Prop. 8-Loving Pastor Accused of Child Molestation

Posted on Advocate.com January 03, 2011
Prop. 8-Loving Pastor Accused of Child Molestation
By Advocate.com Editors

Tom Gene Daniels

The board of a church in Sacramento County, Calif., has issued a statement in support of a pastor arrested on suspicion of child molestation.

According to The Sacramento Bee, the board of Rio Linda Baptist Church expressed its support for pastor Tom Gene Daniels, who is charged with suspicion of a lewd or lascivious act with a child under 14 and engaging in three or more acts of sexual conduct with a child. Daniels was one of the most vocal supporters of California's Prop. 8.

"Until such time as the courts prove Pastor Tom Daniels guilty, we have an obligation to support him and his family," said the statement. The Bee reported that “the statement also said that accusations such as those facing Daniels need to be tried in the court and not the media.”

Daniels, 48, was arrested in December and is being held at the Sacramento County jail with bail set at $6 million. He has been employed as a foster parent and day care provider, according to the Bee.

Gay Newspaper Boxes Vandalized in Vancouver

Posted on Advocate.com January 02, 2011
Gay Newspaper Boxes Vandalized in Vancouver
By Advocate.com Editors

VANCOUVER

Police in Vancouver, Canada, are investigating the possibility of hate-motivated vandalism following damage to distribution boxes for the gay Canadian newspaper Xtra.

According to The Globe and Mail, no other publication boxes were vandalized, and a police spokeswoman said the damage against Xtra looks “targeted.”

“She said police are hoping surveillance video will provide some clues,” reported The Globe and Mail. “The newspaper boxes were primarily damaged in the city’s downtown core between Dec. 25 and Dec. 29. In most of the cases, the glass door was smashed.”

A senior manager for the newspaper said the vandalism would cost the free publication about $3,000. Xtra boxes were targeted in Ottawa in 2006 at a cost of more than $10,000.

Monument For Persecuted Gays To Be Erected In Barcelona

Monument for persecuted gays to be erected in Barcelona

Jonny Payne
news.PinkPaper.com
Friday, 31 December 2010
31 December 2010

Plans have been unveiled for a striking new monument in Barcelona that will recognise gays who have been persecuted and repressed “throughout history”.

The pink, triangular stone monument will be unveiled in February, and although the location has not yet been decided upon, the square surrounding Antonio Gaudi’s iconic Sagrada Familia church “is one location that has been proposed” according to a Barcelona City Hall spokesperson.


As reported by APF, a statement from the City Hall stated the monument would include the inscription: “In memory of the gays, lesbians and transsexual people who have suffered persecution and repression throughout history. Barcelona 2011.”


The announcement has been welcomed by gay rights campaigners in the city, who have sought recognition for historic crimes against gays in the city, particularly those committed under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco until his death in 1975.


The current government headed by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero sees gay rights as a major part of its agenda, and the country became only the third EU country to allow same-sex marriage when the government passed legislation in 2005.

North Carolina Politician Sticks To "Predators" Remark

Posted on Advocate.com December 31, 2010
N.C. Pol Sticks to "Predators" Remark
By Advocate.com Editors

A North Carolina politician says he’s standing by his statement that gay people are “sexual predators.”

“People are entitled to their opinion, and that includes me,” Mecklenburg County commissioner Bill James (pictured) told The Charlotte Observer Thursday. His remarks came in an e-mail earlier this week to fellow commissioner Jennifer Roberts, who proposed that county officials send a letter to members of the North Carolina congressional delegation who voted to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the US military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining US military readiness and effectiveness not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.”

There have been calls, including a petition on Change.org, for a formal reprimand of James, who in the past has made offensive statements about African-Americans and illegal immigrants as well as gays. Said Roberts, however: “I just don’t know if it helps or hurts the end goal by making any kind of formal statement.”

Roberts added that since other commissioners have raised questions about a joint letter on DADT repeal, she will send one on her own. James, meanwhile, said he’s contacted police because of threats he’s received.

Federal Inquiry Into US Gay Teenager's Suicide

Federal inquiry into US gay teenager’s suicide
by Jessica Geen
22 December 2010, 1:05pm

Seth Walsh died in October

Federal education officials are investigating the suicide of a 13-year-old California boy who killed himself after suffering homophobic bullying.

Seth Walsh died nine days after hanging himself in his garden on September 28th. His family said he had endured years of harassment and abuse at school for being gay.

Last week, his mother Wendy accused the Tehachapi school district of ignoring her pleas to tackle the bullying.

She said his grades had fallen and that some teachers had even joined in the harassment.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Education Secretary Arne Duncan confirmed that federal education officials were investigating how the school district dealt with the issue.

Mrs Walsh said she contacted Department of Education investigators while her son lay in hospital in a coma before he died.

She said they spent two days in Tehachapi last week, interviewing teachers, administrators and students.

In October, the Education Department’s civil rights division told school districts that they must take steps to stamp out anti-gay bullying.

According to Associated Press, the department has the power to investigate school districts where bullying is said to be so severe, it has resulted in a “hostile environment” for students who are, or are thought to be, LGBT.

Mrs Walsh is being supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, which last week sent a letter to the school district on her behalf asking it to prevent another tragedy.

The ACLU says that at least 11 US LGBT teenagers have killed themselves after suffering bullying in the last few months.

MSNBC Takes on Thomas Full Time

Posted on Advocate.com December 21, 2010
MSNBC Takes on Thomas Full Time
By Advocate.com Editors

THOMAS ROBERTS

Thomas Roberts has been upgraded to full-time status at MSNBC, becoming an anchor during the network’s daytime programming hours.

Roberts has served as a part-time anchor for the network since April. Roberts filled in for Keith Olbermann last month after the Countdown host was suspended for making political contributions without prior approval.

Roberts previously served as host of The Advocate On-Air.

US Senate Votes To Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Ban On Gays Serving In The Military

US Senate Votes To Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Ban On Gays Serving In The Military
]by Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
18 December 2010, 8:36pm



The US Senate has voted to end the ban on openly gay people serving in the military



The US Senate has voted 65 to 31 to repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, the ban on openly gay people serving in the military. Since the ban on openly gay people serving in the military was introduced in 1993, more than 13,500 LGBT service personnel have been dismissed from the military.

The bill will now be passed to President Barack Obama who has already confirmed that he will sign it into law.

In a prepared statement, President Obama said: “The Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’, no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

“It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valour and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly.

The repeal will take effect after a 60-day period to allow the US Defense Department to consider how best to implement the new policy.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell is wrong,” said Democrat Senator for Oregan, Ron Wyden, said earlier this morning. “I don’t care who you love. If you love this country enough to risk your life for it, you shouldn’t have to hide who you are. You ought to be able to serve.”

“You don’t have to be straight to shoot straight,”‘ said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Republican Senator for Arizona and former US Presidential candidate John McCain warned that the end of the ban would be welcomed only by the “elites” in society without any thought to the military consequences of ending the ban. “I hope that when we pass this legislation that we will understand that we are doing great damage,” he said.”And we could possibly – and probably – as the Commandant of the Marine Corps said … harm the battle effectiveness that is so vital to the survival of our young men and women in the military.”

Mr McCain was referring to comments earlier this week by the head of the marines who said that repealing the ban would lead to the death of troops troops.

“When your life hangs on a line, on the intuitive behaviour of the young man … who sits to your right and your left, you don’t want anything distracting you,” said Marine Commandant General James Amos.

“I don’t want to lose any Marines to distraction. I don’t want to have any Marines that I’m visiting at Bethesda [hospital] with no legs,” he added.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted 250 to 175 in favour of repealing the ban. This put the Senate under pressure to vote on the issue today, before the ‘lame duck’ Congress goes into recess.

Senator Joe Lieberman, the lead sponsor of the bill said the ban on openly gay people serving in the military is “inconsistent with basic American values.”

“To force the don’t ask, don’t tell policy on the military is to force them to be less than they want to be — and less than they can be,” he said earlier today. “These people simply want to serve their country.”

Welcoming the vote this evening, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin said: “The ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy is a threat to our national security. Since 1994, more than 13,000 highly trained service members have been discharged as a result of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ In the last five years, while our country has been engaged in two wars, the military has discharged more than 800 mission-critical troops under this policy, including more than 50 Arabic linguists.”

She added: “I look forward to the expeditious implementation of all policies necessary to end discrimination against gays and lesbians who currently serve or wish to serve in the military. I will continue to work for full equality for LGBT Americans. In the United States of America, there is no place for irrational and insidious discrimination in any sector of society.”

Aubrey Sarvis, head of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy group, said: “Until the president signs the bill, until there is certification, and until the 60-day Congressional period is over, no-one should be investigated or discharged under this discriminatory law.”