California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban

By Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court ruled today that same-sex couples should be permitted to marry, rejecting state marriage laws as discriminatory.

The long-awaited court decision stemmed from San Francisco's highly publicized same-sex weddings, which in 2004 helped spur a conservative backlash in a presidential election year and a national dialogue over gay rights.

full article

Cayman Islands: Homosexualty should be outlawed

Recently a gay American was detained in the Cayman Islands due to a public display of affection towards his lover. [article]

Then there was an apology. [article]

Then there was mention of a boycott. [article]

So I visited the Cayman’s National Newspaper site, caycompass.com.

And noticed this poll:

and these results:

Ball State student says attack was hate crime

by Nick Werner
The Star Press
Indiana

MUNCIE -- A gay Ball State University student said he and his friends were attacked in The Village early Friday morning because of their sexuality.

"I consider it a hate crime," said the student, Kyle Flood.

Flood, 21, Indianapolis, suffered a swollen eye, cuts and bruises and a scratched cornea that required treatment at Ball Memorial Hospital.

No arrests had been made as of Monday.

Ball State University Police Chief Gene Burton said attacks on gay students were rare.

full article

DSM-V to approve of ex-gay therapy?

by Mercedes Allen
Bilerico Project

The APA has created a task force appointed to revise the Manual for Diagnosis of Mental Disorders in preparation for the DSM-V.

On the Task Force, named as Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Chair, we find Dr. Kenneth Zucker, from Toronto's infamous Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH, formerly the Clarke Institute). Dr. Zucker is infamous for utilizing reparative (i.e. "ex-gay") therapy to "cure" gender-variant children. Named to his work group, we find Zucker's mentor, Dr. Ray Blanchard, Head of Clinical Sexology Services at CAMH and creator of the theory of autogynephilia, categorized as a paraphilia and defined as "a man's paraphilic tendency to be sexually aroused by the thought or image of himself as a woman."

A danger that gay and lesbian communities need to be cognizant of is that if Zucker and company entrench conversion therapy in the DSM-V, then it is a clear, dangerous step toward also legitimizing ex-gay therapy and re-stigmatizing homosexuality.

full article

eco-ball: Miami's Only Gay Prom 'Goes Green'

by Steve Rothaus
Miami Herald

Miami - On Saturday, June 14, 2008 fashion and fun will go green at the 13th Annual Pridelines GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) Youth Prom at Florida International University's Wolfe University Center in North Miami. Over 500 youth ages 13-20 are expected to party at South Florida's only prom for GLBTQ youth and their allies in a safe, affirming environment.

The Pridelines Runway Goes Green prom will feature a special appearance by Dani Campbell from MTVs "A Shot of Love" with Tila Tequila. Youth are invited to use recyclable materials to create their prom outfits and enter the Glamorous Runway contest, where contestants will be voted for Fashionisto (Prom) King and Fashionista (Prom) Queen.

full article

Magic Kingdom: For a day or so, it's the gayest place on earth

by Loann Halden
OutTraveler.com

In 1991, a small gay group donned eye-catching red shirts and gathered at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, having no idea that word of mouth would propel their ''Gay Day'' outing into an event of epic proportions. Within six years, attendance had swelled to 60,000, and a single day had morphed into nearly a week of activities.

When Gay Day unfolds this year -- it's always on the first Saturday in June -- an estimated 135,000 gays and lesbians are expected to converge in Central Florida. The state's largest gay pride festival, held in St. Petersburg, draws about half that number.

full article

Singapore Police Raid Gay Sauna; arrest owner

by Ng Yi-Sheng
The Online Citizen

Last Friday, 25 April 2008, there was a police raid at a gay sauna named One Seven. Though none of the clients were arrested, the 74 year-old owner, Sam was injured by the supervising officer and arrested and jailed overnight for allegedly having assaulted the officer, a charge that he denies. No explanation was given for the raid – on being asked, the officers refused to produce a warrant and simply repeated over and over again that they were conducting a “spot check”.

full article

Berlin Pays Tribute to Gay-Rights Activist Persecuted by Nazis

A stretch of the Spree River in central Berlin was named after gay-rights activist and sexual researcher Magnus Hirschfeld in a dedication ceremony on Tuesday, May 6.

On the same day 75 years ago, the Nazis plundered his offices and later burned hundreds of his books.

Hirschfeld had founded the world's first institute dedicated to fighting discrimination against homosexuals. He went into exile in France and died there in 1935.

full article

The 24th Annual Boston Gay and Lesbian Film/Video Festival, May 7-18, 2008

For the seventeenth consecutive year, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston presents a dynamic, international roster of films exploring gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience and culture. This year’s festival comprises 24 programs.

Visit the website for more information

Political Notebook: Award recognizes Mixner's pioneering ways

by Matthew S. Bajko
The Bay Area Reporter

There isn't much that David Mixner hasn't done in the course of his 61 years. Nor is there a chapter in American political history over the last five decades in which Mixner didn't play some role.

He became an activist in the civil rights movement over the objections of his parents and protested the Vietnam War. He worked closely with the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk to defeat an anti-gay measure that would have barred gays from being teachers.

full article

'Hate crimes' target Jewish, LGBT students

Written by PATRICK McCARTNEY
The California Aggie
UC Davis

A pair of acts of vandalism targeting the Jewish and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities has angered student groups, who have decried the incidents as hate crimes.

At the beginning of last week's La Raza Cultural Days,sophomorepsychology major Joel Juarez placed over 75 posters in Olson, Hart, Wellman and Young halls advertising "Consciencia y Resistancia," an event recognizing the intersection of the queer and Latino identities.
The posters depicted two men embracing each other,but nothing "graphic or offensive," said Juarez, the Gender & Sexuality Coordinator for Yik'al Kuyum, the Chicano/a and Latino/a Holistic Student Support Program for the Student Recruitment and Retention Center.

full article

Seattle: Inlaws & Outlaws Screening & Discussion

The Center for LGBTQ in Seattle, Washington a screening & discussion Event Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30p.m. at KCTS 9 Studio.

With remarkable honesty, good humor, great music and real heart, Inlaws & Outlaws weaves together true stories of couples and singles, gay and straight to celebrate what we all have in common: we love.

full article and more information

Forum focuses on LGBTs and immigration

by Amy Wooten
Windy City Times

During the week of the large immigration march downtown, members of the community gathered at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, to discuss the many ways LGBT and immigration issues intersect.

At the April 30 Immigration at the Margins conference, members of various aspects of the LGBT community touched on just a small number of ways immigration issues impact the LGBT community, from corner day workers and sex workers to domestic violence.

“A lot of us are part of many worlds—queer, immigrants and more,” said community activist and Windy City Times writer Yasmin Nair. “A lot of us have to deal with immigration.”

During a two-hour discussion, conference participants tried to shed light on issues complicated by immigration issues.

full article

Planning Board member won't resign

This is a 2nd followup. In the previous followup Edward Thomas had resigned.

Of course this all stems from the original story where;

Planning board vice chair Edward Thomas told the attorney: “Before you
start, I would like to remind you that is an application for a child’s desert
shop, and your commentary, if you could please refrain from making any
statements extending from your own possibly inappropriate sexual ‘preferences’
in this matter.”

The attorney said, “I don’t know what inappropriate sexual ‘preferences’
are.”

Edward Thomas said, “Keep your pedophilia to yourself, and talk to the
facts.”

Carol Gorga Williams of The Asbury Park Press reports:

Vice Chairman Edward Thomas, who before the April 22 City Council meeting told Mayor Adam Schneider that he would “retire'' in the wake of the furor over comments he made March 18, said he believes he has widespread support in the town where his family has lived for generations. He said he will no longer consider leaving the board he has served for more than 20 years.

Schneider wants him to step down. But it is unclear whether there is enough support on the council to force a hearing to determine whether officials have “cause'' to remove Thomas, whose term expires at the end of 2009.

Read her full article here

Lawyer blames school in shooting of gay Oxnard student

By Catherine Saillant The Los Angeles Times

As 14-year-old Brandon McInerney prepares to be arraigned today in the slaying of 15-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, his lawyer is advancing a defense that at least partly blames school officials for the tragedy.

Educators should have moved aggressively to quell rising tensions between the two boys, which began when King openly flirted with McInerney, said Deputy Public Defender William Quest.

full article

Police: on-campus assault could be hate crime

By Andrew Reuter
Exponent Online

Wisconsin: The assault of a UW-Platteville student on campus May 3 has been initially classified as a hate crime.

During the incident, homophobic slurs were used against the student, who is gay.

full article

Wisconsin: Hate crimes nearly double from 1996-2006

Associated Press
The Chicago Tribune

MADISON, Wis. - FBI statistics show the number of hate crimes nearly doubled in Wisconsin from 1996 to 2006.

In 1996, there were 43 hate crime cases. In 2006, the most recent figures available, there were 84.

full article

Memorial to gay Holocaust victims to be unveiled this month

This is an update to: backstory

By Adam Lake

Pinks News

A memorial to the persecuted homosexual victims of Nazism will be officially unveiled in Berlin on May 27th.

It takes the form of a gray concrete slab, with a window to allow visitors to view a video. It cost 600,000 euros (£450,000).

There will be two alternated videos which show either two men kissing or two women kissing.

full article

Come Out, Come Out, Where Ever You Are

By Christian Taylor
Inside Out Australia

Nathan Burke, former St Kilda skipper and now club director, has spoken out about homophobia in the AFL (Australian Football League). He wants the league to discipline and penalise players who engage in homophobic behaviour.

“The rules should be along the same lines as its successful racial vilification policy,” Burke told the Herald Sun.

full article

’Lesbian Phobia’ at Work to Feminize WNBA Players

by Kilian Melloy
EDGE Contributor
EDGE Boston

Looking to give its players a makeover, the Women’s National Basketball Association gave rookies lessons in how to handle the media, how to stay fit and healthy--and how to wear clothes and makeup.

full article

5 questions about Pink Pistols

By MELANIE ASMAR
The Concord Monitor

New Hampshire - Ryan Marvin believes in the right to bear arms, a right he says is especially crucial for people who are more likely to be attacked. That's why Marvin, who is gay, recently resurrected the Granite State chapter of the Pink Pistols. The group will hold its first event May 25 at a shooting range in Deerfield.

full article

Police detain gay kisser

by Alan Markoff
Cay Compass

The Royal Cayman Islands Police detained a visiting homosexual man for kissing his partner on a dance floor last week.

The man, 23–year–old Aaron Chandler from Amherst, Massachusetts, was dancing at the Royal Palms last Wednesday night with his partner. His partner’s sister and brother–in–law also came along to the popular nightspot after they had all dined at Reef Grill.

While dancing, the two men kissed several times.

full article

Gay ex-gov, wife divorce trial to start

by Angela Delli Santi
Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - She claims she was duped into marriage by a closeted gay man who needed the cover of a wife to advance his political career. He says he gave her a child and the coattails she rode to the governor's mansion, thus fulfilling the marriage contract.

As Jim and Dina Matos McGreevey's three-and-a-half-year separation approaches the duration of their marriage, the former first couple is about to become unhitched _ finally _ when their divorce trial starts Tuesday.

full article

Red Duchess a rebel to the last as she snubs family and leaves all to wife

By Elizabeth Nash in Madrid
The Independent UK

But the Red Duchess – a "title" she never accepted – threw down her most defiant challenge in her final hours. As she lay dying in her palace in Sanlucar de Barrameda, aged 71, Luisa Isabel married in articulo mortis her secretary and companion, Liliana Maria Dahlmann, and left her everything. Her discreet sexual preferences were known to her family, but the secret lesbian marriage has shaken Spain's proud and ancient aristocracy and is likely to unleash a legal battle over a sumptuous inheritance.

full article

Gay rights at standstill

By Laura Smitherman | Sun reporter
The Baltimore Sun

Gay and lesbian activists thought they had a friend in Martin O'Malley.

As a progressive mayor in Baltimore, O'Malley attended gay pride parades and signed into law a measure to protect transgender people from discrimination. When he ran for governor, he said he supported civil unions and wanted to extend benefits to same-sex partners of state employees, as he had done for city workers.

But two years into O'Malley's first term in Annapolis, neither has happened. He largely stayed out of the debate over legal recognition for same-sex unions that fizzled in the General Assembly, and aides say his financially strapped administration probably won't grant benefits for at least another year.

‘True’ blue: an interview with Cyndi Lauper

by Gregg Shapiro
Gay & Lesbian Times - arts & entertainment

Whether you had the opportunity to catch the first True Colors tour when it came your way in 2007 or you missed out, Cyndi Lauper is returning with her musical and comical pals – both queer and straight – to add some color to your Pride month. The tour, which begins in late May and extends into early July, is making stops in a number of metropolitan areas (including San Diego on June 27).

full article and interview

Walk the Walk

By Dustin Fitzharris
The New York Blade

Last year the AIDS Walk in New York raised $6.8 million. The six teams that contributed the highest amounts were MAC Cosmetics, Gap Inc., Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), J.P. Morgan Chase, Federated Department Stores and Rita Fischer’s Team.

Huh? Rita Fisher’s Team? No, Rita Fischer is not a million-dollar corporation or organization. Rita Fisher is an 84-year old Brooklyn native who since 1986 has raised close to a half million dollars in the AIDS Walk. She will be adding even more to her total when she participates in the 23rd annual AIDS Walk on Sunday, May 18, in Central Park.

full article

Survivor Recalls Leading Ex-Gay Therapist’s HIV/AIDS Superstitions and Research Fraud

by Michael Airhart
Truth Wins Out

Ex-gay survivor Daniel Gonzales remembers being forced to sit with his father as a leading ex-gay therapist tried to make them falsely believe that Gonzales had been abused as a child. The same therapist later urged Gonzales to help him rig the results of a flawed 2001 study by Dr. Robert Spitzer.

Former ex-gay Peterson Toscano was horrified to discover that the same therapist — the longtime president of a supposedly secular organization that promotes ex-gay therapy — has been using his phony claim to be secular to spread blatant religion-based bigotry having nothing to do with science or mental health.

Now, from 2006 Yale University graduate Gabriel Arana, comes word that the therapist — Joseph Nicolosi of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality — mis-counseled him for three years, teaching him superstitions instead of truth.

full article

Jimmy James: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

By Tim Parks
Gay & Lesbian Times

When renowned vocal impressionist and performance artist Jimmy James returns to San Diego May 4 for the first time in 16 years, he’s not coming alone – he’s bringing Cher, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Billie Holiday, Bette Davis, Eartha Kitt, Patsy Cline and Macy Gray along for his fun-filled show, The One & Many Voices of Jimmy James, at Martinis Above Fourth.

Fortunately for James, who has the uncanny ability to mimic each of the women, all the divas reside inside his head, and he won’t have to pony up any extra airfare.

The Gay & Lesbian Times caught up with James, as himself, to ask how he stumbled on his talent.

Read the interview here

Pioneering Dallas activist earns yet another honor

By Tammye Nash - Senior Editor
Dallas Voice

Texas - Pioneering LGBT activist Louise Young is breaking new ground, yet again.

This month, the American Jewish Congress Southwest Region is recognizing Young’s long history of activism and involvement by presenting her with the Women of Spirit Award. It will be the first time the award has gone to a lesbian in recognition of work in the LGBT community.

full article

T.R. Knight Hosts A Celebration of “LOVE and PRIDE” In an Effort to Erase Hate

National Gay Pride Month Kicks-Off with Commitment Ceremony
June 4, 2008 at The Abbey in West Hollywood

West Hollywood, CA. - On June 4, 2008, T.R. Knight will join the Matthew Shepard Foundation to help kick off National Gay-Pride month with a symbolic dusk commitment ceremony at the famed West Hollywood hotspot, The Abbey.

At 8pm, couples from around the nation will “tie the knot” in an event officiated by the Mayor of West Hollywood and witnessed by Judy Shepard. Couples will be wearing the Matthew Shepard Erase Hate pendant courtesy of Love and Pride jewelry designer, Udi Behr. Love and Pride is the first online jewelry destination for people who believe in equality, diversity and tolerance for all. http://www.loveandpride.com/

Behr created the Erase Hate pendant for Judy Shepard, in memory of her son, Matthew Shepard, who was the victim of a brutal anti-gay hate crime in rural Wyoming ten years ago. His murder brought national attention to the issue of hate crime legislation and was a watershed moment in the fight for gay civil rights.

Behr remarks, “A public commitment ceremony is a great way to join together and strengthen our two messages; ‘Celebrating Love’ and ‘Erasing Hate.’” 100% of net proceeds from sales of the pendant assist the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

full article

Addition of Chat Box on the site

I installed a small chat box on the sidebar of the website (2015place.com).

You can also access it directly (without going to the website) at: http://tomcwa.cbox.ws/

It's public (everyone can see what's said) but it's a private room (only visitors to the website or the url above will be participating).

enjoy

Gay-rights foes vow to act

BY MATTHEW I. PINZUR
Miami Herald

Opponents of a domestic partnership proposal in Miami-Dade government threatened county commissioners with political retribution at a news conference Friday.

''Every commissioner who does vote for the proposal will be held accountable,'' said Anthony Verdugo, executive director of the Christian Family Coalition.

The bill would give all Miami-Dade residents the right to visit their partner in jails and hospitals. It would also allow county employees to buy insurance coverage for their partner and that partner's children.

full article

Christian spin on Champaign hate crime

All of a sudden right wing Christian websites are stepping up to defend Brett Vanasdlen's alledged attack on Steven Velasquez.

Rev. Ted Pike had this to say on the truth tellers website [article]:

The police department of Champaign, Illinois is reported to be under pressure from higher authorities to increase its quota of hate crimes convictions. Brett Van Asdlen, an 18 year-old Christian college student on a baseball scholarship, didn’t know this. On April 12 he and a friend saw two homosexuals leaning on each other and holding hands, walking toward them on the sidewalk. “Look at those two guys holding hands,” Brett said to his friend and walked past them. According to Brett’s mother, the next thing he knew, one of the homosexuals (whom he perceived to be drunk) had grabbed him by the shoulder, putting his face up to Brett’s and repeatedly shouting, “What did you say?” Brett told him to go away several times and then pushed him. The homosexual fell over backwards. On his back, the homosexual told his partner to call the police. In eight minutes, four officers arrived. Two interviewed Brett and his friend and assured them there would be no problem. Brett had been physically accosted and detained, clearly an assault. The other two officers interviewed the homosexual, who was taken to the hospital.

For those of you, like me, who've never heard of Ted Pike he is director of the National Prayer Network in Clackamas, Oregon. Over at Right Wing Watch they have an article about him.

Since there were several witnesses it will be interesting to see how this all turns out.

Initial story with comments

Community response story

Tennessee anti-gay hate crimes at ‘alarming’ level

by Jerry Jones
Publisher
Out & About

A total of 56 anti-gay hate crimes were reported to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) in 2007, with one of those occurring on the campus of Vanderbilt University. The number is down slightly from 2006, which had 60 reported offenses. In 2005 the number of reported cases was 21.

“That’s a really high level,” said Christopher Sanders, president of the Tennessee Equality Project when asked to review the report by Out & About Newspaper. “The numbers are alarming.”

full article