Lawsuit filed against Westchester police
The Wall Street Journal reports a lawsuit alleges the Westchester County, N. Y., police sought to humiliate gay men and ignored the fact that many of the cases were sealed when they released the names of 16 men in a crackdown on sexual activity in a local park.
The suit says the men in at least a dozen cases pleaded guilty to violations, the equivalent of speeding tickets. They didn’t face any sex charges.
It was filed by the Lambda Legal organization on behalf of a man who said he was horrified to find his name and photo in newspapers and local websites last year.
The police news release said the men were accused of misdemeanors such as public lewdness at Saxon Woods Park in White Plains.
The police department didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Gay ex-Boy Scout gets $20K check
The Sacramento Bee reports a Northern California Boy Scout who was denied the opportunity to become an Eagle Scout and kicked out of his troop after he came out as gay has secured a considerable consolation prize: a $20,000 check for college and a national television audience.
Ellen DeGeneres booked 18-year-old Ryan Andresen of Moraga as a guest on her talk show Oct. 11, which was National Coming Out Day. After talking with Andresen about his experience, DeGeneres surprised him with the check provided by online photo publisher Shutterfly.
Andresen’s mother, Karen, launched an online petition last week to get the master of her son’s to sign off on a project that would allow him to become an Eagle Scout. The Boy Scouts of America has a policy prohibiting gay members or troop leaders.
Maine gay marriage campaign gets $225K donation
The Boston Globe reports the Human Rights Campaign is donating $225,000 to Mainers United for Marriage as part of its national campaign in support of gay marriage.
The donation is part of $1 million in contributions to marriage-equality campaigns in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. Mainers United for Marriage said the Human Rights Campaign has contributed $7.3 million to legislative and electoral marriage issues in 2011-12.
HRC President Chad Griffin said voters in the four states have a chance to make history in supporting marriage equality at the polls.
Maine residents are voting on a ballot Nov. 6 that legalizes same-sex marriage.
Gallaudet criticized for placing official on leave
The Washington Post reports groups on both sides of the gay-marriage debate are speaking out against Gallaudet University in Washington. The statements come after an administrator was placed on leave because she signed a petition opposing gay marriage.
Marylanders for Marriage Equality campaign manager Josh Levin says Angela McCaskill “should be reinstated immediately” as chief diversity officer at Gallaudet, the nation’s leading university for the deaf and hard of hearing. Although the group supports gay marriage, Levin says “everyone is entitled to free speech.”
McCaskill, a Maryland resident, signed a petition circulated by marriage-equality opponents to put the issue on the ballot in November. Maryland legalized gay marriage this year, but the law hasn’t taken effect.
The conservative Family Research Council issued a statement calling Gallaudet’s action discriminatory.