Indiana Mother Files Federal Lawsuit Against School District Alleging Employees Failed To Stop Bullying That Led To Son’s Suicide, Lawsuit On Behalf Of Gay Active Duty And Retired Military Personal Argues Defense Of Marriage Act Unconstitutional, Seattle Police Seek Public Assistance In Connection To Gay Bashing Murder Of Danny Vega, Deborra-Lee Furness Dismisses Rumours Husband Hugh Jackman Gay, Barron Hilton Gay Sex Tape Rumours, Joe Jonas Shirtless Puppy Play, Zachary Quinto

The mother of a high school freshman who killed himself last year has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Hamilton South-eastern Schools, accusing the district and its employees of not doing enough to stop bullying incidents which, she says, led to suicide. The Indianapolis Star reports that Natalie Moore alleges teachers and administrators at both HSE Junior High and HSE High School ignored reports that her son, Jamarcus Bell, suffered racially-based bullying and harassment for "perceived homosexuality and emotional disability." According to the lawsuit, filed November 21 in the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, the African-American student was the victim of "constant and ruthless harassment and bullying from other students" who allegedly threw pieces of metal at him during a welding class, stole his shoes, his clothing, had his book bag dumped and was physically assaulted in hallways and classrooms. Bell, who had survived an earlier attempt to hang himself at school in a janitor's closet at the junior high, ultimately ended his own life on October 20, 2010, at his mother's home during fall break. The lawsuit hinges on what Moore 's lawyers -- Delk McNally, LLP of Muncie -- say was the inaction of school officials to respond to the bullying that was taking place in the months leading up to the suicide. "Administrators, teachers and staff members of HSE knew of should have known of these incidents," the lawsuit says. The suit does not specify a monetary amount in damages sought. HSE School officials could not be immediately reached for comment this morning.

Same sex military spouses cannot be designated to receive next-of-kin notices of the service member's death, will not receive surviving spouse benefits, are denied family health benefits, and cannot be buried in a military cemetery next to their spouses, say lawyers for eight couples suing the federal government. In a notice filed with the federal court of Massachusetts last week, the couples, including Rye residents Charlie Morgan — a lesbian member of the N.H. National Guard — and her wife, Karen, ask the court to find they are victims of discrimination because, they say, the facts of the case are undisputed. The Portsmouth Herald reports that U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki are named as defendants in the suit are Washington attorney Jean Lin has been assigned to defend the case and through Charles Miller, a spokesman for the U. S. Justice Department's civil division, said "the government has no comment at this time." Morgan and her wife are two of 16 plaintiffs named in the federal suit seeking "the same recognition, family support and benefits" for same sex couples that the U.S. military provides for heterosexual couples. The suit alleges gay and lesbian service members and their families are victims of discrimination because of the Defense of Marriage Act, and asks a judge to find DOMA "is unconstitutional as applied to military spousal benefits." DOMA is a federal law enacted in 1996 and defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. In their latest court motion, the same-sex couples cite case law stating DOMA "fails to pass constitutional muster." They tell the court DOMA "is irrational in the context of military benefits" because when it was enacted, same sex marriage was prohibited in all 50 states. Last week's motion to the court notes the importance the military places on family, and suggests service members who fear their spouses won't be cared for if something happens to them "will be less likely to risk their lives on the battlefield." The couples tell the court that DOMA's application to military spousal benefits harms recruitment and retention, and "threatens uniformity, fairness and unit cohesion." And they allege Congress had no authority to enact DOMA in the first place because it exceeds the federal government's authority under the Constitution. Filed by attorney John Goodman of the Washington-based Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the suit was filed on behalf of "current and former active duty members of the United States Armed Forces seeking equal benefits for equal work." Goodman told the court Charlie and Karen Morgan have been together since 1997, and Charlie, a chief warrant officer, has served in Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq. In 2008, Charlie, 47, was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy, radiation treatment and a double mastectomy, according to the suit. On September 1, 2011, she was diagnosed with recurring cancer, so she and Karen "are especially concerned with obtaining all the death benefits and burial rights that opposite-sex couples receive," according to the litigation. The couple have been in a legally recognized civil union for 11 years, are the parents of a 4-year-old and were married October 24, 2011. Active and retired homosexual military personal from Boston, California, Arizona, Ohio, Wyoming, and Virginia are also named as plaintiffs in the suit. All of them applied for and were denied federal military benefits for their spouses in the wake of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on September 20 according to the suit. Charlie Morgan made national headlines when, hours after the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, she went on national television and declared, "I'm finally proud to announce that I'm a lesbian."

Weeks after Danny Vega was beaten in South Seattle, police say they have only a vague suspect description, no motive, and no strong leads on who killed the longtime hair stylist, according to The Seattle Post Intelligencer. Vega, 53, died Sunday morning after several days in a coma. Investigators say they need tips from the public. Vega was attacked about 7:45 pm November 15 as he walked along the 4200 block of South Othello Street in Seattle. When Officer Joe Hadley arrived on scene, he briefly talked to Vega as he was being strapped to a mobile stretcher by medics. Vega was wincing in pain and said his chest hurt. He was walking near the Swap Meet at 4200 S. Othello St. when three teens approached and punched him several times. Because of his injuries, Vega could only give a vague description. Vega "stated that at some point while he was being beaten he lost consciousness," Hadley wrote in an incident report. "The victim awoke with pain all over his face and chest." His cell phone was stolen, along with his house keys and black jacket. After Vega regained consciousness, he walked home and told his roommates he'd been beaten, police said. He was taken from his home to Harborview, where his condition worsened. Vega's niece, Melanie Galmiba, said that she believe Vega was targeted because he was gay and that his death is a hate crime. For weeks, the family and friends have been passing out fliers about the attack around South Seattle and the Filipino community. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said Monday that police do not know the motive for the attack – and hope that help from the public gives them more information. "We do know that some things were taken, so possibly this started off as a robbery," Whitcomb said. "But we don't know what – the theft may have been incidental to the attack.”The facts that we know are that he was viciously beaten and left unconscious on the sidewalk."Vega, who owned Danny Vega's Hair Design, was the 16th homicide victim in Seattle this year and the first since the officer-involved shooting of murder suspect Eric Blaine Evans. "We have a very vague description of the suspects and we've made an appeal to anyone in the community who may have seen anything, may have heard anything or knows any detail – however insignificant it may seem – to please come forward or call our tip line," Whitcomb said. Police insist tipsters can remain anonymous by calling the department's tip line at 206-233-5000. "Now that he's gone," Galmiba said, "we need to fight hard as a family to find those people."

Glee is temporarily lifting its moratorium on stunt casting, and with good reason reports TV Line. The Fox series is in negotiations with Ricky Martin to guest star early next year, sources say. The smoking sexy Martin will play what a Glee insider is calling “the hottest Spanish teacher ever in the history of Ohio,” and a musically inclined one at that. Martin’s instructor will headline two big musical numbers in the episode, which is slated to air in late January.

Deborra-Lee Furness, the wife of Hugh Jackman, dismisses speculation that Jackman is gay, telling The New York Post’s Page Six, “The line I heard was, ‘Wolverine? Who would have thought?’ Hugh and I don’t pay much heed. It’s kind of tragic that these people have nothing better to do than gossip about people they don’t know.”

The New York Post asks, “Which younger brother of an infamous socialite appears in a hardcore gay sex tape that’s making the rounds in the male modeling world?” If your answer is Barron Hilton, you are correct.

Joe Jonas is still in Mexico with a cadre of male friends, still shirtless, but now with an adorable puppy, and a kind of creepy moustache.

Zachary Quinto was among those in attendance Monday at the IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards.