[COLOR="Navy"]The suspect in the brutal slaying of a gay teenager in Puerto Rico was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and four other counts. Juan A. Martinez Matos was arrested late Monday in connection with the slaying of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, whose decapitated, dismembered and partially burned body was found Friday afternoon on a road in central Puerto Rico.

This is a truly heinous crime, and my heart goes out to the family of this wonderful young man who was killed for being what he was born to be.

Here is the full story from CNN
Suspect charged with murder in slaying of gay teen in Puerto Rico - CNN.com[/COLOR]

So i am going to see 2012 on friday night at a late screening. I was woundering what you guys think, is this a glimpse at whats to come??

I have got the "Well if the world is going to end then what can i do about it" head on about it all so im not going to panic.

But is this anouther Millenium Bug scenario, or have the Myans predicted the end of the world.

I was reading a site and it says the callander they use ticks over like a car odometer, so when it reaches a certain date it restarts. And that the whole world ending thing is a whole misunderstanding.

Or is 2012 the gouvernments trying to prepare us for the end of the world??

I have just watched a film on You Tube, Save Me. (Originally released 2007, I make no claim as to whether it has been properly or improperly uploaded to You Tube.) Rarely, am I moved by a film but this really did it for me. It gives a real insight into those gays who seek to become straight through religion and those who try to help them. A very sensitive portrait, despite so many opportunities to be stereotypical it manages not to be. Judith Light gives an outstanding performance as Gayle, who runs the Christian 'house', such a nuanced performance that you can disagree Gayle and everything she stands for and yet I felt such deep sympathy for that Gayle. I very strongly recommend that you watch it.

Lilian Ladele was taking her case to the Court of Appeal yesterday.

Here's an interesting debate on the case so far

[COLOR="Purple"]

joseph

Thank you for being my best friend FOREVER

There are many more but I cant think now

Supposily there was a picture of John & Edward dancing in only their boxer shorts, I've gone on all the news sites can't find it

Has anyone else saw it.

and also do you like or hate them!


xx

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/brotherhood.jpg[/img2]Brotherhood, a film about two male Neo-Nazis who begin a relationship, has won the best film accolade at the Rome Film Festival.

It is the first film from Danish-Italian director Nicolo Donato, who previously worked as a fashion photographer.

The film tells the story of two men who are part of a Neo-Nazi group who persecute gay men. Main character Lars joins the group after leaving the Army but starts a secret relationship with his mentor in the group, Jimmy.

Other winners at Friday's awards ceremony included Helen Mirren, who won best actress for her depiction of Leo Tolstoy's wife in Michael Hoffman's The Last Station, while Meryl Streep won a career achievement award.

Italian star Sergio Castellitto won the best actor award for his portrayal of a blue-collar worker and single parent in Alza la Testa.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/usarmy.jpg[/img2]US Secretary of the Army John McHugh said this weekend that the military is ready to lift the ban on openly gay personnel.

He told Army Times: "Anytime you have a broad-based policy change, there are challenges to that. The Army has a big history of taking on similar issues, [with] predictions of doom and gloom that did not play out."

McHugh is the highest-ranking Army official to show his support for repealing the ban.

Currently, gays and lesbians can serve in the military as long as they do not reveal their sexual orientation.

President Barack Obama has spoken of his desire to see the ban scrapped, saying recently: "I'm working with the Pentagon, its leadership, and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy. Legislation has been introduced in the House to make this happen. I will end 'don't ask, don't tell.' That's my commitment to you."

McHugh also suggested that the breaking down of the ban could come in phases such as allowing servicemembers to be open about their sexuality in some areas of the military.

Dr Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the Palm Centre, commented: "What we're seeing is a tipping point in the opinions of both military and civilian leaders on this issue.

"The Army is the largest of the services and the most heavily involved in our wars abroad, and for Secretary McHugh to state clearly that it can handle repeal sends a strong signal to the other service secretaries that they can do the same."

Dr Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Centre, said Secretary McHugh's comments were enormously significant.

But he pointed out that there is no research to support the idea of letting gay soldiers serve in some units but not others. "The rationale for the ban applies equally across all job categories," he said.

"So if it's okay to be an openly gay Arabic interpreter, it's also okay to be openly gay in the infantry or on a submarine. Since conduct rules apply across the board, there's just no basis for applying different standards to different specialties."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/barackobama.jpg[/img2]US president Barack Obama will reportedly sign a bill giving gays new protections from hate crime.

The bill is nicknamed the Matthew Shepard Bill, after the gay Wyoming teenager who was murdered in 1998. It was passed by the Senate 68 votes to 29 last week.

It will expand federal hate crime laws to include crimes where the victims were targeted on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, and disability.

The bill is attached to the Department of Defence reauthorisation bill, a bill to provide new F-22 fighter jets.

According to ABC News, Obama will sign the bill into law tomorrow.

It is thought that members of Shepard's family will attend the signing at the White House and a reception with gay rights campaigners will follow.

[COLOR="Navy"]Thought I'd start a nice, easy, and random topic......What are some of you're favorite movie quotes?

Mine are:
"Oh, Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars."
-Bette Davis in Now, Voyager.

"Its state law, fags play one hour of sports a day and they get beat up." -Timothy, Were the World Mine.

"I'm like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other."
-Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's.

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."
-Rhett Butler, Gone With The Wind.[/COLOR]