In New York, the state Assembly passed Gov. Eliot Spitzer's same-sex marriage bill by a bipartisan vote of 85-61, Advocate.com reported. However, the state's legislative session ended without the Republican-controlled Senate considering the measure.
In New York, four lesbians were sentenced to prison terms for attacking a man who came on to one of an original group of seven of them, according to the New York Blade. Patreese Johnson, Renata Hill, Venice Brown and Terrain Dandridge received terms ranging from 3 1/2 to 11 years after Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Edward McLaughlin commented that a videotape of the incident was 'damning.' Dwayne Buckle, who called the situation 'a hate crime against a straight man,' said that he suffered, among other things, a lacerated liver, bruises and an eye injury.
In New Jersey, lesbian couple Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster have filed a civil rights lawsuit against Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a church group that owns beachfront property where the twosome was prohibited from holding a civil union ceremony, according to the Associated Press. The couple applied months ago to rent the pavilion for their ceremony, but their application was rejected and their money returned. A civil rights director said that this is the first complaint regarding discrimination in public places under the state's new civil union law.
In Wisconsin, a group of individuals being charged with first-degree homicide ( among other things ) reportedly beat a lesbian to death, according to Advocate.com . Tammie Garlin died after being attacked by her own daughter, Felicia Mae, and Michaela Clerc; Tammie and Clerc were lovers, and Clerc thought that Tammie was cheating on her. Candace Clark and Michael Sisk were also part of this group, which also allegedly tortured Tammie's 11-year-old son by scalding him with hot water, locking him in a closet and pulling on his privates with pliers.
New Jersey has become the sixth state to expressly ban discrimination against transgender individuals, according to the CourierPost Online. The change to the state's anti-discrimination statute—which was approved in December but had a 180-day waiting period—adds 'gender identity and expression' to categories already protected against discrimination regarding areas such as public accommodation, contracts and housing.
An amendment that would have halted funding overseas abortions and another that would use some AIDS funding for abstinence education have both failed in the U.S. House, according to CitizenLink.org . The former measure failed 218-205 while the latter—which would have protected a spending directive for abstinence-until-marriage programs under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief—came up short by a vote of 223-201.
A survey taken for CareerBuilder.com revealed that 28 percent of LGBT employees have dealt with harassment in the workplace, 365Gay.com reported. Among the complaints were not receiving credit for work performed and co-workers talking behind their backs.
In Delaware, a measure that would prohibit sexual orientation discrimination failed to garner enough votes for the full state Senate to consider it, according to WBOC.com . While supporters of the bill, which is now stuck in committee, says that it would protect gays, lesbians and bisexuals, opponents contend that the bill would, among other things, interfere with a business owner's right to hire.
New York City's LGBT Community Center is embarking upon a $50 million dollar expansion, according to 365Gay.com . The facility—where such groups as ACT UP and GLAAD have started—has already received $9 million from Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office, the city council and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's office.
In Michigan, officials with the city of Kalamazoo, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University ( MSU ) are trying to provide domestic-partner benefits without violating the state's anti-gay amendment, according to 365Gay.com . The state's constitutional amendment prohibits employers from offering such benefits; as a result, Kalamazoo has rescinded its benefits. However, MSU has expanded its plan to include any two people co-existing together in a relationship.
In New York, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has settled with J. Bud Roach, an oboe player who said that he was fired after complaining about another musician's anti-gay behavior, 365Gay.com reported. Roach claimed that, in 2003, another oboist, Pierre Roy, said during auditions that 'we wouldn't any more fags in the orchestra.'
In Portland, Ore., TriMet Transit Agency General Manager Fred Hansen apologized to two teen girls who were told to get off a bus because they kissed each other, according to the Associated Press. The 14-year-olds said that the bus driver called them 'sickos' and then made them leave the bus. Hansen said that 'we welcome all riders on our system.'
The National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association ( NGLJA ) has launched a podcast, called OUTspoken, according to an organizational press release. Hosted by NLGJA member Chagmion Antoine, the podcast will explore various issues; the first episode is entitled OUTspoken on: Don Imus & Shock Jocks, which can be downloaded from iTunes or the organization's Web site, www.nlgja.org .
In Wheaton, Ill., DuPage County Judge Terence Sheen has ordered 17-year-old Wheaton North High School student Marco Castro to pay $750 and perform 120 hours of community service with an AIDS agency for mixing the school's salad dressing with semen. Castro, who was expelled after the Dec. 6 incident, must also write a letter of apology to school officials.
