THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

More than 300 journalists from across the United States will converge in Philadelphia Aug. 25-28 for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) convention. The 2011 convention theme is "Media Revolution," and programs will focus on the ever-evolving shift in media. Founded in 1990, NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues.

A new interactive map reveals U.S. data on the distribution of HIV. According to Wired.com, a nonprofit mapping effort called AIDSVu is based on data from 2008, and shows only diagnosed rates and cases. The AIDSVu map will be continuously updated as new information arrives. See aidsvu.org/map for more information.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a partnership to combat gender-based violence and continue the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa, according to a press release. The partnership will seek to expand care for survivors of rape and sexual assault in South Africa by providing greater access to needed medical, legal and psychosocial services through the expansion of the Thuthuzela Care Centres network. The founding partners in this public-private initiative are the Office of Global Women's Issues at the Department of State; the M¢A¢C AIDS Fund; the USAID Regional Mission in South Africa; and the South African Government's National Prosecuting Agency/Sexual Offensives and community Affairs Unit.

In celebration of Harvey Milk Day, Oscar-winning and openly gay Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black has teamed with the Courage Campaign for a video project, according to a press release. People are urged to record and upload a one-to-two-minute testimony video telling their stories in support of LGBT equality by no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on Wed., June 15. Black will then select his favorites and will make arrangements to bring his production crew to their hometowns to film the story for television. See http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/dustin-lance-black-testimony-challenge.

Army veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis released a statement in response to reports confirmed by sources in the Pentagon and Air Force that an airman was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" April 29—well after Congress passed the repeal of the law. "This discharge underscores the need for the President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defense to certify 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal and put this ugly chapter in American history behind us," Sarvis said. "It also highlights the undeniable and unfortunate fact that service members remain under investigation and at risk of discharge."

In Virginia, the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond will fly a rainbow flag during Gay Pride Month at the request of the bank's gay employees, accoding to Advocate.com . PRISM, the LGBT group at the bank, requested that the flag be flown throughout June. Chief operating officer Sally Green said the bank wanted to show its commitment to diversity. However, On Top Magazine reports that Christian groups are upset over the flag-waving.

In North Carolina, following pro-LGBT organization GetEQUAL NC's June 2 "Rally in Raleigh"—an event to protest the anti-gay Senate Bill 106—local gay activists were arrested for disrupting the legislative session in progress when they demanded full legal recognition for the state's LGBT residents, according to a press release. Activists included Angel Chandler of GetEQUAL NC, the North Carolina chapter of the national organization GetEQUAL; Chandler's partner, Mary Counce; and Asheville City councilman and 2008 U.S. Senate candidate James Neal. Senate Bill 106 would amend the state constitution to ban marriage or any other relationship recognition for same-sex couples.

Although church rules forbid marriage equality, more than three dozen Minnesota United Methodist clergy have signed a statement promising to marry any couple who comes to them, including same-sex ones, according to Advocate.com . The Rev. Bruce Robbins of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis read the statement at the annual Minnesota United Methodist conference. Promising to marry same-sex couples doesn't break church rules; however, actually performing the ceremony could negatively affect a clergy member's credentials.

A federal judge has ruled that the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance, which runs the annual Gay Softball World Series, can keep its rule limiting the number of heterosexual players on a team, according to Yahoo! News. Stephen Apilado, Laron Charles and John Russ filed a lawsuit, saying that their team's runner-up finish in 2008 was nullified because they are bisexual and not gay—thus, exceeding the limit of two non-gay players. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour ruled in favor of the alliance, but said there are questions about the way the softball association applied its rule. The 2011 series is Aug. 29-Sept. 3 in Chicago, Ill.

In Wisconsin, high school wrestlers Ryan Lubeck, Zachary Benitz, Kasey Einerson and Devin Peterson have been charged with sexual harassment after allegedly targeting another team member, according to Advocate.com . A freshman wrestler at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids said that the suspects, ages 17 and 18, smacked him on the leg with their genitals and backed him into a corner while one of the them reportedly put his genitals on the freshman's rear. The older wrestlers face up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine each for disorderly conduct if found guilty.

In New York City, some local ministers objected to a picnic planned to celebrate Harlem Pride because "God does not want to see homosexuals in our parks," as one pastor put it, according to Advocate.com . Dr. Ronald Ferguson, senior pastor at Antioch Church of God, said, "If children start to believe it is okay to be gay, they will think it's okay to be a pedophile or have sex with animals. It's a slippery slope." The second annual Harlem Pride, which is geared toward people of color, will take place June 24-26; Harlem Pride president Carmen Neely has no intention of altering the celebration.

In Pennsylvania, the city of Easton became the fifth in the state to OK domestic-partner benefits for same-sex partners of city employees, according to the Philadelphia Gay News. City Councilman Michael Fleck introduced the measure in April; it passed out of committee in May. Allentown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg are the other cities in the state with such benefits.

Also in Pennsylvania, Stephen Glassman, chair of the state's Human Relations Commission, handed in his resignation letter, the Philadelphia Gay News reported. Glassman has accepted a position as the president and CEO of the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh starting June 13. Glassman—who has been a strong advocate for including sexual orientation and gender identity into state and municipal laws—led the commission for eight years, and will remain a commissioner.

In Iowa, former GOP Sen. Jeff Angelo has launched a new initiative, the Iowa Republicans for Freedom, that will support LGBT rights, according to Care2.com . In 2006, Angelo co-sponsored an anti-marriage equality measure; however, he said, his position on same-sex marriage evolved through meeting with people in gay and lesbian relationships. Iowa's supreme court legalized marriage equality in 2009.

In Oregon, openly gay Portland Mayor Sam Adams announced he would submit a proposal to include health benefits for transgender city employees, according to On Top Magazine. Adams told the Portland Tribune, "As mayor, it is important to me that we attract and retain the best and brightest employees to the city of Portland. Offering non-discriminatory health care benefits—as leading employers like Nike, Google, Microsoft and IBM do—is one way to accomplish that goal." Adams survived a threatened recall two years ago after he admitted to a sexual relationship with a young man, Beau Breedlove.

In Virginia, Prince William County Public Schools has removed filters that block access to certain websites with LGBT content, according to InsideNova.com . In April, the ACLU of Virginia sent a letter to the school system asking officials to remove the blocking softwares. ACLU spokesman Kent Willis said Prince William schools were blocking the LGBT websites while allowing users to view anti-LGBT ones.

Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan physician and safer-sex advocate who became known as "Dr. Death" for his role in helping terminally ill patients commit suicide has died at 83 of a blood clot in his heart, according to Advocate.com . Kevorkian—who assisted in about 130 suicides and was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999—filed a lawsuit in the mid-1990s with a gay man with AIDS, with both challenging California's ban on euthanasia. He also recorded a PSA promoting condom usage, saying in the ad, "Why perfectly healthy people would want to commit suicide is beyond me."

In Georgia, Atlanta authorities have reopened the case of John E. Ray, who was stabbed and beaten to death in 2004 by a man who may have targeted him through a gay dating site, according to Advocate.com . After the murder, the killer showered and cleaned the murder scene. However, police have new technology on their side, compelling them to reopen the case.

Despite the threat of a boycott from the conservative American Family Association (AFA), Home Depot will continue sponsoring gay events, according to Advocate.com . Buddy Smith, AFA's executive vice president, attended a Home Depot board meeting to present Home Depot Chairman Frank Blake with a petition allegedly containing almost half a million signatures from people threatening to stop shopping at the chain. Blake reiterated Home Depot's commitment to promoting diversity and promised to "continue down the very track [we're] going."

In California, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa honored American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) Board President Chad Griffin with the first annual "Dream of Los Angeles" Award during a ceremony at City Hall, according to a press release. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, City Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Bill Rosendahl and other city officials joined Villaraigosa to officially launch the city's first-ever LGBT Heritage Month celebration. The mayor also recognized the Rev. Troy D. Perry with the "Spirit of Los Angeles" Award and out actress/comedian Wanda Sykes with the "Hope of Los Angeles" Award. AFER is the sole sponsor of the Perry case against Prop 8.

The Human Rights Campaign lauded U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott, Richard Hanna, Earl Blumenauer and Nan Hayworth for introducing the Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act in the House of Representatives, according to a press release. The bill would end the unfair taxation of employer-provided health insurance for domestic partners. Sens. Charles Schumer and Susan Collins plan to introduce a companion measure. HRC President Joe Solmonese said, "This legislation would remove that added tax burden, which can be as much as $2,200 per year, as well as the penalty imposed on fair-minded employers who provide equal benefits to their LGBT employees."

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force honored Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis; Skip Roberts, assistant director of government affairs, Service Employees International Union; and activists Deacon Maccubbin and Jim Bennett as part of its Pink & Purple Weekend in Washington, D.C., June 3-5, according to a press release. The Pink & Purple Recognition Awards Brunch, where they were honored, is the signature event of Pink & Purple Weekend, a weekend of diverse events for the LGBT community. Other events included Pink & Purple Sunset: a Women's Event and Pink & Purple Power: A Training.

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released a statement recognizing LGBT PRIDE Month. It reads, in part, "This June, I join together with LGBT Americans across this country in recognizing PRIDE Month. That means celebrating the enormous strides that LGBT Americans have taken toward equality, but it also means rededicating ourselves to guaranteeing that all Americans—no matter their sexual orientation—are looked upon as fully equal in the eyes of the law. Thanks to the hard work of President Obama and LGBT activists across the country, we are now closer than ever to that goal."

Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Network has announced its new Safe & Healthy LGBT Youth Project, made possible by the organization's first federal grant, according to a press release. The Department of Adolescent and School Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded GSA Network more than $285,000 for this multi-level project, which will increase the capacity of schools and community-based organizations to reach LGBT youth. The Safe & Healthy LGBT Youth Project is a five-year project, pending renewed funding each year; in total, the project will directly impact up to 10,500 youth.

A study released by the federal government and conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that gay youth are at increased risk for suicide as well as for seven of the 10 dangers it tracks, according to Advocate.com . For example, the CDC found that 8 percent to 19 percent of heterosexual students are cigarette smokers—but that range skyrockets to between 20 percent and 48 percent among gay and lesbian students, depending on the location surveyed. "This report should be a wake-up call," Howell Weschsler, director of the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health, said in a news release. "We are very concerned that these students face such dramatic disparities for so many different health risks."

A graphic novel that many are calling anti-Semitic is tackling the issue of circumcision, according to Advocate.com . The Foreskin Man comic book, written and created by Matthew Hess (the president of an anti-circumcision group in San Diego), depicts Jews as knife-wielding villains. "This is an advocacy campaign taken to a new low," Nancy J. Appel, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement. San Francisco voters will vote on banning the procedure in November.

Republican Rick Santorum has thrown his hat into the ring, announcing his 2012 run for president, according to Advocate.com . Santorum said his stance on conservative issues—opposing abortion rights and same-sex marriage—gives him an edge. In a 2003 interview, he said, "In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever, to my knowledge, included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be."

AARP has announced the launch of a new online Web portal—www.aarp.org/pride& to serving older LGBT Americans, according to a press release. The site features articles on news, personal finance, relationships, travel and other topics of concern to older gay Americans, and their family and friends, as well as a community forum. Hugh Delehanty, senior vice president and editor-in-chief of AARP's media properties, "AARP understands that while all Americans 50+ share the same goals of aging with dignity and peace of mind, each of the communities in our lives offers its own challenges, opportunities and contributions towards helping us get there."

In an interview with legendary journalist David Frost for Al-Jazeera English, openly gay GOP presidential hopeful Fred Karger said that he is running as "independent Republican," according to Advocate.com . Karger also said, "In certain circles it gets me a seat at the table, being the first openly gay candidate for president of the United States in history. But I'm a lot more than that. I'm a moderate Republican trying to bring younger people in and have an effect on the Republican Party." He also commented on Sarah Palin, saying, "I love her spirit. ... I would welcome her [as an opponent]."

The Wyoming Supreme Court has ruled that a lesbian couple who married in Canada can legally divorce in the state, according to Advocate.com . Paula Christiansen and Victoria Lee Christiansen married in 2008. In 2010, they filed for divorce, but Wyoming District Court judge Keith Kautz said the court did not have the jurisdiction to grant the divorce because same-sex marriage is not recognized in the state. However, the state supreme court overruled Kautz.

In California, superiors told a gay police officer he could not participate in the West Hollywood Gay Pride Parade because it would "discredit" the department, according to the New York Daily News. The officer, Andrew Johnson, plans to file an employment-discrimination complaint based on the development. In a press conference, attorney Gloria Allred said, "It's important to him because he's not ashamed of being gay. He just wants to be treated equally. It's just really about equality."