The U.S. Navy has again assigned an openly gay sailor to duty in the Individual Ready Reserves ( IRR ) , according to paperwork obtained by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network ( SLDN. Former Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Knight, a linguist who recently appeared in Chicago to protest Gen. Peter Pace's appearance in Chicago, has been placed on IRR duty until April 2009—even though he was previously discharged, recalled and discharged again under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Knight has now served openly during two tours of duty, and his colleagues have supported him.
In Nebraska, Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of the anti-gay the Rev. Fred Phelps and a member of his Westboro Baptist Church congregation, has been arrested after her 10-year-old son, Jonah, stood on a U.S. flag during a funeral demonstration, according to Advocate.com . Phelps-Roper was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, flag mutilation and disturbing the peace while protesting the funeral of Nebraska Army National Guard specialist Bill Bailey. She plans to challenge the state's flag-desecration statute.
Bettye Travis, a clinical psychologist who fought for fat acceptance, passed away May 7 at the age of 55, according to The Los Angeles Times. Travis' partner, Linda Moreno, said that she died of complications from cancer. Travis actually was fine with the term 'fat,' but felt it was unacceptable for people to be denied job opportunities or access to facilities and services because of their physicality.
In Florida, Kenneth Wilk, a gay man from Fort Lauderdale, could become the first individual to receive the death penalty since it was revived in the state in 1998, according to 365Gay.com . Wilk killed a sheriff's deputy in 2004 when the officer was searching for child pornography in his home; he was found guilty of first-degree murder.
Massachusetts Gov. Devan Patrick is the first person in his position in state history to march in Boston's gay pride parade, which took place June 9, according to The Boston Globe. Patrick has been trying to help defeat a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage.
The Wisconsin legislature has rejected a measure that would have provided domestic-partner benefits to state employees, according to 365Gay.com . The House budget committee voted against the measure—initiated by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle—along party lines, with Republicans saying the proposed bill would violate Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage.
In Nashville, organizations have taken action after Out & About Nashville, a LGBT paper, was removed from the free publication areas of 34 local Kroger stores, according to The Tennessean. The city's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Chamber of Commerce has urged its members to 'consider grocery shopping alternatives.' Also, the New York City controller's office, which has a pension fund with almost $90 million invested in Kroger, is determining if it should keep investing.
In Michigan, the city of Kalamazoo has revoked health benefits for the domestic partners of its gay employees—becoming the first public employer in the state to do so, according to 365Gay.com . The city did so as a result of a Michigan Supreme Court decision that said that the state's anti-same-sex marriage amendment prohibited benefits for public workers.
In New York, a man has sued the manufacturer of the health drink Boost Plus, saying that the drink gave him an erection that lasted far too long, according to the Associated Press. Christopher Woods claimed that he bought the Novartis AG drink in June 2004, drank it and awoke the next morning 'with an erection that would not subside.' Woods said that he had to have a shunt implanted to move blood away from that part of the body.
Family Pride, a group that fights for the rights of LGBT parents and families, is opening a branch in Boston, according to Advocate.com . The organization will continue to work on a national level and will continue to occupty its Washington, D.C., office.
In New York, Micah Kellner has become the first openly bisexual man elected to the state assembly, according to Advocate.com . Kellner, who won with 64 percent of the vote, will represent the upper east side of Manhattan. He will join four openly gay members in the legislature.
Yahoo! has started a Web micro-site in celebration of Pride Month, according to a press release. The site features questions from various LGBTA celebrities, including blogger Perez Hilton, former NBA player John Amaechi and actress Judith Light. See events.yahoo.com/pride for more info.
In San Francisco, Marjorie Knoller—found guilty of the 2001 dog-mauling death of Diane Whipple—could get more prison time, the Associated Press reported. The California Supreme Court has ordered a trial judge to consider convicting Knoller of second-degree murder instead of involuntary manslaughter.
Steve Stanton—who was fired as city manager of Largo, Fla., after announcing plans to become a woman—was not the finalist selected for a similar position in Sarasota, Advocate.com reported. Stanton, who was let go from his $140,000-a-year job earlier this year, was among the final three candidates for the Sarasota job, which was awarded to Robert Bartolotta.
A new Web site, JustGotDiagnosed.com, has been launched for individuals recently diagnosed with chronic and catastrophic medical conditions ( including HIV/AIDS ) , their caregivers and loved ones. Gary McClain—a licensed counselor, research consultant and author—developed the site to help people take control of their lives after receiving a diagnosis, beginning with recognizing their emotional reactions. Among the advice the site offers patients is to confront their fears, research their conditions and get second opinions.
A Texas judge has denied bond to Glen Douglas Rice, who is suspected of committing two murders in Canada and one in New York, 365Gay.com reported. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have charged Rice with murdering two gay men, Trevor Brewster and Paul Knott; Brewster was found in a gay cruising area in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
In Nebraska, the state Senate has voted 24-15 to reject a measure that would prohibit sexual-orientation discrimination, according to 365Gay.com . In leading the charge to defeat the bill, Sen. Tom Carlson, R-Holdrege, said said that gay workers who keep their sex lives private do not need protection, while Sen. Tony Fulton, R-Lincoln, said that the measure could lead to pedophiles and transvestites being protected as well.
Johnny Vera, a six-foot-four transgirl, won the prom-queen crown at Roosevelt High School in Fresno, Calif. In her contestant speech, Vera—who won by a 5-1 margin—said 'For me, it's about more than a crown. It's about saying to people, 'Come out and be who you want to be.' ... I am who I am, and I'm proud of who I am.' Also in the city, transman Cynthia Covarrubias campaigned for prom king at Fresno High last month, but lost.
