Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of the conservative gay Republican organization GOProud, was attacked Friday in Washington, D.C. while riding home from work on his bicycle. The assailant, a teenage male, struck LaSalvia in the chest and called him a “faggot.” The Washington Blade reports that LaSalvia was riding on a quiet street near Union Station…
In 1983, fears concerning HIV/AIDs infection prompted the FDA to instate rules banning sexually active homosexual men from donating blood. The policy has since been deemed outdated by many gay rights activists, particularly since blood banks now test all contributions for HIV (as well as hepatitis, syphilis and other infectious and sexually-transmitted diseases). However, for…
Mimi Brown and Carol Anastasio were the first couple to receive a same-sex marriage license from the New York City Marriage Bureau after the state’s landmark legalization decision earlier this summer. The distinction won them an all-expenses-paid celebration at the Old Homestead Steakhouse, where friends and family will gather this Sunday for the city’s first…
LGBT Pride honors San Diegans each year, based on their activism and support given to the LGBT community. This year’s honorees will be publicly recognized at Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall rally, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., July 15, at the main festival stage at Marston Point in Balboa Park. The 2011 Stonewall Honorees include: Larry Baza…
Pop icon Lady Gaga was a prime topic of discussion on “Meet the Press” last Sunday, sparking a debate on gay marriage and sexual orientation between host David Gregory and Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty. According to USA Today, the subject arose in light of a recent interview during which Pawlenty admitted to being a…
Democratic senator and former presidential candidate John Kerry recently penned an op-ed for the Boston Globe in which he takes on pundits who have criticized President Obama’s “evolving” views on gay marriage and accuses them of stirring up a “phony debate about a real issue.” Today, Senator Kerry is an avowed supporter of marriage…
Andrew Gibson, openly gay adopted brother of the perpetually controversial actor Mel Gibson, sprung to the latter’s defense in a recent interview by refuting media claims that his brother is homophobic. ABC News reports that according to Andrew, Mel Gibson “never meant to upset anyone” by commenting publicly on either homosexuality or any other sensitive…
Several prominent gay rights activists were arrested Friday after attempting to deliver a petition against Moscow Pride violence to representatives at the Parisian Russian Embassy. Activists Louis-Georges Tin, Nikolai Alekseev, Chad Meacham and Audrey Grelombe were among those taken into custody on the grounds that they were participating in an unauthorized protest outside the embassy…
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced Thursday that the committee intends to hold the first-ever congressional hearing concerning DOMA repeal in the coming weeks. The announcement follows actions taken earlier this year by Senators including California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand on behalf of the Respect for Marriage Act, a…
In June of 2011, the state of Illinois legalized civil unions for straight and LGBT couples alike. Now, little more than a month later, gay and lesbian rights activists with Equality Illinois have deemed the new law a resounding success. The Chicago Tribune reports that, according to Equality Illinois, approximately 1,618 civil union licenses have…
