Convicted Gay Basher Shawn Woodward Appeals Six Year Sentence, United States Determined To Return Gay Reference To United Nations Resolution On Unjustified Executions, Brazil Announces Gay Couples Entitled To Same Social Security Benefits As Those Shared By Straight Couples, Trevor Donovan And Armie Hammer Attend Golden Globes Galas

Shawn Woodward, convicted in November in the gay bashing assault at a Davie Street pub in March, 2009 of Ritch Dowrey, that left the 62 year old victim with a catastrophic brain injury, is appealing his six year sentence, CBC reports. Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Jocelyn Palmer delivered the sentence, saying that Woodward’s attack was motivated by “virulent homophobia” and that the vicious, unforgiveable assault fit the framework of a hate crime. Woodward’s appeal accuses the judge of making four errors, including placing more emphasis that was warranted on the aggravating factor of bias, hate, or prejudice. Testimony was given at trial that Woodward was not merely uncomfortable at being perceived to be gay by Dowrey, but was in fact angry and agitated, as well as expressing a belief that Dowrey, as a gay man, deserved to be attacked.

Reuters reports that United States Ambassador Susan Rice vowed to seek to restore to a United Nations General Assembly resolution against unjustified executions a reference to killing based in sexual orientation that was edited out by Arab and African states. The assembly passes a resolution condemning arbitrary, extrajudicial, and summary executions every two years; in 2008 the declaration included an explicit reference to killings committed because of the victim’s sexual preferences. However, this year, Mali and Morocco introduced an amendment on behalf of African and Islamic nations that called for deleting the words “sexual orientation” and substituting them with “discriminatory reasons on any basis.” The amendment barely passed in November by a vote of 79-70 in an assembly committee dealing with human rights. Today, at an event marking Human Rights Day, Rice told a gay and lesbian audience attending an event at the United Nations that she was “incensed” by the committee vote, and would seek to have the reference put back when the resolution goes before the full assembly December 20th. “We’re not done yet,” she said. “We are going to fight to restore at the reference to sexual orientation. We are going to stand firm on this basic principle. And we intend to win.”

Bloomberg Business Week reports that the Brazilian government announced Friday that same sex couples in stable relationships are entitled to the same social security pension benefits as those afforded opposite sex couples. The Social Security Ministry released a statement that the gay partner of a retiree who dies will now be able to receive the pension payments once earned by his or her companion, the policy applicable to formally registered workers who pay monthly social security fees. Same sex marriages are not recognized in Brazil, however in 2000 a court in the state of Rio Grande do Sul granted same sex couple inheritance rights and allowed them to add their partners to health insurance and retirement plans. Gay activists continue to fight for pension rights.

Trevor Donovan spotted attending the launch party Thursday for the 2011 Golden Globes.



Armie Hammer, meanwhile, seen at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and In Style’s party for Miss Golden Globes 2011.