Results tagged “humanrightscampaign”

If you're down on the National Mall this weekend and see, oh, 12,000 flags stuck in the ground, don't be alarmed. The Federal Government hasn't started an experimental flag farm, nor is the display an effort of the area's squirrels to show their patriotism. The flags have been planted to represent the 12,000 members of the United States military who have been discharged under the practice of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The policy, which governs...

Written by DCist Contributor Fredo Alvarez In a 60-39 cloture vote, the U.S. Senate barely passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (S 1105) today as an amendment to the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (HR 1585). The measure would expand protection against hate crimes to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and would enable the Federal government to provide assistance in the investigation or prosecution of...

WTOP is reporting that D.C. police are investigating a weekend attack near Shaw nightclub Be Bar as a hate crime. The victim, an intern who works for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Human Rights Campaign, was first shouted at by his assailant with a derogatory term for homosexual, and then beaten up. The victim was taken to an area hospital and has since been released. The incident took place at 10th and O Streets NW in...

The Examiner reports on a $36,000 bill received by the organizers of the 2007 Capital Pride Festival from the D.C. police and the Emergency Management Agency, who say they need the money to pay for overtime and other costs for security incurred during the June festival. But the festival's organizers and some members of the D.C. Council are questioning the charges, since the agencies waived these same fees last year and other annual parades, like...

Veteran gossip columnist Michael Musto is in town today promoting his new book, La Dolce Musto, a collection from his columns of the same name (he'll be at Nage Restaurant from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.). The bespectacled provocateur has spent 20 years at the Village Voice chronicling New York City’s gay life, nightlife and sex life, sometimes in terms that would make Candace Bushnell blush. Along with the tales of club kids, politics and sex...

Written by DCist contributor Christopher Durocher Opponents to Virginia's proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, including Virginia Delegate Adam Ebbin and D.C. Council-member David Catania (I-At Large), will host a benefit tonight at the Human Rights Campaign's D.C. headquarters. The event is designed to bring together both members of the Virginia community who oppose the marriage ban, as well as District and Maryland residents who support their efforts. The benefit will raise money for...

By DCist contributor Christopher Durocher. This weekend, the Library of Congress, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) each honored the contributions of Franklin E. Kameny, an 81-year-old D.C. resident who has served as a civil rights icon for the past half a century. Kameny’s activism began in 1957, when he appealed his dismissal from the Army Map Service of being gay. He has continued to live an out, proud life...

Debating Where to Debate: It was big news a few weeks back when Marie Johns challenged Adrian Fenty to a duel...errr...debate during a phone call she placed to a radio show Fenty was guesting on. The ambitious one-on-one challenge by Johns was set for August 12 at high noon...errr...9 a.m. But WTOP is reporting today that both Fenty and Johns may end up debating themselves, because they can't seemingly agree on a location for their verbal joust to the death. Fenty claims that the deal was always that the debate would be held somewhere in Ward 8, where he promises to be on the set day. Johns, however, has countered, arguing that since Fenty chose the time and date, she should at least get to choose the location, which she did, opting for the Human Rights Campaign headquarters on Rhode Island Avenue and 17th Street. Neither seems willing to concede, so August 12 may see the two standing miles apart asking an empty podium questions about crime, education, economic development, and affordable housing. Inside sources tell us that the two might meet later this week to settle the dispute, though neither can seem to agree whether they should order in from Domino's or Papa Johns.

City officials are reeling after a member of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' cabinet was found dead in her home. Wanda Alston had served as advisor to the mayor as director of the D.C. Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. She is pictured to the right in a photo from the Washington Blade printed in a story from last July about the selection of a new head for the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration. The AP...