Judas Priest Frontman Rob Halford Living Quietly in San Diego

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 8:35 am. 0 comments

Sign on San Diego has an interesting article about local resident Rob Halford.  Read more

Andre Lancaster Brings “Fire! New Play Festival” to Brooklyn

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 8:18 am. 0 comments

Freedom Train Productions presents a trio of new plays by Andre Lancaster, featuring “black, queer protagonists center stage.”  Read More

Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons Calms the Roiling Waters

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 8:09 am. 0 comments

When renowned Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested for disorderly conduct at his home in Cambridge, igniting a national uproar, one of the first sane voices to be heard was that of Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons.  Her early involvement in the public discourse helped cool the fires by providing assurance that the political leadership of the city would be viewing the incident from a wider perspective than the typical 100% support for whatever action police took.  The fact that Simmons, like Gates, is African American helped establish her credibility on the issue of whether racial profiling might have been a factor in the arrest.  Although it was not widely noted, her status as the first openly lesbian African American mayor in the US reinforces public perception of her ability to see all sides of the issues.

Mayor Simmons quickly contacted  Professor Gates, offering an apology to on behalf of the city.  A statement issued by the city a few days later referred to the incident as “regrettable and unfortunate.”  Her actions may have been a factor in Gates’s decision (so far) not to file formal complaints or pursue charges against the arresting officer Sgt. James Crowley.

After serving 9 years on the Public Schools Committee and  7 years as a City Council member, Simmons was unanimously selected by the council in 2008 to be mayor.   She succeeded Kenneth Reeves who was the first openly gay and African American mayor in the US.

Mayor E Denise Simmons

Medals of Freedom for Billie Jean King and Harvey Milk

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 11:03 pm. 0 comments

Two legendary gay figures are among the 16 notables who will receive the nation’s highest honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Tennis great Billie Jean King is remembered not only for her 12 Grand Slam singles titles, but also for blazing the trail for female athletes. In the sensational “Battle of the Sexes” of 1973 she defeated Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon’s men’s champion. President Obama also named Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1978, to receive the award posthumously. Milk is the first gay rights activist to be awarded the Medal of Freedom.

It should be noted that one of the other posthumous recipients, Congressman and Vice Presidential candidate Jack Kemp, was widely rumored to be a closeted gay or bisexual man.  He conceded that he owned a Lake Tahoe cabin in partnership with four gay men, but denied the implication that he might be gay himself.

The awards ceremony will take place in the White House on August 12.

Derek Jones and Matt Auna Confrontation Tape in LDS Plaza

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 12:21 pm. 0 comments

The Salt Lake Tribune has obtained surveillance tape showing LDS security guards confronting, separating and detaining the gay couple caught kissing on Mormon-owned property.  On July 9, Derek Jones and Matt Auna were in Main Street Plaza, which they thought was a public area, when they exchanged a hug and a kiss.

The tape shows four bulky black-suited men forming a semi-circle around the two young men while engaging them in an apparently heated conversation.  One of the men in black approaches one of the young men, pointing his finger and apparently reaching to touch him, provoking the young man to push back.  The others move in to separate the couple and a struggle ensues.  The incident sparked “kiss-ins” in Salt Lake and other cities in the US.

The Salt Lake prosecutor has refused to pursue charges against the couple, on the grounds that they believed they were on public property and that guards had no right to eject them.  The plaza was formerly public property, purchased by the church in 1999, but there are no signs that indicate it’s now private property and signs of affection are prohibited.  State law requires the property owner to let the public know what rules to follow.

Main Street Plaza has reportedly been the scene of all kinds of heterosexual kissing in the past, including wedding celebrations, but the gay smooch set off the alarms in LDS security central.

Sarah Waters and Colm Tóibín on Booker Prize Longlist

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 8:42 am. 0 comments

Two openly gay writers are among the 13 who have made the first cut for the prestigious Man Booker Prize 2009.  Waters’ The Little Stranger is a psychological thriller set in post-War England.  Tóibín’s Brooklyn is about a young Irish girl’s journey to America.  The Booker Prize shortlist of six titles will be announced on September 8th.

Sarah Waters

Colm Tóibín

Celina Jaitley Fighting for LGBT Rights in India

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 8:15 am. 1 comment

A rising star in Bollywood and Hollywood, actress Celina Jaitley is becoming well known in India for her leading role in promoting LGBT rights.  Gay rights issues have become a hot topic after the Delhi Supreme Court ruled that colonial-era laws banning homosexuality are unconstitutional.  As Jaitley said, “With great pride and tears I would like to congratulate the entire LGBT community.  Homosexuality is now legal in India.  Our long battle is won and with pride can the gay walk with their heads held high.”

Jaitley is a former Miss India and was a finalist for Miss Universe in 2001.   Her recent film, Golmaal Returns is a huge success, and she’s slated to co-star with Sean Connery and Orlando Bloom in the upcoming Quest of Sheherzade.

Jaitley points to two gay men as the source of her inspiration to become involved in the movement for LGBT civil rights.  One of them was a former boyfriend who died last year, as Jaitley notes, “having been a victim of depression and bulimia due to the stresses of being gay in a homophobic society.”  The other was a transgender make-up artist who became like a mother figure to her and fostered her early career. “Thanks to him I became a Miss India,” says Jaitley recalling that, “He, too, suffered in the battle against society and underwent many heartbreaking incidents of gay-bashing before passing away in an accident two years ago.”

Jaitley has been unafraid to incorporate gay and lesbian elements into her personal life and career, and in 2006 the Internet rumor mill had her teamed up with Madonna and Isha Kopikar for a lesbian-themed photo shoot.  At around the same time a photo was circulated of Jaitley kissing Kim Shrma in a film scene.

Video below of Jaitley at the re-opening of LGBT magazine Bombay Dost.  The magazine had been out of print for 7 years but was revitalized with Jaitley’s support and began a new run earlier this year.

Celina Jaitley

Gay Lawyer Pepin Tuma Arrested in DC for Disorderly Conduct

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 9:44 pm. 0 comments

D.C. Police are investigating the arrest of attorney Pepin Tuma, 33, who claims he was insulted and unfairly charged with disorderly conduct.   The incident occurred near the corner of 17th and U Street in Washington DC shortly after midnight on July 26.  Tuma and some friends had been discussing the disorderly conduct arrest of Harvard professor William H Gates in Cambridge, which has sparked a national uproar.  Tuma spotted half a dozen District police squad cars surrounding two cars in an apparent traffic stop near his home in the hip gay U-corridor neighborhood.  Noting the police overreaction, Tuma called out to his friends, “I hate the police.”  This drew the attention of Second District Officer J. Culp who allegedly pushed Tuma against a transformer box, called him a “faggot,” placed him under arrest and handcuffed him.  Tuma was charged with disorderly conduct and compelled to pay $35 before being released a few hours later.

Tuma has filed a complaint with the Second District Police Department, alleging a lack of probable cause, a false arrest, and that the officer used harassing and demeaning language.  He’s awaiting a response.

Pepin Tuma

Frank Selvaggi on Board of Directors for Signature Bank

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 7:56 am. 0 comments

Signature Bank, a New-York based full-service commercial bank, announced today the appointment of Frank R. Selvaggi, CPA, to its Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2009.  Selvaggi is a senior partner at Altman, Greenfield & Salvaggi LLP, the accounting firm he co-founded in 1986, which is known for its work with some of the top talent in the entertainment industry.

Selvaggi is a Board Member and Co-Chair of The Empire State Pride Agenda, which advocates for LGBT civil rights in New York.  He’s also actively involved in the theatre, on the Board of Directors for the Old Vic in London currently under artistic director Kevin Spacey, and formerly on the board of Naked Angels, the New York theatre company.

Selvaggi is married to artist Bill Shea, the senior creative director at McCann Erickson.

Video below shows Selvaggi introducing activist David Mixner at the 2007 Empire State Pride Agenda Fall Dinner.

Professor Simon Karlinsky, 84, dies of heart failure

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 10:18 pm. 0 comments

Simon Karlinsky, professor emeritus at UC Berkeley and author of influential books about Slavic and Russian writers, died July 5 at his home in Kensington, California.  He was 84.  Karlinsky was known for his insightful criticism and translation of the works and lives of Nikolai Gogol, Vladimir Nabokov, and Anton Chekhov.  Los Angeles Times critic Robert Kirsch wrote that his Anton Chekhov’s Life and Thought “may be the best single study of Chekhov ever done.”

Karlinsky focused much of his work on gay and lesbian writers including Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva.  His Sexual Labyrinth of Nikolai Gogol examines the impact of Gogol’s homosexual orientation on his work and life.

Karlinsky was born in Manchuria but settled in Los Angeles when he was 14.  He joined the US Army in 1943 and served as an interpreter in Germany.  Karlinsky would recall “the most extraordinary conversation of my life,” which he had with two gay Russian performers in 1945 as they were touring post-war Germany.  They told him tales of persecution in Russia as he shared with them his own experiences as a gay soldier in the US military.

Karlinsky often contributed historical articles to gay magazines including Christopher Street, Gay Sunshine, and The Advocate.

Karlinsky is survived by his husband and partner of 35 years, Peter Carleton.

Simon Karlinsky Photo: Lili Shidlovski