The trustees of the City University of New York changed their minds about honoring gay playwright Tony Kushner with an honorary degree over some comments he allegedly made about Israel, according to Advocate.com . Trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, a supporter of Israel, said that Kushner had disparaged the country in previous comments, something Kushner later denied. Wiesenfeld claimed that Kushner had tied the founding of Israel to the policy of ethnic cleansing—something Kushner called a "vicious attack and wholesale distortion of my beliefs." It's the first time in five decades that the school has tabled an honorary degree.
iCondom, a new free iPhone condom locator application, and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health ( PDPH ) have partnered to launch a free condom locator application for the city of Philadelphia: iCondom Philly. iCondom Philly will supplement the PDPH, Sexually Transmitted Disease ( STD ) Control Program's existing efforts to reduce the high rates of STDs among adolescents in Philadelphia. iCondom Philly will build upon the existing iCondom application, which is already being used in large metropolitan cities worldwide, to allow users to find the nearest free condom distribution site.
El Diario, one of the New York's most widely read Spanish-language newspapers, has endorsed marriage equality, according to Advocate.com . In an editorial, the publication declared that the state was ready for change and should ensure equality for all the state's residents. The editorial reads, in part, "The majority of New Yorkers have a friend, colleague, or relative who is gay. Now is the time to give these people the opportunity to build family and community. Our government should not be in the business of telling people who to fall in love with or who to marry."
The Massachusetts Governor's Council voted to approve Gov. Deval Patrick's choice for the state's supreme court. The council voted 5-3 in favor of Barbara Lenk, making her the first openly gay individual in the state to serve on the judicial body. While some critics focused on Lenk's sexuality, others were concerned by what they perceived was her propensity to disregard the Second Amendment and the possibility that she did not respect the role of the legislature.
In Los Angeles, jury selection is under way in the trial of Sgt. Ronald Crump, a police sergeant who alleges he was discriminated against and harassed because he is gay, according to DailyBreeze.com . Among the alleged incidents Crump said happened was his supervisor in media relations, Lt. John Romero, tellling him, "I was a religion major at Liberty University. Jerry Falwell would roll over in his grave if he knew I had hired you." When Crump complained about the alleged mistreatment to Romero's supervisor, Romero allegedly told him, "Don't forget I hired you even though you're gay."
In Minnesota, Bill Hosko—a gay St. Paul businessman and political opponent of city council member David Thune—wants Thune's executive assistant to resign after sending an e-mail that referred to Hosko as "the gay guy that always runs [ against ] Dave for City Council," according to Advocate.com . Hosko said the e-mail reflects a prejudicial air in Thune's office. "Why would she identify me as 'that gay guy'? That is derogatory," Hosko said. "What if she had said 'the black guy'? That would have been derogatory."
In California, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin, 48—a gay Republican—hopes to become the first person in a same-sex marriage who is a member of Congress, according to Advocate.com . In an upcoming special election, Gin is running to represent California's 36th congressional district in a U.S. House seat vacated by Jane Harman. If elected, he would become Congress's fifth openly gay member, along with Reps. Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis and David Cicilline.
Peter Vidmar has resigned from his post as chief of mission for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team after criticism of his anti-gay stance mounted, according to Advocate.com . Vidmar, a Mormon, donated $2,000 in '08 to help pass California's Proposition 8. Among those criticizing Vidmar was out skater Johnny Weir, who called Vidmar's appointment "disgraceful." In resigning, Vidmar said, "I wish that my personal religious beliefs would not have become a distraction from the amazing things that are happening in the Olympic movement in the United States."
In New York, former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton helped kick off statewide phone-banking in support of marriage equality, according to Advocate.com . Clinton's participating came just hours after her father, President Bill Clinton, announced his support for same-sex marriage. Chelsea told a group of volunteers that she "was very grateful that my father gave me yet another reason to be proud."
In Texas, AIDS Arms broke ground on a new clinic with a sledgehammer party at its former office location in Oak Cliff, according to the Dallas Voice. The clinic, the agency's second, will target HIV-positive people who lack access to medical care. The new facility, slated to open by the end of the summer, will provide affordable care for up to 2,500 individuals.
Playwright/producer/political activist Doric Wilson has died at the age of 72. A veteran of the anti-war and civil-rights demonstrations of the early 1960s-mid 1970s, the openly gay Wilson participated in the 1969 Stonewall Riots and became active in the early days of the New York Gay Liberation movement. In 1974, Wilson ( with Billy Blackwell, Peter del Valle and John McSpadden ) formed TOSOS ( The Other Side of Silence ) , the first professional theatre company to deal openly with the gay experience. The company featured new plays and revivals by such writers as Brendan Behan, Noël Coward, Terrence McNally, Sandra Scoppettone and Lanford Wilson.
Two original documents of major historical significance to the gay-rights movement are now on public display in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., according to a press release. Gay-rights pioneer Frank Kameny's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court ( 1961 ) , and a letter to The Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. ( 1966 ) from U.S. Civil Service Chairman John W. Macy, Jr., have been added to the Library's popular exhibition known as "Creating the United States."
In Illinois, Northwestern University will not offer a controversial human-sexuality course next academic year that included a live demo with a sex toy earlier this year, according to the Chicago Tribune. Psychology chair said that J. Michael Bailey will not lead the class and added that no one else at the school is qualified to teach the subject. Bailey, who apologized for the live sex show, angered transgender-rights activists years ago when he wrote a book rejecting the theory that men who want a sex change are women trapped in men's bodies.
Actor and former Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, have separated after a quarter-century of marriage, according to an EW.com item. The news came five months after Schwarzenegger ended his second term as the Republican governor of the state. Schwarzenegger, 63, and Shriver, 55, have four children together, aged from 14 to 21.
New research published in the online medial journal Cancer reports that gay males in California are "nearly twice as likely to report a cancer diagnosis as straight men in the state," according to Advocate.com . According to the results, about 8 percent of California's gay men had been diagnosed with some form of cancer, versus only about 5 percent of heterosexual men. Meanwhile, cancer diagnoses among lesbians were more evenly matched with those of heterosexual women. There is speculation that HIV might be to blame for gay men's higher numbers.
In Michigan, the state House has approved an amendment to the education budget that would penalize state colleges and universities 5 percent for offering domestic-partner benefits to unmarried and same-sex partners, AnnArbor.com reported. State Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, proposed the amendment while state Rep. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, criticized what he perceived was an attack on gay rights. "It was a complete surprise to me when Rep. Agema stood up and made this speech about punishing universities for violating our moral code as a state," Irwin said.
The U.S. Navy has revoked its guideline allowing chaplains to conduct same-sex marriages in some states after Republican lawmakers and social conservatives expressed outrage, according to the New York Post. After the official repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," U.S. Navy chaplains were going to be able to perform weddings for same-sex couples in states where marriage equality has been legalized. However, opponents of same-sex military marriages said the move would violate a law banning federal recognition of gay marriage.
Anti-gay-rights groups around the country will see a cash infusion over the next two years through a plan called "Ignite an Enduring Cultural Transformation," according to the Twin Cities Daily Planet. The campaign—which largely targets states where Republicans won control of legislatures or governorships—has the support of Republican political figures such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal andHouse Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia. The groups intend to pass anti-gay marriage amendments, limit abortion rights and, in at least one case, ban "transgender bathrooms."
There is some question regarding the existence of the Fourth Annual Northwest Indiana Rainbow Days gay pride parade and picnic. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, organizers initially publicized there will be an event June 11 in the Miller section of Gary—but then canceled it without explanation. Event director Tyona Wesley said that so far there has been a general lack of support, possibly because the event was slated to take place in Gary.
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., opened his shirt on the cover of Men's Health to speak about his launch of a new fitness program, "Fit for Summer, Fit for Life." It's designed to help Americans take control of their health—and cut down on health-care costs for the country—but the 29-year-old congressman's six-pack may be getting as much attention as his workout plan, according to the New York Daily News. "You know, there is some risk with it, but I think it's risk worth taking," Schock said in an interview on NBC's Today show. President Obama was the first politician to appear in Men's Health, both in November 2008 after his election and again in October 2009, the L.A. Times reported.
Billionaire AMWAY founder Richard DeVos is using his financial resources to fight same-sex marriage, according to MLive.com . Talking about giving $100,000 to defeat the recognition of marriage equality in Florida, the 83-year-old DeVos said, " That's just a sacred issue of respecting marriage. It was not an anti-gay thing. I have been hung in effigy by the gay community for a long time, from when I was on President Reagan's first AIDS commission. They were hanging me in effigy because I wasn't sympathetic to all of their requests for special treatment." In 2006, the Richard and Helen DeVos foundation donated $540,000 donation to the anti-gay group Focus on the Family.
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center at Texas A&M University has been criticized for showing a controversial video on campus during a one-time sex seminar, according to KHOU.com . Many seminar attendees were told they'd be getting information on safer-sex practices, but some students said what they got instead was too explicit and graphic. Justin Pulliam of the Texas Aggie Conservatives ( who sent a student with a recording device to the event ) said it was "completely inappropriate to hold such a seminar on the A&M campus."
Tripping, a social travel site with members in more than 100 countries, announced the launch of the IGLTA Tripping Network, a platform that allows LGBT travelers to connect with each other for conversation, shared cups of coffee and even home stays all around the world. Keeping members safe is a top priority, therefore Tripping offers a wide range of safety mechanisms through its TripSafe Program, including references, anonymous ratings, video validation and an emergency hotline for all its members. Find Tripping on the web at Tripping.com; Twitter.com/Tripping; and Facebook.com/Tripping.
In Pennsylvania, gay high schooler Craig Cassey was voted prom king, according to Advocate.com . Cassey—not wanting to upset his mother by attending the prom with his boyfriend, Carl—and his escort, Molly, were named king and queen. Writing on his blog, Craig's Gay World, Cassey posted, "There were no shouts of 'Homo,' no negative remarks, just congratulations and 'bro hugs' and pats on the back." Cassey and Carl later celebrated with their own private prom.
More than 100 students walked out of their own graduation at the University of Michigan Law School May 7 to protest the commencement speech by anti-gay Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, according to Advocate.com . Andrew Selbst ( pictured ) , one of the student organizers of the walkout, wrote on his blog, "I will not stand to listen to a homophobe tell me at my graduation that I have the whole world at my disposal, my whole life ahead of me, when he would deny access to a basic part of that world and a basic part of that life to a large portion of my class, my family, and my friends. ... It turns out that my classmates did join me, and I've never been prouder to be a Michigan Law graduate."
