who also used a pseudonym.

"These killings point to the continuing and lethal failure of Iraq's post-occupation authorities to establish the rule of law and protect their citizens," said Rasha Moumneh, Middle East researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Well at least the U.S. State Department "absolutely condemn[s]" this sort of thing.
Queerty

Fired gay news anchor, Charles Perez, fires back

2009-08-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

An openly gay Miami news anchor who alleges he was fired from his job as a result of filing a discrimination claim against them has penned an article telling his side of the story.

Charles Perez, formerly the evening news anchor at Miami ABC-affiliate WPLG, penned an essay posted today on TheDailyBeast.com dramatically titled, “Why I Committed Career Suicide,” explaining why he chose to resign his post after being bumped to the weekend broadcast.

“Bottom line, I believe they sold me out as soon as my being gay became too widely known. It made them uncomfortable and made me, in their eyes, less advertiser-friendly,” writes Perez.

WPLG, which is owned by the Washington Post-Newsweek Stations, said in a statement that “WPLG is disappointed that the actions of Charles Perez left us no real choice other than to terminate his employment contract. WPLG emphatically denies Perez’ claim of discrimination.”

In his Daily Beast article, Perez criticizes the television news business on a larger scale, claiming that ” [it] has become a place of fear, where principle and the news have become the casualties and ratings and dollars the prizes. Today, the major news outlets are held hostage by what they ‘think’ their advertisers—and by extension their audiences—want to see. Sacrificed is the news we may need to know. As a result, they contribute to building a less-educated electorate that only wants more of the Twinkies it has been fed.”

Perez goes on to say that colleagues at work discouraged him from being open about his sexuality, too. He writes: “In fact, over the previous five months, I’d been told, ‘Don’t get married, Charles. We don’t need that.’ I’d also been told not to have children. In essence: “You’re the main anchor and you’re gay, but let’s not push it.” To me, having the family I want is not pushing it. Living with love, commitment, and dignity is not pushing it.”

Perez was first seen in the public eye when he appeared in the very first season of the MTV reality series, The Real World, in 1992. The show suggested he was dating Norman Korpi, an openly gay cast member. From 1994 to 1996 he hosted a syndicated talk show, The Charles Perez Show, produced by Tribune Entertainment. Since then he also served as a co-host of the nationally syndicated news magazine show, American Journal, and also reported for KCAL-TV in Log Angeles and WSVN-TV in Miami.

Perez also served as a producer on The Ricki Lake Show and The Montel Williams Show.

Earlier this year, details of Perez’s personal life were made public when he and his ex-partner were embroiled in a publicized court battle over mutual claims of domestic violence. Perez also claimed that that his former partner, Dennis Ricardo Peña, has ‘’stalked, harassed and threatened” him, and vowed to wreck his TV career. That case will receive further deliberation in court in Miami on August 18.

365Gay

LIES: Allegations of U.S. Soldiers Murdering Iraq's Gays Declared Bunk

2009-08-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

When the gay Iraqi refugee and advocate known by the pseudonym Hussam claimed members of the U.S. military were responsible for the torture and murder of gays in Iraq, alarm bells went off. And rightly so. Except Hussam claimed he had photo evidence of the atrocities — but refused to hand it over to investigators. So after looking into Hussam's claims (which would amount to Geneva Convention violations), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command says it's found "no credible evidence that the allegations have merit." Perhaps that's because Hussam now says his words were "taken out of context"?

In an email to activist Michael Petrelis, the USACIDC Chief of Public Affairs Chris Grey writes:

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s (USACIDC) Special Agents have looked into allegations that U.S. service members were involved in committing atrocities against gays in Iraq and have found no credible evidence that the allegations have merit.

In a sworn statement to Special Agents, the individual giving the presentation at the 24 July fundraiser said his words were taken out of context, he was misunderstood due to language barriers, and he was misquoted.

He stated that although he did show disturbing photographs at the event, the photographs of sectarian violence were in no way linked to U.S. service members.

He also said he never witnessed any actions of U.S. Soldiers that he would classify as criminal or any evidence of U.S. service members targeting Iraqi men or women because of their sexual orientation.

Based on the description of one photograph allegedly shown depicting what appeared to be an American Soldier guarding several naked Iraqi men, it was determined that in 2004, when the picture was allegedly taken, removing detainee’s clothing was a force protection measure authorized within the Rules of Engagement due to suicide vests being worn by insurgents.

As always with USACIDC investigations, if new credible information is discovered, we will investigate.

It's not just that USACIDC found the allegations to be essentially untrue — but it took the military investigating the claims for Hussam to even acknowledge that reports coming out of the fundraiser where he spoke were inaccurate. Perhaps the language barrier kept news reports from reaching him. Maybe. But, as Petrelis says, Hussam has a "highly-developed command of the English language" and "in emails and phone conversations with me, threw out every excuse he could think of to absolve himself of any real responsibility to prove his outlandish allegations."

That's too bad, because it's folks like Hussam who are doing great work bring attention and aid to the persecuted gays of the Middle East. Lies — or "miscommunications" — like the one spread last month are horribly damaging to the cause. Petrelis is calling on fundraiser's sponsors — the LGBT Bar Association and the Human Rights Campaign, whose headquarters were used to host the event — to issue an apology. At the very least, an explanation.

As for Hussam? Perhaps he should remain quiet in the weeks and months to come, while groups like Iraqi LGBT take the plight of queers there more seriously.

Gay ex-cop settles harassment suit with NJ city

2009-08-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

A New Jersey city has agreed to pay a former police officer $415,000 to settle a lawsuit he filed claiming other officers harassed him because he is gay.

As part of the deal, Robert Colle has resigned from the Millville police force. He had been on leave since August 2007.

Colle sued in October 2007, claiming he was ridiculed by the man who was then chief and other officers because he's gay.

He said city officials ignored his harassment complaints.

He also said officers refused to back him up when he was dealing with a disorderly woman. According to his legal filings, the woman bit his finger to the bone.
Washington Blade

Sen. Hutchison Will Become Texas' Governor By Making Internet Think Opponent Is Gay

2009-08-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

How to attack your gubernatorial opponent? If you're doing things Texas-style, you juice your search engine rankings with your opponent's name attached a certain homosexual search term. At least that's how Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is taking on sitting Gov. Rick Perry.

Hutchison's website employed metadata — non-visible HTML code used by search engines — that honed in on the search phrase "rick perry gay." On Queerty, we use metadata like "gay blog" and "gay news" to, uh, help search engines point visitors in our direction when searching for those terms.

Obviously, Hutchison's team wanted folks who were checking up on the latest in Perry's sexuality (rumors that he's gay have circulated for years) to end up on her campaign website, StandByKay.com. The senator's camp has since pulled the keywords from the site, blaming auto-generating software for the incident.

Intentional or not, thus far the strategy isn't working: A Google search for "rick perry gay" now turns up websites reporting about Hutchison's tactics. And this. Oops.
Queerty

Rainbow Lounge's Double Tragedy: Bartender Dead In 'Possible DWI'

2009-07-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Bradley Larson, who was bartending at Ft. Worth's Rainbow Lounge the night it was raided by police, died in the early morning hours Sunday in a car accident. Police say it may have been alcohol-related, and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (which aided in the bar raid) has been notified about the death; investigators want to know if Larson was drinking at a bar beforehand. He was 41.

Kathy Griffin on David Letterman

2009-07-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

How Hetero Is Your Twitter?

2009-07-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Speaking of gay-oriented travel campaigns, we'd be remiss without mentioning Stockholm's latest ploy to get tech-savvy gays interested in visiting.

The city's gay pride group launched a "How hetero are you?" Twitter analyzer as one of many ways to entice you to stop by for pride, which kicks off July 27.

It goes like this: Enter your Twitter username, and it'll decide what percentage straight your 140 character messages are based on your record of mentioning things like "gay" or "Prop 8."

No surprise here: It decided Queerty's Twitter feed was just one percent hetero. We're off to see which of our followers are gay.
Queerty

Let's Have 1 Investigation For Every 2 Officers Involved in Ft. Worth Bar Raid

2009-07-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

How many full blown investigations of the Stonewall-style Ft. Worth Rainbow Lounge bar raid can there be? At least four, apparently.

The Fort Worth City Council now wants a federal investigation, and if the U.S. Attorney's office in Dallas agrees, it'll be the fourth such probe.

Who else is causing hell for the Ft. Worth Police Department and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission? Themselves, actually.

The TABC is investigating two of its own agents involved in the raid, and the FWPD is doing the same with its own officers, with both Internal Affairs and Major Case wanting to know what went down.

Not only has TABC admitted its staffers "violated" policy, but some of the FWPD cops involved in the June 28 raid have a history of, shall we say, going overboard with the fisticuffs. This is probably not great news when it comes to finding themselves innocent of wrongdoing.

But hey, you know what four separate investigations means? Gays will finally get use of some of those state and federal tax dollars they keep paying disproportionately higher amounts of.
Queerty

Was Michael Jackson Gay? No, But He Wasn't Exactly Straight, Either

2009-07-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

So there's a (non-new?) rumor going around that Michael Jackson was a big 'mo. It's coming from the mouth — or rather, the book — of Ian Halperin, the same man who claims Tom Cruise is gay, which sort of pissed off Scientologists. (Also: John Travolta.) But calling Jackson gay is like calling Lance Bass an astronaut: It works in theory, but there's no proof.

Through what we're assuming is steadfast research, Halperin cites as evidence of Jackson's sexuality a claim that he picked up a male construction worker in Las Vegas and forced him to sign a confidentiality agreement so they could do the nasty. (Another version of that story claims the guy Jackson spotted across a Vegas casino floor became head of Jackson's security detail, not his lover.)

Then there are Halperin's claims Jackson liked to dress up as a woman, which isn't so much a secret as it is a description of Jackson's entire wardrobe. Also: Jackson wearing women's clothing is common knowledge. Besides, dressing up as a lady doesn't make the superstar gay; it makes him transgender. Or just curious.

Allegations like these help sell books. Which is why Halperin wants to do with his new tome Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson. So it shouldn't be a surprise that another person with an interest in selling manuscripts is on hand to shoot down these rumors. She is Diane Dimond, who's devoted much of her career (15+ years) to chronicling Jackson. She chimes in: "Over all the years that I have been looking into his life, I have found no evidence that Michael Jackson was gay. I have never spoken to any men who have claimed and proven they were Michael's lovers."

Which leaves us with this: For as long as we've known of this Michael Jackson person, he's always struck us as asexual. Someone who neither longs for sexual affection from women nor men.

From his post-pubescent disinterest in sex (see: Brooke Shields) and his faux-real marriages (see: Lisa Marie Presley) to his awkwardness discussing sex in front of the camera (see: Martin Bashir) and his means of having children (see: sperm donation and surrogate mother), Jackson never clued us in that he was straight or gay.

He really just existed in this bubble of childhood, where penises and vaginas were punchlines, not objects of hormonal desire. And if we need to get in to the whole child molestation thing — because a post like this one can't ignore it — the same common wisdom holds true: An adult man sleeping in bed with young children who are not his own is … inappropriate. But the idea that he touched them is flabbergasting, not just because it would mean the world's greatest entertainer is a pedophile, but because it would mean Michael Jackson had any interest in sex at all.
Queerty

Slain Houston sailor to be laid to rest

2009-07-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

Family of Provost, who was gay, calls death a hate crime

A gay sailor whose death is being called a hate crime by his family is being buried in Houston on Friday.

Seaman August Provost III was found shot multiple times on June 30 as he stood guard at Camp Pendleton north of San Diego. Investigators are calling his death a random act unrelated to the 29-year-old’s sexuality.

But Provost’s family says he had complained a year before about being harassed for being gay and the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy discouraged him from asking for help. The Houston native joined the Navy in March 2008.

Democratic Rep. Bob Filner of San Diego has called for a Defense Department probe into the death, after leaders of the city’s gay community asked him to intervene.

Washington Blade

Lesbian among victims of deadly Metro crash

2009-07-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

Among the nine people who died in this week’s Metro collision was a lesbian who had been with her partner for at least 15 years.

Mandy Doolittle, 59 and a D.C. resident, was among the victims. Her partner was Carol Anne Douglas, a former collective member of “Off Our Backs,” a feminist news journal published since 1970.

Monday’s crash occurred on Metro’s Red Line after one train slammed into another from behind near the Fort Totten Station. It was not immediately clear what triggered the collision, the deadliest in Metro’s history.

Karla Mantilla, another collective member of the news journal, said Doolittle was “an incredibly sweet person, through and through, with unfailingly polite and gracious manners.”

Judith Witherow, another friend, said she never met anyone as “kind and endearing” as Doolittle.

“Anytime you talked to her, whatever you were saying, she would look at you and hold on to your hand like whatever you were saying was the most important thing in the world,” Witherow said.

Doolittle had previously lived in Italy and was planning a return visit with Douglas next month, Witherow said.

Washington Blade

3 arrested in Mastic Beach bias attack

2009-07-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Three people - two women and a man - were arrested Monday night in a bias assault in Mastic Beach in which the suspects "made numerous anti-gay remarks about the victim's sexual orientation," police said Tuesday.

The trio, in their 20s, made the remarks while kicking, hitting and pushing the female victim, Suffolk police said. The unidentified victim did not suffer injuries that required hospitalization, police said.

The suspects, Nora Mitzner, 21, of Dune Road, Westhampton Beach; Lindsay McBeth, 25, of Route 112, Medford; and Selwyn Icangelo, 20, of Commack Road, Mastic Beach, were each charged with second-degree aggravated harassment, police said.

The "hate element" of the attack raised the charges from harassment to aggravated harassment, Suffolk said. The incident also has been reported to the U.S. Department of Criminal Justice, police said.

Meanwhile, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy condemned the alleged attack.

"In Suffolk County," he said, "we stand united in denouncing violent and abusive acts against a person because of their race, creed, ethnicity or sexual orientation."

Coincidentally, later Tuesday, Levy and the county's Interfaith Anti-Bias Task Force will preview a 30-second public service announcement urging students to speak out against hatred.

The announcement comes in the wake of the death of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorean immigrant from Patchogue killed earlier this year in an alleged hate crime.

On Monday, the three suspects were arrested after police responded to a 911 call at 7:05 p.m. about a fight in progress on Gooseberry Drive in Mastic Beach.

Police said officers arrived to find Mitzner, McBeth and Icangelo "kicking, hitting and pushing the victim" - and said an investigation revealed the trio had made anti-gay remarks during the assault.

The three suspects were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Central Islip, police said.

-Click here to see photos of the suspects

-Click here to see mug shots from this and other recent LI cases

Newsday

Spirituality and being gay: for God so loved the world...

2009-06-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

To some people, the words "gay" and "spiritual" or "religious" don't go together.

Without getting into the thick of the spiritual debate between many fundamentalist Christians and other denominations who support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people participating fully in their churches, it is important to speak out on behalf of LGBT people for whom spirituality is an important part of our lives.

This weekend is Gay Pride Weekend in Houston and in many other cities across the United States. If you read the lineup of parade participants at Saturday's Gay Pride Parade you will find several religious groups who participated. Integrity Houston is part of a larger group of Episcopalians across the United States who support the right of gay people to participate fully in worship in the Episcopal Church. Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church is a part of the MCC across the United States, the first Christian denomination to really gear their worship and community activities to the LGBT community. Others who marched in the parade, showing a visible support of the LGBT community, include Covenant Baptist Church, Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, New Covenant More Light Presbyterian (site under construction), the Unitarian Universalist Congregations of Greater Houston, GLBT Pagan Pride, and Open and Affirming Churches of the UCC (United Church of Christ) in Houston.

Obviously, with this many religious groups making a visible show of support in the gay community this weekend, it demonstrates there are many LGBT people who make the spiritual a part of their daily lives. And there are other groups, not represented here, who also recognize that the Creator loves every one of his children.

Each person has a right to decide for themselves how they stand on "gay rights," not to mention all the other "hot topics" of today's world. But this includes the responsibility of allowing those who disagree with us to hold their beliefs too. In other words, a fundamentalist Christian has no right to tell a gay person that they are "condemned" because of who they are, any more than a gay person has a right to tell a fundamentalist that they are "condemned" because of their narrow interpretation of scripture. It is the creator who will ultimately judge us. It's human nature to judge others and compare their beliefs to ours, but in the long run, our judgement, or others' judgement of us, does not matter.

Anyone who is gay knows that it is not a choice. It is who we are. And if we believe in a creator, a higher power, then we know that that creator made us this way. Those who condemn members of the LGBT community have probably never visited a welcoming church where many members are openly gay. If they had, they would have witnessed a level of spirituality and a reverence for our fellow beings and the earth we live in that would likely change their minds and dissipate their judgements against the LGBT community. It is likely that anti-gay ministers like Fred Phelps, whose group protested Matthew Shepard's funeral, have never attended an open and affirming service. Unfortunately, his mind and heart would need to be much more open before this would happen.

As religious organizations struggle with the question of LGBT inclusion, we can see from the list of Houston Pride Parade participants above, that we are making headway. There is hope! If you are an LGBT person searching for a spiritual home, there is a place for you. When the disciple John wrote: "For God so loved the world..." he meant everyone is included. Our creator loves us and is waiting for you to find your place among your sisters and brothers who have found welcome in a spiritual group.

Examiner

Maine gay marriage opponents hire California firm that led Prop 8 proposal

2009-06-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Gay marriage opponents in Maine have hired the California public relations firm that led the successful Prop 8 proposal to overturn same-sex marriage.

Schubert Flint Public Affairs will manage the campaign to repeal Maine's gay marriage law, just as it did in California. Organizers of the veto effort are trying to collect the signatures of more than 55,000 registered Maine voters to put the question on the November ballot.

Meanwhile, supporters of Maine's gay marriage law have formed a new political action committee.

Maine Freedom to Marry announced Wednesday it has hired Jesse Connolly. Connolly is taking a leave of absence as the House speaker's chief of staff. Connolly led the successful 2005 campaign to retain the state's gay rights law.
By: Associated Press

Chastity Bono -- Becoming a Man

2009-06-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Chastity Bono, civil rights advocate, journalist, author and musician, is in the early stages of changing his gender -- transitioning from female to male, TMZ has learned.
Bono, the child of legendary entertainers Sonny and Cher, began the process earlier this year, shortly after his 40th birthday.

"Yes, it's true -- Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," confirmed Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman.

"He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones. It is Chaz's hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago.

We ask that the media respect Chaz's privacy during this long process as he will not be doing any interviews at this time."
TMZ

Don't Ask Don't Tell

2009-06-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

Discharges Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and President Obama

Get this widget.

The total number shown represents the approximate numbers of service members discharged under "Don't Ask, Don' Tell" since January 20, 2009. SLDN calculated this number, an average, based on 2007 DADT discharge data supplied by the Pentagon. Every day 1.7 service members are discharged under the law.

British Churches Forced to Hire Gays

2009-05-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Or at least not discriminate against them in hiring decisions. This is a big, big deal. That little separation between church and state doesn't just keep God out of the classroom; it protects churches and synagogues from violating their own beliefs by being forced to adhere to anti-discrimination laws. And with this move, Britain is opening the door for endless conservative scare tactics about how gay protections are ruinous for religion.

To be clear, Britain's new Equality Bill does protect churches in some regard. "Those who lead the liturgy or spend the majority of the time teaching doctrine, such as ministers, bishops and their equivalents," will not be subject to non-discrimination rules. But the law makes looser the definition of other auxiliary staff members, such as receptionists and accountants as well as janitors and drivers. Essentially, any church employee not directly involved in advocating the religion will be subject to the new rules.

Religious organizations, of course, argue that every staffer is integral to their operation, and that they shouldn't have to employ anyone who doesn't accept their faith, whether it comes to beliefs on abortion, gay marriage, or whether you can eat shellfish. The Equality Bill no longer gives them that option.

Is this good news for protecting against discrimination? Or over-reaching on religious freedoms?

While this law certainly doesn't apply to the U.S., its mere existence will only amplify religious conservatives here who already see the same-sex marriage push as an affront to their beliefs (even though no state is requiring priests to conduct gay weddings), as well as anti-discrimination laws impeding on their right to whatever faith they choose, no matter how pro-hate it may be.

Then again, there's always the question: What homo would want to work at a church that hates him?

Queerty

Third-Grader Organizes Gay Equality Rally

2009-05-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

Parents sue D.C. police after gay son killed

2009-05-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

The parents of a gay man who was shot to death in his home last November by D.C. police officers, who claim he lunged at them with a knife, will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city in connection with their son’s death, the parents’ attorney said Tuesday.

Police released a statement in November saying a police officer fatally shot David Kerstetter, 38, inside the bedroom of his Logan Circle townhouse at the upscale Iowa condominium apartment and townhouse complex after Kerstetter threatened the officer and another officer accompanying him with a knife.

Last week, the United States Attorney’s office concluded “there was no evidence that the officer violated the law when he used deadly force in this case,” spokesperson Channing Phillips told the Blade.

“We therefore declined to bring charges after determining that it was a justifiable shooting and have since sent the matter back to MPD for whatever action it deems appropriate,” Phillips said.

Police records show that the officers arrived on the scene Nov. 6, 2008, after Susan Kerstetter, Kerstetter’s mother, called a neighbor to inquire about her son, who was suffering from depression and bipolar disorder and had not responded to her repeated telephone calls.

Records show a maintenance worker at the condominium called police when he and the neighbor arrived at Kerstetter’s townhouse and discovered the front door was ajar, with the lock broken. Susan Kerstetter later told police her son informed her the night before the shooting that he locked himself out of his house and forced open the door to get inside.

Douglas Sparks, an attorney representing Susan Kerstetter and her husband, Carl Kerstetter, released a four-page letter Tuesday that he sent May 1 to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty. The letter announces the Kerstetters’ plan to file a lawsuit, within a required six-month statute of limitations period, claiming the officers acted improperly by ignoring information they learned in advance that David Kerstetter had a history of mental illness.

“At least eight rounds were fired, and five pierced David’s body,” Sparks said in his letter. “The trajectory of the rounds that hit David, as well as those that missed him, establishes that the officers fired downward,” Sparks said in the letter.

He told the Blade in a telephone interview Tuesday that information uncovered about bullet trajectory and blood spatter, which he obtained from an independent ballistics expert he hired on behalf of the Kerstetters, raises serious questions about the officers’ claim that Kerstetter lunged at them with a knife.

Sparks’ letter to Fenty says the maintenance worker shouted into the house to ask whether Kerstetter was home. It says Kerstetter replied that he was home and wanted to be left alone.

“The police officers then stood just outside David’s front door for twenty to forty minutes while they spoke further with the maintenance man and neighbor, communicated via radio with police supervisors, and discussed David’s known mental illnesses (including a bipolar condition), his paranoia (including fear of armed police officers), and his history of depression following the death of his partner one year earlier,” Sparks said in the letter.

“The officers apparently knew of no standard protocol to follow when responding to calls involving persons in crises or persons known to suffer from mental illness — whether from a lack of standards or a lack of training to carry out existing standards,” Sparks said in his letter.

“David was cowering inside along the back wall adjacent to his master bedroom,” Sparks said in his letter. “He was trying to keep away from the officers and their guns, which were pointed at him.”

Sparks said he and the Kerstetters have yet to decide on the amount of money the wrongful lawsuit will seek from the city for compensation over their son's death.

He said the parents, among other things, would request through the lawsuit, that the police department put in place procedures and an officer training program to prevent another police shooting of someone suffering from mental illness.

"This was completely preventable," Sparks said.

Acting Lt. Brett Parson, who oversees the police liaison units, including the Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, could be called as a government witness if the Kerstetters’ lawsuit goes to trial.

Parson said at the time of the shooting that he and other officers associated with the GLLU had responded to calls to police about reported disturbances occurring at David Kerstetter’s townhouse over a period of several years prior to his death. Parson said some of the calls stemmed from reports of alleged domestic violence between Kerstetter and his domestic partner, who died in 2007 of natural causes. Parson said police always thoroughly review cases where officers use deadly force to determine whether police procedures and practices should be changed or revised.

Washington Blade

Wanda Sykes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

2009-05-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Missouri Sen. Jolie Justus of Kansas City weds partner in Iowa ceremony

2009-05-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Missouri Sen. Jolie Justus said Sunday that she boarded a bus Friday for Iowa, where same-sex marriage is legal, to wed her partner of nearly two years.

Justus, a Kansas City Democrat, said she married Shonda Garrison of mid-Missouri in a ceremony in Iowa City.

The two were among 17 Missouri couples who took advantage of the recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.

Justus, 38, said Friday was one of the best days of her life, but it also was bittersweet because the marriage carries no legal weight in Missouri.

“We felt, though, that it was important that we be able to make that commitment to each other. My hope is that someday marriage will be recognized by Missouri and federally.”

In 2004, Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Kansas City

House approves hate crimes bill

2009-04-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

Following heated debate, the U.S. House approved legislation Wednesday that would enable the Justice Department to prosecute hate crimes committed against LGBT people.

The bill, passed 249-175, would allow the Justice Department to assist in the prosecution of hate crimes committed against LGBT people that result in death or serious injury. The federal government could lend its assistance to local authorities or take the lead if local officials are unwilling or unable to prosecute cases.

Should the measure pass the Senate and be signed into law by a supportive President Obama, it also would make grants available to state and local communities to train law enforcement officials, combat hate crimes committed by juveniles and investigate bias-motivated violence.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised her fellow House members Wednesday for approving the legislation and noted the bill backs up protections embodied in the U.S. Constitution.

"Today, with the passage of federal hate crimes legislation, we have affirmed these ideals and the inclusiveness that our nation stands for by extending the protection of its laws to all," she said.

House rules governing debate prevented any amendments from being offered on the floor. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) made a motion to recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee, but it failed, 141-185.

During debate, proponents of the measure argued that its passage would help protect groups of people that historically have been the targets of violence because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), the newest openly gay member of Congress, invoked on the House floor the memory of Angie Zapata, a Colorado transgender woman who was murdered last summer and whose killer was convicted last week of committing a hate crime against her.

"What makes this so odious is that they are not just crimes committed against an individual — they are committed against entire communities," he said.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), the only out lesbian in Congress, said the legislation's passage would strengthen responses to the "domestic terrorism" that some groups have suffered.

"The House has an opportunity to reintroduce the principle of equal rights and equal protections in the Constitution," she said.

But opponents of the measure argued that the legislation unfairly creates special classes of people under the law and would enable U.S. officials to prosecute religious leaders if they preach against homosexuality.

Supporters of the measure countered that the bill explicitly contains language to ensure the bill doesn't infringe on any constitutional rights.

In her arguments against the measure, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) dismissed the relevance of the death of the Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was killed in 1998 near Laramie, Wyo., because of his sexual orientation.

"We know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery," she said. "It wasn't because he was gay. This — the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."

Brad Luna, a Human Rights Campaign spokesperson, later condemned Foxx for the remark.

"Vile lies, like the one spread by Rep. Foxx today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about Matthew's brutal hate-fueled murder, continues to underscore how extreme anti-LGBT opponents have become," he said. "It is no longer acceptable in this day and age to just come right out and say you don't like gay people. Instead, extremist opponents of equality must resort to these types of malicious and twisted lies. Rep. Foxx should be ashamed of herself."

But opponents of the measure were unrelenting. Rep. Jason Chafferz (R-Utah) urged rejection of the bill because he said it's unconstitutional. He also railed against how the bill "gives special protections … to certain persons based on their lifestyle choices" and not members of the U.S. armed services.

"It is unbelievable to me that … those who have chosen different personal lifestyles deserve more protection than those who have chosen to serve their country," he said. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) countered that the hate crimes bill was a "carefully crafted measure" and criticized arguments that gays choose their lifestyle and don't deserve protections under the law.

"Our gay and lesbian [friends] don't choose their lifestyle, they are who they are, and they should be protected like everyone else," he said.

In his arguments against the bill, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said the bill should be rejected because the federal government has no evidence that hate crimes are committed against people because of their gender identity. He noted that the Hate Crimes Statistics Act allows the Justice Department to collect data on hate crimes committed against people because of sexual orientation, but doesn't mention gender identity.

But U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the longest-serving openly gay member of Congress, responded by saying Pence's comments smack of a line once given by comedian Chico Marx: "Who are you going to believe? Me or your own eyes?" The debate culminated with a late afternoon vote that won fast praise from many organizations, including the Democratic National Committee.

"I congratulate the House of Representatives," said DNC chair Tim Kaine, "and I urge the Senate to take swift action on this important civil rights issue so that the president may sign the bill into law."

Log Cabin Republicans also lauded the House bill's free speech protections.

"This legislation specifically protects First Amendment rights and preserves and protects the rights of all Americans to express their own individual opinions, be it in the public square, in their private homes or their pulpits," said Charles Moran, a Log Cabin spokesperson. "This is not hate-speech legislation — it is hate-crime legislation."

In a related development, the Senate took the first step Tuesday toward passing hate crimes legislation when Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced the Senate version of the bill.

Kennedy said in a statement the legislation was "long overdue" and "hate crimes are especially poisonous."

"They are acts of domestic terrorism that target whole communities, not just individuals," he said. "This bill will bring greater protection to our citizens and much-needed resources for state and local law enforcement to fight these vicious crimes."

Other sponsors of the Senate bill include Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Arlen Specter (D-Pa.). A Senate Judiciary Committee spokesperson said she didn't immediately know when the committee would take up the legislation.
Wash Blade

Anti-Gay Bullying Claims Another: Jaheem Herrera, 11, Kills Himself

2009-04-21T15:41:00.001-07:00

Jaheem Herrera. Remember his name, as it joins the list of names that already includes Eric Mohat, Lee Simpson, and Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover — because like them, 11-year-old Herrera took his own life after facing anti-gay torment in school.

He hung himself. With a fabric belt. His 10-year-old sister Yerralis found him in his room, hanging there.

Students at Dunaire Elementary School, home of the Dolphins in Stone Mountain, Georgia, called Herrera "gay and a snitch," says his stepfather. Jamheem's sister, who was in the fifth grade with her brother, witnessed the harassment on several occasions. And her family was aware he was a target for bullying; they just didn't know how bad it was.

And as if this story couldn't get any worse, Herrera told school teachers and staff about the harassment. It's unclear what their response was, and fingers will be pointed. At school administrators. At students. At the parents.

But there is no winner here. We lost another young life because of anti-gay bullying in schools. And yet we still have folks like Tennessee's State Rep. Stacey Campfield demanding schools not even be allowed to have frank discussions about sexuality. Because as we've seen here, repression and ignoring the issue work so well.

With each new life taken too early, the media attention to this issue grows. And soon, if we don't force schools to address the issue, these little boys will no longer warrant much press coverage, because their numbers will be too many to make any incident. And letting them become a statistic is no way to honor these boys.

Meanwhile, the website of Dunaire Elementary School continues to scroll this message across the homepage: "It is our mission to provide students with an educational program designed to promote individual success and lifelong achievement."
Queerty

Meghan McCain Supports Gay Marriage

2009-04-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

John McCain’s daughter Meghan writes in the Daily Beast this week about her support for same-sex marriage on the eve of her speech at the Log Cabin Republicans convention in D.C., which starts Thursday.

“Of all the causes I believe in and speak publicly about, this is one of the ones closest to my heart,” Meghan writes. “If the Republican Party has any hope of gaining substantial support from a wider, younger base, we need to get past our anti-gay rhetoric.”

On that point, I couldn’t agree more. It’s refreshing to hear that realization from a Republican and not just gay Democrats. She goes on to praise the work of Log Cabin, without acknowledging that it’s a rudderless group right now, bereft of leadership following the resignation of its executive director, Patrick Sammon, in January and the departure of other key staffers — Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron — who are now starting a rival organization, GOProud.

There are other problems with Meghan’s take on gay issues and the role of Log Cabin in fighting for them. Chief among her shortcomings is timing.

It’s easy to adopt these “progressive” stances when the campaign is over and you’re looking for a provocative gimmick to get yourself booked on Larry King and “The View.” But when Meghan’s pro-gay views might have mattered, she was silent, much like Steve Schmidt, the McCain campaign’s chief strategist who recently told the Blade that he too favors same-sex marriage rights.

In fact, the Blade reached out to Meghan several times during the campaign for comment. We sensed that she was a new kind of Republican, one who doesn’t subscribe to the Rush Limbaugh-enforced code that the GOP remain beholden to the most out-of-touch Christian conservatives on the far right. She declined all interview requests, while her father supported Proposition 8 in California and a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Arizona.

To be sure, John McCain didn’t receive credit from gay rights groups for moderating his campaign’s tone on gay issues. His Prop 8 support was tepid and, in sharp contrast to President Bush, the Republican National Convention under McCain mostly ignored gay issues.

Now we learn that McCain’s daughter and chief campaign strategist are more progressive on gay rights than Barack Obama. That’s nice to know, but of little consequence now that the campaign is over.

Meghan goes on to express sympathy for the plight of those poor, maligned gay Republicans. “As you can imagine, the road for gay Republicans hasn't been an easy one,” she writes, noting that a gay friend of hers worries about what prospective dates will think of his political views.

The persecuted gay Republican storyline is overplayed and stale. Sorry, but if you support a party that seeks to marginalize you in the nation’s Constitution, you’re going to take some hits. Deal with it. There are plenty of principled gay Republicans who stood up to their party in 2004 when Bush and Karl Rove were cynically using marriage as a wedge issue. Gay D.C. Council member David Catania, for example, quit the party and became an independent because of Bush’s push for a Federal Marriage Amendment. Patrick Guerriero, then head of Log Cabin, refused to endorse Bush’s re-election over the issue.

Meghan’s blind praise of party savior and “rock star” Ronald Reagan — another tired storyline — ignores the array of anti-gay consequences of his presidency, from the rise of the Christian right to his disastrous handling of the AIDS epidemic to his appointment of Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court.

Meghan and Schmidt deserve kudos for their pro-gay views and public advocacy within the party. And partisan critics should avoid dismissing Meghan as a dilettante trading in on her name — she’s a Columbia University grad who has more than held her own in national media appearances and who even faced down Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham. If the party is to change, voices like hers are desperately needed.

But the dialogue shouldn’t attempt to rewrite the history or downplay the seriousness of the GOP’s homophobia. And going forward, voices like Steve Schmidt’s and Meghan McCain’s would be more useful in the heat of the campaign rather than in the aftermath of defeat when the spotlight has moved on.

Washington Blade

11-Year-Old Hangs Himself after Enduring Daily Anti-Gay Bullying

2009-04-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

GLSEN Calls on Schools, Nation to Embrace Solutions to Bullying Problem

NEW YORK, April 9, 2009 - An 11-year-old Massachusetts boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hung himself Monday after enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother's weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year.

Carl, a junior at New Leadership Charter School in Springfield who did not identify as gay, would have turned 12 on April 17, the same day hundreds of thousands of students will participate in the 13th annual National Day of Silence. by taking some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying and harassment at school. The other

three known cases of suicide among middle-school students took place in Chatham, Evanston and Chicago, Ill., in the month of February.

"Our hearts go out to Carl's mother, Sirdeaner L. Walker, and other members of Carl's family, as well as to the community suffering from this loss," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. "As we mourn yet another tragedy involving bullying at school, we must heed Ms. Walkerï¿½s urgent call for real, systemic, effective responses to the endemic problem of bullying and harassment. Especially in this time of societal crisis, adults in schools must be alert to the heightened pressure children face, and take action to create safe learning environments for the students in their care. In order to do that effectively, as this case so tragically illustrates, schools must deal head-on with anti-gay language and behavior."

Two of the top three reasons students said their peers were most often bullied at school were actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression, according to From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, a 2005 report by GLSEN and Harris Interactive. The top reason was physical appearance.

"As was the case with Carl, you do not have to identify as gay to be attacked with anti-LGBT language," Byard said. "From their earliest years on the school playground, students learn to use anti-LGBT language as the ultimate weapon to degrade their peers. In many cases, schools and teachers either ignore the behavior or donï¿½t know how to intervene."

Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT youth (86.2%) reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation, nearly half (44.1%) reported being physically harassed and about a quarter (22.1%) reported being physically assaulted, according to GLSENï¿½s 2007 National School Climate Survey of more than 6,000 LGBT students.

In most cases, the harassment is unreported. Nearly two-thirds of LGBT students (60.8%) who experience harassment or assault never reported the incident to the school. The most common reason given was that they didnï¿½t believe anything would be done to address the situation. Of those who did report the incident, nearly a third (31.1%) said the school staff did nothing in response. While LGBT youth face extreme victimization, bullying in general is also a widespread problem. More than a third of middle and high school students (37%) said that bullying, name-calling or harassment is a somewhat or very serious problem at their school, according to From Teasing to Torment. Bullying is even more severe in middle school. Two-thirds of middle school students (65%) reported being assaulted or harassed in the previous year and only 41% said they felt very safe at school.

Carl's suicide comes about a year after eighth-grader Lawrence King was shot and killed by a fellow student in a California classroom, allegedly because he was gay.

GLSEN recommends four simple approaches schools can take to begin addressing bullying now.

Said Walker in the Springfield Republican: "If anything can come of this, it's that another child doesn't have to suffer like this and there can be some justice for some other child. I don't want any other parent to go through this."

About GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.

GLSEN

Syracuse University 'Considering' Paying Gay Staff More For Tax Inequalities

2009-04-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

"Because federal law doesn't recognize gay marriage, Wrigley and other same-sex couples pay taxes on their SU benefits, healthcare and tuition costs, unlike their heterosexual married colleagues. [...] To combat this inequality, SU may consider providing what's called "grossing up" to its employees. The university would pay Wrigley and other same-sex couples more to make up for the extra government taxes. This would ensure all employees pay the same amount for the same coverage. A movement to guarantee equal benefits for all couples at SU began approximately three years ago through the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Committee in the University Senate, SU's governing body of faculty and staff. But gay partners still pay more for their benefits today, despite the committee's lobbying. SU also requires heterosexual couples to be legally married to receive any benefits." [Daily Orange]

4 Student Suicides, But Ohio School Won't Admit to Bullying

2009-04-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Lawrence King was one too many. But as we know, harassment and violence toward gay youth (or children branded as "gay" by classmates) are not a series of isolated incidents. In 2007, 17-year-old Eric Mohat killed himself after endless gay-hate taunting. Now Mohat's parents are identifying those who they see responsible: the school's administrators and teachers. And they're suing.

But they're not in it for the money. At least, they're not asking for any; the lawsuit they filed late last month does not ask for any compensation, only that Mentor High School in Ohio acknowledge Mohat's death as a "bullicide." (Named in the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, are administrators Jacqueline A. Hoynes and Joseph Spiccia, and math teacher Thomas M. Horvath.)

Why so significant? Because Mohat wasn't the only one. Three other students in Mohat's class killed themselves in 2007. The three kids, two boys and a girl, were described as "extremely bright," but they were branded "nerds" by classmates, and viciously harassed before they took their own lives. (Another male student wrote a suicide note two weeks after Mohat's death; he did not kill himself.)

Reports ABCNews.com:

Eric Mohat — whose friends knew him as "Twiggy" for his lean, 6-foot-1-inch, 112-pound physique — had a dry wit and musical talent, according to his mother, Jan Mohat. He had played piano for 13 years, enjoyed video games, anime, Harry Potter books and "cracking puzzles."

"By all indications he was a very nice, typical high school kid, kind of quiet and shy, but outgoing with his little group of friends," said the family's lawyer Ken Myers. "He seemed to have a quirky sense of humor and was also very sensitive."

The bullying "accumulated over time," Myers told ABCNews.com. "In math class, two or three picked on him constantly and mercilessly. Most of it was verbal, but they did some things like sitting behind him and flicking him in the ear, sticking stuff in his hoodie and putting eraser shavings on his head. Out of class they would shove him in lockers."

Much of the taunting was related to him being considered gay, though Eric Mohat's parents said the teen "didn't identify himself that way," Myers said.

"He may have looked effeminate, was in theater and would wear bright clothes," said Myers. "He was a skinny kid, and so the kids found something that bothered him and went for that."

The parents say Eric Mohat routinely ignored the teasing but complained to the teacher, who responded by moving the bullies' desks.

"The next day, they were back and it made it worse," said Myers. "They may have thought he was a snitch and the parents didn't know how bad it was."

But March 29, 2007, one bully pushed Eric Mohat too far with a remark about killing himself, the lawsuit alleges. The teen took a legally registered gun from his father's bureau drawer, locked himself in his room and shot himself in the head.

At the time, Eric Mohat's older sister, Erin, was on a treadmill exercising. His after-school employer called their home to find out why he had not shown up at work.

Erin Mohat found her brother's body in his bedroom and called 911. Now 21, his sister is studying to be a school psychologist, something Jan Mohat said is now "a calling."

"My sister is my hero," Eric Mohat had written on his MySpace page, though she was too late to save him.

Later authorities found a story Eric Mohat had begun to write about bullying. Days before, he had told his mother about the nonstop taunts in both class and in the hallways of the high school.

The family said school officials had been resistant to cooperate in the investigation and had insisted bullying was not a problem; the bullies never showed remorse.

"This is the first we heard that a suit was filed," said Justin Maynor, communications director for the Mentor Public School District. "We had a hunch it was coming."

Meanwhile, Mentor Public School District communications director Justin Maynor has the audacity to say, "Generally, there is a very low incidence of violence at the school. Considering its population, it's a relatively serene place." And the "several" student suicides in the "last couple of years"? Maynor insists they have no connection to bullying. "We don't believe it's a problem."

Queerty

Insemination fight leads to arrest of lesbian's wife

2009-04-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

PITTSFIELD — A woman who allegedly intended to artificially inseminate her wife with her brother's semen has been charged with domestic assault and battery.

Pittsfield police responded to a call shortly before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the city's Morningside neighborhood, where the assault allegedly occurred.

Stephanie K. Lighten, 26, was released on personal recognizance after denying the allegations in Central Berkshire District Court Wednesday morning.

Jennifer A. Lighten, 33, told police that Stephanie Lighten, her wife, was "all liquored up" when she returned to their Lincoln Street apartment, where the defendant then allegedly tried to use a syringe to inseminate her, according to a police report.

Jennifer told investigating officers that Stephanie "has been talking about trying to impregnate (her) for some time," police said.

According to a report by Pittsfield Police Officer Kipp D. Steinman: "Jennifer said that Stephanie had a 'turkey baster and her brother's semen in a sealed container.' Jennifer said she told Stephanie that she didn't want to get pregnant." The device was actually a large syringe with a catheter tip, police said, and it was still in its original package when officers confiscated the item.

That's allegedly when Stephanie threw Jennifer on the couch, grabbed at her clothes and threatened to impregnate her, police said.

Jennifer broke free, ran into the bathroom and locked the door. Stephanie "then broke the bathroom door down," police said, hurting her wrist in the process.

When Stephanie went to retrieve an ice pack from the freezer, Jennifer bolted from the apartment and attempted to get away in the couple's sport utility vehicle, police said.

As Jennifer pulled away from the scene, Stephanie "jumped on the side of their vehicle, swung the door open and made (Jennifer) stop," Steinman said.

According to Officer John Bassi, a witness at the scene claimed Stephanie "was hanging on the SUV door handle, trying to get into the car." Amber Hunt told Bassi that Stephanie nearly caused an accident when the vehicle narrowly missed hitting a tree in the front yard of Hunt's Spring Street home.

Police arrested Stephanie Lighten near the intersection of Spring and Curtis streets in Morningside.

Police also confiscated the container of semen and some aluminum foil, which was originally used to hold the semen. Nicholas Lighten, Stephanie Lighten's brother, was the donor, according to police.

Detective Thomas H. Harrington said Jennifer Lighten declined "to go forward with charges of assault with intent to rape" because she did not believe "Stephanie was going to sexually assault her with the syringe." However, Harrington informed the alleged victim that attempted rape charges could be filed if she changes her mind.

Stephanie Lighten was represented by attorney Thomas J. Donahue Jr. at Wednesday's arraignment.

Judge Rita S. Koenigs ordered Lighten to "refrain from abuse" and to return to court for an April 29 pretrial hearing.

Local men fall victim to hate crime in Oregon

2009-03-31T08:53:00.001-07:00

SEASIDE, Ore. -- A spring break trip to the Oregon coast was short cut by a vicious gay bashing for two nursing students from Western Washington.

The two men, Sam, 22, and Kevin, 23, said they left a campfire to walk along the beach during what was supposed to be a stress-free getaway. But the walk itself was anything but stress free -- the two were beaten unconscious late Saturday night.

When Sam and Kevin finally came to, the two nursing students knew just how serious their injuries were.

"The whole event -- I really don't remember a lot, because I sustained a lot of head trauma," said Sam.

"I've never had a face trauma like this or anything like that. It's pretty bad," Kevin said.

Thinking back to the attack, the two men said they believe it was their sexual orientation that made them a target.

"All of the sudden, someone asked if were gay, called us 'fags,' then started punching us," said Sam.

The victims said three or four young men dressed in black attacked them, letting loose punch after punch.

The attack left the two men severely injured and bruised. Kevin's right eye is so badly damaged he plans to see a plastic surgeon on Wednesday.

"It's upsetting to know that people can be so angry," said Sam. "We're easy-going people, and were just having a good time and meeting new friends. Some people can be so malicious and narrow-minded."

The attackers left the couple lying on the beach, unconscious. The two young men later stumbled into a nearby hotel for help.

"They didn't know my limit, how much I could take before we would die or sustain irreversible head trauma," said Kevin.

Sam and Kevin say neither of them has ever been in a fight before, much less punched in the face. They worry this one violent moment has changed them.

"You really don't know what kind of people are out there until something like this happens to you," said Kevin.

"I think people like that don't deserve to be walking the streets," said Sam.

Kevin has medical insurance, but Sam does not. Sam estimates his medical bills will top $1,500.

Detectives want to speak to the individuals who were present at the campfire prior to the attack. Anyone with information on these individuals' identities is urged to call the Seaside Police Department at (503) 738-6311.

KomoNews

NH House Approves Gay Marriage Bill

2009-03-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

The New Hampshire House voted Thursday to allow gay marriage. The bill now goes to the Senate and if it passes there, to Governor John Lynch's office. Lynch, a Democrat, says he opposes the bill, but has not indicated whether he will veto it or not. The bill narrowly passed, with a vote of 186-179. 12 House Republicans voted for it, while 26 Democrats opposed it.

The A.P. reports:

"Two years ago, the Legislature approved, and Lynch signed, civil unions for gays, which provide all the rights of marriage, except in name.

Civil unions are not marriage, said Rep. David Pierce, D-Etna. The law should respect and support his life with his partner and their two daughters.

"When my children grow up to be old enough to know what discrimination is, they should not have to learn they were the objects of it," he said.

He said gays should be allowed to marry, just as women won the right to vote and people of different races the right to marry.

"It is separate but equal all over again. Would you volunteer to ride at the back of the bus? Would you volunteer to give up your marriage license for a civil union license?" said Pierce.

Brookline Democratic Rep. Melanie Levesque, who is black and married to a white man, said her marriage was still a crime in Virginia in the mid-1960s.

"We have had a long history of challenging conventional wisdom — the Earth is flat, people from different continents should not marry, people who are the same should not marry," she said.

Republicans who voted against the bill said gay marriage defies nature and could harm children.

Rep. John Cebrowski, of Bedford, said, "You cannot make two similar things into something they were never meant to be." Rep. Laura Gandia, of Litchfield, called it "the most radical redefinition of marriage that can be imposed."
Queerty

Ecstasy bust hits Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

2009-03-05T09:02:00.000-08:00

THOUSANDS of ecstasy tablets destined for Saturday's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney were taken out of circulation last night after a major police operation.

Strike Force Boult, a four-month undercover investigation, ended in police from the Surry Hills Regional Enforcement Squad swooping on a McDonalds restaurant at Kingswood shortly after 10.30pm (AEDT) to arrest a 22-year-old man.

Ryan Kirkbride, from Wentworthville, was charged with selling a large commercial supply of a prohibited drug.

Police will allege Mr Kirkbride was organising the supply of 2000 ecstasy pills for Saturday's Mardi Gras.

Worth about $80,000 on the streets, police, more importantly, believe the arrest has ended a valuable supply chain to this weekend's gay parade.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Catherine Burn hailed the bust as a significant blow ahead of the parade.

"We will be alleging that the drugs were destined for the Mardi Gras parade," Ms Burn told The Daily Telegraph last night.

"The disruption of this drug supply chain has put a dent into the market and it will reduce the amount of drugs available.

"It's essential that people understand we are going to target drug crime up to and including the Mardi Gras parade."

Strike Force Boult was formed last October, targeting large scale ecstasy supply in the Sydney area.

Police will allege Kirkbride sold a large commercial quantity of ecstasy to an undercover officer numerous times during the investigation.

It culminated last night with his arrest for organising the sale of a further 2000 pills.

A large amount of pills were allegedly found in Kirkbride's car after his arrest.

Three separate cars were hit during the arrest, however police charged only Kirkbride.

He provided little resistance.

At the same time police raided his home in Wentworthville.

"It is an extremely significant result for the Surry Hills Regional Enforcement Squad," Ms Burn said.
She praised the work of officers involved in the operation.

"There is a link to the Mardi Gras," she said. "It's a win for the NSW Police force just before a major event in Sydney."

More than 10,000 gays and lesbians are expected to march in the Mardi Gras.

The Australian

Lawsuit over gay-marriage speech at L.A. City College spurs reactions

2009-03-04T05:23:00.001-08:00

Ruben Rivera was dropping off papers to charter a new gay unity club at Los Angeles City College one recent day when he spotted half a dozen middle-aged people milling around the campus quad.

"God Hates Gays," their signs read. Memories came flooding back of fleeing New Jersey after his mother discovered his sexual orientation and threw him out of the family.

"I was almost transported to my adolescence in Vineland, N.J., feeling less than, feeling unworthy, feeling ashamed," said Rivera, 36, of Los Feliz.

The protesters appeared in support of Jonathan Lopez, a Christian student who has sued the Los Angeles Community College District, alleging that an instructor kept him from finishing a classroom speech about his religious beliefs and opposition to same-sex unions. Lopez has said he was discriminated against because of his religious views.

The late-November incident came at the height of emotional protests against the passage of Proposition 8, the gay-marriage ban. Lopez said the instructor, John Matteson, called him a "fascist bastard," told him to "ask God" for his grade and later threatened to retaliate against him for complaining. College officials said in court filings that disciplinary proceedings have begun against Matteson, but declined to be more specific.

The suit, filed Feb. 12, has inspired a wave of blog and media commentary. Lopez's lawyer from the Alliance Defense Fund, co-founded by James Dobson of Focus on the Family, has appeared on the popular Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor."

A dozen nasty e-mails winged their way to a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York biographer, who had the singular misfortune of sharing a name and occupation with Lopez's instructor.

"Some of them threatened my life," said the New York-based John Matteson, an associate professor of English at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Attorney David French said he and Lopez didn't know the protesters or approve of their methods. He said he believed that Lopez's suit struck a chord because conservative and religious voices are often silenced on liberal college campuses. The suit seeks to strike down a university code prohibiting speech that could offend classmates.

"If you take a position outside campus orthodoxy, you can be punished," French said.

Last year, the Alliance Defense Fund won a court injunction stopping San Francisco State University from punishing pro-Israel students who stomped on a flag bearing the name Allah, according to court papers French supplied.

"We've seen this on campuses across the country," French said.

Carl Friedlander, president of the L.A. City College faculty union, said there is no monolithic ideology at the campus. Several instructors said they were disturbed by the conduct described in Lopez's lawsuit but emphasized that they hadn't heard Matteson's side, Friedlander said.

Exactly what Lopez said in Matteson's class is unclear. Lopez turned down an interview request, Matteson did not respond to e-mails, and French said he did not know enough about the speech to detail it.

Lopez recited two Bible verses that had nothing to do with homosexuality, French said. He said Lopez also repeated a dictionary definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman and cited a passage from Genesis: "A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."

Two students said the speech disturbed them, and one called Lopez's presentation "hateful propaganda," according to court filings.

College President Jamillah Moore said hot-button issues including immigration are regularly debated on campus without incident. Instructors are responsible for controlling their classrooms, Moore said.

Friedlander said racial epithets and bigotry should not be tolerated in class. "Certain kinds of speech, I would not allow," he said.

On campus this week, there was little evidence of anti-religious bigotry. At lunchtime, one church group from nearby Koreatown stumped for an upcoming Bible study course. Another handed out plates of rice and salad to students.

Janette Puerto, 18, of Koreatown, one of the diners, said she feels comfortable sharing her religious views on campus. "I'm a Christian. Let the world know," she said.

Rivera, meanwhile, said he hoped that his club, Rainbow Alliance, would include men and women, gay and straight, and would serve as a haven for anybody who feels different.

And as officials moved the Lopez demonstrators to a campus free-speech zone, Rivera distributed leaflets for the club. Rivera said that many students grabbed them, telling him, "Good job, we're glad to see you're here."

The demonstrators may turn out to be his best recruiters, he said.

L.A. Times

Make-Up for Guys

2009-02-26T06:43:00.001-08:00

Oh sure, there was always Rob Thomas and his raccoon eyes, but the rise (and acceptance) of male make-up on the very modern model of a trendy metrosexual comes from two unique and opposing faces. In one corner, you have Pete Wentz, proponent of guyliner and super-duper emo action raccoon eyes. In the other, Zac Efron, King of Twinkopia, whose been spotted walking the red carpets wearing fake eyelashes, foundation, blush and lip balm. Whether "mancake" is acceptable for straight guys or not has been the subject of many probing in-depth journalistic exposés, but since we're gays, we're just going to skip the hand-wringing and move right on to all the pretty, pretty make-up that's out there for boys.

Guyliner

If there's any one single bit of make-up guys can get away with these days, it's eyeliner. Jack Sparrow does it, as does Russell Brand, Brandon Flowers, Pete Doherty and of course, Mr. Wentz, who recently said, he may be giving the make-up pencil a rest.

Who It's For:If you want that rock star, hard-partying look without all the late-night effort, look no further than guyliner. There's a definite emo-punk aesthetic attached to guyliner, so keep your guyliner to events that a rock star could conceivably attend. That is, grocery shopping in eyeliner isn't ironic, it's just sort of sad.

Brands for Guys: Pretty much any black eyeliner pencil (color is not an option) will do, but Taxi Cosmetics manufactures a brand called "Guyliner" that is "chunkier than the female equivalent and therefore easier for men, who have bigger hands."

mascara
Mascara

In much the same territory as guyliner, mascara is meant to make your eyes look dramatic and moody. Again, that means sticking to basic black and thinking you're a rock star. You can double up and do a guyliner, mascara combo for maximum impact, but be careful not to overdo it or you'll just look like the victim of a hate crime.

Who It's for: Men who are not ready for guyliner, but still want to look sensitive and artsy.

Brands for Guys: Studio 5ive offers up a Double Stroke Cream Mascara that promises to glide on smooth without clumps "unlike women's mascara", which is funny, because that's what all women's mascara promises, too. It comes in a single shade of brown.

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Concealer

At some point or another (namely during your pimply teenage years) you've reached for your Mom's foundation to cover up skin blemishes. Well, there's a better way to go about doing it than to turn into a human pancake: concealers, designed to conceal. It's important not to apply concealer to anything that's – how to put this politely – oozing, since you'll just wind up looking like a creepy zombie.

Who It's For: Everyone at some time or another. No reason to allow a date to be ruined because you have a giant red spot on your forehead.

Brands for Guys: The best (and most pedigreed) is Yves St. Laurent's "Touche Éclat for Men", part of a whole line YSL makes for guys. At the very least, the pen looks pretty butch.

clq_6535_250
Bronzer

Zac gets his effortless glow from a bottle, so why shouldn't you? After a long day at work, getting that sun-kissed look can be nearly impossible and with the sun being a giant ball of cancer, bronzer can help make you look, if not Effron fresh, a bit more youthful.

Who It's For: Angelenos, or people hoping to look like Angelenos. This goes doubly so if your name happens to be Ryan Seacrest.

Brands for Guys: Clinique Skin Supplies for Men offers up a non-streak bronzer that avoids many of the pitfalls of lesser brands—namely, that orange Oompa-Loompa look. It's not face cream, though, so be sparing. And always use less than you think you need.

Queerty

No Straight Kissing

2009-02-23T07:51:00.000-08:00

These signs are popping up around select British railway stations — part of their managers' effort to cut down on the rampant problem of people full on slobbering all over each other's faces in public. Ew, gross, nobody wants to see that. But as Jaunted postulates, does the male-female sign mean only heteros are barred from snogging, while the gays can still get it on?

Queerty

New Jersey Poll Finds Most Support Gay Marriage

2009-02-19T12:18:00.000-08:00

"About half of New Jerseyans believe that gay couples should be allowed to marry, according to a new poll. The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll released Wednesday finds that 48 percent of New Jersey residents favor gay marriage, with 43 percent opposed. Fifty percent oppose amending the state Constitution to ban gay marriage. Forty-one percent favor such a ban." [Newsday]

Lesbian Wedding On All My Children

2009-02-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

Gays are quiet allies of victim's parents

2009-02-17T07:47:00.000-08:00

In the two years since their 25-year-old son was stabbed to death in what police have called a gay-hate crime, Lynn and Pat Mulder have been embraced by gay activists, and they have hugged them right back.

But the trial of Joseph Bearden -- the first of two men charged with murder in the death of Ryan Keith Skipper -- has created a quandary for both the Mulders and gay-rights activists.

The Mulders want justice for their child. Gays want to bring attention to the case as a crime against their community.

Lynn Mulder said Assistant State Attorney Cass Castillo advised him that any conspicuous presence by the gay community, inside the courtroom or demonstrating outside the courthouse, could jeopardize the trial, which began Monday in Bartow. So the Mulders are asking them to show their support, but silently, unobtrusively. Until the trial is over, they're being asked to become invisible and voiceless."The jury cannot be influenced in their decision by any demonstration of support," Mulder said. "My only concern is they [the gay community] ought not to be easily identified as supporting one side or the other."

This is particularly problematic for Vicki Nantz, whose documentary on Skipper's killing, Accessory to Murder, is largely responsible for publicizing his death and making him the face of hate crimes against gays in Florida. But she is among those in the local gay community who have developed a close relationship with the Mulder family.

"If I didn't love Pat and Lynn Mulder, I would be standing there with a sign," Nantz said. "But the people most inclined to demonstrate have a personal relationship with Lynn and Pat, and that comes first with all of us. We'll put our activist hats in the drawer until this gets resolved for Lynn and Pat."

Before Skipper's killing March 17, 2007, the Mulders were not involved in gay issues. Since that time, they've become gay-rights activists -- appearing at protest rallies and events, joining gay organizations and offering solace to other parents whose children have been victims of crimes against gays.

"To the Mulders' credit, they have really stepped forward at a time when they could have simply withdrawn and become embittered," said Nadine Smith, head of Equality Florida, a gay-rights organization. "Instead they have been beacons of hope and kindness. They have really spoken out against hate violence."

Just as the Mulders have been there for the gay community, gays have been inclined to be there for the Mulders.

Nantz said she intends to be in the courtroom for the trial, keeping her emotions in check. Nantz has asked other gay activists to do the same.

"Everyone feels kind of conflicted. It's a conflict because the hate-crime anger is so personal for so many people," she said.

Gay groups, such as Equality Florida, also are encouraging their members to honor the wishes of the Mulders. But the urge to be there, to be vocal and demonstrate for justice, is a natural reaction, Smith said.

"There is a lot of anxiety that justice will not prevail, because we've seen it fail before," Smith said.

A major concern within the gay community is that the hate-crime aspect of Bearden's trial will be played down or ignored by prosecutors in pursuit of a first-degree murder conviction. Before their arrest, Bearden and William Brown Jr. told witnesses that Skipper was targeted because he was a homosexual. His body, stabbed 19 times, was dumped on a dirt road in Polk County. His stolen car was found 12 miles away, abandoned and partially burned.

Castillo declined to be interviewed, but another prosecutor in his office said the hate-crime charge is important only as a motive for murder. Being convicted of a hate crime would not increase the penalty Bearden would receive for first-degree murder, said prosecutor Wayne Durden.

Lynn Mulder insists that the hate aspect of the crime is an integral and important part of the trial: "Statistics indicate hate crimes are increasing, and this trial's outcome is important in addressing that."

Regardless of how it plays out in the courtroom, Smith said, Skipper's killing will always be viewed as a hate crime within the gay community.

"I don't think anyone who is familiar with this case has doubted for a moment that hate was at the heart of this act of brutality," Smith said.

Mulder said gays will have their opportunity to stand up, be seen and voice their satisfaction -- or outrage -- after the trial. But for now, the larger issue of hate and violence against gays needs to take a back seat to a family's desire to see a fair trial and a conviction.

"The time to use this to promote the issues is once the conviction is made," he said.

The gay community, which two years ago was unknown to the Mulders, now looks to them for guidance.

"All you have to do is look at the mother of a dead son and realize what your responsibility is in the courtroom," Nantz said. "I will look at Pat Mulder and know my place and my role."

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Barnich, former judge considered a gay ‘trailblazer’

2009-02-13T03:23:00.000-08:00

By ALLAN TURNER

Houston AIDS activist and former Municipal Court Judge John Paul Barnich, the first openly gay man to become a city court judge in Texas, died Monday from diabetes-related illness. He was 63.

Appointed to the court by then-Mayor Lee Brown in 1999, Barnich served as a judge until October 2007, when failing health led him to resign. He served as a part-time adjudication hearing officer, specializing in parking and red light camera cases, until his death.

“He was a wonderful, kind person. A character. He had a sense of humor that to me was very unique,” said presiding Municipal Court Judge Berta Mejia. “He was very thoughtful. He will be missed.”

Mejia said Barnich’s community involvement — he was a former board chairman of Houston AIDS Foundation Inc. — and his work in juvenile cases as a lawyer enhanced his stature as a judge.

State District Judge Steven Kirkland, a one-time city court judge who also is gay, called him a “trailblazer.”

“I was lucky to follow him,” said Kirkland.