The gay Marine charged with desertion and absent without leave (AWOL) was found guilty of being AWOL for 47 days, but found not guilty of desertion, by a marine jury, reports AP. Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk, 21, said he did not report for duty because he was a conscientious objector to the war on Iraq. Funk could spend up to a year in jail, a reduction in pay and pay grade, and a bad conduct discharge. [See local story this issue.]
Cleveland, Ohio, may be home to the nation’s next LGBT retirement community, reports the Gay City Chronicle. Developers received preliminary approval from the Cleveland Department of Community Development for construction of a $24.4 million 10- to 19-story retirement community for LGBT people. The facility will be the first in Ohio and one of 11 nationwide.
The North Dakota Supreme Court is hearing the appeal to a custody case, reports The Advocate. A North Dakota judge previously ordered that custody of two children of a lesbian mother be passed to the children’s heterosexual father. The father of the 10- and 4-year-old children conceded that his ex-wife is a good mother. His attorney argued that the mother’s open lesbian relationship would cause the children to be the subject of ridicule. The American Civil Liberties Union argued in front of the state high court on behalf of the mother.
Those with a domestic-partner arrangement codified in other parts of the country will be safe in Minneapolis, Minn., reports the Star Tribune. The City Council unanimously approved a measure that now allows domestic partners from other parts of the country to be recognized in Minneapolis hospitals and to be protected under anti-discrimination laws in the city. Minneapolis has had a domestic-partner registry since 1991.
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