San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

The demonstration focuses national attention on the increase in gay hate crime murders and over 16,000 hate crimes committed against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) Americans since Matthew Shepard’s death in 1998.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act honors the memory of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming college student brutally murdered in an act of hate violence in 1998, and James Byrd, an African-American man who was dragged to death in Jasper, Texas, in 1998.

(New York City) - While speaking at a star-studded major gay rights event last Thursday evening, Governor David Paterson renewed his pledge to bring the marriage equality act up for a vote when state legislators return for a special session within the next few weeks.

Dave Roberts, 48, is a two-term councilman and former Mayor, small businessman, and nationally recognized health policy advisor who has been working hard for his neighbors in San Diego County for many years. He is running against Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray.

Reverend Gilbert H. Caldwell, a straight, African-American minister (retired) in the United Methodist Church, will focus his work with PFLAG on outreach to faith communities and to LGBT people and their families in the African-American community.

Paul Haggis, award winning writer and director of such films as Crash and Million Dollar Baby, resigned from the Church of Scientology recently, due to the San Diego Church of Scientology's support of Proposition 8.

The Ali Forney Center offers emergency shelter and transitional housing in seven residential sites in New York City, and operates two drop-in centers offering food, clothing, medical and mental health treatment, HIV testing, treatment and prevention services, and vocational and educational assistance. It provides services to over 1000 young people each year.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis said yesterday a letter is being sent to defense attorneys in San Diego County apprising them of concerns from a toxicology lab about incorrect test results connected to some criminal cases, primarily misdemeanor cases.

After taking $17.8 trillion in taxpayer bailouts and backstops, the ABA and the six largest banks have spent more than $35 million fighting Congressional action on financial reform. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans continue to face rising foreclosures, record unemployment, skyrocketing bank and credit card fees, and vanishing pensions and 401(k)s.

In 2009, California passed the “California Protection of Marriage Amendment,” or “Prop 8.” Proposition 8 bravely protected the institution of traditional marriage by making sure that gay people could not participate in it. One man feels Proposition 8 did not go far enough, and that the only way to truly protect the institution of traditional marriage would be a ban on divorce.