Daniel Aleman Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For Part In New York City Gay Bashing, Gay Advocacy Groups Demand New York City Remove Graphic HIV Prevention Advertisement, Zac Efron Single, Darren Criss On Target, Taylor Lautner Sideline Sexiness

The Associated Press is reporting Daniel Aleman, who pleaded guilty to robbery as a hate crime in a violent on a gay man in October, 2009, has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The 27 year old Aleman also faces five years of post-prison release probation. Prosecutors says that Aleman and 21 year old Daniel Rodriguez, yelled a number of anti-gay slurs when the two beat Jack Price and subsequently stole property from him, including cash and a wallet. Price, hospitalised for nearly three weeks, suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs, two collapsed lungs, and a lacerated spleen in the assault. Rodriguez, who also pleaded guilty, will be sentenced January 21st.

A graphic, some say gratuitous HIV/AIDS prevention ad, part of a campaign by the New York City Department of Mental Health and Mental Hygiene, is being condemned by two prominent gay and lesbian advocacy groups who want the public service announcement pulled from airing, deeming the television commercial sensational and stigmatising, reports the Wall Street Journal. The ad, which debuted last week, warns of health problems that can be associated with HIV, like anal cancer, dementia, and osteoporosis. The Department of Health maintains that the advertisement is meant to combat complacency about the infectious disease among gay men. The department says it has no intention of dropping the ad, a statement released Monday said “While some community groups may dislike the message, others have spoken out to support it.” However, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, a HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy organisation and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, says that the ad propagates a grim portrait of being an HIV patient, cultivating a climate where those living with HIV are further demonised, Francisco Roque, director of community health for GMHC, saying that “It really paints this picture of gay men as these sort of disease-ridden vessels, and so the message is really sort of, ‘Stay away from gay men.’” The City countered that “Silence is no solution when the number of new HIV diagnoses among” men having sex with other men is up by more than 50% in eight years. In developing this video spot, we tested various approaches in focus groups. The spot was informed by that process and by lessons learned from our successful anti-smoking efforts. It was also carefully vetted for technical accuracy.”

Zac Efron is single, E! Online reporting that he and Vanessa Hudgens have ended their four-year relationship.

Saturday, Darren Criss seen attending the launch of William Rast line at Target.



Sunday, Taylor Lautner spotted on the sidelines at the Louisiana Superdome at the game between the New Orleans Saints and the St. Louis Rams.