If elected president Barack Obama says that he will not necessitate that his Joint Chiefs of Staff appointees support allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy" was instituted during former President Bill Clinton's administration. Hillary Rodham Clinton's husband.

 

A Wikipedia article about Maj. Alan Rogers, a gay soldier who was killed in January 2008 in Iraq, was apparently edited by someone in the Pentagon, who removed any mention that Rogers was gay. Maj. Alan Rogers was out in his private life but not out in the Army. Source: Blade

Obama adds that his priority for the Joint Chiefs will be that they make decisions to strengthen the military and keep the country safe, not their position on the policy.

Obama gave this statement in an interview with the LGBT magazine, The Advocate, "I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

"But I think there's increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy," he said. "We're spending large sums of money to kick highly qualified gays or lesbians out of our military, some of whom possess specialties like Arab-language capabilities that we desperately need. That doesn't make us more safe."

Obama has been hit hard by a lot of gay groups for not being supportive enough. He was not surprisingly criticized by the Philadelphia for giving an interview. The Philadelphia gay magazine ran a large blank space on its front page next to an interview with Hillary Rodham Clinton to highlight that he did not talk to the publication.

"The gay press may feel like I'm not giving them enough love, but basically all press feels that way at all times," Obama told The Advocate. Obama has frequently spoken out against homophobia and in support of gay rights. He also points out the he believes in federal benefits for same sex couples.

When police discovered the body of Damian Oldfield, 33, they also have said to have found part of his right leg.

The leg had been carved up and the flesh sliced and cooked in a kitchen counter space. "It appears it was being prepared for cooking." Said a Police source

Anthony Morley: left (suspect), Damian Oldfield: right (victim)

They are now considering the possibility that some of the flesh was also eaten by the suspect Police believe that Oldfield, was stabbed to death before the leg was removed from his body. A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "On arrival officers discovered the body of a 33 year old man and a 35-year-old man has been charged with murder." The force would not confirm any other information about the killing.

Anthony Morley, 35, who won the Mr. Gay UK competition in 1993 at the age of 20, appeared in court earlier this week charged with Oldfield's murder. He has been remanded in custody. He is due to appear before the courts in Leeds again.

Morley and Oldfield were thought to be friends but not lovers.

After being crowned the winner of the beauty pageant at a Blackpool nightclub in 1993, Morley enjoyed a brief spell as a minor celebrity on the gay scene, making a guest appearance at the London Pride festival and opening a holiday complex for gays in Gran Canaria.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE PRAY-IN

Sean Bell & fiancée Nicole Paultre Bell with daughter Jada

There has been a call to justice for the slain Sean Bell. A pray-in has been called for tomorrow May 7th, 2008 at 3:00 pm EST., which will end with participants being arrested while on their knees praying.

The protest will be lead by the president of the National Action Network, Rev. Al Sharpton.

If you are interested in participating in the pray-in or in any other supportive role please contact Michael Hardy (212) 690-3070 at the Action Network

PROTEST LOCATIONS:

Sharpton is asking protesters to rally Wednesday at 3 p.m. around New York City:

125th Street and Third Avenue; 60th Street and Third Avenue; 34th Street and Park Avenue; Varick and Houston streets; One Police Plaza; House of the Lord Church on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn

 

Sean Bell's fiancée, Nicole Paultre Bell, and Trent Benefield, one of the wounded men are expected to be at the pray-in

The reason why this pray-in must be a success is because of the police brutality that seems to be plaguing our streets. Whether or not you are LGBT this is a problem. Police officers are supposed to be people that we go to when we need help. They are not supposed to be people that we fear. Police brutality has been problem, especially if you're black.

Black people do not trust the police, especially not the "boys in blue" from NYC. Are black people justified in being scared of NYPD? Looking at the recent past there have plenty of cases where the NY Police Department has overstepped their bounds and abused there powers. This listing doesn't include the cases that have not been reported, or where people have been intimidated to keep silent.

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By Justin B Smith, Sr. Correspondent

Bonnie Pointer, what can I say? Sassy, Sensual and Sexy all in one. She has been in the music business since the 1970's and hasn't stopped since. I was honored to have been chosen to do an interview with her. She has been around the world and back. Our interview felt like I was talking an good friend and I hope it stays that way.

In our interview we talk about her sex life, her sisters, her future endeavors. We also touch on her sexual orientation. She talks about her future Album which sounds like it will be a mixture of R&B, Neo Soul, House and Techno music. She also talks about her Gay audience and how has performed at numerous Gay Prides across the country. Shes a Down home girl that doesn't mind telling it like it is. She dishes about her family and love life.

She is a fearless fiery force to reckon with and she will climb the charts once again. At times she left me speechless and wanting to know more. As I hope all of you want as well.

Without further ado let me, Justin B. Smith introduce Bonnie Pointer

Bonnie Pointer (born on July 11, 1950 in Oakland, California) is an American R&B and disco singer most notable for being a member of the popular 1970s and 1980s family music group, The Pointer Sisters. She scored several moderate solo hits after leaving the Pointers in 1977 including a disco cover of the Elgins' "Heaven Must Have Sent You" in 1979 In 1972, they recruited oldest sister Ruth and released their debut as The Pointer Sisters in 1973. Their self-titled debut yielded the hit, "Yes We Can Can", which put the Pointers on the music industry map. Between 1973 and 1977, the Pointers' melded the sounds of R&B, funk, rock & roll, gospel, country and soul. It was Anita and Bonnie who wrote the group's crossover country hit, "Fairytale," in 1974, which also became a top 20 pop hit and won the group their first Grammy for Best Vocal by a Duo or Group, Country. Anita and Bonnie also were nominated for Best Country Song at the same ceremony.

In 1977, Bonnie left the group to begin a solo career.

Bonnie signed on with Motown in 1978, and released the classic disco hit single, "Heaven Must Have Sent You." She would release three solo albums, including two self-titled albums for Motown.

In the beginning of 2008, Bonnie embarked on a European tour, supporting her new music (R&B/Soul/Funk). Bonnie also has been working on her autobiography. In January, 2008, Bonnie unveiled her new set of jazz standards, classics and The Pointer Sisters songs performed in jazz arrangements.

The Interview

LGBT African American politician, activist, scholars and up an comings will be meeting for a weekend of Faith, Fun and Family in Baltimore this month

The conference is called "Power of Us" is going to be aimed at empowerment.

TV Host Marcellas Reynolds

The three-day conference is being organized by the National Black Justice Coalition - the nation's largest Black LGBT rights group, head by CEO and Executive Director Alexander Robinson.

The weekend of April 24th - 26th is promised to be the weekend of all weekends for the 50 national experts and attendees that will be attending 35 workshops, panel discussions, and question and answer sessions.

The National Black Justice Coalition gave this statement last month. "[It] is a powerful statement for a community that is rarely portrayed in media and entertainment,"

The NBJC's "Power of Us" conference will be exact that. and will platform a range of highly successful and influential men, women and youth who are making a difference in the community as openly Black LGBT people.

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DC Public Schools has posted a fact sheet on the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning (GBLQ) DC Public School Students.

The fact sheet is based on data from the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a biennial survey conducted by DC Public Schools in partnership with the CDC. 2007 marks the first time that the District of Columbia asked students if they identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning. DCPS did not ask about transgender students, or ask questions about gender identity or expression.

The data reveals serious and widespread disparities in health and wellness experienced by GLBQ youth in DC Public Schools, and a climate that is often hostile to GLBQ students.

30% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students said they were bullied at least once on school property in the past year. More than a quarter of GLB high school students said they had skipped school once or more in the past month because they felt unsafe in school or on the way to school.

In a climate that is not supportive of GLB students, it is not suprising that GLB high school students in DC Public Schools are also at greater risk for substance use, depression, and suicide. Among the findings: · 23.5% of GLB students have used crystal meth, putting GLB students at 10 times greater risk for crystal meth use than other students · 31.1% of GLB youths say they hade "made a plan about how they would attempt suicide", a number three times greater than that of other students

DC Black Pride festival is the nation's oldest Black Pride and in 2008 it is finally legal at age 18. With the event right around the corner (Memorial Day Weekend) committee members are rushing to prepare for the gathering of locals and out-of-towners. But there is one guest the didn't count on being there:

Darryl Wilson's new Chocolate City Fest 2008.

In the past, Daryl Wilson Promotions partnered with DC Black Pride. This year things are different.

Wilson has been a pillar of the Black Gay Entertainment and Promotional circle in DC. Last year he single handedly was at the forefront of the Black & Sexy party, the Black All Over party, the Dreamboys performance, and Patti Labelle and Jennifer Hudson at Love Nightclub.

Wilson gave this statement to Metro Weekly ''For the last many, many years I've worked alongside, in conjunction with, the DC Black Pride board,'' says Wilson. ''I've just seen a breakdown in the way they promote D.C. The numbers have dropped tremendously. You don't have anyone out in the market promoting DC Black Pride. You don't hear from them except once a year.''

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Colony South Conference Center (April 6, 2008) Demour Inc proudly presents its 3rd Annual Fashion Clash Fashion Show: The Fiercest Show Ever!

Hosted by Ra-Ra

With show performances by Ellis Uniques, Rayshun LaMarr, Champion Era, Afficial & Flex Mathews to guest appearances by the fashion & music industry's leading moguls, you can not slow down the inevitable fashion
heart attack.

Fashion Clash will acknowledge the Hungry for Music charity based in Washington, D.C. by donating a portion of the night's proceeds.

The showcase includes designs by Diallo, Alek Risimnic Couture, Earle Bannister and Christian Anthony's designer J.W. Moore with the UCME Edition line. This line comes from the creative minds of St. Lunatic's very own
Kyjaun and Murphy Lee.

Advance Tickets are on sale NOW @ www.demourinc.com or can be purchased in person March 22, 23rd, and 30th at IMEG Studios located at 15873 Commerce Court , Upper Marlboro, MD 2077 from 2pm to 4pm on each day. Ticket price is $20.00 general and $40.00 for VIP seating

For more information on Fashion Clash, its sponsors or the capabilities of Demour Inc, visit www.demourinc.com. For more information about Hungry for Music please visit www.hungryformusic.com. Feel free to email
us at fashion@demourinc.com or 1-800-900-7501 for more details.

Jasmyne Cannick

American's and people around the world have something to say about Bill Clinton's remarks and actions throughout his wife's, Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign. We will hear from one of our well known LGBT leader's Jasmyne Cannick. Cannick is well known all over the world for speaking her mind and letting people know "the deal".

She has also been on the top of her game when it comes to current events and politics. Even though Cannick's opinions are often at odds with mine, we are still on the same team. After all she is what I consider to be my LGBT sister.

Now we shall hear what Cannick has to say about the Clinton campaign.

New York's Gay Men's Health Crisis is about to go forward with a new campaign. The campaign is said to be controversial even though it is a safer sex campaign.

The campaign is called "I love my boo"

"I love my boo" campaign depicts images of Black and Latino gay couples who are committed to loving and respecting each other by wearing condoms to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

One ad reads, "When we first met we didn't talk about sex, we would just use condoms and that was it. Eventually we wanted to stop using condoms so now we get tested together regularly. We are all about taking care of each other".

One more than half the ads there is a message that we all should read and comprehend. "We're about Trust, Respect and Commitment Safer sex is one way we show our love"

I have to say a big thank you to GMHC for showing Gay men of color in a different light. I myself am tired and appalled of seeing society always portraying gay men of color on the DL or sexual objects. This campaign will hopefully change people's perception of "us" and our perception of un protected sex.

Thomas Beatie

The Tranman, Thomas Beatie, used to be a woman, he appeared in the most recent issue of The Advocate  (a magazine for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender readers). According to a national magazine this Oregon man is five months pregnant!!!

Beatie wrote the article and it included a picture of him while he was 22 weeks pregnant. According to the story, he went through a sex change, but decided only to have chest reconstruction and testosterone therapy.

Beatie kept the reproductive organs he was born with. He then stopped getting the hormone injections, which still gave him the ability to get pregnant.

Now the next question is, who is the Father? Wouldn't that be a nice Maury Povich paternity test show?

According to the Associated Press a sheriff in Kansas City say a man should be charged for allowing his girlfriend, Pam Babcock, to sit on their toilet so long that her body became stuck to the seat

Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple discovered a woman living in the bathroom of a mobile home over 30 days ago

Babcock shared her cluttered mobile home with her boyfriend, Kory McFarren.

Sherriff Whipple had this statement to say about the mobile home, "The smell was overpowering - a terrible smell about the house, obviously coming from where she was at."

McFarren, 36, told police his girlfriend, had a phobia about leaving the bathroom and may not have left the bathroom in two years, although he's unsure how long she was in there.

While Babcock was on the toilet, McFarren reportedly brought her food, water, and clean clothes.

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Good News for unwed couples in Maryland. Senate has already voted to expand medical decision-making powers to partners

According to the Associated Press Unmarried couples, gay and straight, could qualify for property benefits given to married couples under a bill tentatively approved by the Maryland Senate
.
The bill allows domestic partners to avoid transfer and recordation taxes when transferring property to their partners or stepchildren. The tax benefit is currently given only to married couples.

Senators signed off on the measure after voting to close debate and prevent any filibuster attempt. The Senate already has voted to expand medical decision-making powers for domestic partners.The measures are before lawmakers amid signals from leaders that gay marriage will not be considered this year.

By Daniel J. DeNoon

Syphilis rates are six times higher for African-American men than among white men

A raging epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases in gay/bisexual men drove U.S. syphilis rates up 12% in 2007 -- the seventh consecutive year of syphilis increases.

Meanwhile, a CDC study found that tests for another common STD -- gonorrhea -- miss one in three infections among men who have sex with men.

Those findings alone are troubling enough. But the picture becomes bleaker against the background of a surging HIV epidemic.

"This increase in syphilis represents a major concern for the health of gay and bisexual men," Kevin Fenton, MD, director of the CDC's HIV/AIDS center, said at a news conference. "STDs increase HIV transmission. And if a person is already HIV infected, syphilis can increase viral load [a measure of HIV activity in the body]."

Fenton announced the new STD data at this week's National STD Prevention Conference in Chicago.

Syphilis Surges Again The syphilis numbers are shocking because just a decade ago, the U.S. was on the verge of eliminating the disease. Now 3.7 out of every 100,000 Americans -- and 6.4 out of every 100,000 American males -- carry the infection, which can cause blindness, brain damage, and death if untreated.

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According to a survey in Rome, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides are open to pre-marital sex, drugs and gay experiences.

The survey covered more than 2,500 Scouts from across Europe, aged between 16 and 22, were questioned.More than 80 per cent of those questioned said they were happy to get drunk and almost half said they would smoke marijuana if offered.

Nine out of 10 Scouts and Guides said they expected to have sex before they got married, and almost half said they would be happy to commit adultery.

"There was an open-mindedness about breaking the rules that is common among young people," said a spokesman for the Institute of the Innocents, a government-backed body which conducts research into children and families, and which compiled the results.

Around half the Scouts and Guides who took part were Italian, but British Scouts also responded.

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Former NJ Gov. McGreevey says threesome happened with wife and lover

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey said he and his wife engaged in threesomes with a male aide.
In an e-mail to The Associated Press, McGreevey confirmed published reports by former campaign aide Teddy Pedersen. Pedersen said he had consensual sex with the couple for about two years before McGreevey became governor.

McGreevey said the encounters happened, but the couple needs to move forward for the sake of their 6-year-old daughter.

"This happened, this happened in the past, and now we need to move on with our lives," McGreevey said.
In 2004 the governor resigned after acknowledging an affair with a male staffer who he said was trying to blackmail him. The ex-staffer said he was sexually harassed by the Democratic governor.

The McGreeveys are in court trying to settle a bitter divorce.

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According to Reuters taking growth hormones don't enhance athletic performance and not only is breaking the law but also comes with detrimental health risks. Human growth hormone does exactly what it sounds like, it boost body composition.

When the hormone is given to people with growth hormone deficits caused by pituitary tumors or other conditions, it can improve strength. But it does not enhance strength in normal, healthy people.

"What we saw is that while there was a change in body composition, we didn't find evidence that growth hormone improves athletic performance," Dr. Hau Liu of Stanford University in California, who led the study, said in a telephone interview.

Liu's team looked at 27 studies covering 303 people aged 13 to 45. They found that, overall, those who took growth hormone did develop more lean body mass, but this did not translate to either more strength or exercise capacity.

"The key takeaway is that we don't have any good scientific evidence that growth hormone improves athletic performance," Dr. Andrew Hoffman, a professor of endocrinology, gerontology and metabolism who worked on the study, said. Hoffman noted that other hormones have been shown to benefit athletes -- notably testosterone.

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Colin Jackson, a welsh hurdler won a silver medal in the 110 hurdles in the Olympic Games. Gay rumors have dogged him for at least the last couple years; in 2006, a male flight attendant spread rumors that they had had an affair.
 
Today Jackson 41, is an ambassador for the 2012 Olympics in London. Jackson insist he is not gay by stating to the Daily Star "I don't mind having people say what they say. I know I am not gay. It's just rubbish."

He said he had not been seen with women recently because he had not met anyone he liked.

He said: "I don't particularly want to be with any woman."

Jackson, often hailed the greatest Welsh athlete of all time, was 110m hurdles world record holder for 12 years and won Olympic silver in 1988. Jackson unlike other athletes has a positive outlook on these "false rumors". Athletes like tennis player Richard Gasquet who vehemently denied and felt insulted about accusations that he was gay, and Swiss triathlete Sebastien Gacond who was heated that Outsports.com had posted a picture of him on their site.

The Olympic silver medalist said there was no stigma attached to gay male sports stars. He said: "It's the 21st century. I don't think anybody thinks about that any more. There might have been a stigma in years gone by." As long as he's pushing the notion that being gay isn't and shouldn't be an issue in sports, I don't care whom he dates". -Cyd Zeigler jr.

The Defense of Marriage Amendment (DOMA) was passed by Congress by a vote of 85-14 in the Senate and a vote of 342-67 in the House of Representatives, and was signed by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996.

In a MTV interview, Bill Clinton acknowledged that at that time, he and his wife were concerned that a repeal of the entire DOMA would result in more states passing constitutional amendments banning gay marriage; doing so, out of fear that the repeal would force them to recognize gay marriages from Massachusetts.

The following is a transcript of Bill Clinton's DOMA remarks:

Q: The gay community has traditionally been a huge base of support for the Democratic Party. But recently Melissa Etheridge accused you of throwing the gay community under a bus. And I think that she was referring to the fact that in 1996 you signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which allows states to refuse recognition of same-sex marriage. Given that my home state of Massachusetts has legalized gay marriage, in the interim period I wanted to know what your position on same-sex marriage is today and how you would hope the---

Clinton: Well, I think it is a slight re-writing of history. Let me just say, let me remind you that one of the reasons that the Republican Party used to get its base out - I think it was in 2004 - was to have all these amendments on the ballot to change the constitution of these states to ban gay marriage.

There wasn't the time for a serious effort to argue that the Congress ought to present to the states a national constitutional amendment on gay marriage. So the idea behind the Defense of Marriage Act was not to ban gay marriage but just simply to say that just because Massachusetts recognized gay marriage that they - Hillary and I at the time defended their right to do - that marriage had always been a matter of state law and religious practice. The Defense of Marriage Act did nothing to change that. All it said was that Idaho did not have to recognize a marriage sanctified in Massachusetts.

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In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have determined that one out of every four teenage girls has a STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease). The study also found that when broken down by race, African-American girls have much higher rates of infection, with nearly half testing positive for at least one STD.

This is compared to 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American girls.

Forty percent of the girls in the study acknowledged having sex, but many define that as intercourse only. Other types of intimate behavior can lead to infections as well, and Dr. John Douglas, director of the CDC's division of STD prevention, believes that many girls aren't being screened because they don't believe they are at risk.

"High STD rates among young women, particularly African-American young women, are clear signs that we must continue developing ways to reach those most at risk," he said.

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