Ted Olson and David Boies, the lead attorneys in the federal challenge to California's Proposition 8, will receive the 15th annual International Role Model Award at the Equality Forum's May 1 International Equality Dinner in Philadelphia, according to a release. In addition, CNN will receive the 8th annual International Business Leadership Award. Among those slated to attend are U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. The forum is April 26-May 2; see www.equalityforum.com .
A celebration of the life and work of feminist theologian, philosopher and academic Mary Daly will take place Saturday, May 1, at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., according to a press release. Daly died Jan. 3 at the age of 81. People planning to attend the memorial should respond to MaryDaly.org by April 4.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine says that some clinical trials backed by pharmaceutical labs and the U.S. federal government exclude lesbians and gays, according to AFP. Fox Chase Cancer Center's Brian Egleston, the lead author of the study, said, "Most gay and lesbian patients are probably unaware that their sexual orientation is being used as a screening factor for clinical trial participation." The study, based on data regarding more than 80,000 clinical trials, found that 15 percent of the trials used requirements that explicitly excluded homosexual participants. However, other trials excluded single men and women, including heterosexual ones.
In Florida, a bill that would have provided tax benefits to movie producers whose films contained only traditional family values will not proceed without the controversial language, according to Advocate.com . The criterion, seen by some as anti-gay, was removed from the senate version of the measure; the house still contains the language although several representatives would like to remove it.
Also in Florida, former police officer Mike Verdugo has filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the city of Hollywood after he was reportedly fired for failing to acknowledge his appearance in a gay-porn movie, Advocate.com reported. City authorities say that Verdugo did not include his appearance in a '90s gay-bondage movie on his job application. Verdugo and his attorney claim that homophobia played a major role in the firing; as for the job application, Verdugo said that it was not necessary to include the film role.
More Florida news: Gainesville City Commissioner Craig Lowe, a gay man, is now the front-runner in the city's mayoral race after garnering the most voted in the March 16 election and advancing to a runoff, according to Advocate.com . Lowe, who has been commissioner for seven years, will face conservative Don Marsh on April 13. Lowe played an important role in getting Gainesville to pass an ordinance that allowed trans individuals to use the most comfortable restrooms for them.
In Maryland, transwoman Dana Beyer has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Montgomery County—under the law she helped write, according to WashingtonExaminer.com . Beyer, a senior policy adviser for Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg, helped draft a measure banning gender identity-based discrimination, and is saying that the county's ethics commission violated that law when it conducted an investigation of her.
In Washington, D.C., Catholic Charities has changed some rules in light of the district legalizing same-sex marriage, according to GeorgetownVoice.com . Now, new employees can no longer receive health benefits for their spouses ( although their children will be covered ) and must pledge that they will not violate the church's beliefs. Catholic Charities spokesperson Eric Salmi said that the organization "looked at a wide range of options and decided this was the best way forward for us."
RSVP Vacations—the Minneapolis, Minn.-based company that is credited for creating the idea of gay and lesbian cruises—is celebrating its silver anniversary in Hawaii, according to its Web site. The 25th-anniversary cruise, on NCL's Pride of America, will take place Oct. 30-Nov. 6, and will encompass the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu and Kauai; the price starts at $899. See www.rsvpvacations.com .
In Michigan, openly gay Birmingham resident Tom Zerafa prevailed after challenging the city over the issue of free speech, according to PrideSource.com . The activism site MoveOn.org asked Zerafa to hold a vigil in honor of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy; he did, and well over 100 people attended. However, Zerafa received a letter from city hall saying that he had violated an ordinance regarding demonstrations, even though there was no police intervention. The ACLU of Michigan wrote a letter to the city attorney stating that the ordinance suppressed freedom of expression, and the attorney agreed.
In California, Fresno City College administrators will take action against instructor Bradley Lopez, who students said used the Bible to make anti-gay comments in his health sciences class, according to SDGLN.com . Among other things, Lopez told his students that homosexuality is a mental disorder that warrants psychotherapy; he also used the Bible to explain Jesus' genetic composition and the theory of climate change. Christopher Villa, vice president of student services, issued a report that said, in part, "Instructors are not required to hide their own religious belief or non-belief, but they may not engage in religious indoctrination as Dr. Lopez did here."
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) has launched a new Web site, portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/LGBT_Discrimination_Study, to let people comment on the design of a groundbreaking study that will look at housing bias based on gender identity and sexual discrimination, according to a HUD news release. HUD recently hosted town-hall meetings in Chicago, San Francisco and New York City to get feedback on this very topic.
Ellen DeGeneres bestowed a $30,000 college-scholarship check upon Fulton, Miss., high school senior Constance McMillen on her show that aired March 19, according to USA Today. DeGeneres told McMillen, "I admire you so much. When I was your age I never would have had the strength to do what you are doing." The Itawamba County school board canceled an April 2 prom after McMillen wanted to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo to the event.
Midge Constanza, an advocate for the rights of women and the LGBT community, passed away March 23 in San Diego, Calif., after battling cancer, according to a release from the office of openly lesbian San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Constanza—who died at age 77—was the first woman to hold the office of assistant to the president of the United States when President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the position of assistant to the president for public liaison in 1977.
