Del. city councilman comes out
The Newark Post reports Newark, Del., City Councilman Ezra Temko publicly came out as bisexual in a Feb. 11 interview. He spoke to the paper about his relationship with his boyfriend Drew.
Since his election, the 23-year-old first-term councilman has pursued city ordinances prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
“Nobody ever asked me about my sexual orientation and I don’t believe it has any bearing on my ability to serve,” he said. “When I was running for council, I was single, so it really didn’t come up. Drew and I go to public events together and our relationship is fairly obvious on Facebook. I think everyone who would normally know I’m dating someone knows I’m dating Drew.”
Comic to headline correspondents’ dinner
365gay.com reports that out comic and actress Wanda Sykes announced Feb. 12 that she will perform at the annual White House correspondents’ dinner on May 9.
“The first thing I did when they asked me to do this gig: I made sure my taxes were paid,” quipped Sykes, taking a dig at former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle.
Sykes, 44, has appeared on “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “The Chris Rock Show” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Last year, the comedian publicly announced she was gay and spoke out against the passage of Proposition 8 in California.
Bishop blasts college for gay-rights speaker
CBS 21 News in Harrisburg reports a Roman Catholic bishop in northeastern Pennsylvania has criticized a local Catholic university’s for hosting a gay-rights advocate.
Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino said Misericordia University is failing to maintain its religious identity by welcoming Keith Boykin and described his beliefs as “disturbingly opposed to Catholic moral teaching.”
Boykin spoke about Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California, on Feb. 17.
Boykin’s appearance was sponsored by Misericordia’s Diversity Institute, which is dedicated to promoting multicultural understanding and eliminating discrimination.
A statement from the school on Feb. 16 said Misericordia is committed to its Catholic mission and to its academic mission of exploring ideas “critically and freely.”
— Larry Nichols