Michigan's high court ruled 5-2 that the partners of gay and lesbian state workers can't get health benefits because of the state's 2004 ban against same-sex marriage. Michigan's Supreme Court affirmed a 2007 appeals court ruling that local governments and state universities in Michigan can't offer health insurance to same-sex partners of employees.
Malcolm Boyd, the first openly gay Episcopal priest, will be honored by the Lambda Literary Foundation for his ground-breaking work as an author and gay activist. Boyd has authored 29 books, including the newly released 'Samuel Joseph for President: Media, Politics, Religion, Race,' and his best-seller, 'Are You Running with Me, Jesus?' Boyd, 85, continues to serve as a priest. He came out 35 years before the election of the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson. The Lambda Literary Foundation will award him the Pioneer Award on May 29 in Los Angeles.
While the North Carolina primaries might have turned out well for presidential hopeful Barack Obama, openly gay U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal did not fare well. Neal, who ran for the Democratic nomination, was defeated by Kay Hagan. Hagan, who will go on to oppose incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole, won with 60 percent of the vote in the May 6 primary. Although Hagan has stayed quiet on LGBT issues, Neal was not supported by the Human Rights Campaign or the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. LGBT leaders across the U.S. have criticized the organizations for not giving an openly gay candidate more visibility by giving him support.
Virginia voters made state history when they elected the first openly gay Black man to public office May 6. Lawrence Webb was elected to the Falls Church city council. Webb is assistant dean of admissions at the University of Mary Washington. 'I hope my election opens the doors for others to get involved in public service,' Webb told the Washington Blade. 'It doesn't matter if you're gay or black or both. What matters is your dedication to building a better community and your willingness to work hard at it.'
Former Gov. James McGreevey and his estranged wife have been spending time behind close courtroom doors lately for their divorce trial. According to the New York Times, the two have so far reached a deal on the custody of their 6-year-old daughter. One lawyer told the Times that the agreement was 'amicable,' but would not disclose further details. The McGreeveys still need to discuss settlements on alimony and child support, as well as Dina Matos McGreevey's claim of marriage fraud. The couple broke up in 2004 when the former governor came out of the closet after having an affair with a man.
Gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson told the Today Show that even though he'll most likely receive death threats, he will continue his plans to enter into a civil union with his partner of 20 years, Mark Andrew. Robinson is the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, and his 2003 election caused much controversy. Robinson plans to enter into a civil union with his partner on the eve of the Church's large ecclesiastical conference, which he is already banned from being a part of because of protests from conservatives. Robinson told Matt Lauer, 'I am simply not going to pub my life in jeopardy without putting into place the protections for my beloved partner and my children and my grandchildren that are offered to me in a civil union.'
The arraignment of the 14-year-old charged with murdering his openly gay classmate, Lawrence King, was postponed. King was shot to death at school by his classmate in February. The District Attorney's office has charged the teen with a hate crime, and want to try him as an adult. The California judge postponed the arraignment until June because Brandon McInerney's lawyer requested more time to prepare his case. The lawyer has said that he blames the school for the shooting, saying they weren't aggressive enough in handling issues between the two students.
John Waters, the mastermind behind Hairspray and Pink Flamingos, is working on a new Christmas-themed film. According to Hollywoodreporter.com, the flick is titled 'Fruitcake,' and will feature Johnny Knoxville ( 'Jackass' ) and Parker Posey. The plot supposedly centers around a boy named Fruitcake, who runs away from home and meets another runaway, a girl raised by two gay men who is trying to locate her birth mother.
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