Aug 10, 2007   | COMMENTS     

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A transgender prison inmate who said she was raped by her cellmate has lost her lawsuit against prison officials. A Superior Court jury last week ruled in favor of six Folsom State Prison workers whom Alexis Giraldo, 30, accused of failing to protect her from being raped. The jury deadlocked on a seventh prison worker. Giraldo had asked the court to order prison officials to create a policy to protect transgender inmates, who are currently housed with the general population. But the court dismissed the claim, saying Giraldo could not speak for other inmates and was in no danger herself because she had recently been paroled. Giraldo was sent to Folsom for shoplifting and a parole violation in January 2006. She said prison guards ignored her complaints and returned her to the cell to be attacked again. State officials said Giraldo was in a consensual sexual relationship with the cellmate and her lawsuit was motivated by greed.

Officer faces charges after he allegedly beat lesbian

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio police have opened an internal affairs investigation into the behavior of a veteran officer accused of using a racial slur and beating a lesbian who asked him to put out his cigar at a community pool. Tamara Vaughan, 18, said her jaw was pushed in and she still cannot open it far after an attack by Detective Keith Alfaro, 35, who was off duty. Vaughan was hospitalized. She has bruises on her arm that she says are from Alfaro and estimates he hit her 25 times, including putting his forearm on her throat and choking her. Alfaro was arrested last week and charged with aggravated assault and evading and resisting arrest. Ed Shaughnessy, an attorney for Alfaro, said the case is pending before a grand jury and that Alfaro has not been formally indicted. He added that his client maintains his innocence but would not elaborate. The July 22 incident happened at the pool at the housing subdivision where Vaughan lives. According to a written statement signed by Vaughan, she was at the pool with four cousins when the smoke from Alfaro’s cigar began to bother her. When she asked Alfaro, who was on the phone, to put it out, they got into a verbal fight. Vaughan’s statement said Alfaro then used the “n-word” against Vaughan, who is black, and made comments about Vaughan’s appearance, saying “You wanna look like a man, I’m gonna treat you like a man.” Vaughan said she was wearing swimming trunks and a T-shirt at the pool. Vaughan said Alfaro was attacking her based on her sexual orientation.

Support for ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal grows in Congress

WASHINGTON — Five new lawmakers, including the highest ranking military veteran in Congress, have joined 126 other lawmakers in supporting legislation to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. Reps. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.), Brian Baird (D-Wash.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) all became co-sponsors of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246) last week, bringing the total number of supporters to 131. Admiral Michael Mullen, President Bush’s nominee for chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) that he would welcome a congressional inquiry about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” 

N.J. school district cancels play, gay group plans protest

OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — Gay rights activists are planning to protest a New Jersey school district’s decision to cancel a play. “The Laramie Project” is the true story about the murder of Matthew Shepard. The gay University of Wyoming student was beaten to death in 1998. Drama coach Bob Angelini told the Asbury Park Press homophobia and fear led Principal Julia Davidow to reject the play. Gay rights group Garden State Equality plans to protest at the school board’s Aug. 28 meeting. School Superintendent Thomas Pagano told the newspaper he stands by the principal. However, the superintendent conceded he may be wrong and the board has the authority to override the decision.

Kansas town launches state’s first DP registry

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Couples who sign up for the newly available domestic partnerships in Lawrence, Kan., will receive a certificate suitable for framing, declaring they plan to “live together in a relationship of indefinite duration” and will “share the necessities of life.” They’ll also receive two wallet-sized cards. City Clerk Frank Reeb said the registry, open to same-sex and unmarried straight couples living in Lawrence, doesn’t grant any new legal rights. He said 40 to 50 couples are expected to register either in person or online in the first year. City Commission approved the registry in June, setting the cost to sign up at $75.