Allegations of a gay sexual romp are rocking the world of successful televangelist Paul Crouch, reports the L.A. Times. Crouch, founder of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), settled a wrongful dismissal complaint with a former employee for $425,000 in 1998. Enoch Lonnie Ford, the same male employee, gave Crouch a copy of a book manuscript the recovering alcoholic wrote including a description of an alleged affair between Ford and Crouch. Lawyers for TBN won in arbitration arguing that Ford could not publish the book without violating his non-disclosure agreement in 1998.
In the American Civil Liberties Union's lawsuit for marriage equality, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Hicks ruled that Washington state's laws that bar same-sex couples from marriage violate the state constitution's guarantee of equal protection for all citizens. The government cannot give the legal benefits of marriage to one group of adult citizens but not to another. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU in Thurston County Superior Court in April on behalf of 11 couples from across the state who wish to marry in Washington or to have their marriage recognized under Washington law. Plaintiffs include a police officer, a firefighter, a banker, a nurse, a retired judge, a college professor, a business executive, and others. They reside from Seattle to Spokane and from Port Townsend to Hoquiam.
Telling a state court that same-sex couples in New York need the protections and security that marriage provides, Lambda Legal served court papers seeking a prompt ruling without a trial in its lawsuit seeking full marriage equality. Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of five same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in New York, arguing that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the state Constitution's guarantee of equality.
Openly gay Congressman Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., won his spot on the November ballot. Kolbe had what some called the first real challenge to the Republican nomination in 10 years, according to The Advocate.
A Sacramento superior court judge ruled that California's Domestic Partners law, AB205, is valid and does not conflict with the state's Defense of Marriage law (Prop 22), according to a release from Equality California. The law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, and gives most of the rights of marriage to registered domestic partners, was challenged by the late state senator Pete Knight and others who said the law gave rights Prop 22 intended to prevent.
Two gay dads in Florida won a victory in a state that bans gay people from adopting, reports the St. Petersburg Times. Circuit Judge Irene Sullivan stopped the state from removing two girls from the care of Curtis Watson and his partner. The judge said the state owes the two men a 'debt of gratitude' and suggested the state even use the men to train other foster parents how to stop cycles of abuse against children. Because the two men can not adopt as gay men, they now have 'long-term nonrelative custody' of the two girls.
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy may not be straight out the window, but the makeover show is suffering some heavy viewer losses, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Now in its second season, Queer Eye has seen drops in viewers as high as 60 to 70 percent. Bravo president Lauren Zalaznick said the show is here to stay but may need a little 'Botox' rather than a full facelift. Even with sagging ratings, Queer Eye remains Bravo's top-rated series.
The New Jersey Reggae Fest this weekend will be host to anti-gay reggae artists, according to Outrage, a gay activist group in London. Capleton, Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel have all published songs that glorify killing of gay men and lesbians, according to an Outrage release.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) may have a couple allies in a case set to be heard at the Arkansas supreme court regarding gay marriage, reports 365gay.com . A conservative group that gained enough signatures to put a gay marriage ban on the November ballot has asked that two judges they consider to be pro-gay recuse themselves from hearing the case the ACLU brought to the court to stop the measure from reaching the voters. The two judges said they would not step down.
A new city agency in Washington, D.C., is trying to make strides with youth in foster care who identify as LGBT, reports the Washington Times. The Mayor's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs says they will begin placing self-identified LGBT children as young as 15 with gay adult mentors. Wanda Alston, the executive director of the new office, said good role models will help the troubled teens assimilate into society.
Metrosexual pop music star Robbie Williams reportedly turned down nearly $750,000 to star in a Broadway musical as a gay man in The Boy From Oz, according to Ananova. The star, who played with the rumors of his homosexuality years ago, now says he's not gay and reportedly wants to portray a more macho image. Williams would have taken over for Hugh Jackman in the musical.
The Point Foundation, an organization awarding scholarships to LGBT students who overcome adversity and make it into college, awarded its first scholarship to a transgender student this year. Alyn Libman will receive $15,000 each year to attend University of California at Berkeley—hoping eventually to become a civil-rights attorney. Libman won the award for academic and athletic skill in addition to making the tough choice to become a boy in eleventh grade. The Point Foundation has awarded $1,000,000 in scholarships to LGBT students in the last two years (www.thepointfoundation.org).
