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REPORT: Eddie Long to Testify in New Birth Burglary Case?

Disgraced anti-gay mega-church "Bishop" Eddie Long recently avoided trial in four sexual misconduct cases filed against him. Long could be called to testify about a June 2010 break in to his office at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church if a burglary case goes to trial.

Anthony Boyd (above) formerly worked at the mega-church as a security guard. Boyd is accused of stealing $100,000 worth of jewelry and electronics. Boyd entered a not guilty plea to a burglary charge on Tuesday. One of his co-defendants was one of the young men who settled a sexual misconduct lawsuit against Long, reports FOX Atlanta and WSB.

Boyd's attorney, David Fife, said the now-fired security guard had nothing to do with the break in. "He wants to fight these charges. He wants to fight these accusations because he's forever going to have to explain them every time someone does a Google search on Anthony Boyd."

Boyd said [Maurice] Robinson and another former church member broke in to get evidence against Long for a sexual misconduct lawsuit they were planning to file. "So that’s when they burglarized the church, stole the iPad, iPhone and the jewelry," Boyd told Channel 2 Action News in a recent interview.

Robinson was offered a pretrial diversion program where the charges would be dropped if he successfully completed it. Boyd was offered the same program but said he declined the offer because he did nothing wrong. ... Fife said he expects this case to go to trial. If it does, he said, there's a good chance Long will be called to the stand. "He's certainly a witness that would have to be called by somebody. The state or the defense," Fife said.

Two young men wearing masks were caught on the church's video surveillance. Soon after, police arrested Maurice Robinson and Anthony Boyd on burglary charges. "Long asked then-District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming not to prosecute the case," WSB reported two weeks ago. "[Lawsuit plaintiff Anthony] Flagg was never charged because prosecutors said they lacked evidence against him."

The four young men—Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande—filed sexual coercion lawsuits against Long and New Birth last fall.  Long is accused of using church funds to give the four men cash, gifts and cars. The sexual relationships reportedly began when each of the plaintiffs were around 16 years old. Read the complaints HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

A judge dismissed the lawsuits on May 27, one day after both sides announced they agreed to a settlement. The parties agreed not to disclose the dollar amount or any details.

VIDEO, TEXT, PHOTOS: President's Remarks at LGBT Pride Reception

President Obama delivered brief remarks tonight at the Obama Administration's third annual LGBT Pride Month celebration. The East Room cocktail reception hosted more than 200 attendees, including youth LGBT leaders, veterans and openly LGBT state and local elected officials.

Watch the event and read the transcript AFTER THE JUMP ...

"You’re fighting for the idea that everyone ought to be treated equally and everybody deserves to be able to live and love as they see fit," said the President. "I don’t have to tell the people in this room we've got a ways to go in the struggle, how many people are still denied their basic rights as Americans. ... Many of you have devoted your lives to the cause of equality."

The President listed his Administration's many incremental accomplishments on LGBT action items—such as beginning the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", announcing it would no longer defend the "Defense of Marriage Act" in court challenges, lifting the HIV travel ban, launching the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, granting hospital visitation rights, limited expansion of federal benefits, banning gender identity discrimination in federal employment and expanding federal leave policy.

President Obama acknowledged the frustration that many in the gay community feel about the pace of accomplishments."I know I can count on you to let me know," he said. "This is not a shy group."

Obama did not mention same-sex marriage, which he does not fully support and says that his position is "evolving". In recent weeks, the President has been under renewed pressure by LGBT activists to fully support marriage equality.

The Administration officials in attendance included John Berry, Director of the US Office of Personnel Management and Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Elected officials included Hawaii House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro and Berkeley (CA) City Council Member Darryl Moore.

Watch the event and read the transcript AFTER THE JUMP ...

Rhode Island Senate Votes 21-6 for Civil Unions

The Rhode Island Senate has approved legislation tonight that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. The approval came less than an hour after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7 to 4 to recommend passage, reports the AP.

State senators voted 21-16 Wednesday evening to endorse the bill. The legislation ... allows gay couples to enter into civil unions that offer the same rights and benefits given to married couples under Rhode Island law. It is now headed to the desk of Gov. Chafee for his signature.

The House of Representatives approved the civil unions bill by a 62 to 11 vote on May 19. HB 6103 was introduced as a compromise after House Speaker Gordon Fox—who became Rhode Island's first Black and first openly gay House speaker in February 2010—said a marriage equality bill did

But several civil rights and LGBT advocacy groups are calling on the governor to veto it because of what they call "overly broad" religious exemptions, reports the Providence Journal.

In a two-page letter sent to the governor, the groups said the bill — scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Wednesday afternoon — "represents a huge step backward from Rhode Island’s longstanding nondiscrimination commitments" and provides "individuals and institutions a free-floating license to discriminate against a whole class of people, in defiance of general law."

"This amendment could allow individuals, who are legally required to recognize everyone else’s legal commitments, to opt out of doing so only for gay and lesbian people," the groups wrote. "In practical terms, this law could allow religiously affiliated hospitals to deny a civil union’s spouse’s right to be by his spouse’s side and make medical decisions for him."

The groups that signed the letter included Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Freedom to Marry and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Chafee supported marriage equality and says he is inclined to sign the bill. No comment yet from his office on the veto request. The Catholic Church and evangelical leaders are also opposed to the bill.

WATCH LIVE: White House LGBT Pride Reception

The President will host the Obama Administration's Third Annual LGBT Pride Month reception at the White House. It is scheduled to begin at 545ET.

Watch a livestream AFTER THE JUMP...

Rugby Hotness Ugo Monye Accuses London Police of Racial Profiling

PHOTOS: GETTY

English rugby super-hotness Ugo Monye has accused the Metropolitan London Police of racial profiling. The British Lions star was pulled over in his Range Rover by officers who he claimed "presumed his car was stolen." Police were forced to apologize, reports the Daily Mail.

After the incident Monye wrote on the Twitter, "Just been pulled over by police in Richmond… They ‘presumed the car was stolen’. I’m furious. Wasting my time."

The winger, who has 13 England caps, made an official complaint to the police, who were quick to apologize over how the incident was handled. ... Following a response from a senior officer Monye said he was satisfied with what was said. He posted: "Was frustrated earlier with the police... but they rang back, apologised, all has been dealt with. Fair play to them."

The tweets have since been removed from Twitter. One remaining tweet said, "I 100% will be complaining as there was not 1 reason for me being stopped and they didn't even do a full check on me."

The rugby star was recently seen nude for UK Cosmopolitan and showing his "big, hard" muscles for homostyle glossy Attitude. Monye discussed the homoerotic swagger of rugby players and homophobia in sport.

Last month, Monye captained the Harlequins to beat Stade Français 19-18 to lift the European Challenge Cup for a record third time. The photo above is from that series, two more AFTER THE JUMP ...

President Obama to Host LGBT Pride Reception at White House

Tonight the White House will once again host an LGBT Pride reception. The event will mark the Obama Administration's third annual LGBT celebration.

The guest list of the first and historic 2009 event was mostly comprised of national LGBT leaders. Guests at the 2010 reception were mostly state equality groups and youth LGBT leaders, including some students from historically Black colleges and universities.

Tonight's reception will be attended by dozens of guests enthused by the marriage victory in New York "but [their] host does not endorse same-sex marriage [and] it could be somewhat awkward," reports Sheryl Gay Stolberg at the New York Times.

"I think they are trying to share the joy, which is genuine on their part, without changing his position," Hilary Rosen, a prominent Democratic strategist, said of the White House. "I don’t think he can have it both ways here."

For months, Mr. Obama, who has in the past opposed same-sex marriage, has said his views are "evolving." But last week’s vote in Albany has intensified pressure on the president to say where he stands, particularly after remarks he made at a Manhattan fund-raiser disappointed and confused many gay rights advocates, including some of his most ardent supporters. Some are now comparing Mr. Obama unfavorably with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat who championed the New York bill and helped get it passed in a Republican-controlled Senate.

Obama's position on "states' rights" has become a flash point ...

"That was the argument they made about segregation," Ms. Rosen, who has long been supportive of Mr. Obama, said Tuesday. "I don’t think people really believe that he believes that. It flies in the face of everything he has stood for." [...]

Yet in the context of the New York debate, Mr. Obama’s comments infuriated some prominent advocates and potential donors. They include Chad Griffin, who sits on the finance committee for Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign and recently co-hosted a fund-raiser featuring Michelle Obama that raised more than $1 million, and Paul Yandura, a Democratic strategist who advises gay philanthropists, including some Obama donors. “That language is really a dog whistle for the right,” Mr. Yandura said.

The marriage issue dovetails into the 2012 election and strategy on battleground states, reports ABC News ...

Obama's reluctance to embrace gay marriage, putting him among a minority of Americans in national polls, appears part of a broader effort to avoid alienating voters in battleground states, like Ohio and Nevada, where majorities have traditionally shown less support for the unions than voters overall. States such as Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia, all won by Obama in 2008 and expected to be close contests in 2012, have constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage that couldn't be overcome by a president's leadership alone.

New Hampshire legislators are expected to vote early next year on whether to repeal the state's same-sex marriage law, while in Minnesota, another battleground, a constitutional amendment banning the unions will appear on the ballot in 2012. ... Bottom line, some gay rights advocates speculate, Obama likely believes he has more to lose than gain in coming out in favor of same-sex marriage.

But not everyone invited to tonight's event will be focused on the President's position on marriage. Darryl Moore, a Black councilmember in Berkeley and chair of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), will attend the reception with his partner of 16 years, reports Berkeleyside. "I’m excited about the opportunity to celebrate LGBT Pride Month with a president that has made so much progress in the fight toward LGBT equality," said Moore.

WHITE HOUSE: Michelle Obama Has "Made No Public Statements" on Same Sex Marriage

The Obama Administration has quickly responded to suggestions that First Lady Michelle Obama has ever publicly supported same-sex marriage. This follows Monday's comments on CNN by former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who said, "If only [Barack Obama] would listen to Michelle more often."

The White House has reminded reporters that the First Lady has never publicly contradicted her husband on this issue:

"Mrs. Obama has never made any public statements about same-sex marriage," her communications director, Kristina Schake, said in an email to POLITICO. Schake said the first lady has never “had any conversations with former Gov. McGreevey about the issue.” McGreevey and Michelle Obama have never met.

Obama has only gone so far as to share her husband’s views on gay-rights issues. "Barack believes that we must fight for the world as it should be, a world where together we work to reverse discriminatory laws like DOMA and ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’" she said at a 2008 fundraiser. "The world as it is should be one that rejects discrimination of all kinds."

Tuesday's statement came on the eve of the Obama Administration's third annual LGBT Pride Reception, which is scheduled for tonight. It also comes as the President and Administration are under renewed pressure to "evolve" on marriage equality.

Bizarre that anyone would actually believe that Michelle Obama regularly confides in Jim McGreevey. But the rapid White House response seems equally bizarre, no?

No Charges for Officer Who Fatally Shot DeFarra Gaymon in Nwk Park

A New Jersey grand jury will not indict the Essex County Sheriff's Police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Atlanta banking executive last July in a park.

DeFarra Gaymon was killed by the undercover officer during a crackdown on public sex in Newark's Branch Brook Park. The grand jury heard only the officer's account and there were no witnesses, reports the New York Times.

"We made an effort to find out if there was anyone who saw the events in the park," said Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office. "No witnesses ever came forward to say they saw all, or a portion, of the encounter."

Ms. Carter declined to comment on what evidence was presented to the grand jury, which decided on Friday not to indict the officer. The acting Essex County prosecutor, Carolyn A. Murray, told the Gaymon family late Monday, Ms. Carter said. [...]

Officer Esposito has said he was bending down to pick up his handcuffs when he was approached by Mr. Gaymon, who was “engaged in a sexual act,” the prosecutor’s office said. When Officer Esposito tried to arrest him, “Mr. Gaymon appeared to panic, assaulted the police officer and fled,” the prosecutor’s office said.

The officer cornered him near a pond. Mr. Gaymon threatened to kill the officer, "then lunged at and attempted to disarm the officer while reaching into his own pocket," the prosecutor’s office said the officer had reported. Officer Esposito, "fearing for his life," fired once.

The park is a longtime cruising spot for men seeking anonymous sex "and has been the site of many police sting operations."  An August 2010 report in the New York Times recounted Esposito's creepy devotion to undercover park detail. It also speculated on his and Gaymon's sexuality.

Officer Edward Esposito—the police officer who killed the unarmed man—may "have been involved in at least three 2009 public sex arrests that also turned violent," reported Gay City News in January 2011. Up to 16 arrests possibly made by Esposito follow a disturbingly similar pattern.

DeFarra Gaymon was married with four children. Gaymon's family has disputed the official version but has not commented on the sexual angle of the case. Family, friends and co-workers say the descriptions of Gaymon's alleged violent behavior are uncharacteristic and possibly even fabricated. The family is suing Officer Esposito and the sheriff’s office in State Superior Court in Essex County.

New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced that she would not investigate the shooting. The family asked the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark to take over the investigation.

The Essex County Sheriff has suspended the five-year park sting operation at Newark's Branch Brook Park.

Read R20"s complete covereage HERE.

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Mom's Birthday

Today is Mom's Birthday. Yay! Taking much of the day off to spend time with Mom, brunch, shopping, etc..

Mom also sends her love to the community. She was very excited about Friday's marriage vote in New York but was disappointed to learn about the Defense of Marriage Act. "You mean to tell me that gay couples can get married but can't collect Social Security? Oh hell no. We gotta get rid of that!"

Love. Her.

READ: President's Statement on National HIV Testing Day

Today is National HIV Testing Day. The White House and the President released this statement:

National HIV Testing Day reminds each of us to do our part in fighting HIV/AIDS and get tested. It has been thirty years since we witnessed the emergence of HIV, an illness from which roughly 600,000 Americans have died and with which more than one million Americans live. After years of critical investments in research, prevention and care, we now have the tools to stem the spread of the disease and extend the lives of those Americans living with HIV. And for the first time, we have a comprehensive plan for addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our country.

Last July, my Administration released a National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States which commits this nation to reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to care for people living with HIV and reducing HIV-related health disparities. The Strategy’s release came amid important scientific advances to help protect the health of people with HIV and prevent further transmission. One in five Americans living with HIV is not aware of their infection and this research highlights the imperative of making sure people know their HIV status and getting those who do have HIV into care.

All of us have a responsibility to ourselves and those around us to know our status and reduce our risk. So on this National HIV Testing Day and every day, I encourage every American to join the fight against HIV/AIDS and get tested.

HIV testing is especially critical for the Black community, who make up only 12 percent of the U.S. population but almost half of all new HIV infections. Blacks also tend to test and get diagnosed later. Those infections are more likely to advance to AIDS and less likely to benefit from life-saving anti-retroviral therapy.

  Black gay/bisexual men are hardest by HIV/AIDS. Young Black gay and bisexual men are up to five times more likely to contract HIV than other MSM. More than 70 percent are unaware of their infection.

Find a testing center near you HERE.