Obama includes gays for Family Day
Advocate. com reported President Obama included gay- and lesbian-led families when he issued a proclamation to acknowledge Sept. 28 as Family Day.
“American families from every walk of life have taught us time and again that children raised in loving, caring homes have the ability to reject negative behaviors and reach their highest potential,” he wrote. “Whether children are raised by two parents, a single parent, grandparents, a same-sex couple, or a guardian, families encourage us to do our best and enable us to accomplish great things.”
Obama also asked parents to be more diligent in talking to children about harmful behavior like drug and alcohol abuse.
Billboard featuring gay soldier vandalized
NBC’s WLBT Channel 3 reported Sept. 25 that vandals shred a billboard in Memphis featuring a gay soldier.
The billboard featured a Marine and read: “I’m gay and I protected your freedom.” It was part of a campaign for National Coming Out Day.
Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center president Heidi Williams said she was appalled by such an act.
“I know that they intended to silence us with hate. However, we are choosing to unite and come over that with a stronger voice, and a message that we are here — and we deserve equality as well as everyone else,” she said.
Gay man found not guilty of kidnapping
Deseret News reported that a Salt Lake County jury acquitted David James “D.J.” Bell of kidnapping and burglary charges on Sept. 25, ending a bizarre case in which he and his partner were severely beaten after Bell brought two children from a loud drinking party next door to sleep at his house.
An eight-person jury found Bell not guilty of the charges brought by his neighbor, Lulu Latu, who discovered her 2-year-old daughter and 4-year-old nephew in his home after a rowdy Fourth of July celebration concluded at her house in 2008.
Relatives severely beat Bell and his partner, Daniel Fair. Bell’s defense attorneys maintained that the case was better understood as a hate crime against Bell and Fair.
— Larry Nichols