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Gay NJ Supreme Court Nominee to Recuse Himself on Marriage Cases

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's Black gay Republican nominee to the state supreme court has already promised to recuse himself from any marriage equality case. Bruce Harris claims that he has previously "advocated for the issue," reports the AP.

Years ago, Harris, 61, wrote to several state senators asking for their support of a same-sex marriage bill being heard by the Senate in late 2009. Christie, a Republican who supports civil unions but opposes calling it marriage, said Harris volunteered the information about his writing.

"He told me he favored same-sex marriage, had advocated for it in his political capacity and as a result, if he were confirmed to the court, would recuse himself from that matter because he did not want there to be the appearance of bias," the governor recalled.

According to a copy of the mail, obtained by The Star-Ledger of Newark, Harris wrote:

"When I hear someone say that they believe marriage is only between a man and a woman because that's the way it's always been, I think of the many 'traditions' that deprived people of their civil rights for centuries: prohibitions on interracial marriage, slavery, (which is even provided for in the Bible), segregation, the subservience of women, to name just a few of these 'traditions.'"

Harris would become the state's first openly LGBT justice ... and the nation's first openly gay Black state supreme court justice. The corporate attorney was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in November. At that time, he became the nation's only openly gay Black Republican mayor.

Harris' appointment comes a year and a half after the Republican governor infuriated Democrats and minorities by replacing the court's only Black justice with a white Republican. Harris would replace veteran Back Democraic Justice John Wallace, who supported LGBT rights and marriage equality.

Judicial recusals usually happen on a case by case basis. It's rather odd for a judicial nominee to preemptively announce a recusal before confirmation ... and to make such a promise to the governor. Quid for quo?

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"Soul Train" Creator Don Cornelius Dies in Apparent Suicide

Don Cornelius, the legendary producer and television host who created Soul Train, was found shot dead in his Los Angeles home. The Los Angeles Police Department and the county coroner’s office believe this was a suicide, reports the LA Times. Cornelius was 75 years old.

A family member of Don Cornelius arrived at his Mulholland Drive home on Wednesday morning and found Soul Train creator with a gunshot wound to the head, authorities said. He was rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to law enforcement sources. The sources said detectives think it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound but stressed they are still investigating. ... The LAPD's initial review of the crime scene suggested no sign of foul play.

Cornelius' iconic television show began in Chicago in 1970, adds the Chicago Tribune.

Born in Chicago in 1936, Cornelius grew up in the Bronzeville neighborhood and worked numerous jobs: he sold insurance, worked as a TV newsman and deejayed at WVON, which serenaded the South and West Sides with soul music. While employed at WCIU-TV in the '60s, he started hosting soul dance parties around the city and eventually approached station management about a show based on the same idea. They accepted.

"Soul Train" debuted in 1970 with low expectations and overhead. Color cameras weren’t in the budget and the dancefloor was the size of a typical living room. But the show struck a chord with an audience that had been largely ignored by other teen-oriented dance shows, most famously Dick Clark's "American Bandstand." For young, African-American kids, "Soul Train" was must-see after-school viewing because it presented mostly R&B artists that other shows neglected. And, perhaps most importantly, it showcased the hippest dance moves.

The show moved to Los Angeles in its second year and entered into national syndication, turning Cornelius from local celebrity into a music-industry tastemaker. Stars such as Sly and the Family Stone, Al Green, James Brown and Aretha Franklin appeared. Indicative of the show’s burgeoning reach (and bigger budget), Barry White showed up in 1975 wearing a black velvet tuxedo and conducting a 40-piece orchestra. White performers wanted in, too, and Elton John and David Bowie were among the guests.

Cornelius stopped hosting the show in 1993 and it ceased production in 2006.

Cornelius had recently gone through a bitter divorce. This was "after he was arrested by the LAPD for alleged spousal abuse in October 2008, and [his ex-wife] filed two restraining orders against him," reports LA Weekly.

"As always in parting, we wish you love, peace, and soul." A recent interview with Cornelius from Chicago's V103 AFTER THE JUMP ...

UN Chief Urges African Leaders to Respect Gay Rights

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged African leaders to respect the rights of their gay and lesbian citizens. Some African nations have treated gays like "second-class citizens or even criminals", the UN chief declared Sunday at the opening of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"Let me mention one form of discrimination that has been ignored or even sanctioned by many states for far too long, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This has prompted some governments to treat people as second-class citizens, or even criminals. Confronting this discrimination is a challenge. But we must live up to the ideas of the Universal Declaration. ... The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a promise to all people in all places at all times."

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in at least 38 of 54 African countries. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

In recent months both the United Nations and the United Kingdom have warned they would use foreign aid to push for decriminalization of same-sex relations across the socially conservative continent. Africa boasts two-thirds of the world's HIV/AIDS cases. Many experts believe the prohibitions against homosexuality discourage many HIV positive gay African men from seeking treatment.

The African Union summit opens as tensions and violence are escalating across the continent. Nigeria has been rocked by terrorism and sectarian violence that has killed hundreds. The growing tension between Sudan and South Sudan and the war in Somalia are also expected to be major discussion points.

White House Announces Series of Nationwide LGBT Conferences

The White House is launching a nationwide series of conferences to reach out to LGBT Americans. Via email from the White House Press Office:

The White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE) will partner with key Departments and Agencies to host a series of conferences around the country specifically focused on LGBT Americans. From February to June 2012, OPE will convene these White House LGBT Conferences to provide grassroots leaders, community organizers, advocates, students, and interested citizens an opportunity to hear directly from the Administration on our efforts to ensure health, well-being, security, justice, and equality for LGBT Americans. ...

Participants will receive important updates from senior Administration officials and have the opportunity to learn about Federal government resources and opportunities through workshop sessions. Future White House LGBT Conferences will be held in other locations throughout the country and focus on topics such as Housing & Homelessness, Safe Schools & Communities, and HIV/AIDS Prevention.

The first event is scheduled will be the "White House LGBT Conference on Health" in Philadelphia on February 16th. That conference will feature remarks by Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. There's been significant progress on LGBT-related health care action items, such as launching the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and granting hospital visitation rights. There probably should be some questions about the Affordable Care Act and HIV/AIDS.

More details to follow.

Big Night for Viola Davis and "The Help" at SAG Awards

PHOTO: Getty

An outstanding night for The Help and actress Viola Davis last night at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The drama won three prizes including best actress for Viola Davis, supporting actress for Octavia Spencer and the guild's ensemble award, the equivalent of a best-picture prize.

"I’ve come to these awards with no expectations," Davis told Access Hollywood. "I’m just always pleasantly surprised and knowing that really, at the end of the day, I got to go back to work. I got to get back to being an actor. It’s been so wonderful."

The SAG Award wins increase the actors' prospects for the same honors at the Feb. 26 Academy Awards, notes the AP. "The winners at the SAG ceremony typically go on to earn Oscars. All four acting recipients at SAG last year later took home Oscars —Colin Firth for The King's Speech, Natalie Portman for Black Swan and Christian Bale and Melissa Leo for The Fighter."

Veteran actor Christopher Plummer won for supporting actor as an elderly father who comes out as gay in Beginners. Plummer would become "the oldest actor ever to win an Oscar at age 82, two years older than Jessica Tandy when she won best actress for Driving Miss Daisy," noted AP.

Brava and congratulations to Ms. Davis, who is a terrific LGBT ally. You may recall that the actress made some  powerful remarks on homophobia when she received her first Oscar nomination for her tour de force role in Doubt.

 

VIDEO: Newark Mayor Cory Booker Slams Christie on Gay Rights

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has slammed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's suggestion that marriage equality should be submitted to a voter referendum.

"Dear God, we should not be putting civil rights issues to a popular vote, subject to the sentiments and the passions of the day," says the Newark mayor, named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world and a strong gay rights and equality supporter. "This is a fundamental bedrock of what our nation stands for."

You may recall that in 2010, the mayor has said he would refuse to officiate any marriage ceremonies until "all people have the legal right to marry" in New Jersey.

Christie has called for a voter referendum on same-sex marriage. The Republican governor has promised to veto "any" marriage equality bill that comes to his desk.

Watch the video  WHEN YOU JUMP ...

New Campaign in Harlem Uses Smartphone App to Prevent HIV

Our latest report for the Black AIDS Institute that is being syndicated across Black-owned newspapers and media. A new social media campaign to prevent HIV/AIDS is targeting young Black men

The bus shelter installations are difficult to miss across New York City’s Harlem or South Bronx: Colorful, eye-catching adverts headlined “Love Your Life, Keep It 100”, featuring young Black male models and those omnipresent square "quick response" codes.

"Keep It 100" is urban vernacular that means to “keep it real” or “be honest.” This is one of the first marketing campaigns to use QR codes as an interactive initiative to prevent HIV/AIDS.

"It’s also one of the first campaigns to target young Black heterosexual men around HIV prevention,” says Ingrid Floyd, executive director of Iris House, the veteran Harlem-based HIV/AIDS service organization. When Iris House was founded in 1993, it was the very first agency in the nation to address the needs of women living with HIV/AIDS.

The advertising was created by Duane Cramer, the acclaimed San Francisco-based Black photographer and social-marketing executive responsible for the imagery in the Greater Than AIDS and Testing Makes Us Stronger campaigns.

Read the report HERE.

Late Tuesday

Late morning field producing for EXTRA. Posting in the afternoon.

Washington Prepares to Become the 7th State to Grant Marriage Equality

Beautiful news to end your day. Washington's Democratic-controlled legislature now has enough votes to legalize marriage equality.

As legislators held their first public hearings on the issue, a previously undecided Democratic senator announced her support. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen's would cast the deciding 25th vote—and Washington is poised to become the seventh state to allow gay and lesbian couples to get married.

"I’ve had hundreds of very heartfelt, sincere letters," Haugen told KING 5 News. "I’ve had letters that are threatening and other letters that aren’t so pleasant, but I’m Christian, and I don’t believe it’s my right to judge other people. I really try to live by the Golden Rule, and I believe I’m following my faith at this point. It’s the right thing to do."

In her statement, Haugen adds:

To some degree, this is generational. Years ago I took exception to my parents' beliefs on certain social issues, and today my children take exception to some of mine. Times change, even if it makes us uncomfortable. I think we should all be uncomfortable sometime. None of us knows everything, and it's important to have our beliefs questioned. Only one being in this world is omniscient, and it's not me. ...

Not everyone will agree with my position. I understand and respect that. I also trust that people will remember that we need to respect each other's beliefs. All of us enjoy the benefits of being Americans, but none of us holds a monopoly on what it means to be an American. Ours is truly a big tent, and while the tent may grow and shrink according to the political winds of the day, it should never shrink when it comes to our rights as individuals.

Read the eloquent statement AFTER THE JUMP ....

"The state House is widely expected to have enough support to pass gay marriage, and Gov. Chris Gregoire publicly endorsed the proposal earlier this month," adds the AP. "If a marriage bill is passed during this legislative session, gay and lesbian couples will be able to get married starting in June unless opponents file a referendum to challenge it. Opponents have already said they will."

Washington has recognized valid out-of-state same-sex marriages since March 2011. The state has recognized domestic partnerships since 2007 and an "everything but marriage" law since 2009. The Evergreen State would become the nation's seventh state to legalize marriage equality and would join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia.

Read Sen. Haugen's statement AFTER THE JUMP ...

SPORNO: Gabon's Abtastic Players Win 2-0 Over Niger at African Cup

PHOTOS: Getty, Reuters

Team Gabon walks off the field after their 2-0 victory over Niger today during the African Cup of Nations match. The tournament opened today in the neighboring nations of Gabon and Equitorial Guinea, and Gabon won its match at home in Libreville.

Midfielder Andre Biyogo is seen below. If abs and fit players in tight-fitting, sweat-drenched uniforms are your thing, more photos AFTER THE JUMP ...

South Africa's Zuma Criticizes Zulu King for Homophobic Remarks

This is good. South African President Jacob Zuma reportedly criticized Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini for saying that gays are "rotten", reports News24.

"Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten," [the king] said at a ceremony on Sunday marking the 133rd anniversary of the Battle of Isandlwana, where the Zulu army defeated British imperial forces. "I don't care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable."

But Zuma said at the ceremony that the country must end discrimination against gays and lesbians. "Today, we are faced with different challenges... challenges of reconciliation and of building a nation that does not discriminate against other people because of their colour or sexual orientation," Zuma said, according to The Times.

South Africa is the only African nation where same-sex marriage is legal. RSA and Seychelles boast the continent's only legal protections of LGBTs. But critics say Zuma has presided over a number of rollbacks on LGBT rights. Over the much-publicized objections of gay activists and human rights groups, Zuma appointed anti-gay columnist Jon Qwelane as its ambassador to Uganda, which has gained international scorn for its extreme state-sponsored anti-gay terror campaign.

Also: RSA first attempted to vote against—and then attempted to abstain from—a United Nations statement on anti-LGBT violence that passed in March 2011. South Africa later sponsored the United Nations Human Rights Council's historic resolution that condemns anti-LGBT discrimination and violence.

The rebuke marks an about face for Zuma, who caused a major controversy in September 2006 when he was vice-president. As the nation prepared to become the first African nation to grant marriage equality, Zuma said that same-sex marriage was "a disgrace to the nation and to God" and that he would have beaten gays when growing up. Zuma was later forced to apologize.

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VIDEO: Wilson Cruz Talks Activism, Politics and "Creating Change"

Actor and activist Wilson Cruz will be attending the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's "Creating Change 2012" conference this week in Baltimore. Cruz has a long history in LGBT activism and is featured in a short new video discussing what attracted him to the Task Force.

"The Task Force is doing all of the heavy lifting," says the star of Noah's Arc and Grey's Anatomy. "And through the years I always felt that was what they were doing. Other organizations [are] very good at visibility and get our message out. But as far as the nuts and bolts work to advance our cause, that's what the Task Force is doing."

Cruz adds: "I have lived in a world that the Task Force created so I have to give back."

Cruz will close out the conference with "Love, Child...", a musical performance. The actor talks with MetroWeekly's Chris Geidner about the intersection of music, politics and activism:

I'm going to take people on a journey about love, what I've learned about love in the past 10 years. I think it's a great thing to talk to the Creating Change folks about because I've done a lot of this work. I've been a field organizer for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, I've worked on the Obama campaign, I'm a pretty political person. What I've realized is that, in doing my work as an activist and an organizer and such, we lose sight of what it is that we're actually fighting for.

I'm in the process of picking music that is going to help me tell that story. It's the story of falling in love, and what we do to sabotage that, and how we find ourselves ready to be open to loving again.

Creating Change 2012 begins Wednesday in Baltimore. The three day conference will bring together the nation's leading LGBT movement activists.

Read the interview HERE. Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...