~

Police continue investigating Delaware gay bashing


Rehoboth Beach, Del., police are continuing to investigate what appears to be a gay bashing of three gay men in the resort town in the early hours of August 7. One of the victims, 23-year-old Matt Beierschmitt, was featured on MTV's documentary program True Life: I'm Coming Out as well as on the cover of The Advocate in 2002.


In an e-mail to Advocate.com, Beierschmitt said he and two friends--Lawrence Franchetti, 26, and Will Hiley, 30--were exiting a club when three men approached them, allegedly calling them "Taliban" and "faggots." "They followed us to our car, and while [we] were inside, they kicked it," he said. "We got out to talk to them, and they apologized for their one friend's drunken behavior."


~

Repeal backers win 1st round
By Kevin Osborne
Post staff reporter


Repeal supporters won the first round in a legal battle to rescind a Cincinnati charter amendment that forbids passing any local laws based on sexual orientation.

A judge this week rejected a request from repeal opponents that sought a temporary restraining order to keep the repeal off the Nov. 2 ballot.

That ruling is the latest twist in the protracted political and legal wrangling over Article XII, a charter measure that prohibits the city from taking special steps aimed at preventing discrimination against gays. Gay groups, a number of top city political and business leaders and others hope to repeal the measure, while opponents are fighting to keep it in place. .


~

Cherokee council defines tribal marriage law
Measure would ban same-sex unions


TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) -- About a month after a lesbian couple successfully filed for a tribal marriage application, the Cherokee National Tribal Council voted to clearly define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Principal Chief Chad Smith has indicated he will sign the measure, which was approved by the council Monday night.

The change to tribal marriage law would not affect Kathy Reynolds and Dawn McKinley, who were married last month in a Cherokee ceremony. Cherokee Nation laws are not retroactive.

A Cherokee Nation District Court has scheduled a hearing Friday to discuss a legal protest of McKinley's and Reynolds' marriage application. The outcome of that hearing will determine whether their union is legal.