In Ohio, authorities are looking for the person or persons who destroyed the only state historical marker for a member of the LGBT community, the Dayton Daily News reported. John Gantt, executive director of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center, said that the marker recognizing Natalie Barney was knocked down in the city's Cooper Park. Barney, a lesbian writer and literary patron, was born in Dayton in 1876, but lived mostly in Paris, France.
Stanley E. Williams, the founding artistic director of San Francisco's Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, died July 2 at the age of 60, according to the Bay Area Reporter. Williams died slightly more than two months after his life and business partner, Quentin Delaney Easter—the theater's executive director—passed away. Easter was 57 when he died of cancer April 28. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Williams' and Easter's honor to the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, 777 Jones, San Francisco, Calif., 94109.
The Milwaukee Gay Arts Center has received $20,000 from the city as part of a settlement resulting from a censorship-related lawsuit, according to Playbill.com . The ACLU of Wisconsin filed the suit on behalf of the center after Milwaukee police closed down a local production of Naked Boys Singing! after receiving complaints about the play's content and a dispute over payment of the theater's license.
In North Carolina, a Wrightsville Beach private club has revoked the membership of transgender woman Rachael Gieschen—even though her family founded the organization in the late 19th century, according to an Advocate.com item. Gieschen, 69, began her transition from male to female three years ago; the club's board of directors suggested last year that she resign, saying that some members were uncomfortable around her. Gieschen and her lawyer are attempting to amicably resolve matters with the club.
In Maine, a jury has awarded Edward Russell $1.047 million in a sexual-orientation discrimination trial against his ex-employer, Express Jet Airlines—the largest award for such a case in the state's history, according to Advocate.com . Among other things, Russell claimed that a regional director made homophobic slurs about the company's gay employees.
The owners of the now-defunct XY Magazine and XY.com—which catered to gay men—are tussling with creditors over the publication's only tangible assets: a database that lists the personal data of thousands of customers, according to ChicagoPride. Privacy experts and the Federal Trade Commission contend that selling the list could violate certain laws.
In Idaho, transgender woman Catherine Carlson has been arrested and charged with strapping pipe bombs to her propane tank and setting her mobile home on fire, according to Lez Get Real. Apparently, the situation was rooted in a 2007 incident that resulted in Carlson having to provide her birth name, Daniel Carlson—even though she underwent gender-reassignment surgery 30 years ago. Police Chief Mark Clark said, "She's had some issues with the Payette County jail regarding her sexual orientation [ sic ] . During questioning, Carlson said she is trying to bring attention to her plight." She is now in a mental hospital, Advocate.com reported.
California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George has stunned his colleagues by announcing that he is retiring, according to MercuryNews.com . George, 70—who is the state's 27th chief justice—will officially step down Jan. 2, 2011; the announcement gives California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger until Sept. 16 of this year to nominate a successor. George is probably best known for his 2008 ruling that briefly allowed same-sex marriages throughout the state.
University of Illinois adjunct professor Kenneth Howell has been fired for lecturing that, according to certain Catholic tenets, gay sex is morally wrong, EDGE Boston reported. The student who complained about Howell said, "The courses at this institution should be geared to contribute to the public discourse and promote independent thought; not limit one's worldview and ostracize people of a certain sexual orientation." Catholicism holds that gays and lesbians do not desires are not sinful themselves, but that expressing them is.
In Montana, the Helena school board and parents are fighting over a new health curriculum that would teach, among other things, the concept of gay sex to first-graders, according to ChicagoPride. The curriculum would teach kindergartners proper anatomical names; first-graders that two men can have sex with each other; and fifth-graders about all the ways people have sex. An overflow crowd at a July 13 school-board meeting included health educators who thanked the board for creating an innovative educational slate.
In California, San Diego's city hall has opened the 1,100-square-foot exhibit "A Celebration of San Diego LGBT History," according to Passport Magazine. Sen. Christine Kehoe, the first out elected official in San Diego, said, "This year our community's progress will be seen by all who pass through City Hall... It is a chance to educate, enlighten, and inspire. This exhibit weaves together our story illustrating our struggles right here in our community, right here in San Diego, and the progress we have made right here in San Diego." Officials plan to make the exhibit a yearly display.
In New York, police sergeants Dominic Coppola and Sean Gallagher will receive $175,000 and $125,000, respectively, after settling a lawsuit that accused Lt. Kieran Crowe, a gay man, of fondling himself in front of them, according to the New York Daily News. Crowe, who retired from the New York Police Department in 2008 after being found guilty of rubbing himself and wiggling his tongue at the sergeants, said that jock itch was the source of his behavior. A dermatologist testified at the trial that Crowe was treated for that condition for at least 10 years.
In Worcester, Mass., authorities have charged gay activist Albert M. Toney III with sexually assaulting a teenager in the locker room at the Y ( formerly the YMCA ) , according to Telegram.com . The 17-year-old claimed that Toney came up from behind, grabbed his buttock and pressed himself against the teen without the alleged victim's consent. Toney—the first openly gay candidate to run for city council—is slated to be arraigned July 26.
Legendary singer Aretha Franklin is teaming up with ... former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice? The unlikely twosome will share a stage July 27 at Philadelphia's Mann Center for a concert benefiting inner-city youth, according to the Washington Post. According to the center's website, "Ms. Rice will enchant us with selections from Mozart and more and will feature Aretha on vocals with selections from her new album, 'A Woman Falling Out of Love.'" Rice, an accomplished pianist, captured her first piano competition as a teenager playing Mozart's Piano Concerto in D Minor.
Charges were dropped against openly gay Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. James Pietrangelo July 14 regarding their protests at the White House in March and April, according to Newsweek. Choi and Pietrangelo were charged with failing to obey police orders when they handcuffed themselves to the White House gates in order to protest "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Choi told Advocate.com, "I certainly am overwhelmed with that feeling of vindication for the whole civil disobedience, direct-action ideals. It was certainly justification—but it was clear the government was embarrassed to do that."
Speaking of Choi, he was among eight people arrested July 20 when activists with the LGBT-rights organization GetEQUAL blocked traffic along the Las Vegas strip to protest U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's perceived inaction regarding the passing of ENDA, according to the San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. As a symbolic gesture, the activists protested near the Statue of Liberty monument outside the New York, New York hotel and casino.
In California, the trial involving Brandon McInerney—the teenager accused of murdering 15-year-old gay classmate Lawrence King in 2008—has taken another turn as the defendant's attorney has asked for a new judge, according to KEYT.com . The defense attorney has filed a motion requesting a new judge; current judge Charles Campbell has already denied a request to postpone the trial. Although McInerney was only 14 when he allegedly shot King, he is being tried as an adult.
In California, the Pacific Pride Foundation lost more than $6,000 after the organization was robbed during Santa Barbara Pride, which the foundation hosts, according to Advocate.com . A thief apparently took the money from Pacific Pride's concessions tent. The foundation has set up a page for donations at PacificPrideFoundation.org .
