Merce Cunningham Dies at 90
July 29, 2009 by Anna @ GLAAD
Openly gay choreographer Merce Cunningham died in his NYC apartment on Sunday, July 26, at age 90.
Over the course of his 60-year career, Cunningham established himself as one of the leading pioneers of dance theater. He founded the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, in which he performed in every single show until he turned 70.
As several LGBT blogs have noted, Cunningham was renowned not only for his avant-garde choreography, but also for his professional and romantic partnership with musician John Cage. In an interview with The Guardian in 2000, Cunningham was quoted saying, “I don’t think I was guarded about my personal life. John and I were together. We did our work together. We traveled together. What more is there to say?”
By the 1950s, they had became known as a groundbreaking force in the world of dance. His and Cage’s contribution to dance is widely recognized in art circles, and is one important example of the LGBT community’s participation in the evolution of art and culture.
A collection of his notable performances can be found on YouTube.
Related Posts:Man Arrested In Connection With Anti-Gay Robberies in N.Y.
July 15, 2009 by Anna @ GLAAD
Driton Nicaj, a 19-year old Manhattan man, was arrested last Friday in connection with a string of anti-gay robberies that took place on the Upper East Side in May and June. Nicaj is being held on charges of aggravated harassment and robbery as a hate crime.
According to Paul J. Browne, the NY Police Department’s chief spokesman, Nicaj confessed to being involved in at least one of the attacks during the one month span during which Nicaj and a group of men beat, robbed and yelled anti-gay slurs at multiple victims. Police are still in search of at least four other as yet unnamed suspects in connection with the crimes.
One of the assaults occurred during NYC’s Pride Week celebrations and targeted former Village Voice staffer Joseph Holladay, who was hospitalized after being beaten and left unconscious.
Local newspaper Our Town reported that another of the victims was approached by a group of four men while sitting on a park bench with a male friend. The men asked, “Are you guys gay? Gross.” and proceeded to mug the victims.
Cases of violence like this against the LGBT community underscore the need for exhaustive federal hate crime legislation like the Matthew Shepard Act to combat the pervasive problem of hate-motivated crimes. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, reports of violence against LGBT people have increased in severity across the country, reaching the highest rates in more than a decade. Seventeen percent of last year’s anti-gay murders were committed in the New York City area alone.
In a letter to the editor in The New York Times, NYC Anti-Violence Project’s Executive Director Sharon Stapel stated:
“The Matthew Shepard Act, which if passed by the Senate would expand the 1968 federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, is long overdue (editorial, May 6).
In today’s world, which is so diverse, we cannot condone violence based on actual or perceived identity. If we do, we are all vulnerable.
At the New York City Anti-Violence Project, we know that more is needed. We also must stop the violence from happening in the first place. This requires public education and training of first responders and law enforcement.
We know in New York that hate-crimes protection can be a powerful tool in prosecuting crimes, but it does not prevent them. Each year we see violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities increase, despite this legislation.
To prosecute these crimes is one way to vindicate the lives of those who died because of who they are, and we have an obligation to do so. But to truly eradicate violence, we have to go beyond punitive measures to preventive ones, so that we don’t lose another Matthew Shepard to this senseless violence.”
The timing of these violent crimes in relation to the 40 Year Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots is a startling reminder of the importance of inclusive hate crime legislation in securing the safety and well-being of LGBT individuals.
For more information on how to support the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, check out The Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Related Posts:Sean Kennedy’s Killer to be Released Early
July 2, 2009 by Anna @ GLAAD
Sean Kennedy
Upsetting news from South Carolina.
On July 1st, Stephen Andrew Moller was released early from prison after serving a reduced sentence for the 2007 murder of openly gay Sean Kennedy. Moller was found guilty in the death of Kennedy, who he attacked while using anti-gay slurs. While 30 states and the DC have hate crimes laws, South Carolina lacks any hate crimes protections, including protections for the LGBT community.
Elke Kennedy Speaking Out
Sean’s mother Elke Kennedy – with whom we have worked very closely to help bring awareness and visibility to Sean’s story and the vital need for LGBT-inclusive hate crimes protections – voiced her frustration with Moller’s early release, saying:
“He should have served every single day of the already short sentence, instead he was released from prison today, one week early.
Where is the justice?”
After her son’s death, Elke Kennedy established the foundation Sean’s Last Wish to advocate for hate crimes legislation in South Carolina.
Sean’s mother’s full statement and information on her foundation Sean’s Last Wish after the jump…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1st, 2009
Contact: Elke Kennedy
Sean’s Last Wish
www.seanslastwish.org
(864)-884-5003
elke@seanslastwish.org
Stephen Moller get’s released 1 week early
Greenville, SC – Elke Kennedy was informed via Phone today, July 1st 2009, that Stephen Andrew Moller has been released from prison. Mr. Moller was responsible for the murder of her son Sean Kennedy on May 16th 2007. He was indicted for only involuntary manslaughter and sentenced on June 11 2008 to a 5 year sentence suspended to three years, received credit for the 199 he served in county lock-up. He was supposed to stay in prison till September 7th 2009, however he received 2 month credit for good behavior by getting his GED while in prison.
He was eligable for early parole on December 28th 2008 already. In an early parole hearing on February 11 2009 he was denied parole and his release date was set to July 7th 2009.
Again the judicial system failed they say one thing and do something else. He should have served every single day of the already short sentence, instead he was released from prison today, one week early.
Where is the justice?
Related Posts:UPDATE: Military Board Recommends Dismissal of Lt. Dan Choi
July 1, 2009 by Anna @ GLAAD
On Tuesday, a military administrative board recommended that Lt. Dan Choi – Iraq war veteran, Arabic linguist, and member of the LGBT service member’s organization Knights Out – be discharged from the National Guard under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. The panel of military administrators heard Choi’s testimony and, after four hours of deliberation, submitted their recommendation.
Lt. Choi became one of the leading advocates for the repeal of DADT after coming out in March in the Army Times newspaper and on The Rachel Maddow Show.
In a statement to MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, Lt. Choi responded to the decision saying, “I’m disappointed but I need to send a message to my soldiers that if you get knocked down, get yourself back up and keep fighting. What kind of officer or leader would I be if I gave up?”
Lt. Choi’s case now goes to the First Army commander and the chief of the National Guard Bureau for review. If discharged, Lt. Choi will become the 266th service member to be dismissed under DADT since President Obama took office in January 2009.
News of Lt. Choi’s dismissal comes after a slew of media coverage of DADT in the past week:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates issued a statement indicating that he wants to make the implementation of DADT “more humane” until Congress can address its possible repeal. Secretary Gates stated he has lawyers studying ways the law might be “selectively enforced.”
The White House also issued this response to a question regarding the timetable for the repeal of the policy:
Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach appeared on Tuesday’s CNN Newsroom to discuss his own pending dismissal. The 19-year veteran spoke with President Obama at this week’s White House reception celebrating the 40th anniversary of Stonewall. Although the Lt. Col. was hopeful for President Obama’s movement on DADT, he did not appear as hopeful for his own pending case:
“I think that I may end up being discharged at the end of the day, but if the law’s repealed, then that’s—that’s for the greater good. I hope that, if it is repealed, then maybe I can come right back in the military and finish out my career.”
On Monday’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, Chuck Todd interviewed openly gay Rep. Jared Polis of Colo. During the interview, Rep. Polis voiced his support for the repeal of DADT saying:
“Really, the only area where I have seen any disagreement over this is under the Capital dome. I think we need to make a lot of progress on that. The American people and the military are more than ready.”
Keith Olbermann brought on writer and LGBT advocate Dan Savage on Countdown to discuss President Obama’s addressing of DADT during the White House reception in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Savage brought up the interesting comparison between Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s suspension of the “widower’s penalty” – a policy which requires the deportation of non-citizen widowers of U.S. citizens – to the reluctance of the Obama administration to halt DADT dismissals. Savage sarcastically joked, “[Napolitano] seems to have authorities and powers that the President, her boss, Commander-in-Chief does not.”
We’ll keep you updated as Lt. Choi’s case progresses.
Related Posts:NH Gov. To Sign Marriage Equality Law – With A Few Changes
May 14, 2009 by Anna @ GLAAD
Today, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch announced that he will sign the state’s recently approved marriage equality legislation – if a few changes are made to the legislation’s wording. The Gov. voiced concerns over the rights of religious institutions and suggested a change in the legislation’s language. In a press conference, the Governor expressed his support for marriage equality:
Throughout history, our society’s views of civil rights have constantly evolved and expanded. New Hampshire’s great tradition has always been to come down on the side of individual liberties and protections.
In an official press release, the Governor outlined the changes that would be required for him to sign the legislation into law:
This morning, I met with House and Senate leaders, and the sponsors of this legislation, and gave them language that will provide additional protections to religious institutions.
This new language will provide the strongest and clearest protections for religious institutions and associations, and for the individuals working with such institutions.
It will make clear that they cannot be forced to act in ways that violate their deeply held religious principles.
If the legislature passes this language, I will sign the same-sex marriage bill into law. If the legislature doesn’t pass these provisions, I will veto it.
We can and must treat both same-sex couples and people of certain religious traditions with respect and dignity.
You can read the full press release here.
Mo Baxley, executive director of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, was quoted by The Boston Globe responding to the Gov.’s proposed changes, “This is language we can support.”
New Hampshire legislators have indicated that they will approve the alterations shortly– making the Granite State the sixth state to implement marriage equality for gay couples.
We’ll be monitoring the progress and will keep you updated when new developments break!
Maine Public Hearing on Marriage Equality Tomorrow
April 21, 2009 by Anna @ GLAAD
On Wednesday, the Augusta Civic Center in Maine will host a public hearing on a set of marriage equality bills that are currently up for consideration in the state legislature.
Equality Maine is urging LGBT residents and allies of Maine to come out to the hearings.
As noted by local Maine paper, The Morning Sentinel, up for discussion are two separate bills addressing two very different approaches to state recognition of same-sex couples:
The first piece of legislation, proposed by state Sen. Dennis Damon of Trenton, would extended full marriage equality to same-sex couples. The legislation would also maintain that religious institutions would not be compelled to perform wedding ceremonies.
The second bill proposed by state Rep. Leslie Fossel of Alna would establish a domestic partnership registry, which would extend some protections and benefits to same-sex, couples.
A progressive blog in Maine, Turn Maine Blue, notes that doors open at 8am and the hearing begins at 9am. They also list the rules of the hearing:
Public Hearing Procedure
• To allow time for as many participants as possible to testify:
* A person may testify only once, for a maximum of 3 minutes per person; rebuttal testimony is not permitted.
* Avoid redundant testimony.
* Groups are encouraged to select a spokesperson.
* When not testifying, please remain quiet or step outside so others can hear the testimony and help the process move efficiently.
* Minors are present; all testimony and conversations must be kept appropriate and dignified.
• If you have written testimony, please give 20 copies to the staff before speaking.
* Signs, pictures, posters or banners, balloons or sticks are not allowed in the building or outside on Civic Center property.
* Demonstrations, chanting or other disruptive behavior is prohibited.
* Weapons of any type are prohibited on Civic Center grounds.
* Smoking is allowed beyond the sidewalk curb, as designated by the Civic Center.
* Civic Center will be open serving food and drink.
* Paper copies of the bill will NOT be available at the hearing.
* Access to the public hearing is via the first floor only. Other events are occurring in the building.
* Ample seating is expected to be available throughout the day.
The issue of marriage equality and tomorrow’s hearing were discussed this afternoon on The Maine Public Broadcasting Network (you can click here to listen):
Speaking in Maine comes to us next from the Muskie School of Public Service at USM for a forum on a possible Same Sex Marriage Law. Two pieces of pending legislation that would change the definition of marriage and civil unions in Maine will heard on Wednesday, April 22 in the legislature. Forum Panelists will be Democratic Senator Dennis Damon (D) and Republican Representative Les Fossel (R) who have each sponsored pending legislation, Shenna Bellows from the Maine Civil Liberties Union, Marc Mutty representing the Catholic Diocese, and Ron Gobeil from the Maine Marriage Initiative.
According to the Associated Press and The Bangor Daily News, the state’s move on marriage equality has drawn small groups of anti-gay activists from across the country.
In the blogosphere, Joe.My.God and Wicked Gay Blog have commented on the lead up to the public hearings. Back in March, Pam’s House Blend compiled the statements of a number of social workers, psychologists and children’s interests organizations who spoke out in support of marriage equality in Maine.
