Mar 24, 2006  | COMMENTS     

 DECATUR, Ill.—People living near Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park are hoping to get the state to more closely monitor the facility to end gay cruising and sex at the park, the Herald & Review reported March 18. State Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) said at a news conference March 17 that he is asking the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to increase patrols and other security measures at the park. Marcelyn Love, a spokeswoman for the department, pledged to help. "The big problem is this is a hangout for homosexual men," said Dale McKinney, the Herald & Review reported. "Sometimes 15 to 20 cars will be here at once. One car will pull in, back up to a parking space and another one will pull in next to it. Then the guys go out in the back of the park together." Sheriff’s Capt. Steve Jones said the area is being patrolled, but when a marked squad car shows up, everyone scatters. Gay activists in other locations have often complained that police target gay men in public parks for cruising, which is not illegal, rather than for actual sex in public.

Coroner again rules death of Colo. gay man a homicide

MONTROSE, Colo. — The final autopsy report in the death of a gay Montrose man confirmed findings in a preliminary report issued last year: Kevin Hale, 36, was a victim of homicide and died from cerebral anoxia, caused by compression of his neck structures, the Montrose Daily Press reported. Hale was found dead in Buckley Park the morning after meeting Jason Fiske and Adam Hernandez at a pub last July, the Daily Press reported according to court documents. Witnesses reportedly said Hernandez became upset at the pub and suggested following Hale to rough him up because Hale allegedly "tried to molest" him. The three men met up at Buckley Park and according to police reports, began fighting. Hale was found later lying on the ground with the contents of his wallet strewn about near his body.

Boyfriend sought in killing, dismemberment of Brooklyn man

NEW YORK—Police want to talk to the boyfriend of a gay Brooklyn teen whose dismembered body was found in a subway tunnel, the New York Post reported March 20. Web site designer Rashawn Brazell, 19, disappeared on Valentine’s Day 2004. Investigators recently discovered Brazell had a boyfriend, described by the police as in his 30s and living on welfare. He hasn’t been seen since Brazell’s death and is believed to have moved somewhere down South. "We want to try and find this guy, identify him and talk to him," a police source said, reported the Post. On the last day Brazell was seen alive, he told people he was meeting a tax preparer, but the police have said that may have been a ruse.

London gay man charged with lying about rape

LONDON—A gay bar worker who told police he had been raped is being tried for perverting the course of justice, the Herts & Essex News reported March 16. A jury heard that Daniel Schwan, 29, who works at Chicago Rock Café, alleged Jeffrey Slominski, 26, attacked him in a railway station car park on Nov. 18, 2004. After a police investigation, Schwan was arrested and the rape charge against Slominski was dropped. At trial Schwan testified that he stood by his rape allegation. Slominski told police he had not harmed Schwan and their relationship had never been sexual, the Herts & Exxes News reported. There was no forensic evidence to support or refute Schwan’s allegation.

Nepalese gay, trans people face widespread abuse

KATMANDU, Nepal 15—The Blue Diamond Society, Nepal’s only organization for sexual minorities, claims more than 200 cases of human rights abuses against gay and transgender people have been reported since 2003, the Integrated Regional Information Networks reported March 15. The group believes many more cases go unreported, particularly outside the capital. For Kala Rai, a "meti" or transgender person, living in Katmandu, life is difficult. "I am constantly harassed by the police, who taunt me, take my money and even beat me if I don’t do what they demand," Rai told the IRIN. She claims the police have raped her on at least three different occasions. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other groups have repeatedly called on the government to work for greater tolerance of sexual minorities.