California Republican Supports Marriage Equality

Gary DeLong, a Republican running for Congress in a new California district, has joined the ranks of those willing to go against the party platform on LGBT rights, ThinkProgress reports.
At a recent League of Women Voters forum, DeLong said, “There’s a number of things I disagree with the Republican Party on. I’m pro-choice. They’re pro-life. I support gay marriage. They don’t.”
DeLong and Democrat Alan Lowenthal, also a marriage equality supporter, are vying to represent the 47th congressional district, created by remapping due to population shifts. It encompasses parts of Los Angeles County, including a portion of traditionally liberal, LGBT-friendly Long Beach, and Orange County, which is historically conservative but has been becoming more diverse and liberal in recent years. It is considered a swing district, ThinkProgress notes.

New Study Says You Can Tell Sexual Orientation From the Eyes

Add this to your gaydar: a new report in Live Science says that you can tell a person's sexual orientation from their eyes. Pupils, that is. According to Stephanie Pappas, a new study finds that pupil dilation is an accurate indicator of sexual orientation. When people look at erotic images and become aroused, their pupils open up in an unconscious reaction, which gave researchers a much easier way to to study orientation and arousal without traditionally invasive blood flow to the genital measurements.
Researcher Ritch Savin-Williams, a developmental psychologist at Cornell University, says the new study is the first large-scale experiment to show that pupil dilation matches what people report feeling aroused by.
"So if a man says he's straight, his eyes are dilating towards women," Savin-Williams told LiveScience. "And the opposite with gay men, their eyes are dilating to men."
Savin-Willims told Live Science that the pupils dilate slightly in response to any exciting or interesting stimulus, a sign that the autonomic nervous system — the system that controls involuntary actions like pulse and breathing — is ramping up.
Savin-Williams and fellow researcher Gerulf Rieger had 325 men and women who idetified as gay, straight, or bisexual watch one-minute videos of a man masturbating, a woman masturbating, and neutral landscape scenes while a camera measured tiny changes in their pupil sizes.
The results, according to Live Science, showed that pupil dilation matches the pattern seen in genital arousal studies. In men, this pattern is generally straightforward: Straight men respond to sexual images of women; gay men to sexual images of men; and bisexual men to both men and women. But women's responses were more complex, said Savin-Wiliams, because while lesbians responded to images of other women, straight women "dilate basically equally in response to erotic images of both sexes, despite reporting feelings of arousal for men and not women."
Whether there's a host of closeted bisexual women or another evolutionary answer to this straight girl dilation, it gives researchers a complex result to try to unravel.

Physician Fails To Inform Transgender Man of Cancer Diagnosis

Transgender man Jay Kallio is shining a light on LGBT discrimination in the medical community -- after his own physician failed to inform him of a cancer diagnosis.
When Kallio, 56, underwent a medical exam at a major New York hospital, he claims that the surgeon appeared bewildered by his patient's body. Though the doctor ordered a mammogram, he failed to inform Kallio that the lump on his breast had tested positive for cancer.
Kallio, who transitioned from female to male six years ago, learned of his condition "accidentally" when a lab techician called to inquire about the diagnosis. "Which diagnosis?" Kallio asked, bewildered as well.
"I kept hitting this stone wall of non-acceptance," Kallio told the New York Daily News. "It's a systemic problem. It was at all levels of providers, from doctors to housekeeping to the nursing staff. People need to be aware that this discrimination will not be tolerated."
Although the doctor later apologized, Kallio told the Daily News that the time spent to find new physicians has put his health in greater danger.
"It delayed my care past the therapeutic window for chemotherapy," said Kallio. "You should have chemotherapy within three months of cancer therapy. Because I had to change providers and kept encountering discrimination, it delayed the care. So much of cancer care has to do with early treatment."
The Affordable Care Act, passed by President Obama in 2010, prohibits physicians from discriminating against LGBT patients. But according to activists, many medical centers are unaware of their lawful obligations.
"Our community needs medical providers to know what their obligations are and passing a law is the strongest and clearest way to do that," said Mara Keisling, director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, to ABC News.
"It's incredibly important to me that this not happen to other transgender people," said Kallio. "To have all this added stress and rejection and to be denied care from providers was daunting - it was awful."

Officer & A Gentleman: Rockmond Dunbar

When he burst onto the small screen in 1994, on TV’s sci-fi semiclassic Earth 2, Rockmond Dunbar was just a wide-eyed, fresh-faced kid from Northern California who was happy to be working in Hollywood. Dunbar was a rather green 21-year-old who shared the screen with other young notables (Rebecca Gayheart and Antonio Sabato Jr., to name two), but he caught the attention of fans—and Tinseltown insiders—right from the start. Today, fans know the 39-year-old Dunbar best for his iconic characters from acclaimed series—Kenny Chadway on Soul Food, C-Note Franklin on Prison Break, Pookie on The Game, Jalen on Girlfriends, Detective Mark Gustafson on Terriers, and his latest turn, as Lt. Eli Roosevelt of the sheriff’s department, the rare “good” guy on FX’s outlaw biker drama, Sons of Anarchy. With fame came an increasing presence as an activist, for gay rights (after appearing in the gay-themed film Punks and on gay TV series Noah’s Arc), African-American visibility in Hollywood, and HIV awareness. For years he’s been one of the few celebrities who has used his fame to push for more HIV testing among black men—with the Black AIDS Institute’s Greater Than AIDS campaign—and he’s taken on roles that show that people with HIV are not stock characters. He played a closeted married man with HIV on Private Practice and the conflicted brother of an HIV-positive man (played by Hill Harper) on Soul Food. Dunbar, who was named one of Television’s 50 Sexiest Stars of All Time by TV Guide, took a few moments on the set of Sons of Anarchy (which returns for its fifth season September 11) to talk about his iconic roles, what it will take to stop HIV, and how a DNA test changed his life.

 Your Sons of Anarchy character, Sheriff Eli, upends TV tradition. Too often when we have black men on-screen, they’re the criminals, not the cops. How do you see the character of Eli?

 Rockmond Dunbar: Not only a groundbreaking role in general, but he is another representation of a positive African-American male character in a stable, powerful, and impactful job. Sheriff Eli is acknowledged as being the greatest nemesis for the lead characters to date on the show.

There’s a scene on Sons where Jax, who the show centers around, is reading his dad’s journals about his motorcycle club. One line is “A true outlaw finds the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason in his mind. The outcome is the balance of might and right.” Do you think Eli has found the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason in his mind?

 Yes, he has. In the last episode, when Eli gives Juice [the bikers’ intelligence officer] back his case file he tells him, “You are a criminal, you do bad shit. I’m a police officer, I try to stop you.” This to me clearly demonstrates that Eli knows who he is and what he is really willing to do to bring righteousness and justice to his part of the world. Finding, knowing, and living that balance. 

What about the Rockmond in real life? Have you found the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason?

 No.

It’s been said that Sons of Anarchy is based loosely around Hamlet. If so, where does Eli come in?

 Hamlet: Part II.

You’ve starred in some really interesting crime dramas: Terriers, Prison Break, Sons of Anarchy. Why are you drawn to those roles?

 Not drawn to them, but their spirit and energy are drawn to me. The roles sought me out. I enjoy each of the characters I have played in these series because they are well written and the characters live off the screen.

One of your more notable roles, Kenny on Soul Food, was another rarity on TV: a stable black businessman with a family. There was a lot of talk when you didn’t get the NAACP award for the role. What did you think about that?

 Everyone has voiced his or her opinion. It is not for the accolades or check that I work. It is for the chance to do great work. Accolades may come in the future, but everything comes in its time.

A lot of fans were pleased to see a show about African-American lives that didn’t have violence.

 It was a great show that was one of the longest-running African-American dramas featured on television. It was historic and needed. I wish it were still on.

One of the storylines on Soul Food revolved around your character’s brother, Kelvin, played by Hill Harper, coming out as HIV-positive. It was a struggle for both men. Do you think either of the characters was emblematic of how black men feel about HIV?

It was a story that reflected real life. One of the millions of stories that can be portrayed.

Sometimes it seems like TV is still quite segregated. Shows with largely black casts, like Girlfriends, Soul Food, The Game, Moesha—well, white people, by and large, don’t watch those shows. Why do you think that is?

 People watch what they relate to. The networks are marketing to the masses and look to make money off their programming choices. Again, everything has its season.

UPN’s Girlfriends was a hundred times better than, say, Whitney, which gets decent ratings on NBC. What’s the difference?

 My friends created Girlfriends, and it was a positive reflection of their lives. Political agendas play into what is shown these days, and we need to understand how this figures in the choices being made on what to broadcast.

You had a really well-received role in the indie film Punks, a film about black gay men. What was the reaction to it?'

 I was punished for taking that role. Equally applauded and parodied.

Did that change how you felt about the role?

 I still believe you do a role because it will change someone’s life. Regardless of the stones that are thrown, I did it with no regrets. I am an artist.

At the time, you told The Advocate that other actors wouldn’t take the role because of the kissing scene with another man. That was a decade ago. Is that fear still there among actors?

Yes, the fear never goes away when your concern is how you will be perceived in the industry.
What kind of support have you gotten from the gay community?

 Tons of support. The most inspirational support was from E. Lynn Harris, a great writer and human being. I was invited to his house for dinner, and not only did he welcome me, but he was overt in his support and celebration of me as a heterosexual actor and the work I had done on-screen.

You also said that “we need to show that unicorns do exist,” which is a lovely statement. Do you think growing up in the San Francisco area helped you be more accepting?

Growing up in the Bay Area gave me exposure that helped me be proud of where I am from, of who I was, and who I am today. It was a great melting pot of ideas and cultures.

You’ve joined other actors in promoting HIV testing in black communities. What’s the biggest misconception that prevents folks from getting tested?

 You can’t get results right away. Wrong. There is a cure for AIDS, so why get tested? Wrong. You can get tested, and in 15 minutes you’ll know the answer. A rapid test helps one know so that you can act immediately. And cost is not a determinant—testing centers all around the country offer free testing. Knowledge is power.

The HIV rate for black men is still soaring. What do you think will stop that? Education.
You played a closeted gay man with HIV on Private Practice. That was a really interesting arc. Did you empathize with the character?

Yes, because being who you are and living freely is the most important thing we can do as people. His wife knew that he was sad because he was living a lie, and all she wanted for him was to embrace the truth—be who he was and she would still love him.

One of the charities you work with is the Black AIDS Institute. Why that organization in particular?

 The Black AIDS Institute is headed by Phill Wilson. Here is a man who not only talks the talk but also walks the walk. He’s a survivor for over 20 years with HIV. He knows what it means to be tested and receive that call. He also knows that hope can be found and full, productive lives created with the support of organizations like the Black AIDS Institute and the community at large. As they say, we are Greater Than AIDS.

You have a production company, Flypaper Entertainment, with Carol Ann Shine, who you worked with on Punks. Does that give you some freedom to create stories that aren’t out there?

Yes. Carol and I are as different as night and day but alike in that we take our differences and create stories that reach out to all types of people. Stories with impact and meaning that show reflections of faces and lives on the silver screen we don’t usually see. We look beyond the apparent to the hidden, the surprising, and the story that you might pass in the blink of an eye and miss a lifetime of wonder. Different types of heroes who more broadly reflect those around us of every hue and belief.

You’re a diplomatic goodwill ambassador from Gambia, the smallest country in Africa.

 His Excellency President Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh invited me to Gambia for an official state visit. The purpose was to build a bridge of art and communication between the people of Africa and African-Americans, to develop communication via storytelling that creates a commonality of language and emotion so that we change perceptions, break down stereotypes, and create new opportunities. This action may take time, but all involved are dedicated to making it happen.

You did a DNA test a few years ago. What did you learn?

My DNA test was from my mother’s chromosomes. I utilized AfricanAncestry.com to run my test. I discovered I was from the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. My new name, given during a ceremony in September 2011 in New York City at a gathering of the Nigerian tribes, is Omobowale (“the child returns home”) Adunbarin (“a man of the people”). I learned more about my heritage and ancestry and have shared that amazing experience with my family and my fans. Recently I took another trip with my mother, my girlfriend actress Maya Gilbert, and her mother to Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. This was a first-time trip for our mothers, and it was an experience that left us all speechless with wonder. We were able to celebrate the current talent in Nigeria as I awarded the best director prize and Maya the best leading actress award at the Africa International Film Festival.

Why was it important to find out about your heritage?
Everyone should know about their past, their legacy, the accomplishments of our forefathers, and the accomplishments of our living relatives in Africa. [It offers] a richness of life that expands one’s heart and mind beyond the borders of the United States.

You probably did a lot of odd jobs to support yourself before your acting career really took off. What was the worst one?

 Everyone has that one job that teaches us how to dream, appreciate, and to never look back but keep on getting up when reaching for the dreams leaves us beaten. For me that job was the grocery store night stocker clerk, aisle 25, dog food. Dog food cans explode in the heat. There was a lot of work each night. Second job was a cow lot where I would shovel shit for compost all day in the heat and sun. Both jobs taught me humility, patience, and commitment. I had made a goal at the start of that summer and I did it. I bought a car and have been driving toward the future ever since.

Bisexual Women and Gay Men at Higher Risk for Intimate Partner Violence

Bisexual women and gay men face elevated risks of intimate partner violence, according to a new Williams Institute report published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
“As Congress considers reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and we reflect on Domestic Violence Awareness Month, our report’s findings highlight that these issues also impact the LGBT community,” said Naomi G. Goldberg, MPP, who created the report along with Ilan H. Meyer, Ph.D., senior scholar for public policy at the Williams Institute.
Among the key findings:
* Bisexual women had elevated risks of experiencing intimate partner violence compared with heterosexual women, lesbians, and women who have sex with women over the course of the lives and in the past year. But significantly, in 95% of intimate partner violence annual incidents reported by bisexual women, the perpetrator was a male intimate partner, so the violence occurred outside a same-sex relationship.
* Gay men had elevated risk of experiencing intimate partner violence compared with heterosexual and bisexual men, as well as men who have sex with men but do not identify as gay or bisexual. Almost all (97%) of the annual incidents of intimate partner violence incidents occurring to male victims involved a male intimate partner.
* Binge drinking and a history of psychological distress predicted intimate partner violence, but these factors did not explain disparities between bisexual and heterosexual women or between gay and heterosexual men.
The researchers’ findings are based on a 2007-2008 sample of the California Health Interview Survey. The authors compared patterns of intimate partner violence among four groups: heterosexual men and women, bisexual men and women, gay men and lesbians, and men and women who have had sex with members of the same gender but are not identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The study defined intimate partner violence as physical and verbal abuse, or threats of physical abuse, by a current or former wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, or someone else an individual has lived with or dated.

A Drug That Prevents HIV?

The Food and Drug Administration in July approved the prescription drug Truvada for use in HIV prevention, making it the first medication OK’d for preventing, not just treating, HIV. Truvada is already widely used to treat HIV, but studies have indicated that it can help keep people from contracting the virus. The FDA approved its use by HIV-negative people who are at high risk of acquiring HIV.

“Today’s approval marks an important milestone in our fight against HIV,” said FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD. “Every year, about 50,000 U.S. adults and adolescents are diagnosed with HIV infection, despite the availability of prevention methods and strategies to educate, test, and care for people living with the disease. New treatments as well as prevention methods are needed to fight the HIV epidemic in this country.”

The FDA is changing the warning literature boxed with Truvada to emphasize that those using it for prevention need to be confirmed as HIV-negative and tested for the virus every three months. The agency is also starting a training and education program to help doctors inform their patients about the necessity of adhering to the recommended dose, engaging in safer-sex practices, receiving counseling, and getting tested regularly as well as their small but real risk of still contracting HIV while on the drug.

Some doctors have already been prescribing Truvada off-label for prevention to the HIV-negative partner of an HIV-positive person, but they did so at their own discretion. FDA approval now allows its maker, Gilead Sciences, to explicitly market the drug for the purpose of prevention. Truvada, a combination of the drugs Emtriva (emtricitabine) and Viread (tenofovir), is one of the class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, so called for the way in which it suppresses replication of HIV in infected people.

AIDS activists and service providers were not universally enthusiastic about Truvada’s approval for preventive use, expressing concerns about adherence, side effects, and declining condom use. Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles–based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, issued a statement calling the action “completely reckless and a move that will ultimately set back years of HIV prevention efforts.”

Numerous others, however, said Truvada for prevention is a necessary additional weapon in the fight against HIV. It “won’t end AIDS by itself, but we certainly can’t end the HIV epidemic without it,” San Francisco AIDS Foundation spokesman James Loduca told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Which Jersey Shore Cast Member Opposes Marriage Equality?

Thursday's vice presidential debates were not the only contest of wills this week. Jersey Shore’s Angelina Pivarnick had an internet face-off with openly gay entertainer Adam Barta on a hot-button political issue: should same-sex marriage be legalized?
“I love gay people,” the reality star prefaced on deeyon.com, a forum for digital debates. “I have a lot of friends that are gay. If you want to date each other, fine. We’ll see how it works. But in the end, they should really go and marry the other type.”
“I pay my taxes, and I’m a citizen,” countered Barta, whose single "Standing in the Rain" was named a favorite Jersey Shore "fist-pumping beat" by Z100. “Why wouldn’t I have that right?”
Angelina Pivarnick was a founding member of MTV’s hit reality show, Jersey Shore, in which she referred to herself as the “Kim Kardashian of Staten Island.” Her unvarnished opinions and confrontational demeanor were perennial sources of conflict with her cast mates, who shared close quarters in Seaside Heights, NJ. She was replaced by Deena Nicole Cortese in season 3.
Pivarnick, a practicing Catholic, added that “God did not intend people to be gay.” She also admitted that she has “kissed girls before…in clubs,” but has no intention of carrying these relationships any further.

Memphis Moves Forward on Law Protecting Gay City Employees

Gay city employees in Memphis, Tenn. are breathing easier as the City Council moved forward on an ordinance protecting them from being fired for their sexual orientation.
The ordinance initially passed 7-5, but will take a month before its officially law, as officials gather information on the bill's affect on the city charter. Before the ordinance, the city did not have any law on the books that specifically protected city employees from discrimination based on age, race, gender or sexual orientation. The new legislation will not affect transgender employees. A bill passed by Republican Tennessee governor Bill Haslam last year made it nearly impossible for state municipalities to pass protections for LGBT people that go beyond what the state offers in nondiscrimination protections, which is none. Haslam's bill, though, was not so far-reaching that it banned cities, towns, and counties from protecting its own employees from being fired or passed over for promotions because of who they are.

Pocatello to Ban Discrimination Against Gays

Pocatello, Idaho, the city made famous by Judy Garland's "Born in a Trunk" from her 1954 musical A Star is Born, may become the second city in the sate to ban discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation, according to NPR.
The lack of statewide protections has impacted the LGBT citizens of the largely conservative and heavily Mormon city. Susan Matsuura, director of the city’s Human Relations Advisory Committee, told NPR that she's heard stories of people who've had to take extraordinary caution to keep their housing.
“People who are doing their best to hide their living situation, and who brought in extra furniture and made it look like they were just roommates,” Matsuura said. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to have my comings and goings scrutinized by my neighbors.”
Jessica Robinson reported that the city council voted unanimously to draft the anti-discrimination ordinance, and, so far, it faces little opposition.

Couple Says They Were Beaten in Asheville for Being Gay

Mark Little and his partner Dustin Martin say they were walking down a street in Asheville, N.C. when they were attacked and beaten.

"I feel like that when the cop first came on the scene he just felt like it was just an ordinary crime," Little told WBTV, "but what had happened is we were hit just because we were gay."

Little told the station that people in a passing car began harassing them while walking through Asheville, which is normally known as gay friendly. When the couple told them to stop, one of the passengers got out of the car and beat them. No one has been arrested.

Body of Ambassador Used in 'Obscene' Ad By Gay Republicans

A print advertisement paid for by the Broward County chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans includes the body of the U.S. ambassador to Libya who was killed in what has lately been called a terrorist attack.

The ad was reported on by Bilerico Project and printed in an LGBT newspaper called the Florida Agenda. It attacks President Obama as unable to protect Americans.

"If the Obama Administration isn't going to protect Gay/Gay-friendly American citizens from the terror of Islamic radicalism," the ad asks, "what makes you think they will protect us from Shariah Law… ANYWHERE?"

The leaders of the national Log Cabin Republicans have already condemned the chapter's inclusion of Christopher Stevens' body in the attack ad as "obscene." "We reject it completely," wrote executive director R. Clarke Cooper in a letter to the newspaper's editor in which he described himself as "deeply embarrassed" by it.

It has never been confirmed whether Stevens is still alive in the photo, though he is unconscious. And several newspapers were criticized for including it in reports after the attack.

The advertisement implies Stevens was gay, which is an unsubstantiated rumor being circulated by the same oddball blog that claims President Obama is secretly gay. The Advocate contacted the State Department about the rumor some time ago and a spokesman opted against commenting on "the ambassador's personal life."

Cooper swatted down the idea that the attack on the consulate was related to Stevens' sexual orientation — a notion put forward in the ad.

"To suggest that the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb attack on the US consular mission in Benghazi was connected to homophobia is just as ridiculous as US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, claiming the attack in Benghazi was prompted by a film critical of Mohammed," Clarke wrote. "Violence against the LGBT community is a challenge to civil society throughout the world, and America is a beacon for freedom for all minority voices. There are plenty of reasons to vote Republican to protect US interests and human rights abroad, but the obscene ad in this publication is fallacious, grossly inappropriate and irresponsible."
The National Stonewall Democrats countered with a comment calling the ad "shameless and callous," and they called on the local chapter to retract the ad an issue an apology.

"The confused hatchet men at Log Cabin are conflating a number of unrelated issues in order to attack Democrats and President Obama," said executive director Jerame Davis in a statement. "First, they latch onto right-wing rumors that Ambassador Stevens was gay and then they insinuate that President Obama is responsible for the attack because he did not protect the Ambassador from 'Sharia Law'…. It is simply unimaginable to me how any political message, let alone the muddy and ludicrous message of this ad, in any way justifies disgracing the memory of a man who gave his life in service to his country."

Another Big Name Company Supports Marriage Equality in Washington

The latest big company to support marriage equality in Washington is Nordstrom, the national high-end retailer.

The Washington-based company's president, Blake Nordstrom, sent a memo today to employees along with Pete Nordstrom, the president of merchandising, and Erik Nordstrom, president of Stores.
"It is our belief that our gay and lesbian employees are entitled to the same rights and protections marriage provides under the law as our other employees," the Nordstroms wrote. "We also believe supporting freedom to marry will help us create a more attractive and inclusive workplace for our current and prospective employees."

They conceded there are "differing opinions" on the issue, as Washington voters head to the polls in November to decide whether to uphold a marriage equality law signed earlier this year.

It is one of many Washington companies to join in supporting the bill, including Microsoft, Starbucks and Nike. Some have faced pushback from the religious right with threatened boycotts as a result.

Teacher Finally Resigns After Antigay Facebook Rant

A special education teacher who set off outrage last year when she posted antigay comments on Facebook has stepped down, a New Jersey newspaper reports.

Viki Knox complained about her New Jersey high school's recognition of October as LGBT History Month, and she reacted to another teacher's suggestion that Union High School launch a gay-straight alliance with, "Well, if I knew UHS was going to Hell in a handbasket before I know it for sure now!"

The Star-Ledger reports that Knox resigned over the summer and is pursuing a settlement. She is seeking in court a disability pension because of a back injury and "psychological" damage. Her supporters claim she is a victim of relgious-based discrimination.

But even Gov. Chris Christie, who passed one the country's toughest anti-bullying laws, had chimed in with condemnation of Knox's public statements. “I think that kind of example is not a positive one at all to be setting for folks who have such an important and influential position in our society. I'm really concerned about those kinds of statements being made.”
Among what is known that Knox said, "Homosexuality is a perverted spirit that has existed from the beginning of creation. … I know sin and it breeds like cancer!" And she claimed to be "pitching a fit" about a school photo display that included Virginia Woolf, Harvey Milk, and Neil Patrick Harris.

When "don't ask, don't tell" was being repealed, Knox wrote on Twitter, “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL!?! ARE THEY SERIOUS? GOD IS NOT PLEASED AND NEITHER AM I!!! THE END IS NEAR!!!”

Model Admits He Killed Boyfriend and Wore His Testicles on His Wrists

Lawyers for Renato Seabra, the hunky Portuguese model currently on trial for stomping his boyfriend to death in New York, offered some unusual defense theories during the trial's opening statements. According to the New York Daily News, attorney Rubin Sinins alleges that Seabra, 21, was so "tortured" by his romance with much older, renown journalist and LGBT activist Carlos Castro that he beat and stomped the man to death, castrated him with a corkscrew, and then wore the victim's testicles like bracelets on his wrists to "harness" their power and extract the "virus" of homosexuality as ordered by God.
“He put one on each wrist," Sinins said. "He did this for his protection. He could also harness the power. He wandered the streets of Manhattan, touching people, because he had the power to cure people from AIDS, because he had the power to cure them."
Sinins agued that the model had a sudden psychotic break, which explains why he confessed to police. "He wanted to explain why he killed Mr. Castro, because he thought what he had done was right."
While Seabra's team is pushing for a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict (which would mean he'd go to a psychiatric facility instead of prison), the prosecution certainly isn't buying it.
Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal insinuated that Seabra was a golddigger who "wanted to pursue a career in modeling. He want to be famous and make money. He also wanted nice things — clothes, electronics, gifts for his family. He wanted to eat in nice restaurants. When Carlos Castro showed up in Renato Seabra's life, he saw a means to an end and he got on board."
Castro allegedly flew the young man to the U.S. from Portugal to meet with model agents in New York and their initial weeks in New York seemed idyllic to friends, according to the Daily News. But Castro's friends testified that the two began to fight after Seabra was caught hooking up with women and telling Castro that he was no longer gay, according to the Daily News' Janon Fisher. Castro reportedly booked his lover an early flight home that night. Rosenthal said that was clear indication that the fling was over.
After a marathon fight that followed, Rosenthal said that Seabra beat Castro with a computer monitor because the man was dumping him: "He knew he was beating, stomping, and mutilating Carlos Castro. And he knew it was wrong."

GMA's Sam Champion Comes Out, Reveals Wedding Plans

Good Morning America weatherman Sam Champion has come out as gay and announced plans to marry his partner.

Champion came out in a New York Times story published online today on the wedding of journalist Thomas Roberts and pharmaceutical executive Patrick Abner last weekend.

Champion, one of about 170 guests at the New York City ceremony, “took a turn on the dance floor with his partner, the photographer Rubem Robierb,” the Times reports. Champion turned to a reporter and said, “We’re getting married New Year’s Eve in Miami,” but Robierb added, “We’ll do it here officially, and then have a party in Miami.”
Champion is the first cohost of a network morning program to announce he is gay, notes the Times’ Media Decoder blog. He is likely to discuss his wedding plans on GMA Monday.

His sexual orientation was well known to his colleagues and competitors, Media Decoder reports, but he had never acknowledged it publicly. “He exuberantly showed off his engagement ring to colleagues the day after becoming engaged and brought Mr. Robierb to parties with fellow co-hosts,” the blog reported.

Champion issued a statement on the ABC News website today saying, “We are thrilled and so excited and thank everyone for their good wishes.” Meanwhile, GLAAD president Herndon Graddick noted, “Sam has been a good friend and longtime supporter of GLAAD, and I wish him and Rubem the absolute best.”

63 former Catholic priests: We support Ref. 74

A group of 63 former Catholic priests, with a total of more than 800 years of clerical service, will announce Thursday their support for Referendum 74, which would make Washington the seventh state in America to support same-sex marriage.
They will take issue with the state’s four Roman Catholic bishops, who are campaigning against marriage equality with pastoral letters, policy statements and videos.
Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has issued both a pastoral letter and a video, and supplied material to pass out in parishes. Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima on Sunday claimed that Referendum 74 “jeopardizes freedom rather than expands it” and “endangers our religious liberty and the right of conscience.”
“We are uneasy with the aggressive efforts of Catholic bishops to oppose R-74 and want to support the 71 percent of Catholics (Public Religious Research Institute) who support civil marriage for gays as a valid Catholic position,” the former priests said in a statement late Monday.
The former priests are all married, and belong to three Seattle parishes.
“This is the first public action we’ve taken: We are used to fun and games within the Church, but this (opposition) is such a violation of church-state separation,” said Pat Callahan, formerly a priest for 15 years, said Monday.
The former priests are following in the footsteps of a group of retired and resigned priests in Minnesota, who have taken on Minneapolis-St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt.
Minnesota is voting on a state constitutional amendment that would enshrine marriage as between a man and a woman. Nienstedt has warned active priests to keep silent if they have reservations. The Church has poured more than $1 million into the campaign for the amendment.
But retired and former priests, not subject to ecclesiastical retaliation, have spoken out in opposition to the amendment.
Already in Washington, two prominent Catholic laypersons have championed the cause of marriage equality, Gov. Christine Gregoire and State Sen. Ed Murray, chief sponsor of same-sex marriage legislation in the Washington State Senate. Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Catholic, has backed Maryland’s marriage equality law.
“Our approach is not going to be getting into a big peeing match with the Bishops, but there are so many good-willed Catholics in the laity, that it’s time for us to give some witness,” Callahan said.
The former priests will deliver their statement at 10 a.m. on Thursday at St. Clement of Rome Episcopal Church, a parish of Anglo-Catholic tradition in Seattle’s Mt. Baker neighborhood. The statement will come hours after a Bellevue appearance by former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, a longstanding, often-intemperate opponent of gay rights legislation and same-sex marriage.

Pflugerville ISD to Offer Same-Sex Partner Benefits

The Pflugerville school district says it will offer insurance benefits to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships.
Chuck Smith with the gay rights group Equality Texas says this may be the first school district in the state to adopt the policy.
“I think they’re doing it for the same reasons that for-profit businesses do it,” Smith said. “They’re doing it in order to be competitive in the marketplace and attract good teachers.”
Pflugerville Superintendent Charles Dupre says that was part of the equation, but says it the decision to extend benefits to the partners of same-sex employees came out of discussions about workplace diversity.
“We can talk about being inclusive and talk about valuing people, but if you have people in your organization who feel like you have practices that are discriminatory, then why don’t you make some of these changes that will make me feel included?” Dupre said.
The new policy takes effect Jan. 1.

About Pflugerville ISD

Pflugerville Independent School District is preparing Each Child for Their Future in Our World. These phrases, highlighted in the District logo, offer a daily reminder of the District’s commitment to provide every student with quality educational experiences, which will prepare them to be productive members of the global community.

Founded in 1902, Pflugerville ISD is a fast growing district located in Northeast Travis County. The District encompasses approximately ninety-five square miles and includes all or part of six municipalities including Pflugerville, Austin,Coupland, Hutto, Manor and Round Rock. It serves approximately 23,000 students in 19 elementary schools, five middle schools, three traditional high schools and two alternative schools.

PISD has a rich history of more than 100 years, with a tradition of excellence that continues today through a strong vision for the future. Even as the District grows and the demographics change towards that of an urban district, PISD has maintained a small town feel with a focus on supportive relationships. The District is widely recognized as a destination for families who are seeking a family oriented community in which to raise children and a place where their children can receive a quality education that will prepare them for the future.

Maryland NAACP Releases Radio Ad for Marriage Equality

The NAACP of Maryland launched a radio ad Tuesday that features NAACP chairman emeritus Julian Bond urging voters to support Question 6, the referendum to uphold the new marriage equality law, because approving the measure “is the right thing to do.”

“I know a little something about fighting for what’s right and just,” says Bond in the ad, which will air in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore markets, according to The Washington Post. “Maryland’s gay and lesbian families share the same values, and they should share in the right to marry,” he says.
Bond and the NAACP, whose national board endorsed marriage equality after President Barack Obama did, speak to the important African-American constituency in the solidly Democratic state. Blacks make up about one quarter of voters in Maryland, and while recent polling indicates that more than half of likely African-American voters support marriage equality, opponents are still trying to reach black voters through churches.
In the one-minute ad, Bond says the referendum is not an issue of religion but civil rights. Radio ads in North Carolina used a similar message in the weeks before voters ultimately passed a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and similar unions by a wide margin.
“I believe people of faith understand this isn’t about any one religious belief — it’s about protecting the civil right to make a lifelong commitment to the person you love,” says Bond.
The ad arrives as the campaign enters its final four heated weeks. Marriage equality opponents released their first TV ad on Monday with a focus on the “thousands of years” of marriage between men and women, and claims about marriage’s effect on the well-being of children. Advocates will begin to air ads Wednesday.

Keith Patron Charged WIth Hate Crime For West Third Street McDonald's Attack

GREENWICH VILLAGE — The alleged hate crime attacker who slashed a 22-year-old transgender woman at the West 3rd Street McDonald's last week is under arrest, police said.
Keith Patron, 44, turned himself in at a Bronx precinct Monday, saying he recognized himself in the video released by cops, police said. He is expected to be charged with assault as a hate crime after allegedly yelling anti-gay epithets at the victim and another transgender patron when they tried to enter the woman's bathroom at the fast food chain on Sept. 19.
"You're going to the wrong bathroom," Patron told the women, according to sources. The man then threatened to "f--- them up."
The women left the McDonald's, but the more than 300-pound man followed them outside and allegedly took a swing at one of them.
One of them punched back at him and then kneed him in the groin, sources said.
That's when Patron pulled out a razor blade and repeatedly slashed the woman in the elbow, face, back and neck, according to police.
The woman was rushed to Bellevue Hospital after the attack, where she received stiches.
The West 3rd Street McDonald's has long been troubled by fights and wild behavior. Former McDonald's worker Rayon McIntosh was arrested in 2011 after beating two woman with a aluminum rod after they jumped over the counter to confront him. He was later cleared of felony assault charges. McDonald's franchise owners previously defended their store, saying the incident took place outside. They said they are cooperating with police.

Sally Field's Amazing Speech About Her Gay Son

Sally Field accepted the Human Rights Campaign's Ally for Equality Award in Washington, D.C., and shared her experiences being a mom to a gay son. Sally Field, beloved for her roles in films like Places in the Heart, Steel Magnolias, and Norma Rae, talked about being the proud mom to a gay son as she accepted the Human Rights Campaign's Ally for Equality Award on Saturday in Washington, D.C.
The actress discussed how her youngest son Sam, who introduced his mother at the event, was different from his two older brothers and how she supported Sam on his journey to come out, which he did at age 20.
"Nature made Sam, it wasn't a choice," Field said.

After sharing her own experiences with Sam, Field said it was unacceptable for parents to toss LGBT kids out of their homes or hearts. She also thanked the audience and said, "You all have fought for him as surely as you were one of his parents. You've changed and are changing the lives of little boys and girls who realized somewhere along the way they're just different from their other brothers and sisters. And so the fuck what." Watch the entire speech below.