Another man who preaches that homosexuality is a sin was caught trying to partake in gay sex, reports the Yale Daily News. Rev. Stephen White has been known over the last few years as someone who preaches on campus against minorities, homosexuals, and religious groups. But this summer, he was arrested for allegedly offering a 14-year-old boy $20 if the boy let the preacher perform fellatio on the boy. The alleged victim refused and wrote down the reverend's license plate number before calling the police.
Howard Dean leads the way for the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, according to a new Zogby poll. The former governor of Vermont leads 40-17 over Sen. John Kerry. Wesley Clark and Sen. John Edwards are a distant third.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch said Washington state needs to review its stance on domestic partnerships, according to the Washington Times. The Democratic Speaker said he's concerned that gays who are allowed to adopt may not have necessary protections because they are not allowed to marry or enter into a civil domestic partnership. Maryland is one of the few states in America that does not have a Defense of Marriage Act specifically banning gay unions.
A California supreme court justice is expected to have an uphill battle as she begins senate confirmation hearings for a seat on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, reports the Metropolitan News Enterprise. Janice Rogers Brown, the only Black justice on California's high court, has received strong opposition from the Congressional Black Caucus. The Caucus cited Brown's involvement in removing affirmative action from the state and in protecting anti-minority hate speech in the workplace.
The Denver City Council honored a group of citizens who spoke out against anti-gay bias 30 years ago, reports the Rocky Mountain News. On Oct. 23, 1973, 250 gay supporters filled the Denver City Council chambers to protest police harassment and a new ordinance banning 'lewd behavior.' In a 13-0 vote, the council, last week, passed a resolution honoring '30 years of progress toward fair and equal treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.'
Lubbock, Texas, is the latest battle ground over gay rights in high school, according to the Washington Post. Rene Caudillo, now 18, is at the head of the suit that alleges the Lubbock high school discriminated against gays by refusing to allow a gay-straight alliance to form. Then-superintendent Jack Clemmons said in an affidavit, 'I would deny any club that has as its basis an illegal act, such as the Marijuana Club, Kids for Cocaine, the Drinking Club, etc.' Clemmons resigned this spring while allegations flew about an inappropriate affair and racist e-mails.
Lambda Legal joined the Arizona battle for limited gay rights, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. The GLBT legal organization filed papers with the Arizona Supreme Court asking the court to dismiss the argument from six state lawmakers that the governor's executive order banning discrimination is unconstitutional. Gov. Janet Napolitano issued an executive order that state employees would not be subject to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Lambda argued that the Governor can determine work conditions for state employees barring any contrary legislative action. The Napolitano camp, though, argues that the governor has the power to ban discrimination of state employees even if the legislature specifically permits it.
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville recently started the first predominantly gay fraternity, reports the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The primarily commuter university near St. Louis inducted eight men into Delta Lambda Phi (DLP) national fraternity—the 'fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men.'
The chaplain at Darlington School, a nondenominational prep school in Rome, Ga., resigned after he was asked to apologize for a column he wrote in the student newspaper, reports AP. John Merchant wrote a column supporting the Episcopal Church's decision to confirm V. Gene Robinson as bishop. After more than 50 school donors reportedly complained, school administration asked Merchant to apologize. He refused and instead resigned.
Matt Coles and Leslie Cooper of the American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project have received the National Lesbian and Gay Law Foundation's (NLGLF) highest honor, the Dan Bradley Award, for their efforts to challenge the Florida law that prohibits lesbians and gay men from adopting. The award was presented during the NLGLF's annual Lavender Law Conference at a luncheon in New York Oct. 18.
Soulforce leaders announced plans to protest and vigil Nov. 9-13, 2003 outside of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for the fourth year in a row. The demonstrations will again take place at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue NW, in Washington D.C., beginning Sunday, Nov. 9 from 3-6 p.m. Vigils will continue Monday-Thursday, starting at 7 a.m. each day. The purpose of the demonstrations is to protest the escalation of Catholic anti-gay policies and teachings, the expulsion of gay Catholics from the Church, and the Church's support of an anti-gay 'marriage' amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would deny same-gender couples and families the same protections afforded to families headed by mixed-gender couples. Last year, three Soulforce life-long Catholics were arrested when they refused a police order to leave the Hyatt lobby while seeking to be served communion, which had been denied to them the night before during a public mass at the National Shrine. They spent more than 30 hours in jail after their arrest and were found guilty of trespassing, but a judge refused to impose sentencing. Two of the three arrested, Mike Perez of Seattle and Kara Speltz of Oakland, will be returning to protest again this year.
A small professional wrestling group is announcing its first openly gay character, reports wrestling-news.com . Midwest Pro Wrestling announced that 'The Spider Baby' character to be introduced next month is gay in and out of the ring. Terrance Griep, who plays Spider Baby as a side job, says there are plenty of gay pro wrestlers, but he thinks he's the only openly gay wrestler playing today.
News Tips? RaphaelNews@aol.com
