In Colorado, Allen Andrade has been convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of 18-year-old transwoman Angie Zapata, the New York Times reported. The jury took only two hours to reach its decision, and Andrade was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without parole. Last summer, Andrade beat Zapata to death with his fists and a fire extinguisher when he realized Zapata had been born male. In a statement, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation President Neil Giuliano said, "Today's verdict was about justice for Angie Zapata, although no verdict will ever be able to heal the tragic loss experienced by Angie's family."
EDGE Publications has launched the EDGE iPhone application, according to a release. Now, LGBT readers have mobile access to EDGE's award-winning news and entertainment. "Our new iPhone application is a first for the LGBT community," said David Foucher, publisher and CEO. "This app allows our readers to stay connected to what's happening virtually anywhere."
In a huge victory for transgender people born in California, the state's Court of Appeal ruled that any person can amend his or her California birth certificate regardless of the person's current state of residence, according to a Transgender Law Center press release. The center brought the case on behalf of Gigi Marie Somers, a 67-year-old transwoman who was born in California and now lives in Kansas.
In New York, the Indian River Central School District will allow Ashley Petranchuk to form a gay-straight alliance ( GSA ) just days after Lambda Legal, with help from the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, filed a federal lawsuit, according to a Lambda Legal press release. The organization and the firm filed a lawsuit representing former student Charlie Pratt and his sister, current sophomore Ashley Petranchuk, describing the severe harassment Pratt endured as a student in the school district. The school repeatedly denied Pratt and Petranchuk the chance to form a GSA.
Changing his tune a bit, N.Y. Gov. David A. Paterson has said he would go along with State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's plan to not put a same-sex marriage bill to a vote without being certain it would pass, according to the New York Daily News. Previously, Paterson said he would see that the measure be submitted regardless of its chances. Smith is behind gay marriage, but will not allow a vote if a defeat is probable.
The gay-rights group Equality California wants to meet Miss USA 2009 runner-up Carrie Prejean in an effort to change her mind about gay marriage, according to an item in the San Francisco Chronicle. Prejean, 21—a student at San Diego Christian College—said during the pageant that she thought marriage should be between a man and a woman. The rumors that her response cost her the crown have thrust her into the public eye. However, blogger Perez Hilton, who asked her the question, has said, "She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage. Miss California lost because she is a dumb [ expletive ] ," according to Politico.com.
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Speaking of Prejean, the Alabama House has passed a resolution praising her views on same-sex marriage, according to Advocate.com. Republican State Rep. Jay Love introduced the measure.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has introduced a measure that will possibly let Filipina lesbian Shirley Tan stay permanently in the United States with her partner and twin boys, according to Advocate.com. The bill's introduction granted Tan clemency while the Senate decides if it will address the Uniting American Families Act, which would grant same-sex binational couples the same rights as opposite-sex married couples. The Department of Homeland Security had delayed Tan's deportation until April 22, according to MercuryNews.com.
Stonewall Library & Archives ( SLA ) —the largest independent circulating library of LGBT materials in the country—has officially opened its new facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to a press release from the library. The library's holdings include more than 18,000 books and audiovisual materials, in addition to 60 regional and national periodicals. Among those attending the grand opening were Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and openly gay Broward County Vice Mayor Ken Keechl.
A man named Patrick has said that he was forced to leave a room at the Oregon Health and Science University ( OHSU ) Hospital even though his partner, Christopher, had become very ill, according to KGW.com. ( Only first names were used in the article. ) Patrick added that the situation was not resolved until an attorney called the hospital. OHSU administrators said that it was possibly a case of human error, but have promised to train staff members to prevent a similar case in the future.
Variety Cruises, the prominent small-ship cruise company famed for its specialty programs, has formed a partnership with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, according to a press release. In conjunction, the cruise line is launching the first of its new gay and lesbian cruises to Greece and the Greek islands Aug. 21. Visit www.varietycruises.com for more information.
Harry Knox, director of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program, is among the additional members named to President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, according to a White House press release. The council is part of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and is composed of religious and secular leaders and scholars from different backgrounds. Each member of the council is appointed to a one-year term.
Former wrestling star Pat Kenney ( aka Simon Diamond ) has filed a sex-abuse lawsuit against Denis Killion, a teacher and priest at Salesianum High School in Wilmington, Del., according to WrestleView.com. So far, five individuals have accused Killion of sexual abuse.
Mexican authorities have said that Manuel Martin Torres Saldaña has confessed to murdering an Austin, Texas, priest—but that Saldaña has also insisted the two men were intimately involved, according to Advocate.com. Saldaña, 36, said that the Rev. Jesse Euresti, 69, wanted to end their one-year relationship and start seeing another man because of Saldaña's drug addiction. Saldaña said that he stabbed Euresti in self-defense after Euresti came after him with a machete.
Joseph DeAcetis, a former fashion director at Playboy, has filed a lawsuit accusing the publication of discrimination based on his sexual orientation and age, the Associated Press reported. DeAcetis, 45, claims that the magazine's editorial director teased him because DeAcetis is gay and his hair is gray, and that the director called gay men "girls."
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White has released a YouTube video apologizing for a profanity-laced tirade he made against veteran sports reporter Loretta Hunt of Sherdog.com, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called for White to apologize after he used an anti-gay slur in his rant. The last thing that I would ever want anyone to think of me ... is to attack someone because of their sexual orientation," White said on the video. "I apologize for anyone I've offended or hurt."
New York City-based Gay Men's Health Crisis ( GMHC ) has issued its 2009 federal policy agenda, which includes development of a U.S. national AIDS strategy and lifting the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) blood-donation ban on men who have sex with men, according to an organizational press release. GMHC would also like the FDA to test and possibly approve the drug Gardasil for boys and men to reduce the incidences of anal cancer. Gardasil is currently used primarily to prevent cervical cancer in young women.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter has signed the Designated Beneficiary Agreement Act, which expands the rights of same-sex and unmarried couples by allowing individuals to legally identify a "designated beneficiary" who has many of the rights and privileges of a married spouse, including the right to inherit property, according to Feminist.org. In a statement, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese hailed the measure as "an important step toward equality, and it will provide lesbian and gay couples in Colorado, and their families, with important, tangible protections that are needed right now."
Integrated managed-care organization Kaiser Permanente tops DiversityMBA Magazine's 50 Out Front for Diversity Leadership list this year, which lists the top 50 companies for diverse managers to work. Other companies on the list include American Express ( #5 ) , PepsiCo ( #10 ) , American Airlines ( #17 ) , Harley-Davidson ( #26 ) and IBM ( #44 ) .
Heathers—the 1988 black-comedy movie that starred Christian Slater, Winona Ryder and Shannen Doherty—is about to become a musical, according to Reuters. Andy Fickman, director of the movie Race to Witch Mountain and the musical Reefer Madness, is working on the musical with "Reefer" partner Kevin Murphy. In a recent reading, actress Kristen Bell ( TV's Veronica Mars and the voiceover in Gossip Girl ) played the lead.
Iron Chef America star Cat Cora, 41, and her partner, Jennifer Cora, 38, are each expecting a son, according to US Magazine. Jennifer previously had sons Zoran, 5, and Caje, 2. The twosome are sharing maternity clothes and cravings. In related news, Cat Cora is partnering with Disney to open a new Orlando, Fla., restaurant called Kouzzina this fall, the Seattle Times reported.
