A condition of unknown origin has caused fish in U.S. rivers to develop both male and female sex traits, according to a Parade Magazine item. A U.S. Geological Survey study has found intersex fish at approximately one-third of sites tested in the Rio Grande, Yukon, Savannah and Colorado River basins, among others. It seems that the fish are appearing in remote as well as populated areas, which would likely eliminate pollution as a possible cause.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i Foundation and Lambda Legal have announced that they plan to take legal action against of Hawai'i after the state's legislature did not pass a civil-unions law, according to a joint press release. The Hawai'i Senate had passed the measure 18-7; however, the House killed the bill even though it passed the same item 33-17 last year. Jennifer C. Pizer, marriage-project director for Lambda Legal, said, "Enough is enough. Infinite patience in the face of discrimination is irresponsible."
Project Inform, in a press release, thanked President Barack Obama for increases to HIV/AIDS and chronic viral hepatitis programs but expressed disappointment with his overall fiscal year 2011 budget. "We appreciate that President Obama has prioritized domestic HIV/AIDS programs in his budget," said Ryan Clary, Project Inform's director of public policy. "However, this proposal falls far short of building a serious effort to help people learn their HIV status and enter care, while reducing new HIV infections. ... Congress must improve these funding levels as it develops the final spending bill."
Nine United States senators plan on introducing a measure mandating that Washington, D.C., residents vote on the district's new marriage-equality law, according to an Advocate.com item. The conservative group the National Organization for Marriage is backing the proposal, put forth by several Republican senators, including Pat Roberts of Kansas, John Cornyn of Texas and Jim Bunning of Kentucky.
Galileo Capital Management has announced that it would set up LGBT Capital, an investment/advisory entity that is believed to be the first to deal solely with the gay community, according to Advocate.com . LGBT Capital officials plan to start a fund to invest in companies that provide services and products to LGBT individuals.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Ford, who once received a Bronze Star, has been stripped of his rank because he allegedly attacked three men outside a New York Bar, according to the New York Daily News. Last September, Ford allegedly flicked a cigarette at Blake Hayes and two friends, Alec Bell and Danny Calvert, saying, "Keep moving faggot." After the three made a comment to Ford about his baldness, Ford reportedly attacked them, saying, "Die of AIDS, you f------ queers." Ford was eventually tracked down in England.
The ACLU plans to take legal action against Miami Beach, Fla., because the city allegedly let two police officers harass a former resident, according to Advocate.com . In a statement, Harold Strickland said he was harassed and wrongfully arrested after reporting that two cops beat a gay man near a park in March 2009. One of the officers allegedly took Strickland's cell phone from him when they saw him speaking with a 911 operator, reportedly saying, "We know what you're doing here. We're sick of all the fucking fags in the neighborhood."
In Missouri, the state Senate is considering a bill that would regulate the adult-entertainment industry by putting buffer zones around adult video stores and strip clubs, according to ConnectMidMissouri.com . The measure, sponsored by Republican Matt Bartle would impose a zone " [ o ] f one thousand feet around schools, churches, residences and parks," Bartle said. A federal grand jury is looking into the demise of a similar measure that happened five years ago.
The pro-LGBT group Lambda Legal has released the results of the first national survey that looks at the LGBT and HIV communities' discriminatory healthcare experiences, according to a press release. Among other findings, almost 56 percent of lesbian, gay or bisexual ( LGB ) respondents; 70 percent of transgender and gender-nonconforming respondents; and nearly 63 percent of HIV-positive participants have had an experience that involved anything from being refused healthcare to being subjected to harsh/abusive language.
The U.S. Tax Court has ruled that treatment for gender-identity disorder qualifies as medical care under the Internal Revenue Code, and can count as a deductible expense, according to a Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders press release. Rhiannon O'Donnabhain, the plaintiff in the case ( O'Donnabhain v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue ) , said, "I'm overjoyed, not only for me, but for other transgender people. We deserve respect, equal treatment for our medical care, and fair treatment by our government."
The U.S. Census Bureau has not included same-sex households in its forms, but that may change soon. According to Passport Magazine, U.S. Census Bureau Director Dr. Robert Groves is in favor of including gays and lesbians, saying, "We are charged each ten years to provide Congress with a census they trust to be accurate and complete. We are grateful to our LGBT community partners in helping us achieve this significant responsibility, and to help educate, motivate, and inspire everyone to take part and above all, to be visible and counted." The bureau has recruited and sent more than 20 Census Bureau partnership specialists across the country to work with LGBT activists and groups.
A transwoman has filed a $10 million suit against NFL player Eric Green, 27, claiming that he forcibly sodomized her, according to the New York Daily News. Angelina Mavilla said that she met Green in Scottsdale, Ariz., last year when he still played with the Arizona Cardinals. When they went back to his home, Green allegedly assaulted Mavilla and threatened her, saying, "This never happened. You'd better not tell." In a separate suit, Mavilla also claimed that she was humiliated by New York City cops in 2008 by forcing her to strip so they could see her genitals.
HBO is developing a biopic of Anita Bryant, 69, a singer who campaigned against gay rights in the 1970s, according to Pink News. Darren Star, who created Sex and the City, has been tabbed as director and executive producer of the movie. Chad Hodge, who is developing the screenplay, described Bryant as "a fascinating person on every single level. The twists and turns of her life are incredible."
In Washington, D.C., Jon Mack and partner Michael Garrett walked out of a sermon at Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church after Bishop Alfred Owens recently delivered a sermon that criticized gays, according to DCAgenda.com . At one point, Owens said, "Sex is only pleasing to God in the marriage bed, and the marriage bed is a man and … a woman"—as hundreds of congregants yelled their approval. Mack and Garrett are believed to be first gays to publicize their departure from a church that some say has a large number of Blacks who are closeted.
In Dallas, Texas, dozens of LGBTQ youths of color met in the first-ever LGBTQ Youth of Color Organizing Summit at Creating Change, according to a press release. The summit, organized by Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment ( FIERCE ) , included workshops on the fundamentals of organizing youth. In addition, FIERCE has released findings from the new national report "Coming Out, Stepping Up: Organizing to build the power of LGBTQ Youth."
