Nov 05, 2004   | COMMENTS     

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A judge has barred a Web site operator from sending e-mails requesting the sexual orientation of Missouri public school officials, the attorney general’s office said. Attorney General Jay Nixon sued the StarProse Corp. last week, saying it sent unwanted e-mails to several superintendents threatening to describe them as gay if they did not respond with personal information. Circuit Judge Bruce Colyer permanently barred the Abilene, Texas-based company and its president, Jeffrey Kowalski, from sending e-mail requesting the sexual orientation of any school or government employees in Missouri. The e-mail messages appeared with the subject line, “Open Records Request,” but actually sought personal information from school officials, such as their age, race, gender and sexual orientation. The lawsuit accused StarProse of violating the state’s anti-spam law, in part by using a misleading subject line.

Former N.J. governor’s aide tells FBI harassment was ‘continuous nightmare’
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The former aide who accused Gov. James E. McGreevey of sexual harassment said he told the FBI that the advances took place over a period of more than two years and made his life a “long continuous nightmare.” Golan Cipel said he told FBI agents during an interview in Israel last week that McGreevey resigned because he was worried that word of his actions would be reported. When he announced on Aug. 12 that he would resign, McGreevey said he was leaving office because he had a consensual extramarital affair with a man and due to the threat of extortion. McGreevey did not name the man, but aides in his administration have identified the person as Cipel, who served briefly as a homeland security adviser for the governor in 2002. “It is clear that McGreevey did not resign because of his sexual orientation or because of an alleged consensual affair,” Cipel said in a statement released by his Israeli spokesperson and reported in the Star-Ledger of Newark. “He resigned because he sexually harassed me and the severity of his conduct did not allow him to continue as governor.”

ACLU accuses L.A. school officials of harassing gay students, staffers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lawsuit filed in federal court last week accuses teachers, administrators and other employees of a Los Angeles high school of harassing gay students and staffers. The Washington Preparatory High School staff has created “a climate rife with hostility toward and discrimination against students and staff based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation,” according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court by the ACLU of Southern California. The action asks that discrimination at the school end and that the Los Angeles Unified School District be ordered to “institute proper training procedures for all staff to put an end to the hostile and intolerant school environment.” School attorney Kevin Reed denied anti-gay behavior, adding the district is a leader in providing a safe environment for gay students.

Critics say Atlanta golf club’s new policy still unfair to gay couples
ATLANTA — After a 10-month debate over the Druid Hills Golf Club’s reluctance to grant benefits to members’ domestic partners, the venue eased its policies, but not enough for gay critics. Club President T. Kent Smith said the battle over the club’s violation of the city of Atlanta’s Human Rights Ordinance may soon end. Club directors sent members an expanded guest policy that allows unmarried partners to attend without the member being present, but without access to the golf course. Unmarried partners are also not allowed to inherit a membership or host guests at the club. But club leaders said they remain ready to challenge the law in court if Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin issues penalties, which could include revoking the club’s liquor license. Franklin called the club’s proposal “a positive step forward.” But Lee Kyser, one of two gay members seeking benefits, said it is “insulting and a slap in the face.”

Survey: Half of younger soldiers say gays should be able to serve
PHILADELPHIA — A new survey shows a notable drop in support for the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy banning openly gay personnel. Among junior enlisted service members, 50 percent said gays should be allowed to serve. That compares to ...