Group: Gay bias killings highest since 1999

national advocacy group says the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people killed in bias-motivated incidents increased by 28 percent in 2008 compared to 2007.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs released its report Tuesday. It says last year’s 29 killings is the highest it has recorded since 1999. It documented the same number of slayings then.

The New York-based coalition says the overall number of victims who reported anti-LGBT violence in 2008 increased by 2 percent.

The coalition says its figures are more accurate than those from law enforcement agencies. As an example, the group says the FBI doesn’t record bias crimes against transgender people because gender identity isn’t covered by federal hate-crime law.

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Mayor quits job for gay illegal immigrant he loves

It was, simply put, the most stunning abdication since King Edward VIII in 1936 gave up the British throne for Wallis Simpson, the twice-divorced American socialite.

Only two weeks after being elected to serve his fourth term, Mayor J.W. Lown of San Angelo submitted his resignation letter Tuesday from an undisclosed location in Mexico.

No, being mayor of San Angelo is not exactly the same as being the King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India, but the reason for Lown’s abdication is the same as Edward’s.

Love.

What made it stunning wasn’t the status of Lown’s office, which pays $600 a year, but the status of his lover.

Lown fell for an illegal Mexican immigrant.

A man.

Lown told the San Angelo Standard-Times he had fallen for the man in March, after he had already filed for re-election. The man came to the U.S. five years ago to study at Angelo State University.

It was unclear whether he had a student visa, but if he did it apparently had expired.

Lown told the Standard-Times he chose not to take the oath of office while “aiding and assisting” a person who was illegally in the country.

Lown had been an extraordinarily popular mayor. Only 32 years old, he was elected in 2003 as the city’s youngest mayor. Serving in an office that inevitably requires decisions that accumulate enemies, he managed to get re-elected three times with increasing margins of victory each time. Two weeks ago he defeated two challengers by garnering 89 percent of the vote.

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Obituary: John Paul Barnich, first out Texas city court judge

John Paul Barnich, a Houston lawyer who was the first out city court judge in Texas and a former chairman of the Houston AIDS Foundation, died Monday. He was 63. Houston Chronicle

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Out Houston controller announces run for mayor

Out three-term Houston Controller Annise Parker, emphasizing her financial management skills, on Monday launched her bid for mayor. “We need a mayor who can manage our city through tough economic times and still keep Houston moving ahead,” Parker said. KHOU-TV (Houston) (2/2) , Houston Chronicle (2/1)

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A company expands its diversity effort

The1990s has been called the “decade of diversity,” and PricewaterhouseCoopers did its part.

The global accounting firm sponsored affinity groups for women, blacks and Hispanics to meet over common issues and, over time, it added a group for gays and lesbians.

Since those early days the diversity movement has become more sophisticated. At PricewaterhouseCoopers, that includes seeking out what the firm calls “straight allies.”

Those are the straight partners, associates and clients who can be depended upon to foster inclusiveness toward their colleagues who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered.

About five years ago, the firm created a board of openly gay partners to make sure the gay community feels comfortable and welcome, said Jennifer Allyn, managing director for the office of diversity at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York.

The firm’s family leave benefits were expanded to include unmarried partners, plus it supports independent gay and lesbian events around the nation and beefed up recruiting and retention efforts in the gay community.

Now it’s focusing on straight professionals and what they can do, said Allyn.

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