Media Trail

Gay dad and kids receive benefits

365gay. com reports the Social Security Administration has approved benefits to the children of a disabled gay father after a three-year battle.

In February 2006, Gary Day completed the applications for Child Insurance Benefits for his children. The SSA acknowledged that it received the application and promised to provide a response in 45 days.

After more than a year with no response, Lambda Legal sent a letter on Day’s behalf seeking action by the agency. The SSA still did not provide an initial determination of eligibility, citing unspecified “legal questions and policy issues.”

In May 2008, Lambda Legal filed suit against the SSA.

The agency finally sent a letter to Lambda on April 24 recognizing the legal relationship between Day and his children.

Thousands in Iowa protest gay marriage

The Des Moines Register reports more than 17,860 Iowans have signed petitions protesting gay marriage as of April 27.

That tally came from reports by county recorders and represents 0.6 percent of Iowa’s population.

Some officials said recorders might be hesitant because gay-marriage opponents could target them when re-election time rolls around for processing same-sex-marriage applications.

The Iowa attorney general’s office said all of the protest petitions are public records and that the number of signatures should be released.

Gang member gets life for murdering lover

Advocate.com reports a member of the Latin Kings gang was convicted April 24 of first-degree murder in the death of his lover in North Andover, Mass.

After seven hours of deliberation, the jury found Christian “King Joker” Almonte, 26, guilty of murdering Willie Escobar, 41.

Almonte, who had a secret relationship with Escobar for several years, reportedly killed him out of jealousy and to conceal the relationship.

Almonte stabbed his boyfriend 20 times in the victim’s apartment with a kitchen knife in February 2008.

He will serve a life sentence without possibility of parole.

— Larry Nichols

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