Bay Windows
Local police officer testifies on ENDA
Springfield Police Det. Michael Carney testified in favor of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) before a congressional subcommittee Sept. 5.
Political notes
At her victory celebration at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lowell on Sept. 4, Niki Tsongas, who prevailed in the five-way Democratic primary for the Fifth Congressional District seat formerly represented by Marty Meehan, told the jubilant crowd of several hundred that the special election, in which she’ll face Republican Jim Ogonowski, will be a referendum on the presidency of George W. Bush. "It is a chance for us, the voters of the Fifth Congressional District, to weigh in on the policies of the Bush Administration and to send a message to White House."
Stonewall Communities homes go on sale
Stonewall Communities announced that the 53 homes in the not-yet-built Stonewall Audubon Circle project, a living community in the Fenway neighborhood designed for older LGBT people, went on sale Aug. 31.
Henry Corra’s Same Sex America :: A family affair
Henry Corra’s Same Sex America, a documentary of the lives of seven same-sex couples in Massachusetts during the post-Goodridge years, provides firsthand accounts of what it was like to live in the state during the legislative battles fought around civil marriage rights.
Clothes make the Man of La Mancha
Steven Sondheim famously reminded us that "the art of making art is putting it together, bit by bit." But when you watch a show - for instance, The Lyric Stage’s production of Man of La Mancha, which opens this weekend - hopefully you will be transported by the story and not think about the weeks of hard work that made it possible.
Lesbian trail blazer Maxine Feldman dies
Max Feldman, who wrote and recorded the first song that proclaimed a lesbian identity, died unexpectedly at home in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 17. Feldman, who was 62, died of natural causes, said Helen Thornton, Feldman’s partner of four years.
Study finds most top universities have trans policies
The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) issued its second annual Gender Equality National Index for Universities and Schools (GENIUS) Index - and found that among the top 25 schools on the 2008 "America’s Best Colleges" list, two-thirds have non-discrimination policies covering gender identity or expression.
Family of Brockton homicide victim did not know he was gay
About 40 people turned out for a vigil outside the Brockton Trial Court complex Aug. 17 in response to the three domestic violence murders that took place in the city in the span of about a week, including the murder of 20-year-old Claudio Montrond, who was allegedly killed by his ex-boyfriend Laurence Bynum-Harris, also 20.
Cirignano trial to begin in October
After several months of court appearances a trial date has been set for Larry Cirignano, who faces charges of misdemeanor assault and battery and civil rights violations for allegedly shoving a same-sex marriage supporter at a rally in Worcester last December for VoteOnMarriage.org, the organization that sponsored a failed amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Cirignano’s jury trial will begin Oct. 15 at Worcester District Court according to Jennifer Nadeau, spokesperson for Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr.
Kucinich to court the gays in Ogunquit
Fresh from his appearance on the Aug. 9 Logo/Human Rights Campaign televised Democratic candidate forum, where he received some of the loudest applause of the night and was treated like a rock star by Melissa Etheridge, an actual rock star, Ohio congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will court the gays in person at a meet-and-greet in Ogunquit, Maine, on Aug. 26.
Scondras pleads guilty to child enticement
Former Boston City Councilor David Scondras, the first and only openly gay man to serve on the council, pleaded guilty to enticement of a child under 16 in Lawrence District Court Aug. 21.
Discharged soldier: ’Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is undermining U.S. security
And at a panel discussion in Concord, N.H., former U.S. Army Sgt. Sonya Contreras, who served in Kosovo and then went on to be top recruiter before being discharged in 2003 under "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," pitted the oft-stated argument that openly gay service members undermine troop morale against the current recruiting reality.
BPHC defends controversial condom billboard
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) defended its "Are you using?" public awareness campaign, which featured billboards and MBTA ads promoting condom use to prevent the spread of HIV, against charges by a Dorchester Catholic school that the placement of one of the billboards near the school was inappropriate.
Couple in dispute with Somerville police agree to continuance
Rebecca Knobel and Catherine Courtemanche, both of Nashua, N.H., agreed to a continuance without finding in Somerville District Court Aug. 14 regarding the criminal charges against them for disorderly conduct and, in Knobel’s case, resisting arrest.
New state police LGBT liaison named
Massachusetts State Police Lt. Barbara Bennett recalls her initial response to Sgt. Lorraine Cambria’s suggestion that Bennett apply to succeed her as the State Police Liaison to the LGBT Community: "I’m not a parade-marcher."
Presidential contenders get their gay on in Boston
First, an example of the hazard of hosting a political event in a bar smack dab in the middle of summer: As the Logo - Human Rights Campaign (HRC) televised presidential forum wrapped up on Thursday night, over at Club Caf?, a bearded guy clad in a blue Izod shirt, shorts and clutching an Amstel Light leaned over and asked a female patron with shoulder-length blonde hair and wearing an orange T-shirt, "Is this a bar or a political event? I don’t get it." The woman, somewhat tersely, responded that that the crowd had been watching a presidential forum devoted to LGBT issues. "Is it over?" asked Blue Izod. "Yes," replied the woman. "Oh, thank God," he said.
Judy Tenuta, Carnival Queen
Get ready, pigs! Comedy legend and love goddess Judy Tenuta is the featured act at this year’s Carnival Week in Provincetown - and we have the interview with the sassy big mouth herself.
Cambridge senate race heating up
When it comes to support for LGBT issues, the winner of the special election to succeed former state senator Jarrett Barrios, who vacated his Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex District seat in July, will have big shoes to fill. So who among the candidates is best suited to the task?
Candidates court LGBT celebs
In the run-up to the Aug. 9 LGBT-themed Democratic presidential debate on Logo, the campaigns of Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made their latest play for the LGBT vote, announcing high-profile gay endorsements last week, The Clinton campaign won the support of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), while Obama picked up the support of New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson.
Get Drunk and Vote at Revive Thursdays
Six of the eight Democratic presidential contenders for 2008 will be participating in a forum tonight - and it will be screened live at Club Cafe for "Revive Thursdays." We’re in the spirit, so here’s a drinking game to play while the debate rages.