The American Psychological Association ( APA ) is about to start a review of its decade-old policy regarding the counseling of gays and lesbians, according to Advocate.com . Gay-rights activists hope that the association's examination leads to some therapists ending attempts to alter a client's sexual orientation.
Gay-porn star Ken North has died of a drug overdose at the age of 35, according to the Bay Area Reporter. The incident occurred in London on Independence Day. North, whose real name was Ben Grey, performed in 14 videos for California-based Hot House Entertainment. Recently, he co-hosted the 2007 Grabby gay adult video awards in Chicago.
In Florida, a bipartisan organization made up primarily of heterosexuals has put together over $1 million in two months to fight a proposed anti-same-sex amendment to the state constitution, according to 365Gay.com . The group, Florida Red & Blue, is led by Bob Farmer, a former treasurer for the Democratic National Committee and Jon Kislak, the former financial director for Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum's campaign.
The TV station LOGO and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation will present several 2008 presidential candidates—including Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama—in a historic televised forum on LGBT issues. The one-hour event will be broadcast live Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. CT in Los Angeles before a studio audience, and will be streamed online at LOGOonline.com .
Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has railed against medical marijuana, saying that people who support the legalization of pot for medical purposes just want everyone to have it, the Associated Press reported. Giuliani added that 'there are pain medications much superior to marijuana.'
In other Fort Lauderdale-related news, Fort Lauderdale city commissioners have agreed to make space in a city building for a gay-interest library ( the Stonewall Library ) over Mayor Jim Naugle's objections, according to The Miami Herald. 'When I showed the materials to the city attorney, he said it was likely hard-core pornography,'' Naugle said the commission meeting where he and Commissioner Christine Teel were outvoted 3-2. `'I feel troubled a city building would be housing materials with content we have arrested people for in the past.''
In Massachusetts, Daniel Ellis, a Cape Cod man, could face charges for saying that he was a racist, homophobe and liar in order to get out of jury duty, according to the Associated Press. Barnstable Superior Court Judge Gary Nickerson told Ellis, 'In 32 years of service in courtrooms...I have quite frankly never confronted such a brazen situation of an individual attempting to avoid juror service.'
In Virginia, Thomas Dunnavant is fighting the state's Workers Compensation Commission for his partner's death benefits, according to 365Gay.com . Philip Pettus worked as a mechanic but suffered a severe back injury in 2001 and died in 2004; Dunnavant—who suffers from several conditions, including diabetes and chronic fatigue syndrome—depended on Pettus financially. Lambda Legal, who is representing Dunnavant, has appealed to the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson has passed away at the age of 94, according to the Associated Press. The widow of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, Lady Bird was known primarily as a conservation advocate and a tenacious supporter of the campaigns of her husband, who died in 1973. She was in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, when President John Kennedy was assassinated, and being at Lyndon's side when he took the presidential oath of office aboard Air Force One.
Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes will be extradited from Virginia Beach, Va., to Philadephia to face charges of murdering gay porn producer Bryan Charles Kocis, according to 365Gay.com . Kocis was the owner of gay adult film company Cobra Video; authorities say that Cuadra and Kerekes killed him to eliminate a rival.
Boston, Mass., resident Stephen Dunne is claiming that refusing to answer a bar exam question regarding a same-sex couple caused him to fail the test, according to GFN.com . Dunne, who has filed a federal lawsuit for $9.75 million, said that he felt that the question validated same-sex marriage—which is against his moral beliefs. Dunne scored a 268.866; the passing score was 270.
In San Diego, Calif., an LGBT group known as the Stonewall Citizens Patrol plans to patrol the city's main gay pride event, which will take place July 21-22, according to 365Gay.com . In 2006, six men were attacked as they left Balboa Park, where this year's event will happen; one victim was hit almost a dozen times with a baseball bat and needed facial reconstructive surgery.
Citing company policy, United Parcel Service ( UPS ) has decided that a New Jersey gay couple will not get the same benefits as a couple married in Massachusetts, GFN.com reported. Reportedly, the company's decision boiled down to the word 'spouse,' which New Jersey does not use for its couples who are joined in civil unions. However, in a letter to journalist Rex Wockner, UPS Public Relations Manager Lynnette McIntire said, ' [ a ] bsent a law that specifically categorizes same-sex partners as married spouses such as in Mass., UPS cannot unilaterally change a union contract to offer same-sex benefits.'
In Yuma, Ariz., Ruben Solario, 23, has been arrested in the two-year-old murder of drag performer Armancio Corrales, 23, according to 365Gay.com . Although many believe that the murder was a hate crime, the authorities have not categorized it as one. Corrales was a well-known drag performer known as Delilah.
Gay and lesbian prisoners in South Africa will be allowed to wed, 365Gay.com reported. Approximately 600 inmates across the country have asked for permission to marry, including several requests from gay and lesbian convicts; a Department of Corrections spokesperson said that same-sex couples will be allowed to wed along with their heterosexual counterparts.
The Iranian government has confirmed that a man was executed by stoning last week for committing adultery, and that 20 more men would be executed for everything from rape to homosexuality, according to The New York Times. During a crackdown in May, Iranian police arrested about 1,000 people.
Travel Web site Orbitz.com has launched an online charity auction that will raise funds for organizations such as Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD and The Matthew Shepard Foundation. At www.orbitzcharity.com/lgbt, people can bid on auction items ranging from autographed CDs to travel packages through Aug. 12.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure has announced the members of its new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons National Advisory Council, according to an organizational press release. Among the members is Kathleen DeBold, interim executive director of the ServiceMembers Legal Defense Network and former executive director of The Mautner Project, a national lesbian health agency.
In Colorado, John Garon, a homeless man, was tossed from a shelter because of his sexual orientation, according to 365Gay.com . Garon had been staying at the Open Door Mission for approximately three weeks when the director, the Rev. Richard Thebo, reportedly told Garon 'I don't allow homosexuals to use these facilities.' Thebo confirmed that he told Garon to leave, saying that Garon 'flaunted his sexuality' and flirted with another man.
Wal-Mart is rescinding its support of LGBT groups after conservative Christian organizations threatened to boycott the retail giant, according to CNN Money. ( Last year, Wal-Mart—the world's largest retailer—joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. ) Mona Williams, who is with the company's communications department, said that Wal-Mart has a policy of not 'supporting or opposing highly controversial issues.'
A Massachusetts jury awarded Cynthia Haddad $2 million in a case where she claimed she was fired from Wal-Mart after requesting to be paid the same as her male co-workers, the Associated Press reported. David Belfort, Haddad's lawyer, said that the verdict 'sends a message that you can't treat people poorly because of who they are.'
In Washington, D.C., Police Chief Cathy Lanier is disassembling special units designed for the Latino and LGBT communities, generating much criticism, according to The Washington Post. Lanier contends that she is attempting to expand services throughout the city; however, activists say that the move will negatively impact the effectiveness of the squads.
