Duane's Impassioned Plea Scores
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NEW YORK’S ONLY & AMERICA’S LARGEST CIRCULATION GAY AND LESBIAN NEWSPAPER! NEWSTM YOUR FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER JULY 23-AUGUST 5, 2009 VOLUME EIGHT, ISSUE 15 SERVINGGay GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANSGENDERED City NEW YORK • WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM ■ CRIME ■ POLITICS Psych Defense September Next in ’08 Kevin Stop in Marriage Pravia Murder Equality Fight BY DUNCAN OSBORNE BY PAUL SCHINDLER eromie Cancel, the accused killer ith Democratic control of the of Kevin Pravia, will argue that he New York State Senate once Jsuffered from a “cognitive disor- W again secured, the Legisla- der” and “neuropsychiatric abnormali- ture’s upper chamber went back to work ties” when he strangled the 19-year-old two weeks ago, but finished up its busi- gay man to death on August 30 last year. ness within eight days, adjourning in the In a July 13 letter to Rena K. Uviller, the early morning hours of July 17 without judge who is trying the murder case, turning its attention to some of the year’s Cancel’s attorney wrote that the “psychi- most highly contested questions –– issues atric evidence is to be presented in con- ranging from mayoral control of schools to nection with the affirmative defense of marriage equality and transgender rights. lack of criminal responsibility by reason What remains unclear is how the rules of mental disease or defect and in con- reform agreed to as the Senate raced to nection with the affirmative defense of adjournment will affect prospects for a extreme emotional disturbance.” marriage equality vote yet this year, or Cancel faces one count of felony mur- even in advance of the 2010 elections. der, meaning he allegedly killed Pravia Senator Thomas K. Duane, the out in the course of committing another gay Chelsea Democrat who is the lead felony. If successful, the lack of criminal sponsor on Governor David Paterson’s responsibility could excuse him entirely, marriage equality bill –– as well as the though he would likely be held in an helmsman on other key LGBT initia- institution until he is found to be cured tives such as a transgender civil rights of his condition. If a jury believes the bill and a school anti-bullying measure extreme emotional disturbance defense, ACETO DONNA –– put out a statement immediately after the charge against Cancel would be TOM DUANE DELIVERS THUNDERING MORAL CHALLENGE TO HIS SENATE COLLEAUGES the July 9 restoration of Democratic con- reduced to first-degree manslaughter. trol, saying, “As disappointing as it is to The maximum sentence on felony mur- admit, it is clear that this week is not der is 25-to-life, and the maximum on Duane’s Impassioned MARRIAGE P. 5 PRAVIA P. 12 Plea Scores In this issue: ■ SILENCING GAYS BY PAUL SCHINDLER summer, Thomas K. Duane, an out gay Chelsea Democrat who is the Health Lithuania cracks down oward the end of its regular 2009 Committee chair and also the Legisla- with “No Promo Homo” law session, marked by dysfunction ture’s only openly HIV-positive member, ■ 2 T and a delay on key LGBT rights delivered an impassioned, and at many ————————————————— goals including marriage equality and points angry, 22-minute speech (a link ■ DA CONTEST STAKES transgender rights — at least until an to which appears in the online version of anticipated September special session this article at gaycitynews.com) on behalf Race to succeed Morgenthau — the New York State Senate was called of his bill that would cap rents paid by enters final two months to account morally on at least one criti- clients of the city’s HIV/ AIDS Services ■ 6 cal matter in the wee hours of the morn- Administration (HASA) at 30 percent ————————————————— ing on July 17. That effort proved suc- of their income. Under current state ■ cessful, and action on the measure now law, the Office of Temporary and Dis- ED WHITE MEMORIES awaits Assembly action. ability Assistance mandates that HASA Acclaimed novelist looks In the final hours before the Senate clients receiving public income support back to ’60s, ’70s New York VESTAL McINTYRE adjourned, probably for the bulk of the ■ 14 DUANE P. 4 18 © GAY CITY NEWS 2009 • COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 23 JUL - 5 AUG 2009 2/ Human Rights Lithuania Goes Harshly Anti-Gay Draconian crackdown on public discussions of homosexuality likely; Poland may follow suit BY DOUG IRELAND ment agencies charged a very necessary one, overturned in 1993. with enforcement are the especially now when we Condemnations of he Lithuanian Par- Lithuanian Radio and face a more and more Lithuania’s “No Promo liament on July 14 Television Commission; obvious expansion of Homo” law from all over T gave final approv- the Lithuanian Ethics gay activist circles,” said Europe were swift in al to the most sweeping Commission of Journal- Gorski, a member of the coming. Dainius Radzev- “No Promo Homo” law in ists and Publishers; the largest Polish parliamen- icius, who chairs the Europe, a move hailed by government’s Informa- tary opposition party, Lithuanian Journalists conservative Polish parlia- tion Society Develop- Law and Justice — led Union, told the Asso- mentarians, who imme- ment Committee, which by the ultra-homopho- ciated Press, “This is diately announced they supervises the Internet; bic Kaczynski twins, the absurd. I cannot even would attempt to pass and police authorities country’s president Lech imagine how they will a similar law. Entitled under the Ministry of the and his brother Jaro- implement this law.” “Law on the Protection of Interior. slaw, the former prime Dirk De Meirleir, execu- Minors Against the Det- In Poland, MP Artur minister. Gorki also tive director of the Euro- rimental Effect of Public Gorski, deputy head noted, “If you look at the pean Region of the Inter- Information,” the measure of the parliamentary Polish Parliament and national Lesbian and bans public dissemination commission on Polish- see the ruling Civic Plat- Gay Association, said of information contribut- Lithuanian cooperation, form Party and the major passage of the new law ing to the “propagation told the Catholic Pol- opposition Law and Jus- Michael Cashman (right, face hidden), an openly gay British member of the was “a shocking and of homosexual, bisexual, ish daily Nasz Dziennik tice are both claiming European Parliament, and Dirk De Meirleir (center), executive director of the absurd development and polygamous rela- that he intends to copy to be right-wing, there International Gay and Lesbian Association-Europe, speak with a representative in one of the European tions” that might be avail- the Lithuanian law and should be no trouble in of the Lithuanian Mission (left) in Brussels who came out to speak to demon- Union member states. able to minors. This ban introduce it for passage passing such a law.” strators protesting the new law. Just a few days ago even encompasses mass media, by the Polish Parliament. MP Leszek Deptu’a the Russian Federation’s books, and the Internet, “This is a very interesting from the Peasant’s Party, about what might tran- propose changes to the Parliament rejected simi- and among the govern- initiative and no doubt a partner in Poland’s rul- spire at next year’s Baltic law to make it compat- lar proposals.” ing parliamentary coali- Pride, due to be staged ible with basic human Amnesty Interna- tion, said, “This law is in Vilnius from May 7 to rights,” she said, accord- tional’s Kim Manning- needed also in Poland,” 9. The new law will take ing to a press conference Cooper warned that the adding, “We should pro- effect two months prior summary released by law “could be used to tect kids and youth from to that. the office of the EU pres- prohibit any legitimate homosexuality and from The draconian “No idency. discussion of homosexu- promoting this idea.” Promo Homo” legislation Reinfeldt, the head of ality, impede the work of The new Lithuanian was originally passed Sweden’s Moderate Party human rights defenders, law will provide a power- last month, but vetoed and leader of a center- and further the stigma- ful legal weapon against by President Valdas right government, said tization of and prejudice attempts to have Gay Adamkus, who has since he was opposed to such against lesbian, gay, © Pride demonstrations left office. When the bill laws. “On a personal bisexual and transgen- or any media coverage went back to Parliament, level, throughout my 20 der people in Lithuania,” 114 Christopher St. A Village Landmark of them. In the nation’s Adamkus’ veto was over- years in politics, I have according to the BBC. Serving The Community Btw Bleecker & Hudson St. For Over 35 Years capital of Vilnius, after ridden 87 to 6, and its clearly shown where I “This is a very bad day 212-741-9641 years of repression by anti-gay provisions were stand on such issues,” for LGBT rights in Lithu- Happy Hour Monday - Friday 2 - 8 the city’s former mayor, strengthened. Because he said. “I agree with ania, and by adopting 2nd Tuesday of the Month is Fireflag/EMS Night Juozas Imbrasas, who of the veto override, the Dalia Grybauskaite that this deeply homophobic 6-1am 50/50 Raffle / BEAR NITE Every Thursday was thrown out of office new president, Dalia it is important that a law legislation, the Lithu- in February, Vilius Nav- Grybauskaite, who ran such as this does not anian authorities have ickas, his replacement, as an independent but in any way contravene taken a huge step back- has offered no change of was elected with sup- human rights.” wards.” Manning-Cooper course, banning a sched- port from the large Con- The right-wing Lithu- called the law “a clear uled Gay Pride march in servative Party, was anian MP who sponsored infringement of freedom the center city this year.