Big Gay News
US Majority Supports Same-Sex Marriage
A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows that 51 percent of Americans now believe same-sex marriage should be legalized with the same rights granted to heterosexuals. However, 47 percent said they think such marriages shouldn’t be recognized.
Gay Teens Less Likely To Attempt Suicide When in Supportive Communities
According to Slate, a new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds gay and bisexual teens are 25 percent less likely to attempt suicide in socially-supportive environments. The study, which surveyed 32,000 Oregon high school students, found that supportive communities include a higher proportion of same-sex couples and Democrats.
California Senate Passes Bill Mandating Gay History
The Associated Press reports that the California Senate has approved a bill requiring the state’s public schools to include gay history in social studies lessons. The legislation, which now goes to the California Assembly, would allow local school districts to decide when and what to include in the lessons.
Roommate Faces Hate-Crime Charges in Rutgers Case
According to The New York Times, a New Jersey grand jury indicted 19-year-old Dharun Ravi on hate-crime charges for allegedly using a webcam to stream his college roommate having sex with another man. Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University, killed himself just days later. Ravi also was charged with a cover-up for allegedly removing a Twitter post about the incident.
Facebook Apologizes for Censoring Gay Kiss Photo
The Huffington Post reports that Facebook has apologized for removing a photograph of two men kissing for allegedly violating the company’s terms-of-use agreement prohibiting pornographic content. The photograph was posted on a Facebook page calling for a same-sex kiss-in to protest a gay couple that was thrown out of a bar for allegedly kissing.
“Effeminate” Boys in Malaysia Sent to “Antigay” Camp
According to the BBC, 66 Muslim schoolboys in Malaysia considered “effeminate” by their teachers have been sent to a camp designed to teach them about masculine behavior. A government official said the camp was meant to move the boys back “to a proper path in life.” Officials also claimed that if the matter wasn’t dealt with, the boys could end up gay or transsexual.
House Republicans Paying $500,000 To Defend DOMA
The Huffington Post reports that House Republicans, led by Speaker John Boehner, plan to pay a legal firm as much as $500,000 in taxpayer funds to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court. They voted in March to initiate a defense of DOMA after the Obama Administration announced it no longer would defend key provisions of the legislation in court.
Kobe Bryant Fined $100,000 for Gay Slur
According to CBS, professional basketball player Kobe Bryant has been fined $100K by the NBA for yelling an antigay slur at a referee. Claiming his comments were not meant to offend, he said, “The words expressed do not reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities, and were not meant to offend anyone.”
White House Bars Gay Groups from Military Families Event
CBS reports that in April, the Obama Administration barred gays and lesbians from a White House event with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to “support and honor America’s service members and their families.” Servicemembers United said civilian representatives of gay and lesbian military families were banned from the event. Kristina Schake, Communications Director for the First Lady, told reporters in an e-mail, “The President has been crystal clear that the Administration is moving forward with the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell quickly and efficiently. However, it still remains the law.”
