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Judge Lifts Temporary Stay On Same-Sex Marriage In California. Couples May Be Married Beginning August 18

National news sources everywhere are now reporting from San Francisco, California that a federal judge today refused to permanently stay his ruling overturning  California's Proposition 8 but extended a temporary hold to give supporters time to appeal the historic ruling. U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who overturned the measure on Aug. 4, agreed to give its sponsors until Aug. 18 to appeal his ruling to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. No new marriages can take place until then. Walker's decision came after supporters of the same-sex marriage ban warned that they would take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary to ensure that his ruling did not take effect.

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Dragged Out Of The Closet State Senator Gets 2 Days for DUI

A state senator who opposed gay rights during his 14 years in the Legislature, then acknowledged he was gay after being busted for drunk driving after leaving a gay bar, was sentenced on Wednesday to 2 days in jail and 3 years probation. State Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, "received no less than anybody else" for his first conviction, the state prosecutor told the Sacramento Bee. Ashburn, 55, pleaded no-contest through his attorney. Prosecutors said his blood alcohol content was .14 when he was pulled over in downtown Sacramento on March 4 at around 2 a.m. He later admitted that he had been at Faces, a popular gay bar. Ashburn will get credit for one day in custody and will work off his other day on a sheriff's work crew. He also must pay $2,480 in fines and fees.

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White Party's 21st Anniversary Kicks Off In Palm Springs

Palm Springs kicked off Thursday the White Party 2010 - among the world's largest gay celebrations - with a proclamation marking the event's 21st anniversary. Mayor Steve Pougnet and Councilwoman Ginny Foat will present the event's producer, Jeffrey Sanker, with the proclamation at the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel, 888 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, said city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell. The hotel will be serve as headquarters for the party, which will feature performances from Kim Zolciak of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and pop-sensation Kesha, along with Agnes Carlsson, the winner of the "Swedish Idol" competition. The party has grown to become one of the largest and most recognized gay events worldwide, according to Blaisdell. The weekend will officially begin at 9 p.m. with the White Party Welcome at Dink's Ultralounge, featuring DJ Scotty Thomson.

Schedule of Events for White Party 2010:

Friday, April 9th:

• Pool Party: Renaissance Hotel Pool, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• DJ Luke Johnstone
• Boxer & Briefs Party: Renaissance Hotel Ballroom, 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• DJ Abel
• Erika Jayne

Saturday, April 10th:

• Tropical Pool Party: Renaissance Hotel Pool, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• DJ Brett Henrichsen
• Wynter Gordon
• White Party Main Event: Palm Springs Convention Center, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• White Carpet arrivals hosted by Candis Cayne & Billy Masters ("special guest" at 11 p.m.)
• Ke$ha
• Kim Zolciak
• DJs Freemasons
• DJ Manny Lehman
• DJ Chi Chi Larue
• After-Hours: Renaissance Hotel Ballroom, 4 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• DJs Chus+Ceballos
• Flava

Sunday, April 11th

• Pool Party: Renaissance Hotel Pool, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Shontelle
• DJ Joe Gauthreaux
• T-Dance: Across from Palm Springs Convention Center, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Agnes
• Kim Zolciak
• DJ Wayne G
• DJs Moto Blanco
• Fireworks Finale
• Closing Party: Renaissance Hotel Ballroom, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Estelle
• DJ Tony Moran

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California Law Seeks to “Cure” Homosexuality

Gay people have been fighting stereotypes and dispelling misconceptions for years, including the crazy notion that there's a "cure" for their sexual preference. But, according to current California law, there's a fix for the gay. State lawmakers are finally looking to change that outdated and outlandish belief and on Tuesday, a California legislative committee advanced a bill that would repeal a state law designed to find the causes and cures for homosexuality. The law was written in 1950 after a series of sex crimes in Los Angeles. The law states:

The State Department of Mental Health shall plan, conduct and cause to be conducted scientific research into the causes and cures of sexual deviation, including deviations conductive to sex crimes against children and the causes and cures of homosexuality.

At the time, lawmakers wanted to discover why people committed such crimes and listed homosexuals as "sexual deviants" who should be researched. Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal of Long Beach says it's time to repeal the law. "Our values have changed today." Lowenthal told KCRA TV. "What existed in 1950 does not exist in 2010." The bill passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee Tuesday on a 4-1 vote. One Republican voted no, while a Republican and Democrat abstained. They said the law's reference to homosexuality should be removed but want the state to continue researching sex crimes. If it passes, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will sign the bill into law this summer.

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UPDATE: Turns Out She Is A Fraud - Miss Beverly Hills Claims God Wants Gays Put To Death!

In a statement Wednesday, the city said it was shocked by Ashley’s description of herself as ‘Miss Beverly Hills, especially when she lives in Pasadena. ''The city ‘does not sponsor a beauty pageant and has no association with Miss California USA,’ the statement said. ‘As such, there should be no individual claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills.’ The city’s statement said Ashley lives in Pasadena and ‘does not represent Beverly Hills in any capacity.’ … ’We are dismayed by any potential association with the city of Beverly Hills, which has a long history of tolerance and respect,’ Mayor Nancy Krasne said….Beverly Hills said it had contacted pageant officials to determine how to prevent any future beauty contestants from claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills.”

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Miss Beverly Hills has thrown her tiara into the ring on the gay marriage debate.  As the state of California battles over Prop 8 and the issue of marriage equality in what will surely be a landmark case, Lauren Ashley felt it necessary to declare her stance on the issue.  Claiming that the Bible is "pretty black and white," Ashley told Fox News "The Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman.  In Leviticus it says 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.  They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.'" She went on to state "I feel like God himself created mankind and he loves everyone, and he has the best for everyone.  If he says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life." Interestingly, while proclaiming her faith and asserting her knowledge of biblical texts, Ashley failed to address the fact that the book of Leviticus also states: It is acceptable to own slaves (25:44) Eating shellfish is an abomination (11:10) A man cutting his hair is punishable by death (19:27) One may not approach an altar if he is hunchbacked, has poor eyesight or damaged testicles (21:20) Having a tomato and cucumber garden or wearing a cotton polyester blend is grounds to be stoned to death (19:19) One must ask why some biblical laws are held onto while others are blatantly ignored.  In the entire Bible (which includes 66 books, 1189 chapters, and 31101 verses in the Protestant version, the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles are larger) there are only five texts that have been claimed to forbid homosexuality.  Unfortunately, each of these has been picked apart, taken out of context, and the larger message has been entirely lost.  Miss Beverly Hills may have asserted her stance based on her faith; however she is highly misinformed on what the Bible states, particularly on the issue of do not judge. [MEDIA not found]

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Gay Couple May Face Death Penalty; Despite Court Order, They Were Mistakenly Put In Same Jail Cell

Two gay Stockton, California men who could face a death sentence on charges they murdered a Tracy, California woman last year were mistakenly kept in a cell together despite a judge's order barring their contact, authorities said Friday. Robert and Jorge Morgan - who are legal domestic partners and consider themselves married to each other - stand accused of murdering Cynthia Ramos, 58, on Aug. 6 in her trailer. A forensic pathologist who performed Ramos' autopsy said she was "killed over and over and over," fighting back as she was stabbed 55 times, struck 13 times with something hard, and strangled. Prosecutors are now weighing the decision to seek a death sentence against the Morgans. The additional charges of robbery, burglary and lying in wait make them eligible. While awaiting trial, an order by San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Bernard Garber requires they be kept apart, like any co-defendants. They had asked for time together to plan their defense, insisting sex was not their motive. The mix-up happened upon their transfers as parole violators from the San Joaquin County Jail to Deuel Vocational Institution last month, when they spent about two days in the same cell, Deuel spokesman Lt. Gilbert Valenzuela said. Valenzuela said Robert Morgan is listed in the prison system as Robert Plunkett, and Deuel staffers didn't know of the judge's order. Officials constantly put together inmates because Deuel is cramped for space, he said. "We wind up celling these guys together because they're compatible," Valenzuela said. Once the judge's order came to light, Deuel separated them, Valenzuela said, adding that prisoners are prohibited from sexual activity under the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The pair could face bigger problems. In a brief hearing Friday morning, Judge Garber goaded San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Valli Israels into deciding if she would seek a death sentence, so the defense has time to prepare. Garber set the Morgan's next hearing for Jan. 25, when he is expected to set a trial date. He told Israels that is also when he wants to know the penalty she will seek. "You think you might have that decision in two weeks?" Garber asked. "I hope so," Israels replied, saying that her boss, District Attorney Jim Willett, ultimately decides if a case is worth capital charges. He needed more time, she said. "The district attorney's office takes the death sentence very seriously," Israels said.

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Man Turns Himself In, Faces Charges In Attack On Gay Man At Bar

A Redwood City, California man wanted for allegedly beating up a man because of he was gay turned himself in to the Sheriff's Office around noon Wednesday. Cole White, 24, surrendered a day after a judge signed a $50,000 arrest warrant charging him with assault and a hate crime allegation. "He provided a brief statement and said he would like to speak to an attorney," Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend said. An alleged anti-gay assault that took place at a Santa Cruz club has led to an arrest warrant being issued for the suspected assailant. The warrant for the arrest of 24-year-old Cole White was issued Jan. 5, reported local newspaper the Santa Cruz Sentinel that same day. White is wanted for allegedly beating a man in his early 30s identified only as Chris. Both men had been at gay-friendly club Blue Lagoon, the article said; according to the victim’s account, as told to ABC News, White called Chris a "fag" outside the establishment, at which point Chris took his photo with his cell phone. "I turned to the person and I said, ’You know what? I am gay, I’m walking down the street, and I’m sorry you have a problem with it,’" Chris recounted. "And he started to come at me," the victim added. Later, when both men were inside, the victim reportedly asked White about his having yelled anti-gay slurs at him. At that point, the report said, White launched into an attack, punching Chris, knocking him down, and beating him. The assault left the victim with cuts, bruises, and a broken nose. Said Santa Cruz Police Department spokesperson Zach Friend, "This is a very disappointing thing to hear that in our community, in this day and age, that we would have this kind of issue, this kind of intolerance, that someone would be attacked exclusively because of their sexual orientation. It is inexcusable and unconscionable." Club manager Fred Friedman offered a different account of events, saying that the two clashed on the dance floor, then went outside to settle the matter. Friedman said that fighting is not tolerated at the club; those involved were ejected and will not be allowed back on the premises.

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California Appoints First Ever Openly Gay Speaker of the House

Assemblyman John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) has been selected as the next Speaker of the House in the California State Assembly. He is the first openly gay man to hold this position in the United States. This is the state assembly's top leadership position. Lawmakers think Perez will bring valuable assets to the table and will effectively combat California's economic troubles.was endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Perez served on the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and is a board member for the California League of Conservation Voters, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Latino Coalition against AIDS, the California Center for Regional Leadership, and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. In 2008 he was endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. [HRC]

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The Nation's Youngest Gay Mayor Elected!

The Campbell, California City Council elected Evan Low mayor of the South Bay city Tuesday, December 1. At 26, Low is believed to be the country's youngest openly gay mayor. He is also one of the youngest Asian American mayors in the U.S. He had been serving as vice mayor for the past year, setting the stage for this week's vote. "Generally, the vice mayor is voted in as the next mayor," explained Low. Balancing the city's budget amid the economic troubles facing the state will be his top priority over the next year. "Mainly, I want to make sure we maintain a fiscally sound budget and do not make any layoffs," said Low. He also wants to increase participation in local government by streaming city meetings live online and plans to be accessible to Campbell residents outside of City Hall. Low, a fifth-generation Californian, was elected to office in 2006, becoming the council's first Asian American member. Since then he has become active in Democratic circles nationally; he was elected in September to an at-large seat on the Democratic National Committee. In the spring he ran for the male vice chair post within the state Democratic Party against another gay candidate but conceded the race to Eric Bauman prior to the vote at the state party convention. Last year Low served as a grand marshal in San Francisco's Pride Parade. He was threatened with being recalled from office last fall for his speaking out against Proposition 8, the ban against same-sex marriage voters passed in the November 2008 election. Low graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in political science and is a graduate of the senior executives in local and state government program from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government where he was a Bohnett Leadership Fellow.

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'Sinful' Gays Remark Leads To Calls For Vallejo Mayor's Censure

Gay rights activists are calling for the mayor of Vallejo, California, to be censured after he called gay people "sinful". Mayor Osby Davis was quoted by the New York Times as saying: “They’re [gay people] committing sin and that sin will keep them out of heaven. But you don’t hate the person. You hate the sin that they commit.” Davis is a a devout Assemblies of God follower. On Tuesday, he released a statement apologising for the comments. He said: “I have worked hard to unite Vallejo and I will continue to do so. To those I have offended by my comments, I apologise. My words were taken out of context. "I care for the entire community and my desire is to build consensus on our diversity. Let me be clear, I have and will stand against hatred, discrimination and divisiveness wherever they exist.” Gay rights activists were not placated by the apology and have organised a rally outside the mayor's offices on December 1st. Charles Legalos, a former planning commissioner, told the Oakland Tribune: “His comments were completely out of line. They have no place coming from a city official." Davis won the 2007 mayoral election by two votes against former council official and out gay man Gary Cloutier. Cloutier said he was repeatedly introduced as "a gay" and accused the council of being awash with anti-gay sentiment.

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Elton John Leaves Hospital, Back On Tour Nov 14 In Oakland, California

Elton John has been released from a London hospital after being treated for flu and an E. coli bacterial infection. The singer's spokesman Gary Farrow says John was at home Friday and was feeling fine. He left the hospital early Thursday. He says John planned to resume his suspended tour and would play scheduled U.S. dates with Billy Joel starting in Oakland, California on Nov. 14. Illness has forced the 62-year-old musician to cancel several gigs in Britain, Ireland and the U.S. over the last few weeks.