20 May 2011
charlie is so cool like - Charlie McDonnell
Chaz Bono plans to marry his girlfriend in Palm Springs
Chaz Bono, transgender son of Cher and Sonny Bono, plans to marry his girlfriend Jennifer Elia in Palm Springs, this summer.
Gay UK MP claims hymn discriminates against Gays
In the UK openly gay Labour party MP Chris Bryant has argued that straight people are discriminated against because they can't sing the hymn Jerusalem at wedding ceremonies.
The MP said the song was being unfairly reserved for gays because many churches banned it for not [being] "addressed to God", while civil ceremonies also banned it for being religious.
Cali Gay Site Censoring At School Scrapped
A harsh school internet software filter in California will now be re-edited to stop censoring gay content.
Germany football captain: 'gays should keep quiet'
Philipp Lahm, the Germany football captain, tells magazine homosexual players should keep their sexuality secret because they would be verbally abused.
Philipp Lahm and his wife Claudia Schattenberg on their wedding day Photo: GETTY
Philipp Lahm, is the star player for his club side Bayern Munich, it’s said he’s one of the best full-backs in the world and recently he said it would be "very difficult" for a footballer to be "openly gay".
Rhode Island endorses civil unions for gay couples
In a overwhelming majority the Rhode Island's House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation allowing gay couples to enter into civil unions after a last-ditch effort to revive gay marriage legislation failed.
Los Angeles Police Officer Wins $1-million Case
A jury on Thursday awarded $1.1 million to a Los Angeles police sergeant and media relations spokesman who said he had been harassed and suffered retaliation after complaining that a supervisor mistreated him because he is gay, reported the LA Times.
Sgt. Ronald Crump sued the city last year, alleging that his direct supervisor at the Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations Section -- Lt. John Romero -- made derogatory remarks about his homosexuality. Romero, who has since been promoted to captain, allegedly described him as "the new Ruby minus the heels," in reference to the woman he replaced in the unit.
On another occasion, Romero allegedly told him, "I was a religion major at Liberty University. Jerry Falwell would roll over in his grave if he knew I had hired you."
Thursday's decision is the second large judgment against the LAPD in as many months. Last month, a jury awarded $2 million to two Los Angeles police officers in a civil suit against the city and the department, alleging there was a "quota system" for writing traffic tickets on the city's Westside.
John Franklin, a spokesman for Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich, said the office is reviewing its legal options.
Gregory Smith, the attorney who was victorious in both cases, said Crump's suit is the latest example of the department's failure to fairly investigate discrimination and retaliation cases.
"We offered to settle this case for $100,000 and a transfer for Sgt. Crump to Hollywood Division. The department rejected that offer," Smith said. "From 2008 through 2009, there were approximately 350 investigations done by the LAPD concerning internal complaints of discrimination and retaliation of officers against officers, only one of which was upheld."
Crump, who worked in the media relations section from December 2008 to July 2009, made several attempts to voice his concerns through official channels -- including meetings with the civilian commander of media relations, Smith said.
Crump also filed a written complaint, which was ultimately determined to be unfounded by the LAPD's Professional Standards Bureau.
In the summer of 2009, he was transferred to the the skid row area. Crump argued to the jury that the transfer from the prestigious media relations section was punitive and that it cost him future opportunities for promotion.
"It was a serious dilemma for me to sue the agency that I admire and respect," Crump told The Times on Thursday. "But my commanding officer made poor decisions that, unchallenged, would have had a serious effect on me and other employees who are retaliated against."