THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

In Texas, 14-year-old Fort Worth student Dakota Ary served an in-school suspension for telling another classmate he believes homosexuality is wrong, according to MyFoxDFW.com . Ary said, "We were talking about religions in Germany. I said, 'I'm a Christian. I think being a homosexual is wrong.' It wasn't directed to anyone except my friend who was sitting behind me. I guess [ the teacher ] heard me." Ary's mother, Holly Pope, was not pleased with the punishment, saying that her son was entitled to his opinion.

In New York, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer died of an apparent suicide Sept. 19 after repeatedly asking people to help him with a problem involving bullying, according to BuffaloNews.com . On Sept. 9, he posted, "I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens. What do I have to do so people will listen to me?" Rodemeyer routinely blogged about bullying and thoughts of suicide alongside posts about his idol, Lady Gaga. On Sept. 8, he wrote, "No one in my school cares about preventing suicide, while you're the ones calling me [ gay slur ] and tearing me down."

Speaking of Rodemeyer, his parents appeared on CNN to attest that their son endured persistent bullying beginning in fifth grade, Advocate.com reported. Mother Tracey Rodemeyer told Anderson Cooper of Jamey, "He had the biggest heart in that little body. He was either loved so sincerely or he was bullied. There wasn't much in between." She added that most of the bullying her son encountered took place online on social-media websites, not in school.

Also, in the wake of Jamey Rodemeyer's suicide, Lady Gaga has called for a meeting with President Obama in order to ultimately pass a law making bullying a hate crime, according to MTV.com . She tweeted, "The past days I've spent reflecting, crying, and yelling. ... This must end. Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey." A White House official could not confirm if Gaga had officially set up a meeting with the president.

Legendary gay-rights activist Arthur Evans has died of a heart attack at age 68, the New York Times reported. The 1969 Stonewall protest inspired Evans to join the Gay Liberation Front that same year; however, he and other activists left to form the Gay Activists Alliance, which had a more aggressive agenda. In 1978, he wrote the book Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture, which traced anti-gay attitudes to the Middle Ages; in the 1997 work Critique of Patriarchal Reason, Evans argued that misogyny and homophobia influenced fields such as physics and logic, which are supposed to be objective.

In Virginia, residents of Elkton do not want the town's name attached to an Oct. 9 gay-pride event, according to Advocate.com . At a town council meeting, several people objected to using "Elkton" in conjunction with the event, which the healthcare company Merck is sponsoring. Elkton resident Beverly Knight said, "I'm not racist, I'm not biased, this is a free country, but we have to be careful as to what we are going to allow attached to our names."

The National Center for Lesbian Rights ( NCLR ) has joined many organizations in denouncing the execution of Troy Davis, according to a press release. The state of Georgia executed Davis Sept. 21 for the 1989 murder of policeman Mark MacPhail even though seven trial witnesses recanted their testimony and no physical evidence connected Davis with the crime. NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq., said, "Every barrier to protect a possibly innocent man from death fell away and now we all bear some measure of responsibility for Davis's death. As a nation, we have lost a bit of our decency and humanity with Davis's execution."

In California, the First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied transgender inmate Lyralisa Stevens funding for state-sponsored gender-reassignment surgery, according to Advocate.com . Stevens—who is serving 50 years to life for murder at an all-male facility—said that she has been repeatedly harassed and raped because of her feminized body. Stevens' attorney, Alison Hardy, has not indicated if her client would take her case to the state supreme court.

Employees from two Southern California school districts are alleging anti-gay bias, Advocate.com reported. Mitch Stein, a former assistant water-polo coach at Charter Oak High School in Covina, claims he was fired after principal Kathleen Wiard received criticism of photos of Stein on a social-media website. Holly Marvin claims that the Ocean View School District is trying to oust her from her job as a communications supervisor because of her sexual orientation, although she also said some in the district are trying to remove veteran workers.

Also in California, a Sacramento jury has found former gay-porn star Ryan Idol ( real name: Marc Anthony Donais ) guilty of attempted murder, according to Advocate.com . Idol, 45, was convicted for beating an ex-girlfriend over the head with a porcelain toilet-tank lid two years ago. The victim testified that she ended her relationship with Idol after catching him having sex with another man; a few days later, he attacked her. Idol is slated to be sentenced Dec. 9; he could receive 15 years in prison.

Out MSNBC host Thomas Roberts recently criticized anti-gay Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, who has twice compared gays with terrorists, according to Advocate.com . Talking with the Human Rights Campaign's Fred Sainz about Kern, Roberts asked, "What planet does this woman live on?" Sainz added, "I do believe [ remarks like Kern's ] are the equivalent of hate speech because they do serve as the basis for discrimination and oftentimes they lead to very real consequences in our society."

In Florida, GOP presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry is teaming with John Stemberger, the president of the Florida Family Policy Council who helped implement a same-sex marriage ban in that state in 2008, according to Advocate.com . Stemberger told The Miami Herald that he chose Perry over Michele Bachmann after trying to "determine who's viable." Perry is also joining forces with activist Pam Olsen, who has said that marriage equality could lead to natural disasters.

During the Sept. 22 GOP presidential debate, U.S. Army soldier Stephen Hill was booed as he asked candidate Rick Santorum if he would "circumvent the progress that has been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military," according to thenewcivilrightsmovement.com . Santorum replied, "Any type of sexual activity has no place in the military. Keep it to yourself, whether you're heterosexual or homosexual." However, he added that he would try to reinstate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Regarding Stephen Hill, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis released a statement defending Hill, according to a press release. Sarvis said, "No service member defending our freedoms in Iraq should be booed for expressing his or her views as an individual. I regret that this brave patriot was not defended last night in Orlando and that no candidate spoke up to say 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal has been settled by Congress and our nation's senior military leaders—and is supported by more than eighty percent of the American people."

Tommy Bennett, a gay former Rainbow PUSH employee who filed a discrimination complaint against the organization and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, has now filed a lawsuit with similar claims. In the initial complaint, filed with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations, Bennett claimed that he experienced sexual orientation-based discrimination almost immediately after he started the job in 2007, saying that a now-former membership and volunteer coordinator, complained to Jackson that she did not wish to work with Bennett because he is gay. Bennett also claimed that Jackson cursed at him in front of other staff members and even alleged that Jackson wanted Bennett to perform oral sex on him. Rainbow PUSH denies Bennett's claims.

In Utah, openly gay man Dane Hall said that a July drug arrest is not connected to an attack he sustained outside a Salt Lake City nightclub in August, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Police are looking at drugs as a possible motive for what some believe is a hate crime. Hall was arrested July 2 for possession of narcotics; however, Hall said, "This had nothing to do with drugs," adding that the attacker used anti-gay slurs.

In Tennessee, Nashville Fire Department officials suspended 20-year veteran paramedic Kevin Kennedy after he made anti-gay statements on Facebook and the department's emergency medical services ( EMS ) web page, according to Tennessean.com . Kennedy wrote that homosexuality was a perversion and that two openly gay EMS workers should "crawl back into the closet." Fire Chief Steve Halford ordered the two-month suspension after a departmental hearing; Kennedy will have to participate in diversity training and an anger-management program before returning to work.

In Washington, D.C., a medical examiner has ruled that the death of openly gay engineer Gaurav Gopalan was a homicide, the Washington Blade reported. Gopalan was found Sept. 10; he died of blunt-force trauma to the head. Gopalan—who was found almost two blocks from his home—was dressed in women's clothes with some facial make-up, leading to police to initially classify him as a transgender woman.

Andrew Stankevich, a gay student at the Mississippi College School of Law, wants the American Bar Association ( ABA ) to change its accreditation standards for Christian law schools, WLBT.com reported. Stankevich claims that the ABA allows Christian law schools to discriminate against LGBT students—as long as the schools don't violate students' equal access to educational opportunities. Stankevich says that his law school won't allow a gay student association.

In San Antonio, Texas, two transgender individuals apparently engaged in a fistfight in a convenience store parking lot—which was next to a news van, according to KENS5.com . Police had to use a taser on one of the brawlers, and arrested that person after the suspect threw a shoe at them. The other person did not cooperate with authorities and left the scene.

In Vermont, veteran gay-rights activist Helena Anderson Blair died at age 89, the Burlington Free Press reported. In 2000, Blair ( who has a gay son ) was thrust into the spotlight when she wrote a letter to state Sen. James Leddy expressing her support of gay rights. Leddy later read her letter at a town-hall meeting that she happened to attend; she stood and said, "I'm Helena Blair"—and the place "went crazy," in Leddy's words.

The anti-gay group National Organization for Marriage ( NOM ) announced that constitutional law scholar John Eastman is the new board chair, according to a press release. Eastman has participated in cases involving everything from the pledge of allegiance to partial-birth abortion. Previous chair Maggie Gallagher will remain on the board, adding she will take on some long-delayed projects such as her book, Debating Same-Sex Marriage.

The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) argued before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that a Defense Department policy that cuts the separation pay of service members who have been honorably discharged for being gay in half is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The ACLU filed a class-action lawsuit against the policy, which is not part of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute and so was not changed when that law was repealed. The Defense Department can change the policy on its own, without congressional approval. More information on the case is available at http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/collins-v-united-states-class-action-military-separation-pay.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced legislation to outlaw discrimination against LGBT Americans in the housing and credit markets, according to a press release. The Housing Opportunities Made Equal ( HOME ) Act would amend the Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or source of income. It would also amend the Equal Opportunity Credit Act to prohibit LGBT discrimination in credit decisions. U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler is introducing the companion measure in the House of Representatives.

Singer Lady Gaga attended a fundraiser for President Obama in San Jose, Calif., USA Today reported. Gaga did not perform but sat front and center as Obama delivered an eight-minute speech. According to a pool report, Gaga wore very high heels, making her significantly taller than Obama. She also wore "a floor-length sleeveless lacy black dress, her blonde hair was gathered in a bouffant up-do adorned with a black hair piece with a black veil down the back, which she swept to the side and in front of her left shoulder."

Big-box retail giant Wal-Mart has added transgender protections to its employee non-discrimination policy. The protections include gender identity and gender expression said Phillip Keene, a company spokesperson. Keene did not confirm when the new policy went into effect, only that the change was made "several weeks ago." Sexual orientation protections are already a part of the company's "Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy."

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has threatened to sue political writer Joe McGinniss and Crown Publishing for the book The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin, according to Reuters. A letter from her lawyer, John Tiemessen, said McGinniss and Crown faced possible legal action on grounds of defamation. The letter states, "This book contains a series of lies and rumors presented as fact and combined with 'anonymous' sources." Among other things, the book claims that the then-unmarried Palin had a one-night stand with a future NBA player.

AIDS Research Alliance will hold a benefit Oct. 13 in Los Angeles that will feature actor/activist LeVar Burton, according to a press release. The event will launch a campaign to raise $2 million to develop prostratin, a potential HIV/AIDS drug for which AIDS Research Alliance holds two licenses.

In Hollywood, Calif., approximately 30 people gathered Sept. 24 to protest the opening of a new Chick-fil-A restaurant, according to ChicagoPride. The demonstrators said that the fast-food chain donates funds to anti-gay organizations such as Focus on the Family. One of the organizers, Ken Howard, told WestHollywoodPatch of the protest, "It's not anti-Christian. It's pro-civil rights and against hate groups."

During a fight during a pro hockey match, the Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds appeared to call marriage-equality supporter and New York Rangers player Sean Avery a "fucking faggot," according to Advocate.com . When asked, Simmonds said he couldn't remember "every single word" he said. Avery said that he didn't know if Simmonds' slur was in response to Avery's declaration of his support for same-sex marriage, adding that Simmonds has used that kind of language "for years."

The anti-gay Family Research Council has said that U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., "has joined the dark side" because she has co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA ( the Defense of Marriage Act ) , Advocate.com reported. On its website, the council posted, "The GOP leadership has done a lot to protect marriage, mostly by appointing a top-notch lawyer to defend DOMA in the courts after the Obama administration refused to. However, having a member of the Republican leadership undermine everything they're doing on the marriage issue sends the wrong message, especially when her current actions specifically target Christian services."

The federal government plans to release more than $1.8 billion in funding to states to fight HIV, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately $1.213 billion will be sent to states and territories under Part B of the Ryan White Program, with $813 million of that total designated for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program ( ADAP ) .