SOULFORCE—an organization that is working to end the religious and political oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people—has a new executive director: the Rev. Cindi Love. Love, who started April 22, previously served as the executive director of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, according to a press release. "I am really excited that Dr. Cindi Love has accepted the call to serve as Executive Director of SOULFORCE," said the Rev. Dr. Mel White, co-founder of SOULFORCE. "She is the ideal person to continue to lead our non-violent struggle to end misuse of scripture and religion to discriminate against God's LGBTQ children."
Constance McMillen—the Mississippi high school student who was in the middle of a prom-related controversy because she wanted to bring her girlfriend and the school board refused—has been named one of the grand marshals of New York's 41st Annual LGBT Pride March June 27, according to an NYC Pride press release. McMillen said, "I never dreamed so many people would support my fight to take my girlfriend to the prom, much less that I'd end up being asked to be a Grand Marshal at NYC Pride. I'm really honored and touched to be asked to be part of this celebration."
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, in a media release, supported the American Psychiatric Association's ( APA's ) request to change the phrase "gender identity disorder" to "gender incongruence," but also called for the removal of "transvestic disorder" and expressed concerns about other proposed revisions to the upcoming 5th edition of the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ( DSM ) . Jaime Grant, director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Policy Institute, said, "Gender variance is not a psychiatric problem; it's a natural human variation that in some cases requires medical attention and support."
The Media Industry Newsletter awarded AARP for Best Online Exclusive Coverage of the 40th anniversary of The Stonewall Riots. AARP.org's Stonewall package includes video and radio clips; a photo timeline; related articles; and a glossary of terms related to the event. An overview of the website provides a comprehensive overview of this gay-rights milestone.
More than 300 gay and lesbian veterans and their straight allies from across the country have registered to go to Washington, D.C. to urge Congress to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) May 10-11 ( National Veterans Lobby Day ) , according to a joint release from the Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers United. Alexander Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army veteran discharged under DADT, said, "We have laid out a path to repeal for this year that very much respects the Pentagon's position on this issue. There is simply no excuse for further delay."
In California, the West Hollywood City Council has voted to boycott Arizona in light of that state's controversial immigration-reform law, Advocate.com reported. The boycott includes a suspension of official travel to Arizona and a review of city contracts with Arizona.
In Maryland, 18-year-olds Sharif Tau Lancaster and Alante Saunders have been charged with the murder of Washington, D.C., principal Brian Betts, who met the suspects on a phone-sex line hours before he was killed, according to the Washington Post. Montgomery County authorities believe that robbery was the primary reason behind the killing. Betts was found dead in his home April 15 after he did not show up for work at Shaw Middle School at Garnet-Patterson.
Former Utah state Rep. Christine Johnson, an out lesbian, will head South Carolina's LGBT-rights group, according to Advocate.com . Johnson, 41, will start as executive director of South Carolina Equality July 1. Johnson had represented Salt Lake City and Park City in Utah's legislature.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed an anti-bullying bill, according to Advocate.com . The measure will establish new rules for reporting bullying and will provide training for all adults who work at schools. Patrick said, "As governor and as a parent, I feel very strongly that no child should feel threatened or unsafe in our schools. With this new law, we are giving our teachers, parents, and kids the tools and protections they need so that every student has a chance to reach their full potential."
In California, Oakland's city council has voted to remove the city's 130-year-old ban on cross-dressing, according to CaliforniaCityNews.org . During the 19th century, Oakland made it illegal for anyone to don "the attire of a person of the opposite sex." A final vote on killing the ordinance will take place May 18.
Also in California, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has received a major LGBT-related endorsement in his bid for the lieutenant governor's seat, according to L.A. Weekly. Equality California, one of the most powerful gay-rights organizations in the state, endorsed Newsom. However, other groups such as the Stonewall Democratic Club are backing Newsom's opponent, L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn.
In Texas, transwoman Sabrina Hill married her girlfriend in San Antonio after being denied a marriage license in El Paso, according to the El Paso Times. Hill, 60, was allowed to marry Therese "Tee" Bur because Hill was listed as male on her birth certificate. Texas law defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal has now asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott for clarification of the marriage law.
The National Black Justice Coalition ( NBJC ) has named Berkeley, Calif., City Councilman Darryl Moore as its board chair, according to a press release. Moore—who will succeed professor, attorney, activist and public speaker Kylar W. Broadus, Esq.—is a management analyst for the Oakland Housing Authority and is on the boards of the West Berkeley Foundation and the East Bay Community Scholarship Foundation. The NBJC is focused on the rights of Black LGBT individuals.
OUT has launched "Team OUT Today," a new online video channel that goes behind the scenes at OUT brand. "Team OUT Today" follows Out team members, including Editor-in-Chief Aaron Hicklin, Fashion Director Grant Woolhead and Associate Editor Noah Michelson as they maneuver the publishing world to diligently design the magazine's June/July "Hot List Issue." The channel is exclusively on Out.com and continues for six weeks with daily vlogs from the team members, weekly webisodes, polls, editorial, daily giveaways and more.
In Georgia, St. John's Lutheran Church has reinstated pastors ( and partners ) Bradley Schmeling and Darin Easler, according to 11Alive.com . The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ( ELCA ) removed Schmeling and Easler from its roster of pastors in 2007 after Schmeling came out. "It feels good to have them included." said congregant Barbara Arne. "We also know there's a lot of pain for some people who may now feel the ELCA is not their church. We're sensitive to that and want to support them and walk with them on this journey together."
Baltimore, Md., may have its first LGBT youth center, according to Advocate.com . The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore plans to open a drop-in facility for LGBT youths, and said facility will provide services ranging from HIV testing to tutoring. The youth center is seeking grants and other funding to cover annual expenses that may be as much as $600,000.
