In Detroit, police have released a sketch of the man suspected of killing Andrew Anthos, a 72-year-old disabled gay man who took pride in his patriotism, Advocate.com reported. Anthos was riding a bus when another male passenger approached him and asked if he was gay; the man later followed Anthos and hit him with a metal pipe. About 80 people gathered at Anthos’ Feb. 28 funeral in Center Line, Mich.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston will soon hear a constitutional challenge to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, according to 365Gay.com. The case comes as Congress considers removing the policy. Twelve lesbian and gay veterans, represented by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, are suing the government, and are seeking military reinstatement. In addition, 10 constitutional law experts have filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief supporting the plaintiffs.
In Utah, Kathy Worthington, a well-known gay community activist, died of an apparent suicide on the day after the one-year anniversary of the death of her partner, Sara Hamblin, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Worthington came out publicly as a lesbian in 1989, and became an advocate for women’s rights as well as breast cancer awareness.
In Largo, Fla., the city commission voted 5-2 to begin firing city manager Steve Stanton, who went public about his plans to change his gender after learning that a local newspaper was about to reveal them, according to the Associated Press. The 48-year-old married man and father of a teenage boy can appeal his dismissal from his $140,000-a-year job, and the commission must vote again to formally fire him. During the commission’s meeting, Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, was arrested.