The Delaware General Assembly has passed an anti-discrimination measure that includes sexual orientation, 365Gay.com reported. "It protects the most basic activities of human life — moving about the world, earning a living, keeping a roof over your head," said Drewry Fennell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Delaware. The bill now awaits Gov. Jack Markell's signature to be made law.
In Idaho, hundreds of people marched through downtown Boise as part of Idaho's Gay Pride Parade, according to Fox12Idaho.com . "We all deserve human rights. These aren't gay rights. These are human rights," said one of the marchers. Before the parade there was a gay rights rally on the step of Boise's City Hall.
Bangor, Maine, will observe the 25th anniversary of Charlie Howard's death beginning July 7, according to a release from the Howard Foundation. Howard was a 23-year-old openly gay man who was beaten by three teenagers on July 7, 1984, and thrown from the State Street Bridge into the Kenduskeag Stream, where he drowned. Among the scheduled events are a concert, exhibit and memorial service.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has recommended Minneapolis Police Department Assistant Chief Sharon Lubinski, an out lesbian, for the post of U.S. marshal for Minnesota, according to MinnesotaIndependent.com . Lubinski, who has served in law enforcement for more than three decades, would be one of the first—if not the first—openly gay U.S. marshals. She would also be the 13th female U.S. marshal in history.
In Massachusetts, several religious groups convened to support rights for trans individuals, EDGE New England reported. The event, entitled "An Act of Faith," was held at The Edwards Church in Northampton, and was organized by the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality, among others.
In California, Kenyatta Mitchell, 23, has been arrested for allegedly slapping gay-rights leader Ron DeHarte, who was carrying a banner during the recent Equality Torch Relay event, according to the Los Angeles Times. Mitchell reportedly yelled, "There's no place for that here!" and slapped DeHarte twice. Mitchell is charged with assault and violation of civil rights through force—both classified as misdemeanors.
A swimming-pool facility denied a lesbian couple a family pass in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, according to LocalNews8.com . Mark Lowe, the executive director, said that parents must be legally obligated to the children or be married to someone who is in order to get the discount. The American Civil Liberties Union in Boise has said the state of Idaho defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, but it has no set definition of a family.
In South Carolina, lesbian politician Linda Ketner—who narrowly lost to incumbent State Rep. Henry Brown last November—has outed three Republican lawmakers, according to On Top Magazine. Speaking to Howie Klein at Fire Dog Lake, a progressive political blog, Ketner said, "We have more gay people serving in South Carolina than probably in any place in the United States"—and then named U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, State Sen. Glenn McConnell and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. However, after that remark was made public June 1, Q Notes reported two days later that Ketner backed off those assertions, saying she thought her remarks were off the record, according to EDGE Boston.
Gay Republican group GOProud is leading an effort to add a gun-rights measure to the hate-crimes bill in the U.S. Senate, according to an organizational press release. Senate Bill 845, co-sponsored by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and David Vitter, R-La., provides for concealed carry reciprocity. The organization's Web site, GoProud.org, has a link that allows visitors to join the National Rifle Association.
The Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration ( ORAM ) , an international refugee advocacy organization, has announced its launch. According to an organizational press release, the San Francisco, Calif.-based group is the first non-governmental organization to focus exclusively on refugees and asylum seekers fleeing sexual and gender-based violence. For more information, visit www.oraminternational.org .
The National LGBT Bar Association has announced that Gary F. Kennedy, senior vice president and general counsel for American Airlines, is the recipient of the 2009 Allies for Justice Award, given to an individual who has partnered with the LGBT community in the struggle for equality. Previous winners of award include Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Naphtali Offen—president of the Coalition of Lavender-Americans on Smoking and Health ( CLASH ) and a University of California, San Francisco ( UCSF ) tobacco documents researcher—received this year's American Lung Association's ( ALA ) C. Everett Koop Unsung Hero Award in recognition of his decades-long fight against the tobacco industry. Among his accomplishments, Offen co-founded CLASH in 1991 to call attention to the damage tobacco causes to the LGBT community.
Stonewall Library & Archives—the country's largest private circulating LGBT library, archives and museum—has launched a national summer fundraising drive to support its educational programming and activities."100 Days, 100 People, 100 Dollars" is the organization's latest effort to reach out to LGBTA supporters to reach Stonewall's $10,000 summer fundraising goal. Everyone who contributes $100 in the next 100 days will receive an embroidered Stonewall baseball cap. Donations are accepted online at www.stonewall-library.org/getinvolved.html .
Sam Adams, the mayor of Portland, Ore., has been cleared in the case involving former legislative intern Beau Breedlove, according to KGW.com . Adams had been under investigation by the state Department of Justice ever since he admitted to lying during his mayoral campaign about a relationship with Breedlove. Adams denied that Breedlove was under 18 when they embarked on a sexual relationship.
The Human Rights Campaign has launched a new Web site, www.hrc.org/EqualityInTheCourts, that is designed to help provide key information on the Supreme Court nomination process to the LGBT community, according to a press release. The organization's criteria for judges include a demonstrated commitment for LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities, and an understanding of the separation of church and state.
Less than 48 hours after the California Supreme Court's decision on Proposition 8, Metaversal Studios released a new free Web game called "WTF, CA!," according to a company press release. "WTF, CA!" is a "Whack-a-Mole"-style game in which the gavel of justice earns points for beating down unmarried gay couples, but loses points for beating down both straight and gay couples who are legally married. See www.metaversalstudios.com/wtfca.
Singer Fergie has now come out of the closet as a bisexual, PinkNews.co.uk reported. The "Big Girls Don't Cry" star and lead singer of Black Eyed Peas said, "Put it this way, I've experimented definitely, but I have never had a steady girlfriend." She added that the group's next video, "I Got a Feeling" features "a little girl-on-girl tease section."
Another of the stars of the 1990 cult film Paris Is Burning—Octavia St. Laurent Mizrahi—has died after a battle with cancer, according to the blog Brooklyn Boy Blues. Mizrahi is the sixth of the film's eight primary individuals to pass away, joining such people as Willi Ninja, Pepper Lebeija and Venus Xtravaganza. Paris Is Burning is credited with unveiling the world of drag balls and voguing.
Late this summer, Michigan will be the location of the movie What's Wrong with Virginia, which will mark the directing debut of Milk's Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, according to ReelChicago.com . In the film, Jennifer Connelly will play the charming but disturbed mother of a 16-year-old son. Her 20-year secret love affair with a sheriff ( played by Liam Neeson ) , who is running for the state senate, is tested when her son begins a relationship with his daughter.
Singer Ricky Martin—long speculated to be gay—has apparently said that he is open to a same-sex relationship. PerezHilton.com has reported that Martin, 37, told TV Aqui magazine ( as advertised on the publication's Twitter page ) that "his heart could belong to male or a female...more in our next issue." Last year, Martin announced that he fathered twin boys via a surrogate mother.
Canadian police have charged Black Eyed Peas manager Liborio Molina, 36, with assault after a fight with out blogger Perez Hilton at a Toronto awards ceremony that resulted in Hilton receiving a black eye, EW.com reported. Molina has been ordered to appear Aug. 5 to answer the charge. However, during a confrontation with the band, Hilton told member will.i.am, "I don't need to respect you and you're a fag. You're gay and stop being such a faggot"—a statement GLAAD has condemned. Hilton has apologized for using the slur, writing on his Web site, "The 'F' word will never be uttered from my lips again."
Speaking of Hilton, the Matthew Shepard Foundation will not accept any money from his lawsuit against manager Liborio Molina, Advocate.com reported. In a statement, Judy Shepard said, "...because the lawsuit presumably involves the physical attack prompted by Mr. Hilton's admitted use of an anti-gay slur, the Foundation will be unable to accept any funds obtained in such a manner."
This fall, Rosie O'Donnell will host "Rosie Radio," a daily radio show for Sirius XM Radio Inc., 365Gay.com reported. The show will feature the comedian-actress, 47, discussing news and entertainment as well as chatting with occasional guests. O'Donnell plans to broadcast her two-hour call-in radio show from a studio being built inside the guesthouse on her New York property.
