At a stop in gay-friendly Provincetown, Mass., Vice President Joe Biden thanked LGBT-rights advocates for advancing their own civil rights as well as the "civil rights of every straight American," Politico.com reported. "You are freeing the soul of the American people," Biden said to loud applause. During his campaign speech at the Pilgrim Monument and Museum, Biden added, "If I had to use one adjective to describe this community it'd be courage. You have summoned the courage to speak out, to come out. We owe you."
Jordan Addison—a college student in Virginia who was reportedly bullied because he's gay—got a free car makeover from his local repair shop, according to Live 5 News. Addison's car was vandalized four times between March and May, mostly at Radford University; once, anti-gay slurs were keyed into the side of it. The people at Quality Auto Paint and Body in Roanoke spent more than 100 hours working on Addison's car for free, installing new tires, a new paint job, tinted windows, a new security system and a stereo.
The parents of the late gay Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi have left their anti-gay church in Ridgewood, N.J., according to the Huffington Post. The couple decided to leave their longtime church because they felt staying would indicate support for the church's teachings. Tyler committed suicide two years ago by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate used a spy cam to record a romantic encounter between Tyler and another man in a dorm.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a statement condemning remarks from "Kansas Secretary of State and Mitt Romney surrogate" Kris Kobach, in which he compared LGBT individuals to polygamists and drug users. ThinkProgress reported that Kobach made the remarks while debating the GOP platform's marriage-equality language in Tampa, Fla. HRC Vice President of Communications Fred Sainz said, "It's time for leaders within the GOP to take some responsibility and realize that their outdated platform—and the incendiary and vitriolic language used by some of their colleagues like Kris Kobach—sends a dangerous message and has a very real impact on the LGBT community, particularly youth."
In Nebraska, authorities say that a lesbian who said she was the victim of a hate crime has been charged with lying to police, CNN.com reported. Charlie Rogers said that three masked men entered her home July 22, stripped her, tied her down and carved slurs into her body before trying to set her and the house on fire. However, the Lincoln Police Department said that "the physical evidence conflicted with Charlie Rogers' version of events" and that "extensive investigation revealed numerous inconsistencies." Rogers' attorney said, "She maintains her innocence. This has been kind of a kick in the gut as a victim to turn around and be charged."
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has issued a statement about the fatal shooting of a gender non-conforming (GNC) person identified as Kendall L. Hampton, 26, who was reportedly engaged in sex work in Cincinnati, Ohio. Including Hampton, NCAVP has learned of nine murders of transgender or GNC people so far this year. Cincinnati police are looking for a suspect in Hampton's killing; however, no one has been arrested yet, according to WXIX.com .
Michael Baumgartner, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Washington state, responded to an article written about him by emailing the author and telling him to "go fuck yourself," according to the Huffington Post. Josh Feit, a reporter for PubliCola blog at Seattle Met Magazine, had interviewed Baumgartner and written a story about how the politician's views on abortion were similar to those of embattled Senate hopeful Todd Akin. Baumgartner then sent a message, with a photo of him and another man posing with guns; the letter read, "Josh, this is Pat Feeks, a Navy SEAL killed last week in Afghanistan. Take a good look and then go fuck yourself."
A Vermont resort that was sued last year for refusing to host a lesbian couple's wedding reception and violating Vermont's Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act has resolved the lawsuit, according to an ACLU press release. The Wildflower Inn will pay $10,000 to the Vermont Human Rights Commission and will place $20,000 in a charitable trust that couple Kate and Ming Linsley will disburse. Also, the resort will no longer host wedding receptions.
Two attorneys with Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) are being honored, according to a press release. GLAD's Transgender Rights Project Director, Jennifer Levi, is receiving the National LGBT Bar Association's highest honor, the Dan Bradley award. In addition, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly GLAD Senior Staff Attorney Vickie L. Henry is being honored as one of its 2012 Top Women of the Law; the women will be honored Oct. 12 in Boston.
Speaking of GLAD, the organization is asking the Supreme Court to review and validate a federal judge's ruling from last month that declared section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, according to Advocate.com . DOMA's section 3 bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in states and restricts federal benefits for those couples.
The Advocate ran an item spotlighting six bisexual elected state officials. Among them is Wisconsin state Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, who was first elected two years ago as a Democratic member of the state assembly. Others featured include Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, former Arizona state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, South Dakota state Sen. Angie Buhl, New York state Rep. Micah Kellner and former Conn. state Rep. Evelyn Mantilla, whose term expired in 2007.
Conservative minister the Rev. Grant Storms, who criticized New Orleans' gay-oriented Southern Decadence festival, has been convicted of obscenity for masturbating in a public park, according to Advocate.com . Storms had been charged with exposing himself while masturbating in his minivan in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie on Feb. 25, 2011. He had admitted to pleasuring himself—adding he finds it a thrill to do so in public—but denied exposing his penis. In 2003, Storms led his church congregations through New Orleans to protest Southern Decadence.
In Ohio, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Chad Cobb, who's accused of killing 25-year-old lesbian Ashley Biggs June 21, according to Advocate.com . Biggs and Cobb had a 6-year-old daughter; police allege that a fierce custody battle over her was the reason for the killing. Cobb—who friends say has stalked Biggs and her girlfriend—has pled not guilty to kidnapping and aggravated murder.
LPAC, the first super PAC (political action committee) dedicated to increasing lesbian participation in politics, announced the first round of its 2012 political slate Aug. 23, according to Advocate.com . The slate includes pro-LGBT and -women candidates as well as ballot-initiative campaigns. Some of the people LPAC is backing include U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md.; and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Data from the National Stonewall Democrats shows that the upcoming Democratic National Convention is set to have a record number of openly LGBT delegates, although goals for some states aren't being met, according to the Washington Blade. The organization has identified at least 470 openly LGBT delegates who are set to attend the convention, although more data is expected to become public later. A total of 5,963 delegates are slated to be in Charlotte, N.C.., for the event during the week of Sept. 3.
An IndieGogo fundraising campaign is aiming to help a jailed transgender man re-establish himself after he completes his year-long sentence for felony forgery, according to Advocate.com . Transgender man Levi Gammons was convicted because he listed his gender as male on his marriage license—even though he had completed his physical and legal transitions before marrying his now ex-wife. The campaign, "Support Levi," has surpassed its original goal of $5,000.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was the keynote speaker at welcome dinner of the 2012 Lavender Law Conference in Washington, D.C. At one point, he said, "As an American, I am deeply proud to stand with you in celebrating the remarkable, once-unimaginable progress that—particularly over the past three and a half years—your leadership and coordinated efforts have helped to bring about." Other events at the National LGBT Bar Association conference included a career fair, Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40 Lunch, corporate counsel speed interviews, law student reception and the Dan Bradley and Frank Kameny Awards Celebration, among other things.
Todd Akin—the embattled GOP Senate candidate from Missouri who made the comment about "legitimate rape"—has also stated "some pretty whackadoodle and frightening ideas about homosexuality," according to the Huffington Post. In 2006, he said on the U.S. House floor that same-sex marriage would end civilization. Last year, he proposed a so-called "conscience clause" in U.S. military code that would supposedly "protect" military personnel who don't support gay people serving openly.
In Florida, a gay bathhouse is offering free admission to Republican National Convention delegates, the Huffington Post reported. Ybor Resort and Spa—which promotes itself as Tampa Bay's "largest, all-gay, private men's club, resort and bathhouse"—makes the offer on its website. Gay Republican group GOProud will also hold its Homocon 2012 event in the same neighborhood. The RNC Convention is taking place through Aug. 30—provided a hurricane doesn't cause a disruption.
An anti-gay Maryland lawmaker has admitted to being drunk when he accidentally crashed his boat into a boat full of children, according to Gay Star News. Maryland delegate Don H. Dwyer Jr. was drinking with another man on his boat when his boat hit a smaller vessel with five children on board; four of them were injured. Dwyer, a Tea Party Republican, has suggested in the past that gay people were a threat to children and that same-sex marriage would lead to homosexuality being taught in schools. There is also a petition to put marriage equality on the November ballot on his website, DelegateDwyer.com .
In Georgia, a jury took less than two hours to find Steven Douglas Lemery guilty of trafficking teenagers as prostitutes serving a mostly gay clientele, the Douglas County Sentinel noted. He was convicted on five counts of human trafficking, three counts of aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and pandering by compulsion. Lemery, 38, could serve 25-50 years for trafficking and 25 to life on the molestation charges.
For the third straight year, Vonciel Jones Hill was the only one on the Dallas City Council who refused to sign a letter posted in the city's annual Pride guide, according to the Dallas Voice. Fourteen of the 15 council members have consistently signed the letter, with the lone holdout being Hill, who has also refused to ride on the city float in the parade. In 2009, Hill said, "I'm entitled to stand for what I believe, and I don't appreciate anyone castigating me for standing for what I believe."
Equality Texas board member Wade Hyde submitted his resignation Aug. 23 because of an alleged lack of transparency involving the board's decision to force Executive Director Dennis Coleman to resign, the Dallas Voice reported. Hyde said he was shocked after what he said was a hasty conference call that did not even use the conference-call system usually employed for meetings. Hyde said, "My outrage is the way this matter was handled. … The total lack of transparency from the executive team was, to say the least, disheartening."
In order to mark A Day with HIV, Sept. 21, Positively Aware is asking people to take digital photographs to record a moment of their day that will focus the world's attention on the daily trials and triumphs of people living with HIV. Photos need to be submitted by Sept. 25 on the A Day with HIV website ( www.adaywithhiv.com ). People can follow A Day with HIV's Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/ADayWithHIV&; or on Twitter @A_Day_With_HIV ( twitter.com/a_day_with_hiv&; to see updates and selected photographs.
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., talked with Buzzfeed.com about social issues and this year's election. When asked if he supports the Federal Marriage Amendment, he initially said he supported it, but then added he "ha[s]n't really thought too much about it" and would "have to read it." Schock also said, "There are pro-life Democrats, there are pro-choice Republicans. For people who wake up and that's their single issue—whether it be abortion or gay rights or guns or any of those single issues—if that's their sole issue, then I'm not sure either party really has an ability to get that voter. But, I think what the last election showed was the bigger issue that matters is the economy."
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Stribild, a new once-a-day HIV treatment from Gilead Sciences that contains four different drugs in one pill, the New York Times reported. However, AIDS activists are criticizing the price Gilead plans to charge for the drug: about $28,500 annually. The advocates say that the price puts additional pressure on public-health programs.
The estate of writer Ira Levin has told the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center that it could not continue to perform the late writer's play Deathtrap because of additions of gay content and nudity, according to Advocate.com . The center had staged the thriller earlier this year and included approximately 30 seconds of nudity. Other versions of the story have at least hinted at attraction between the characters Clifford and Sidney, including the 1982 film adaptation that had Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine sharing a kiss.
Methodist minister Bishop Melvin Talbert may face censure for stating his support of same-sex marriage, Advocate.com reported. Talbert, who is officially retired, announced his stance at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Tampa, Fla., in May. Since then, Talbert has become the subject of a letter to the Council of Bishops that says his position violates the Book of Discipline.
Apparently, mogul Donald Trump has now set his sights on the Huffington Post's Arianna Huffington. According to Examiner.com, Trump (known for his war of words with Rosie O'Donnell) tweeted about HUffington, "@Ariannahuff is unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man—he made a good decision." Later, he added, "Remember when @ariannahuff ran for Governor of California. She got 3 votes."
A drunk-driving charge against chosen San Francisco Catholic Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone probably won't cost him his appointment, according to Advocate.com . In the wake of Cordileone's arrest Aug. 25 in San Diego, however, some LGBT-rights advocates are suggesting that the church reconsider the cleric's appointment. Cordileone, who has issued a statement apologizing for the DUI incident, is known for his anti-LGBT positions.
In California, a $1-million warrant has been issued for the arrest of a gang member who failed to appear in court on charles he took part in a home-invasion robbery of a transgender brothel after first trying to tax the prostitutes, according to OCRegister.com . Cesar Valle, 22, faced a life term in prison if convicted of robbery, burglary and other charges; however, he was a no-show Aug. 27.
Also in California, Yucca Valley resident Caleb Hesse—a supporter of Prop 8 and a youth leader in his church—has been arraigned on charges of molesting boys, the Wisconsin Gazette reported. Hesse, 52, was arraigned earlier this month on four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, but additional charges are pending. If convicted, Hesse could get up to 45 years in prison.
A University of Michigan study has shown that the phrase "That's so gay" could have major consequences for LGBT students, according to the Huffington Post. Analyzing 114 LGBT students between 18 and 25, the data showed that those who heard the phrase frequently were more likely to feel isolated and experience headaches, poor appetite or eating problems than those who didn't. Another result: Only 14 participants (13 percent) didn't hear the phrase through the year-long duration of the survey.
Gay couple Christopher Bridgeman and Martin Borger are suing an airline after staffers played a prank involving a dildo on them, the Huffington Post noted. Airport staff allegedly removed a dildo from their luggage, smeared bad-smelling lubricant on it and taped it to their top of one of their checked bags before placing it back on the baggage carousel. Bridgeman and Borger are reportedly seeking punitive damages from United Continental Holdings and Continental Airlines, according to Courthouse News Service.
