N.J. Gov. Chris Christie called a gay state legislator "numbnuts" while trying to explain controversial remarks he recently made, according to an Advocate.com item that cited The Star-Ledger. At a press conference, Christie was attempting to clarify remarks about the civil-rights movement when he called Assemblyman Reed Gusciora "numbnuts" for comparing him to segregationists. Gusciora released a statement that said, "The governor constantly reverts to name-calling when he is unable to address issues on their merits."
U.S. Rep. Barney Frankone of the few openly gay members of Congressis engaged. According to USA Today, the 71-year-old Frank will marry partner Jim Ready, 42, in a Massachusetts ceremony. The two have been together since 2007. Frank is retiring from the House at the end of this term. He was first elected to the House in 1980. There are four out members of Congress: Frank and Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis and David Cicilline.
A University of Wisconsin at Madison associate athletic director resigned after making unwanted sexual advances to a male student employee, according to CNN. John Chadima resigned in January after the allegations were revealed. At a Rose Bowl party he threw, Chadima asked the student to stay behind and have a drink with him; he then told the student he thought he was gay, and reached inside the student's pants. In a statement, Chadima said, "I make no excuses and accept full responsibility for my actions."
Equality Forum will mark its 20th anniversary with its international summit May 3-6 in Philadelphia, according to a press release. According to Executive Director Malcolm Lazin, "Israel [ will be ] the featured nation, represented by the ambassador to the U.S., major Israeli LGBT leaders, and Tel Aviv DJs and entertainers." In addition, MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts and lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker are slated to appear. See www.EqualityForum.com .
Lambda Legal urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to overturn a lower-court ruling against a man who applied with the Atlanta Police Department ( APD ) but was denied employment because of his HIV status, according to a press release. "Not only does science not support what the APD is doing, but the fact is that people living with HIV are already serving as police officers all across the country. The City of Atlanta has to make decisions based on facts rather than bias," said Scott Schoettes, Lambda Legal's HIV project director.
Girl Bar Dinah Shore Weekend, in association with Fuse Events, announced that Dinah Shore Weekend 2012 will take place April 27-29 in Las Vegas, according to a press release. ( This event is different from the similarly named Club Skirts Presents The Dinah, March 28-April 1 in Palm Springs, Calif. ) "Our sophisticated ladies wanted 'bigger, better and more' in a city that never sleeps with the finest in entertainment and accommodations, with non-stop flights both domestically and internationally," said Girl Bar producers Sandy Sachs and Dr. Robin Gans. See www.dinahshoreweekend.com .
The Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC ) sent a letter to Alabama's Brookwood High School ( BHS ) , the Tuscaloosa County School System superintendent and the county's school board demanding that school officials respect its students' constitutional rights or face a federal lawsuit, according to a press release. The SPLC sent the letter on behalf of BHS student Elizabeth Garrett, who was forced to remove her sweatshirt, which read, "Warning: This Individual Infected With 'The Gay,' Proceed With Caution." On another occasion, an administrator allegedly informed Garrett that same-sex couples are not allowed to attend the school prom together.
The Human Rights Campaign released a web ad featuring U.S. Sen. Al Franken for its Americans for Marriage Equality campaign, according to a press release. In the ad, Franken, who represents the state of Minnesota and has been a longtime advocate for LGBT rights, says "I think everybody should be able to marry the person they love. And I think our government should help people make those life-long commitments." The video can be viewed online at http://www.hrc.org/MarriageEquality.
Hundreds of churches across the United States remembered Uganadan gay-rights activist David Kato on the first anniversary of his assassination Jan. 29, according to a press release. Church leaders praised Kato's life and the lives all advocates throughout the world who daily risk their lives to defend sexual minorities. Sidney Nsubuga Enoch was found guilty of fatally attacking Kato Jan. 26, 2011, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison Nov. 10.
Washington United for Marriagea broad statewide coalition of organizations, congregations, unions and business associations that will work to obtain civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples in Washington State in 2012praised the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections for advancing marriage equality legislation in Washington state, a press release noted. The measure passed by a vote of 4-3. Lacey All, chair of Washington United for Marriage, said, "We're excited that this bill continues to move towards final passage, and we will not let up until the governor signs it."
The coalition Washington United for Marriage has also announced that Starbucks, Google, Alcoa and dozens of additional small businesses are supporting marriage equality legislation, SB 6239 and HB 2516. These companies bring the total number of supportive businesses to over 100, including industry leaders such as Microsoft, Nike and Group Health Plan. Six states and the District of Columbia recognize marriage for same-sex couples.
In California, students at Pepperdine University collected almost 4,000 signatures in an online petition protesting the administration's decision not to recognize a proposed LGBT support group on the Malibu campus, according to MercuryNews.com . Students submitted an application for recognition of their organization, Reach OUT, last Nov. 9; they were notified of the denial about a month later. Dean of Students Mark Davis said the group's mission is not compatible with the conservative religious university's beliefs on sexual morality.
In Minnesota, settlement talks will take place regarding former St. Cloud police officer Sean Lathrop, who filed a lawsuit alleging the police department discriminated against him because he's gay, according to CBS Minnesota. Lathrop was an officer with St. Cloud's department from 2006 until 2010. If a settlement can't be reached, the case is expected to go to trial March 19.
Republican Tenn. state Sen. Stacey Campfieldwho's behind the state's "Don't Say Gay" bill, which would ban discussion in schools of "sexual orientation other than heterosexuality"criticized arguments against his measuure in an interview with Sirius XM OutQ, according to the Huffington Post. Among other things, he said, "That bullying thing is the biggest lark out there" and "What's the average lifespan of a homosexual? It's very short. Google it yourself." The full interview is at www.signorile.com/2012/01/interview-with-tn-sen-stacey-campfield.html .
Judge Deborah A. Batts married Dr. Gwen Lois Zornberg at the St. Gregory hotel in Washington, D.C., late last year, according to the New York Times. Batts, 64, is a United States District Court judge in the Southern District of New York and works in Manhattan; Zornberg, 56, is a lead medical officer epidemiologist for the Food and Drug Administration and works in Silver Spring, Md.
In Florida, Julio's Closeta thrift store that caters to the transgender communitywas robbed, according to WatermarkOnline.com . Michael Keeffe, who works at the store, said he noticed a cash box that held $200 went missing. He added that the name of the thrift store was chosen to honor Julio Silverwolf, a Pinellas County transgender man who died after a suspected suicide.
Lesbian tennis champion Martina Navratilova said she thinks fellow tennis icon Margaret Court ( now an anti-gay spokeswoman ) may be suppressing her own feelings for women, according to Advocate.com . In an open letter to Australia's Herald Sun newspaper, Navratilova wrote, "You say it is a choice to be gay; do you mean to say you had feelings for women as well as men and chose men? That might explain your certainty on the issue."
The White House Office of Public Engagement ( OPE ) will partner with key departments and agencies to host a series of conferences around the country specifically focused on LGBT Americans, according to a press release. From February to June, OPE will convene these conferences to provide grassroots leaders, community organizers, advocates, students, and interested citizens an opportunity to hear directly from the administration. The first such meeting will take place Feb. 16 in Philadelphia, and will feature remarks by Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California rejected the federal government's request to dismiss the constitutional claims of gay and lesbian state workers who, together with their registered domestic partners, are excluded from equal access to California's Long-Term Care Program, according to a press release. Dragovich v. CalPERS involves a class-action lawsuit challenging federal and state lawsincluding the Defense of Marriage Actthat regulate state-sponsored long-term care plans.
In Maine, gay-rights activists launched a referendum campaign to legalize same-sex marriage, according to MPBN.net . Betsy Smith, executive director of Equality Maine, had more than 105,000 signatures to be presented to the secretary of state's office; 57,000 signatures need to be certified to get their question on the November ballot. "The question will ask Maine voters to support marriage for their gay and lesbian neighbors," Smith said. "The law to be voted on is called an Act to Allow Marriage Licenses for Same-Sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom."
New analyses conducted by Dr. Gary Gates and published by the National Council of Family Relations show that proportionally fewer same-sex couples are raising children today ( 16 percent of all gay and lesbian couples ) than in 2006 ( 19 percent ) , according to a press release. The results also show that those families reflect greater racial/ethnic and socioeconomic diversity than often represented in the media and academic research. Of same-sex families by region, 26 percent live in the South, 24 percent in New England and 21 percent in the Pacific states.
The owners of the space that will house New York's AIDS Memorial Park have rejected a design plan from the grassroots AIDS Memorial Park Coalition, according to HIVPlusMag.com . Rudin Management owns the triangular space at Seventh and Greenwich avenues, but rejected the coalition's selection of "The Infinite Forest," by Brooklyn design firm Studio a+1. Rudin said potential construction delays are the reason for the rejection.
The pro-LGBT group Minnesotans United has raised $1.2 million to fight Minnesota's anti-gay constitutional amendment, according to Advocate.com . The figures include donations from more than 5,000 individuals, including the father of Gov. Mark Dayton. "Thousands of Minnesotans are beginning conversations with friends, family, and neighbors about why they need to vote 'no' on this anti-family amendment," said Minnesotans United campaign manager Richard Carlbom.
The Trevor Project announced the selection of its new executive director and CEOformer West Hollywood, Calif., Mayor Abbe Landfollowing an extensive nationwide search, according to a press release. She succeeds David McFarland, who has served in an interim role since April 2011; he will continue as interim executive director and CEO through the transition, as Land starts in March. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide-prevention services to young LGBTQ people.
In Tennessee, Knoxville restaurant owner Martha Boggs kicked GOP state Sen. Stacey Campfield out of her business for anti-gay comments he said, according to the Huffington Post. Campfield, sponsor of the "Don't Say Gay" bill in Tennessee, said that it was "virtually impossible" to transmit HIV via heterosexual sex and that gay people die at a younger age. As a result of her action, Boggswho owns and manages The Bistro at the Bijouhas become a hero to some and villain to others.