MIAMI
Rights group doubles reward in slaying
From Herald Staff


A gay rights organization doubled a reward Friday for information leading to an arrest in the murder of singer Henser Leiva, citing concerns the slaying may have been a hate crime.

Leiva's body was discovered Aug. 29, naked and bound at his home at 1661 NW 15th St. in Miami. Jewelry and electronic equipment were reported missing, according to the Unity Coalition, a gay and lesbian rights group.

The Coalition's director, Herb Sosa, expressed ''sadness and outrage'' over the death of Leiva, 31. He was a regular performer at the Jamboree Club and had worked as a researcher for Univisión Radio, the group stated.

The group, together with the Jamboree Club, has posted a $2,000 reward. Anyone with information about Leiva's death should call 305-579-6530 or 305-471-8477


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ingnoance is certainly bliss.. or a bias or social control... or fascism

Initiative would limit sexually oriented discussion at school
By: DAVID FRIED - Staff Writer

An initiative being circulated by a conservative group would require parental consent before any public classroom discussion of homosexuality and more than a dozen sexual activities.
Authors of the "Civil Rights for Families Initiative" began circulating petitions to conservative and religious organizations last month in a bid to place the proposal on the 2006 primary ballot.

The proposal would require parents of students in grades seven through 12 to provide written approval at least 10 days before any classroom discussions on homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality and domestic partnerships as well as specific sex acts. Discussions of those topics would be forbidden in grades one through six.

Under the initiative, parents would have the right to sue a school district for up to $5,000 for each time one of its teachers violated the restrictions.


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War of words on amendment
Foes of same-sex ban: Ballot misleading
By SONJI JACOBS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


The battle over the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage might head to the courtroom over the wording of the Nov. 2 ballot question.

Both the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the regional division of Lambda Legal — a national organization that works in behalf of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community — are considering a legal challenge. Lawyers for the groups argue that the ballot question could be unconstitutional because it doesn't accurately reflect the entire proposed constitutional amendment.

On Election Day, Georgia voters will be asked if the state constitution should be changed to recognize as marriage only the union of a man and a woman. But the voters will not see the full text of the amendment, which would ban the state from granting the benefits of marriage to couples in same-sex unions and prohibit Georgia courts from considering or ruling on disputes arising from same-sex relationships.

Foes of the measure say gay couples could lose domestic partner benefits, hospital visitation rights, medical and financial powers of attorney, rights under wills, adoption rights, parental rights and survivor benefits.



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Mafia Orders Hit On Gay Mayor
by Malcolm Thornberry
365Gay.com Newscenter
European Bureau Chief


(London) A mafia plot has been uncovered to murder Rosario Crocetta the mayor of Gela, in southern Sicily.

Crocetta is a Communist and Italy's first openly gay mayor.

That police were on to the plot became public following a leak to the British newspaper The Independent. The paper says the leak came from within the public prosecutor's office.

The plot marks a return by the mafia to killing public figures who oppose the crime syndicate. But, now, the paper says, the mob is using foreign hitmen.