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Witnesses Threatened in Syracuse Transgender Murder Trial

There are new and very disturbing developments in the trial of Dwight DeLee, the Syracuse, New York man accused of gunning a LaTeisha Green, a young black transgender woman, last fall. Despite being shot by a  .22-caliber rifle at point-blank range and several eyewitnesses, two of the prosecution witnesses recanted their statements on the witness stand and authorities say DeLee's family is threatening witnesses.

Newsday reports: "Siblings Johnny and Jasmine Gaston testified that investigators told them what to say about the shooting of 22-year-old Lateisha Green at a Syracuse house party last November. Both gave signed statements to police identifying Dwight DeLee as the gunman. But on Tuesday, they insisted DeLee was involved and said someone else killed Green. 'They were telling me the story of what happened,' said Johnny Gaston, who claimed he was coerced during eight hours of questioning."

Judge William Walsh allowed prosecutors to introduce statements in which Gaston "said she saw DeLee fire the shot into the car, that DeLee later called her from work to say he felt bad about what happened and that he said he hoped nobody was hurt." Walsh adds authorities are investigating threats made against these witnesses who "named names" including "at least one member of DeLee's family", reports the AP.

Other witnesses testify they heard DeLee refer to Green as a "faggot" moments before Green was shot. Other witnesses say they heard or saw the shot. Green's brother, 18-year-old Mark Cannon, who is gay and was also shot, testified and said DeLee was the fatal shooter.

DeLee is charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime and accused of intentionally killing LaTeisha Green because of her perceived sexual orientation. Green was born Moses Cannon and at age 16 decided to start dressing and living as a woman. The family accepted LaTeisha's transition and now urges state officials to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which includes transgenders in hate crime protection laws. The trial comes on the same week the United States Senate is expected to pass hate crimes legislation.

NY Gov. Paterson Will Ask for Marriage Vote in September

If it isn't obvious by now: A planned marriage-equality vote in the New York Senate is off the table until a special session in September.

After a month-long stalemate, the Senate passed over 100 bills Friday night. They did not vote on several major items, such as marriage equality and mayoral control of city schools.

Just to keep track on who's on what base, the Democrats are back in control. For now. State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. switched sides again and was appointed Senate Majority Leader. Former Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith remains Senate president.

The Assembly passed a marriage bill 89-52 in May.

2 Arrested in Brutal Attack on New York City Transgender Woman

Two men are behind bars after the brutal attack on a 22-year-old transgender female walking down the street in St. Albans, Queens. Carmella Etienne, who has lived in the neighborhood for years, says the attack happened on the corner of 116th Avenue and 199th Street. Police and prosecutors say thugs attacked with rocks, beer bottles and even threatened to sodomize her with a baseball bat ... all while a crowd watched and did nothing.

Nathaniel Mims, 25, and Rasheed Thomas, 22, allegedly screamed anti-gay slurs and threatened to cut the woman's throat Wednesday night in St. Albans. They face charges of assault as a hate crime, menacing and harassment. "I didn't know you could get locked up for calling somebody names," Thomas said after his arrest, according to prosecutors. "I called her a bunch of names. I called her a [expletive deleted], but she didn't see me throw anything."

Etienne, hit in the leg, told cops she saw the men throwing things at her."They were yelling homophobic slurs at me. They threatened to kill me. Chunky rocks and empty beer bottles they were throwing at me," she said. "Don't ever walk that block anymore or we will slash your throat," one of the defendants said, according to cops.

The aspiring fashion designer.moved to Queens from Haiti six years ago and soon after began her transition. Etienne, who has medically and legally transitioned to female, was treated for a deep gash to her leg and has been released from hospital. She tells the Daily News: "The law will hopefully put them to justice. I love being myself."

For bonus points watch the video at NY1. The young woman interviewed never says she lifted a finger to help Carmella Etienne and complains that police arrested the "wrong" thug.

Author and activist Nathan James lives only one block from where this happened and tells Rod 2.0: "I am so upset by this, because it once again reminds me that I cannot be out, proud, and safe walking the streets of my own neighborhood. God forbid I am being beaten by my neighbors—or their children—for being gay, and people will stand around and watch it happen."

The suspects are being held on $5000 bail. They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted

23 Year Sentence for Murder of Young, Black Gay Brooklyn Man

Fifteen-years-to-life with at least 23-years behind bars. That's the sentence 19-year Omar Willock was handed down for calling a young black gay Brooklyn man a "faggot" and stabbing him to death.

Willock and 20-year-old Roberto Duncanson encountered each other on the street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn early in the morning of May 12, 2007. Willock claimed Duncanson looked at him suggestively and flirted with him, so he called him a "faggot." Duncanson yelled back at him and continued walking. Willock followed for several blocks, yelled anti-gay and homophobic epithets and fatally stabbed him. Willock was convicted of second degree murder in May 2009.

Gay City News reports the killer lacked remorse at Monday's sentencing: "In asking for 25-to-life, the maximum sentence, Howard Jackson, the prosecutor in the case, noted that Willock had pursued Duncanson. 'The victim in this case walked away,” Jackson said. 'Apparently, that wasn’t good enough for this defendant." With his hands cuffed behind him, Willock stood stoically throughout the proceeding. Asked if he would like to speak, Willock made brief, mostly inaudible comments. He motioned toward Duncanson’s mother and said, 'I feel sorry for the people.' "

Roberto Duncanson, nicknamed "Pancho", was out to coworkers and close friends but not his mother or family. In an interview shortly after he was killed, his mother said he was a loving son with "the heart of a lion."

Willock had been charged with murder as a hate crime which would have meant and automatic life sentence. The hate crime charges were dropped in March 2009 because the prosecution’s main witness, Belinda Toon, who saw the entire altercation and called police, "gave testimony that was less detailed than what she told a grand jury.... [Prosecutors] say Toon has been 'the subject of constant threats, harassment, and taunting about being a snitch,' Jackson said.""

Gay Man's Murder5 Gets at Least 23 Years [GCN]

Some Background ...
Guilty Verdict in Murder of Black Gay Brooklyn Man [R20]
Brooklyn Murder Trial Goes to Jury [R20]
Trial Begins in Brooklyn Gay Hate Crime Murder [R20]

NBA Baller Ben Gordon's Backup Plan: Barney's Creative Director

Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon, one of the standout players in the NBA, goes from making some rather suggestive moves on-the-court to making some moves behind the scenes in the fashion industry. Gordon is well-known for his tasteful fashion aesthetic and gets his fashionista on for ESPN: The Magazine. The baller spends the day and camps it up with Simon Doonan, the Barney's creative director and husband to designer and Bravo personality Jonathan Adler.

"I have a European fashion sense," Gordon tells Doonan. "I love the fine tailoring and the fit."

AFTER THE JUMP, via Rod 2.0 reader FF, watch the video and a few more photos. And despite the many  stereotypes, how freakin' cool is it that a black professional ball player appreciates fashion and can glam and camp it up with fashion's power gays?

Alleged Craigslist M4M Killer Confesses: It Was Over Escort Fee

New and not-very-surprising developments in the gruesome case of a gay man found brutally stabbed to death in his New York City apartment by a man he met on the Internet. Alexys Fermaintt, the 30-year-old hustler accused of robbing and killing Michael Pecora, pleads self-defense and claims the victim attacked him with a knife in an argument over Fermaintt's escort fee.

Fermaintt tells police the victim "disagreed over the amount of money [he] was going to pay Fermaintt for sex and for spending the day with him."

Pecora was killed on June 17th in his Queens apartment. A stolen cell phone given to a cab driver to pay for a fare lead police to Fermaintt's Brionx apartment. Fermaintt was tracked to Massachusetts and authorities extradited him to New York City. He faces second degree murder charges.

Last week, Rod 2.0 posted an amateur sex video (NSFW) featuring Fermaintt and three other men—all of whom are engaging in risky sex and smoking what appears to be crystal meth. Joe.My.God's Joe Jervis located Fermaintt's MySpace and YouTube accounts under the screen name Rican2Crave.

You May Want to Read...
Craigslist M4M Killer's PNP Amateur Sex Video? [R20]
Arrest Made in Latest NYC Craigslist M4M Murder [R20]
Gay NYC Man Killed, Police Suspect Internet Hookup [R20]

Anti-Gay Sen. Diaz Sr. Has Two Gay Brothers and Cries Over Liza?

How did we miss this? New York Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr.—the arch-conservative anti-gay Pentecostal minister from the Bronx who is the leading opponent of marriage equality in the state—has not one but two gay brothers. Oh and Liza Minelli's voice can bring him to tears, reports New York.

"Over the Christmas holiday, Christopher Lynn, a former top Giuliani aide and founding member of the gay and lesbian Stonewall Democratic Club in New York City, took one of his closest friends, a Democratic state senator, to a performance of Liza Minnelli's Broadway show, Liza's at the Palace ... ! During the poignant rendition of Charles Aznavour's drag-queen ballad, "What Makes a Man a Man?", Lynn turned to his friend and saw that he was choked up. 'Diaz was in tears,' says Lynn. Yes, that Diaz—Bronx senator Ruben Diaz Sr., the Pentecostal Puerto Rican minister and scourge of gay marriage. ... Diaz, who has not one but two gay brothers, says, 'I'm not homophobic. I have a problem with gay marriage. I have no problem with gays.' "

Perhaps that last statement explains why Diaz Sr. once claimed the Gay Games would lead to "an increase in AIDS and homosexuality in young people."

A marriage bill will reportedly be "very first bill" to be considered in today's special Senate session called by Gov. David Paterson. Diaz Sr. promises to do something "big" to prevent the vote from happening.

"Greet the Press", NYC Pride Event on Black Gays and New Media

Pride week kicks off in New York City with "Greet the Press", a panel discussion on the lack of black gay, traditional media outlets—and how many new media and social networking platforms are filling the void. The event was produced by Dwight O'Neal, Cornelius Jones and Nathan Scott (right), who also hosted, the New York City-based promoter and co-host of The AND Show, the popular black LGBT YouTube channel.

Panelists included: Derrick L Briggs, co-star of the new independent film Finding Me and host of ADTV on YouTube (bottom photo, black shirt); Sheldon DeSouza of the Black Gay Network; GBMNews.com's Antonie Craigwell; Dex Star G, photographer and blogger; blogger Maurice Runea; and DJ Baker, host of the popular Da Doo-Dirty Show podcast.

Baker, seen above with the microphone, tells Rod 2.0 that last night's event was "great" opportunity to network "but we needed more youth in the building, some new faces." Baker adds: "Our community has yet to [determine] how to gauge youths' needs. We know they are out there working on [media] projects. We need to stop talking about working together and start doing."

Author and activist Nathan James also attended the event. James tells Rod 2.0: "The exploration of new forms of media communication and its relationship to the LGBT community of color is crucial to an understanding of who we are. Kudos to 'Greet The Press' for raising our awareness."

One of the standout discussions was lead by Sheldon DeSouza, above, who calls attention to a disturbing exchange on Wendy Williams' radio show. A 23-year-old black gay man called last month and asked radio personality Wendy Williams for "advice" on how to deal with a male love interest who is HIV positive. DeSouza explains: "Wendy said, 'You're 23, you don't need to be dealing with that. If I were 23 years old ... you have your whole future ahead of you. You don't want to deal with that." DeSouza says Williams laughed and conducted a random poll of her staff and asked if they would ever date someone HIV positive. DeSouza called into the show and was reprimanded on-air for challenging the radio personality's "advice." Listen to that "advice" here.

AFTER THE JUMP, video of Sheldon DeSouza describing the outrageous "advice" on HIV and relationships given by Wendy Williams, nominated by LOGO for their NewNowNext Awards. Why so many black gay men idolize this hateful woman escapes me.

Top Two Photos: "Greet the Press" on Facebook
Last Two Photos: Dex Star G

Despite Criticism, CVS Continues to Lock Up Condoms in Black and Hispanic Neighborhoods

An update on a story we reported in March. CVS locations in Washington D.C. have been accused of limiting access to condoms and locking them up in black and Hispanic neighborhoods. The practice is apparently nationwide, reports POZ.

Change to Win, a coalition of labor unions, believes that CVS’s practice of locking up condoms at certain stores—commonly in communities of color—creates a barrier to access for young people who are less likely to ask a store associate for them. The group asserts that CVS’s anti-theft policy puts those communities at risk for unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

By surveying more than 2,200 CVS drug stores nationwide, the labor group found that, in nine of the 19 markets where prophylactics are kept under lock and key, the company was at least three times more likely to lock up condoms in communities of color than in predominantly white neighborhoods.

"We do know from studies that free access to condoms cuts down on sexually transmitted infections," said Neerav Desai, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. "For someone that has any hesitation about use, this could be another reason for them not to use condoms."

CVS locations in Washington D.C. have been accused of abusing this practice. In Chicago, some black gay activists have accused several Walgreens locations of refusing to sell condoms to gay men.

CVS Criticized for Condom Lockup [POZ]

Did You Read ... ?
Obama to Repeal "Provider Conscience" Regulations [R20]

Alleged Craigslist M4M Killer's Disturbing PNP Amateur Sex Video?

The cyber trail continues to grow behind Alexys Fermaintt, the 30-year-old Bronx man accused of robbing and killing Michael Pecora, a 38-year-old gay man he allegedly met over the Internet. Fermaintt was apprehended over the weekend in Massachusetts. Reports mention "having seen the victim's regular postings in the Craigslist's M4M section" and the alleged killer posted nearly nude NC-17 videos and pics to YouTube and MySpace as Rican2Crave.

Two Rod 2.0 regulars have additional and more disturbing sightings. Dave in Amityville, Long Island writes: "After reading your post about Fermaintt, I got to thinking ... this dude looked really familiar. But wasn't sure where I've seen him. So after doing a little searching, I realized I've seen him on tube8. This dude was whacking off with some other dudes [and] out of control." Dave adds this warning: "Although he looks in his pictures very clean cut, clearly he dabbled in destructive behavior."

A number of screen captures have been taken from the amateur PNP sex video uploaded by "Crave", a play on the Rican2Crave screen name. Given the circumstances and the homicide investigation the tape may be pulled.

Fermaintt appears to be the featured player in the 57 minute video. (The tattoos check with his previous cyber video efforts.) Highlights include smoking what is apparently crystal meth near the beginning. He is later joined by three other men, one of whom (black tank top) appears to be a former in-demand porn star with Enrique Cruz. Fermaintt can be seen giving a b/j at approximately 40:00.

Jorge in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn also emails and says Fermaintt is a "hustler" and has "sold amateur webcam scenes."

AFTER THE JUMP, more screen captures and the link to the amateur sex tape. Sorry for accidentally deleting the screencaps and link earlier. NSFW.