Anoka-Hennepin Minnesota School Board Proposes Changes To Its Neutral Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy But it Will Not Happen Without A Fight, Record Number Attend California Gay-Straight Alliance Conference, Openly Gay New Zealand Journalists Succumbs To Injuries Suffered In Early Morning Attack, Cardiff’s Samuel Kneen Named Mr Gay UK 2011, Jamie Bell, Matt Damon

If the Anoka-Hennepin Minnesota school board thought that its proposal to scrap the district's embattled ban on staff members expressing opinions about sexual orientation might ease controversy related to GLBT students, it learned otherwise Monday night. According to The Minneapolis Star Tribune, about 60 people attended the first of two listening sessions before the board votes on the new policy. Blaine High School English teacher Kendrick Davies stood in the back of the crowded Coon Rapids hearing room wearing a rainbow scarf and holding a sign that read, "My identity is not controversial." Some speakers warned against the proposed policy, which would allow broader discussion of "controversial issues." Community member Barb Anderson predicted that the new plan would result in "more homosexual propaganda flooding the classroom." And some teachers said changing the "neutrality policy" still won't clear up the confusion they face about what is and is not okay to talk with students about. After months of debate over the policy, which some say has contributed to a climate of fear and bullying for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, the district announced last week that it was considering replacing it. It wants to trade that policy -- formally known as the Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy -- along with another one dealing with religious expression for a broader one it calls the Controversial Topics Curriculum Policy. At the end of the hearing, at which 17 people spoke, Board Member Scott Wenzel took note of the depth of the criticism directed at the board. "We've heard from both sides tonight," he said. "There's unhappiness on both sides. Maybe we're closer to compromise now. ... We're moving toward something that can ... clear up some confusion and create a safer school district for our students." The new policy would declare that the study of controversial topics is something that helps students develop but require that such discussions take place "in an atmosphere free of bias and prejudice" and ask teachers and staffers not to "advocate personal beliefs of opinions regarding controversial topics in the course of their professional duties." The board crafted it over the past few months in executive sessions with attorney Paul Cady. In the days after the proposal was announced, some critics of the neutrality policy greeted the possible change with relief. Others questioned the difference between expressing their opinions and advocating a viewpoint. At Monday's meeting, some parents, teachers and community members said the existing policy ensures that topics best discussed at home stay there. "This new proposed policy opens up the curriculum to include the topic of sexual orientation," said Laurie Thompson, president of the Parents' Action League, a group formed last year to support the neutrality policy. "We were a model for the nation in protecting students from classroom homosexual propaganda. ... This is clearly a loss for our school district and a gain for the gay activists." On the other side, others worried that their own or their students' sexual orientations would be included among the topics deemed too controversial to cover in class. Robin Mavis, founder of the Gay Equity Team group in the district, was one of several who commended the board for re-examining the neutrality policy, but she urged the board not to replace it. "We all know the subject of being gay would fall under this policy," she said. "I would like to remind the board that our students are not topics and they are not controversial. They are human beings." Monday's hearing was the first on the proposal. Usually, a proposal gets a second hearing and a vote within a month, but district spokeswoman Mary Olson said discussions on this topic could go longer. The Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy has been criticized as a "gag policy" that has helped cultivate a hostile climate for gay and lesbian students in the state's largest school district. It is the target of a lawsuit filed on behalf of six current and former students who claim the district did not adequately respond to their reports of being persistently bullied over their sexual orientation. Over two years, four of eight district students who committed suicide identified as gay; their friends and families said they were persecuted for their sexual orientation. The district also is the subject of a federal civil rights investigation. Officials said the change was not prompted by the lawsuit, but by teachers' complaints that they did not fully understand what was allowed. If the measure passes, it will be the latest of several steps the district has taken this year to address bullying. Teachers will have more extensive anti-bullying training next month.

A record number of local Santa Cruz, California high school students attended Saturday's state-wide Gay-Straight Alliance conference, which educators and students say reflects a growing interest in advocacy clubs for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and their allies. Pajaro Valley Unified School District's three high schools and local donor Mike Dively paid for two motor coaches coordinated through Santa Cruz City Schools to send 81 students to the Youth Empowerment Summit in San Francisco, an event by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network supporting 1.1 million students with clubs at 850 schools in California. It is only the second year schools have provided transportation. Topics included safe schools, anti-bullying, team building, LGBT history, and coming out for athletes, according to The Santa Cruz Sentinel. Students also learned about the Fair Education Act, a California bill that would require schools teach on the histories of people of color, people with disabilities and LGBT people. Another 10 students attended the conference through STRANGE, a program for LGBT youth and allies provided by Santa Cruz Community Counselling Center. "I thought it would be a good thing, helping and being an activist for making things fair for everyone," Molly Jean Judd, 15, a sophomore at San Lorenzo Valley High, said about why she joined her Gay-Straight Alliance. She is set to be president next year. Students said getting transportation to the conference demonstrates a dedication by their districts to supporting queer youth. "It's really cool that they're open about things," Judd said. Victor Martinez, a 17-year-old Aptos High senior who serves as treasurer of his Gay-Straight Alliance, said, "It thought it was very generous and helpful to us and a number of students from Santa Cruz." Gay-Straight Alliance clubs are gaining momentum, students and educators say. "When I see a GSA send five students to the YES conference one year and then send 15 students to the exact same conference the following year, that shows me students are seeing a direct benefit of the skills they are learning in a regional setting and bringing them back into a local setting," said Stuart Rosenstein, director of the Queer Youth Task Force advocacy group in Santa Cruz. "They are seeing the beauty of a circle that keeps getting stronger and stronger." Other participating high schools included Santa Cruz, Soquel, Harbor, Watsonville, Pajaro Valley and North Monterey County. In addition to supporting the clubs, Murry Schekman, assistant superintendent for the Pajaro Valley district, said schools host dramatic presentations and other activities to raise awareness throughout the year. "It says to me that we've got some real cool kids and adults trying to do the right thing," he said.

Police launched a murder investigation last night after Radio New Zealand bulletins editor Phillip Alexander Cottrell, 43, died in Wellington Hospital yesterday. Cottrell, who suffered a condition that made his bones brittle, was beaten in Boulcott St minutes after he left work on The Terrace about 5:30 am on Saturday. His life support was disconnected Sunday. According to The Dominion Post, Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller Monday afternoon said there was an 11-minute window in which the attack could have taken place. Cottrell left work at 5:30 am and was spotted by a taxi driver at 5:41 am. Police believe the taxi driver may have just missed seeing the assault take place. Cottrell was reportedly openly gay, though police did not think the attack was related to his sexuality and that would not be a focus for their investigations. "We cannot see any reason for Mr Cottrell to be involved in an altercation ... He took that same route down Boulcott Street most days," Miller said. Cottrell was believed to be going to his home in central Wellington. His injuries indicate that a weapon might have been used, though police did not find one at the scene. Miller said the nature of the injuries, which he described as "very severe", indicated that Mr Cottrell saw the attacker or attackers approaching. He said the injuries were serious enough that Mr Cottrell's degenerative bone disease could not have been solely responsible for his death. Police are compiling extensive CCTV inquiries through all businesses in the immediate area. At this time police do not know how many attackers were involved. They have not yet located Cottrell's brown men's wallet and this would be part of their search. Millar said police had spoken to a lot of witnesses but were still appealing for anyone else in the Gilmer Terrace and Boulcott Street area between 5:30 am and 5:45 am on Saturday to come forward. Police were also contacting businesses in the area to talk to staff that may have been starting or finishing work at the time of the attack. The autopsy was under way this afternoon. Millar also expressed sympathy to Cottrell's family and RNZ colleagues. "Obviously the family are extremely devastated and have had to make decisions. It's not an easy time," adding, "It is a busy time of year just before Christmas and there are a lot of people are out, but this is an assault that couldn't be predicted. This is unpredictable and unprovoked." The death comes as monthly police statistics show serious assaults in Wellington have increased by 43 per cent in the past year. Acting Wellington area commander Detective Inspector Steve Vaughan said he still believed the city to be safe despite the attacks. "Random attacks are very, very, difficult for police to prevent; that is why the message is for everyone to control their own safety. When you have people, trouble makers, miscreants coming into town...it is too difficult to police. I'm certainly concerned about any violence but it certainly is the exception not the norm. We have a very, very, safe city."

A 22-year-old man from Wales has been crowned Mr Gay UK 2011, following the competition's grand final last weekend. The seriously sexy Samuel Kneen, from Cardiff, was voted the winner at Club Mission in Leeds on Saturday. It comes after weeks of competing with several other men from across the United Kingdom. in the long-running contest. Speaking to PinkPaper.com, Kneen said of winning, “I couldn't believe it at first. I got quite emotional, because I saw some of my close friends who were there get emotional. I had a great sense of achievement and a huge burst of confidence. It was amazing!" Detailing his best and worst moments of the entire competition, he added, "The highlight was getting to go on Loose Women, which was such a laugh and meeting the other finalists, which, as nerve-wracking as it was, was amazing. And of course I had Bet Lynch sprawled across my lap, which is good going for a Friday. I don't know about lowest points, maybe when the voting closed and I didn't know whether I'd got into the final. There wasn't really a low point; it's been a great experience ...”

Jamie Bell in Vanity Fair all grown up.

Matt Damon graces the cover of the January GQ.