Delaware Governor signs same-sex unions into law
Democratic Governor Jack Markell of Delaware signed a bill last night to legalize same-sex unions throughout the state. CBS news reports that the new law will take effect as of January 1, 2012 and grant gay and lesbian couples legal protections and recognitions under civil unions and domestic partnerships. In addition to providing same-sex couples…
Top Cambridge University academic blackmailed over gay sex
UNITED KINGDOM – A top Cambridge University academic was blackmailed and forced to hand over ?6,0000 ($9,800) by a male prostitute who threatened to tell his wife that they had sex. Cambridge Crown Court was told that drop-out Philip Ellis, 26, met the academic at a gay cruising spot in the city’s Newnham area. The…
Murder of gay bar owner not a hate crime, say police
NEW YORK – The murder of Club Chili owner and Pride organizer Clinton ‘Billy’ Lewis in New York was not a hate crime, police have said. The New York gay bar owner was shot dead at his home. Louis Duffy, 20, was arrested shortly afterwards. The Elmira Star-Gazette reported that Capt. Joseph Kain of the…
Presbyterian Church clears path for gay and lesbian ordination
The Presbyterian Church of the United States announced today that it will open ordination to candidates regardless of their sexual orientation. In the wake of today’s historic vote, Reverend Dr. Janet Edwards – one of the 10,000 Presbyterian ministers and elders who voted in favor for gay and lesbian ordination — issued a statement expressing…
Santorum announces opposition to incorporation of gay history in California curricula
Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) has spoken out expressing his disapproval of a measure currently moving through California’s legislature that would compel state schools to add gay history to education curricula. If the measure passes, San Diego gay and lesbian history, not to mention that of gay rights activists across the nation, could one day…
National Organization for Marriage launches New York campaign, pledges election funds for 2012
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation’s premier pro-marriage group, has begun a $500,000 advertising campaign in New York to fight against same-sex marriage advocates. The organization has also pledged $1 million to all legislative efforts in the interest of defending marriage, promising to support all Democratic State Legislators who vote to uphold a…
Update: Pentagon revokes guidelines for Navy chaplains, same-sex unions
Pending the Department of Defense’s final motion to recognize gay military service men and women, Navy officials will be trained to officiate over same-sex civil ceremonies. The announcement, made by Navy officials this past Monday, stated that training protocols related to the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ have been updated to include guidelines for…
James Middleton lands the spotlight after racy photo leak, alluding gay acts
James Middleton, younger brother to Kate Middleton and among the latest additions to the British royal family, has found himself in the midst of a minor scandal after indiscreet photos re-surfaced in the wake of his sister’s wedding to Prince William. According to US Magazine, the photos reveal James Middleton in various states of semi-undress…
Neil Patrick Harris agrees to second stint as Tony Awards host
After a year hiatus, television star Neil Patrick Harris has signed on once again to host the 65th annual Tony Awards. Harris first hosted the show in 2009, and together with producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss earned a Creative Arts Emmy Award for his work at the 2010 Emmys. Now, he looks forward to…