Reported Surge In Google Search “Is James Middleton Gay?”

James Middleton, the 23 year old younger brother of Kate – now Princess Katherine – is the subject of great speculation over his sexuality. Days ahead of the wedding, The Daily Telegraph profiled James, in an article titled The Very Ambitious James Middleton, which reports that his upmarket bakery business, Cake Kit Company, has taken off in recent months; so much so, that he is in the process of launching three more companies, registering these businesses at Companies House: Nice Cakes, Nice Wine and Nice Group London. Middleton told The Daily Telegraph since dropping out of university, he was has worked hard and that “Last year we were nominated for four business awards: we won the Smarta 100 and the Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur Awards; we were a finalist in the Enterprising Young Brits; and nominated for the HSBC Start-Up Stars. This shows the success of [Cake Kit] so far – especially as we launched during a recession. The business has grown significantly in the last three years. The awards will give you some indication of our progress and potential as a business viewed through the eyes of the select judging panel. There is no doubt that I want to grow in all areas of business.” As well as cakes, James’s company sells shortbread and apple pie-scented candles, gingerbread cookie sets and baking aprons. He also makes a range of cupcakes, and has supplied corporations such as 3 Mobile, Jigsaw, Ralph Lauren and ITV with branded mini-cakes. “The concept behind the business was to simplify home baking: to get more people back in the kitchen without having the hassle of getting all the ingredients together,” he says. “For example, if a child wants a football cake, they get the right amount of green icing to make a football pitch, as well as the figurines, plus the baking tray. I believe with baking there is a certain nostalgic fix. I have great childhood memories of my mother baking and I was always a willing participant, especially if it meant I could re-varnish the kitchen floor with treacle.” His cake kits sell for £16 each through the Middleton’s’ Party Pieces company. James currently lives in London, sharing a flat in Chelsea with his sister Pippa, a party planner, and Ella, his black cocker spaniel puppy. The property was bought by Carole and Michael Middleton for £780,000 in 2002. There are also mentions of pictures on the internet of James partying in one of his sister’s dresses, while another shows James – described by friends as “flamboyant” – apparently naked, but for a strategically placed bottle of beer. A third shows him dressed in a French maid’s uniform and stockings, grasping his crotch. In March, he put a posted a photograph on his Facebook page showing himself and three other men, backs to camera, with their trousers around their ankles, their asses revealed. The aforementioned pictures have all but disappeared, but there are a lot more, a sampling from the source below. Is he gay? I wouldn’t know, but I do know that after rifling through some 200 hundred or so picture, he sure likes to tongue other men.

Park Slope Brooklyn Maternity Store Owner Harassed And Threatened For Offering Discount Applicable To Lesbian Mothers

On April 21st, Brokelyn.com published an article on Boing Boing, a maternity store in Park Slope which offers a special 10-percent discount for lesbians. Karen Paperno, who sells all styles of nursing and baby gadgetry at her shop, had been offering the deal for about a month, and said she has about one taker a day, but that she also fields occasional complaints. “The lesbians love it and the gay males get upset,” she says. “But their disposable income is so much higher than women’s. Men just make more than women.” Paperno, who opened the store 15 years ago, first offered the deal in the 1990s, and recently decided to bring it back as part of her push to be more personally involved with the store after its customer service was criticized on Yelp. She says the discount is her way of honouring the roots of the neighbourhood, where she first moved in the 1970s, when her father purchased a place in what was then a traditional lesbian district. “My first day here I saw a big pin on the sidewalk for the Lesbian Herstory Archives and I thought, ‘what a cool neighbourhood,' ” she recalls. Paperno, who is married (to a man) doesn’t believe she’s running afoul of any anti-discrimination laws. “People have gotten upset but it’s my store and I have the right to do it,” she says. “I offer hardship discounts of all kinds, all the time. This is just one that I advertise.” In terms of eligibility, she does not require any proof, but says that, straights almost never try to get in on the discount, adding that “This neighbourhood is way too honest.” However, since the story appeared, Paperno says she has been inundated with homophobic hate, telling the Brooklyn Eagle “I’ve gotten angry phone calls; all from men, saying awful things; unprintable things.”

Burnaby British Columbia Parents Angry That School Board Intends To Implement Policy Prohibiting Discrimination Against Gay Students And Staff; Parent Heather Leung Says Proposed Policy “Deliberate Systemic Strategy To Indoctrinate Our Children”

About 100 parents descended on the Burnaby, British Columbia school board meeting Tuesday night, angry over a policy to prevent discrimination against gay, lesbian and queer staff and students, Burnaby Now reporting that the ad hoc group filled the room beyond capacity, many holding signs reading: No 5.45. That number refers to the policy school trustees came up with to support students and employees who are or perceived to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit or queer. The policy's objective is to ensure all school community members learn to work together in an atmosphere of respect and safety "free from homophobia, transphobia, antigay harassment and exclusion, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity." The parents' group expressed concerns that the policy was segregating children, while infringing on parents' rights to educate their children and give them moral guidance. Heather Leung, a parent of three currently in the school system, said "This policy places far too much importance and emphasis on an issue that impacts a few. What is being recommended in this draft is a deliberate and systemic strategy to indoctrinate our children with a controversial moral teaching that should be left for families to decide on and wrestle through." Leung also said the policy labels children and suggests they question their sexual orientation and sexual identity. Speaking on behalf of the parents, Leung demanded that the policy and public hearing minutes be translated into different languages, that the district hold a public hearing with translators, and that Burnaby parents be allowed to vote on the policy. Another speaker, George Kovacic, said the policy could "create an environment of discrimination and intolerance," adding that "Parents grant the education system the privilege to teach their children but they do not relinquish their parental rights when they send their children to school. If a parent says that the school must not interfere with moral teachings, the school must respect this request. Furthermore, the committee has failed to recognize that the divine meaning of human sexuality is an integral teaching of the world's great faiths.” He also questioned if children could be expelled for their religious beliefs or parents prosecuted for asserting their rights to educate their children. The board also heard from proponents of the policy, mainly school councillor Debra Sutherland and James Sanyshyn from the Burnaby Teachers' Association, both of whom worked closely with the board to develop the policy. Sanyshyn said when the board passed the draft version two months ago, he felt welcomed and included as a gay teacher. "Every day, since becoming a Burnaby teacher in 1997, I have heard anti-gay slurs in our school hallways - fag, faggot, queer, that's so gay, lesbo, dyke - sadly, the list goes on." Sanyshyn also cited statistics stating that three-quarters of LGBTQ students felts unsafe in schools and heard homophobic language every day. One-quarter have been physically assaulted or harassed, and half connected a desire to kill themselves with their struggles to accept their sexual orientation. "What if Asian youth suicide rates were 16 times higher than non-Asian youth?" he asked. "Would these communities be here speaking and demanding action? I would say yes. If they were not, I would be." Two students also gave emotional speeches about their experiences of being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Leung confronted Sutherland outside the meeting, saying they are using the children. "That's ridiculous, shame on you," she said to Sutherland. School trustee Gary Wong chaired the committee that developed the policy. Wong said he heard the parents concerns, but the trustees have to look at their responsibilities outlined in the School Act to be secular, and non sectarian, "We have to look at ... what the laws have decided on this issue," he added. "There are a number of cases out there where school districts have not done enough in the eyes of the human rights tribunal and have actually been found at fault, and there are penalties involved." As far as reconciling the parents' views with the intent of the policy that may not be possible, according to Wong. "It may be very well that we can't," he said. "It's not really talking about parents not having the right to teach their children. They have every right to teach their children, but the issue is tolerance and acceptance." The board's policy committee will review the draft, and send it back to the board for a final vote, possibly in June.

After Three Printers Rejected Kent State University Gay Magazine For Supposed Controversial Content, Spring Issue Of Fusion Finally Published By Fourth

A gay and lesbian magazine at Kent State University will arrive on newsstands behind schedule because three printing companies balked at its purported controversial content, The Record Publishing Company reporting that a fourth printer, Printing Concepts, based in Stow, Ohio agreed to print Fusion, a student-run, magazine published each semester that addresses lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.“I think we did the right thing by standing up for the First Amendment,” said Raytevia Evans, the spring editor of Fusion. She said she did not believe the content was more offensive than images in other media. Freeport Press, which had printed issues of Fusion previously, declined to print this issue because it included word “fucked” in a headline and an image of “graphic material, which involved some pictures of genitalia,” said David Pilcher, vice president of sales and marketing, talking with Campus Progress, an activist group. Pilcher did not return a call to his office Thursday. The content in question was the fashion spread in the middle of the magazine which showed one man in a form-fitting leotard. No nude genitals were exposed. The piece was apparently a statement about the difference between sex and gender, proclaiming, “Gender is dead.” The issue is available at Fusion’s website, www.thatgaymagazine.com. It was the language that threw “red flags” for a second company, Hess Print Solutions in Brimfield, said Chief Financial Officer Fred Cooper. In another article, the headline contained words some consider slurs for homosexuals. “Generally those are harmful words,” Cooper said. “We don’t generally do profanity.” With the end of the semester looming — when students and readers would leave campus for the summer — Evans and the Fusion staff tried a third company, Davis Graphic Communication Solutions in Barberton. The company’s decision not to print the magazine was one of necessity, not content objections. Whenever potentially offensive material runs off their presses, employees have the opportunity not to participate in the job, President Bob Ellis said. Giving that opportunity would take time, Ellis writing in a statement that “Davis GCS also could not produce the project within the time constraints requested by Kent State University due production capacity issues.” Evans was up front with Printing Concepts, she said, telling them about the other printers, their tight deadline and the language and images. “They actually got right back to us when we contacted them,” Evans said. Ron Taggart, the president of the company, put out a press release saying, “Printing Concepts advocates freedom of speech and the extension of that right to all persons or organizations. They accepted the Fusion magazine project based on this constitutional right. “As a business philosophy, Printing Concepts maintains that they do not judge the artistic, literary or political content of their clients’ work, unless that content advocates violence or harm to others.” As a first-time editor of Fusion, Evans, a KSU graduate student in communications, said she was surprised by the reaction of the printers and by the amount of coverage the issue has received. “We think this shows what we really stand for,” she said.

GLAAD Defends Glee Against Attacks It Is Promoting Dreaded “Homosexual Agenda”

GLAAD is defending the 90-minute Glee episode this week after a critic condemned it as creator "Ryan Murphy's latest depraved initiative to promote his gay agenda,” Jarret Barrios, the president of GLADD telling The Hollywood Reporter that "Fair-minded Americans are tuning in by the millions to inclusive shows like Glee and Modern Family because they don’t care whether someone is straight or gay – what they care about is seeing characters and stories they can relate to. Most Americans today support full equality for their gay and lesbian friends, family and neighbours. That anti-gay critics continue to be out-of-touch with the majority and can’t see that fact is no surprise." Conservative media critic Dan Gainor, who is vice president for business and culture at the Media Research Center, contended that fictional McKinley High is the "gayest high school in the history of mankind," adding "This is clearly Ryan Murphy's vision of what growing up should be, not most of America's. It's a high school most parents would not want to send their kids too." This isn't the first time Gainor has been critical of the show. Last fall, he called the Fox hit “a disgusting gay teen sex romp" after an episode aired in which Naya Rivera (Santana) and Heather Morris (Brittany) make out. Forgotten Saturday Night Live cast member Victoria Jackson is also against the show, calling an episode in which Chris Colfer (Kurt) has his first kiss "sickening,” adding on her blog at the right-wing conservative WorldNetDaily.com blog "Besides shoving the gay thing down our throats, they made a mockery of Christians - again! I wonder what their agenda is? Hey, producers of Glee - what's your agenda? One-way tolerance?”

GOProud Announces Its Intention To Remove Barack Obama From Office, Business Leaders Appeal To New York Legislators To Pass Same Sex Marriage Law, U.S. Olympic Committee Names Anti-Same Sex Marriage Mormon Chief Of Mission For 2012 London Games, Channing Tatum To Strip

Friday, GOProud, the coalition of gay conservatives, announced its inauguration to their 2012 Presidential election efforts at the Ames Straw Poll in August of this year. “Our organization’s number one goal between now and November 2012 is defeating Barack Obama,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, Executive Director. “We look forward to the Iowa Straw Poll as the kickoff to this effort.” According to GOProud activists and their allies nationwide will be travelling to Ames to participate in the straw poll. “The Iowa straw poll is the traditional kickoff to the nominating process,” continued LaSalvia. “We look forward to supporting the Iowa GOP and this important event,” adding that “Barack Obama’s tenure in the White House has been an unmitigated disaster for all Americans, including gay and lesbian Americans. Defeating Barack Obama and putting a conservative in the White House should be the number one goal of every single person in the conservative movement. It is certainly the number one goal of this organization.” The Ames Straw Poll will begin on August 11th with a Republican Presidential debate and conclude on August 13th with the actual straw poll itself. “This Republican presidential field is shaping up to be an incredibly strong one. We look forward to hearing each of the candidates make his or her case about why they would be the best nominee to beat Barack Obama,” concluded LaSalvia.

Thursday, prominent business leaders in New York sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders in support of same sex marriage, reports WNYC. The plea arrived just as the governor and gay rights advocates prepare a strong push for legislation this spring. The letter argues that same sex marriage is actually good for New York's economy. To compete for the best talent in the world, it reads, the state needs to be "an open, healthy and equitable environment in which to live and work." Otherwise, it stated, New York might lose its advantage against other states. "As other states, cities and countries across the world extend marriage rights regardless of sexual orientation, it will become increasingly difficult to recruit the best talent if New York cannot offer the same benefits and protections," the letter contended." Kathy Wylde, the president of the Partnership for New York City, a prominent business group, said “Our talent pool will be better and stronger if we're not keeping anybody out on the basis of whether it's race or sexual preference." Wylde helped coordinate the signature-collection efforts and said leaders were chosen from companies known for having policies supportive of the gay community. The letter is signed by more than 20 business leaders, including Lloyd Blankfein, the CEO of Goldman Sachs; Jerry Speyer of Tishman Speyer Properties; Ron Perelman, chairman of Revlon; John Mack of Morgan Stanley; and Mort Zuckerman, the publisher of the New York Daily News.

The United States Olympic Committee named Peter Vidmar its chief of mission for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in London, Vidmar, a gold medal winning gymnast in 1984, will act as liaison officer for the team. Vidmar, a Mormon, is an active opponent of same sex marriage, The Orange County Register reporting on October 30th, 2008, days ahead of the passage of the constitutional amendment banning same sex unions in California, he “stood with other demonstrators in favour of the November 4 ballot initiative that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman, undoing a California Supreme Court ruling that allowed same-sex marriages in the state. Vidmar, who won two gold medals and one silver in the 1984 Olympic Games, says that he is in favour of equal treatment for homosexuals and in favour of Prop 8. "It's good for our society to stay with a traditional definition of marriage," said Vidmar, a Coto de Caza resident."

Deadline is reporting that Steven Soderbergh is scheduled to direct Channing Tatum in Magic Mike, a story of friendship set in the world of male strippers. Tatum will play the title character, who schools a young dancer in how to hustle on and off the stage. The inspiration for the film is Channing's own experiences as a stripper when he was 19. "When Channing talked to me about this, I thought it was one of the best ideas I'd ever heard for a movie," Soderbergh said in a statement. "I said I wanted in immediately. It's sexy, funny and shocking. We're using Saturday Night Fever as our model, so hopefully we're on the right track.” Tatum said that "This was a wild and pivotal time in my life and I couldn't be more thrilled to go down the rabbit hole with Steven."

“Teams Of Thugs” Reportedly Preying On Gay Men In New York City’s West Village; Five Separate Attacks Reported In April

"Teams of thugs" are preying on men pouring out of popular gay bars in the West Village, police sources told The New York Post. Between April 11th and 27th at least five men were mugged in five separate incidents in the area around Seventh Avenue South and Christopher Street typically in the early hours of the morning, many of the victims, who were all alone when attacked, hail from New Jersey. They were coming from bars including Kettle of Fish, Ty’s Bar and Hangar Bar, according to police sources. On April 11th, a 27 year old man from New Jersey was surrounded by five men who restrained him and rifled through his pockets, fleeing with his phone and drivers license, police sources said. On April 15th, a 69 year old man from Trenton was attacked from behind by two men, knocked to the ground, his wallet stolen. Another attack occurred April 25th at 4:00 am on the corner Seventh Avenue South and Christopher Street when a 32 year-old man was mugged by three men after he left the Kettle of Fish bar. The following day a 27 year old male from Jersey City was mugged by a lone assailant who made off with his wallet. The oddest incident occurred April 27th when a 26 year old Manhattan resident said he blacked out while partying at Hangar Bar. He told police that he came to in a Caravas Pizza when a 200-pound woman told he was robbed, but she could help reclaim his bag. He was then directed to a downward staircase at 78-80 Christopher Street and told his bag was at the bottom. But, when he climbed down he was attacked from behind by an unknown male who took off with his iPhone.

Republican-Controlled Minnesota Senate Committee Approves Same Sex Marriage Constitutional Amendment; DLF Senator Harrington Says Bill “Sends Chilling Message That It Is OK To Discriminate”

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that a state Senate committee has passed a bill that would let voters next year decide whether to ban same sex marriage in Minnesota's constitution. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill 8-4 Friday with all Republicans in favour and Democrats opposed. The vote came after two hours of testimony and an hour-long debate between senators. Same sex marriage is already illegal in Minnesota law but the amendment would give voters the choice of locking it into the state constitution. Similar bills died in the state Senate numerous times in past years, but Republicans newly in charge of the Legislature are making a new push. Democrats argued the bill reflects a narrow religious agenda that does not belong in the state Constitution and that a months-long, divisive debate will distract from more important issues. Senator Barb Goodwin (DFL-Columbia Heights), who voted against the bill, said “I will never in this Legislature, will never vote — even if it means I’m voted out — to put language of discrimination in the constitution,” adding that “I could not live with myself, and those of you who claim to be good Christians, you need to think about what you are doing here.” But Senator Dave Thompson (Republican-Lakeville), who voted in favour, said the issue is not about discrimination and civil rights and that “Marriage isn’t a right. Nowhere in the federal Constitution or the Minnesota Constitution is marriage considered a right.” Senator John Harrington (DFL-St. Paul) said the measure does nothing to support the principles the nation was founded on.“I cannot see in this bill anything that promotes life, anything that promotes liberty — if anything, it seems to restrict liberty. I cannot see anything that will promote the pursuit of happiness,” he said. “It sends a chilling message that it is OK to discriminate. It sends the message that gays in Minnesota are ‘less than.’”

Molly Wei, Charged In Tyler Clementi Case, Seeks Pre-Trial Intervention; If Accepted All Charges Against Her Would Be Dropped

A former Rutgers University student accused of watching a surreptitious webcast of a classmate's same-sex liaison is seeking to avoid a criminal record. The classmate, 18 Tyler Clementi, later committed suicide. The Associated Press is reporting that 19 year old Molly Wei applied to enter a pre-trial intervention program last month, and that if she is accepted into the program, a judge could set conditions, such as staying out of legal trouble, doing community service and maintaining a job or attending school. If she meets those conditions for a specified time period — it could be up to three years, though one year is the usual period — the charges would be dropped. Wei is charged with two counts of invasion of privacy and could receive a five-year prison sentence if she's convicted. Such a long sentence would be unusual for a first-time offender. Prosecutors see her as the lesser suspect in an alleged crime that's linked to a tragedy. Clementi committed suicide by jumping from the George Washington Bridge on Sept. 22nd, hours after his roommate, Dharun Ravi, allegedly tried to watch a second encounter between Clementi and a man via webcam from Wei's computer. Clementi's death precipitated a national conversation about bullying and suicides by young gays and lesbians. Ravi was indicted last week on 15 counts. The most serious charge was bias intimidation, which alleges he acted because Clementi was gay. A conviction could mean he'd spend up to 10 years in prison on that charge alone. Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan has said that Wei's case is not planned to be presented to a grand jury. That could indicate that either a plea deal is being struck or she is heading for the pre-trial intervention program. It is common for people who do not have criminal records and are accused of low-level crimes to apply for the program. The applications are not considered public records. She could be accepted if the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and pre-trial intervention program officials agree. She would also need a judge's approval to enter the program. Her application was first reported by The Home News Tribune of East Brunswick. Her attorney, Rubin Sinins would not comment on the case but did not dispute the report. James O'Neill, a spokesman for the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, said that Wei's case remains active but would not comment further. Both Wei and Ravi withdrew from Rutgers soon after they were charged.

Atlanta Braves Place Pitching Coach McDowell On Administrative Leave Pending Conclusion Of Investigation In Alleged Violently Homophobic Attack Against Fans During Batting Practice

Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, accused of hurling anti-gay slurs at fans attending a San Francisco Giants game last week, has been placed on administrative leave, the team announced Friday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting that the Braves have not completed their investigation into the alleged events last Saturday at AT&T Park, so McDowell's fate with the organization has not yet been determined. In the interim, Braves minor league instructor Dave Wallace will serve as the team’s pitching coach. Wallace, 63, was previously a pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. McDowell has apologized for the remarks in response to heckling fans. He is also accused of threatening a Fresno man, attending the game with his wife and two young daughters, according to attorney Gloria Allred. Wednesday, the Braves issued a statement expressing concern over "the behaviour described by a witness today. This in no way represents the Braves organization and the conduct we expect of our employees. We will withhold further comments until we finish gathering information.” McDowell allegedly yelled "Are you a homo couple or a threesome?" to fans sitting in the left-field bleachers. He's also accused of simulating a sex act with a bat. Giants fan Justin Quinn said he asked McDowell to watch his language in the presence of children. According to Allred, the former New York Mets pitcher told Quinn, "Kids don't fucking belong at the baseball park."The 50 year old McDowell then "picked up his bat and started walking in a threatening manner towards Quinn," Allred said. The 33 year old Quinn said McDowell asked him, "How much are your teeth worth?" Gay groups both locally and nationally are also demanding action by the Braves and Major League Baseball. In a statement, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig called the allegations "very troubling. The Atlanta Braves have assured my office that they will immediately investigate the allegations, and report the results of the investigation to me. After I have all the facts, I will make a determination of how to proceed," Selig said. Earlier this month, NBA superstar Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for calling a referee an anti-gay slur during a Lakers game. Allred said she sees that incident as serving as a template for what should happen to McDowell."There has to be accountability," Allred said. Quinn told the AJC he may pursue legal action against McDowell. McDowell, a 12-year major league veteran, was hired by the Braves in 2005 to replace longtime pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

York County South Carolina Authorities Arrest And Charge Five Men In Connection To Mob Gay-Bashing Of Joshua Esskew; Sherriff’s Office Turns Over Findings To FBI Who Are Investigating Incident As Hate Crime

York County, South Carolina authorities have charged five men with assaulting a gay 19-year-old man earlier this month in Rock Hill, The Charlotte Observer reporting that the sheriff's office said Friday the five have been charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, the charge carrying a prison term of up to 20 years. The five men could face additional charges, as the FBI has been investigating the assault as a possible hate crime. Sheriff Bruce Bryant said Friday that the FBI is turning over its findings to the U.S. Justice Department. Joshua Esskew was badly beaten April 9th outside the Spot Convenience Store, on South Cherry Road. His case drew extra attention when surveillance video from the store was released, showing the men in what appeared to be a gang assault on Esskew. Bryant said the video helped break the case, as it resulted in a number of tips from the public. He said members of the public provided the names of the suspects, and that all five have been arrested. Bryant said he does not think any other people were involved. All five suspects are from York, South Carolina. Charged in the case were: 21 year old Cortezio Laquise Douglas; 22 year old Lortarius Anthony Duncan; 22 year old LaJames Mitchell; 21 year old Darenco Markie Wilmore; and 20 year old Bobby Wilson. The sheriff's offices says investigators determined that after an argument between Esskew and a man standing in front of the convenience store, later identified as Wilson struck Esskew in the back of the head with a bottle. When Esskew attempted to confront Wilson, the sheriff's office says, the other men joined the fight. Esskew told the (Rock Hill) Herald that the confrontation started when a man in front of the store yelled a gay slur at him. He told reporters the attack "was a hate crime." Bryant said tips from the public were vital in making the arrests. He praised those who provided tips for their "willingness ... to get involved and not let this violent crime go unpunished."

20 Year Old Gay Man Attacked In London For Wearing “Ridiculous” Shorts; Police Continue to Search For Suspect

The London Evening Standard reports that a gay man was left requiring hospital treatment after being beaten up in an unprovoked homophobic attack. 20 year old Chas Andersen, of Bethnal Green, was showered with abuse and punched twice in the head as he tried to use a cash machine in Clapham High Street during a night out. The former male model was knocked to the ground as friends of his attacker stopped his partner, fashion stylist Mike Adler, from coming to his aid. Adler, who is from Australia, said that "The only reason the man started on him was to say the shorts he was wearing were ridiculous.”He was standing up for himself and I was standing up for him. The man just switched from yelling backwards and forward to becoming violent." The 30 year Adler said the group started abusing Andersen opposite the gay KAZ Bar in the early hours of Sunday. He pursued the attacker but the man grabbed his phone and he was forced to beg for it back before returning to tend to his partner of three years. The assault arrives after gay socialite Philip Sallon, a friend of singer Boy George, suffered a fractured skull when he was attacked in Piccadilly Circus on April 2nd. Andersen had to be taken to A&E to have X-rays taken of his face following the "horrible" attack on Sunday. He said that "I am scared now and it has affected my confidence. This afternoon I have been wary of going around and I am worried about walking where I normally walk. I have had to have time off work. It is the whole experience, it will stay with me. I have always thought London was the most diverse and open city in the world. For this to happen makes me realise that these people are still around." Andersen, who was signed to the Oxygen modelling agency and now works in retail, has had blurred vision since the attack but has been told he will not suffer any permanent damage.

Anti-Gay Group Exodus International Plans First-Ever Event In West Virginia May 10; Group Continues To Contend That Those With “Unwanted Same Sex Attractions” Can Be Cured

The Charleston Gazette reports that Exodus International, the Orlando Florida-based group that insists it can help homosexuals find “the freedom to grow into heterosexuality,” plans a May 10 event at CMA Church in Morgantown to teach religious leaders how to minister to people who don't want to be attracted to members of the same sex. The Family Policy Council of West Virginia invited Exodus to hold the seminar, the first of its kind that the group has held in the state. Fairness West Virginia, a state-wide group that advocates for gays and lesbians, calls Exodus' teachings "junk science" and plans to counter the organization's visit with an event called "Fairness in Faith: Fighting the Ex-Gay Myth and Propaganda Machine" at West Virginia University. Fairness will host Wayne Besen, founder of the national think tank Truth Wins Out, which fights anti-gay religious extremism. Besen has extensively researched so-called "ex-gay" groups such as Exodus. As part of the Fairness event, the First Presbyterian Church of Morgantown will host a session called "Let My People Go: A Liberating Faith for People of All Sexual Orientations." The Exodus session is designed for pastors and other church leaders, educators, seminary students and counsellors. "During this day-long seminar, you will learn how to effectively address the hot topic of homosexual behaviour within our culture and minister to students, friends, family and churchgoers struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions," says an announcement on the Family Policy Council of West Virginia's website. Planned topics include "Understanding Male Homosexuality," Ministering to the Struggling Student," and "Homosexuality In A Post-Christian Culture." Family Policy Council of West Virginia President Jeremy Dys said the event is meant to teach leaders how "they can begin to learn to minister to those issues in a loving and gracious way,” adding that "They are here to walk beside people who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle." In 2007, a task force of the American Psychological Association reviewed scientific literature on efforts to change sexual orientation. The task force concluded that "efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm." Exodus teaches that "reorientation of same sex attraction is possible," and that "This is a process, which begins with motivation to, and self-determination to change based upon a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." The organization describes itself as a ministry. It also refers people to counsellors who conduct "reparative therapy," which supporters say can help people get rid of their attraction to members of the same sex. Fairness West Virginia President Stephen Skinner called Exodus' work irresponsible "quackery," and says that "What they are doing is promoting untruths and lies, and they're actually creating junk science to justify homophobia. They want gays and lesbians not to have the same rights as everybody else, and they create this whole other reality to justify what they're doing."

Rally Against “Don’t Say Gay” Bill In Oak Ridge Tennessee

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that waving posters and cheering on speakers, an estimated 80 people rallied Thursday afternoon to express opposition to the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill now before the state Senate; the bill, sponsored by Senator Stacey Campfield (Republican-Knoxville) would make it illegal in schools to discuss any sexual behaviour other than heterosexuality prior to the ninth grade. If the legislation passes, "students that are gay will be ostracized more than ever," warned student Alesha Hicks, president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Oak Ridge High School. Hicks told the crowd she recently encountered middle school students "using the word 'homosexual' to insult another student." School guidance counsellor Matt Koehler recalled an incident several years ago when a middle school boy came into his office in tears because he had been called "gay, fag and homo," Koehler stressing that any attempt by him to defuse those verbal attacks would have been illegal under the "Don't Say Gay" bill. "If this were passed into law, this law couldn't be read in the schools, nor could a newspaper or any form of media covering that law be in the schools," said the Reverend Chris Buice, minister of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Area Unitarian Universalist ministers, local youth groups and others organized Thursday's rally in front of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, said the Reverend Jake Bohstedt Morrill, minister of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. Attendees were asked to contact their state senator to voice opposition to the bill. Morrill said the proposed legislation was to have gone before the full Senate this week but has been delayed.

Stanford Faculty Votes To Allow ROTC Back On Campus Following Repeal Of Gay Military Ban, Rhode Island Legislators To Introduce Civil Unions Bill Tuesday, Minnesota Republican Lawmakers Opt To Propose Constitutional Ban On Same Sex Marriage That Will Allow For Civil Unions

Stanford University’s faculty voted Thursday evening to invite the Reserve Officers Training Corps back to the campus for the first time since the antiwar movement of the early 1970s, a controversial turnaround reversal by the recent end of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy against homosexuals in the military, The Los Angeles Times reports. Stanford’s President John L. Hennessy said he would soon seek to start negotiations with the military branches that could return ROTC to the university, joining other elite schools in welcoming back the military training units that had been pushed off campus or denied academic standing during the Vietnam War. Columbia University took similar pro-ROTC steps last week, Harvard did so last month and several others are considering the actions. The Stanford faculty voted 28 to 9 with three abstentions after an emotional, two-hour debate. Much of the discussion focused on the ban against transgender people serving in the armed forces, even after the 17-year-old policy prohibiting homosexuals serving openly in the military was lifted in December. Critics said allowing ROTC on campus would be discriminatory against transgender students. About 40 Stanford students demonstrated outside the meeting and promised to protest again if ROTC offices open on campus. Among them was chemical engineering sophomore 20 year old Thomas Joseph, of Portland, Oregon, who said he opposed the American interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan and did not want Stanford to be involved in the military. “I’m tired of it,” he said of the wars, “and I’m not for a bigger military.”

Rhode Island lawmakers are working out the details of legislation that would create civil unions and plan to introduce the proposal next week, The Boston Globe reports that a House spokesman said Thursday that lawmakers are reviewing civil union laws in other states to help them craft the proposal, which could be introduced Tuesday. The new bill arrives after House Speaker Gordon Fox declared that same sex marriage legislation would not pass the General Assembly this year. Fox, who is gay, now supports civil unions as a more politically practical alternative. Groups that fought for same sex marriage say they will oppose any proposal that falls short of full marriage. Gay marriage opponents also oppose civil unions. Representative Frank Ferri, a Warwick Democrat who is gay, tells The Associated Press that he wants to see the bill's details before making up his mind.

Minnesota legislators are bringing forward their proposal to constitutionally ban same sex marriage, but their language suggests a compromise, according to a report by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Unlike previous years, the proposed amendment is limited to marriage, and does not address legal equivalents, meaning that legal recognition of civil unions and other non-marriage partnerships between gay couples would remain a possibility. "The language that we are proposing today doesn't do anything except say this is what we mean by marriage," said Senator David Hann, an amendment co-sponsor. "In past years, there may have been desires to do other things."The change could give the measure a better chance when it comes to the ballot. The linguistic difference means that even if voters approved the amendment on the 2012 ballot, a future Legislature could permit legal arrangements between gay couples, including allowing same sex couples the same legal rights as married couples. That change could give the amendment, which has a Senate hearing Friday, more life if it reaches the ballot. If Minnesotans' opinions follow national trends and support civil unions, an amendment that forbids them could fail on that fact alone. Tom Prichard, the executive director of the Minnesota Family Council, a key amendment backer, said they just want to "zero in" on marriage. Asked whether backers were fearful that banning civil unions would overreach, he said, outlawing other legal relationships does not "directly relate to the definition of marriage, which is the focus of the amendment." The proposed amendment defines marriage as the union of a man and woman. Monica Meyer, executive director of OutFront Minnesota, points to evidence of that change in Minnesota. A number of local governments, including Minneapolis, now allow gay couples to register domestic partnerships, said the director of the gay rights group. The registration does not give the couples a great deal. It could be helpful in securing benefits from private companies and allows partners visitation rights at health-care facilities. But even that system could be on "legal shaky ground" if an expansive constitutional amendment passed, said Meyer. For some gay rights groups, domestic partnerships and civil unions fall into the category of separate but not equal. "Civil unions don't have the same legal protections," said Meyer. "At the end of the day, it is just not the same."

Texas A&M Student Body President Jacob Robinson Vetoes “Traditional Values Center” State Senate Bill: Says Anti-Gay Proposal By Republican Representative Christian Would Simply “Duplicate” Services

Texas A&M student newspaper The Battalion reports that Student Body President Jacob Robinson vetoed the controversial student senate bill, SB 63-106, the "Sexual Education Equality in Funding Bill" on Tuesday. "The [proposed] center has no definition. The services that some senators have proposed already exist in student counselling and adults, graduate and office campus student services. I can't, in good conscience, support student fees going to services we already have," Robinson said. The issue arising on campus after state Representative Wayne Christian (Republican-Center) introduced an amendment to the Texas House budget requiring Texas universities spending state funds on LGBT centers to use an equal amount of state money for “family and traditional values” centers, and student senators were caught up in the controversy. "We don't want to slash funding of any organization. We [the Senate] were merely talking about equal spending. I've been accused of homophobia, an accusation I have been unable to defend myself on," said Greg McDuffie, a senior economics major and student senator. Although she voted for the bill's passage, Speaker of the Senate Hilary Albrecht said Robinson is right to veto the bill. "Given the dialogue that the bill has produced since its passage, the veto was arguably the right decision to make. I can't say I regret breaking the tie in favour of the bill because it has produced valuable discussion this past week that wouldn't have occurred otherwise," Albrecht said. "On behalf of the Student Senate, I apologize for any ill-will that was perceived and apologize to everyone who was angered or hurt by the legislation." But other senators have a different perspective. McDuffie said implementing a resource center focusing on "family and traditional values" is in the best interest of A&M, adding that "Student fees are not the only source of funding. We, the students, are not financiers. It's very possible to fund a center without raising student fees and without defunding an organization." Brian Hutchinson, officer of Aggie Allies and junior economics major, commended Robinson's decision. "The student senate is ignorant of the issues facing the GLBT community. The bill presents a false dichotomy of the GLBT community not being part of the ‘traditional family values' community," Hutchinson said. Hutchinson said that members of the gay and lesbian community do have traditional values, adding that the reason same sex marriage and gay adoption rights are controversial issues is because homosexual couples want to have traditional families."Robinson's actions were courageous. He stood up for an inclusive diverse student body. Senators who supported this bill used a thinly disguised attempt to discriminate against a community who already face harsh inequalities," said Brad Dressler, chairman of Aggie Allies. Despite Albrecht's view that vetoing the bill is the right decision; she said that ideally the SBP would have been proactive in addressing concerns prior to the bill's passage, which she thinks would have mitigated a lot of the miscommunication. McDuffie said the minority has a stronger voice when it comes to our student body president vetoing bills. "The voices of the minority are given an unfairly large consideration. The protestors present at the senate meeting don't represent the majority of students on campus," McDuffie said. Robinson has a history of vetoing bills that have overwhelming support from minority groups, including his veto of a bill that would end in-state tuition waivers from undocumented students. "It seems the opinions of interest groups are more valuable than those of the student body," McDuffie said. "Our mission is to serve the student body and this bill represents the views of the students at A&M."

Marines Trained On Accepting Openly Gay Recruits, Openly Gay Massachusetts Supreme Court Nominee Lenk Demonized By Opponents, Alex Pettyfer Requires Not One But Two Pairs Of Underwear At A Time, Sizzling Sexy Jim Bakkum A Dutch Delight, Jovany Barreto

If a Marine sees two men in his battalion kissing off-duty at a shopping mall, he should react as if he were seeing a man and woman, and if he turns on the television news to see a fellow Marine dressed as a civilian and marching in a parade with a banner that reads, "Support Gays and Lesbians in the Military!" he should accept it as a free right of expression. Prescriptions for those possible scenarios are being played out at Marine bases as the military prepares to allow gays to openly serve, ending a 17-year-old policy commonly known as "don't ask, don't tell," The Associated Press reporting that training for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines began early this year and is expected to finish by summer's end. The repeal goes into effect 60 days after the president, defence secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that lifting the ban won't hurt the military's ability to fight. "These changes are about policy," states briefing material for Marine instructors. "The policy is about adherence to orders and behaviour, and not about beliefs." The latest round of training material asks Marines to consider their reactions to a wide range of scenarios, from seeing a member "hanging around" a gay bar to hearing locker-room jokes from others who refuse to shower in front of gays. Members of the 1st Marine Logistics Group report to class Thursday at Camp Pendleton. There is nothing wrong with "hanging around" a gay bar, the materials state. The officer who witnesses the loud locker-room banter aimed at gays and lesbians should remind the Marines any discrimination or harassment is inappropriate. For those who oppose the new policy, the Marine Corps says it does not expect anyone to change their personal beliefs nonetheless, everyone must follow orders. "You remain obligated to follow orders that involve interaction with others who are gay or lesbian, even if an unwillingness to do so is based on strong, sincerely held moral or religious beliefs," the training material states. A recruiter who opposes the new policy cannot refuse a promising applicant on grounds of sexual orientation but might be considered for another assignment and, at the discretion of the Navy secretary, may be granted early discharge. Chaplains who preach at base chapels that homosexuality is a sin are entitled to express their religious beliefs during worship. The Marines expect to finish training on the new policy by June 1st, General James Amos, the Marine Corps commandant, testified in Congress earlier this month. Amos testified last year that permitting gays to openly serve could disrupt smaller combat units and distract leaders from preparing for battle. When he appeared this month before the House Armed Services Committee, he said he had been looking for problems that might arise under the new policy and hadn't found any "recalcitrant pushback," adding "There has not been the anxiety over it from the forces in the field."

In the space of seven hours Thursday, Barbara A. Lenk was both savaged as an immoral participant in a plan to convert children into homosexuals and lauded as a learned and compassionate lawyer and mother whose wisdom is sorely needed by Massachusetts, The Boston Globe reporting that Lenk, an appellate judge who is Governor Deval Patrick’s choice to fill an open seat on the Supreme Judicial Court, would be the first openly gay member of the state’s highest court. She wed her partner following the SJC’s landmark decision legalizing same sex marriage. During her confirmation hearing before the Governor’s Council, some critics testified that her marriage is part of a broader plan to give legitimacy to homosexuality in the public arena. “This will be a clarion call to all that want to indoctrinate our children into homosexuality,’’ testified Sally Naumann, who, like Lenk, lives in Carlisle. “How will we ever be able to say no to our children?’’ Lenk was also denounced by members of the Fatherhood Coalition, who said some of her Appeals Court decisions showed bias against shared parenting. They said she is typical of judges who routinely discriminate against fathers in child custody cases. But her supporters were equally numerous and equally vocal at the hearing, describing her as a loyal friend, a mentor with limitless patience, and an intellectual powerhouse who spent four years obtaining a doctorate in philosophy at Yale University because she found it a “a pleasant diversion.’’ At least three members of the Governor’s Council objected to critics who focused on Lenk’s sexual orientation, telling them they will not be swayed by that issue when they vote. With her wife, lawyer Debra Krupp, and their two teenage daughters sitting behind her, Lenk was stone-faced during the criticism. Lenk vowed to be a judge who hews to the law and will not be what critics call an activist judge, balking when asked to list the cases she handled that dealt with gays or lesbians. “I don’t keep records that way,’’ she said. “I don’t regard these cases in any way of being homosexual or lesbian issues.’’

Late Wednesday I posted about Alex Pettyfer and an interview inside the newest issue of VMAN magazine in which Pettyfer revealed he has a tattoo slightly above his crotch that reads “Thank You,” in case, he said, he forgets to say it. Today, the cover story and accompanying photographs are up, the “Thank” visible.

23 year old Jim Bakkum, a Dutch performer, came to fame at the age of 15 when he appeared on that country’s first season of Idol and finished second overall. But Bakkum has, um, transformed since then in something left of hot, appearing in Linda magazine in a smoking sexy photo series.

American Idol contestant Jovany Barreto makes a number of appearances via his iPhone, in various stages of undress, natch. (Site Sort Of NSFW)

Toronto Police Continue Search For Suspects In York University Gay Bashing; Valerie Bustros Attacked Outside Women’s Washroom April 5; Surveillance Video Released

Toronto police are asking for assistance in locating three suspects after a woman was assaulted at a York University bar on Tuesday, April 5th, according to a report by CTV. 24 year old Valerie Bustros said that when she went into the washroom at the university's Absinthe Pub, a man swore at her. When she came outside of the washroom, more words were exchanged before she was attacked. Bustros did not know if she was attacked because she is a woman, because she is a lesbian, or because a few men were looking for a fight. "A gentleman opens the door and he says, ‘hey, this is a ladies room.' And I say, ‘dude, I'm not a guy, I'm just a lesbian, leave me alone," said Bustros. "I just remember I was telling him over and over again that I was a girl and it didn't seem to sink in," who added, "Yeah I'm mad at them, I'm angry but I also feel sorry for them. Clearly they're not educated enough." Bustros hopes something comes out of the beating she took. "Getting jumped for using the bathroom, yeah it sucks, and hopefully one day we won't have to get jumped for that," she said. York University president Mamdouh Shoukri released a statement saying he was deeply disturbed to hear about the assault, saying in part "I can assure you that we will not tolerate any actions or forms of speech that advocate violence or hatred." Shoukri said that in a university as large and diverse as York, it's essential to respect the different beliefs held by staff and students. "Our responsibility is to embrace our shared differences -- be it sexual orientation, race, faith, age or gender -- and to condemn those who deny our members their fundamental rights," he said. Alastair Woods, a representative of the Trans Bisexual Lesbian Gays Allies at York, believes the incident was motivated by homophobia. "While obviously I welcome all the physical improvements to our school to make it safer, none of that could have stopped what happened to Valerie. It was obviously motivated by homophobia and something that needs to be tackled ahead of time, instead of retroactively," he said. Bustros said the solution to getting along is simple: "We're all different and let's just live and let live, let's all try to get along." Toronto police have released descriptions of the suspects. The first is between 20 and 30 years of age, stands about 5'4" tall, weighs 140 pounds and has brown skin and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. The second is also between 20 and 30 years of age with a thin build and has brown skin, brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black coat and dark jeans. The third is between 20 and 30, about 6" tall and 160 pounds, with brown skin and hair. He was last seen wearing dark jeans. Police are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 416−808−3100 or Crime Stoppers at 416−222−TIPS.

Atlanta Braves, Major League Baseball Continue To Investigate Alleged Violently Homophobic Comments Made Towards Fans By Pitching Coach

The Braves are continuing to investigate allegations against pitching coach Roger McDowell that he directed anti-gay slurs toward fans at San Francisco’s AT&T Park and are expected to meet with him today, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Braves are off today prior to opening a three-game series against the Cardinals at Turner Field on Friday. The team has not yet reported any findings to Major League Baseball and no decision has been made about possible punishment. McDowell, as previously posted, issued awkward apology on Wednesday, saying “I am deeply sorry that I responded to the heckling fans in San Francisco on Saturday. I apologize to everyone for my actions.” 33 year old Giants fan Justin Quinn accused McDowell of yelling “Are you a homo couple or a threesome?” to fans sitting in the left field seats and simulating a sex act with a bat. Quinn, who was sitting nearby with his wife and 9-year-old twin daughters, said he asked McDowell to watch his language in front of children. Quinn’s attorney, celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred, said McDowell responded by saying “Kids don’t fucking belong at the baseball park.” She also said McDowell walked toward him in a threatening manner, holding a bat. Quinn said McDowell asked him “How much are your teeth worth?” Quinn demanded an apology at a press conference held Wednesday in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters. Commissioner Bud Selig called the allegations “very troubling” and said in a statement Wednesday evening he will determine how to proceed after the Braves complete their investigation and report to him. The Braves expressed their concern about the allegations in a statement Wednesday “and the behaviour described by a witness today. This in no way represents the Braves organization and the conduct we expect of our employees. We will withhold further comments until we finish gathering information.”

Despite Repeal Of Military Ban Prohibiting Openly Gay Service Personal, West Point Denies Re-Entry Of Former Cadet Katherine Miller

A lesbian former cadet who left West Point saying she could not live a lie was rejected for re-admission Wednesday because of the lingering military ban on gays, The Associated Press reports, and said she is giving up on her dream of graduating from the academy. Katherine Miller said in a statement that she plans to graduate from Yale University, which she is now attending, and join the military through officer candidate school. "Although I am deeply saddened that I will not be readmitted to West Point, I understand and respect the decision," said the 21 year old from Findlay, Ohio. She said that although she had always wanted to serve alongside her comrades as an equal, "I harbor no resentment toward the military, and I look forward to the day they deem it appropriate for me to put the uniform back on." Miller left West Point last year and soon became a public face of the effort to repeal the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell," or DADT, which bars gays and lesbians from serving openly, but she missed the storied upstate New York academy and applied as the government moved to repeal. In announcing Miller's rejection, West Point issued a statement explaining that it could not accept Miller because of the still-existing ban but hinting that re-entry would not be a problem for her in the future. "While at the academy Ms. Miller remained in good standing and had done exceptionally well academically, militarily and physically," said Lt. Col. Sherri Reed, director of public affairs at West Point. "The choice to seek re-admission is available to her once the repeal process is completed." Still, the decision highlights activists' complaints that the Department of Defense's too-deliberate process continues to frustrate gays and lesbians who want to serve. For every day the clock ticks, investigations under DADT continue, and service members remain at risk," said the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which offers legal counsel to gay and lesbian military members. It is supposed to be complete 60 days after the president and senior defence advisers certify that the repeal will not hurt troops' ability to fight. It could go into full effect by late summer or early fall, by some estimates. That is too late for Miller, but not for cadets who want to apply to start classes in 2012 at the four U.S. military academies: West Point, the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Alexander Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United, an organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, said openly gay applicants could not be sure the policy would be repealed by the start of classes — for West Point, August 15th. "I just don't envision that first cadre of new cadets going in this year who would think, 'I'm not going to have to live under the cloud of don't ask, don't tell,'" Nicholson said. "I think that will come next year." Miller has said she enjoyed attending the historic academy looming over the Hudson River. She also thrived there, ranking ninth in her class when she left. But she said keeping her sexuality a secret violated the academy's honour code and nagged at her conscience. It was difficult for her to remain silent, she said, when her fellow cadets made derogatory comments about gays. "I couldn't work up the courage to foster an argument against what they were saying for fear of being targeted as a gay myself," Miller told The Associated Press in an interview late last year. "I had to be silent. That's not what I wanted to become." She filed her resignation in August 2010, just as she was to begin her junior year. She was accepted to Yale but re-applied late last year.

Salt Lake City Police Investigate Attack On 20 Year Old Jordan Corona As Hate Crime

A 20 year old Utah gay man was attacked last Friday night after leaving Club Pure in Salt Lake City, QSaltLake.com reporting that the assault is being treated as a hate crime. Jordan Corona said he left the club on Saturday morning at 2:00 am and was walking to his car, which was parked near the back of the building, when several people attacked him from behind. He said all he could remember after that was waking up with police surrounding him. He did not get a view of his attackers. After the attack, police witnessed him wandering toward them near the Metro Bar parking lot. Corona said they thought he was drunk because he passed out and was nonresponsive. The officers took him to the county jail where he tried to convince them that he was sober, and only passed out because he was attacked and beaten, he said. When the arresting officers realized they had made a mistake, he was taken to the hospital where he was treated for a concussion. “The doctors say I was lucky no bones are broken. But my collar bone is really bruised, probably from being kicked on the ground, and my wrist is sprained and my face is just really messed up,” Corona said. Police continue to investigate the matter, but there are no suspects yet. Corona said he was frustrated with the way the police handled the situation because the officers automatically assumed he was drunk and he was not allowed to see a nurse in jail. However, he said the police have tried to rectify the situation and are being very cooperative with the investigation. “I just want people to see this kind of stuff really does happen and it needs to be stopped immediately,” Corona said. The Salt Lake City Police Department had no comments on the incident because the incident report has not yet been filed.

New San Francisco Federal Judge Ware Schedules Hearing On Proposition 8 Trial Video For June 13, Dallas County Approves Protections For Transgender Employees, Jane Lynch To Play Mother Superior In Three Stooges Film, Chris Hemsworth’ Hammer, Alex Pettyfer Lets His Crotch Tattoo Do The Talking

San Francisco's new chief federal judge now must decide whether his predecessor can keep the video recordings of the trial over California's ban on same sex marriage, and whether he should have disqualified himself from presiding over that trial, reports The San Francisco Chronicle. Sponsors of Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that outlawed gay and lesbian unions, had asked the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to confiscate the videos from former Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, arguing that Walker had defied a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and violated his own court's regulations by showing a three-minute excerpt of the trial during a speech in February, shortly before he retired from the bench. The high court had prohibited Walker from airing the videos during the trial in January 2010. Gay-rights advocates and media organizations countered by asking the appeals court to make the videos public. On Wednesday, the court referred the dispute to Judge James Ware, who succeeds Walker as chief judge and inherits his cases. Walker ruled in August that Prop. 8 discriminated unconstitutionally on the basis of sexual orientation and gender. The measure's sponsors have appealed that ruling and opened a new front Monday by claiming that Walker had a personal stake in the case, based on his post-retirement confirmation that he is a gay man with a longtime partner. Ware set an expedited schedule Wednesday on that dispute, with a hearing on June 13th.

Dallas County commissioners voted Tuesday to include transgender employees in the county’s non-discrimination policy, reports The Dallas Morning News. The 3-2 vote was split along party lines. Two Republicans, Maurine Dickey and Mike Cantrell, voted against the proposal. Voting in favour were the three Democrats: County Judge Clay Jenkins and Commissioners John Wiley Price and Elba Garcia. Tuesday’s action reflects significant changes to the Commissioners Court, which consists of a Democratic majority after last year’s election for the first time since the 1980s. Jenkins and Garcia, the court’s newest members, had pushed for such changes. Due in part to their efforts, the court on March 22nd added sexual orientation to the policy. Jenkins had said he thought that change covered transgender employees. Since then, numerous speakers (many of whom included transgender people) have urged commissioners to give transgender employees the same protection. The order passed on Tuesday adds “transgender, gender identity and gender expression” to the county’s non-discrimination policy. It prohibits harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability and political affiliation. Price, who has been noncommittal about the matter for weeks, said he placed the item on Tuesday’s agenda for a vote after changing his opinion. “At the end of the day, it’s about doing the right thing,” Price said prior to the vote. Garcia called the decision a “historic moment” for the county. She also said she took part in the vote to add such protections to city of Dallas employees almost a decade ago. “For me, it’s about equality and justice for everybody,” Garcia said. “We’re just catching up.” Dickey said she voted against the change because she believed the previous sexual orientation language covered transgender employees and because she was “reluctant to add separate protective classes” to the policy. Cantrell said he voted no to save the taxpayers from potential legal liability.

Jane Lynch has signed on to star in The Three Stooges, Deadline.com reporting that Lynch will appear Emmy-winning Glee star Jane Lynch is set for The Three Stooges, the 20th Century Fox comedy directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly. Lynch will play Mother Superior, who runs the orphanage where the trio grows up, despite her best efforts to get them adopted. She will star with Chris Diamantopoulos, who’s signing on to play Moe, Will Sasso, who's playing Curly, and Sean Hayes, who signed on recently to play Larry Fine.

Chris Hemsworth in Interview magazine, talking about his role in Thor and about his hammer.

Alex Pettyfer, according to Us Weekly, tells VMAN in an upcoming interview that he has a tattoo slightly about his crotch that reads “Thank You,” Pettyfer explaining that the reason it is there “is in case I forget to say it.”

Cowardly Clovis High School Officials Opt To Cancel All Extra-Circular Clubs Rather Than Allow Gay-Straight Alliance

A school board in Clovis, New Mexico, has voted to ban all extra-curricular clubs from meeting during school hours after a Gay-Straight Alliance applied to become a club, Reuters reporting that school officials call it coincidental that the alliance applied while school policies were being reviewed, but representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico say they are concerned about the timing of the decision. "This sort of tactic has been used in the past by school districts to discourage gay-straight clubs from forming," Micah McCoy, communications specialist for ACLU of New Mexico, said on Wednesday. "A lot of alarm bells went off when we saw this." In a vote Tuesday night, the Clovis school board decided to prohibit any extra-curricular club from meeting during school hours or using school resources to meet and gather. Meetings for the Gay-Straight Alliance were going to be held after school all along, said James Walker, a senior at the school, but said that without resources or the ability to hang flyers or make announcements, it will be difficult to publicize meetings, adding "Now it's almost an underground operation." The Gay-Straight Alliance is meant to create a safe place where students can get together and work toward greater tolerance and make schools safer places for gay, lesbian transgender and questioning students, McCoy said. Clovis is in eastern New Mexico, on the border with Texas. There are 15 extra-curricular clubs currently at the school. Calls to Clovis High School principal Wayne Marshall and district superintendent Terry Myers were not returned on Wednesday, but Myers, who is in his first year at Clovis, told the Albuquerque Journal this week that the Gay-Straight Alliance's application did not trigger the policy review. "Being a new superintendent in Clovis, the board asked me to review each policy as it came up and make recommendations or at least bring those to their attention if there's some question as to what the board truly wants with a particular policy," Myers said, according to the newspaper. "This was not prompted by a particular request." This is not the first time that Clovis High School has gotten attention for an issue involving gay and lesbian students. In 2008, the school changed its yearbook policy after a public outcry when lesbian couples were featured on a couples page of the yearbook. Now, the principal reviews any content that may be controversial.

Atlanta Braves Pitching Coach Bob McDowell Offers Anaemic, Awkward Apology For Hurling Violently Homophobic Slurs At Fans

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell has apologized for allegedly hurling anti-gay slurs towards fans Saturday at San Francisco's AT&T Park.“I am deeply sorry that I responded to the heckling fans in San Francisco on Saturday. I apologize to everyone for my actions," McDowell said in a press release after Wednesday afternoon's Braves-Padres game. The Braves also issued a statement: “We were made aware of an incident in San Francisco this past Saturday. We are concerned by these allegations and the behaviour described by a witness today. This in no way represents the Braves organization and the conduct we expect of our employees. We will withhold further comments until we finish gathering information.” McDowell is accused of yelling "Are you a homo couple or a threesome?" to fans sitting in the left-field bleachers during batting practice, also accused of simulating a sex act with a bat. Giants fan Justin Quinn, attending the game with his wife and 9-year-old twin daughters, said he asked McDowell to watch his language in the presence of children. According to Allred, the former New York Mets pitcher told Quinn, "Kids don't fucking belong at the baseball park." The 50 year old McDowell then "picked up his bat and started walking in a threatening manner towards Quinn," Allred said. The 33 year old Quinn said McDowell asked him, "How much are your teeth worth?" The Fresno, California resident said he managed to diffuse further hostilities but was encouraged by other fans who had witnessed the scene to file a report. Quinn said he reported the incident to the Giants and San Francisco police. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement Wednesday night: “I was informed today that Roger McDowell, a coach of the Atlanta Braves, is being accused of engaging in highly inappropriate conduct toward fans at a game in San Francisco. Although I do not yet have all the facts regarding this incident, the allegations are very troubling to me. The Atlanta Braves have assured my office that they will immediately investigate the allegations, and report the results of the investigation to me. After I have all the facts, I will make a determination of how to proceed.” Earlier this month, NBA superstar Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for calling a referee an anti-gay slur during a Lakers game. Allred said she sees that incident as serving as a template for what should happen to McDowell. The attorney sent letters to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and the Atlanta Braves demanding a fine, suspension and an apology from McDowell. Allred said McDowell should be required to undergo sensitivity training. "There has to be accountability," she told the AJC. Quinn, meanwhile, hinted that he may pursue legal action against McDowell. McDowell was hired by the Braves in 2005 to replace longtime pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

Atlanta Braves Pitching Coach Accused Of Making Violently Homophobia Comments To Male Fans; Former MLB Pitcher Bob McDowell Allegedly Threatened Father Of Twin Girls Who Demanded He Stop

TMZ.com reports that Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell has been accused of targeting a group of male fans last weekend at a Giants game in San Francisco, allegedly asking them, "Are you a homo couple or a threesome?" Attorney Gloria Allred announced the allegations moments ago in a news conference -- representing a family of four (including two 9-year-old girls) who claim they watched McDowell make the homophobic remark and then use a baseball bat to simulate gay sex. According to Allred, the family claims they also witnessed McDowell tell the group of male fans, "Are you three giving it to each other in the ass?" The father claims he confronted McDowell from the stands, and that McDowell responded by saying, "Kids don't fucking belong at the baseball park" ... and then approached him with a baseball bat, saying, "How much are your teeth worth?" The family is demanding an apology from McDowell for his alleged anti-gay behaviour. Gloria and the family also want the Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig to fine both McDowell and the Atlanta Braves -- and send McDowell to some serious sensitivity training. The 49 year old McDowell pitched for a number of teams during his 11 year Major League Baseball career, most notably for the New York Mets. McDowell, the Braves, and MLB have not commented, but the story will continue to update.

Seven Smoking Sexy Shirtless Athletes Grace Cover Of Dutch Magazine But Only Two Are Actually Gay

Radio Netherlands reports that an estimated 5-percent of the population is homosexual, but that there exist different rules seem to apply to sport. There are very few well known sports personalities willing to openly admit they are gay. It seems the matter is still too sensitive. A Dutch magazine has come up with an idea to make talking about homosexuality easier by using well-known sports people. L'HOMO is a special edition of Linda Magazine. It is the third time the gay glossy has been published. Scantily dressed sports personalities feature on the cover. They tell their story about homosexuality in the world of sport. Under the title Sons of God, seven sportsmen bare their chests for a photo session. They are footballers Evgeniy Levchenko, Demy de Zeeuw, Kenneth Perez, Ronald de Boer, gymnast Jeffrey Wammes, tennis player John van Lottum and racing car driver Mike Verschuur. Only two of them are actually gay. In the world of sport, heterosexuality is the norm. It is an image that is seldom challenged, but are gay athletes doing themselves a favour by remaining closeted? Editor Linda de Mol doesn’t think so. She believes revealing your sexuality can even be beneficial. Her slogan for the special edition is: 'Even more gold after coming out'. Smoking sexy racing car driver Mike Verschuur, who had already come out of the closet, agrees, saying “Many fellow drivers – not mentioning any names – told me they were gay too. But they dare not say so in public which is a real pity. Because there is nothing to fear. On the contrary, it has only made me stronger. It’s made me a better driver.”For gymnast Jeffrey Wammes, the special edition was a perfect opportunity to come out. “There was already a lot of speculation about whether or not I fell for boys or girls. To me it has nothing to do with sport or how I perform. But when I was asked to do this, I made it clear straight away how things were and that’s that.” Meanwhile we are all waiting for the first professional soccer player to come out, in what is an exaggerated masculine world. Ajax player Demy de Zeeuw doesn’t expect it to happen any time soon.“It’s very difficult in football. That’s partly because of society. You want to change things, but there are some things that stay the same.”

Gay Couple Found Inside Dallas Home Burned Were Murdered Before Fire Began, Police Say; Authorities Search For Car Taken From Scene

Dallas police are asking for help finding a car taken from the home of two men found slain this morning inside their burning apartment, reports The Dallas Morning News, the fire was reported shortly after 4:00 am at the Villa Jolla apartments in the 11200 block of Woodmeadow Parkway, near Ferguson Road and LBJ Freeway in northeast Dallas. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the two-story building and quickly put out the blaze in a first-floor unit. Inside they found the two men dead, but not as a result of the fire, police determining that the two men – a 61 year old white male and a 59 year old black male, a couple - were killed, and that the fire was started deliberately in an attempt to disguise the murder. Police believe the killer may have taken the victims’ car, a silver 2002 Saturn L200 sedan with Texas license plate 5CVDN. Neighbours said one of the victims, the older male, was disabled and the car has a handicap placard inside. Neither man has been identified, pending their identification by the medical examiner’s office. A cause of death has not been determined. “They were the sweetest people,” neighbour Melody Johnson said of the victims. Alex Williams, Johnson’s boyfriend, said the victims’ apartment had an alarm and surveillance system and that they never would have opened the door to someone they did not know, especially at 4:00 am. “I hope they catch them, whoever it was,” he said.

Rhode Island Legislators Shift From Same Sex Marriage To Civil Unions, Attorney General Eric Holder Defends Paul Clement And Decision To Defend Defense Of Marriage Act, A St. Louis County Approves Domestic Partnership Law And Registry

The Associated Press is reporting that Rhode Island's House speaker says legislation extending marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples is dead for the year. House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is openly gay and is a leading supporter of the same sex marriage bill, says that it is now clear the bill will not overcome opposition in the state Senate. Fox, a Providence Democrat, says he will instead sponsor civil union legislation giving same sex couples the same state rights given to married couples. The announcement deals a major setback to advocates of same sex marriage in the Ocean State, who classified civil unions a poor substitute for full marriage. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed's opposition was seen as a key obstacle to the bill's passage. In a statement to reporters, she says she supports civil union legislation and is confident it will pass.

Politico reports that Attorney General Eric Holder is coming to the defence of former Solicitor General Paul Clement, after gay rights advocates criticized his decision to take on the defence of the Defense of Marriage Act in court; that criticism apparently leading Clement's firm Atlanta-based firm King & Spalding to drop the cases and Clement to quit his firm in protest — all about a week after the firm agreed to defend the constitutionality of the 1996 ban on federal recognition on same sex marriage. "Paul Clement is a great lawyer and has done a lot of really great things for this nation. In taking on the representation — representing Congress in connection with DOMA, I think he is doing that which lawyers do when we're at our best," Holder said during a roundtable with reporters at the Justice Department. "That criticism, I think, was very misplaced." Holder also compared the criticism of Clement to the attacks on Justice Department lawyers for their past work for detainees at Guantanamo. "It was something we dealt with here in the Department of Justice ...The people who criticized our people here at the Justice Department were wrong then, as are people who criticized Paul Clement for the representation that he's going to continue." Holder said he was not laying blame for Clement's disagreement with King & Spalding or disputing the firm's claim it withdrew due to improper vetting of the agreement to represent the House of Representatives, which is stepping into the cases after President Barack Obama concluded that DOMA is unconstitutional and ordered the Justice Department to stop defending it in court.

University City could be the first community in St. Louis County that approves a proposed domestic partnership law and registry, reports The St. Louis Dispatch. A final city council vote on the proposed law, similar to one already approved in the City of St. Louis, is expected as early as May 9th. The registration, which would be maintained by the city clerk and cost a fee of $10, would allow people to file a declaration of registered domestic partnership, saying that both share a residence and responsibility for each other's welfare and that neither is married to anyone else nor part of another domestic partnership. Among the rights of registered domestic partners would be that all health care facilities in the city would have to allow a partner the same visitation rights as a spouse, child or parent, that if a patient lacks the capacity to make a health care decision, the partner would have the same authority as a spouse to make that decision, that following the death of a partner, the surviving partner would have the same rights to make decisions regarding a funeral, burial, and disposition of remains as provided to a surviving spouse, and that in any emergency or arrest situation providing for notification of family members, a partner would be included in that notification. Mayor Shelley Welsch and Councilman Terry Crow merged separate versions each had previously drafted individually to devise the current proposed law. Welsch said she had felt the issue was important even when she previously served on the city council. She said she had earlier supported a measure to include sexual orientation in city legislation banning discrimination in housing. Crow called the domestic partnership proposal "a matter of simple equality, and added that "University City has prided itself on its acceptance and diversity, and, as a gay man with a wonderful partner and two children, I'm grateful to have a chance to introduce this legislation."

Ontario Superior Court Justice Rules Assault On Gay Man Not A Hate Crime; Says Victim Brandon Wright “Preyed Upon” Alex Myros Who Reacted After Being “Misled”

A former London, Ontario Silverback football player was granted a conditional discharge for assaulting a con man that happened to be gay, The London Free Press reporting that Superior Court Justice John Desotti said Alex Myros' assault on Brandon Wright was not a gay bashing. "I do not consider this to be a hate crime offence. This is not an attack on an individual because of his sexuality," the judge said. Instead, Desotti said Myros assault was a reaction that he was being "potentially defrauded, potentially misled." The 24 year old Myros, of Thunder Bay was charged 19 months ago after punching Wright in the head while driving. Wright jumped from the truck and suffered a broken arm, broken shoulder and other injuries. The case was investigated as a hate crime but by Tuesday, Wright testified he had little memory about what happened. Myros, who pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm, remembered everything. Wright, he said, had conned him into believing he would be paid $200,000 for appearing as a model and porn actor. Wright had held himself out as a modeling agent and conned Myros into believing he could solve his money problems. Desotti was certain he did not believe Wright and called what he said was "completely a fiction...it's completely untrue." Myros, he said, "was preyed upon."

Japan’s First Openly Gay Elected Politician Celebrates Victory, Nevada Senate Approves Two Anti-Gay Discrimination Measures But Stops Short Of Making Crimes Committed Against Gays And Transsexuals Hate Crimes, Cary Grant’s Daughter Denies Her Father Was Gay

Taiga Ishikawa, the first openly gay politician in Japan to win an election, Tuesday hailed the result as a victory for the rights of sexual minorities, Ishikawa telling the AFP "I hope my election victory will help our fellows nationwide to have hope for tomorrow, as many of them cannot accept themselves, feel lonely and isolated and even commit suicide." The 36 year old Ishikawa won a seat in a Tokyo ward assembly in local elections on Sunday. Prior to his victory, no openly homosexual politician had won office in Japan, and he said he hoped his victory would help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."Many LGBTs, or sexual minorities, realise the fact when they are at elementary and junior high schools, many of which are operated by the municipality," Ishikawa said."As a ward assembly member, I would like to reinforce support to LGBT children at schools." Ishikawa disclosed that he is gay in his autobiographical "Boku No Kareshi Wa Doko Ni Iru" (Where Is My Boyfriend?)," published in 2002. "Many readers of my book told me that they are isolated and the situation I wrote about in the book is so similar to theirs. So I started to host events that offer opportunities to have links with friends," Ishikawa said. He founded the non-profit organisation "Peer Friends", which hosts events in Japanese cities to provide young gay men with opportunities to meet other gays. Since February 2010, he has served as a private secretary to Mizuho Fukushima, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, a small opposition group.

Monday, the Nevada Senate approved two bills designed to stop discrimination against gays and transgender individuals, but, reports The Nevada Appeal, the third piece in the package was defeated when Democrat John Lee of North Las Vegas joined Republicans in opposing Senate Bill 180, which would have added crimes against gays and transsexuals to Nevada's list of hate crimes. Lee said afterward he had no problem with the bills banning discrimination in public accommodation and in housing or other transactions involving real property. He voted for both SB331 and SB368 saying it's fair to prohibit gender identity from discriminating against people in housing and access to public businesses including restaurants, “But when it comes to SB180, I felt we were looking for a solution to a problem that's not there.” He argued SB180 would make gays and transsexuals “a protected class” which he said would require teaching that to children in school, and “I don't feel they need to be exposed to that kind of conduct.” Senator David Parks (Democrat-Las Vegas) sponsor of all three measures, said he was not surprised the 10-11 vote went against SB180. In his argument for the measure, he told the Senate the law already includes race, color, religion, national origin and disability in the definition of hate crimes along with sexual orientation. “A hate crime or bias-motivated crime occurs when the perpetrator of the crime intentionally selects the victim because of who the victim is,” he said. He said hate crime legislation has been supported by civil rights, religious and law enforcement groups and polls consistently show the public supports those laws. He added that Gov. Brian Sandoval has indicated he would likely sign the bill if lawmakers pass it.“Protecting our transgender citizens harms no one,” he said. The legislation was opposed by every Republican senator. The other two measures, however, were approved by majority votes. SB331 bars discrimination against gays and transsexuals in places of public accommodation including hotels, motels and restaurants. Parks told the body it was supported by the Nevada Resorts Association. The vote was 11-10 on a party line vote. SB368 prohibits discrimination in housing and other real property transactions. It was approved 13-8. All of those voting no were Republicans. Both measures now go to the Assembly for approval.

People magazine reports on Jennifer Grant, the 45 year old daughter of Cary Grant, and her memoir Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, which Alfred A. Knopf is to publish May 3rd. People suggests that while the book is a model of discretion, she specifically addresses rumours that Cary was gay, Jennifer saying that she "Can't blame men for wanting him, and wouldn't be surprised if Dad even mildly flirted back. When the question arises, it generally speaks more about the person asking." Then again, she says, "Dad somewhat enjoyed being called gay. He said it made women want to prove the assertion wrong."

Post-Mortem On King & Spalding Decision To Drop Case Defending Defense Of Marriage Act

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports on the aftermath of the decision by Atlanta-based law firm King & Spalding withdraw from an agreement to argue to uphold the federal ban on same sex marriage, prominent lawyers and law professors, with some notable exceptions, called it an embarrassing blunder by the prestigious firm or a betrayal of a client and legal principles. Others think King & Spalding, whose clients include General Electric and Coca-Cola, may have backed out because the firm fears the fallout from leading an anti-gay legal fight. King & Spalding's announcement it would not represent congressional House Republicans in their quest to defend court challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the subsequent decision of Paul Clements, the lawyer in the case, to quit the firm and take it elsewhere was the talk Tuesday among Yale University Law School faculty, said Lawrence Fox, a Yale professor and expert in legal ethics. DOMA defines marriage "for federal tax, Social Security and other purposes" as only a union between a man and a woman. “We really go down a bad road if we say law firms can't take on (controversial) matters or people will assume you have those views," said Fox. "I’m going to walk into my class today and I’m going to use this. I’m tearing up my lesson plan ... to talk about this case.” Fox said the law firm's withdrawal did not raise any legal ethical issues because the case stayed with Clements, whom he said was one of the nation's top appellate lawyers. Clements is taking a position at the boutique Washington law firm Bancroft PLLC to continue representation. But David Zarfes, an associate dean at the University of Chicago law school, said the King & Spalding set an unsettling precedent. "It looks like (King & Spalding is) caving in to political pressure and I think everybody has the right to get the best legal representation they can," said Zarfes, an ethics expert. "This may have a chilling effect on law firms. That is not a good thing." Atlanta lawyer Emmet Bondurant, a champion against the death penalty and other causes commended King & Spalding's decision. He said because the firm's management had not vetted the case well enough with its staff -- King & Spalding's official reason for walking away from the case -- it would have been unfair to those attorneys who opposed involvement on philosophical grounds. Randy New, who practices employment discrimination law, said he was surprised a firm that had portrayed itself as sympathetic to gay causes would be defending DOMA. "What was jarring about King & Spalding's decision -- and it was jarring -- is ... this was a law firm that appeared to be pro-gay and it took a case on the opposite side,” said New, a member of the local gay Stonewall Bar Association. “I think they understood the case was going to be explosive but my guess is they didn’t think about all the people who they cared about and what their reaction was going to be -- people at the law firm, their clients and the gay community.”

62 Year Old Florida Man Held Without Bail Charged With Hate Crime After Assaulting 45 Year Old Gay Man

A Davie, Florida man is facing hate crime charges after an attack on an openly gay man that police said was the bloody conclusion to an ongoing dispute fuelled by the victim's sexual orientation, The Orlando Sentinel reporting that 62 year old John William Koontz was ordered held without bail Tuesday. He was arrested Monday after police said he walked up to Miguel "Angel" Rodriguez, 46, outside a CVS drugstore in Davie and repeatedly punched and kicked him while shouting insults. "I'm gay, that's what I am … and now he uses that against me," Rodriguez said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Koontz was charged with aggravated battery and a hate crime. According to a Davie police complaint affidavit, Rodriguez works as a security guard for Everglades Mobile Home Park, where both men live. Around 5:30 pm Monday, Koontz approached Rodriguez as he was entering the pharmacy and made an anti-gay remark to him, the affidavit said. Koontz then hit Rodriguez in the face, causing him to fall to the ground, according to the affidavit. Koontz then straddled Rodriguez, punched him and kicked him in the face, the Davie police document says. Rodriguez said he pepper sprayed Koontz, but was unable to stop him. When Koontz punched him, his eyeglasses were smashed, he said. "I thought he was going to kill me," he said. Two CVS employees were able to separate the men and called police. Rescuers took Rodriguez to Memorial Hospital Pembroke, where he was treated and released Monday night. Koontz was arrested and taken to the Broward County Main Jail where police found a small key in his pocket. He also was charged with obstructing justice through unlawful possession of a concealed handcuff key, a third-degree felony, and violating probation from a recent marijuana possession charge. Rodriguez's father, Jack Gilmer, was inside the CVS picking up medicine when the attack happened. "I heard Miguel screaming my name and when I got to the front he was laying on the floor with his face all beat up, bleeding," Gilmer said Wednesday. "It was definitely a hate crime." Rodriguez said the feud between the two men began about three weeks ago when Rodriguez, who guards the mobile home community's entrance, called police after he said Koontz was harassing him and visitors near the gate. He said Koontz has since continued to verbally harass him. Rodriguez said his face remains swollen and throbbing, and though physically and emotionally exhausted, he said he was keeping a positive spirit."I'm scared … but at least I'm alive," he said.

Washington D.C. Gay Couple Ejected From Taxi For Sharing Kiss; “My Cab Is Not A Bed. You Cannot Have Sex In My Cab” Says Driver

The Washington Post reports that 45 year old Ari Fredge and 51 year old Christopher Holloway, the D.C. couple having hopped into a cab after a dinner out last week, the two telling the driver their destination, then shared a quick kiss after the driver pulled away. A peck, they said. The cab screeched to a halt. “My cab is not a bed. You cannot have sex in my cab!” declared the driver, who ordered the couple to get out of his taxi. Stunned, the two men got out of the cab, just a few blocks from the restaurant. It took Holloway a little longer to get out as he is recovering from double hip surgery, and he was using a cane and was not moving so quickly. The driver demanded that the men pay $6.35 for the four-block ride and when the men refused, the cabbie warned them that he would call the police for non-payment, said Fredge, who works in human resources at a Georgetown hotel. “Too late; I’m already calling 911,” Fredge told the driver, who then sped off. The men, not surprisingly, were devastated by what happened. “I’ve lived all over. In Missouri, in Texas, in Germany, California, Tennessee,” Holloway told me. “I’ve never been treated like this anywhere. It’s one of the reasons I live here, because it is such a tolerant, friendly city.” Gustavo Velasquez, director of the D.C. Office of Human Rights, which fields plenty of taxi-related discrimination complaints based on race or ethnicity but relatively few when it comes to sexual orientation, said that “We don’t see a large number of cases like this, but sometimes, you wonder, is it really that nothing is happening, or is it that people are not aware it’s happening?” The couple talked to police officers who arrived at the scene Wednesday night, who suggested that Holloway and Fredge register their complaints with the Office of Human Rights and the D.C. Taxi Cab Commission. By the time the couple got out of the cab and realized they should have noted out the driver’s name and hack certificate, he had driven off. “I don’t know anything about this,” Ephrem Yiheyis, manager at the cab company, said, when asked about the incident, however it looks like the D.C. Taxi Commission is already after the driver. “That type of behaviour will not be tolerated,” said the head of the commission, Leon Swain. “You’d like to say that you’re surprised by something like this.” Swain would not identify the driver, who is facing an investigation by the commission and will have a hearing, and could face suspension or revocation of his license, according to Swain.