Supreme Court reinstates death sentence for anti-gay neo-Nazi
(Cleveland) The Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated for a second time the death sentence of a neo-Nazi convicted of murdering three men in Ohio more than a quarter century ago.
The justices ruled unanimously that a federal appeals court wrongly set aside the death sentence of Frank Spisak.
The 6th U.S. Circuit …
White House Looks to Include Same-Sex Unions in Census Count
WASHINGTON — The White House said Thursday it was seeking ways to include same-sex marriages, unions and partnerships in 2010 Census data, the second time in a week the administration has signaled a policy change of interest to the gay community.
The administration has directed the Census Bureau to determine changes needed in tabulation software to allow for same-sex marriage data to be released early in 2011 with other detailed demographic information from the decennial count. The bureau historically hasn’t released same-sex marriage data.
The gay community strongly supported President Barack Obama during the 2008 election. But some gay activists say they have been frustrated by what they see as his slow approach to rolling back discriminatory policies.
See White House Looks to Include Same-Sex Unions in Census Count
Wall Street Journal -
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Gay Pride festival takes hopeful stance
NYACK – David Blau, a Nyack resident who has been with his partner for 28 years, said it’s a matter of time before New York joins a group of six states that allow same-sex marriage. But, aside from that, he added, “I would like to see a change, but … my partner is my partner and no one can change that. That’s how I feel.”
Blau and many others at Gay Pride Rockland’s 11th annual festival, held yesterday in the Riverspace Arts theater parking lot, voiced their hope that same-sex marriage would become a reality in the state, but added that they weren’t holding their breath.
“We’re definitely more hopeful, but I still don’t think it’s going to happen,” said Laurie Blase of Garnerville. “I think it’s still going to be a while.”
In May, the state Assembly passed legislation to allow same-sex marriage – the second time in two years the Assembly approved such a bill. See Gay Pride festival takes hopeful stance
Lower Hudson Journal news
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2009 Gay Soccer World Championship Opens in Washington D.C. on Sunday June 14, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC — The International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) will open the 2009 Gay Soccer World Championship (www.iglfa2009.org) in the Washington D.C. area on Sunday morning June 14, 2009. The 2009 Gay Soccer World Championship is being hosted by the Federal Triangles Soccer Club (FTSC) of Washington, D.C. This marks the first time the tournament has been held in the United States since 2004 when it was held in San Francisco. This also marks the second time that this tournament is being hosted in the Washington D.C. area by FTSC.
This year the IGLFA 2009 Official Gay Soccer World Championship tournament coincides with the end of Capital Gay Pride. The Capital Pride organization is a partner with IGLFA 2009. The 2009 IGLFA Tournament is also being supported by both the D.C. United of Major League Soccer and the Washington Freedom of the Women’s Professional Soccer League. Both the D.C. United and Washington Freedom will have players signing autographs this Sunday, June 14th at the Capital Pride Festival.
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Paterson’s Gay Marriage Soft Sell
Gov. David Paterson this morning said he has started talking – not lobbying mind you, just sort of casually chatting – with senators about his gay marriage program bill.
The governor has said he will at some point personally press recalcitrent lawmakers to support the measure, which was passed by the Assembly last week for the second time since 2007.
So far, he seems to be favoring the toe-in-the water approach rather over the jump-in-with-both-feet method.
” I wouldn’t say I was actively lobbying,” the governor said. “But I’ve run into a couple senators here and there and talked to them – some who are for it and some who are opposed.”
“So I have put my word in with those who are opposed and as the session goes on, and the session’s coming to an end, I will talk to the legislators that are not interested and try to persuade them that they should maintain any feelings that they have about marriage equality.”
“But the reason we think the law should be passed is because it would then keep it in line with the other laws that exist on our books.”
That last bit is a new line of reasoning from the governor, who has heretofore cast his call for legalization of gay marriage as the next great civil rights battle – an approach that apparently isn’t sitting all that well with black clergy in Buffalo (not to mention Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and his fellow Hispanic religious leaders).
See * Paterson’s Gay Marriage Soft Sell New York Daily News Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Pastors lobby Congress to support LGBT bills
(Washington) More than 300 gay-positive clergy were on Capitol Hill today, urging Congress to support LGBT rights bills.
It is the second time the lobbying effort known as Clergy Call has been held on Capitol Hill – the first event was held two years ago. Both have been sponsored by the Human …
Galveston gay bar attack draws rare use of law
Galveston prosecutors took the exceedingly rare step this week of filing hate crime enhancements when they charged three men with felony assault for an attack at one of the city’s gay bars.
This marks only the second time the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office has pursued such enhancements, based on the staff’s recollections, said prosecutor Jennifer Ott.
As a result, brothers Lawrence Henry Lewis III, 20, and Lawrneil Henry Lewis, 18, and their cousin, Alejandro Sam Gray, 17 could face an elevated punishment of five to 99 years or life in prison if a jury convicts them of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and agrees they committed a hate crime.
The trio is accused of hurling large rocks or pieces of concrete at patrons inside Robert’s Lafitte in the 2500 block of Avenue Q around 8 p.m. Sunday, injuring two men, including one who tried to chase them.
Marc Bosaw, 57, needed 12 staples to close a laceration to the back of his head, while James Troy Nickelson, 39, was struck in the jaw.
One of the three suspects later told police their intent was to target homosexuals, said Galveston Police Department Lt. D.J. Alvarez. The trio also hurled homophobic insults, authorities said.
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Rachel Maddow Talks Wall Street, Limbaugh On Leno
Rachel Maddow fulfilled her duties as NBC phenom by appearing on “The Tonight Show” while she was in LA (for the second time — watch her previous appearance here) Tuesday night. Leno opened by congratulating Maddow on her surging ratings but then the two got down to business: talking AIG, Wall Street, and, of course, Rush Limbaugh.
Watch their interview below — and if you’re hungry for more Maddow, she’ll be on “The View” tomorrow, presumably with some lighter fare.
Watch:
Rachel Maddow Talks Wall Street, Limbaugh On Leno
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We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
Dressed in a form-fitted black tuxedo, holding a bridal bouquet of white roses specked with yellow and red orchids, Annie Nguyen beamed, surrounded by men in colorful traditional Vietnamese wedding attire.
For the 50-year-old factory supervisor and mother of five, the short march in downtown San Jose’s 12th annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade marked a personal milestone.
Two years ago, after decades of being in the closet, the San Jose woman came out to her husband and children. On Sunday, standing behind a sign in Vietnamese and English that said, “Love and support ALL of your children,” Nguyen made a public declaration and appeal:
“You could lead two lives: one out, one hidden. But you’ll not be part of your family. Parents should accept their children.”
Nguyen was one of 40 Vietnamese gays and lesbians from the Bay Area and other parts of California who marched during the traditional annual celebration of Tet, the lunar new year. It was only the second time in the parade’s history that gays and lesbians marched openly — and the first time that families joined them. For Vietnamese gay and lesbian groups, the event signaled a new kind of visibility and openness in a culture that traditionally views homosexuality as shameful — and something to hide.
See We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
San Jose Mercury News, USA
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We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
Dressed in a form-fitted black tuxedo, holding a bridal bouquet of white roses specked with yellow and red orchids, Annie Nguyen beamed, surrounded by men in colorful traditional Vietnamese wedding attire.
For the 50-year-old factory supervisor and mother of five, the short march in downtown San Jose’s 12th annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade marked a personal milestone.
Two years ago, after decades of being in the closet, the San Jose woman came out to her husband and children. On Sunday, standing behind a sign in Vietnamese and English that said, “Love and support ALL of your children,” Nguyen made a public declaration and appeal:
“You could lead two lives: one out, one hidden. But you’ll not be part of your family. Parents should accept their children.”
Nguyen was one of 40 Vietnamese gays and lesbians from the Bay Area and other parts of California who marched during the traditional annual celebration of Tet, the lunar new year. It was only the second time in the parade’s history that gays and lesbians marched openly — and the first time that families joined them. For Vietnamese gay and lesbian groups, the event signaled a new kind of visibility and openness in a culture that traditionally views homosexuality as shameful — and something to hide.
See We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
San Jose Mercury News, USA
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