Hong Kong's government has appealed a High Court ruling against a law that says men younger than 21 should be imprisoned for life for engaging in sodomy. The government waited until the last day of its deadline to appeal the August 24 homophobic decision, originally challenged by William Roy Leung, pictured. Leung, 20, argued he should be able to have a loving relationship without fearing he will be imprisoned. And who shouldn't right? His lawyer, Michael Vidler, said of the news, "If the government maintains that Hong Kong is a world city, then we should start acting like a world city and stop lagging behind on human rights issues such as these."
The Eleventh Ohio District Court of Appeals will decide whether or not to overturn the conviction of Keith Phillips, 22, a gay man who was convicted twice of “importuning” under a city ordinance modeled after an Ohio law making it a crime for a person to ask another person of the same sex for sex, if the person being asked could have been offended. The law was ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court in May, 2002 - yet Phillips’ first conviction was seven months later after a co-worker complained. He was 19 at the time.
Connecticut's same-sex civil unions officially kickoff this weekend and Karen Ryker and Sarah Jo Burke, pictured, won't be making much of a hoopla about legalizing their bond. Together for 23 years, they will simply walk up to the Woodstock town clerk's office and fill out the forms for a license declaring them a state-recognized civil union. Ryker says, "There are legal rights and it's important."
As he previously pledged, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in California, saying that although he believes gay and lesbian couples are "entitled to full protection under the law," the bill would have wrongly reversed an initiative California voters approved five years ago. "I do not believe the Legislature can reverse an initiative approved by the people of California," he wrote in his veto message. Politically smart or inherently spineless? You be the judge.
In response to our story on Mark Kraynak and Steve Wright, our reader Johnny writes: "Quebec (is) the capital of corruption, here are 2 men making (a lot of money) and they say they ran from a cab. How dumb can people be. I had heard that these 2 men were part of a small group which fought to have the right to work in Canada as strippers. You don't do that and put Quebeckers out of work. In Quebec there is no meaning of the word competition. Quebec construction workers can work anywhere, but try to work construction in Quebec if your not from there. Snow removal companies burn the (rival) competition to the ground. These guys stirred up shit in Quebec and paid the price. Don't believe for a moment that it was accidental. They were brought there and thrown off."
The wingnuts over at Focus On (someone else's) Family were invited by ABC to help out with this weekend's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Their press release notes, "Both the show’s producers and sponsor Keller Homes invited Focus to contribute after learning the unique background of the episode’s beneficiary, a local family of eight. Focus will provide a complete family library of video, audio, and print classics for this homeschooling family." Just think - a whole library of homophobic propaganda! As if directing hurricane victims last week to fake their reactions to Laura Bush wasn't bad enough. ABC and Extreme Makeover need to be slapped. (Thanks Good As You)
With Tom DeLay indicted, the only thing that could make me happier is having Lady Bunny deliver her twirl-like-a-girl spin on it. She writes, "Last night I asked my hairdresser if he'd heard the scandalous news about Mr. Delay. He hadn't, and asked me if Delay was Madonna's manager." Feeling uninformed? Then "put down the gerbil and acquaint yourself with his situation." Lady Bunny's got your Tom DeLay Cliff Notes.
A judge ruled today that the slayings of two gay men in New York and Pennsylvania were so similar to the deaths of two dismembered bodies found in New Jersey that a jury should consider whether all four were horribly murdered by the same person. The ruling was a victory for prosecutors in their case against Richard Rogers, the former nurse accused of killing two men and leaving their body parts wrapped in double-knotted plastic bags at highway rest stops. Rogers was arrested in May 2001 after forensic scientists said they matched his fingerprints to those found on plastic bags in New Jersey containing two victims' body parts.
Producers of The Simple Life are looking for a lesbian couple with kids who are willing to have their home invaded by Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and the crew for two days. Defamer shares a "slightly edited" casting call email: "The Simple Life is in need of a lesbian family in LA County. Age is not an issue, although preferably the children are not infants." Any Angelenos out there care to have their lives exploited and house trashed for a mere $2500?
The brutal murder of Daniel Fetty in Ohio is a story that has broken my heart twice - once simply due to his death, twice because the mainstream and gay press have virtually ignored the horrific crime. Three men beat Fetty with bricks, boards and bottles, stripped him naked and threw his body in a dumpster last October. Juanita Meek, Fetty's mother, said in court to Martin Baxter, one of the accused, "You put out his both his eyes, broke his nose, knocked out his teeth, broke his Adam's apple, broke his neck, broke all but one of his ribs and punctured his heart and lungs."
Continue reading "Daniel Fetty's brutal murder results in plea agreement" »
The Royal Navy has threatened to court martial Richard Cowell, 25, for being a finalist in the Mr Gay UK 2005 pageant. Cowell, pictured, is a weapons engineer on the Type-23 frigate HMS Northumberland. He also happens to be Mr Plymouth and is in the running for the UK's top gay male accolade. He's been ordered to withdraw or face a keelhauling.
An Ingham County judge has ruled that Michigan's ban against gay marriage does not prevent public employers from providing health insurance to partners of gay employees. Judge Joyce Draganchuk said health care benefits are benefits of employment, not marriage. "Today's ruling affirms what we've believed all along - Michigan voters never intended to take health insurance away from families," said ACLU attorney Deborah LaBelle
Do you know this man? Columbus Police say Byrol Pierce, pictured, has been on the run from the law for more than a year and should be considered dangerous. Pierce is accused of attempted murder for the stabbing of a gay man two years ago and stealing another gay man's identity. Detectives say he targets gay men in particular, connecting with them through Internet dating websites.
Yesterday I told you that Republicans were going to replace the dethroned DeLay with gay closet case congressmen David Dreier, who was hand-picked for the role - but Dreier won't be playing the part of House Republican Leader after all. It seems the GOP wasn't so sure about a few things, like maye Dreier's sexuality for starters, and the clearly homophobic Roy Blunt was moved in just before curtain time to play the lead. As Andy notes, "Now Dreier knows how it feels to be discriminated against based on your sexual orientation."
Over in the UK, a lesbian couple were barred from entering the popular London G-A-Y bar because the bouncers didn't think they looked like "dykes." When Sarah and Maz, who've been together since college, asked to speak to the bar's promoter Jeremy Joseph, pictured, they were told he was in a meeting. Sarah says, “what’s the point of the community having fought for forty years for the rights of gay women and men if a gay club won’t let you in if you do not fit to their own stereotype of a gay woman?”
Shay Clark, 14, was expelled from a Christian school in Onatario, California, because her parents are lesbians. "Your family does not meet the policies of admission," Superintendent Leonard Stob wrote to Tina Clark, Shay's biological mother. Stob wrote that school policy requires that at least one parent may not engage in practices "immoral or inconsistent with a positive Christian life style, such as cohabitating without marriage or in a homosexual relationship."
Morrissey has tried to put an end to the relatively endless speculation regarding whether he and Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr were lovers. The rumors have been in circulation since the song writing team joined forces in 1982 when Morrissey was approached by the guitarist. "There was a love and it was mutual and equal, but it wasn't physical,” Morrissey said. "There are lots of people post-Smiths who would like to make some dramatic homosexual story. There never was one."
Out gay comic actor Alec Mapa will be joining the cast of Desperate Housewives for at least one upcoming episode as Gabrielle's gay best friend Vern. While he's keeping quiet on storyline secrets, he did tell Out that “Eva Longoria is petite, pretty, a size zero, and really sweet. In my scene I’m helping her fit into a teeny tiny Dolce & Gabbana dress. She made me feel fat, but I still liked her. ... Eva plays an ex-model living in the burbs. She needs a gay friend bad!”
In the UK, Bryan Bamford stands accused of sabotaging the brakes in the car of his wife Karen's new lesbian love interest, Emma Bedford. Karen and Bedford, pictured, were driving the car when they realized the brakes were not working. Bryan had recently come to to find Karen and Bedford kissing on the sofa. Bryan claims the women cut the brakes themselves and are framing him.
While I don't typically think of Elton John topping very many things, he is at the top of the Neiman Marcus' 79th annual Christmas Book catalogue, at least in terms of price. That's right, if you're looking for that extra special gift for that extra special someone, consider a 90-minute private concert by Sir Elton for a mere $1.5 million - proceeds going to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. You can bring along 500 guests if that helps sway your decision.
Lesbian couple Yolanda and Jan Meehan-Hoo were legally married last February when they lived in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Last June they made the ill-fated move to Slidell, Louisiana, their three kids in tow. Hurricane Katrina wiped them out and now, back in Massachusetts at the home of a friend, pictured center, FEMA apparently halted their aid application because they're not recognized as spouses under federal law.
A Texas grand jury has charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, forcing the House majority leader to temporarily relinquish his post. What's that have to do with queer living, besides the smile on our faces resulting from DeLay's demise? GOP congressional officials said Speaker Dennis Hastert will recommend that big gay closet case Rep. David Dreier of California should step in to fulfill those duties. Yeah, it is interesting, isn't it? Background Info.
Oprah Winfrey will produce a musical version of Alice Walker’s classic lesbian-themed novel "The Color Purple." She says, “I hope to open the door to the possibilities for a world of people who have never been or even thought of going to a Broadway show.” And in her usual style and humility, ahem, she's calling it: "Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple."
Philip Seymour Hoffman, pictured, is playing Truman Capote in the new film about the queer "Breakfast at Tiffany's" author who was torn between devotion to his partner Jack Dunphy, played in the film by Bruce Greenwood, and his perverse love for killer Perry Smith, one of the men responsible for killing the Clutter family in his non-fiction book "In Cold Blood."
A relief image carved about 2050 years ago on an ancient Egyptian stone slab shows Cleopatra dressed as a man, recent analysis shows. The object is only one of three known to exist that represent Cleopatra as a male. The other two artefacts also stone slabs, or stelae, that date to around the same time, 51 BC, at the beginning of Cleopatra’s reign. “It shows Cleopatra dressed as a male pharaoh with the [characteristically male] double crown..," Professor Willy Clarysse said.
Out gay actor Robert Gant made the People en Espanol's list of the 25 sexiest bachelors. While super hunky latin singer Enrique Iglesias topped the list with his "smoldering good looks and successful crossover appeal," including Gant on the list, most famous for his role on "Queer As Folk," is quite a statement for the Latino publication.
You're going to be hearing more about Chiwetel Ejiofor, seeing as the actor has three movies coming out in the next few weeks, but I'm most interested in seeing him as Lola - in her four inch high with a steel heel, bright, shiny leather and thigh length boots. “The casting people told me I looked like Naomi Campbell – with a difference,” he laughs. In the UK, Kinky Boots opens October 7.
Antoine Jacobs, 24, is facing 12 to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of transgender nightclub performer Bella Evangelista, pictured. Evangelista was shot and killed by Jacobs after he learned that she was biologically male. Jacobs escaped a life sentence by pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
Sarah Jones, a transsexual, is set to be ordained as a priest by the Church of England this weekend and the Bishop of Hereford is standing by the decision calling Jones a "superb candidate" who had the gender realignment surgery "many years ago - long before she explored the possibility of being ordained," Bishop Priddis said.
Australian Dave Allen is "a roo-shootin', beer-drinkin' rednecked country bloke and the official defender of heterosexuals at the University of New England in northern NSW." Yes, while many of Australia's 38 universities have a queer officer to represent gay students, Allen is the only "heterosexuality officer" in the country. A real treat for those into homophobic testimonials.
New Brunswick New Democrats have chosen Allison Brewer, a lesbian activist and founder of the province's Morgentaler abortion clinic, as their new leader - New Brunswick's first out gay or lesbian official. Brewer, pictured, acknowledged her win is "an historic day for the lesbian and gay community. ... I will make my presence felt and I want Bernard Lord and Shawn Graham to know that I am on my way."
Renée Zellweger is suing her estranged husband of four months for fraud and an annulment of their marriage. Thus the rumors that her soon to be ex, the often rumored to be gay country music star Kenny Chesney, pictured, are once again kicking into high gear, particularly given that "fraud" and an actual annulment rather than a divorce, paint a portrait that most certainly implies not only a lack of honesty, but a failure to deliver the goods. Kenny's response? He's broken his silence to ask for privacy. [Related Entry]
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