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GAMBIA: Indecency Charges Dismissed Against 20

There are promising developments in the West African nation of Gambia. A court has dropped charges against 18 men and two women who were arrested in April and charged with "unnatural offenses" and "indecency".

The defendants were accused of homosexuality but the prosecutors' case was "based on discredited evidence", reports Tanzania's The Citizen and the UK-based GayStarNews. Same-sex relations are banned in Gambia. Violators face up to 14 years in prison.

Two police officers previously testified that when they had raided the nightclub they had seen the defendants "wearing female clothes." ... These allegations were denied by all the defendants who stated no one there wore drag. The police officer obtained 43 pictures from digital cameras at the venue as central ‘evidence’ supporting their claims. However after examination most of the pictures were taken by the club owner’s at different occasions and could not possibly have been attributed to the accused.

That's the good news. On the other hand, some defendants say they have been ostracized by family and neighbors "after their names and photographs were published in newspapers."

President Yahya Jammeh has ruled Gambia after seizing power in 1994. In recent years the West African dictator has attracted international attention for his anti-gay rhetoric and violent threats. In May and June 2008, the Gambian leader ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head"of any gay man remained in the West African nation.

The European Union has cancelled 22 million euros ($26 million) in budget support to Gambia in 2010 due to concerns over human rights, reports Radio Netherlands Worldwide. The EU is the leading aid provider for Gambia. Jammeh recently has slammed EU and UK attempts to link aid to human rights and support of gays.

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.

Some Background:
Gambia "Won't Be 'Bribed' to Accept Gays"
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Gays
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure"
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"
Gambian President Threatens to Fire All Gay Soldiers
UN Chief Urges African Leaders to Respect Gay Rights
Gambia President Renews

GAME ON: Obama Endorses Gay Marriage, Fires Up Progressive Base

Our latest for EBONY.com is on the front page: "Game On: Obama Endorses Gay Marriage, Fires Up Progressive Base."

President Obama’s bedrock of support in the Black community won’t abandon him over marriage equality. Some 95 percent of Blacks voted for Obama in 2008 and he’ll get—93 percent? 94 percent in 2012. You could argue that White House extensively polled voters in swing states, deciding that coming out for equal marriage would help his campaign. The campaign probably did but it doesn’t matter—it’s just the right thing to do. It re-energizes the progressive wing of the party. Opens up LGBT checkbooks again—gay Democratic fundraising bundlers are ecstatic!!—and wins the president points for moving America forward on civil rights.

Let’s face it. Most people—outside of the Black community—who are dead set against gay marriage were never voting for Obama anyway. And Mitt “Multiple Choice” Romney was going to hammer Obama on this issue—using it as an example of Obama's indecisiveness or saying they had the same position. Obama turned a negative into a positive.

Read the full piece HERE.

PHOTO: Plaxico Burress and Louis Vuitton Luggage Leave Prison

PHOTO: AP

Former New York Giants star wide receiver Plaxico Burress leaves the Oneida Corrections Facility after a 20-month prison stay on weapons charges. Pharrell would approve of the luggage.

Plaxico's Super Bowl Predictions

This is Super Bowl XLII week and the Giants are now in Arizona and preparing for the big game. Before leaving the Meadowlands, some confident predictions from Plaxico Burress, the handsome wide receiver and one of the team's phenoms.

As he pulled his car up to the Giants Stadium tunnel to unload his bags, Burress yesterday morning was asked by The Post a direct question: Are you ready to make history? "You better believe it," the towering Giants receiver said.

And then, as he entered the stadium and turned left toward the Giants locker room, Burress was asked for his prediction. Burress never hesitated, flatly stating "23-17."

We're assuming Plaxico was referring to the Giants, even though the odds are New England will walk away with another Super Bowl ring.

Since we're on Plaxico's jock today—umm, not literally—it's probably worth noting that he is (finally) recovering from that nasty right-ankle sprain aggravated in Game 2 and has sidelined him from much of the season's practice. Predictably, he doesn't have much sympathy for Patriots QB Tom Brady's much-reported ankle sprain. "Nah, man, it's Tom Brady," Burress said, as if being Brady meant nothing bad could ever happen to you."

Com-Plax Numbers [NYP]
Nothing Lame About Plaxico [Phil Inquirer]

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