A CDC report says that only one in four U.S. residents with AIDS has the disease under control, according to CBS News. One reason for the low success rate is that approximately 20 percent of the 1.2 million people with HIV don't know they're infected. Also, only about 40 percent of people with HIV are getting medications regularly; worse, only 28 percent have reached low levels of the virus in their blood.
In Massachusetts, high school English teacher Kevin Hogan is on paid leave after it was discovered he had performed in pornographic films, according to the Huffington Post. Hogan, who works at the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, can be found on the Internet under the screen name "Hytch Cawke." Hogan's film credits include Fetish World and Just Gone Gay 8. The school notified parents in an email, stating that the staff used proper background checks in hiring Hogan. Students have taken to social-media networks to defend Hogan.
The National LGBT Cancer Network, the first program in the country of its kind, has expanded its directory of LGBT-friendly cancer-screening facilities beyond New York City, according to a press release. A grant from The Palette Fund has allowed the network to be part of facilities in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Vermont. See http://www.cancer-network.org/screenings/facilities.
Minneapolis resident Daniel Rick has been convicted of attempted assault for exposing another man to HIV—but he may avoid jail time, according to KSTP.com . A judge sentenced Rick to 49 months in prison; however, if he stays out of trouble for the next five years he will not serve the time. Rick's attorney, Landon Ascheman, said he will appeal the conviction on various grounds, calling the significance of the case "huge." Rick was also sentenced to six months in the Hennepin County Workhouse.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ( NGLTF ) is praising the introduction in the U.S. Senate of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill, which—for the first time—includes sexual orientation and gender identity, according to a press release. Rea Carey, executive director of NGLTF, said, "Reauthorization of this inclusive Violence Against Women Act will go a long way toward ensuring everyone has access to critical and life-sustaining resources. Lives are literally on the line, and our federal lawmakers should act swiftly to pass this legislation."
Two anti-gay initiatives have been submitted to California officials in an effort to repeal Senate Bill 48: the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act, according to The Bay Area Reporter. In the first proposal, opponents want to alter the law so that California students don't have to learn about LGBT Americans' contributions to history. The second initiative would allow parents to remove their children from lessons that conflict with their morals. The law is set to take effect Jan. 1.
In Florida, transgender woman Rajee Narinesingh—who claims to have undergone an illegal cosmetic procedure at the hands of another transgender woman, Oneal Ron Morris—now has misshapen facial features, according to Advocate.com . Morris, who has been accused of impersonating a physician, allegedly injected clients with a toxic mixture that included tire sealant and rubber cement. Other people said they received injections in their buttocks.
The San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender ( LGBT ) Pride Celebration Committee and its board of directors announced that former Deputy Executive Director Brendan Behan will be the organization's new Executive Director. Behan became deputy executive director in 2008 after working as the group's administrative assistant and volunteer, and left in 2010 to work in Silicon Valley. His position becomes official Jan. 1.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked World AIDS Day by releasing a statement. She said, in part, "Today we pay tribute to the millions of lives lost and families affected by HIV/AIDS. We also recognize the brave individuals living with HIV who carry the burden of this disease every day. It is in their honor that we remain steadfast in our pursuit of an AIDS-free generation." She also mentioned President Obama's announcement of a goal "to provide lifesaving antiretroviral treatment to 6 million people living with HIV worldwide."
Philanthropist Bob North has announced his family will establish a $3.5 million endowment for AIDS Project Los Angeles ( APLA ) , according to a press release. The endowment ranks among the largest gifts to a U.S.-based AIDS-service organization and will honor Vance North, son of Bob and Lois. Vance died of AIDS-related complications in 1995. The endowment will support APLA's critical direct client services, along with its prevention and advocacy efforts.
News Corp., the parent company of Fox News, has launched a new magazine aimed at catering to gay and lesbian newlywed couples in New York, according to a press release from Equality Matters. The magazine, Wedding Pride, aimed to have a starting distribution of 35,000. The release states that "Wedding Pride is exactly what you'd expect from a 'gay-friendly' News Corp. product"; among the items is a "column on 'Wedding night advice from a heterosexual' that gives 'homosexuals' advice on how to consummate their marriages." See the publication at http://www.weddingprideny.com/wedding-pride-spring-2012.pdf.
More than 50 members of the European parliament are concerned that Bradley Manning—the openly gay soldier who allegedly leaked thousands of classified U.S. government documents to WikiLeaks—is being tortured in a U.S. prison, according to Advocate.com . In a letter, the leaders wonder why Manning has been imprisoned for 17 months "without yet having had his day in court." Manning's first hearing is scheduled for this month, and his lawyer will supposedly argue that the government's own review of the leaks showed them to have very little impact.
In New York City, 11 protesters chanting "End AIDS with a Wall Street tax/No more budget cuts on our backs" blocked traffic for approximately a half-hour Dec. 1 ( World AIDS Day ) , according to Gay City News. The demonstration borrowed tactics from Occupy Wall Street ( OWS ) , including starting at Zucotti Park, the site of OWS. Police allowed the group members—who included Charles King, the president of AIDS-services group Housing Works—to block traffic on Broadway for five minutes, and then started arresting them.
In a wide-ranging interview with Michelangelo Signorile on SiriusXM OutQ, gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank talked about his impending retirement and even his own sex scandal, according to the Huffington Post. Frank noted that he survived his scandal when a hustler he was involved with went public in 1989, contrasting his scandal with now-former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner's by saying, unlike him, Weiner initially lied to the press. As for his post-retirement plans, Frank said that he expects to do "a lot of TV debates" and lectures.
In Los Angeles, parents are complaining about a Manhunt billboard, according to Instinct Magazine. Shot by Spanish photographer JP Santamaria, the Manhunt ad shows two bare-chested male models in a sensual embrace. On the blog Studio City Patch, self-described "liberal feminist" Kelly Cole said that she's having difficulty explaining to her "fourth-grader the fact that some people like to find causal sex partners fast using their mobile phones."
In Florida, transgender woman Erica Kay said she plans to sue Panama City and the state's attorney's office of the 14th Judicial Circuit, according to NewsHerald.com . Kay, 61, ran a business, but customers accused her of taking their money in 2007; she was sentenced to five years probation, but an appeals court voided the conviction last year. Kay is claiming false arrest, malicious prosecution and gender discrimination.
GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann told two students in Iowa that gay people can marry—as long as they marry people of the opposite sex, according to On Top Magazine. On Nov. 30, Bachmann debated gay rights with two high school students. When one student asked what Bachmann would do to protect gay-straight alliances and the gay community, she replied, "Well, number one, all of us, as Americans, have the same rights. ... There shouldn't be any special rights or special set of criteria based upon people's preferences." When asked about marriage, Bachmann said, "They can get married, but they abide by the same law as everyone else. They can marry a man, if they're a woman. Or they can marry a woman, if they're a man."
In Colorado, former Arapahoe County Sheriff Patrick Sullivan, 68, is sitting in a jail named after himself, accused of offering methamphetamine in exchange of sex from a male acquaintance, according to the Huffington Post. In addition, Timothy Fasse, 49, was arrested ( and charged with drug trafficking and meth possession ) after authorities followed him to Sullivan's home. There are also claims that Sullivan may be HIV-positive, and that he knowingly engaged in unprotected sex without telling his partners about his status.
Former New Mexico governor and current presidential candidate Gary Johnson announced that he supports same-sex marriage, according to Advocate.com . The announcement came during an online town hall organized by LGBT conservative group GOProud. Previously, Johnson had supported civil unions; however, he said his support of marriage equality was based on "a great deal of deliberation, discussion with the gay community, and a conclusion that government has no business choosing who should be allowed the benefits of marriage and who should not."
In the trial of Davawn Robinson, the accused killer of Edgard Mercado, the defense may contend that Mercado's 2009 death resulted from an accidentally strangulation while they had sex, according to Gay City News. Robinson, 24, faces one second-degree murder charge. The Manhattan district attorney charges that Robinson intended to kill Mercado, 39, when he strangled him in the Mercado's Avenue C apartment.
Approximately 3,000 have joined a campaign on Change.org calling on Milton Hershey School officials to reverse their decision and admit an HIV-positive student to the Pennsylvania school, according to a press release. Lawrence Stallworth II, 20—who learned he was HIV-positive while a senior in high school—is leading the campaign following the revelation that Milton denied a student, 13, admission because of his HIV status. The petition is at http://www.change.org/petitions/milton-hershey-school-stop-discriminating-against-an-hiv-positive-13-year-old.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the appointment of Nancy Mahon as the new chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS ( PACHA ) , according to a White House press release. Mahon, executive director of the M�A�C AIDS Fund, will maintain the continuity of PACHA-related activities and, on occasion, represent the administration at PACHA-related events. For more information about PACHA, visit http://www.aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/pacha.
In Georgia, a federal appeals court granted a legal victory to transgender woman Vandy Beth Glenn, who was fired as a legislative editor at the General Assembly after disclosing her intention to make the transition from male to female, according to a Lambda Legal press release. Judge Rosemary Barkett—writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, which included Judge William Pryor and Senior Judge Phyllis Kravitch—said, "An individual cannot be punished because of his or her perceived gender-nonconformity. Because these protections are afforded to everyone, they cannot be denied to a transgender individual." Lambda Legal attorney Greg Nevins said, "The court could not have been more clear: It is unfair and illegal to fire transgender employees because their appearance or behavior transgress gender stereotypes."
In Georgia, Vanessa Long—the wife of megachurch pastor Eddie Long—has filed divorce papers, according to ABC News. In a statement, Vanessa said, "After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long," citing in papers that were was "no hope of reconciliation." Several men accused Eddie Long of sexual coercion when they were teens; he later settled with them for an undisclosed amount. Eddie's church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, has more than 25,000 members, and he has a long history of preaching against the LGBT community and marriage equality. Eddie Long is temporarily stepping away from the pulpit.
Los Angeles' Liberty Hill Foundation will provide $500,000 in grants to LGBTQ youth in an effort to end violence against LGBTQ communities and advance, safety, self-determination and justice for LGBTQ youth, according to a press release. The five grants will be made through the Queer Youth Fund, one of Liberty Hill's donor-advised funds. Five community organizations from around the country—Brown Boi Project ( Oakland, Calif. ) ; Colorado Anti-Violence Program ( Denver ) ; Make the Road New York ( Brooklyn, N,Y. ) ; The Theatre Offensive ( Cambridge, Mass. ) ; and Three Wings ( Seattle ) —will receive $100,000 multi-year grants.
In Virginia, transgender Virginia inmate Ophelia De'Lonta has appealed the dismissal of her lawsuit that asked the state to pay for her gender-reassignment surgery, the Huffington Post reported. U.S. District Judge James Turk tossed out De'Lonta's lawsuit in October, saying the state was adequately treating her gender identity disorder. De'Lonta claims her disorder causes her to attempt castration, adding that the surgery is the only thing that will make her stop.
In Missouri, Kelly Glossip is fighting to obtain the death benefits of his deceased partner, Dennis Engelhard, according to STLToday.com . Engelhard was helping a motorist on Christmas Day 2009 when an out-of-control car fatally struck him. The Missouri Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol Employees' Retirement System argues that limiting survivor benefits to married spouses "is rationally related to conceivable and legitimate state interests." A recent hearing related to the case has been rescheduled for some time after Feb. 15.
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) has called on the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , Women's National Basketball Association ( WNBA ) and the National Hockey League ( NHL ) to adopt non-discrimination policies for their LGBT players and staff. The call comes just days after Major League Baseball ( MLB ) added sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy. In a statement, HRC suggests that the NBA, WNBA and the NHL go one step further and also add gender identity.
In North Carolina, departing Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker criticized a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, according to NewsObserver.com . Meeker said the proposal is "discriminatory in nature, trying to put one group down and somehow ( figuring ) that's going to help the rest of us. But it never helps our community when a group is put down." The Raleigh City Council is considering taking a public stance opposing the amendment.
A man who accused ex-Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine of molesting him has admitted that he himself sexually abused a boy in Maine, according to Fox News. Zach Tomaselli, 23, told the Associated Press that he sexually abused the boy when the victim was 13 and 14 years old. Tomaselli became the third man to accuse Fine when he told Syracuse police that Fine first molested him in a Pittsburgh hotel room in 2002.
Medford, N.J., Mayor Chris Myers has resigned after being accused of having sex with a man claiming to be a prostitute, according to the Huffington Post. The anonymous allegation against Myers—a Republican married man and a father of two—included a photo of a man who appeared to be him in his underwear. The escort complained that Myers paid $500 but didn't fulfill promises of a car and other gifts.
In Maryland, Howard County has become the third jurisdiction in the state ( following the city of Baltimore and Montgomery County ) to ban discrimination based on gender expression and identity, according to the Baltimore Sun. The policy prohibits bias in the areas of law enforcement, housing, employment, financing and public accommodations. Councilwoman Courtney Watson said, "This is an important bill. It is about respect."
In Traverse City, Mich., an elementary school teacher has been criticized for removing the word "gay" from the song "Deck the Halls," the Huffington Post reported. The teacher reportedly took out the word after first- and second-grade students kept giggling during rehearsals for a concert at Cherry Knoll Elementary School. The students were then taught the lyrics "Don we now our bright apparel." Angry parents and fellow educators have posted their thoughts on Facebook.
President Obama's ambassador to El Salvador may be let go, in part because of an editorial she wrote supporting gay rights, the Washington Post reported. The opposition to Latina attorney/activist Mari Carmen Aponte is stemming from an essay she wrote in June to mark Obama's proclamation of Gay Pride Month. There are also unfounded rumors that her boyfriend was a Cuban spy.
