White House asks Paterson to end election campaign

As New York Gov. David Paterson's approval numbers hover around 30 percent, a report the White House has asked the governor to pull out of the 2010 gubernatorial campaign is nothing short of extraordinary.

The New York Times reported today Congressman Gregory Meeks [D-N.Y.] conveyed the administration's desire to Paterson. Newsday said Meeks broke the news to Paterson at a Manhattan dinner on Friday night, but two officials told the Times the White House has grown increasingly concerned about the governor's unpopularity and its potential impact on local and Congressional Democrat's prospects next fall.

Paterson, who took office in March 2008 after Gov. Eliot Spitzer became embroiled in a prostitution scandal and resigned, repeatedly asserted to local media outlets his gubernatorial campaign will continue. He and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick are the country's only two black governors, but the White House's apparent intent to dissuade Paterson from his election campaign is nothing short of a stunning shot over the bow that adds even more writing to an already covered wall.

New York politics remains largely based on racial, socio-economic and other identity-driven demographics. Paterson is, in many ways, a product of the city's black political machine. His handling of the process to nominate Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's successor to the U.S. Senate and his repeated assertions last month the president would face racially motivated criticisms that are similar to those he contended his opponents have lobbied against him, however, are among the growing list of things that made him something of a pariah or even a persona non grata in political circles on both sides of the aisle.

Paterson's personal story remains an inspiring example of how anyone can overcome exceedingly difficult obstacles, but one can easily conclude his governorship is nothing short of an abject failure. Republicans and Democrats alike will almost certainly continue to urge the governor to put himself out of his own misery and step aside. These calls will almost certainly grow louder and more public. And the White House's desire indicates the end could come for Paterson far sooner than he would certainly like.

Stay tuned...

Carter concludes South Carolina Congressman's outburst "based on racism"

As the fallout over South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson's heckling of the president continues to unfold, former President Jimmy Carter told attendees of an Atlanta town hall meeting last night he feels the Republican lawmaker's outburst was "based on racism."

Carter's assessment sparked an almost immediate response from the Republican National Committee. It posted an item on its Web site titled "Consider the Source" that stressed "former President Jimmy Carter claims everyday Americans who object to Obama's health care plan are racist." And RNC chair Michael Steele, who is black, echoed this message in a press release.

"President Carter is flat out wrong," he said. "This isn't about race. It is about policy."

Steele went on to stress he feels this controversy is "a pathetic distraction by Democrats to shift attention away from the president's wildly unpopular government-run health care plan that the American people simply oppose."

This latest controversy erupted the same day the House formally rebuked Wilson for his outburst, but the story continues to grow far larger than one lawmaker's unfortunate decision to heckle the president in the middle of his speech. Bloggers on the Huffington Post and other progressive Web sites have repeatedly pointed out his Sons of Confederate Veterans membership to further their assertion he is a racist. Conservatives, on the other hand, have applauded Wilson for what they contend was his decision to challenge the president. It is arguably never wise to draw a conclusion based on one affiliation or vote or even action, but Carter's comments mandate a more in-depth analysis.

It remains an arguable very sad commentary the majority of Americans and especially their elected officials remain woefully unwilling to engage in a constructive debate on race. The president is the first commander-in-chief of color. The country has certainly made significant strides towards racial justice over the last decades, but Carter's comments and the brouhaha they ignited simply underscore the fact actual or perceived racism remains an all too taboo subject in the United States.

Patrick Swayze dies

In this age of social networking, the news Patrick Swayze had lost his battle to cancer spread over Facebook and Twitter almost instantly. His untimely death from pancreatic cancer, however, still came as a shock.

I remember watching "Dirty Dancing" as a young child once my sister and I convinced our mother to allow us to watch it. In later years, my classmates and I at the University of New Hampshire routinely watched "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" inside the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and in our dorm rooms. The movie's three drag queens immediately solidified its campy gay credentials, but Swayze's portrayal of Miss Vida Boheme remains priceless.

Perhaps the song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" encapsulates Swayze's legacy best as Hollywood and others pay homage to his life. His legacy will almost certainly be great, and may he rest in peace.

Boy in Bushwick commemorates Sept. 11

South Carolina Congressman heckles president during health care speech

As pundits and other interested parties dissect President Barack Obama's health care speech on Capitol Hill last night, a South Carolina Congressman's decision to heckle the commander-in-chief as a liar continues to garner attention on both sides of the aisle.

The New York Times described Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst as "a rare breach of protocol." Fox News categorized it as "an extraordinary breach of Congressional decorum." And Dana Milbank of the Washington Post concluded Wilson's outburst brought "the nation's rapidly deteriorating discourse hit yet another low."

Wilson was quick to apologize after U.S. Sen. John McCain [R-Ariz.,] and a chorus of other lawmakers blasted the outburst as inappropriate, disrespectful and even shameful. The unscripted moment, however, is the latest in a series of incidents--former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's continued assertion the federal government would implement so-called death panels, Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank's now famous "On what planet do you spend most of your time? sound bite at a town hall meeting last month and the man who carried a gun outside an Obama rally in Arizona--to underscore the contentious health care debate in which the country continues to find itself. And Wilson's unfortunate outburst simply brought this reality into the House chamber for millions of Americans to see for themselves.

Conservative California lawmakers resigns amid sex scandal

Add former California Assemblymember Michael Duvall [R-Yorba Linda] to the ever-growing list of socially conservative lawmakers who amount to nothing more than self-righteous hypocrites!

Duvall resigned earlier today after a Los Angeles television station broadcast audio tapes of comments he made during a "committee meeting in Sacramento held earlier this summer" about having sex with two younger women. A hot microphone caught them on tape. And KCAL reporter Dave Lopez described both women as "married lobbyists in Sacramento."

Duvall backed Proposition 8, and garnered an endorsement from Capital Resources Institute. The organization was all too quick to distance itself from the scandal-plaque former legislator.

"It is always disappointing when a champion of traditional values does not practice the same in his private life," CRI executive director Karen England said. And this appears to be the case with Assemblyman Duvall. Assemblyman Duvall was one of just a few California legislators to receive a 100% on CRI's annual scorecard. But CRI only tabulates votes. It was left to Mr. Duvall to reveal if those values are part of his own life."

Duvall himself announced his resignation in a one paragraph statement, but Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign has called for state Attorney General Jerry Brown to launch an investigation.

"This isn't just a sex scandal, it's a corruption scandal," Jacobs said. "A vice-chairman of the Committee on Utilities and Commerce was literally in bed with Sempra Energy's lobbyist. Assemblyman Duvall's 'sex for votes' affairs have cheated Californians out of honest government. We call on the attorney general to investigate Mr. Duvall to see if he can be prosecuted for selling his votes."

Jacobs applauded Duvall's decision to resign, but he blasted the conservative organizations that backed him.

"If Assemblyman Duvall is who conservative groups hold up as their ideal legislator, it shows how shallow their standards are," Jacobs said. "While Assemblyman Duvall has been fighting to make marriage a privilege for heterosexual couples only, he's been making a mockery of the institution in the California State Assembly, bragging to other elected officials about raunchy details of his affairs."

Indeed!

Report highlights anti-immigrant hatred in Suffolk County

Local journalists, politicians and residents continue to dissect and respond to the Southern Poverty Law Center's scathing report on anti-immigrant hatred in Suffolk County, but its contents are almost certainly a disturbing wake-up call.

The SPLC's report became public only hours after congregants of a Patchogue church found anti-Latino slurs on their alter. The Iglesia Evangelica Refugio de Salvacion is near the train station at which seven teenagers allegedly beat Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero to death last November. And two teenagers allegedly assaulted another Ecuadorian at the same location last month.

The report particularly singles out Suffolk executive Steve Levy.

"[He] isn't the only public official engaging in the verbal immigrant-bashing, or the most extreme," the SPLC concludes. "But he is the highest-ranking, and since he was elected to his first term in November 2003 after promising a crackdown on illegal immigrants, Levy has been acting like the enabler-in-chief."

Boy in Bushwick echoed the New York Times' editorial after Lucero's death that highlighted Levy's anti-immigrant rhetoric. He responded to the report soon after the SLPC released it.

“While we can continue to disagree about policies related to the economic and social impacts of illegal immigration, we can all agree that any violence against a fellow human being cannot and will not be tolerated," Levy said in a www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/nyregion/03suffolk.html?em.

One can arguably question Levy's sincerity based on a series of well-documented previous statements, but the issue is not about someone's documentation. The fact remains immigrants continue to live in fear of harassment and violence in Suffolk. Local law enforcement, politicians and residents alike have a fundamental responsibility to ensure everyone in the county is able to live, work and play without fear. A failure to guarantee this fundamental right is nothing short of an atrocity.

New York City Council candidate's "blood" comparison sparks controversy

With the New York City Democratic primary less than two weeks away, a City Council candidate from Queens has sparked controversy after someone posted comments in which he claims Latino blood is best for Latinos because "the blood of Blacks has problems, the blood of Europeans has problems" on YouTube.

Eduardo Giraldo, who is seeking to unseat Councilmember Julissa Ferreras [D-Corona, Queens,] made the comments during an interview on Al Dia Con Ramirez-Baez on Queens Public Television about a program he said he created at Elmhurst Hospital to spur blood donation among Latinos. Giraldo spoke Spanish during the segment, but the person who posted the clip on YouTube dubbed the exchange into English.

The comments are certainly an extremely unfortunate choice of words that have obviously touched a nerve among some activists in the city. The rather obvious question, however, is who posted this clip onto YouTube and whether he or she had any potentially ulterior motives.

Ferreras' campaign categorically denied any connection to the clip in a statement to New York 1. Jackson Heights resident Nely Diaz perhaps summed up the controversy best as she spoke with New York 1 reporter CeFaan Kim.

"People are running for politics, but we become so involved in the racist thing, but we forget this is about donating blood," she said.

Same-sex couples begin to marry in Vermont

In another example of Green Mountain kitsch, Ben & Jerry's has changed the name of their Chubby Hubby ice cream to Hubby Hubby this month to commemorate the start of marriage for same-sex couples in Vermont.

Vermont became the fourth state to extend marriage to gays and lesbians after lawmakers narrowly overrode Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of the bill in April. Legislators in neighboring New Hampshire and Maine followed suit a few weeks later.

The Green Mountain State became the first in the country to allow gays and lesbians to enter into civil unions after then-Gov. Howard Dean signed legislation in 2000. The associated debate was quite contentious. And I recall several large signs that read "Take Vermont Back" along Interstate 89 in the weeks leading up to the vote. In less than a decade, however, civil unions has become something of a political benchmark for moderate Democrats and Republicans alike. But LGBT activists and their progressive allies continue to correctly point out civil unions are not the same as marriage for gays and lesbians.

The extension of civil unions to gays and lesbians in Vermont nearly a decade ago brought the marriage equality debate into the forefront. And the Green Mountain State is now among the half a dozen states that allow gays and lesbians to marry. This contentious debate will obviously continue to rage in the coming years as more states move to allow their gay and lesbian residents to tie the knot, but the fact same-sex couples are now able to marry in Vermont represents true progress.

From Pier 11 to Red Hook

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful late August day in New York. The humidity was low. A refreshing breeze cleaned the air. And I spent the afternoon at Ikea in Red Hook picking up some long-delayed odds and ends for my apartment.

I am certainly not a fan of expansive box stores, but I confess I take a trip to Ikea or Target in Brooklyn or on Long Island once or twice a year. Part of the "fun" of the trip was the free water taxi from Pier 11 in lower Manhattan to Red Hook. There is truly no better way to see New York, and here are some snapshots from the afternoon.



Brooklyn Bridge from Pier 11



A crane along the Red Hook waterfront



The lower Manhattan skyline with Governor's Island in the foreground



Wall Street and lower Manhattan

Iowa and Maine investigate National Organization for Marriage

As the National Organization for Marriage and their allies continue to push for a repeal of nuptials for gays and lesbians in Iowa and Maine, ethics commissions in both states have called upon NOM to answer questions about those who fund their campaigns.

The Iowa Ethics and Commission Disclosure Board made the request to NOM in an Aug. 27 letter. And the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices wrote Stand for Marriage Maine PAC Treasurer Joseph Keaney and NOM executive director Brian Brown on the same day.

The much broader question is obviously why NOM and its supporters feel the need to overturn both the Iowa Supreme Court decision in April and the passage of legislation in Augusta in early May that extended marriage to same-sex couples in both states. The specific concerns, however, revolves around the role the Mormon Church, the Diocese of Portland [Maine] and other religious organizations continue to play in the anti-marriage campaigns in both states, and even allegations of money laundering. These questions are indeed disturbing, if not at all surprising.

Senator Edward Kennedy dies

The Lion of the Senate has died.

Senator Edward Kennedy [D-Mass.] lost his battle to brain cancer late last night at his Cape Cod home. His family released a statement shortly after he passed away.

“We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever," it read. “We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness, and opportunity for all. He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it’s hard to imagine any of them without him."

The White House issued a statement earlier this morning.

"Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy," President Barack Obama said. "For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts."

Some of the groups that directly benefited from Kennedy's legislative agenda also mourned the senator's passing.

“The nation has lost its greatest champion and strongest voice for justice, fairness, and compassion," Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said. "The loss to our community is immeasurable. There was no greater hero for advocates of LGBT equality than Senator Ted Kennedy. From the early days of the AIDS epidemic, to our current struggle for marriage equality he has been our protector, our leader, our friend. He has been the core of the unfinished quest for civil rights in this country and there is now a very painful void. Our hearts go out to the Kennedy family."

Growing up in New England, it was almost impossible to escape the Kennedy family mystique. Kennedy himself was a man who saw unspeakable tragedy. His actions--especially those on Chappaquiddick Island in 1969--almost certainly revealed his darker side, but there is no doubt the Lion of the Senate leaves behind a tremendous legacy. He held a family together during many of its darkest moments. And Kennedy became a voice for millions of Americans who had none. May he rest in peace!

Hurricane Bill brushes Fire Island

It actually turned out to be a largely beautiful summer weekend on Fire Island, but many people who would have otherwise ventured to the beach stayed on the mainland because local officials closed the beaches ahead of Hurricane Bill.

The storm passed hundreds of miles southeast of Fire Island, but waves of more than 10 feet rolled onto the beach throughout the weekend. The strongest swells to buffet Fire Island came last night and early this morning. Bill caused some minor to moderate beach erosion in Cherry Grove, the Fire Island Pines and other areas. This reporter spotted mangled snow fencing, wooden planks and other debris scattered across the beach earlier today. And a four foot wave inundated the dune tongue around 8:45 last night as he stood on a beach access in the Grove.

All dramatics aside, Bill certainly demonstrated Mother Nature's power. It provided local surfers with a rare opportunity to hang 10 on the beach, but the majority of Fire Islanders who are accustomed to storms took Bill in stride.



Hurricane Bill caused rough surf and rip tides in Cherry Grove and across Fire Island on Aug. 22.



A woman swims in the rough surf off Corneille Estates on Aug. 22.



A man watches the surf from the beach in Cherry Grove on Aug. 22.



Rough surf pummeled Cherry Grove on Aug. 22.



Waves from Hurricane Bill eroded the sand around the Atlantic Walk beach access in the Fire Island Pines (as seen on Aug. 23.)



These wooden beams are among the debris on the beach in the Fire Island Pines.



Erosion near Doctor's Walk in Cherry Grove on Aug. 23.

Snapshots of Fire Island

A few snapshots of Fire Island from the past week...



Dawn begins to break over Ocean Beach on Aug. 17



Sunrise over Seaview on Aug. 17



Fire Island Lighthouse on Aug. 14



A Fire Island vista from the Fire Island Lighthouse on Aug. 14.

An upside to the dog days of summer?

After nearly two weeks in Fire Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and a few points in between, I have finally returned home to Bushwick. I actually came back from Fire Island late Monday night, but the dog days of summer have finally arrived in the five boroughs.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver's death on Cape Cod, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin rather ridiculous proclamation the White House's health care proposal includes so-called "death panels" and Cherry Grove's fascination (and love) of my sarong late last week are among the notable items from the past few days. August usually brings a slower news cycle. Politicians have left Washington for the confines of their home districts. New Yorkers who are able have traded the concrete jungle for Fire Island, the Hamptons or the Catskills. And a steady stream of substitute anchors have provided some temporary relief from the talking heads who normally dominate cable news. Who said the dog days of summer were all bad?

More Fire Island observations

Today is the fourth day of my extended vacation here on Fire Island. The pool at the Ice Palace felt refreshing yesterday against the heat and humidity that blanketed the beach, Monday night tea in the Pines was far more tolerable than on Saturday and a good friend arrived for a two day visit. One arguably odd observation of note, however, from the past weekend is the increased police presence in Cherry Grove for the Fire Island Blackout.

Thousands of LGBT people of color descend upon the beach for this annual beach party. Elaborate tents complete with table settings and even live fish (yes, it is true!) dot the Grove's beach. And the eye candy is admittedly amazing! One employee anecdotedly told me FIBO is among the best groups with which she works. The fact three Suffolk County Marine Bureau boats were docked on Saturday night, more than half a dozen SCMB officers patrolled the Grove's boardwalks--at a time many Fire Islanders continue to complain about the lack of law enforcement officials on the beach--and at least two businesses categorically banned bags from their establishments, however, left this blogger and reporter scratching his head a bit.

This observation is not meant to imply any of the businesses and SCMB officers in the Grove are racist in any way, shape or form. It is obviously necessary to have sufficient policing and other measures in place to ensure everyone on the beach enjoys themselves without incident. The above observations, however, are included merely to outline what this blogger and reporter saw over the past weekend... and readers can draw their own conclusions.

Ogunquit, Portsmouth and a dreadful drag queen

After a seemingly endless stretch of cool and rainy weather, summer has finally arrived in New Hampshire.

I've spent the last few days visiting my family ahead of my 28th birthday. I followed the Canadians and gays to Ogunquit yesterday before I had coffee with a college friend in downtown Portsmouth. And I even languished under a categorically dreadful drag queen's schtick at a downtown Manchester gay bar with a state representative and his partner. I leave for Boston (and my eventual return to New York) later this morning, but I must say this trip to New Hampshire has been rather enjoyable.



A thick haze envelops Ogunquit on Aug. 5.



Perkins Cove

Activists mourn Tel Aviv LGBT center attack victims

Activists and religious leaders in New York, Washington and across Israel continue to gather to mourn the two people a gunman shot and killed at a Tel Aviv LGBT center on Saturday night.

“We gather here tonight to mourn, to remember, and to make a promise. Here tonight, we mourn the inextricable reality of hate," Mark Pelavin, associate director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said at a Washington vigil earlier tonight.

"We mourn the persistence of apathy in the face of intolerance. But above all, we mourn the loss of two young Israelis who, while seeking love and support, were met with terror and violence."

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn echoed Pelavin.

"Saturday's shooting at the LGBT Youth Center in Tel Aviv was a shocking and horrendous hate crime," she said in a statement that announced a vigil to be held on Wednesday at Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in Manhattan. "My condolences go out to the family and friends of those who were taken too soon by the hand of hate, and my thoughts and prayers are with those still fighting for their lives."

Liz Trobishi and Nir Katz's murders are certainly an outrage that should motivate all fair-minded people to stand-up and proclaim loudly and with conviction anti-LGBT violence is completely unacceptable. The attack in Tel Aviv was also not only an attack against LGBT Israelis, but against those of us in Baghdad, Beirut, Boston, Bushwick and around the world. Our community has certainly made significant strides in recent years, but this attack provides yet another stark reminder we must double our resolve to ensure these tragic incidents of hate-fueled violence become a thing of the past.

White House hosts so-called Beer Summit

The visage of four men--President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Cambridge [Mass.] police officer James Crowley--having a beer on the White House lawn is arguably surreal (or even absurd) depending upon whom you ask. The New York Times even live-blogged the much-anticipated meeting, but its implications almost certainly go far beyond the type of beer each man drank.

The facts that lead up to this meeting are all too known. Crowley arrested Gates outside his Cambridge home earlier this month after a woman reported a possible burglary. Authorities initially charged Gates with disorderly conduct, but the charges were subsequently dropped. And Obama sparked controversy with his assertion at a White House press conference on health care he felt the Cambridge Police Department acted stupidly by arresting Gates.

During what is traditionally a slow news cycle, this story simply keeps on giving. The subsequent brouhaha over the president's comments--and the arrest itself, however, clearly indicate the majority of Americans remain woefully reluctant to have any substantive discussion on race that does not extend beyond inflammatory sound bites or a steady stream talking heads from all political persuasions who want to add their two cents. This country has clearly made significant strides on this issue over the last decades, but Obama's election last November alone was not the long-awaited panacea that miraculously solved the continued scourge of racial injustice. And four men having a beer on the White House lawn alone will not eradicate it either.

Bomb kills two Spanish police officers

A little more than a day after a car bomb injured more than 40 people in Burgos, a second device killed two Spanish police officers on Mallorca.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais reported the bomb destroyed the car in which two Civil Guard members, aged 27 and 28, were riding shortly before 2 p.m. local time. The device detonated outside a Civil Guard barracks in Calvia. And the attack took place near a popular beach and within kilometers of the Spanish royal family's summer home.

Spanish authorities have blamed ETA for both attacks. And there is precedent to suggest members of the group potentially could have planted the Calvia bomb as a way to disrupt Spain's lucrative tourism industry.

Another factor that could potentially contribute to a possible upsurge in ETA attacks is tomorrow marks the group's 50th anniversary. The group violated its own self-imposed ceasefire in Dec. 2006 when its members detonated a bomb inside a parking garage at Barajas Airport in Madrid that killed two people. Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's government initially blamed ETA for the 2004 Madrid train bombings, but evidence quickly suggested Islamic fundamentalists orchestrated the attacks that killed nearly 200 people.

French and Spanish authorities have arrested a number of high-ranking ETA members in recent years, but this latest incident clearly demonstrates the group continues to pose a potential threat.

Veteran N.H. sports reporter arrested on prostitution-related charges

Police arrested a veteran Union Leader sports reporter at his Manchester home earlier today in connection with prostitution-related charges in Northern Massachusetts.

Officers took Kevin Provencher into custody for allegedly deriving income from prostitution. He reportedly waived arraignment in Manchester District Court before he was escorted to the Bay State to answer to the two felony charges the Andover Police Department filed against him.

The Union Leader reported on its Web site Provencher has been with the paper for more than 25 years. He has been the publication's beat reporter for the Manchester Monarchs--an American Hockey League team in the Queen City--since 2001. Provencher has been the Union Leader's primary NASCAR correspondent at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon since 1990. And the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association have honored him for his reporting.

The newspaper declined to comment on his arrest, but it did announce it had suspended Provencher due to the "nature and seriousness of the charges."

Summer finally arrives in Bushwick

It's currently 78 degrees at the Weatherbug reporting station near my apartment; that must mean summer has made a long-delayed appearance in Brooklyn. And the thunderstorms that have swept across Brooklyn over the last couple of days simply confirm the previous observation.



A downpour seen from Jefferson Street passes over Maspeth, Queens, earlier tonight.

A couple of garden variety storms popped up over Brooklyn and Queens earlier this afternoon. A short downpour provided even more water to the basil, lettuce, parsley and tomatoes growing on my fire escape. The humidity remains, but the storms that swept across the area yesterday sparked tornado warnings in Fairfield, Nassau and Queens.

A short, but drenching downpour hit shortly after 6 p.m. The bulk of the storm passed north of Brooklyn, but two more followed behind it over the subsequent hours. Attached is a link to a video I took from my bedroom window late yesterday afternoon. Notice the lightning bolts in the background--over Manhattan.

Authorities charge dozens of New Jersey lawmakers, rabbis in massive corruption sting

For those who may naively conclude New York lawmakers have a monopoly on less than ethical political practices, the arrest of dozens of politicians and rabbis yesterday across the Hudson River in a massive corruption sting has once again proven something continues to stink in New Jersey.

Federal authorities arrested Hoboken Mayor Peter J. Cammarano, III, who took office less than a month ago, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell and Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez early yesterday morning. Others taken into custody include Assemblymembers L. Harvey Smith [D-Jersey City] and Daniel Van Pelt [R-Ocean County], Mariano Vega, Jr., president of the City Council in Jersey City, Brooklyn Rabbi Saul Kassin and leaders of a synagogue in tony Deal in Monmouth County. Law enforcement officials took a total of 44 people into custody. And they have been charged with money laundering, accepting bribes and a host of other related charges.

This massive sting will certainly continue to have potentially serious repercussions in the contentious gubernatorial campaign between Gov. Jon Corzine and former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. Joseph Doria, Jr., commissioner of the state's Department of Community Affairs, resigned hours after authorities searched is Bayonne home in connection with the sting. Corzine has also called upon Smith and Van Pelt to resign.

The breadth of this massive corruption will continue to unfold, but the fact remains there is something endemically wrong with politics in New Jersey. And this sting simply highlights the unfortunate reality much work lays ahead to tackle this albatross that continues to rear its ugly neck around the state.

Proposal to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons sparks outrage

Roughly a day after a Jersey City police officer succumbed to wounds he suffered during a wild shootout last Thursday, members of the U.S. Senate are debating an amendment to a Pentagon spending bill that would allow gun owners to carry a concealed weapon anywhere in the country.

Senator John Thune [R-South Dakota] put forth the proposed amendment, but New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is among those who have blasted the proposal.

"This bill is an anti-police, pro-gun-trafficker bill," he told fellow mayors on a conference call. "This is going to put a lot more guns on the street."

The death of Det. Marc DiNardo, the murder of three Newark residents earlier this week, the shooting death of a Bushwick woman sitting outside her building with her grandson earlier this month and two additional Jersey City police officers who suffered injuries last night are among the series of recent incidents in this area that highlight the unfortunate reality Thune is arguably woefully ignorant of the unacceptable toll guns continue to inflict across the country. Freshman U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-N.Y.], a self-described supporter of "hunter's rights," stressed to this reporter during an interview yesterday she remains a vigorous supporter of the Second Amendment. She testified against Thune's bill, however, on the floor of the U.S. Senate earlier today.

"In a city where 90 percent of guns used in crimes come from out of state, it is easy to see how Senate Bill 845 will pose a serious threat to New Yorkers," Gillibrand said.

Indeed!

Update: The Senate voted 58-39 in support of Senate Bill 845. It needed 60 votes for approval.

Man drowns off Cherry Grove

The beautiful weather that graced the beach this weekend did little to mask the tragedy that struck Cherry Grove late Saturday afternoon. A man police the Suffolk County Police Department later identified as Rahul Bhola, 22, of Flushing, Queens, drowned after he became caught in a strong current as he and another man swam.

Attached is the story I just filed for EDGE and the Fire Island News.

A man from Queens drowned Saturday afternoon while swimming near Ivy Walk in Cherry Grove.

The Suffolk County Police Department identified the man as Rahul Bhola, 22, of Flushing. Bhola was swimming in chest deep water with another man around 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. Police said he stepped further into the water and a strong current pulled him out to sea. The man with whom Bhola was swimming unsuccessfully tried to rescue him.

Members of the Cherry Grove Fire Department and lifeguards from Sailors Haven were among those who responded to the scene. They performed life saving measures on Bhola on the beach. A Suffolk County Police helicopter transported Bhola to Stony Brook University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Ismael Flores of Astoria, Queens, told the Fire Island News he saw a number of firefighters pull someone out of the water as he lay on the beach. He said hundreds of people were on the beach at the time, but a persistent southwesterly flow had kicked-up the surf. Flores further described the man firefighters pulled out of the ocean as having a bloody eye and cuts around his eyebrow and near his hairline.

"He looked like wax," Flores said.

Members of the Cherry Grove Community Association held a moment of silence in Bhola’s memory at their annual summer meeting yesterday.

"I was just begging to God not to take him," Flores said. "It was just a tragedy."

Syracuse jury convicts man accused of killing Lateisha Green

An Onondaga County jury has just found Dwight R. DeLee guilty of manslaughter as a hate crime in connection with the murder of Lateisha Green last November.

DeLee shot and killed Green outside a Syracuse house party on Nov. 14. He reportedly targeted Green because he thought she was gay--although she was transgender. The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation are among the groups that have worked with Green's family since the murder.

"It took a long time for Teish to live her life openly and proudly," Lateisha's mother, Roxanne Green, said in a press release earlier this year. "When she finally stood up and began living as who she was, she was taken away from me. I can't understand how anyone can hate someone so much because of who they are, and I hope that no other mother has to mourn a child killed because of who she was. I hope that justice will be done."

Boy in Bushwick will provide additional details of the verdict as they become available.

Congress debates hate crimes bill

While members of the Senate Judiciary Committee continued to question Judge Sonia Sotomayor during her Supreme Court nomination hearing, lawmakers also debated a bill that would add sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, among other things, to federal anti-hate crimes statutes.

Lawmakers could vote on the bill, dubbed the Matthew Shepard Act, by the end of the week. Legislators have attacked the proposed legislation to a $680 billion defense spending bill. And U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer [D-N.Y.] was among those who spoke in support of the bill yesterday.

Schumer evoked Ecuadorian immigrant José Sucuzhañay, who was allegedly beaten to death by Hakim Scott and Keith Phoenix on a Bushwick street corner last December as he and his brother walked home arm-and-arm from a nearby bar, during his testimony.

"This bill sends a clear message to those perpetrators and others that in America we don't tolerate violence against vulnerable communities," Schumer said.

A vote on the bill could come as early as this afternoon.

July on Fire Island

With summer finally in full swing, an increasing number of New Yorkers (and others) have begun to make the weekly trip to Fire Island. This past weekend was no exception with mild weather, low humidity and clear skies. The beach was packed over the last couple of days, and here are two videos from the last few days... even the deer have fun on Fire Island!



Sunset over the Great South Bay on July 12.



Even deer have fun in Cherry Grove!

Espada to be named Senate Majority Leader

After more than a month of gridlock, the New York State Senate could finally return to business with dissident state Sen. Pedro Espada's return to the party from which he defected.

Albany sources have confirmed media reports Espada will become Senate Majority Leader. This flip will once again give the Democrats a 32-30 majority. And this development could have a positive impact on the future of a bill that would extend marriage for same-sex couples.

One Albany insider told Boy in Bushwick earlier this afternoon Espada would allow the proposed legislation to go before the full Senate for a vote. State Sen. Malcolm Smith [D-Queens] repeatedly maintained he would not bring the bill to the floor unless he had enough votes to secure its passage. Stay tuned...

Mourning the King of Pop

I joined the untold millions who paused yesterday to watch Michael Jackson's memorial service on television. I expected a touching spectacle that celebrated his life and his music, but I must confess I became increasingly emotional over the two and a half hour tribute. Below is a journal entry from late last night that hopefully captures the spirit and essence of the day from my perspective here in Bushwick.

7 July, 2009

Today has been an extremely emotional day. I sat transfixed to Michael Jackson's memorial service on television. I shed tears for a tragically flawed man I had never met. I almost wept as Paris Jackson gut-wrenchingly expressed her love for her father. I continue to get goosebumps as the news continues to rebroadcast her sound bite. It was truly a heart-breaking moment that capped off an unexpectedly emotional day.

Some unexpected solace, however, in the form of roughly two dozen people who gathered in front of a music store on Knickerbocker Avenue earlier tonight to watch Michael Jackson's videos. "Thriller" topped off the scene. People sang along, tapped their feet to the beat and even danced on the sidewalk. Young and old gathered around to celebrate a man (they may have once seen in concert) they had never met. They shared anecdotes about the first time they saw him perform on television or how old they were when he released "Thriller." This corner of Bushwick joined many parts of the world in which people mourned and celebrated Michael Jackson. It indeed was a cathartic way to cap off an emotional and dare I say surreal day.

Michael Jackson and Proposition 8

I am listening to the Michael Jackson memorial service as I write this blog, but an interesting tweet this morning that compared the massive amount of people expected to descend upon downtown Los Angeles and those who turned out to protest Proposition 8 certainly grabbed my attention.

Queerunity pointed out local authorities had expected up to 750,000 people to descend upon downtown Los Angeles today. This figure compares to the mere thousands of people who protested Prop 8 after California voters approved it last November. Some food for thought as the world pauses to mourn the late-King of Pop.

Palin resigns

This is arguably old news after the long holiday weekend, but Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced last Friday she plans to resign by the end of the month.

She made the surprise announcement at her home in Wasilla. Her husband Todd and members of her cabinet joined her, but the press conference, which came at a time many Americans were celebrating Independence Day away from their televisions and computers, sparked immediate interest as to whether she will seek higher office or whether she had an undisclosed skeleton in her closet.

The governor's apparent lack of experience and finesse during interviews after U.S. Sen. John McCain unexpectedly chose her as his vice presidential running mate made her an all too convenient punch line for the media and late night talk show hosts. Her family's plethora of less than flattering headlines in recent months, including her daughter Bristol promoting abstinence before marriage after she gave birth to her son Tripp last December, has not helped to heel this image.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell has repeatedly indicated Palin resigned, in part, because of the millions of dollars the state and her own family have spent to fight more than a dozen ethics complaints. Only two of these complaints have not been dismissed, but as one high ranking Democratic operative told me on Fire Island on Saturday, the "comic strip" that is Sarah Palin will almost certainly continue long after she leaves office in Juneau.

India decriminalizes gay sex

As activists in this country continue to lobby the White House and state legislators to act upon a series of LGBT-specific proposals and bills, a court in Delhi has ruled gay sex is not a criminal offense.

This landmark decision strikes down a colonial-era law that described sexual acts between people of the same-sex as an "unnatural offense." Under the previous law, those convicted under the statute could have faced 10 years in prison.

Activists who gathered inside the court to hear the decision reportedly wept.

"It [the ruling] is India's Stonewall," Indian activist Aditya Bandopadhyay told the BBC. "We are elated. I think what now happens is that a lot of our fundamental rights and civic rights which were denied to us can now be reclaimed by us."

New York City + 5 years

As I look forward to a long (and busy) holiday weekend on Fire Island, I am at home in Bushwick reflecting upon the fact I moved to New York from New Hampshire five years ago today.

My good friends almost know the story of how I ended up in the five boroughs by heart--I called my former roommate, who lived in Hell's Kitchen at the time, one night to say hello and I simply told him I'd move to the city after he asked me if I wanted to. It's almost a bad cliche to say the last five years have flown by, but indeed they have. As a teenager, I honestly wanted nothing more than to leave my native New Hampshire and live in a more diverse and frankly exciting place. Brooklyn--and in particular Bushwick--certainly fit the bill! From my first full-time reporting job at the New York Blade, to my first summer on Fire Island, to working at GLAAD, to getting mugged, to traveling to Morocco and the Dominican Republic and learning how to embrace my inner Julia Child in the kitchen, the last five years have provided me a bounty of experiences that will surely last a life time.

I am a restless person by nature with an insatiable curiosity and even stronger sense of independence and self. The road that lays ahead will certainly be an interesting one that will obviously bring the unexpected, but I remain blessed to have experienced the last five years of it in New York.

P.S. I would also be completely remiss not to congratulate my parents on their 31st wedding anniversary.

Post-Pride odds and ends

As New Yorkers prepare to leave the city en masse for the Independence Day holiday, this blogger recounts a series of events that have dominated the headlines (and his schedule) over the last few days. These include the sudden death of Michael Jackson--and continued onslaught of media coverage surrounding it, the first nice weekend on Fire Island in weeks and a press conference outside the Stonewall Inn yesterday where Congressman Jerrold Nadler and others called for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression into the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In addition, hundreds of LGBT activists attended a reception at the White House last night hosted by the president and the First Lady. The administration has certainly received a great deal of warranted criticism over the last few weeks for its refusal to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell and its unconscionable defense of the Defense of Marriage Act. That said, the mere fact the White House hosted hundreds of LGBT activists sends a powerful message the administration may actually take our community seriously. Let's hope so!

New York Senate adjourns special session without marriage vote

To almost nobody's surprise, the New York State Senate adjourned its latest special session yesterday without voting on the marriage bill. Governor David Paterson announced the proposed legislation was the first item on an ever-growing list of things on which Senators have failed to vote since the coup took place more than two weeks ago. One question that emerged during yesterday's session, however, was the legality of any approved legislation without the state Assembly in session. One source has indicated a vote is possible early next week, but in the meantime, the mess continues...

On a much happier note, the second issue of the Fire Island News hits the beach later today. The weather has, for those of you not in New York, absolutely dreadful over the last couple of weeks. The meteorologists have promised, however, temperatures in the 80s for the next few days with little threat of rain outside of a stray thunderstorm tomorrow. Praise the Lord!

Attached is a clip of the beach somewhere between Davis Park and Water Island I shot a couple of weeks ago. Let's hope both the government in Albany and the weather improve...

Marriage vote unlikely in New York State Senate today

Fiasco is one of many appropriate words to described yesterday's special session of the New York State Senate, but Gov. David Paterson has announced the marriage bill is the first thing on his agenda today when he orders lawmakers back into the chamber.

Activists across the state obviously continue to urge legislators to vote--and pass--the bill, which the state Assembly overwhelmingly supported last month. One Albany insider told Boy in Bushwick it remains possible Senators could vote on the proposed legislation, but they are not compelled to do so. Another source stressed she feels a vote today is very unlikely.

Stay tuned...

Marriage vote possible this week in New York State Senate

I am back in Bushwick after a weekend of torrential downpours, perusing for discount designer fashions and partying in a toga, but news of the possible vote on marriage for gays and lesbians in Albany this week continues to flood my inbox.

The State Senate has remained disgracefully deadlocked since Republicans and a handful of dissident Democrats staged a coop two weeks ago over control of the chamber. Governor David Paterson could have intervened to end this nonsense, but only today has he ordered lawmakers to return to Albany on Wednesday for the start of a special legislative session. Paterson has reportedly told the Empire State Pride Agenda the marriage bill remains one of his top priorities.

"New York’s elected officials were put in office to do the people’s business," Pride Agenda executive director Alan Van Capelle said in a statement. "Legislators cannot go home without passing marriage equality legislation this month. Our community and our allies expect this to happen."

An Albany source later confirmed this possibility, but it still remains unclear as to whether the bill have enough support--especially among Republicans. The fact remains, however, the abject nonsense that has paralyzed the state Senate for two weeks will have a potentially devastating impact on real New Yorkers across the state. It's time to put aside egos once and for all and complete the people's business.

Obama to extend benefits to gay federal workers

As an increasing chorus of LGBT activists continue to criticize the Obama administration over the way it has handled "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the Defense of Marriage Act and other issues, the White House has announced it plans to extend benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees.

Some activists remain highly skeptical of the proposal because it reportedly will not extend health benefits, but it is almost certainly a significant baby step forward for those who continue to criticize the commander-in-chief for his arguable failure to adequately uphold the promises he made to LGBT Americans on the campaign trail.

Albany nonsense continues

A weekend reporting on Fire Island and trying in vain to find a rich husband almost insulated me from the unfortunate fact the nonsense in the New York State Senate that has brought everything to a grinding halt continues.

The latest turn in this ridiculous ego-driven saga came yesterday when state Sen. Hiram Monserrate [D-Queens] announced he will return to his party. State Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., [D-Bronx] was the only self-described Democrat who appeared in the chamber yesterday, but Monserrate's decision to return to the political mouth that (once) fed him essentially guarantees 31 Democrats and 31 Republicans.

Are you keeping score? A state Supreme Court judge continues to debate who will lead the dysfunctional senate, but one source told me late last week the whole situation is "not good news." Indeed, frustration certainly continues to grow.

The Daily News has launched a campaign to not pay legislators until they get back to the business their constituents elected them to do. And Channel 11 anchors Kaity Tong and Jim Watkins made their feelings known after reporter Marvin Scott wrapped up a live shot from Albany. The events of the past week remain a complete and utter disgrace. It's time for legislators to get their shit together, put aside bruised egos and actually pass legislation that directly benefits their constituents.

Espada calls for marriage vote in the New York State Senate

As this humble journalist and others across the state continue to try to figure out what the hell happened in Albany on Monday afternoon, the probable new president pro
tempore just announced he supports a vote on the bill that would extend marriage to same-sex couples.

Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., [D-Bronx] made the announcement during a speech before his colleagues on the Senate floor. One of the main concerns that emerged out of Monday's nonsense is legislators would not vote on the marriage bill. Presumptive former Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith [D-Queens] had repeatedly maintained he did not have enough votes to secure its passage. It remains unclear as to whether this fact has changed, but Espada's pledge to bring the proposed legislation to the floor almost certainly comes as a relief to anxious activists across the state.

GOP regains control of New York State Senate

As if the New York State legislature could not become more dysfunctional, two dissident Democrats joined Republicans who suddenly moved yesterday to topple state Sen. Malcolm Smith [D-Queens] as Senate Majority Leader.

State Sens. Pedro Espada, Jr. [D-Bronx] and Hiram Monserrate [D-Queens] caucused with their GOP colleagues across the aisle in what can almost certainly be described as a coup that resulted in state Sen. Dean Skelos [R-Rockville Centre] becoming Senate Majority Leader. Espada, who remains under investigation for alleged campaign irregularities and other allegations that stem from a non-profit he ran, and Monserrate, who was indicted earlier this year in connection with an alleged assault against his girlfriend, reportedly received backing from Upstate billionaire Tom Golisano. The fact remains, however, the coup immediately threw Albany into chaos as Democrats scrambled to make sense of the situation.

“This was an illegal and unlawful attempt to gain control of the Senate and reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic Majority," Smith's office said in a statement. "Nothing has changed, Senator Malcolm A. Smith remains the duly elected Temporary President and Majority Leader. The real Senate Majority is anxious to get back to governing, and will take immediate steps to get us back to work.”

Governor David Paterson blasted the coup, and the Working Families Party issued a statement that "strongly" condemned Espada and Monserrate's actions.

Yesterday's events certainly confirm New York's dubious distinction as having the country's most dysfunctional legislature. It continues to be an immense embarrassment to those who arguably naively look to Albany to advance the people's agenda--and one of the most contentious issues that remains before legislators is a bill to extend marriage to same-sex couples.

Smith has repeatedly indicated he did not have enough support among his members to ensure its passage in the state Senate. Skelos said he would allow his colleagues to "vote their conscience." It remains more uncertain than ever whether the proposed legislation will even go before the state Senate. Let's hope these lawmakers actually put aside their own politically-motivated and woefully selfish agenda and actually do something on behalf of New Yorkers who have been disenfranchised for far too long. At this point, however, that may a woefully naive proposition.

Union Leader once again opines against marriage for same-sex couples

I'm honestly surprised it took the Union Leader two days to officially speak out against the bill Gov. John Lynch signed into law on Wednesday that extends marriage to same-sex couples, but opine it did in today's editorial.

Publisher Joe McQuaid wrote an editorial published on the rag's front page titled "Dishonesty in Concord." He opined "New Hampshire this week has witnessed intellectual and political dishonesty from Gov. John Lynch (whom he has dubbed Gov. Flynch) and his liberal Democratic legislative allies that is downright breathtaking." McQuaid further criticized the highly popular governor's thoughts about those who campaigned against the bill.

"Lynch is also intellectually dishonest in his implication that people opposed gay marriages solely because they didn't want traditional churches to be forced to participate," he said.

Really?

McQuaid also challenged New Hampshire residents to take action against Lynch and those who supported the bill at the polls next year.

"If they get away with it, Granite State voters will have only themselves to blame," he said.

The fact more than 50 percent of New Hampshire residents support marriage for same-sex couples indicates McQuaid and his newspaper's conservative perspective are increasingly out-of-touch with the state on which they claim to represent. One has come to expect these ridiculous arguments from a publication that continues to grab straws to justify its desperate attempt to block the inevitable change that continues to transform the Granite State for the better. Its increasing irrelevance, however, speaks for itself.

New Hampshire House passes marriage bill

The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 198-176 today to approve an amended bill that would extend marriage to same-sex couples.

Lawmakers narrowly vetoed the bill late last month after they could not agree upon language contained within it that would have clarified exemptions for religious institutions. Governor John Lynch maintained he would sign the bill only if the proposed legislation specifically spelled out these provisions.

"Today is a victory for all the people of New Hampshire, whom I believe in our independent way, want [fairness] for all," he said before he signed the bill into law. "That is truly the New Hampshire way."

I have repeatedly said I never thought growing-up in Manchester I would see the day Concord lawmakers would extend marriage (or even civil unions for that matter) to gay and lesbian Granite Staters. I am happy legislators in my home state have proven me wrong. Today is a great day for the state of New Hampshire. And lawmakers have once again stayed true to the "Live Free or Die" spirit that remains an integral part of the state's collective consciousness.

Dr. Jill Biden headlines GLSEN awards

Hours after the White House released a proclamation to commemorate LGBT Pride month, Dr. Jill Biden headlined the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network's annual Respect Awards ceremony at Gotham Hall last night.

She spoke about the anti-LGBT bullying many students in this country continue to face. Biden also reaffirmed what she described as the White House's continued commitment to "ensure every child has a safe school." And she further pointed out the administration had appointed GLSEN founder Kevin Jennings to head the Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

"Each child, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves an education," Biden said.

Biden received a standing ovation from those gathered inside Gotham Hall. GLSEN executive director Dr. Eliza Byard even described the Second Lady as "a true advocate for all American children," but simmering criticisms the White House has not done enough to adequately advocate on behalf of LGBT rights came to the surface.

Mitchell Gold criticized both the President and Vice President for opposing marriage for same-sex couples on religious grounds. His comments generated an enthusiastic applause among many attendees. And the comments clearly highlight the growing angst among a growing number of activists within the LGBT movement over how they feel the administration has failed to adequately address these issues.

An argument can be made the White House must devote its resources to tackle the ongoing recession, an exit strategy in Iraq and a way forward to combat Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. A converse argument is the administration can do more than issue a Presidential proclamation at the start of LGBT Pride month. The Second Lady's remarks to GLSEN supporters are certainly encouraging, but it is arguable time the administration steps up to the plate and prove it has earned the respect--and most importantly support of the LGBT Americans who helped to vote it into office last November.

Marriage debate continues in New Hampshire

As the movement for LGBT rights continues to begin to implement their strategy in response to the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8, the debate over marriage for same-sex couples continues in New Hampshire.

A state Senate panel earlier this week vetoed a proposed measure that would have brought the issue before Granite State voters. Lawmakers are expected to vote on a marriage bill next week. Gov. John Lynch has said he would sign the proposed legislation if it contained specific language that protects religious institutions.

My mom and more than 50 percent of other New Hampshire voters back the bill. She and I had an interesting conversation last week in which she quite frankly proclaimed her belief that gays and lesbians should marry. Mom added their marriages would have no impact on her marriage to my father. And she had some additional choice words for those in Concord who continue to oppose the bill.

"They are a bunch of old fogies who have nothing better to do," she said.

An astute observation indeed!

Thousands protest Prop 8 in Manhattan

As activists around the country continue to react to the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8, more than 2,000 people took to the streets of lower Manhattan to protest.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn joined Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah and other activists and elected officials.

"What [the] California [Supreme Court] did was wrong," Quinn said. "There is no other way to describe it. It was wrong."

Quinn, who came to the rally in Union Square after lobbying state Senators in Albany to pass the marriage bill their Assembly counterparts endorsed earlier this month, reminded those in attendance there are 24 days left in the current legislative session.

"That's all it will take," she said.



New Yorkers march on 14th Street in Manhattan to protest Prop 8.



Protesters approach Union Square in lower Manhattan.



New Yorkers express solidarity with their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in California.



Protesters urge their legislators in the state Senate to back marriage for same-sex couples.



This sign perhaps sums up today's Prop 8 decision best.



Protesters in lower Manhattan criticized President Obama for not publicly taking a stand on Prop 8 and marriage for same-sex couples since he entered the White House.

California Supreme Court upholds Prop 8

In a 6-1 decision, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8.

The court, which ruled last May a ban on marriages for same-sex couples violated the state Constitution, ruled the nuptials of 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who married after the justices handed down that decision and before voters approved Prop 8 remain valid.

Thousands of people are expected to march in lower Manhattan tonight to express their disappointment over the decision, and to urge the New York State Senate to pass legislation that would allow gays and lesbians to marry. Pictures and video will be posted later tonight.

Calif. Supreme Court to issue Prop 8 decision today

After months of anticipation, the California Supreme Court is expected to issue its long-awaited decision on the validity of Proposition 8 today.

The court could strike down the voter approved initiative, could rule Prop 8 is valid (along with the marriages of same-sex couples) or the amendment is valid and the marriages of gays and lesbians are invalid. This could prove a watershed moment in the recent history of the movement for LGBT rights. Activists across the country have planned protests, rallies and other actions to mark the decision.

In New York, for example, thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of the West Village this afternoon. The state Assembly passed a marriage bill earlier this month, and marchers will almost certainly send a powerful message to the state Senate to endorse the proposed legislation so Gov. David Paterson can quickly sign it.

Today will certainly be an emotional and/or exciting day depending upon how the court rules. The fight for marriage for same-sex couples is far from over, but today's Prop 8 decision could steer the direction of that battle. Stay tuned!

Calif. Supreme Court to issue Prop 8 decision on Tuesday

Protests, rallies and other events are slated to take place across the country once the decision comes down. Stay tuned...

Marriage bill stalls in New Hampshire House

The prospect of marriage for same-sex couples in New Hampshire stalled yesterday after the House voted 186-188 to send an amended version of the bill back to committee.

Governor John Lynch announced last week he would sign the proposed legislation only if lawmakers added language that specifically protected religious institutions in the state. Lynch's press secretary told the Union Leader the governor would veto the bill if legislators failed to approve the provisions for which he has called.

Republicans, on the other hand, have urged Lynch to veto the bill. Lawmakers could once again debate the proposed amendments as early as next week.

Leather, rain reign supreme on Fire Island

Hundreds of leathermen and a cold rain were among the things that greeted Fire Islanders last weekend.

With one week to go before the all important Memorial Day weekend, people up and down the beach were busy planting flowers, wrapping up home renovations and stocking shelves ahead of the holiday. A persistent fog blanketed Fire Island for most of Saturday. And a cold rain fell for several hours yesterday morning, but this weather did not deter the hundreds of leathermen who descended upon the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove for the 14th annual Mr. Fire Island Leather contest.

The first edition of the Fire Island News comes out on Thursday, and so I won't divulge any of our upcoming stories. That said, here is a picture of the Great South Bay from the ferry to Ocean Beach on late Friday afternoon.

Possible hate crime rocks West Village

With gay pride festivities a little more than a month away, the news a group of teenagers viciously beat a man on Seventh Avenue near Christopher Street early yesterday morning has rocked the West Village.

The Daily News reported four young men blocked Alan Williams, 50, from entering a cab outside of Cafe Riviera on Seventh Avenue around 2 a.m. The men proceeded to viciously beat Williams in the head before they fled. The Daily News and other news outlets have reported Williams, who is an accountant from Buffalo, remains in extremely critical condition at St. Vincent's Hospital.

The New York City Anti-Violence Project has said the New York Police Department's Hate Crimes unit continues to investigate whether the perpetrators attacked Williams because he is gay. His friends have confirmed his sexual orientation to the Daily News. And Williams reportedly had a Gay Men's Health Crisis card in his pocket.

“Any violent assault of this kind is a terrible tragedy," AVP executive director Sharon Stapel said.

This attack comes roughly six months after Hakeem Scott and Keith Phoenix allegedly beat Ecuadorian immigrant Jose Sucuzhanay to death as he and his brother walked home arm and arm from a Bushwick bar. And the vicious attack against Williams is yet another reminder hate and bias-crimes remain a serious problem in the city.

RIP Susan Willis

I awoke this morning to an e-mail from one of my Fire Island columnists that said beloved actress Susan Willis had passed away last night after suffering a stroke.

Born in Ohio, her career spanned more than 50 years. Willis appeared in "Cabaret," "Gypsy," "The Merchant of Venice" and "Fiddler on the Roof." She also appeared in "All My Children" and dozens of other movies.

Willis discussed some of her innumerable roles in an interview with the Fire Island News in 2005.

"I am usually the nosey neighbor who spills the beans and knows where the bodies are," she joked.

Willis summered in the Fire Island Pines and was a beloved resident. And on a personal note, she remains one of the most fascinating and frankly interesting people I have ever interviewed. Rest in peace Sue!

New York State Assembly passes marriage bill

In an 89 to 52 vote, the New York State Assembly passed a bill tonight that would extend marriage to same-sex couples.

The Assembly passed a similar bill in 2007, but a number of Republicans backed the proposed legislation in tonight's vote. Among those was state Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, who spoke about her gay son.

"The word marriage symbolizes love, commitment and family and why should my son and other sons and daughters around the state of New York have the same opportunity to experience that same commitment, love and family that other heterosexual couples do," she said. "It’s time for us to not only reach in our hearts, and do what we as elected officials in America have done all along and say we will not accept anything, but equal rights."

The bill now goes to the state Senate. It remains unclear as to whether Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith [D-St. Albans, Queens] has enough votes in his chamber to pass it.

New York State Assembly slated to pass marriage bill

As the debate over marriage for same-sex couples shifts to the New York, the state Assembly is slated to pass a bill as early as today that would allow nuptials for gays and lesbians.

This expected passage will come as little surprise to those who have followed this issue in New York. The Assembly passed a marriage bill former Gov. Eliot Spitzer introduced in 2007. And the proposed legislation Gov. David Paterson introduced last month is widely expected to pass the Democrat-controlled chamber.

The state Senate remains the wild card. Majority Leader Malcolm Smith [D-St. Albans, Queens] has repeatedly indicated he remains unsure as to whether he has enough votes among his own members to ensure the bill's passage. State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., [D-Bronx] is among those within Smith's party who continue to vehemently oppose marriage for same-sex couples. And no Republicans in the state Senate have publicly endorsed the bill in spite of Minority Leader Dean Skelos [R-Rockville Centre]'s assertion his members can vote their conscience.

The reality under which Albany lawmakers continue to debate this contentious issue has certainly changed since 2007. Connecticut, Maine and Vermont have all moved to extend marriage to same-sex couples, while New Jersey is poised to potentially follow suit by the end of the year. A common analogy among activists is almost every other state (and Canada) that borders the state offer some sort of relationship recognition to same-sex couples, but New York remains the embarrassing doughnut hole in the middle.

Stay tuned...

Fire Island kicks-off 2009 season

With less than two weeks to go until the unofficial start of summer, Fire Islanders have already begun to return to the beach to open their homes, secure last minute shares and to even party among the locals.



Several hundred people packed Low Tea in the Fire Island Pines on Saturday night as the sun set over the Great South Bay. Roughly 100 revelers joined drag queens and others at the Ice Palace's official kick-off party in Cherry Grove. And this blogger had his first walk from Ocean Beach to the Grove--and back--of the season, with hopefully many more.



Below is a video I took from the ferry as it left Ocean Beach earlier this afternoon. It was a beautiful day in spite of the brisk wind that whipped up the bay. Cheers to another season on Fire Island!

Pre-season reflection on Fire Island

This weekend marks the official kick-off of the 2009 season for the Fire Island News, and after a long and tumultuous two weeks, I cannot wait to get out on the beach!

One of the pure joys of the last five years I have lived in New York is the ability to spend my summer on Fire Island reporting and now managing the Fire Island News. The heat waves that bake the five boroughs are far less extreme on the beach, the abundance of diverse and always interesting residents and locals and the seemingly never-ending series of parties, fundraisers and other events are among the innumerable highlights.

I leave for Fire Island early tomorrow morning, but here one of a myriad of pictures that will hopefully typify the summer of 2009.

New Hampshire House passes marriage bill

Hours after Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry in the Pine Tree State, the New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a measure that would allow nuptials for gays and lesbians in the Granite State.

The House voted 178-167 to approve an amended bill the state Senate approved last week. It remains unclear as to whether Gov. John Lynch will back House Bill 436. He can either sign it, veto the bill or allow it to become law without his signature.

The New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition has produced an ad that urges Lynch to sign HB 436. The governor, who has repeatedly said he feels marriage should remain between a man and a woman, has five days to make a decision.

Today is certainly an exciting day for my home state. I've stated on numerous occasions I never thought I would see the day Concord lawmakers would back legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the state. New Hampshire continues to make significant progress to shed its arguably unfair reputation, and this native Granite Stater is certainly grateful.

And on a final note, I would like to acknowledge my mother in Manchester for calling me earlier this afternoon to let me know HB 436 passed. Thanks Mom!

Maine becomes fifth state to allow marriage for same-sex couples

Governor John Baldacci made Maine the fifth state in the country to extend marriage to same-sex couples.

Baldacci signed the legislation earlier today in Augusta. And activists across the country were quick to praise his decision.

“Just one year ago, a single state allowed same-sex couples to marry," Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said. "Now, with the historic step taken by Gov. Baldacci and the Maine legislature, five states will provide equal dignity, equal respect, and equal rights under state law for same-sex couples by recognizing their freedom to marry, and we hope more will follow soon.”

[Boy in Bushwick will add more reaction as he receives them,] but Baldacci's decision to sign the bill comes on the heels of the District of Columbia's decision earlier this week to allow marriage for same-sex couples.

Lawmakers in New Hampshire and New York are among those across the country who continue to debate the issue. And couples are scheduled to begin to marry 90 days after the legislative session ends next month.

Boston Globe strikes deal with union

It remains no secret media in this country remains in a state of crisis, but a glimmer of hope came out of Boston earlier this morning with an announcement the paper's largest union struck a deal with its parent company.

The New York Times Co., which owns the Boston Globe, had threatened to close the storied newspaper if its unions did not agree to make $20 million in concessions. The company threatened to give Massachusetts officials 60 days notice of its intent to close the paper in an apparent move to pressure the Boston Newspaper Guild to agree to the concessions.

Three smaller unions had already approved the concessions, and the Guild ratified them after a marathon bargaining session. The parties will disclose the details of the agreement tomorrow, but it appears the Globe will publish another day. This 11th hour deal will almost certainly come as a relief to the Globe's readership and an industry that remains in dire straights.

The UK bans Fred Phelps and daughter

After watching a handful of anti-gay protesters in action at the SundayOUT! Street Festival in Philadelphia this past weekend, perhaps the British government's decision to include the Rev. Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley on its so-called "least wanted" list amounts to some long overdue poetic justice.

A clear argument can be made the Phelps clan considers any sort of attention the media pays to their protests a success. And an equally convincing argument can be made the Westboro Baptist Church remains one of the movement for LGBT rights' most important assets.

Freedom of speech remains one of this country's founding ideals. It is something to be cherished and celebrated, but the British government's decision to ban Phelps and his daughter from the United Kingdom serves as a powerful reminder this basic human right comes with immense responsibility. And it also proves freedom of speech should not come at the expense of someone else's personal dignity, liberty and even safety.

Lesbian couple from Iowa appears on Oprah

A lesbian couple from Iowa who discussed their pending wedding on Oprah earlier this afternoon put a smile on my face after an admittedly hectic and frankly trying week.

The couple, who have two young daughters, appeared on the talk show. Hugh Jackman was quick to express his support for marriage for same-sex couples, and Nate Barkus specifically discussed his relationship and his coming out as a gay man. The two men further highlighted the fact gays and lesbians began to legally marry in the Hawkeye State on Monday as Gayle King and Jenny McCarthy discussed the news alongside Oprah.

I hope to have a clip of the segment up in a couple of days, but this conversation brought a tumultuous week to a pleasant conclusion.