New Zealand Police Intensify Efforts To Locate Suspects In The Continual Harassment Of Lesbian Couple, Houston Montrose Place Park Dedicated To Those Who Died In Hate Crimes, The Subject Of Lawsuits Anoka-Hennepin School District Suddenly Has Anti-Harassment Website, Openly Gay 18 Year Old Socialite Seeks Public Relations Firm To Be All That He Can Be, Chris Pine Sizzles

The New Zealand Herald report that police in the Rodney area are intensifying efforts to find whoever is victimizing a lesbian couple in Mangawhai Heads. Officers believe someone in the community knows who is behind the attacks and yesterday urged them to come forward. Juliet Leigh and Lindsay Curnow have been targeted with arson and homophobic graffiti since January. In the latest attack, this week, "God hates dikes + queers" was sprayed across the couple's back fence in black paint. A packing shed on the property had also been destroyed by a suspicious fire in January. If anyone has information, or has seen people acting suspiciously in the area, they are asked to contact the police.

Twenty years ago, the murder of Paul Broussard in the Montrose area of Houston lead to changes in hate crime laws, and now, according to a report by KTRK-TV, there is a change in the neighbourhood where he was killed, something meant to honour Broussard and hopefully promote peace. Hundreds, including state legislators, came out on Thursday night to commemorate a special corner in the Montrose area. Organizers hope it will serve as a symbol to embrace diversity throughout the Houston area. Cameras flash at what is now a special corner on California and Grant in the Montrose area. A placard memorializes dozens murdered in the gay community over the last four decades. Don Sinclair's son is the first one on the list. The former pastor's teenage boy was murdered in 1979. "Policemen asked us if we knew he was gay and we did not know he was gay, so we had to spend a little time to find out about that was and we found out that most of the churches have got it wrong," Sinclair said. The garden is dedicated to anti-violence. It is also not far from one of Montrose's high-profile murders, the murder of Broussard in 1991. The hope is the garden will serve as a message of accepting diversity throughout Houston. "Some of it in Montrose, some of it from bullying in the schools," said Dr. Ann Robinson with the Montrose Counselling Center. Thursday night's ceremony was diverse, with State legislators on hand as well as parents who once had to learn to accept their gay children. "We struggled with it, finally went to PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), got to accept them and now we celebrate their lives and we think they're great kids," said Ron Dupree, a father of two gay sons. Balloons and candles in the sombre ceremony now welcome what could be one of the most emotional corners in Montrose. "In the heart of the gay community, which is where a lot of the violence has taken place, that people will come together and stand up and say no," Robinson said. The anti-violence corner was dedicated to Broussard and others.

In response to bullying issues that resulted in a lawsuit, the Anoka-Hennepin School District is suddenly providing a special section on its website to address harassment problems, KSTP-TV reporting that according to a statement from the school district’s communications specialist, the website will help answer questions about actions taken by the district in areas of training and support and will also provide a link to policies regarding Harassment, Violence and Discrimination; Bullying Prohibition; and Sexual Orientation Curriculum. The Anoka-Hennepin School District is being sued for its Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy, which says that staff members must remain neutral on matters regarding sexual orientation. Superintendent Dennis Carlson said in a statement that when it comes to GLBT issues, the community is split and opinions vary widely. The school board feels the policy is appropriate for the community and is not changing it at this time. The statement added that the policy is constitutional and that “the Supreme Court has recognized that public school officials have a valid interest in taking neutral positions on matters of public controversy.” But the Anoka Hennepin Gay Equity Team argues that the neutrality policy has contributed to an unsafe learning environment for students and staff in Anoka-Hennepin schools.

Gawker reports it received an employment opportunity: “Kevin Michael Barba is an openly gay, up and coming New York socialite who is currently seeking the help of a PR firm to help him gain recognition and press opportunities. Mr. Barba currently travels between homes in Manhattan, Palm Beach, and The Northfork of Long Island. With millions of dollars at his disposal, this 18 year old personality is ready to move to the forefront of society and let his personality, style, and panache grab headlines. Attached is a photo. “

A scruffy, smoking sexy Chris Pine spotted Wednesday in West Hollywood with a not-too-shabby unidentified male companion.