Rod 2.0:Beta

Gay Porn Burglar Twin Pleads Guilty

An update on the case of Keyontyli and Taleon Goffney, the troubled twin brothers who performed on popular black gay internet porn sites. In February 2008, the 27-year-old twins and their mother were arrested and charged in a multi-state crime spree. Taleon Goffney now pleads guilty to two robberies, reports the Philadelphia Daily News.

"Taleon Goffney, half of an alleged twin burglary duo who gained notoriety last year for their foray into the gay porn industry, pleaded guilty yesterday in Delaware County Court to two Wawa store rooftop burglaries. Goffney was sentenced to two to four years for burglarizing Wawas in Wallingford and Wayne by cutting rooftop holes to gain entry. He is expected to plead guilty in Philadelphia to similar burglaries with his brother, Keyontyli, on June 26."

The twins are suspected in as many as 45 rooftop burglaries in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The twins' mother, Towana Goffney, is accused of standing watch as her sons broke into the two stores. Taleon Goffney, said to be the more athletic of the crime duo, faces additional charges for previously escaping from a moving police cruiser after "breaking a window by hitting it with his head" and performing somersaults and scaling walls to elude officers."

The twin brothers who performed as Keyon and Teyon at popular black gay porn sites such as Blackmen.net (nsfw), EbonyD (nsfw) and Cocoboyz (nsfw). Keyontyli gained some success as a mainstream model in at least one national underwear campaign.

Some Background...
Gay Porn Twins Suspected in Tri-State Robbery Spree [R20]
Gay Porn Twins Update: Mom Charged as Accomplice [R20]

More Than 10,000 Rally Against Same Sex Marriage in New York City

In a huge public display that was part evangelical revival and part political demonstration, thousands of opponents of marriage equality for same-sex couples rallied in front of New York Governor David A. Paterson's midtown Manhattan offices. Protesters called on the State Senate—and God—to stop the progress of same-sex marriage in the state.

Estimates ranged between 10,000 and 20,000 at the rally sponsored by Radio Vision Cristiana International, a New Jersey-based AM radio statio, and the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. "Speakers noted that 3,000 churches from the tri-state area were represented at the event," reports Gay City News.

Reports The New York Times: "During the event, which took on the air of an evangelical church service at times, a number of speakers offered prayers as audience members stood with their arms raised and their palms facing outward. One speaker, the Rev. Miguel A. Rivera, offered a prayer for the governor, who he said was not only 'physically blind, but spiritually blind.' " .

The rally was organized by State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr.—the arch-conservative anti-gay Pentecostal minister from the South Bronx who once claimed the Gay Games would lead to "an increase in AIDS and homosexuality in young people." Says Diaz: "They accuse us of homophobia. They accuse us of being radicals. They accuse us of many things because they want to close the mouth of the church."

"We’re here to say to the governor: Mr. Governor, look at the people that are here, these are the people who say we don’t believe in marriage between a man and a man and a woman and a woman," Díaz said.

WHEN YOU JUMP, via Joe.My.God, watch video of the anti-gay crowd praise Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. as he walks toward stage.

Commission Says New Jersey Should Allow Same-Sex Marriages

The New Jersey Civil Union Commission releases its much-anticipated and long-awaited report. The commission finds the Garden State's civil union law "fails" to adequately protect gay and lesbian couples and the state should waste no time passing a marriage equality bill. The Star-Ledger:

The final report of the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission says it gathered "overwhelming evidence" that the civil union law not only fails to provide the same protections as marriage, it also has created economic, medical and emotional hardships for gay couples.

ThTypePad - Edit Poste commission concluded denying same-sex couples the right to marry is as unjust as government imposing racial segregation laws against African-Americans.

"Separate treatment was wrong then and it is just as wrong now," said the report, obtained Tuesday by The Star-Ledger.

The 79-page report is the product of a 13-member panel whose members include pastor, activist and author Rev. Kevin E. Taylor.  The commission was created to "evaluate the impact" of the 2006 civil union law. That law was supposed to provide the rights and responsibilities of marriage but numerous previous findings argue it has not.

The final report will be forwarded to Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and the Legislature. The governor and the entire State Assembly face the voters next November. The State Senate has four-year terms that end after November 2011. Gay City News notes Senate President Richard J. Codey (former acting governor) and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., both Democrats, "have said they support marriage equality, while Corzine has for more than a year acknowledged he would sign a marriage law if it came to his desk."

Connecticut and Massachusetts are the only states to allow gay marriage. Both did so by the order of the top courts in their states. New Jersey could make history as the first state to allow same sex marriage by decree of the legislature.

Panel NJ Should OK Same Sex Marriage [NJ]
Report NJ Should Allow Gay Marriage [NYDN]
Jersey State Commission Urges Marriage Equality [GCN]

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News: Obama, Kevin Taylor, Black Gays and Marriage [R20]
NJ Couple That Sued for Marriage Gets License [R20]
News: Reaction to New Jersey Ruling [R20]
Corzine Signs "Civil Unions" Law [R20]
Civil Unions Begin in New Jersey [R20]
News: Obama, Clinton, Civil Unions [R20]
News: Roberts, UPS, Billie Holiday [R20]

Queen Latifah "Considered" Naming New Album "The L Word"

This is from last week but sometimes better late than never. RollingStone.com reports the Harley Davidson-loving singer-actress Queen Latifah "considered" naming her new hip-hop album The L Word "just to mess with people’s heads." A joke, of course, 'cuz Latifah is very! straight!

The New Jersey rapper/actress has endured much speculation about her sexuality because she doesn’t discuss her personal life and played a lesbian in the 1996 film Set It Off. "L was gonna stand for love though or La," she laughs. "Since people want to play games, I like to jab back sometimes just for fun, but I’m like, ‘Nah, that’s too much energy wasted.’ "

Heh. It's a step up from her "no comment" to Ebony.

Speaking of rappers and gay rumors Rolling Stone reports LL Cool J and Dr. Dre produced some of the new material on Latifah's new project. Those should have been some very strenuous recording "sessions."

No comment on LL and Dre's thoughts about Latifah's "joke." Dre has a big sense of humor, though.

Thanks ALICIA BANKS!

Queen Latifah Returns to Hip Hop with Dr. Dre [RS]

You May Have Missed ...
Latifah: "Ain't Gonna Be No (Lesbian) Wedding" [R20]
Latifah to "Ebony" on Gay Rumors: "No Comment" [R20]
Evan Ross in "Life Support" [R20]
Asked & Told: Jodie's Got No Comment [Popnography]
Quickies: Queen Latifah, Cherry Jones [Popnography]

Indictments in Newark Triple Murders ... But No Anti-Gay Hate Crime Charges

An update to the tragic story of three Newark college students who were killed execution-style only hours before they planned to attend a black gay pride festival: Three men and three teens were indicted for the gruesome killings—but there are no hate crime charges.

Terrance Aeriel, Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey were killed in August 4, 2007 when they were shot execution style outside a Newark elementary school. A fourth victim survived the shootings. Harvey was openly gay, Hightower was reportedly lesbian and the friends "planned to drive together to New York City the next morning to attend a black Gay Pride event at Riis Park Beach." Police also say at least one woman was sexually assaulted.

The grand jury charged all six suspects with "murder, attempted murder, robbery and weapons offenses" related to the Aug. 4, 2007 killings. Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow says the indictments took a year because charges against the three teens were upgraded from juvenile to adult court. Dow tells NBC 4 robbery and gang involvement were both "elements" of the case "but declined to say what police believe to be the primary motive."

The "primary motive" that police decline to reveal is anti-gay bias. Although at least two of the victims were openly gay, authorities declined to file hate crime charges in the case. The Washington Blade and gay activists have reported "jewelry, cell phones and other items of value were found at the crime scene" which eliminates the robbery motive. Sources also reveal at least one woman—who may be lesbian—was sexually assaulted. Other reports suggest at least one teen suspect attended high school with one of the gay victims.

To complicate matters, the victims' families "do not want" their deceased children identified as gay.

This is a difficult time for the families and they are entitled to their privacy. Unfortunately, if the victims were killed because they were gay, or the perception thereof, the beefed up charges would send a strong message to families and the many young black gay men and lesbians in Newark and across New Jersey. It's not about outing someone after their death. It's about bringing justice and purpose to the lives that were cut short. And trying to prevent the same thing from happening again.

6 Indicted in Newark Schoolyard Slayings [WNBC]
Six Indicted in NJ Schoolyard Slayings [CBS News]
Indictments in NJ Killings [SoVo/Wash Blade]

Some Background ...
Indictments Expected in Newark Triple Murders [R20]
Families of Newark Triple Murder Victims Do Not Want Case Prosecuted as Hate Crime [R20]
Newark Triple Murders an Anti-Gay Hate Crime? [R20]
Triple Murders Victims Were in "the Gay Clique" [R20]
Newark Triple Murders: Sexual Assault, Gay Angle [R20]

Report: Indictments Expected in Newark Triple Murders

An update to the investigation into the fatal shootings of three Newark college students who were killed only hours before they planned to attend a black gay pride festival. Prosecutor say a grand jury could return indictments as soon as next month.

Terrance Aeriel, Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey were killed in August 4, 2007 when they were shot execution style outside a Newark elementary school. Harvey was openly gay, Hightower may have been lesbian, and, the friends "had planned to drive together to New York City the next morning to attend a black Gay Pride event at Riis Park Beach." Police also say at least one woman was sexually assaulted. Six men, ranging in age from 16 to 28, face murder, aggravated sexual assault, robbery and weapon possession charges.

Paul Loriquet, a spokesperson for the Essex County prosecutor’s office, tells the Washington Blade the grand jury is expected to finish its investigation in September or October. The grand jury will be asked to return indictments affirming charges stemming from the triple murder.

Although one of the victims was openly gay, authorities have declined to file hate crime charges in the case. Reportedly the victims' families "do not want" their deceased children identified as gay.

Indictments Expected Soon in Newark Triple Murder [WaBl]

Some Background ...
Families of Newark Triple Murder Victims Do Not Want Case Prosecuted as Hate Crime [R20]
Newark Triple Murders an Anti-Gay Hate Crime? [R20]
Triple Murders Victims Were in "the Gay Clique" [R20]
Newark Triple Murders: Sexual Assault, Gay Angle [R20]

Cullen Jones Makes U.S. Olympic Swim Relay Team

There were fireworks of a different kind over the holiday weekend in the Olympic swimming trials in Omaha. Rod 2.0 fave Cullen Jones qualified to compete in Beijing as a member of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team—"giving him a chance to become the first African-American swimmer to win a gold medal", notes his hometown paper the New Jersey Star Ledger.

However, the Bronx-born swiming phenom missed his chance to win a second berth on the U.S. Olympic team when he finished third in the 50-meter freestyle. Jones swam in 21.81 seconds and the loss was a blow for the top-ranked swimmer, who was ranked first in the world in the 50m as late as last year.

Cullen Jones is one of the few blacks in swimming and has become an inspiration to youth across the country. "The trip to China will end a journey through water that began 16 years ago in inner-city pools, swimming on a team of minorities who, some people were certain, would drown before any of them ever reached the Olympic Games."

Cullen Jones falls short of 2nd Olympic berth [NJ]
A sullen Cullen [NJ]

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Sean Golden Competing for Spot on U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team

It's been too long since we checked in on Sean Golden, one of the top male gymnasts in the country and one of the few successful black men in the gymnastsics. This week, some very good news. The 25 year old, 5'5 phenom was just named to the national final trials for the U.S. Olympic Team and will compete at the upcoming USA Gymnastics Olympic trials next month in Philadelphia.

Golden is one of fourteen athletes who will compete in an effort to make the six-man Olympic team. "My first goal was to make the national team," Golden said. "My next goal is to make the Olympics. It will be great to go for that at home."

The Houston-based Golden is ranked second in the vault and third on the rings. If you want to see what he looks like beneath his lycra, KPRC-TV in Houston has an extended feature on the Golden boy where most of the video was shot with him shirtless and exercising.  (No screen caps, sorry.) Discussing his impressively sculpted physique, Golden says he began training in high school. "Gymnastics was looked at as a sport that was done by girls most of the time. So, if you did it, you weren't male or masculine something like that. But, in high school, that's when the muscles and everything else came, so the idea changed behind it," Golden said."

 

Nice nice indeed.

Sender wins all-around gymnastics title [Inquirer]
Golden Hopes For Gold In Beijing [KPRC]

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Golden Boys of Gymnastics  [R20]

News: New Jersey Family Leave, Jill Scott, Colorado, Andrés Duque

· New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signs landmark legislation that mandates paid family leave for same-sex partners—making the state the second after California to have such a law. "Workers can apply for up to six weeks off to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, or a sick parent, child, spouse or partner, and collect up to two-thirds of their pay. The new law explicitly includes married spouses, as well as civil union partners."

· Nova at Soulbounce with the latest on Jill Scott: " "Whenever You're Around" has been chosen as the third single from The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. ... As of right now, there are no plans for a video to be shot, but in this day and age visuals are so important for a single's longevity and it would be nice to see Jill get her sexy on in a vid for this song."

· Colorado: The House gives initial "approval to a bill barring discrimination against lesbians and gays in housing and public accommodations." In May 2007, Gov. Bill Ritter signed a measure that bans workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

· No protection for LGBT employees in Wyoming. A federal appeals court overturns a lower court ruling in the case of a school district that discriminated against two former employees because they are lesbians.

· The BBC News profiles gay Latinos in the United States and talks to prominent activist and blogger Andrés Duque, who describes the mainstream gay community's fetishistic view of its Latino counterpart. "The only thing you see about Latinos in many of the gay magazines and guides here in New York is pictures of naked Latino boys or skimpy-clothed Latino boys," Andrés notes, adding he is disappointed by the lack of reporting "which actually talk about the gay Latino community beyond that sexual ideal".

· LGBT travel becomes extremely lucrative, bringing in an estimated $65 billion a year.

· After eight years, Florida finally passes anti-bullying legislation. The LGBT inclusive bill unanimously passed the state senate and the Sunshine State becomes the 36th state to pass anti-bullying law and only the second state to penalize schools that don't comply. Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is expected to sign the bill next week. "It’s a damn shame it has to be made into LAW before people realize that bullying kids who are LGBT is WRONG," says one reader at Queerty.

Report: Families of Newark Triple Murder Victims Do Not Want Case Prosecuted as Anti-Gay Hate Crime

Disappointing news in the investigation into the shootings of three Newark college students. The case will not be prosecuted as an anti-gay hate crime and reports indicate the families of the victims "do not want" their deceased children identified as gay.

Terrance Aeriel, Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey were killed in August 2007 when they were shot execution style outside a Newark elementary school. Harvey was openly gay and the crew "had planned to drive together to New York City the next morning to attend a black Gay Pride event at Riis Park Beach", a source tells the Washington Blade. Police also say at least one woman was sexually assaulted. Seven men face charges, four of them are juveniles.

"We have not been able to establish a hate crime" under the definition of the New Jersey hate crimes statute, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas McTigue announced. "We don't have probable cause for a hate crime."

Black gay activists say the families of the victims "did not support efforts to publicly identify the murders as an anti-gay hate crime. 'We were told that anything related to the victims' sexual orientation should remain a private matter,' said James Credle, co-president of Newark Pride Alliance, a gay group. 'They made it clear that they didn't want the case to go in that direction.' " The police and mayor have refused to label the case as more than a "robbery gone wrong" and Credle says anti-gay stigma remains strong in Newark's predominately black community.

This must be a difficult time for the families and they are entitled to their privacy. Unfortunately, if the victims were killed because they were gay (or the perception thereof), the beefed up charges would send a strong message to other families and the many young black gay men and lesbians in Newark and across New Jersey.

Evidence lacking for hate crime in Newark [WashBl]

Some Background ...
Newark Triple Murders an Anti-Gay Hate Crime? [R20]
Triple Murders Victims Were in "the Gay Clique" [R20]
Newark Triple Murders: Sexual Assault, Gay Angle [R20]