Housing Works Rally Outside Bloomberg's Campaign HQ

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -A sporadic shout from one person, then a few more joined in and became a chant in unison, "Hey Bloomberg, AIDS needs a Mayor" marking the beginning of the Housing Works rally and protest on Oct 20 in front of 111 West 40th Street.

Terri Smith-Caronia, VP, Housing Works with anti-Bloomberg poster

Along one side of West 40th Street, in front of the building housing the re-election campaign headquarters of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a hastily constructed cordon of police barricades formed a makeshift pen for the numbers of expected protesters, which never quite materialized. As the motley group of people assembled, at about 12:45pm, 15 minutes after the scheduled start, Kristin Goodwin, director of New York Policy and Organizing, Housing Works stepped up to the podium and began to speak.

The rally, according to Housing Works, a non-profit organization committed to the twin causes of HIV/AIDS and homelessness, was intended to draw attention to Bloomberg's run for a third term as Mayor, as illegal and against term limits law which he said he would abide and reneged on; that eight years as Mayor was enough; that the Mayor had refused to participate in a survey on HIV/AIDS in the city; and that he had refused to speak with an HIV/AIDS community group, People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In a press release, Housing Works said that along with the rally, they were protesting the Mayor's failed AIDS policies.

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Ryan White Act extended to 2013; Sexual Orientation Protections; Non-Discrimination in Housing; LGBT Included in Census

By Antoine Craigwell

In one week, the U.S. Congress has by majorities, which definitively demonstrates the will of its constituents, passed significant laws in favor of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

On Monday, Oct 19, the Senate passed S. 1793, the "Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009" and on Wednesday, Oct 21, the House passed its version of the Senate bill. The House Energy and Commerce and the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committees collaborated to ensure the passage of the legislation. Although passed on Oct 19, the Ryan White Act is retroactive to its 2009 sunset clause, Sept 30, and is extended for four years, until 2013. Telling in the Senate version is the amount of money being committed to a section devoted to the Minorities AIDS Initiative over the next four years.

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New York Appellate Court Strikes Down Lower Court's Decision

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -A New York State appeals court on Oct 21 overturned a lower court's decision which had ordered that a transgender person seeking to change his or her name must provide medical evidence of the need for a name change. The appellate court ruling in the case of Leah Uri Winn-Ritzenberg, who had petitioned the court to change her name to Olin Winn-Ritzenberg, was delivered following the combined efforts of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) as part of its Name Change Project. Arguments for the case before the Appellate Court were presented by Daniel Gonen, as lead counsel, and legal briefs submitted by attorneys from the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton and from the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, on behalf of Winn-Ritzenberg.

 

A lower civil court had denied Winn-Ritzenberg's petition for a name change because there was no certification from a doctor, psychotherapist, or social worker who had determined the need for a name change. In its decision, the appellate court stated, "There is no sound basis in law or policy to engraft upon the statutory provisions an additional requirement that a transgendered-petitioner present medical substantiation for the desired name change."

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City's homeless LGBT youth focus of In The Life's new season

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - When Maxim Thorne, in the opening of the acceptance speech on behalf of Julian Bond, said that on Tuesday, Oct 13 the legendary civil rights leader and leader of the NAACP had suffered a mild stroke while on his way to his teaching assignment at the University of Virginia, an audible gasp rippled through the 200 guests gathered for the In The Life Media (ITLM) Season Premier Gala annual fund raiser at the Rubin Gallery on Oct 15.

 

Emmy Award-winning Actress Patricia Clarkson receives the "Producing Change Award" presented by filmmaker Ira Sachs. Photo by Ocean Morisset

Along with being a fund raising opportunity, the ITLM gala was also an occasion to honor two people considered champions and advocates of equality for and of LGBT issues, Bond, who was presented with the 2009 Pioneer Award and Emmy Award-winning actress Patricia Clarkson, who received the 2009 Producing Change Award. Added to the awards and fund raising, it was an occasion, to showcase the accomplishments of the public access television program in the previous season and year, and to highlight one of the main issues in its new season appearing in the October episode - a focus on the homelessness of many of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. According to an In The Life staffer, it was surprising in these lean times that the contributions that evening exceeded expectations by bringing in more than the $100,000 goal that had been set. In other words, the staffer said, the gala was a resounding success, the funds, which would be used to get the message out by telling the true story of the lives of many people.

Maxim Thorne, senior vice-president of development and communication of the NAACP accepting In The Life Media's 2009 Pioneer Award on behalf of Julian Bond. Photo by Ocean Morisset

As senior vice president, and chief development and communications officer with the NAACP, Thorne extolled Bond when he said he could hardly overstate Bond's significance in today's America, and as the Pulitzer-winning author, Taylor Branch, suggested that Bond is one of the founders of our modern democracy. "Tonight we honor Julian Bond for his commitment to equality - a firm commitment to full equality for all marginalized people, including: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons, and recognize his leadership in championing why in this country's long journey to accomplishing civil rights for all, LGBT people too must have a seat close to the front. He has been an outspoken critic of bigotry in the church and opposes the view, shared by some, that comparisons between the African-American movement for civil rights and the movement for gay and lesbian rights diminishes the historic Black struggle in this country," said Thorne.

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Rufus Wainwright performs; Charity fund raiser a success

By Sr. Correspondent, .Antoine Craigwell,
Photos by Jason W.Gibson

(New York, NY) - More than 500 people gathered at the Chelsea Art Museum for the Ali Forney Center's annual celebration: A Place at the Table.

Beginning with a tour of the Center's drop-in facility, a few doors down from where the reception was held on Oct 5, the Museum, a ultra-modern triple-level space exhibiting contemporary art, most of which were large mural type abstracts in bold splashes of color; was the locus for cocktails, a silent auction and tastings provided by celebrity chefs from eateries around the city, and awards.

Chair of the AFC Board of Directors, Kyle Merker, said that despite the problems with the economy, AFC is scheduled to open a new homeless shelter facility in Astoria, Queens, which would increase by 58 their overall bed capacity.

 

above: AFC Exec. Dir. Carl Siciliano  below: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Every night, he said, there is a list of more than 125 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people waiting for beds. He encouraged everyone to raise funds for the Center, by hosting house parties and asking friends for donations. Honored with awards, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilor Lewis Fidler, co-chair of the Council's Health Committee, for their work and commitment to serving and advancing the cause of relief for the city's homeless LGBT youth. Introducing the honorees, AFC Executive Director Carl Siciliano said that Quinn and Fidler have together been instrumental in securing more than $500,000 from discretionary funds. To applause, he added that many of the young people living in the Center's transitional houses are already enrolled in college.

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Singles out LGBT youth as most in need

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -In remarks congratulating the Ali Forney Center (AFC) for their work among homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, at their annual fund raiser, "A Place at the Table," Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the formation of a commission to address homelessness among youth in the city.

Speaking to an audience of more than 500 on Monday, Oct 5, which included City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Councilor Lewis Fiedler, co-chair of the Council's Health Committee, and the Commissioner of the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Jeanne Mullgrav; Bloomberg said that he was establishing a commission to look into and address the needs of homeless youth in the city, especially those who are LGBT. "Today we have launched a new initiative for runaway LGBT youth, headed by DYCD Commissioner Jeanne Mulgrav, and we're working with Christine Quinn and Lewis Fidler to keep the poison of homophobia from infecting others," Bloomberg said. According to a press release from the Mayor's office, the Commission "is charged with devising strategies to address the unique needs of LGBT youth before they run away, to provide homeless youth with both shelter and the support they need to live independently, or to help them reunite with their families when appropriate."

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LGBT community hopes it becomes law

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, N.Y., Friday, Oct 9, 2009) - In a 281 to 146 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday approved H.R. 2647, the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Act, otherwise called the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act

 

Added in Division E of the National Defense Reauthorization Act, the bill honors the memories of Matthew Shepard, the Laramie, Wyo., gay youth who was beaten and left to die, and James Byrd, Jr., the African-American who was dragged to his death behind a pick-up truck in Jasper, Texas; both occurring 11 years ago. The U.S. Senate voted in July to memorialize Shepard and Bryd by adding their names to the bill. It is destined for a Senate conference, is slated to pass the full Senate, and fulfilling a promise, to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. The bill had been passed by the 105th Congress but faced a veto threat from former President Bush. "As the president said back in April, the hate-crimes bill takes on an important civil rights issue to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association," said Tommy Vietor, White House spokesman. According to the Los Angeles Times, when passed, the bill would be the first major legislation since the 1968 hate-crimes law, expanding that law to cover acts of violence motivated by a victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability or gender identity. The Times added that existing federal law defines hate crimes as those motivated by bias based on religion, race, national origin or color. The House passage of this bill comes before the president is scheduled to deliver an address to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) annual fundraising dinner on Saturday in Washington, DC. "We are closer than ever before to protecting Americans from hate violence thanks to today's action by the House," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "The day is within sight when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people will benefit from updating our nation's hate crimes laws and giving local law enforcement the tools they need to combat hate violence."

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Judge's decision met by stunned silence and protests

By Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -With 524 points, the mistress of ceremonies announced, contestant no. 4 Mimi Mancini representing Jamaica, dressed in a formless satin-looking white dress, was the winner of the first ever Gay Caribbean Pageant, themed: Fostering Tolerance. The pageant, held on Sept 19, at Unity Hall, part of Unity Fellowship Church of Christ, in Brooklyn, was organized by a group of seven men and women from the island nation of St. Lucia, Fabulous Lucians, and fielded five contestants representing St. Lucia, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Martinique.

 

Ms. Barbados

The show which began some 45-minutes after its scheduled 8:00pm start time, as explained by one of the organizers was due to of the three two judges being late, sputtered to life with introductions by the MC. Ms. Sequin and solo performances by Shania, Nick Brently, and Ms. Bermuda. To the estimated crowd of 200 people, in a hall that serves as a make-shift church, and to the sounds of Calypso the five contestants, Ms. Jamaica; Frantica Boujoules, St. Lucia; Rehanna B., Barbados; Madame Fleur de Fleur, Martinique, one of the French Caribbean islands; and Vanessa Flowers, from Guyana; emerged from behind heavy pink curtains on to the stage, dressed as women in a carnival, and introduced themselves to the judges and audience. Divided into four segments, the pageant consisted of talent, beachwear, an interview, and evening wear. During the talent segment, Ms. St. Lucia performed a tribute to her homeland and which received loud and sustained audience appreciation; Ms. Barbados appeared on stage wearing a bathrobe and enacted a short skit reminiscent of the spat between her assumed namesake, Barbados pop singer Rihanna and Chris Brown, then performed a dance to Whitney Houston's "Why does it hurt so bad?" Ms. Guyana   Dressed in a traditional Indian belly dancer's costume, Ms. Guyana drew on her Indian heritage and performed a dance to a fusion of house and Indian music; Ms. Jamaica in her talent performance simulated reggae, cum dancehall movements to a musical dancehall compilation; and with an elaborate stage prop of a replica of a house, Ms. Martinique sang about not tolerating cheating.

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Being Gay 'Not Acceptable'

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -The statement from the newly appointed Libyan president of the United Nations General Assembly has rattled more than a few cages in the international lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

 

Ali Abdussalam Treki

At a press conference immediately before the opening of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, Ali Abdussalam Treki said in response to questions on several other topics declared that being gay is "not acceptable," and said that a UN resolution for a global decriminalization of homosexuality is a "very sensitive" matter. "[T]hat matter is very sensitive, very touchy," Treki said. "As a Muslim, I am not in favor of it … it is not accepted by the majority of countries. My opinion is not in favor of this matter at all. I think it's not really acceptable by our religion, our tradition. "It is not acceptable in the majority of the world. And there are some countries that allow that, thinking it is a kind of democracy … I think it is not," he added. During last year's UN session, an approved resolution was controversial, with the U.S. against it, but since coming to office, President Barack Obama has reversed course and supported the resolution. As expected, Vatican officials registered their strongest opposition, denouncing it by suggesting that it might promote gay marriage.

Toni Reis Originally sponsored by France and the Netherlands, the resolution met with concerted resistance from leaders of Arab countries, challenging the statement and condemning homosexuality. Although an anti-gay resolution failed, it garnered 60 signatures on the first day it was presented. An Arab supported coalition decried decriminalization of homosexuality because as they claim, it would lead to "the social normalization, and possibly the legitimization, of many deplorable acts including pedophilia." It is against this backdrop of anti-gay sentiment that Treki's statements were made and to which Toni Reis, president of the Brazilian Lesbian, Gay and Trans Association (ABGLT) responded by sending him a letter, ABGLT - Letter to UN President.pdf. ABGLT was founded in 1995 and is a national network of 220 lesbian, gay, trans and other human rights organizations in Brazil, and according to Reis, it has the unqualified support of the Brazilian government.

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Resolution grants change in GMHC Board, CAB Chair takes seat

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -In a stunning volte face, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) Board of Directors appointed Manuel Rivera, chair of the Consumer's Advisory Board (CAB) as a client representative to the Board.

On Sept 24, after more than three years of petitions, letters, and threats of protests from the CAB, the Board of Directors finally realized that for GMHC to continue receiving Ryan White funding, they had to abide by a resolution passed by the NYC Ryan White Planning Council and to honor the 1983 Denver Principles to have a representative from its client body on the Board.

Rivera is the first HIV-positive client to sit on the Board and represents GHMC's 15,000 clients: men, women and transgender; gay or straight; open or private about their HIV status. As of writing, Rivera's name is not listed as a Board member on GMHC's Website, even though Project Runway host Tim Gunn, appointed to the Board at the same time as Rivera, is listed.

 

Manuel Rivera In a press release issued by Housing Works celebrating this client-based achievement, GMHC had no comment on Rivera's appointment. Board co-chair Matthew Moore sent Rivera a letter on Sept 22 welcoming him to the Board. Posted on Housing Works Website on Jun 18, Diana Scholl, the press liaison said that "the New York City Ryan White Planning Council passed a resolution 20 to two calling on non-profit organizations receiving Ryan White Part A funds that primarily serve HIV-positive clients to have a consumer sit on their Board of Directors." The resolution, the result of the tireless efforts from mostly members of GMHC's CAB, especially in the adherence and enforcement of the Denver Principles, mandated that all AIDS Service Organizations receiving Ryan White funding should include HIV-positive clients on their Boards.

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UPDATE!

Missing week spent praying in a church

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(Saturday, Sept 26, 2009) - Just a day short of a full week of worrying by his partner, close friends and family, Kevin Wade Britt, Jr., today reappeared.

 

"Everybody I'm ok. Wow! After a long week of church and revival…," Britt said on his Facebook page.

In the space of an hour of posting his announcement, nine comments were added to his page; most people expressed relief that he is okay and asked him to call them. A friend on Facebook reprimanded him, saying that she was so angry with him that she was "loosing it." "I'm sorry if I have caused a lot of trouble. I don't have a cell phone so I could not call while I was away," Britt said in his apology. One person in a Facebook post admonished him, pointing out that he could have deposited .50c in any pay phone to call either his partner or his family. Britt said he was experiencing a number of things in his life and encountered a religious revival at a church where he spent the week praying. "I'm sure you all were praying as well and God heard your prayers and kept me safe. Thank you all so much, however I'm dealing with the family," he said.

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Partner appeals for help finding him

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -When 23-year-old Kevin Wade Britt, Jr. left the Hyattsville, Md. home he shared with his partner at about 11:00am on Sunday, Sept 20 to go to his office to attend to some paper work, little did anyone know that he would disappear and a there would be a full scale search on for him.

 

Have you seen this man?  - Kevin Wade Britt, Jr - Missing

Elias Fishburn, IV, Britt's partner, put notices out on his and Britt's Facebook pages when after 24 hours, Britt had not been heard from, and announcing that Britt had been missing since Sunday and a report had been filed with the police. "Your help in finding him will put a lot of hearts at rest," Fishburne said on Britt's Facebook page. "Also, if anyone knows of his blood type and Social Security number, they should call District III/Seat Pleasant, Prince George County Police Department." Britt who is originally from Talbot County, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, works as a coordinating supervisor at Psychotherapeutic Services Inc. in Landover, Md., a mental-health services provider for Prince George County residents.

Posted on Fishburn's Facebook page are photos of Britt and his four-door white Acura car which has Maryland license plates. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Britt is asked to call Officer E. Lindeman of the Prince George's County Police at 301-772-4900, and refer to missing person's case # 09-265-094.

Fulfilling promise, Black gay organization gives back to community

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -Seven people gathered in the early afternoon on Sept 17 for a check presentation ceremony in the 11th floor conference room of a west mid-town NYC office. James Wellons, Esq., CEO of Fire Island Blackout (FIBO), a Philadelphia, PA-based company, presented a $2,000 check to Carl Siciliano, founder and executive director of the Ali Forney Center (AFC), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing shelter and services for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth around the city.

 

Carl Siciliano (left), founder and executive director, AFC accepts donation from James Wellons, Esq. (right), CEO, FIBO. Photo by Antoine Craigwell

The check donation was the fulfillment of a FIBO promise to give to worthy organizations from the proceeds generated from this year's summer beach event on Fire Island, the first since holding beach parties in 2002. Wellons said that while the donation was unrestricted, could be used for whatever purpose the AFC had in mind. A separate contribution of $500 was also made to the Doctors Fund of Fire Island to assist with medical services on the island. It is hard being a teenager, it is even harder being a gay teen, and finding places to go for refuge and for safety are difficult to locate, he said, is the reason for the donation to the AFC. "As we expand FIBO and the event becomes more successful, we plan to donate to other agencies committed to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues," said Wellons.

Carl Siciliano, founder and executive director, AFC; James Wellons, Esq., CEO, FIBO; and Steve Gordon, manager, Crisis Center, AFC. Photo by Antoine Craigwell

Sciliano said that he is grateful for the donation from FIBO, that AFC really needs all the help it could get. The donation he said assists with paying rent for one of the transitional housing apartments the organization runs for homeless LGBT youth. AFC, he said, needs to raise close to $30,000 just to pay rents for the properties the organization use, but he added that this time of the year is particularly challenging, since the organization receives funds from the City, it is on a reimbursable basis, which means that AFC has to "front" most of their payments and wait for vouchers to be repaid. To date, he added, contracts with the city have not been signed and as such the organization has expended thousands of dollars and waiting for the city to honor repayment vouchers.

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LGBT Center's Out To Work Job Fair

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - Men and women dressed in business suits formed two long lines as they waited for the doors to open for the 3rd Annual Out To Work Career Fair at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center on West 13th Street on Sept 17. The lines snaked in opposite directions - one stretched eastward and curved around the corner at Seventh Avenue, the other westward toward Greenwich Avenue. As the rain fell, some who were prepared popped open umbrellas, a few others begged shelter, and some chose to brave the rain, their business suits becoming soaked.

 

At about 11:00am, volunteers flitting about the main lobby and reception area looking like waiters except for the headsets with boom microphones and name tags welcomed the many who came to the Center to see if they would be noticed by someone from human resources or a hiring manager from any one of the 40 companies who had set up tables in the main room on the ground floor and in the large room on the third floor. The career fair, hosted and sponsored by the LGBT Center in collaboration with the Chelsea Village Chamber of Commerce as a fund raising event, was outsourced to a private consultant who organized and obtained the company exhibitors, each paying $1,500 to participate, which included A&E Television, GO Magazine, Gay City News, McBurney YMCA, Chase, the Office of the Comptroller of the City of New York, the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority, Pepsi Co., VESID, and The New York Times Company.

It became quickly apparent to the men and women, mainly African American and White, looking for employment that this "career fair" was like many which have occurred around the City in recent times: not as much about companies looking to fill open positions, rather companies looking for people to sell products - sales.

Even from before, looking at the men and women standing on line waiting to enter the Center, and when they had gathered in Room 101, it also seemed that young people between ages 21 to 30 were largely outnumbered by people in their late 30s, 40s and in their 50s.

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Man seen leaving house asks for help with transportation, leaves note.

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - Once again the specter of homophobic violence reared its ugly head in the island nation of Jamaica with the discovery by police on Wednesday, Sept 9 of the body of British Honorary Consul John Terry in his bed. According to Jamaican police reports, Terry's body was discovered at his home in Mount Carey, near Anchovy in St James, not far from Montego Bay.

 

New Zealander John Terry, 65, had lived in Jamaica since 1967 and was a British honorary consul. The hotelier and coffee bean farmer was made a Member of the British Empire in 1993. Photo / AP

Karl Angell, communications director for the Jamaican Constabulary Force, said the post-mortem report stated that Terry, 65, died as a result of asphyxia due to ligature strangulation associated with other injuries to the neck and head. Detective Deputy Superintendent Michael Garrick of the Jamaican Constabulary is reported to have said that Terry's body had sustained severe head injuries to his head, consistent with being hit with a heavy blunt object possibly a nearby bedside lamp and his throat had been tied with a cord, which was attached to a piece of clothing, and which may have contributed to him being strangled. Beside Terry's body was a handwritten note which referred to Terry as a "Batty man," the Jamaican slang for homosexual and a warning, "This is what will happen to ALL gays." The note was signed "Batty man."

The Associated Press reported that the Jamaican Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Terry's death as a homophobic attack. Investigators have confirmed that there was no sign of forced entry at the four-bedroom house and do not believe that robbery was a motive for the murder. A St. James investigating officer said that it was likely that Terry knew his killer, but he said the police has not revealed any possible motives or have made any arrests. In a related story, despite having most of his shows cancelled around the U.S. due to protests and complaints against his homophobic lyrics which incite anti-gay violence, Rival Entertainment has booked Jamaica reggae dancehall artiste Buju Banton, to perform at Center Stage in Atlanta on Oct 24.

"There are no new developments up to this time, but we believe, however, that the person who murdered Mr. Terry was close to him," Garrick told the Jamaican newspapers The Gleaner.

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Supervisor Responsible for Violence Promoted

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - A gay sailor charged that he was forced to endure two years of brutal treatment by fellow U.S. Navy personnel because he refused to have sex with a prostitute.

Following on the death of Navy Seaman August Provost at Camp Pendleton in July this year, another sailor has come forward detailing a pattern of abuse and brutality meted out to suspected or gay servicemen.

 

Youth Radio reported on Sept 3, that former Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Christopher Rocha was subjected to various types of brutality for more than two years at his base in Bahrain. According to Rocha, his mates first suspected he is gay after he refused to participate in sexual encounters with a prostitute, a practice which is widespread on U.S. military bases; making it clear that he was not interested. The abuse began about six-weeks after his deployment, sometime in 2004 and lasted until about 2006. Rocha said he was especially singled out by his immediate supervisor, chief master-at-arms, Michael Toussaint. "I was in a very small testosterone-driven unit of men," Rocha says. "I think that's what began the questioning-you know-'Why don't you want to have sex with her? Are you a faggot?'" In a revealing twist, while Rocha's case was being investigated, the Navy promoted Toussaint to Senior Chief even though they were aware of the role he had as a supervisor in creating a climate of abuse and being directly responsible for the violence, as the petty officer in charge of Rocha's unit, and perpetrated or presided over most of the abuse. Documents from the Navy obtained by Youth Radio, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), confirmed that after suspecting that Rocha is gay, his mates engaged in a pattern of abuse over a period of two years, which the Navy termed hazing and included hog-tying him to a chair and pushing him, still bound, into and leaving him in a dog kennel filled with feces. In the documents Rocha claims that other sailors forced him to simulate oral sex with a man for more than thirty times, recording the activity on video tape, claiming that it is to be part of a training exercise to teach sailors how to respond to hypothetical complaints about homosexual sex. He also claims that the sailors repeatedly hit him as hard as they could, while forcing him to bend over a desk.

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Vows to continue commitment to public service

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY, Sept 2, 2009) - Even though he lost the race, his was a valiant effort. Anthony Woods' bid for California's 10th Congressional District was fought against the backdrop of many of history's leaders, who with military backgrounds embraced leadership positions as politicians. He is young and he has promise.

When the results came in overnight from yesterday's Primary, Woods placed fourth, obtaining 8 percent of the votes. He was beaten by three fellow Democrats, Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, former California State Insurance Commissioner, with 26 percent; Mark DeSaulnier with 18 percent; and state assemblywoman Joan Buchanan with 12 percent.

One of the main reasons why he tried for public office was that he saw over and over again that those who ran for office to represent the people consistently got it wrong on the issues.

"When I returned from the military, the challenges of health care and insurance, jobs and the effect of the economy on people, and not enough people treating veterans with respect, as issues facing the District were still there," Woods said. But complaints against Garamendi ranged from being a carpetbagger; not living in the District to being a career politician. Many claim that he won mainly through name recognition and the influence he has amassed over the years in politics, listing among his supporters former president Bill Clinton and former vice president Al Gore. This Primary election sought to choose out of a field of 14 candidates the person who would run against a Republican in the general election to fill the House seat vacated by the resignation in June of former Representative Ellen Tauscher, who accepted the position of Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.

Despite this loss, for Woods, 28, his initial bid for public office was not only as an African American, but as an openly gay man, which places him on the level of the late Harvey Milk, who strived to work for the people regardless of skin color or sexual orientation. Additionally, he demonstrated to the national Black gay community that someone could be Black and openly gay, and try for public office. The people of the 10th District were able to see beyond these two issues and unite around a common purpose, such as healthcare, said Woods, "I was amazed to see that my race and my sexual orientation weren't issues of concern to the voters. Race was a complete non issue. When I talked about being gay, people were shocked that the military would fire someone who is good; this is a very progressive county."

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Black LGBT celebrates on the beach

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - During the weekend of Aug 7 to 9, Black gay men and women from all walks of life set up tents and spread their blankets on the beach in Cherry Grove for the 7th Annual Fire Island Black Out.

Over three days, members of the Black gay community, from New York City and farther afield, became recognizable faces on the playground of New York City's more affluent gay community at Fire Island.

 

According to James Wellons, CEO of Fire Island Black Out, LLC (FIBO), a corporation based in Philadelphia, PA, this year's event, which featured beach sports and parties at the Crystal Palace hotel, and attracted close to 3,200 people, was a success. FIBO, since being co-founded in 2003 by John Goodman, II, and eventual sale to Wellons, who established a corporation and a board; as an annual summer event has become a staple in the calendar of the Black gay community and a part of the overall celebrations of Black Pride. Beginning with a fund raising reception on Friday evening at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Islip, Wellons and the FIBO Advisory Board greeted close to 125 people who had gathered to support the Ali Forney Center, a homeless shelter for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in the City, raising an estimated $2,000 for the Center, and $500 to the Cherry Grove Doctor's Fund. Also at the reception, Steven Gordon, spoke of the work Ali Forney Center does and services it provides to the LGBT community, Wellons introduced a new board, and made a special presentation to Goodman.

Beginning early Saturday morning, the Fire Island ferries worked double time plying the Long Island Sound transporting the numbers of people hoping to meet up with others, party, and enjoy the effects of the three "Ss," sun, sand and sea. On the beach, arrivals who registered received at the FIBO hospitality tent unique temporary FIBO tattoos, which identified the wearers as eligible for discounts from Cherry Grove merchants and which granted access to the Ice Palace pool and shower facilities.

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A first ever gay fashion show

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - Members of the Caribbean gay community are scheduled to hold the first ever gay fashion show on Sept 19, 2009, at Unity Fellowship of Christ Church on Atlantic Avenue, between Georgia and Alabama avenues, in Brooklyn.

In a press release announcing the "2009 Gay Caribbean/USA Pageant - An Effort to Foster Tolerance," the organizers, Fabulous Lucians, ask: How do we work to foster gay tolerance within our community? One way is to create an environment of openness, the release says. As a grassroots group with origins and close ties to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, the Caribbean Pageant follows on a 2004 fashion show, the St. Lucian's Gay Diva show.

Frantica Boujoules, St. Lucia

Hemish Gervis, pageant's coordinator, says that following the favorable responses from the Gay Diva show, the inspiration for this event came from the desire of the many gay men in the New York area, who have origins in the Caribbean, and who wanted to participate in a fashion show to encourage more tolerance and acceptance from their countrymen and women, many who are homophobic, often acting out in violence against the gay community. "Only five men from St. Lucia participated in the 2004 event, but the response from the community was so overwhelming that with other men from other Caribbean islands wanting to be involved, it was transformed to become Fabulous Lucians," says Gervis. Pageant contestants representing Caribbean countries are Mimi Mancini, from Jamaica; Frantica Boujoules, St. Lucia; Rehanna B, Barbados; Madame Fleur de Fleur, Martinique, one of the French Caribbean islands; and Vanessa Flowers, from Guyana.

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Opportunity to comment on CDC proposal coming to a close, Aug 17th

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) -On Jul 2, a request signed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, published in the federal register a proposed rule change to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), to remove the HIV ban that currently exists for those intending to migrate to the U.S. and for those in the country who are HIV-positive and trying to adjust their status.

 

The CDC notice referred to as 42 CFR Part 34, Docket No. CDC-2008-0001 stated that it is proposing to revise Part 34, the "Medical Examination of Aliens - Removal of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection from Definition of Communicable Disease of Public Health Significance," by removing references to HIV from the scope of examinations in its regulations. The CDC proposal included soliciting comments from the general public, which will end August 17th. The public is invited to submit comments by sending them to part34HIVcomments@cdc.gov. Information to assist with writing comments, such as links to fact sheets and other comments the CDC has so far received could be found at the CDC.. The CDC proposal referred to the Tom Lanton and Henry Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, part of the Jul 2008 legislation reauthorizing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which had removed language from the INA, and which had previously mandated that HIV be on the list of diseases that bars entry into the U.S.

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