The Family Equality Council, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a coalition of expert organizations have launched the New Beginning Initiative, designed to push for concrete federal administration policy and regulatory changes directly benefiting LGBT people and eliminating discrimination, according to a Family Equality Council press release. The initiative—an outcome of the National Policy Roundtable—began more than a year ago in preparation for a more LGBT-favorable administration.
Following a meeting with the district attorney, four San Francisco men who allegedly robbed and killed 74-year-old retiree Clifford Lambert will not face the death penalty if found guilty, according to a SFWeekly.com item. Kaushal Niroula; his on-again, off-again lovers Daniel Garcia and David Replogle; and his friend Miguel Bustamante are charged with stealing the assets of Lambert, who disappeared last year and is presumed dead.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) has launched a new project to fight homophobia in virtual communities and educate users on LGBT issues, according to an organizational press release. As part of this project, GLAAD will focus communities including networked PC games, social networks, online gaming and virtual worlds. Also, the organization is convening a groundbreaking panel discussion in Silicon Valley July 18 that will focus on homophobia.
Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey—who outed himself when he resigned in 2004—is progressing in his aim to become a priest, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. McGreevey, who is in a "healthy, happy relationship" with another man, is studying to become an Episcopal priest and volunteers at Exodus Ministries at the Church of Living Hope in East Harlem, N.Y.
The New York Blade, one of the two major LGBT newspapers in New York City, has suspended publication and let its editor-in-chief go, according to The New York Times. "Everyone was let go, but the people on The Blade know that they may come back if The Blade is coming back," said the executive, Matthew Bank, of HX Media. Paul Schindler, editor-in-chief of rival publication Gay City News, said The Blade had "made good contributions over the years."
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., has arrived in Washington, D.C., and said that he is ready to get on with business, according to USA Today. Franken told the media that he wants to be known as the senator from Minnesota, not the 60th Democratic vote in the Senate. Last week, the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld a lower-court ruling that made Franken the winner over Norm Coleman.
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 body of gay sailor August Provost III, 29, was found at California's Camp Pendleton June 30, and a "person of interest" is being held in connection with the killing, according to KFDM.com . Provost was shot three times, tied up and burned, and relatives are calling the murder a hate crime. Provost's aunt, Rose Roy, said that he told his superiors last year that he was being harassed because of his sexual orientation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has decided to not grant an injunction to California's anti-same-sex measure Proposition 8, speeding the process for a federal lawsuit that seeks to overturn the ban, according to Advocate.com . Walker said that temporarily stopping the initiative would cause too much confusion, with the federal case coming up. Both sides have until Aug. 7 to file proposals.
In California, a Sacramento law firm representing a group of angry parents in a diversity lawsuit has billed a school district $14,000, according to 365Gay.com . The billing occurred after the parents sued the school district after lesbian minister Rev. Arlene Nehring spoke to Castro High Valley students about coming out process and the acceptance of alternative lifestyles.
Michael Pilcher, 21—a resident of the San Diego ( Calif. ) LGBT Community Center's Youth Housing Project—was found dead inside his apartment, Gay & Lesbian Times reported. He apparently suffered a drug overdose but " [ t ] hat information ... cannot be confirmed until completion of toxicology tests, which can take up to 90 days," said Alina Stovey, the San Diego County Medical Examiner investigator.
In New York, Nora Mitzner, Lindsay McBeth and Selwyn Icangelo have pled not guilty of aggravated harassment after authorities said they physically assaulted a victim while shouting anti-gay slurs, according to Newsday.com . Suffolk County police responded to a 911 call of a fight in Mastic Beach, and allegedly came upon the trio as they kicked, hit and pushed an unidentified woman.
After the recent Twin Cities Pride festival in Minneapolis, Minn., a group of kids followed a man, taunting him and yelling homophobic insults, according to blogs.citypages.com . On a YouTube video, the kids yell statements such as "I hate gay people" while following a man.
Candace Gingrich—the lesbian half-sister of former Congressman and Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich—appeared to question the truthfulness of the Latter-Day Saints ( Mormon ) Church in an interview, according to ABC4.com . At one point, when ABC 4 asked her, "Well, that almost sounds like you're saying the Church knows the truth but isn't telling it?", she responded, "You know, I think there are a lot of people in this world that know the truth but aren't telling it." Also, when asked if she would vote for Gingrich or Utah's Mitt Romney, she said, "I've never voted for a Republican for president in my life."
Olivia Cruises & Resorts, which started out 36 years ago as a women's music label, is celebrating 20 years of travel by inviting key lesbian entertainers and celebrities on its 2010 Western Caribbean Cruise, which will take place Feb. 28-March 7, 2010. The line up so far includes one of Olivia's original recording artists, Meg Christian, and L Word sensation Leisha Hailey. See www.olivia.com .
At a press conference promoting the film Public Enemies, which stars Johnny Depp as gangster John Dillinger, Christian Bale—who plays FBI G-man Melvin Purvis—said in a press conference that "I wouldn't be surprised if [ FBI boss J. Edgar ] Hoover had hopes for something that Purvis was oblivious to," according to HollywoodOutbreak.com . Bale added, "There are some very, very interesting letters between the two of them—more restrained on Purvis' side. ... I think that what started as Hoover's fascination with Purvis [ led ] to Hoover's jealousy of Purvis."
Dashing Broadway actor Nicholas Rodriguez will take on a gay character when he joins the cast of the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live Aug. 14. Rodriguez, who is currently appearing in the Joe DiPietro-David Bryan musical The Toxic Avenger Off-Broadway at New World Stages, has been cast as gay character Nick.
Actor Isaiah Washington has become a part of the NO H8 campaign for marriage equality, Fashion.ie has reported. Washington—who was fired from TV's Grey's Anatomy after making anti-gay slurs at the Golden Globe awards and reportedly on the "Grey's" set regarding a cast mate—has participated in a photo shoot and video with duct tape over his mouth, symbolizing voices not being heard, and "NO H8" painted on one cheek.
