Gay Rights Activist Arrested

San Francisco police department have arrested a veteran gay rights campaigner in connection with child pornography allegations. The SF Police say Larry Brinkin faces felony charges of child pornography possession and distribution.

US Teen Sues school board

The gay teenager from Indianapolis who had been expelled from school for taking a stun-gun to school for protection from the homophobic bullies that had plagued his school days, is now suing the public school system for failing to protect him from bullying.

Darnell Young, 17, and his mother Chelisa Grimes, filed the lawsuit on Friday in Indianapolis, seeking unspecified damages over several recent incidents of bullying.  These incidents all lead Darnell Young to fire the stun-gun in school which then resulted in his expulsion from the  Tech High School.

Legal representatives working for the family said that Indianapolis Public Schools had failed to protect Darnell Young from homophobic bullying, and that they had discriminated against him for his sexuality.    Christopher F. Stoll, from the National Centre for Lesbian Rights,  who is working on the case said,  “All students should be able to get an education without fearing for their physical safety, and they should be able to rely on school administrators to protect them when abuse does occur.”

More American Scouts Quit

Ned Coltman and his mother, Judy, of Reading, removed his Eagle Scout badge from his Boy Scout uniform.

To earn his Eagle Scout badge, Ned Coltman built a 65-foot handicap access ramp out of renewable materials for a conservation center in Reading. In 10 years as a Boy Scout, he learned how to lead, endure hardship, and live honestly, but now he is quitting the Scouts. reports Liam O’Kennedy

US TV Channel Bans TV Show

NBC Utah affiliate KSL-TV has pulled the upcoming Ryan Murphy sitcom "The New Normal" from its fall lineup, calling the series as "inappropriate on several dimensions."

The show, which follows a mother who serves as a surrogate for a Los Angeles-based gay couple, stars Justin Bartha, Ellen Barkin and Georgia King. It's set to debut on Sept. 11 on NBC at 9:30 p.m. ET. But Utah's KSL-TV doesn't want anything to do with it during "family viewing-time."

Michelle Obama Supports Marriage Equality.

Michelle Obama has spoken out in favour of gay marriage in a new video posted to the internet by the White House.

In the recently released video the First Lady, wife of US President Barack Obama, answered questions put to her by her 1million Twitter followers. 


One of them was 'Please tell us about your family discussions about marriage equality and thank President Obama for his support'.

Michelle Obama answered: "For Barack and me it really comes down to values of fairness and equality that we want to pass down to our girls. These are basic values that kinds learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to apply in all areas of their lives."

She continued: "And in a country were we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn't right.

"So it's as simple as that. We're proud to have your support."

Older gays are not as healthy as straights!

A recent study released by the University of Washington's School of Social Work is turning attention toward a group of seniors who face unique (and ignored) needs; a group whose numbers are expected to be more than 4 million by 2030--lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) boomers.

Researchers surveyed 2,560 LGBT adults aged 50-95 across the United States, to find that they had greater rates of disability, depression, loneliness and distress compared with heterosexuals of similar ages. Further highlighted by the study were the unique needs of this aging group, such as fear of discrimination, the lack of children to depend on as caregivers and less social support and financial security with age, as older LGBT adults are less likely to be partnered or married than heterosexuals.

Presenting some of the study's key findings during a congressional briefing last week, Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, the study's lead author, told HealthCanal:

"The health disparities reflect the historical and social context of their lives, and the serious adversity they have encountered can jeopardize their health and willingness to seek services in old age."

Thus, Fredriksen-Goldsen calls for for senior housing, transportation, legal services and social events for LGBT seniors.

Full report in Huff Post

California Court Pivotal Vote On Same Sex Marriage

The California Supreme Court is poised to release a decision that could prove pivotal to the future of the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

The court says it will file a written opinion Thursday morning clarifying whether the sponsors of ballot initiatives can defend their measures from legal challenges without the cooperation of the governor and attorney general.

A federal appeals court considering the constitutionality of the 2008 ban, known as Proposition 8, asked the state high court to weigh in on that question before it gets to the merits of the case.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has expressed doubts about the ability of Proposition 8's sponsors alone to challenge a lower court ruling that overturned the initiative. California's previous governor and attorney general both refused to appeal the decision

Ohio teen attack at school talks.

It was a horrible video of a young teenager attacked at school just for being gay that shocked many.

The attacker waited for his victim, filmed by his cousin,  then his victim walked in and was viciously attacked and beaten up. 

I can still recall the video,  it shocked me not least because nobody intervened.  See the following of the horrific beating  at Unioto-Scioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio. 

US Democrats back repeal of DOMA!

  Senate Democrats who back gay marriage have decided now is the time to repeal a federal law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

The Democrats may satisfy their gay marriage supporters, but the bill won't get very far.

The repeal could be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, but the next stop — the full Senate — could be a long way off. The bill's chief sponsor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., says she doesn't have the votes for Senate passage, and the bill would have no chance in a House controlled by Republican conservatives.

The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., defended the timing of the panel's likely vote on the Defense of Marriage Act. "It is never the wrong time to right an injustice," he said.

Feinstein's bill has 31 Senate sponsors, all Democrats. Most Republicans fiercely oppose the repeal.

Campaign for Ohio to start anti-bullying policy after teen attacked.

 More than 4,000 people join campaign on Change.org calling on Union-Scioto School District in Ohio to adopt an anti-bullying policy after assault of gay 15-year-old caught on cell phone video.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the on-campus assault of a gay 15-year-old student caught on cell phone video, more than 4,000 people have joined a campaign on Change.org calling upon the Union-Scioto School District in Chillicothe, Ohio, to pass an anti-bullying policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Bret Thompson launched the campaign on Change.org after the assault, which no one stepped in to stop. The 15-year-old’s attacker received only a three-day suspension for the assault.

“I started this petition on Change.org because I know Ohio and this attack does not reflect our values,” said Thompson. “Every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.” 

NOM Fakes It By Stealing Obama's Pics.

The crowd image is of one of Obama's presidential rallies and belongs to Reuters

America’s National Organization for Marriage was attempting to downplay its use of Obama rally photos on the launch of a new website yesterday.

NOM’s site NHforMarriage.com, which exists to oppose equal marriage in the state of New Hampshire, was rolled out with a montage of images including one portraying a huge crowd that, it turned out, was not made up of NOM supporters.

The gay blog Good As You first pointed out the image misappropriation, alerting readers that the photo NOM chose to take pride of place on its homepage was actually a copyrighted Reuters photo of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign rally in St Louis.

It sat alongside a separate, up-close photo of a much smaller crowd of NOM members with Defense of Marriage Act-backing placards.

Gay Attacked in Reno

A gay man was violently attacked by homophobes in Reno, Texas, last weekend – being stabbed with a broken beer bottle and thrown onto a fire during the attack.
Burke Burnett (pictured) said he was at a party in the small town when four men suddenly attacked him, shouting “pussy-ass faggot,” “gay bitch” and “cock-sucking punk."
Speaking to the Dallas Voice newspaper, Burnett said it took 30 stitches to close stab wounds to his back and forearm, as well as a cut above his left eye.
He also sustained second-degree burns and severe bruises when he was then thrown onto a lit burn barrel.


According to reports, none of the other party-goers came to his assistance, except to drive him to the hospital when they saw he had burnt flesh peeling off of his body.
“They knew I was gay," he told the Voice. "I’m convinced they were trying to kill me. I’m scared for my life...I’m scared to go home. These guys have nothing to lose.”




Jeff Sugg, from the Reno Police Department, released a statement Monday saying: “The Reno Police Department is currently investigating an aggravated assault that took place last weekend.
"The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be provided when available.”

Sick Attack On Gay Teen Inside Ohio School Room.

Jason Shaw's  Article first published as Ohio Gay Teen Beaten In Class on Technorati.

Alarming cell phone footage has emerged of an Ohio high school student seen waited in a classroom, buoying himself up in readiness to physically attack a fell classmate. The following vicious assault captured on the phone clearly shows the 15-year-old being savagely beaten. "I covered myself and shielded my body, and he kept hitting," the young gay student told the local TV news programme,   WSYX  adding  "Nobody did anything."

To me that is perhaps more worrying that the attack itself, that nobody seems to be at all bothered that a gay student is being beaten in an obviously planned attack.  Not a single person even raised a voice in opposition to hail of punches unleashed by the attacker.  The other students just watch as the attacker waited for his victim to arrive in the classroom. Then shoved his prey to the ground, and repeatedly punched him in the face.

Rainbows End

Article first published as Retirement at Rainbows End? on Technorati. 

The sunset is falling on gay and lesbian retirement complex, forgotten victims of recession, from Jason Shaw.

The hopes of spending their twilight years in peaceful tranquility and security are fading faster than a Pacific sunset for many gay couples in Santa Fee, New Mexico, as the all gay and lesbian retirement community RainbowVision filed bankruptcy protection. Proving even the pink dollars are not immune from recession and the economic downturn, writes Jason Shaw.

RainbowVision was supposed to be a wonderful trailblazing open, respectful, secure and high quality retirement community especially for gay and lesbian people.  It opened in a blaze of glory in 2006 and was one of the first retirement communities especially for gays and lesbians. RainbowVision claimed to offer elegancy and security and above all acceptance for gay and lesbian couples, that is hard to find in other, more traditional retirement communities.

Many older gay people, often termed The Stonewall generation, as they are the first ‘out’ openly gay  cluster of senior citizens rushed to sign up and buy into such communities as RainbowVision.  And who can blame them, we all want a peaceful retirement, these folk simply wanted a place where they could spend the rest of their days in dignity, in security, made to feel welcome and where they could be free to be themselves and not herded back into the closet.

Gay American Troops Want Equal Benefits.

Article first published as Gay American Troops Demand Equal Benefits on Technorati.

Jason Shaw

Let us be equal! It's been just over a month since that folly, "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" was repealed, allowing openly gay service men and women to serve in the military. Now a new fight for equality started last week when a group of gay and married military personnel sued the U.S. government for the same benefits as straight military couples, they claim its a matter of justice and national security.

The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court claims the government’s Defense of Marriage Act violates their constitutional rights.  It also asks the military to recognize their marriages and provide spousal benefits such as medical coverage along with the right to be buried together in military cemeteries, benefits already enjoyed by straight service personnel

The Defense of Marriage Act means the Pentagon bound by law to ignore same-sex marriages, even though they are currently legal in six states and in Washington, D.C. itself.    “While the repeal of (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) was an important first step in the military’s march for equality, it is time to take the next step and provide equal benefits for equal work,” the lawsuit claims.

Ohio anti-gay attack under investigation.

Attack On Gay Student By Bully At Union-Scioto High School In Chillicothe, Ohio Under Investigation

Authorities are continuing to evaluate evidence in thealleged attack on a gay Ohio teen whose mother believes may have been targeted due to his sexual orientation.

Video of the incident that appears to show the attacker, who has not been named, waiting for the gay student inside a classroom was posted on Facebook. The grainy footage is believed to have been shot on the aggressor's cousin's cell phone. Still, as The Chillicothe Gazette reports, no one else has come forward who believes the fight may have been motivated by the sexual orientation of the victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous:

Blizzard boss says sorry for BlizzCon anti-gay bash

The annual BlizzCon convention attracts online video game fans from all over the world hoping to connect with friends, check out the costumes, and log some playtime with the newest iterations of Blizzard Entertainment's massively popular games like World of Warcraft and Diablo. However, many LGBT gamers (and otherwise) felt suddenly unwelcome following the screening of an expletive and anti-gay slur filled video at the conventions closing presentation. Following a week of fan and user outcry, the company's own president has stepped up to take responsibility and offer an apology.

Hide your children from gay and lesbian doctors tells linda harvey

Right Wing Watch 

Written by: Bridgette P. LaVictoire on October 24, 2011.

Perhaps we should start making laws that say that only female doctors can attend to women? Linda Harvey of Mission America, one of those lovely Right Wing groups that are responsible for things like the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, is now saying that lesbian and gay doctors should not be allowed to tend to children. Oh, and lesbian or gay nurses should not tend to children either.

California Prop 8 trial tapes to go public

Video recordings of the trial over California's gay marriage ban should be unsealed, a federal judge ruled on Monday.

District Judge James Ware in San Francisco said in a court order that there was "no compelling" reason to keep the digital files under seal.

Video coverage of the landmark trial was a key issue in the case, in which former U.S. District Judge Judge Vaughn Walker ultimately struck down California's Proposition 8 as unconstitutional.

Before the trial proponents of gay marriage, who had challenged the law, wanted the trial broadcast under a new rule by the appeals court in California allowing the broadcast of some civil cases. Nonetheless as the trial opened in January 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the proceedings could not be broadcast.

OutServe Magazine tribute.

101 Faces of Courage

The following 101 photos represent the approximately 70,000 currently serving LGBT military personnel. We serve in every country, in every conflict, and in every career field. We serve because we are committed to our country. We serve to protect those we love. We serve because we are dedicated to this self-evident truth — that all men are created equal. This is who we are:

Open publication – Free publishing – More dadt

http://outservemag.com/2011/09/101-faces/