Accused Vancouver Gay Basher Says He Acted In Self-Defence, Sonoma Country Settles Same Sex Discrimination Suit, Augusta State University Student Alleges School Punished Her For Anti-Gay Beliefs, American Family Association Boycotts Home Depot, Francisco Lachowski Loves Water Sports, Joe Jonas, David Henrie, Zac Efron Loves Nerds, Jim Parsons Plays Comic-Con

Thursday, 37 year old Shawn Woodward, accused of aggravated assault in the attack on 62 year old Ritch Dowrey that left the victim with a catastrophic brain injury so bad he requires lifelong assistance, said he was acting out of self-defence. Woodward, who does not dispute he punched Dowrey once in the head, said that Dowrey propositioned him three times, beginning with repeated eye contact. Woodward said the victim offered to buy him a drink, Woodward testifying that he said “No thank you, I’m not that way.” Woodward then testified that Dowrey “puts his arms around me and hugs me and says ‘Are you sure I can’t buy a drink?’ I say ‘No thanks, I don’t want one, leave me alone.’” Woodward said that Dowrey approached a third time, and at that point he decided to leave the bar. As he was leaving Woodward said in court “I felt his hand graze across my thigh toward my crotch ... I turned and punched him.” As a result of the brain trauma Dowrey has no memory of the evening, consequently he will not be testifying.

Sonoma County, California has settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of 78 year old Clay Greene, of Guerneville, who alleged that social workers prevented him from seeing his dying partner, Harold Scull. The county will pay $600,000. Greene contended that social workers would not let him visit Scull in the hospital despite signed will, medical declarations, and powers of attorney that named each man as the other’s spouse. The couple, contingent on the laws in California, were neither legally married nor registered as domestic partners. The lawsuit also alleged that the county forced Greene into a nursing home, and sold at an estate sale the couple’s property. The county denied all charges, and said it was settling the suit to avoid furthers costs.

Jennifer Keeton, a graduate student at the school of counselling at Augusta State University, Georgia, has filed a lawsuit accusing authorities at the school of violating her constitutional rights by ordering her to change her views opposing homosexuality. Keeton, an avowed Christian who contends that homosexuality is immoral and is a lifestyle choice, said that the school threatened to expel if she failed to complete a remediation plan that includes diversity sensitivity counselling. Keeton is being represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian coalition of attorneys, who argue that Keeton’s right to free speech and free exercise of religion have been compromised. “A public university student shouldn’t be threatened with expulsion for being a Christian and refusing to publicly renounce her faith,” said senior counsel David French. “Abandoning one’s own religious beliefs should not be a precondition at a public university for obtaining a degree.” The Alliance Defense Fund has filed similar suits against Eastern Michigan and Missouri State Universities.

The American Family Association announced a boycott of The Home Depot for having “given its financial and corporate support to open displays of homosexual activism on main streets in America’s towns,” and that instead of remaining “neutral in the culture war, The Home Depot has chose to sponsor and participate in numerous gay pride parades and festivals. Most grievous is The Home Depot’s deliberately exposing small children to lascivious displays of sexual conduct by homosexuals and cross-dressers, which are a common occurrence at these events.”

The tremendously lovely Francisco Lachowski – a personal favourite – says he is uncomfortable with legs and says “I love water sports.”

Joe Jonas spotted post-workout Wednesday.



Meanwhile, Guys with iPhones favourite David Henrie who makes an appearance in the JONAS L.A. film, fills out a pair of super-tight jeans Thursday.

Zac Efron thinks that “nerds are always the coolest people.”

Cleary cute Jim Parsons shares a moment at Comic-Con.