Harvey Milk

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved changing the name of Blaine Avenue in the historically LGBT neighborhood of Hillcrest to Harvey Milk Street. The name change will honor the late civil rights activist, who was the first openly gay elected official in the United States.

San Diego is the first city in the U.S. to honor Milk by naming a street after him. Already, there are schools and various community centers named after Milk.

City commissioner and chairman of the Harvey Milk GLBT Historic Task Force of San Diego County, Nicole Murray Ramirez, told San Diego LGBT Weekly, “This victory was eight years in the making. We had tried to name Centre Street in front of the Center … but we dropped it because of opposition.”

Blaine Avenue, the street whose name will be replaced, is located two blocks from Cleveland Avenue near the San Diego LGBT Community Center.

During the public comment section of the Council meeting only one person, James Hartline, spoke against the motion. Several high-profile LGBT community leaders spoke or were in attendance during the historic city council meeting, including Dwayne Crenshaw, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride; Susan Jester, cofounder of AIDS Walk in San Diego and former president of the San Diego chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans; Stampp Corbin, San Diego LGBT Weekly publisher and former co-chair for LGBT issues of the Obama for America Campaign of 2008; as well as ACLU and San Diego Pride board member Stephen Whitburn.

The motion to approve the project was made by openly gay Councilman Todd Gloria who represents District 3 where the street will be located. The motion was seconded by Councilman Carl DeMaio, who is also gay and who represents District 5. DeMaio is currently a leading candidate for mayor of San Diego.

Councilwoman Lori Zapf accidentally voted against the measure but quickly corrected her vote. Council President Tony Young allowed the Council to vote a second time so Zapf could be recorded as having voted in favor of the name change.

“I am so sorry I have just received a text that a friend of mine had passed and I am a little shaken up,” the councilwoman said to her colleagues and members of the public. Previously, Zapf had been criticized for anti-LGBT emails sent to LGBT equality opponent and activist, James Hartline during her campaign for city council in 2010. Zapf has since changed her position and become friendly to policies supporting LGBT equality.

An unveiling ceremony marking the name change is scheduled for May 22 at 5 p.m. to also commemorate Harvey Milk’s birthday.

In addition to forwarding the cause of gaining equal rights for LGBT San Franciscans, Californians and Americans, Milk famously fought and beat a ballot initiative that would have barred gays, lesbians and bisexual people from teaching in California’s public schools.

Harvey Milk was a member of the San Francisco City and County Board of Supervisors. He was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone Nov. 27, 1978. The assassin, Dan White was also a member of the Board of Supervisors – but one who had resigned days before killing Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Milk. White was acquitted of murdering the two officials by using what became known as the “Twinkie Defense” (temporary insanity due to overconsumption of high-sugar junk food).

Marti Emerald

The Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association’s newsletter, Fox Canyon Voice provides residents with news, information and opportunities about their neighborhood. Highlights of May’s newsletter include:

Coffee with Marti, Saturday, May 19, 12- 2 p.m., at 4787 Castle Ave., Fox Canyon – an opportunity to get to know and talk to Councilwoman Marti Emerald.

In other news the City Council voted to approve a new ordinance approving urban farming and the keeping of chickens. This means roosters are still illegal to keep in urban settings, due to the noise and the possibility that they might be kept for fighting, so residents are urged to get rid of their roosters.

Around the neighborhood, the City of San Diego through SDG&E has begun to change the street lights from the old yellow type to the white/light-blue type. These new street lights give pedestrians better visibility and discernment of colors at night.

For more information on these stories and other Fox Canyon neighborhood news contact the Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association, Inc., 4916 Lantana Drive, San Diego, 92105, (619) 282-2788, foxcanyon.org.

San Diego LGBT Weekly has been nominated for the 2012 PrideNation People’s Choice Award for “Best Publication.”

PrideNation Radio is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and inaugurating the PrideNation People’s Choice Awards as a way to recognize listeners’ favorite individuals, organizations and businesses throughout the San Diego LGBT community.

San Diego award nominations are still open and can be made at pnnawards.com.

DynCorp contract machine-gunners

Despite the repeal of DADT, occurrences of alleged anti-LGBT hate crimes/incidents within the Department of Defense (DOD) has continued according to the LGBT nonprofit DOD FED GLOBE.

As part of a campaign to highlight this problem, DOD FED GLOBE is looking for volunteers to tell their stories of harassment as past and/or present employees of the DOD, including servicemembers, civil servants and contractors. The film, entitled ENDA NOW, will be distributed through the Internet and aims to put a human face on the suffering caused to real people by the actions of homophobic colleagues, supervisors and other ranking superiors.

The film will highlight incidents like the DOD contractor who was removed from his contract and secretly blacklisted for displaying pictures of himself and his husband at work.

Other recent incidents include a gay enlisted Marine who was murdered, a U.S. Army lesbian officer verbally and physically attacked by the most senior enlisted person in her command, and a civil servant stationed overseas harassed and threatened with being sent home, without his legally married European husband.

Lisa Kove, executive director of DOD FED GLOBE stressing the importance of the film said, “Historically societies can and have created unjust laws that are condoned and implemented by the highest authorities. Yet the laws that provide protection from discrimination are often under enforced. This is especially true in the DOD. The DOD has a horrendous track record in diversity. We need ENDA NOW for all. We must tackle this discrimination from within the federal workforce by coming out with our stories.”

Kove continues, “When the victims complain they are often treated as ‘trouble makers’ and reprisal actions take place. Those designated to investigate and protect reflect the modified version of a famous saying, ‘See no evil hear no evil report no evil do nothing.’ The system is dysfunctional.”

By contrast, a recently released report by The Williams Institute found that 86 percent of all federal contractors protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and 55 percent on the basis of gender identity. The combined total represents almost one-half of all federal contractors with LGBT protections, amounting to more than $249 billion in federal spending.

“Over the past three years, the Williams Institute, Center for American Progress and the Human Rights Campaign have built a larger and stronger record in support of this LGBT contractor policy than has ever been built in favor of any non-discrimination executive order in the history of the United States,” said Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work.

In February 2012, Freedom to Work launched a campaign targeting a Fairfax, Va. military contractor, DynCorp International LLC, for allowing anti-gay harassment in the workplace and failure to have policies in place that protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Washington Blade reported that DynCorp has since updated its non-discrimination policy to include protections for LGBT workers.

Despite this high profile case, Kove insists that more needs to be done. “These events could have been mitigated had the White House and DOD allowed LGBT employees to be recognized as a legitimate diversity group. That is why we need a full film on ENDA NOW distributed for free throughout the Web,” Kove said.

Filming for ENDA NOW is ongoing and anyone interested should contact Lisa Kove on 619-347-9357 or by email at Lisa.Kove@yahoo.com.

This article is based on Lisa Kove’s opine as the executive director of the LGBT 501C3 nonprofit DOD FED GLOBE and it is not her intent to reflect the views of her employer the Department of Defense (DOD).

Celebrate 21 years of love at San Diego’s premiere restaurant tasting benefitting Mamas Kitchen featuring distinctive dishes by more than 55 top chefs. Mama’s Day 2012 is this Friday, May 11 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, La Jolla.

Two key new features of the event are a VIP Cabana Lounge featuring a demo with Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien and Ian Ward, a mixologist from Snake Oil.

Herndon Graddick

BRIDGEPORT, Ohio – A member of the board of directors of the Ohio River Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has resigned following the BSA’s decision to oust Jennifer Tyrrell, a Bridgeport mom, as her son’s scout leader because she is a lesbian.

David J. Sims resigned from the board April 27 in a letter that cites his long history and support of scouting. He wrote, “Ms. Tyrrell’s removal goes against my fundamental beliefs of how we should treat our fellow human beings and is, in my opinion, wholly discriminatory. I understand that the Boys Scouts of America is free to run its organization as it sees fit, however, I cannot formally be a part of it based upon this policy.”

Citing his and his family’s extensive ties with scouting Sims believes that his father would have supported his decision. He continued, “My grandfather was an Eagle Scout, my father was an Eagle Scout and I am an Eagle Scout. Other than his family and his Christian faith, the most important thing in my father’s life was the Boy Scouts. They lived and breathed scouting. That is what makes this decision so exceedingly difficult and emotional. However, I know that my father would support my decision.”

Sims concludes his letter with the hope that BSA “… will look into their hearts and find the wisdom and courage to re-examine the policies of the Boy Scouts of America.”

Moved by the support she has received Jennifer Tyrrell said, “I’ve been touched by the long list of supporters who, like me, believe that discrimination should not be a part of the Boy Scouts of America’s policies. The Scouts are losing board members, good volunteers and scouting families, and the time is now to join organizations like the Girl Scouts of America and the 4H Club in welcoming all.”

GLAAD president, Herndon Graddick said, “The only ‘character development’ and ‘values-based leadership training’ the Boy Scouts have taught our young people in this case is that blatant discrimination is OK. Tossing aside the hard work and leadership of a committed mom because of who she loves is not a ‘value’ that a majority Americans want taught to their children.”

(CNN and LGBT Weekly) – President Barack Obama said Wednesday he supports same-sex marriage, raising the political stakes on an issue in which Americans are evenly split.

“At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” Obama said in an interview with ABC News.

A Gallup Poll released Tuesday indicated 50 percent of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid, with 48% saying such marriages should not be legal.

But a CNN/ORC poll, taken in late March, indicated policies toward gays and lesbians were tied for last in the most-important issues facing the country.

Obama was “disappointed” by Tuesday’s vote on the issue in North Carolina, which he described as discriminatory against gays and lesbians, a spokesman said earlier Wednesday.

North Carolina voted to implement a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which was already prohibited by state law.

The president said he supports the concept of states deciding the issue on their own, ABC News reported.

San Diego LGBT Weekly publisher and former 2008 Obama for America campaign co-chair for LGBT issues, Stampp Corbin said he is proud the president announced his evolution on the subject.

“Today is an historic moment in the history of the United States; President Obama announced his support of same- sex marriage,” Corbin said in a written statement provided to the media shortly after Obama’s announcement. “In 2007, when I decided to support candidate Barack Obama, I was attracted by his honesty and truth of character. During the 2008 campaign, candidate Obama announced his support for civil unions. Later, the president said his position was evolving. President Obama has been honest and truthful about his position from the beginning.”

Obama said his daughters, Malia and Sasha, have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. “It wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”

Obama spoke Wednesday with ABC’s Robin Roberts. The interview will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America Thursday. Excerpts were to air Wednesday evening on World News With Diane Sawyer.

The president’s stance will be among many key differences with Romney, but it is not expected to be a key talking point in his campaign.

In comments Wednesday to CNN Denver affiliate KDVR, presidential candidate Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage.

Visit LGBTweekly.com for more coverage of this fast-breaking story from our own reporters and from our national media partners CNN and HuffingtonPost.com.

WASHINGTON – New polling data from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press shows support for marriage equality at 47 percent – significantly higher than it was at any point prior to previous presidential elections. The poll also finds opposition to marriage equality has reached an all-time low. According to the polling, opposition to marriage equality has plummeted nearly 15 percentage points over the last decade, while support has climbed by more than 10 percentage points. The Pew data is just the latest in a number of polls illustrating how issues of LGBT equality are increasingly mainstream, and can no longer be used as divisive wedges.

The landscape surrounding support for LGBT issues has changed significantly since the 2008 presidential election. In previous elections, particularly in 2004, marriage equality was used as a wedge issue to divide voters. This growing wave of data shows that such strategies will no longer work.

For the first time in a Pew Research Center survey there is as much strong support as strong opposition to gay marriage. In the current survey, 22% say they strongly support allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally; an identical percentage (22%) strongly opposes gay marriage. In 2008, there was about twice as much strong opposition to as strong support for gay marriage (30 percent vs. 14 percent).

This latest round of data comes one week after Pew released statistics highlighting marriage equality as the least important issue on the minds of voters in advance of the 2012 election, signaling how matters of LGBT equality are no longer as divisive as they once were. That Pew poll identified the economy, jobs, and the budget deficit as weighing most heavily on voters’ minds.

Chris Birch and Jak Powell

WALES – A 226 pound rugby player from South Wales, who went into a coma after suffering from a stroke and broken neck during a freak training accident, has “woken up gay.”

The Medical Daily reported that before the stroke, Chris Birch had been a beefy, beer-drinking athlete working at a bank and loved motorbikes and his girlfriend and he was engaged to be married. But since the accident, a year ago, the now 27-year-old has quit his bank job, slimmed down 72 pounds, become a hairdresser and moved out of his home in the Welsh valleys and started dating men.

“It was a weird experience,” he said in a BBC3 documentary, reporting his attempt over the past few months to grapple with his new identity. “You walk into somewhere and you go from liking that girl to liking that boy.”

He admitted that he found the changes traumatic and said that he struggled with a period of loneliness when he was afraid to tell anybody about his changed sexual orientation.

“It was quite a scary process. Being with the first guy was a very odd experience. I didn’t know what I was doing,” he told the film crew.

Within a few months of moving out from home he met his then boyfriend and now fiancé Jak Powell.

Powell believes that Birch has always been gay and the accident just helped him to realize it.

“People grow up not knowing they are gay and have families and then they realize they are gay, but they don’t have a stroke to realize it,” Powell said.

However, Birch said he wouldn’t want to alter back again.

“I’m happier now that I ever have been; why would I want to change?” he asked.

COPENHAGEN – A gay bar in Copenhagen, Denmark has banned straight couples from kissing and recently threw out a couple for doing just that, the Web site homotropolis.com reported.

Jobbe Joller, the founder of the Danish LGBT organization Homosocialt Fællesskab, arrived at the Never Mind bar in Copenhagen with his boyfriend and two straight female friends and their boyfriends. They all entered the bar without a problem. Later in the evening when Joller came back into the bar after making a phone call outside, he met one of the girls who was being ejected after being told that it was not allowed for her, as a straight person, to kiss her boyfriend in the club.

“I told the bouncer that it had to be discrimination against heterosexuals to say that they were not allowed to kiss,” Joller says, when he ask the bouncer to explain his version of the story.

He continued, “The bouncer replied that it was unacceptable to conduct that kind of behavior at a gay place and that Never Mind receives a lot of emails from its gay guests concerning the high number of straight guests that visit the bar. I asked him if it was not the same as saying that black people are not allowed to kiss in Never Mind, but he disagreed and told me that the owner of Never Mind may decide who can kiss and who can’t kiss in the bar.”