Brian Schroeder, a gay man who recently graduated from Harvard Law School ( HLS ) , allegedly set fire to a New York City memorial chapel for 9/11 victims on Oct. 31, according to an Advocate.com item.Authorities say that Schroeder may have been acting on a drunken dare. The Harvard Law Record reported that Schroeder was co-president of the gay law-school group HLS Lambda and that he was on a task force that assessed methods of limiting the impact of military recruiting on the campus' gay community.
Just weeks after the National Equality March in Washington, D.C., co-directors Kip Williams and Robin McGehee have left the group Equality Across America ( EAA ) , according to Bilerico.com . Williams and McGehee cited finances and differences regarding what direction to take as reasons for their departures. Williams e-mailed, "First, I need more security in my life, because I worked on the march for less than minimum wage and without health insurance. ... Second, I share with EAA the goal of full federal equality, but I have different ideas about the road to get there."
In Utah, Salt Lake City now has its first out gay councilmember. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah AIDS Foundation Director Stan Penfold defeated Phil Caroll to represent District 3.
Democratic New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine lost his seat to anti-gay Republican challenger Chris Christie 50 percent to 44 percent on Nov. 3, according to Advocate.com . While Corzine supports same-sex marriage, Christie would like to amend the state's constitution to define marriage as a strictly heterosexual union. New Jersey lawmakers are expected to vote on a gay-marriage measure between now and January, when Corzine leaves office; the incumbent will sign the bill if it passes.
In San Francisco, morning-radio host Dan "Elvis" Lay allegedly used anti-gay slurs during a prank call, according to Advocate.comm. Lay, host of KREV 92.7's "Dog House Morning Show," accused a man of stealing an NFL team flag from his car. When the man responded that he did not watch football, Lay reported replied, "What kind of man doesn't watch football? What are you, a [ censored by the station ] ?" Then, Lay allegedly called back and asked a woman who answered, "Where is that butt sniffer I was just talking to?"
Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit Oct. 27 with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, alleging that a transgender teen girl was harassed and suffered discrimination at a youth facility, the Philadelphia Gay News reported. Among other things, the complaint alleges that the teen, simply identified as "L.P.," was subjected to insults by other residents at the Youth Study Center. The city of Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter and the center are among the defendants named.
In Philadelphia, Penn., the FBI and local authorities have arrested Michael Daniels, 26, for impersonating a police officer, the Philadelphia Gay News reported. Four men reported to police that they were threatened by a man who claimed to be a cop after they had posted ads for male sex partners on the Web site Craigslist. Daniels allegedly told the men that, unless they paid him, he would arrest them for solicitation with a minor because they did not verify that he was over 18. A preliminary hearing will take place Nov. 16.
In Texas, the capital of Austin has extended COBRA-like benefits to same-sex couples, according to the Burnt Orange Report. City Manager Marc Ott has announced that, although federal law prohibits COBRA benefits to same-sex couples before it relies on the traditional definition of "marriage," COBRA-like benefits will be available to the same-sex domestic partners of city employees. COBRA ( the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act ) allows workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose health benefits on a temporary basis.
In Tampa, Fla., the city council unanimously voted to give preliminary approval to expanding its human-rights ordinance to protect transgender individuals from discrimination, according to the St. Petersburg Times. However, controversy developed when some councilmembers wondered if the ordinance also protected cross-dressers. Council Chairman Tom Scott and councilmember Charlie Miranda voted for the measure only after City Attorney Chip Fletcher assured them that it does not protect "the occasional cross dresser." However, some gay-rights activists do believe the ordinance protects cross-dressers.
Lambda Legal has issued a statement praising the Los Angeles ( Calif. ) Police Commission for ending its ties with Learning for Life, a youth training program affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. The commission cut ties almost two years after Lambda sent a request to then-City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, citing the Boy Scouts' exclusion of gays and atheists. Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Jennifer C. Pizer said, " [ t ] he department has moved away from an often divisive and confrontational past and into an inclusive and diverse present."
In Georgia, Atlanta Pride held its first Trans March Oct. 31 in Piedmont Park, according to Southern Voice. J. Sheffield, the events manager for Atlanta Pride, said, "I've been with Pride for 10 years and this is my first Pride as an out trans man." Approximately 30 people in the march carried an official Atlanta Pride Trans March banner; however, they also held a banner that marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots as well as one that urged for an end to employment discrimination.
In New York City, Robert Mormando, a self-confessed Gambino family hitman, outed himself in court ( breaking a top mob rule ) , according to the New York Times. Mormando, 44, came out of the closet—and also admitted to being a government informant—during a hearing on his sentence regarding his role in the shooting of a Queens bagel-store owner six years ago. A person with knowledge of case said that Mormando, a divorced father of two, is "in an absolute state of fright. You have to understand that his partner is totally freaking out. His partner has no connection to any of this. You can just imagine how fraught the whole thing is."
In Tulsa, Okla., 23-year-old Brandon Patrick said that he was recently attacked because of his sexual orientation, according to TulsaWorld.com . Three people allegedly followed Patrick down a street, yelling anti-gay slurs—and then beat, bit and slashed at him with a blade when he ignored them. Patrick described his attackers, currently at large, as a woman in her early 40s and another woman and man who were much younger. The victim suffered several cuts to his head and body.
In Houston, Texas, lesbian City Controller Annise Parker is one of several candidates for mayor, according to the Houston Press. Parker is in the thick of the race; in a recent Houston Chronicle poll, she was the choice of 19.0 percent of the respondents, trailing only City Councilman Peter Brown's 23.8 percent. Parker, a former councilmember herself, as been controller for the past five years.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ( NGLTF ) and Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders ( SAGE ) are jointly praising the announcement by Health and Human Services ( HHS ) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of plans to establish the first national resource center for older LGBT people. SAGE Executive Director Michael Adams said that "SAGE, the entire LGBT aging field and all those who work with and care for LGBT older adults, are thrilled by this announcement. This resource center is a truly historic recognition of the needs of LGBT older adults across the country and will make a huge difference in the lives of so many seniors."
In his upcoming book When the Game Was Ours, former pro basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson blames then-fellow athlete Isiah Thomas for spreading rumors Johnson was gay when he announced in 1991 that he was HIV-positive, Outsports.com reported. In the book, Thomas allegedly told Johnson's agent, Lon Rosen, "I keep hearing Magic is gay." When Rosen responded that Thomas knew "Earvin better than anyone," he said, "I know, but I don't know what he's doing when he's out there in L.A."
In Wilton, Calif., a charity rodeo party hosted by the Capitol Crossroads Gay Rodeo Association caused controversy when some thought the event became too risque, according to KCRA.com . A "Best Buns" contest featured men dancing in chaps and jock straps—but some parents said that contestants were nude; one parent insisted that " [ t ] hey had everything out there naked, and you can see it plain as day." The host group said that men showed their rear ends at the event, which benefited Shriners Hospital—but added that no other controversial body parts were exhibited.
A group of LGBT activists associated with The Dallas Principles has announced a new Web-based activist hub located at ActOnPrinciples.org, according to a press release. The Web site is dedicated to putting The Dallas Principles ( eight points decided upon by 24 activists in Texas this past May ) into action by empowering the grassroots of the LGBT movement to demand full equality.
Spencer Yu, a Los Angeles attorney and member of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's ( GLAAD's ) national board, died Oct. 24 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, during a cruise, Advocate.com reported. Yu, who was only 40, suffered cardiac arrest. The alliance's president, Jarrett Barrios, said that "Spencer was tirelessly optimistic and brought a ray of sunshine to everyone at GLAAD." According to Barrios, Yu's surviving partner, Dan Neisen, wants donations made to GLAAD's Spencer Yu Memorial Fund in lieu of flowers.
Jack Price, 49—the victim of a brutal bashing in Queens, N.Y.—spoke to the Daily News about his attackers, according to an On Top Magazine item. Price, an openly gay man, ended up in Booth Memorial Hospital after suffering a broken jaw, fractured ribs and a lacerated spleen. Daniel Rodrigues, 21, and Daniel Aleman, 26, have been arrested. Price said, "I hope they rot in jail. I don't understand how someone can do this to somebody. They almost killed another human being."
In Florida, gay-rights activists have praised the introduction of California Congressman Pete Stark's Every Child Deserves a Family Act, a measure that would urge states to allow gay couples to adopt children or take in foster kids, according to On Top Magazine. C.J. Ortuno, executive director of the pro-gay group SAVE Dade, said, "Florida's ban on adoption by qualified gay men and lesbian women hurts children, and this bill would help eliminate barriers to children being adopted by qualified individuals and having a forever home." Florida is the only state that explicitly bans gay people from adopting.
In Washington, D.C., Superior Court Judge Susan Winfield approved a 20-day restraining order that shuts down the so-called "Men's Parties," gay gatherings that took place in a local townhouse, the Washington Blade reported. D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles sought the order days after a man was found dead from an apparent fall. There were rumors that Men's Parties—which Nickles said did not have a business license—operated as an all-male sex club.
In addition to Internet domains such as .com, .biz, .museum and .net, a group is suggested that .gay be added, according to PCMag.com . The Dot Gay Alliance, with technical assistance from Minds + Machines, is leading the charge. "The LGBT community has always supported itself and its causes--no one was there to help us," said Dot Gay Alliance founder Joe Dolce. "We've made amazing progress in the 40 years since Stonewall. Now in the digital era a .GAY top-level domain is a logical evolution in our history of self sustenance."
