Documents in Navy man's murder revealed
New documents connected to the 1992 gay-bashing murder of U.S. Navy serviceman Allen Schindler have been revealed.
Journalist Michael Petrelis uncovered the 900-page file through a Freedom of Information Act request.
On Oct. 27, 1992, two fellow sailors brutally beat and killed Schindler. The murder took place in a men's restroom on the grounds of a public park. Schindler's own mother, Dorothy Hadjys, was unable to identify the mutilated and disfigured corpse.
Petrelis has unveiled eight revelations about the Schindler file, including:
—The Naval Investigative Service questioned Schindler's acquaintances in the service. However, telling the truth about Schindler made his colleagues vulnerable to persecution under the military's archaic anti-sodomy laws.
—Schindler's berthing area on his ship, the USS Belleau Wood, was defaced with the phrase "ball-gazer"—just one part of a constant and escalating campaign of anti-gay harassment he faced from fellow sailors.
—The Navy closely monitored the gay media's coverage of the investigation and trial, paying particular attention to stories in San Francisco's Bay Area Reporter, Chicago's Windy City Times and San Diego's Update.
More information is at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Activist-reveals-information-relating-to-sailor-Allen-Schindlers-murder/53394.html .
LGBT group wins veterans' award
In the first-ever Veterans Awards Ceremony, Mission Complete presented SPARTA ( Servicemembers, Partners, and Allies for Respect and Tolerance for All ) with the top award in the category of LGBT Veterans.
The other four categories were Veterans Mental Health, Veterans Community, Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans.
More than 500 organizations were nominated, and were narrowed down to three finalists in each category. Winners were selected based on their impact on veterans; SPARTA was honored primarily for its leading work in supporting transgender service members and veterans.
More information on the awards can be found at TheVeteransAwards.com .
Utah judge removes self from case
Utah Juvenile Court Judge Scott Johansen—who drew criticism for removing a foster child from the home of a lesbian couple—has recused himself from the case, The Washington Post noted.
Johansen issued an order Nov. 16 that he "hereby disqualifies himself from this case and refers all pending matters to the Presiding Judge."
On Nov. 13, Johansen rescinded his order that involved taking a baby away from her same-sex foster parents ( April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce ) and place her in a home with opposite-sex parents.
Johansen amended the first ruling ( administered Nov. 10 ), crossing out the line in the order that read, "The Court orders the Division to place the child with a duly married, heterosexual foster-adoptive couple within one week."
Many pro-LGBT had issued statements condemning the Nov. 10 decision.
