Syracuse Man Was Killed for Being Gay

From Syracuse.com:

Dwight R. DeLee shot and killed Moses “Teish” Cannon with a .22-caliber rifle Friday night because he didn’t like that Cannon was openly gay, Syracuse police said.

Cannon, 22, and his brother, Mark Cannon, 18, both of 404 Arthur St., were shot as they sat in a car parked in front of 411 Seymour St., where they had been invited to a party. The bullet grazed the left arm of Mark Cannon, who was in the driver’s seat, and hit Moses Cannon in the chest, police said.

Police have charged DeLee, 20, of 420 Gifford St., with second-degree murder. DeLee went into the home at 411 Seymour St. to get the rifle after guests at the party started “making profane and vulgar comments in regards to the sexual preference of our two victims,” police Chief Gary Miguel said.

“There was no previous argument between these individuals, there was no previous fight, there was no bad blood,” Miguel said. “Our suspect took a rifle and shot and killed this person, also wounding his brother, for the sole reason he didn’t care for the sexual preference of our victim. Isn’t that sad? Isn’t that a sad situation that that’s the sole reason why?

Read the rest by clicking here.

Michigan Praised By Gay Rights Advocates

Gay rights advocates are praising a measure to broaden protection for victims of hate crimes as a long-overdue expansion of civil rights.

A bill to revise the ethnic intimidation law was approved this week 82-18 by the state House, though four West Michigan representatives voted against it.

Under the bill, a person could be charged with a bias-related offense for a crime based on disability, sexual identity or expression.

It adds to characteristics covered by existing law, such as race, gender and religion.

Daniel Levy, chief legal representative for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, said the law safeguards speech at the same time it broadens protections.

“We make it clear that unless you assault somebody maliciously or damage property, you cannot be charged with the statute at all.”

Iris Robinson: Stonewall’s Bigot of the Year

Iris Robinson, the Northern Ireland politician has been named as the Bigot of the Year at the Stonewall Awards.

She has refused to withdraw comments that homosexuality is an abomination and gay people can be “cured” by therapy.

Robinson has been the center of controversy since June, when she said in a radio interview about a gay related hate crime that the victim could be “cured” of his homosexuality. She also cited the work of her adviser, psychiatrist Dr. Paul Miller, as an example. She said:

“I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals trying to turn away from what they are engaged in. I am happy to put any homosexual in touch with this gentleman and I have met people who have turned around to become heterosexual.”

Dr. Miller has since resigned as her adviser.

Where the Candidates Stand on GLBT Rights

Employment Non-Discrimination:
-Obama: Supports ending employment discrimination against the entire GLBT community.
-McCain: Cast a deciding vote against ENDA.

On “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:
-Obama: opposes the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
-McCain: believes that GLBT people should not be allowed to serve openly, and supports “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He said, “My view is that in the case of the military, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was appropriate. And I also believe that gays should not be in the military.”

On Relationship Recognition:
-Obama: Supports the repeal of DOMA; voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA); supports civil unions and domestic partnerships; supports family benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees; opposes allowing civil marriages for same-sex couples
-McCain: Voted for and supports DOMA, which denies all couples protections; voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), but campaigned for a state amendment that would have also banned civil unions and domestic partnerships; does not support family benefits for partners of federal employees; opposes allowing civil marriages for same-sex couples

Hate Crimes:
-Obama: Supports inclusive legislation to protect the entire GLBT community against bias-motivated violence
-McCain: Voted against hate crimes legislation three times

HIV/AIDS:
-Obama: Supports Ryan White CARE Act and access for early treatment of HIV under Medicaid (ETHA)
Supports comprehensive sex education aimed at preventing disease
-McCain: Has never co-sponsored Ryan White or ETHA, and voted for a Jesse Helms strategy to remove funding aimed at protecting the community from HIV/AIDS; supports abstinence-only education that leaves out GLBT people and is ineffective in combating the spread of HIV

Adoption:
-Obama: Opposes bans on adoption by same-sex couples
-McCain: Opposes adoption by same-sex couples

Source: HRC

Funny? Perhaps, But Really Sad and True

I know this is suppose to be funny, and it really is, in the sense that is makes fun of those who hate people different from them, a.k.a. bigots. But the sad part about this is way too many times, it’s true, and this is a pretty good representation of how some people feel.

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