Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

Attorney: Attackers Didn't Yell Gay Slurs in Videotaped Atlanta Beating

More developments in the case of the horrific videotaped beating of a young gay Atlanta man. The man who repeatedly yelled "faggot" and other gay slurs at Brandon White was the person recording the assault ... and not one of the attackers, a defense attorney claims to the Associated Press.

Attorney Jay Abt said his client, Dorian Moragne, plans to plead not guilty. He would not say whether Moragne was at the scene of the beating. Abt also said that his client, Dorian Moragne, knew the man who was beaten and that the beating does not appear to be a hate crime.

"It appears from watching the video that the person yelling the homosexual slurs is someone who is not in the actual video, someone who is not being filmed," Abt said. He said Moragne plans to plead not guilty to aggravated assault and robbery charges stemming from the beating.

The violent video of the February 4 attack quickly went viral across the internet. The 20-year-old White could be seen leaving a store and ambushed by three young men. White's cell phone was stolen in the robbery/beating.

Moragne can be seen throwing a tire on White after he was kicked and knocked to the ground. No word yet if Abt also claims that did not happen ....

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the assault. Seventeen-year-old Darael Damare Williams surrendered to Pennsylvania authorities on Thursday. Williams is awaiting extradition. Moragne surrendered on Feb. 25.  Eighteen-year-old Christopher Cain was arrested on February 11. All  face charges of aggravated assault and robbery. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta and Federal Bureau of Investigation have joined the case. The suspects may face federal hate crimes charges because Georgia is one of only five states without a hate crimes law.

Allegations surfaced last week that it was not a hate crime, and that White knew the attackers and hoped  to "out" gang members on the "down low". Those stories are false and White did not know his assailants, according to White's attorney.

Several Black gay "activists" who previously stood by White later accused him of "lying" about the circumstances. The activists also met with defense attorney Abt and Moragne's mother on camera.

In a new interview with The GA Voice, one of the "activists"admits that he has "never personally met" Brandon White and apologized for his actions. Twenty-one-year-old Devin Barrington Ward blames his "youth and immaturity."

"This is a touchy subject in the LGBT community. Many people have told me they have been victims, their friends have been victims or their family members have been victims. I'm a young man and I made a mistake," Ward said. "I realize whether or not he knew the attackers, a crime occurred. I want full accountability [from the suspects] so we can get to a healing stage," he added.

Read the full interview HERE.

You May Have Missed:
Attorney: "Brandon White Did Not Know Attackers"
Activists Claim Beating Victim Tried to Expose "DL" Thugs
Third ATL Gay Bashing Suspect Awaits Extradition
Third Suspect Arrested in Brutal Atlanta Gay Bashing
Second Suspect Surrenders in Atlanta Gay Bashing
Atlanta Beating Victim Identified
Atlanta Thugs Brutally Beat "Faggot"
Suspect Arrested in Atlanta Gay Bashing
ATL Mayor Offers $25K Reward for Suspects

Thursday Schedule

On deadline for EBONY. Posting in the afternoon.

VIDEO: Molly Wei Testimony, Describes Ravi's Webcam Spying

PHOTO: Star-Ledger

Former Rutgers University student Molly Wei testified that Dharun Ravi was "freaking out" when he spied on his roommate kissing another man in their Rutgers dorm room via a webcam, reports the Star-Ledger.  Only three days later, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge after learning that he had been spied upon.

Wei and Ravi were both arrested in September 2010 after allegedly spying on Ravi's roommate on Sept. 19, 2010 by activating a webcam in Ravi's room from Wei's computer, in a room across the hall. They saw Ravi's roommate, Tyler Clementi, for a few seconds kissing a man in their room. "He just opened a chat box with himself," Wei said of Ravi. "After that popped up an image of Tyler and his guest."

She said they both were surprised and shocked when they saw the two kissing, fully clothed. Wei said it was the first time she had ever seen two men kissing. "Initially we were saying how we couldn't tell anyone what had just happened," Wei said. When asked why not, she said "It shouldn't have happened, we saw something that we didn't expect to see and it just felt weird."

But "within the hour," Wei agreed to show some of the video stream "to four other women who visited her dorm room," reports the AP.

Wei also testified that she received "frantic" text messages from Ravi during the time she was questioned by police about the alleged webcam spying of Tyler Clementi's gay tryst.

"Did you tell them we did it on purpose? What did you tell them when they asked why we turned it on? I said we were just messing around with the camera," Ravi said in messages.

Dharun Ravi faces15 criminal counts—including invasion of privacy, bias intimidation, witness tampering, hindering arrest and hate crime charges. Wei agreed to a plea deal and to testify against Ravi, who allegedly used Wei's computer in her dorm room to activate his webcam via Skype.

Watch highlights of the testimony AFTER THE JUMP ...

SPORNO: Dan Herron and Davin Meggett Muscle Up at NFL Combine

PHOTOS: AP, NFL

For those who enjoy their beef on the "thicker" side: Maryland running back Davin Meggett ...

And Ohio State RB Daniel Herron were in prime condition at the Under Armour-sponsored, sporno-rific NFL Scouting Combine over the weekend.

A flash at Herron's assets AFTER THE JUMP ...

Zimbabwean Withdraws from Mr. Gay World 2012 Contest

Very disappointing. The Mr. Gay World contestant from Zimbabwe has withdrawn from the competition citing "personal reasons." The move comes only days after the contest celebrated having its first Black contestants from African nations—and as Taurai Zhanje endured bitter criticism at home, reports ZimEye.

Taurai Zhanje, who last week was verbally attacked by many from his local community, pulled out of the contest citing personal reasons. ... Zhanje would not elaborate what he meant by ‘personal reasons.’ Zhanje’s intentions had been celebrated by many organisations in the gay community.

Zhanje was to participate in the fourth annual Mr. Gay World competition which will be held April 4-8 in Johannesburg, South Africa . "For the first time in the competition’s short history there will be Black African entrants," noted The Zimbabwean, a diaspora newspaper published in London. "The Black delegates representing Africa are Taurai, Robel Gizaw Hailu from Ethiopia, Wendelinus Hamutenya from Namibia, while South Africa is being represented by Lance Weyer."

"It's a major development. It's the first time that black Africans will participate, which sends out a powerful message of hope to LGBTI people in Africa. A message that there are role models and that one can live as a successful and open LGBTI person," said Coenie Kukkuk, Africa Director for Mr. Gay World. "It's significant that an Ethiopian delegate is participating. The capital city Addis Ababa is the seat of the African Union, so it sends a strong political message.”

You may recall that Wendelinus Hamutenya, who won the first Mr. Gay Namibia contest in December, was robbed and beaten after the contest. Hamutenya was assaulted "by two men who [approached] him and requested the money" he won in the contest.

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in Zimbabwe, as they are 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. The neighboring Republic of South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

In related news: Zimbabwe's notoriously notoriously anti-gay President Robert Mugabe celebrated his 88th birthday over the weekend with a fresh round of gay-bashing. Mugabe slammed British Prime Minister David Cameron's call to support of gay rights and said "to hell with you."

Some Background:
Mr. Gay Namibia Robbed and Assaulted
ZIM PM Tsvangirai Continues Calling for Gay Rights
ZIM: Tsvangirai Slammed Over Support for Gay Rights
ZIMBABWE: PM Tsvangirai Now Calls for Gay Rights
ZIM Service Chiefs "Demand" Mugabe's Resignation?
Mugabe Denounces "Filthy Gays" of Europe
UN Votes to Condemn Anti-Gay Violence
Zimbabwe: Gay Activist Trial Delayed
Zimbabwe: Gay Activist Acquitted
Mugabe Apologizes to Dogs for Gay Comparison
Zimbabwe Vows to Outlaw Homosexuality in Constitution

LIBERIA: Pres. Johnson Sirleaf Will NOT Sign Proposed Anti-Gay Bill

There is good news and bad news from Liberia, which is emerging after two successive civil wars that left approximately 250,000 people dead. A small movement has organized around men who have sex with men (MSM), HIV/AIDS and gay rights in the West African nation.

First the bad news: As soon as tomorrow the Liberian senate could consider a proposal to strengthen the nation's existing anti-gay laws. The bill would make homosexuality a first degree felony and punishable by up to 10 years in prison, reports the South African Press Association and the AP. The bill was submitted by Sen. Jewel Taylor, former president Charles Taylor's ex-wife.

The current law considers gay relationships a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries a punishment of up to a year in prison. If passed by the Senate, the strengthened bill would then go the House and then the president.

Charles Taylor is currently being tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on an 11-count indictment for war crimes. His wife is restricted from leaving the country.

Now the good news: "Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a recent Nobel Peace Prize winner, has said she will not sign any such bill into law," reports the Daily Mail and the AP.

Liberia is one of at least 38 of Africa's 54 nations that currently have laws penalizing same-sex relations or even sexuality. 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.

Liberia has a historic relationship with the United States dating back almost 200 years. The nation was founded by freed American slaves in 1820, Washington is its closest trade partner and it uses the US dollar as its national currency.

You May Have Missed ...
LIBERIA: House Speaker Vows "No Gay Rights"
LIBERIA: Gay Activists Fight HIV and Homophobia
Gays Becoming "Increasingly Visible" in Abidjan?

Attorney Slams Accusers: "Brandon White Did Not Know Attackers"

Brandon White's attorney has slammed the allegations from gay "activists" who have accused the young man of lying about knowing the three men who viciously attacked him and videotaped the beating.

The violent video of the February 4 attack quickly went viral across the internet. Twenty-year-old Brandon White could be seen leaving a store and ambushed by three young men who repeatedly called him a "faggot." White's cell phone was stolen in the robbery/beating.

Allegations surfaced late last week  that the phone stored incriminating video evidence to "out" gang members on the "down low". Those stories are false, White's attorney tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"Brandon White did not know his attackers," his attorney, Christine Koehler, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "The thought that we would watch a video that speaks for itself, and somehow flip it so that the men that beat my client are somehow victims of fraud is frustrating," she said. "Brandon stands by his assertion that he doesn’t know these gentlemen. It’s irrelevant because they won’t be prosecuted by a hate crime law that does not exist in Georgia."

One of the "activists" who accused White of lying is now backtracking, reports The GA Voice.

Devin Barrington Ward, who also was quoted on CBS saying that White should "come forward to right his wrong," said he was only responding to information that CBS presented to Change Atlanta. "We merely commented on information CBS brought to us. I guess that information came from Gary Nichols who said that there was a prior relationship [between White and his attackers]," Ward said in an interview today.

Accusing Brandon White of lying based on a news report? Meeting with the attackers' attorneys and family before an indictment or trial? With friends like these ...

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the assault. Seventeen-year-old Darael Damare Williams surrendered to Pennsylvania authorities on Thursday.  Nineteen-year-old Dorian Moragne surrendered on Feb. 25.  Eighteen-year-old Christopher Cain was arrested on February 11. All  face charges of aggravated assault and robbery. Williams is awaiting extradition from Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta and Federal Bureau of Investigation have joined the case. The suspects may face federal hate crimes charges because Georgia is one of only five states without a hate crimes law.

You May Have Missed:
Activists Claim Beating Victim Tried to Expose "DL" Thugs
Third ATL Gay Bashing Suspect Awaits Extradition
Third Suspect Arrested in Brutal Atlanta Gay Bashing
Second Suspect Surrenders in Atlanta Gay Bashing
Atlanta Beating Victim Identified
Atlanta Thugs Brutally Beat "Faggot"
Suspect Arrested in Atlanta Gay Bashing
ATL Mayor Offers $25K Reward for Suspects

ALASKA: Rise in HIV Cases Traced to Military M4M Online Hookups

A sharp rise in HIV infections around Fairbanks, Alaska has been traced to military men finding sex partners via online hookup sites "like Adam4Adam and Craigslist," according to public health data reported in the Army Times.

The outbreak involves nine cases between Jan. 1, 2011, and Jan. 31, 2012. ... From 2007 through 2010, the number of HIV cases reported in the Fairbanks area was fairly stable at two to four a year, so "this is a very unusual spike," said Susan Jones, a state epidemiology official.

Of the nine people infected in 2011, eight were men who had sex with other men, according to the agency. Seven were either in the Army in Fairbanks or had sexual partners in the military. Most were young. Four were under the age of 20. Seven of the men reported meeting sex partners online.

And:

Last summer, epidemiology workers traveled to Fairbanks to interview the people involved and found that many of them had used websites like Craigslist and Adam2Adam to locate what she described as "anonymous" sex partners in the Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright area.

Sex-seeking Internet sites have been a major conduit for high-risk sex linked to STD infection in the Lower 48, Jones said. This is the only major outbreak associated with them in Alaska she knows of, she said.

The military requires HIV testing of active duty soldiers every two years. That's in addition to mandatory testing before and after deployments. Troops that seroconvert can continue on active duty but cannot serve overseas. The Navy has generally had higher seroconversion rates than other service branches.

In previous years, there were anecdotal reports from HIV+ troops across the military who complained that results of HIV contact tracing and public health investigations were used to dismiss them under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

SPORNO: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III is the Fastest at NFL Combine

PHOTOS: AP, Getty

It's that time of year again. The number one stunner at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine is undoubtedly Robert Griffin III. The Baylor University quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner ran the fastest 40-yard dash by a quarterback with an official time of 4.41.

The 6'2 and 230lb Griffin is expected to be one of the "top four" NFL draft picks, reports the NFL Blog. Definitely appears to be on "top" of his game. A few more photos of Griffin from the Under Armour-sponsored, sporno-rific  annual job fair AFTER THE JUMP ...

Lawsuit Reveals Details in Robert Champion FAMU Hazing Death

There are new developments at Florida A&M University, the historically Black college that has been rocked by several violent hazing incidents. The most high-profile case is the November death of drum major Robert Champion who was gay.

Champion's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owner and driver of the charter bus where the hazing ritual took place. The lawsuit alleges that Fabulous Coach Lines and its bus driver consented and willingly participated in illegal hazing acts over many years, according to the AP. The lawsuit reveals graphic details of violence.

The suit describes the two types of hazing that took place before Champion died. During the first, pledges of a band clique known as "Bus C" run from the front to the back of the bus while other band members slap, kick and hit them, the lawsuit said. A pledge who falls can be stomped and dragged to the front of the bus to run again.

In another ritual known as "the hot seat," a pillow case was placed over the pledge's nose and mouth while the pledge was forced to answer questions. If a pledge got a right answer, the pillow case was removed briefly; a pledge with a wrong answer was given another question without a chance to take a breath, the lawsuit said. ...

The lawsuit said bus company managers knew that FAMU band members held hazing rituals regularly on buses after football games but did nothing to stop them, and they often times told bus drivers to ignore the hazing.

More details on the bus company and driver from CNN:

According to court documents, Bus C, which is was the vehicle where the incident took place and the name of a specific hazing ritual, was parked in a dark corner, separate from the other buses provided by the company.

The suit also alleges that the bus and its air conditioning system were running at the time Champion was beaten and that the bus driver was standing guard at the door to prevent anyone from entering or exiting the vehicle. When Champion stepped off the bus at one point to vomit, the bus driver told him "he would be alright as she forced him back onto the bus," the lawsuit claims.

The 26-year-old drum major died during a band trip to Orlando on November 19. Champion suffered blunt trauma blows and died from shock caused by severe bleeding, according to the autopsy. Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide.

Seven members of the university's fabled Marching 100 band were recently arrested on hazing-related charges. But there have been no arrests in connection with Champion's killing. "His parents, Robert Sr., and Pamela, trust the process but find the investigation's pace troubling, said their lawyer, Chris Chestnut," reports AP. "

There are dozens of witnesses and possible suspects to be interviewed in Champion's killing, and most of them live outside the Orlando area. Some may not be cooperating. ... Detectives were unable to interview all the witnesses who know what happened on the bus immediately after Champion died because his death wasn't ruled a homicide until a month after he collapsed. They have been trying to recreate the events by interviewing witnesses, often traveling to Tallahassee where FAMU is located.

Half a dozen detectives have interviewed or are in the process of interviewing 30 to 35 witnesses, said Ginette Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Champion's parents publicly revealed in January that their son was gay. In addition to being vocally opposed to hazing, Champion's sexuality could have been among the reasons why he was viciously beaten during the attack, according to the family's attorney.

You May Have Missed:
Still No Charges in Champion's Death
FAMU Student's Sexuality Lead to Hazing Death?
Police Arrest 3 FAMU Students After Brutal Hazing
Investigators Uncover Misconduct in Hazing Death