Sgt. Marcia Ramode, a U.S. Army recruiter who once sent anti-gay e-mails to a job-seeker, has been reassigned, a Servicemembers Legal Defense Network ( SLDN ) release stated. S. Douglas Smith, Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, said that Ramode is in 'a duty position elsewhere in the Army. The investigation has been completed, and administrative action has been taken.'
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski has signed measures that create same-sex domestic partnerships and that ban sexual orientation discrimination, Advocate.com reported. Kulongoski said that the acts would ''transform our state from one of exclusion to one of complete inclusion.' Both laws become effective Jan. 1.
Theresa Sparks has been elected as the first openly transgender head of the San Francisco Police Commission, according to 365Gay.com . In a statement, Sparks—who is, in all likelihood, the highest-ranking trans individual in the city—said 'I feel honored to have been selected for this position by my fellow commissioners.'
The city of Berkley, Calif., is considering paying for sexual-reassignment operations under its employee health care plan, 365Gay.com reported. The proposal materialized after transsexual city worker Lynn Riordan said that her 2003 surgery cost $11,000 —which she paid for.
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who recently became the first person in his political position to propose same-sex marriage legislation, has offered more details about his plan, according to The New York Sun. In a two-page memo, Spitzer states such opinions as 'Same-sex couples who wish to marry are not simply looking to obtain additional rights, they are seeking out substantial responsibilities as well: to undertake significant and binding obligations to one another, and to lives of shared intimacy and mutual financial and emotional support.'
LGBT media company PlanetOut Inc. has taken a dive in the stock market, according to MSNBC.MSN.com . Stock has dipped to its lowest ever, decreasing to $1.45 per share, far below the company's previous low of $2.38. Moreover, Gay.com's San Francisco owner has said that PlanetOut will need monetary input to avoid running out of cash by year's end, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.
Luis Jimenez, the host of a Univision Radio show, has been suspended for one month after using anti-gay slurs on the air, according to Advocate.com . Jimenez and his co-hosts sang a song titled Las Patas ( The Dykes ) , which made fun of lesbians. Jimenex also introduced a gay character to whom he said, 'Cállate, pato' ( 'Shut up, faggot' ) .
In Nebraska, over a dozen state workers resigned from a diversity committee after a scheduled appearance by a gay speaker was cancelled, KETV.com reported. The employees said that they were forced to discriminate against Beth Gillespie, who was slated to give a speech about same-sex parenting.
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson has apologized for saying that private employers should be allowed to fire employees on the basis of sexual orientation, according to an Advocate.com item. The comment came during a recent debate between 10 Republican presidential candidates that occurred in California.
In Texas, authorities are warning parents about 'Strawberry Quick,' a mix of Pop Rocks candy and methamphetamines that is becoming popular with schoolchildren, according to WFAA.com . The deadly mix is helping to create a generation of users who is unaware of the mix's addictive properties, the Drug Enforcement Agency stated.
In Alabama, Christopher Gaines—one of three people charged in the murder of Scotty Joe Weaver, an 18-year-old gay man—pronounced himself guilty a week before the trial was slated to begin, according to 365Gay.com . The other two defendants, Nichole Kelsay and Robert Holly Lofton, will be tried separately. Gaines, Kelsay and Lofton allegedly murdered Weaver, then transported the victim's body and burned it.
Fired shock jock Don Imus is reportedly planning to sue CBS Radio to collect the estimated $40 million left on his contract, according to Fortune.com . Imus was fired April 12 as a result of comments he made about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.
In Texas, a painting by Rhon Drinkwater that shows a nude woman with a mastectomy scar was removed from a Dallas art show, according to WFAA.com . Gallery management at The Continental Gin sent an e-mail explaining the necessity of 'G-rated' work in the gallery, even there were other nudes in the show.
In Washington State, Seattle Pride has filed for bankruptcy, according to 365Gay.com . Out and Proud, the volunteer-based organization that put on Seattle's annual gay pride parade, still owes the city more than $100,000 after relocating the pride festival to the Seattle Center. Individuals behind Queerfest, which competed against the official pride events last year, plan to hold its festival on June 23.
Michael Smuin, who was co-artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet during 1973-85 and then started his own dance company 10 years later, passed away April 23 at the age of 68, the Associated Press reported. In addition, he won a Tony Award for his choreography of the Broadway revival of Anything Goes.
Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce ( NGLCC ) have announced the first annual Out & Healthy National LGBT Health Conference and Expo, which will take place Nov. 2-3 in Washington, D.C. The expo, presented by Aetna, will offer everything from case studies to business opportunities. More details will be forthcoming.
Rosie O'Donnell is on the list of Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world, according to 365Gay.com . Among other entertainers on the list are Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake, Tyra Banks and Tina Fey.
In Florida, Steve Stanton—who was fired from his city manager position in Largo after it was revealed that he plans to undergo sexual reassignment surgery—is being considered for a similar post in Sarasota, 365Gay.com reported. After applying for a city manager position in Sarasota—complete with an application that had his new name, Susan, and an indication that a change was pending—Stanton's name was among the 11 finalists for the job.
