A junior officer who alleged his command of anti-gay harassment was improperly punished with a bad fitness report when he complained about the environment in his squadron, Pentagon and Navy Inspector Generals have determined, that according to the Virginian Pilot. The naval Inspector General’s findings, cited in a letter sent February 2nd to the officer, Ensign Steve Crowston, validates his claim of reprisal by Commander Liam Bruen, former commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 136, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Two weeks earlier, the Defense Department Inspector General found that the naval Inspector General had arrived at the proper conclusion. Crowston told the inspector General that Bruen and the unit’s then-executive officer, Cmdr. Damien Christopher, were in the unit’s ready room during an August 2009 all-officer review of squadron call signs, when Crowston was presented with suggestions such as “Fagmeister,” “Gay Boy” and the group’s final choice, “Romo’s Bitch” — a reference to the quarterback of Crowston’s favourite football team, the Dallas Cowboys. Crowston was the squadron’s administration/legal officer. Following the meeting, (and what he contends was a series of e-mails that circulated within the squadron containing several anti-gay slurs) Crowston complained to his superiors, who subsequently stripped him of duties, and placed a letter in his file questioning his fitness as an officer. Crowston then filed a complaint with Naval Air Force Atlantic Inspector General in February, 2010. After that investigation failed to substantiate most of his allegations, he appealed, and the Navy Inspector General opened an inquiry. Crowston, who has never revealed his sexual orientation, saying it is not relevant and that his concern lies with what he classifies workplace harassment, said “I've always known it was reprisal. There are rules against reprisal, and they were broken. It was time for the Navy to acknowledge that."
A new research study of 964 heterosexual athletic trainers at NCAA colleges and universities reveals that a majority possess a positive view of gay and lesbian student-athletes, the results released in current issue of the Journal of Athletic Training. The most positive response was among female trainers, among those who have a gay, lesbian, or bisexual family member or friend, and among those who are of gay, lesbian, bisexual student-athletes. The survey concluded that is remains important to offer an open environment in the athletic training room for all student-athletes. 86.4-percent of the respondents held a positive or somewhat positive view of gay, lesbian, and bisexual student-athletes, with nearly 15-percent holding a negative view. Interestingly, the study scores revealed three district groups. Those with the most positive views were composed of those who identified as Catholic, those with no religious affiliation, and Jews. The group with middle scores included Protestants and non-denominational identification. The group with the most negative views were Mormons, although only eight respondents identified as LDS.
Sport24.com says that 24 year old German international goalie Manuel Neuer told Bunte magazine that he urged homosexual footballers to come out. "Yes, those who are homosexual should say so. That would take a load off their minds," said Neuer. "And the fans would get over it quickly. What is important to them, is the performances on the pitch of the player, not his sexual preferences."
A freshly shorn Zac Efron spotted arriving back in Los Angeles.
The first look at Leonardo DiCaprio as FBI director J. Edgar Hoover on the set of the Dustin Lance Black written bio-pic with director Clint Eastwood.
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