Porsche's protections; gay designer on 'Motor City'
Porsche's protections: Porsche has new protections and benefits for its lesbian and gay employees, according to Gaywheels.com . The new and expanded workplace policy extends spousal benefits to same-sex couples. However, the company's policy does not yet cover gender-reassignment surgery or associated medical treatments.
Cross' accident: The parents of Illinois state Rep. Tom Cross were in an accident, as their cab was struck head on by a hit-and-run driver on North Clark Street and Wrightwood Avenue, sending both to a hospital, according to Capitol Fax. They all were on their way from Chicago's Pride Parade, in which state Rep. Cross marched. ( The parents have since been released. ) Cross, a Republican, voted for the state's marriage-equality bill.
As seen on TV: Bryan Thompsona 39-year-old, gay auto designer who has had Nissan manufacture several of his designsis one of the people competing on the truTV television series Motor City Masters, Advocate.com noted. Thompson has designed video sets for Katy Perry and has transformed everything from tough trucks to charming Airstream campers and from high-flying executive jet interiors to far out Hollywood set designs. The show's winner will receive $100,000 and a new 2014 Camaro Z28.
Audi's success: Audi of America just reported June 2014 sales of 16,867 cars, with the Audi Q5 and the A3 Sedan being the two top sellers of the Ingolstadt manufacturer's lineup in the United States, according to CarScoops.com . The June grand total of 16,867 vehicles sold represents a 23.1 percent improvement compared with the same period last year; "In just six months this year, Audi has sold more vehicles in the U.S. than it did over a full year as recently as 2009," said Mark Del Rosso, executive vice president and COO of Audi of America.
Rampage: In Ottawa, a Canadian Forces soldier and Afghanistan war veteran who went on a drunken shooting rampage after a gay tryst faces at least four years in prison after pleading guilty to firearms and other offenses, The Ottawa Citizen reported. After roughing up a man he met at a Days Inn through an online ad, Cpl. Jonathan Laporte shot up his own home and two of his neighbors' cars before arming himself with a shotgun and handgun and blasting his way through the showroom of a high-end car dealership on Feb. 9, 2011.