Lawsuit dismissed after HI passes civil unions
Hawaii’s KPUA reports six gay couples are withdrawing a lawsuit against Hawaii’s government now that same-sex civil unions have become law.
Gay-rights advocacy group Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii said legal action seeking equal rights for gays and lesbians is no longer needed since Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the civil-unions legislation.
The groups sued the state last year after then-Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a similar civil-unions measure.
On April 1, Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal said her group would work with the legal and business community to make sure the civil-unions law is implemented smoothly.
Civil unions in Hawaii, will be permitted Jan. 1, offer the same state rights of marriage to couples regardless of sexual orientation.
Archie Comics plans series for gay character
ABC News reports that, after Archie Comics’ first openly gay character prompted a second printing of one of its books, the publisher is giving the character his own mini-series.
The character, Kevin Keller, has connected with the comic-book publisher’s fans, said Dan Parent, who is writing and drawing the four-issue series that comes out in June.
There have been and are gay characters in other comics, but Keller’s role as a friend to Archie and the others at Riverdale High in “Veronica” No. 202 is part of the company’s push to keep them relevant and contemporary.
Parent said the series will focus on Kevin’s friendships, his strong bond with his father and his coming out to friends and family.
Gay sailor to stay in the Navy
The San Francisco Examiner reports a Navy petty officer who was investigated for violating the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers says a review board at his California base has voted against his discharge.
Derek Morado said the three-member board voted unanimously after a six-hour hearing at Lemoore Naval Air Station on March 31 to allow him to serve out the remaining three years of his current enlistment.
The 26-year-old Morado says he had been under investigation for violating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy since 2009, when someone reported seeing a picture of him kissing another man and that he described himself as gay on his MySpace page.
— Larry Nichols