Constance McMillen now has company in Mississippi; this time instead of a prom denial, it is the school yearbook – lesbian student Ceara Rodriguez is nowhere to be found. Not a mistake, because Rodriguez and her mother had struggled with the school to have her photo in the yearbook.

From the Jackson Free Press:

When Veronica Rodriguez opened Wesson Attendance Center’s Yearbook on Friday, she didn’t find a trace of her lesbian daughter Ceara Sturgis after a long battle with school officials to include a photo of her daughter wearing a tuxedo in the school’s 2010 yearbook.
“They didn’t even put her name in it,” Sturgis’ mother Veronica Rodriguez said. “I was so furious when she told me about it. Ceara started crying and I told her to suck it up. Is that not pathetic for them to do that? Yet again, they have crapped on her and made her feel alienated.”

The Stranger was kind enough to provide information on how to taker action: Time for an accountability moment: the website for the Wesson Attendance Center is here. Ronald Greer is WAC’s principal and you can email him here. Oscar Hawkins is WAC’s high school principal and you can email him here. The school’s phone number is (601) 643-2221. The school’s fax number is (601) 643-2458.

As for the ACLU? From the Jackson Free Press:

ACLU legal director Kristy L. Bennett said the district referred to a 2004 settlement of Youngblood v. School Board of Hillsborough County, Fla. In that case, former Robinson High School principal Kevin McCarthy refused to alter the school’s senior photo dress code that required female students to wear a scoop-necked drape, which ruled out the possibility of student Nicole Youngblood posing in a suit.



Youngblood sued the Hillsborough County School Board that year, claiming the rule was discriminatory. The resulting settlement allowed seniors 14 days to appeal the dress code prior to photos.

 ACLU attorneys maintain that the Youngblood case made no official reference to the student’s sexuality, however. Shannon Minter, an attorney who represented Youngblood in the 2004 case, said Copiah had chosen a poor foundation upon which to build an argument, considering the school settled with the plaintiff.

”The school agreed to settle the case and changed their policy. That’s the only reason we dropped our appeal,” Minter said. “These policies are blatantly unlawful. Any court of appeals in this country would likely find such policy to be unlawful now.”

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In an effort spur support for repealing the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has been posting letters from service members, addressed directly to President Obama. From their website:

Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Here’s Today’s Letter:

April 28, 2010
President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,

I was humbled to have earned the title of U.S. Marine just two years ago – my goal since I was 14 years old. But just nine weeks ago, I was informed of my discharge under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

Mr. President, if I could be serving my country right now – I would be. Instead, I was fired while you were my Commander and Chief.

The stories we hear of discharged service members are becoming far too common and are based around a primitive law that we should have eliminated years ago. As this injustice continues to hurt our country, we are in desperate need of your support and leadership as we work to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

After I finished my training, I was a 20-year-old reservist. I returned to school to continue working on my undergraduate degree with hopes of becoming an officer. I wish I could tell you about my distinguished service, about stories from the war overseas, or about how being a Marine has changed my perspective on life, but I can’t.

My discharge came from the fear that my sexual orientation was going to be revealed by a third party; a group of unknown Marines who threatened to use my sexuality as a way to retaliate after a dispute in a bar. I had spoken with two fellow Marines from my unit; both of whom I trusted. They calmed me, told me that it wasn’t a big deal, and reassured me that everything was going to be fine.

I returned to drill only to find out that the two Marines – the Marines I confided in — had mentioned it and word had reached my 1st Sergeant and Commanding Officer. They told the two Marines to submit written statements detailing everything I had told them. When I walked in to my 1st Sergeant’s office the first question out of his mouth was, “Are you gay?”

I answered honestly. The investigation was now underway.

The 1st Sergeant proceeded to tell me that there was no way he could protect my privacy in the matter, citing the “grapevine,” and having no control over what people within the unit said or did. I was told by my CO to hang tight and wait to hear from the Battalion Commander.

Ultimately I was discharged, a fate I found out only through my persistent calls and emails. My dreams of being an officer had been shattered and it felt as if the world was tumbling down on me and all I could do was step aside.

Upon earning the title of Marine, I took an oath and vowed to “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” This enemy is a domestic one, and with your direction as Commander and Chief, this is a war in which we can be victorious.

“Semper Fidelis” is the Marine Corps motto meaning “Always Faithful.” Not only am I willing and anxious to go overseas, but I am prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect our freedoms.

I have remained faithful to my country; please be faithful to me.

Very Respectfully,

LCpl. Danny Hernandez,
USMC (Separated)

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I used to read comic books religiously when I was a kid. I remember Archie, but it was tame for my tastes…I remember loving the Saturday morning cartoons, especially Josie and the Pussycats…and that with Archie they had that funky music video-ish number in every episode, Jughead looked really silly and well…just uncool. Today, the nearly 70 year old publication hits a queer milestone: the introduction of its first gay character, Kevin.

I was unaware of the homo-inuendoes made about the comic over the years – namely in Chasing Amy, where Hooper and Banky argue about Archie and Jughead being a closeted couple: (Hooper says)

It’s true. Archie was the bitch and Jughead was the butch – that’s why – Jughead wears that crown-looking hat all the time: he the king, of queen Archie’s world.

Well…ok! If you say so…anyway, kudos to the Archie crew finally bringing the comic up-to-date in the real world. Now that they’ve introduced on gay character, you know what that means? Another one has to be created, because, after all, Kevin has to have a boyfriend, especially if he’s so damn good looking that Veronica wants him!

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Team Oregon will hold it’s monthly meeting Monday, April 26th. The meeting is for team Oregon members, but it is also open to anyone interested in learning about the team and what they are doing to achieve the goal of going to the Cologne, Germany Gay Games. From their meeting announcement:

At each monthly “Get Pumped” meeting, two main things happen:

1. People interested in joining or supporting Team Oregon 2010 can learn more about us and join up!

2. Members can learn about planned activities in which they can participate. Members earn points toward their travel “scholarship” by participating in activities. Of course, this is also a great time to share new ideas.

The meeting takes place at Flying Cat Cafe is located at 3041 Southeast Division Street Portland, OR 97214 – (503) 234-0910 Look here for the official Gay Games Cologne 2010 website.

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We all know RuPaul deserves and award for the amazing work he’s doing with his hits show, RuPaul’s Drag Race – and he did at the 21st Annual GLAAD awards in Los Angeles. In true RuPaul fashion, his quick wit and humor is displayed while accepeting the award…Enjoy!

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We were first introduced to Nikki & Rich on our favorite show next to Oprah, Ellen. We fell instantly in love…seems that with Amy Winehouse and others, the 50′s funk, rock and roll is back for good! Enjoy!

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The Huffington Post has reported that Glenn Beck may not get his ideal candidate (to use against the Dems,) as he called this ficticious person a “gay-handicapped-black woman who’s an immigrant.” Instead, it looks like the front runner is more conservitive than Chief Associate Justice John Paul Stevens; Elena Kagan, President Obama’s solicitor general.

Republicans would be wise to support Kagan, but we can already see from the past couple of months, they’ll do all they can to oppose her…just out of spite and sticking to their, “Oppose Everything!” rule they now live by.

Among Obama’s short list include the same list he had the last time he appointed a high court nominee: former Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, federal appeals court judges Diane Wood and Merrick Garland, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. An addition to the list is federal appeals court Judge Sidney Thomas of Montana.

Hillary Clinton‘s name had been rumored to be a part of the short list, but Obama’s White House Press Secretary said Obama is “going to keep her as his Secretary of State.”

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Join local musicians on April 24, 2010 as they honor the musical stylings of Elton John at the Portland Oregon’s Jupiter Hotel. The evening’s celebration will showcase the talents of local artists and embrace the spirit of giving in support of organizations that make a difference in our community.

Proceeds from this very special concert will benefit Basic Rights Oregon along with Portland’s Q Center via The Oregon Bears’ annual festival, BearTown 15. For more information about Elton John, his life and charity work, go to www.eltonjohn.com. This is a 21 years of age and over event. Register and buy tickets here

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To kick off the Season 3 premiere of TRUE Blood in June (13th), Details Magazine features three different covers for it’s May issue, hitting the streets tomorrow. Grab some napkins! The covers feature the top hotties on the show, Stephen Moyer (Bill), Alexander Skarsgard (Eric) and Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse.)

Skarsgard explains in his article that he originally had little interest in being involved with a show about vampires; but after hearing Alan Ball was doing it, he shot and sent an audtion tape immediatly. From Details:

“The audition was actually for the part of Bill Compton, which went to Stephen Moyer. “Alex wasn’t quite right for Bill,” recalls Ball, “but I remember that he was giant and also beautiful. So when it came time to cast Eric, I thought of him.”

We think Eric suites him much better! Each cover sports the title, “Sex, Blood and Rock’n'Roll” which pretty much sums up the attraction of the hit show. We’ll be making regular updates for all of our TRUE Blood readers, so look for upcoming promos and new Season 3 surprises!

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