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…
Sweden approves gay marriage
Sweden legislators have voted overwhelmingly to approve same sex marriage, the fifth European country to do so.
Indonesia’s Gay Serial Killer Releases a Memoir and a Pop Album
Though he faces a possible firing squad verdict handed down this month, the man responsible for the grisly murders of at least 11 people, including a mother and her toddler, is less focused on the end than he is being a creative artist. Indeed, behind prison bars, where he’s been since his July arrest, Ryan has penned an autobiography and a pop album.
Lesbian Refused Access to Dying Partner Meets Heart Recipient …
You may remember the story of Janice Langbehn the Seattle woman whose partner Lisa Pond suffered a stroke in July 2007 right before the couple and their three kids were scheduled to leave on a cruise vacation from Miami. Even after a power of attorney naming Langbehn was sent to Jackson Memorial Hospital, the hospital refused to allow Langbehn access to Pond, who died of a brain aneurysm about 18 hours after being admitted. Langbehn was finally allowed to see Pond as a priest delivered last rites. Langbehn recently had a bit more closure to that horrific episode. At a reception in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, she was able to meet Jerry Lawrence, whose life was saved after receiving Pond’s heart in an organ donation.
Sybil Shepard’s daughter comes out…
Clementine Ford, the daughter of Golden Globes Award-winning actress Cybill Sherperd has publicly acknowledged she is gay, telling the Advocate, “I am gay. I just wanted there not to be this big emphasis on it.”
Westpac to recognise same-sex marriage
Westpac, Australia’s second-largest bank and one of the largest employers in the nation, has agreed to recognise same-sex marriage. Joining the list of pro-gay marriage employers maintained by lobby group Australian Marriage Equality (AME), the bank said it would recognize same-sex marriages of its employees, effective immediately.
Equality watchdog under pressure as three executives quit
The Equality and Human Rights Commission, chaired by Trevor Phillips, has lost its chief executive and two commissioners in the last week. The Times suggests that staff feel the watchdog is too close to the government and not aggressive enough in protecting those in need of its services.
Teenage lesbians reprimaded at Oprah’s South African girls school
”You have been found guilty of physical contact of a sexual nature with another pupil on campus, harassment, bullying other girls on campus and of being dishonest by not telling investigators the whole truth.”
Zurich elects a lesbian mayor
As the city prepares for EuroPride, the people of Zürich have elected an openly gay woman as the Mayor. Forty-eight-year-old Corine Mauch has been living with her partner for many years. The organisers of EuroPride 09 said in a statement this afternoon that they were “overjoyed by the result of the election and congratulate Corine Mauch on her victory”.
Jada Pinkett Smith Says She And Will Are Not Gay
It’s been speculated more than once that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are both gay, that they openly sleep with other people, and that the only reason they’re together is so they can continue to get non-gay film roles. But it seems that Jada has had enough of the rumors. And in a new interview with National Public Radio, she addresses them head-on, stating: “I don’t have an open marriage and no, we’re not gay – and you don’t trust that? Well then there’s nothing that I really have to say to anybody about anything, because at the end of the day, I’m living my life, and I’m happy.”
Aussie Priests Not Screened for Gayness
A Catholic church in Australia is denying rumors that they are following direct orders from the Vatican to test seminary students for homosexuality.
Its Job Done, Connecticut Gay-Rights Group Disbands
After working for a decade to change public policy and opinion regarding same-sex couples, the state’s most prominent gay-rights group is calling it quits. And that, say its supporters, is a good thing. “We accomplished our core purpose,” Anne Stanback, executive director of Love Makes a Family, said Wednesday, “and we want to end on a high note.”
Sarah Palin’s New Attorney General Calls Gays ‘Degenerates’
Alaska’s Gov. Sarah Palin announced that Anchorage lawyer Wayne Anthony Ross would be her new attorney general last Thursday. While Palin was never expected to pick a gay-friendly attorney general, her choice of someone who calls gays “degenerates” is more of a collective slap in the face than expected. He showed his unashamed prejudice in a letter to the state Bar.
D.C. makes formal bid for 2014 Gay Games
Metropolitan Washington Gaymes, along with organizations in Boston and Cleveland, have submitted formal bids to host the 2014 Gay Games. The three cities took their competing proposals to new levels this month in detailing for the Federation of Gay Games how each would run the games. Bids provided details about plans for the opening and closing ceremonies, sports programs and cultural events, plus overviews of the budget and management schemes.
Gay Sex Ad Led To Newsman’s Death
16-year-old John Katehis, a self-proclaimed Satan-loving sadomasochist who agreed to a drug-fueled rough sex romp for $60, has confessed to the murder of WABC newsman George Weber. Katehis admitted stabbing Weber, a longtime WABC reporter, after answering an ad on craigslist looking for rough sex.
Student Suspended for Dressing Like Girl
A male 11th-grader who came to school dressed in feminine clothing was removed from class on Friday, but nonetheless made the point he wanted to make. The Marion County Code of Student Conduct says that students must adhere to their own gender’s dress norms.
Man denies raping lesbian student
A 19-year-old lesbian was raped by a man after a night out, a court heard today. Daniel Fountain, 20, denies charges of rape and assault by penetration, assault and actual bodily harm. He told police they had had consensual sex. The prosecution said that Fountain’s account of the incident to the police was more like the story of a “pornographic film”. He told officers she had said she wanted to see him again and wished she was going back home with him, the court heard.
Phelps-A-Thon
Seems a couple of upstarts got it into their heads to start using Fred Phelps to raise money for LGBT causes. How you may ask? Simple! Get pledges for every minute that Fred Phelps preaches!!!!!! It’s so brilliant I wish I’d thought of it myself.
5th Circuit: No birth certificate now for 2 dads
There’s a hold on an order to put both fathers’ names on the birth certificate of a boy born in Shreveport and adopted in New York State by a gay couple. State law lets only married couples or single individuals adopt. Officials say that means either Oren Adar’s name or Mickey Ray Smith’s name – but not both – should be on the birth certificate for the boy. New York law allows such birth certificates. The men’s attorney says adoptive parents won similar cases in Oklahoma, Virginia and Mississippi.
Drug bust used fake lesbians
Two policewomen, Merav and Michelle, posed as lesbian models and helped incriminate 46 drug dealers in the Sharon region, the Israel Police revealed last week, basking in the positive PR that followed.
Gay firefighter ‘killed himself after 15 years of bullying at work’
A man is seeking damages from a fire service after his civil partner killed himself after allegedly suffering 15 years of homophobic bullying and harassment at work. The man, who cannot be named, committed suicide on January 28th, days before his hearing was due to start. It is claimed he had been subject to discrimination and abuse from colleagues since coming out 15 years ago.
Alleged killer allowed to attend dad’s funeral
The 15-year-old boy charged with the Oxnard classroom gunshot death of a gay student has been given court permission to attend his father’s funeral. Ventura County Superior Court Judge James Cloninger ruled Monday that Brandon McInerney can temporarily leave juvenile hall for the funeral. The date for the private family service hasn’t been disclosed.
Pro-gay mayor says no thanks to group
Former Mayor Anthony Williams withdrew his application to join the Order of Malta after members of the Catholic service society complained he shouldn’t be allowed to join because he supports abortion rights and protections for gay unions.
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Filed under: Columns, Featured, Lez Wrap It Up, Anthony Williams, Clementine Ford, Equality and Human Rights Commission, fake lesbians, gay firefighter, Gay Games, gay serial killer, Hate Crimes, Indonesia, Jada Pinkett Smith, Janice Langbehn, John Katehis, lawsuits, LGBT Sweden, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah's School in South Africa, Rape, Same-sex marriage, Sarah Palin, Suicide, Trevor Phillips, Westpac, Will Smith, Zurich
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