GLAAD ANNOUNCES ‘AMPLIFIER’ ADVERTISING AWARD WINNERS
GLAAD has announced the winners for its Amplifier Awards, celebrating LGBT-inclusiveness in television, print, outdoor, and social media advertising. See the full list at GLAAD’s website, but here are the television campaign winners (Google Chrome/”It Gets Better,” Absolut Vodka/RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Expedia/TripOut):
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MISTRIAL IN LAWRENCE KING CASE — ‘GAY PANIC’ WINS
A judge has declared a mistrial in the case against Brandon McInerney, who at age 14 shot his openly gay classmate Lawrence King in the back of the head twice. The jury voted seven to five of finding McInerney guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, essentially a win for the “gay panic” defense McInerney’s lawyers put forth. GLSEN responded to the mistrial, saying, “The central facts remain the same: homophobia killed Larry King and destroyed Brandon McInerney’s life, and adults failed both young men because of their own inability to deal forthrightly and compassionately with the multiple challenges they each faced.” Watch a local news report from KTLA about the trial’s conclusion:
Chaz Bono: “The Negative Comments Are Motivating”
With the simultaneous publication of Transition,his memoir, and release ofBecoming Chaz, his documentary, transgender activist Chaz Bono was seemingly everywhere last May, including on the cover of The Advocate. On Tuesday, when the announcement was made that Bono will appear on the next season of ABC’sDancing With the Stars, it seemed like a win-win for everyone. The network will likely see a new audience for the 13th season of its hit dance competition series. More important, Bono will able to represent trans people on a bigger platform than ever and on a weekly basis. He has potential to shatter expectations and transcend labels.
Married Pinoy gay in San Francisco escapes deportation
A Filipino gay man in San Francisco in the United States was spared from being deported to the Philippines and being separated from his life partner, thanks to a new policy that recognizes same-sex marriage as a family tie. According to a report of the Contra Costa Times, the case against Raul Sinense was temporarily closed and the deportation proceedings against him were stopped on August 16.
NOM’s Idea Of “Excellent” Analysis: Calling Homosexuality An “Addictive,” “Learned” Behavior
In an August 31 blog entry, the National Organization for Marriage’s (NOM) Ruth Institute posted aninterview between Nick Gillespie, editor of Reason.tv, and George Gilder, a conservative author and commentator. While the interview covered a wide range of topics, the Ruth Institute was particularly impressed with Gilder’s “analysis of marriage abolition via redefinition,” calling it “excellent”:
Alaska Earthquake 2011: Quake Strikes Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands Region
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A 6.8-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean prompted a brief tsunami warning early Friday morning for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The warning was canceled after only a small wave was recorded in the community of Atka, Alaska. “In Atka, they had a little bump of a wave, but nothing of any kind of a destructive power. Just a wave,” said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security. The earthquake struck at about 2:55 a.m. AKDT, and there were no initial reports of injuries or damage, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The World’s Worst City To Live In Is …
HARARE, Zimbabwe — A top research group on Thursday rated Zimbabwe’s capital as the worst of 140 world cities in which to live. The British-based Economist Intelligence Unit said its researchers excluded cities in Libya, Iraq and other war zones. Harare, where power and water outages occur daily, scored a 38 percent “livability rating,” the group said. The group said the threat of civil unrest and the availability of public health care and public transport in Harare were intolerable. Energy and water supplies were undesirable, it said, calling phones and Internet services uncomfortable. Zimbabwe formed a shaky coalition government in 2009 after years of political violence and economic meltdown. Melbourne and Vienna were rated the two easiest cities to live in.