A diverse group of 24 gay-rights activists, Democratic Party organizers and fundraisers has come up with a manifesto called The Dallas Principles, named after the city where they convened, according to the Washington Post. The document is a call to arms, and lists principles and goals of the LGBT community. The group has also started a Web site, TheDallasPrinciples.org, where people can sign on and endorse the principles.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter has signed a measure that gives same-sex domestic partners of state employees the same benefits as spouses of heterosexual workers, according to Advocate.com . "It's an important piece of legislation that will help make sure the state can attract and retain good employees and compete with the private sector," said one of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Mark Ferrandino.
The San Diego City Council unanimously proclaimed May 22 as "Harvey Milk Day," according to a press release from Councilmember Todd Gloria. "Harvey Milk's role as a voice for underrepresented people paved the way for me and countless others to pursue careers in public service," said Gloria. "Because of Harvey Milk's legacy, I stand before you today as a proud, openly gay San Diego City Councilmember." May 22 was Milk's birthday; he would have been 79.
In Texas, San Angelo Mayor J.W. Lown has left office to be with his partner, a Mexican national who cannot legally reside in the United States, the Box Turtle Bulletin reported. "I made the final decision when I knew it was the right decision to make for me and my partner and our future—and for the community," Lown said. The couple is in Mexico awaiting a visa so they can legally return.
Speaking of Milk, Natalie Jones—a sixth-grader in Ramona, Calif.—was not allowed to give a class presentation on Milk after administrators made classmates get parental permission to listen to it, according to Advocate.com . Mt. Woodson Elementary School's policy states that parents must be notified if students listen to lessons about "family life, human sexuality, AIDS, or sexually transmitted diseases," among other things. Jones' mother, Bonnie, labeled the situation "unbelievable."
In Omaha, Neb., a transgirl has been banned from attending St. Wenceslaus School because administrators objected to her wearing girls' clothing, according to PinkNews.co.uk. Omaha Archdiocese's Chancellor, the Rev. Joseph Taphorn, said that the student—who has attended for three years as a male—"is welcomed to come, but it would not be acceptable to change the child's gender and present as a girl."
In New Jersey, the state's motor vehicle commission has made things easier for trans individuals; now they can alter their gender markers before sexual-reassignment surgery is done, according to the Philadelphia Gay News. Now, individuals who undergo the surgery do not have to provide provide of the medical procedure or present a birth certificate before updating their licenses.
In Kentucky, McDonald's has agreed to a cash settlement and diversity training for management at 30 of its Louisville-area restaurants after a staff member subjected gay patrons to slurs, according to an ACLU press release. Ryan Marlatt, Teddy Eggers and three other friends had stopped for lunch on July 26, 2008; an employee behind the counter referred to them as "faggots" to another employee. Although Marlatt and Eggers only asked for $28, McDonald's offered them $2,000 each on its own, which they accepted.
In Pennsylvania, the unmarried partners of state employees will start receiving full healthcare coverage and other benefits July 1, PennLive.com reported. The new policy, approved last September by the Pennsylvania Employee Benefits Trust Fund, will cover same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples. To qualify, partners must be at least 18, have lived together for six months and must have definitive proof of a committed relationship, such as a joint bank account.
Pennsylvania's Grove City College, a Christian institution, has suspended student John Gechter because he has appeared in gay porn, according to BGay.com . Gechter, a senior molecular biology major who went by the porn alias Vincent DeSalvo, said he needed the income to pay for school; however, he was suspended for one year after another student saw him in a video posted on gay-porn Web site Randy Blue.
In Gloucester, Mass., two brothers have been arrested for attacking a gay man, the Boston Globe reported. Justin Goodwin, 33, was beaten outside Old Timer's Tavern, and his attackers allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs as they shattered his jaw and broke his nose, an eye socket and a cheek bone. Johnathan Chadwick, 23, and William Chadwick, 21, were charged with aggravated assault and battery, as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
The city council of Los Angeles ( Calif. ) has unanimously approved a resolution calling for a federal measure that urges the Iraqi government to prevent the persecution of LGBT individuals, the Los Angeles Times reported. Openly gay 11th District Councilman Bill Rosendahl sponsored the measure.
In California, the Assembly recently passed the LGBT Prisoner Safety Act, according to AssociatedContent.com . The measure would introduce "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as criteria the Department of Corrections would consider when allocating housing and classifying prisoners. However, Tom Ammiano, who introduced the bill, has said he does not know how much it will cost to implement the act. According to Just Detention International, two-thirds of LGBT inmates are victims of rape or other types of sexual assault.
Movie director Brett Ratner is reportedly in talks to helm a movie based on the story of the ill-fated musical duo Milli Vanilli, according to a SlashFilm.com item. Rush Hour screenwriter Jeff Nathanson has written the screenplay about "one producer and two lip-syncing male models who sold millions of records and won a Grammy before their scam was revealed."
Sir Anthony Hopkins is teaming up with director Sir Ridley Scott to bring Hannibal Lecter back. According to IMDB.com, Hopkins will reprise his cannibalistic serial killer for the fourth time in a second sequel to the 1991 hit film The Silence of the Lambs. Cate Blanchett will take over the role of Clarice Starling after Jodie Foster pulled out to direct Claire Danes in the upcoming movie Flora Plum.
The investigation is "still underway" regarding the attempted burglary of Lindsay Lohan's Hollywood Hills home May 12, according to E! Online. A surveillance camera at Lohan's home captured footage of the suspect wearing a white cap and crouched outside a vehicle that was parked on the street outside the actress' house. No further details have been released. Lohan was not home at the time.
The Obama administration has chosen Broadway producer Rocco Landesman to lead the National Endowment for the Arts ( NEA ) , according to the Los Angeles Times. Landesman, 61, has been behind several stage hits, including The Producers, Big River and Angels in America. Landesman, who is known for his aggressive personality, is expected to shake things up in the NEA.
In case you haven't heard, glam rocker Adam Lambert finished second to pop rocker Kris Allen in the season finale of American Idol. However, what you actually may not have heard is how out Lambert supposedly is. According to an E! Online item, blogger/pageant judge Perez Hilton said of Lambert, "He's not in the closet. I went to a party he had last week, and he was openly gay with me there. If he was really concerned, he wouldn't have done that. ... [ Lambert's boyfriend is ] very cute. I think he works in fashion or design."
In a speech at the 2009 BIO International Convention at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, singer Elton John said that more work must be done in tackling the HIV pandemic, according to the Washington Blade. "I often have to stop myself and ask why is it left to my foundation [ the Elton John AIDS Foundation ] , and others like it, to address this global issue of existential consequence," John said. "The answer, in short, is that collectively the world's government and industries are too often ignoring reality, and this creates a gap between what government and industries are doing to reverse the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and what they should be doing."
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, filmed in New York, is credited with unveiling the world of drag balls and voguing.
