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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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'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.

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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.

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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’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.

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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.

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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.

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