With so much news and entertainment for the LGBT community each week it can be hard to keep up!
This weekly wrap up post features some of the top LGBT news stories that we saw around the internet as we were covering other features…
Bullying Led to Gay Sons Death, Say Parents
The parents of a gay teenager have sued his Ohio high school, claiming that constant bullying there drove him to suicide, 365Gay.com reports. According to court papers, 17-year-old Eric Mohat was subjected to relentless name-calling, teasing and physical abuse in class and in the school’s hallways.
Details sketchy in beatings of gay men in Broward
David Villanova Jr., 27, and Craig Cohen, 47, were beaten in separate attacks early Monday morning by the same group of men, according to BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella. Cohen, of Oakland Park, remains unconscious at Broward General Medical Center. Villanova Jr., of Pompano Beach, suffered a skull fracture but was awake Wednesday afternoon and speaking with detectives. Moschella said Wednesday that the same group of robbers attacked both men at separate times. Moschella said detectives are treating the two attacks as robberies, but have not ruled out the possibility that the beatings were hate crimes.
Pink Takes Cary Hart Back: Breaks Lesbian Hearts!
What’s good for Pink and Carey Hart is bad news for hopeful lesbians everywhere. BMX racer Hart confirmed to The UK Sun he and ex-wife Pink are, “working shit out, I admit it.” Hart also said Pink–real name Alecia Moore– is “just totally normal and low-key.” Though Pink penned her number one single “So What” after the split and seemed to break free of the marriage in the video, the two remained close. Pink even told the press post-split that their future could still hold, “beach, babies and sunshine.”
Rupert Everett Trashes Gay Fatherhood
Actor Rupert Everett trashed the idea of gay men wanting to father their own children, charging that it’s the outgrowth of a “tiresome” gay rights movement populated by “awful middle-class queens.” “I think this surrogacy thing is crap,” Everett, 49, told the Daily Beast website. “It is utterly hideous. I think it’s egocentric and vain.” The openly gay star of films including My Best Friend’s Wedding and Shrek the Third extended his attack to lesbians. “I mean, if you are meant to have babies, then great,” he said. “But this whole idea of two gay guys filling a cocktail shaker with their sperm and impregnating some grim lesbian and then it gets cut out is just really weird.”
Paterson to introduce same-sex marriage bill
Gov. David Paterson said today he plans to re-introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal in New York. The legislation is expected to mirror a gay-marriage bill introduced in 2007 by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who — with Paterson as his running mate — campaigned in 2006 on a platform that included marriage equality. “We’ll put a bill out and let the people decide one way or the other,” Paterson said this morning on WHCU-AM (870) in Ithaca.
Gay, HIV groups call for end of Bush health care rules
A coalition of 38 LGBT and HIV advocacy groups is calling for the removal of an eleventh-hour Bush Administration expansion of federal rules prohibiting discrimination against health care workers on the basis of religion. The groups, which include Lambda Legal and the National Coalition for LGBT Health, call the rules “unnecessary and confusing” and say they endanger public health.
Rachel Maddow gives in and buys a TV
In a new interview with Dossier magazine, Rachel Maddow admits she has finally given in and purchased a television: “I got drunk last Thursday and ordered one on Amazon! (Laughs) Susan and I ordered take-out Chinese and I made cocktails and then somehow it just happened. I mean, it wasn’t like we were on some total bender or something — it was a weeknight — but I woke up the next morning and there was the confirmation email stating that we had indeed bought a $400 television.”
New bid to advance civil unions in Hawaii
With time running out in the current session of the Hawaii state legislature, supporters of civil unions who are worried about the stalled bill are trying a new approach.The civil union bill been languishing in committee and the Democratic leadership has been divided on how to get the measure to a vote on the floor. Now, LGBT rights leaders are proposing a new draft of the bill, adding provisions aimed at making it more acceptable to skittish lawmakers. The revisions include opening the legislation up to unmarried heterosexual couples. The changes also would explicitly say the bill does not revise the current definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Now, LGBT rights leaders are proposing a new draft of the bill, adding provisions aimed at making it more acceptable to skittish lawmakers. The revisions include opening the legislation up to unmarried heterosexual couples. The changes also would explicitly say the bill does not revise the current definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Ben & Jerrys Supported Vermont Veto Override
Walt Freese the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. a large ice cream company has come on the record stating his company supports marriage equality and they supported the override of the governors veto.
John Legend puts a lesbian couple in his new video about love
AfterEllen.com reader Joanna let us know that a lesbian couple is featured amongst the rest, about half-way through the video. They are together in the back of a cab, appearing to be happy together, resting in each other’s arms before one gives the other an affectionate kiss on the forehead.
France says yes to Pope condom
The Pope’s recent assertion that condoms exacerbate the AIDS crisis has reportedly made this papal protest condom all the rage in France.
Senegal: Nine men contest gay prison sentences
Nine Senegalese men who were sentenced to eight years in prison for “indecent conduct and unnatural acts” are appealing against the decision.
Md. Senate backs tax break for partners
Maryland senators voted Tuesday to exempting domestic partners who co-own homes from inheritance taxes after the death of one person. The measure, which passed 28-19, adds domestic partners to the list of family members that can inherit property without paying taxes on that property. House lawmakers were expected to vote on the bill Tuesday or Wednesday. Dan Furmansky, Equality Maryland’s former executive director and current legislative consultant, said there was little debate before the vote.
LGBT community blasts new law
Lithuanian lawmakers have received harsh criticism for targeting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community through amendments that would place open displays of homosexuality on par with displays of physical violence.
Petition for Marriage Rights in Washington State
A petition has been created by Equal Rights Washington urging lawmakers to adopt the domestic partnership expansion bill.
Leisha Hailey’s ‘L Word’ Spin-Off NOT Coming to Showtime!
It’s a sad day for millions of loyal L Word fans. Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and the Advocate are all reporting the future of The Farm– the L Word spin off that’s been dangled in front of fans for so long– is uncertain. Showtime has passed on the pilot starring Leisha Hailey, Famke Janssen, Laurie Metcalf, and Meissa Leo. The show centers on a women’s prison, where Alice (Hailey) has been sent, assumedly for murdering Jenny Schecter. No word on whether The Farm, created by L Word mastermind Ilene Chaiken will be picked up by another network.
Police to Investigate Gay Pizzeria Party
Talk about the downside of popularity. A formerly little-known gay party night at a pizzeria may become the subject of a police investigation, thanks to a recent spurt of publicity. Now that The New York Times has discovered the weekly “Fondle” party at South Brooklyn Pizza in New York City, police say they will assess whether the event’s male go-go dancers violate the Big Apple’s cabaret laws.
Dr. Laura Supports Same-Sex Couples
Dr. Laura Schlessinger is the go-to girl for conservatives (and others) who want folksy but direct advice on their lives and relationships. Although she has had a less-than-friendly relationship with the gay community in the past, in July of last year we reported on our impression of a much gay-friendlier Dr. Laura. She seemed to have adopted a more pragmatic approach to gay men and women.
Lesbian couple win sex discrimination claim
A lesbian couple who were harassed by colleagues over their sexuality have won their claim for sexual discrimination. Beth Moules and Sharleen Amos, who both worked as saleswomen at Soundwell-based firm Aquatech Rainsoft, told an employment tribunal in Bristol that they had been ridiculed and humiliated by comments from colleagues over their relationship.
New Zealand comedian let off over joke about prime minister being a communist lesbian
A comedian who made comments about former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark being a lesbian and a “bloody communist” has escaped censure after a broadcasting watchdog ruled he had not breached regulations.
Cat and Jennifer Cora Welcome Third Son
In what seems like a propitious week, Iron Chef Cat Cora’s wife Jennifer gave birth to the couple’s third son last Saturday, After Ellen reports. Cat Cora is also pregnant, and due in July.
Tony Blair tells the Pope: you’re wrong on homosexuality
Tony Blair has challenged the “entrenched” attitudes of the Pope on homosexuality, and argued that it is time for him to “rethink” his views.
Famous Numbers Person Predicts Florida Could Have Gay Marriage by 2013
Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com correctly predicted the outcome of the presidential election, and because of that, he can find the answer to everything with a few clicks of his calculator. Except for the Oscars; he sure got those wrong. Sorry, Mickey. Now Silver is trying to predict the years when each state could successfully fend off a voter initiative to ban gay marriage.
Same-sex couples seek equal rights before Nevada lawmakers
The two women were part of a group of gays and lesbians who filled a legislative hearing room to deliver emotional testimony in support of Senate Bill 283. The bill would create a Nevada Domestic Partnership Act, largely giving same-sex couples the same legal rights as granted to heterosexual couples. Couples would register their relationship with the secretary of state’s office. Opposite-sex couples also would not be prohibited from registering as domestic partners.
Transgendered Rapper Says She Was Gang Raped & Beaten
Global Grind reports that Pam Jones, a hip hop rapper, was raped and beaten by over a dozen men.
NYC promoters woo gay, lesbian tourists
New York City officials are turning to gays and lesbians to help reduce a projected $4 billion budget deficit. The nation’s largest city unveiled a marketing campaign Tuesday to attract more gay and lesbian tourists from around the country and the world as other U.S. cities compete to strip New York of its title of No. 1 vacation destination for gays and lesbians.
Christian university offers separate accommodation for gay students
Texas Christian University is to provide LGBT students and their straight “allies” with special accommodation as part of a new scheme designed to allow like-minded students to live together.
Homophobic MP Iris Robinson exposed over expenses
Iris Robinson, the Northern Ireland MP who said gays were an “abomination” and compared homosexuality to paedophilia, has been exposed by a Sunday newspaper for claiming almost £600,000 a year in salaries and expenses with her husband.
Confessed Priest Slayer Says the Men Were Lovers
The man suspected of murdering an Austin priest confessed to the crime, but insisted the two were lovers, Mexican authorities say.
R.I. governor joins anti-gay marriage campaign
A group against gay marriage has a very prominent politician in its corner. Gov. Donald Carcieri and his wife, Sue, joined the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Organization for Marriage Wednesday morning at the State House as it launched its new media campaign.
Bravo’s new “Top Chef Masters” features out lesbian chefs
Bravo cooking shows and lesbian contestants go together like, well, name your food analogy: bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, peanut butter and jelly. OK, you get the picture, and might be a little hungry now. So it should come as no surprise that Bravo’s new Top Chef spin-off, Top Chef Masters, will at least two out lesbian contestants: Elizabeth Falkner and Anita Lo.
Vet’s HIV may be from dirty instruments at VA hospital
(Chattanooga, Tennessee) The Veterans Affairs Department is investigating whether there’s a link between a patient’s positive HIV test and unsterilized equipment that may have exposed thousands of veterans to infectious diseases.
Gay rights pastor appointed to Obama advisory panel
A Pentecostal bishop who has challenged Democrats on abortion and a representative of a national gay rights group are among nine new members of a White House advisory council.
Playboy exec sues over gay discrimination
Playboy’s former fashion director is suing the magazine for alleged sexual orientation and age discrimination. Joseph DeAcetis, 45, filed a lawsuit in the Manhattan supreme court on Friday, claiming he was harassed by Playboy’s editorial director, Christopher Napolitano, and that he was fired because of his age.
LGBT Prisoner Safety Act advances
A bill by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) that seeks to create a safer environment in state prisons for transgender inmates cleared its first hurdle Tuesday, March 31 when it passed out of the public safety committee on a bipartisan vote of 7-0.
Russian gays convicted of promoting homosexuality
Two Russian gay activists Monday were convicted of promoting homosexuality in Ryazan, southeast of Moscow. The Ryazan region is the only area in Russia with a law barring discussion of homosexuality to minors. The law is used to bar schools from any discussion of gay issues.
Man cleared of raping lesbian student
A man accused of raping a lesbian student after a night out in London has been cleared of the charge, PA reports. Daniel Fountain, 20, told police he had had consensual sex with the teenager and that she said she wanted to see him again. He wept in the Old Bailey as a jury accepted his version of events.
Morocco to The Gays: You Are Criminals
Morocco announces the end of tolerance with regard to homosexuality, is the title of the full page article in today’s El Pais, referring to the initiative which the Ministry for the interior in Morocco is using to ‘confront all actions which go against religious and moral values, within the framework of the law”.
Sam Ronson Won’t Force Lindsay Lohan to Stay 100 Yards Away
Even if Sam Ronson and Lindsay Lohan have parted ways (for now), and Sam’s family is reportedly looking into getting a restraining order against “cutter” Lohan, her dear ex-girlfriend won’t be looking for the same court order. “Samantha has no plan to request a restraining order. There is no basis for one,” says the DJ’s attorney.
Jack Wrangler, gay porn star married to a woman, is dead at 62
Jack Wrangler, the handsome gay porn star that everyone thought was bisexual, is dead. He was 62 and as handsome as ever. A life-long smoker, he recently had trouble with a lung disease that took his life after a long illness and died “peaceful and comfortable,” according to his doctor, Wendy S. Ziecheck. He should also be remembered as a tireless activist for AIDS/HIV causes.
Woman’s Bid to Assert Same-Sex Parental Rights Fails
A woman whose same-sex partner gave birth to a child does not have standing to assert parental rights after the couple broke up, a New York state appeals panel ruled Thursday. The ruling reversed a decision ordering a hearing to determine if the woman’s relationship with the 5-year-old boy was tantamount to that of a parent. The panel held that Domestic Relations Law §70 is limited to “biological and adoptive parents,” even though a party “may have developed a long-standing, loving and nurturing relationship with the child.”
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