Kissing contest closed to gays
by Heather Quitos

A Valentine’s Day Kiss Off Contest at West Towne Mall this Saturday may not be for everyone. According to officials at the University of Wisconsin, the mall will not allow same-sex couples to paricipate in the contest.

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Fighting, preventing ‘trans panic’ 
When to reveal bio status remains tough subject for trans people, experts say
By Dyana Bagby 

Gwen Araujo died a brutal death.
After partying with a group of friends in September 2002, including having sexual contact with several young men, Araujo, 17, was invited to party with them again on Oct. 3, 2002.
But when the young men learned that night that Araujo had male genitalia, they beat and strangled her, leaving her body in a shallow grave. And when Araujo’s attackers went on trial, they claimed their discovery justified their actions.
Late last month, the California Assembly approved a first-of-its-kind bill putting the state on record against the so-called "trans panic" and "gay panic" defenses used by some killers to receive lighter prison sentences.