TABC guilty of violations in Ft. Worth bar raid

The Dallas Voice is reporting that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) committed a total of 19 policy violations in relation to the raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth.

Agent Christopher Aller committed eight violations, Agent trainee Jason Chapman committed seven violations, and Sgt. Terry Parsons committed four violations, the report says.
Violations committed by the two agents include participating in a joint operation with Fort Worth police without approval from a supervisor; failing to submit a complaint card against the Rainbow Lounge; conducting bar inspections in unapproved attire; failing to follow bar inspection procedures; failing to report the use of force and injuries involving Chad Gibson, a Rainbow Lounge patron who sustained serious head injuries; and disrupting business during a bar inspection.
The violations committed by Parsons, who was not at the scene of the raid and has since reportedly retired form the agency, involve failing to take appropriate action against Aller and Chapman; failing to ensure Aller and Chapman filed the necessary reports; and failing to notify the sergeant’s supervisors of the raid.
Disciplinary action against the three TABC employees is pending, because they have a right to file a written response to the report within five working days.
TABC is also conducting a second, separate investigation into use of force by the agents that has not been completed. The second report will take into account statements by TABC employees, Fort Worth police officers, other eyewitnesses and expert witnesses. Because of the complexity of the case, the report will take longer to complete, the agency said. After the jump is the full press release from TABC. Read the full investigative report from TABC by going here.

All Smile(s) during happy hour

Thank you to everyone who stopped out last night for Nightlifegay.com's monthly happy hour - Smile. Four "boozy" (lol) people walked away with a pair of Joan Rivers' tickets to her September 12th show at Harrah's Casino in Chester, PA. Check out these photos from the event.

Charles Perez fired after filing complaint

Charles Perez, who you may remember from "Inside Edition" or his nationally syndicated talk show, "The Charles Perez Show", was fired from Miami ABC affiliate WPLG. Perez reportedly filed a discrimination complaint with Miami-Dade's Equal Opportunity Board on July 31. In his complaint, Perez claims his station bosses demoted him “because of their discomfort over the increasingly high profile of my sexual orientation.”

He also claims a former (bitter) partner, Dennis Ricardo Pena, forwarded his correspondence from his LA therapist that states Perez needs to work through his “gender identity issues.” After that it was down hill quick.

Looking back at his Charles Perez show:

Chumley & Carlota to host Gayborhood Games

Chumley & Carlota, Philadelphia's Dizziest Due, are scheduled to host Philadelphia's first Gayborhood Games on September 26th at Pure Nightclub. Two who have worked for many years in the events field, Mark "Chumley" Singer and Michael (Carlota Ttendant) Byrne are best known to their faithful fans as the hosts for Philadelphia's Gay Bingo during the first six years. After departing bingo, the two hosted countless event including Chumley & Carlota's Movie Nights at the Prince & a sing-along Wizard of Oz spedcial for Philadelphia Gay Pride 2008.

Chumley was creative director for the Sunoco Welcome America! Fourth of July Festival from 1995 - 2001, where he developed the 'red white and blue skyline project'. As creative director for the Millennium Philadelphia event, Chumley oversaw the creative elements of the city's two-year millennium festival, including the memorable '24-events-in-24-hours' that ushered in the year 2000. Chumley has served as a board member for PrideFest America (now Equality Forum), has been a judge for the lighted boat parade on the Delaware, serves as a judge for the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, and has been featured in The Philadelphia Weekly, The CityPaper, Philadelphia Style, The Philadelphia Daily News, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Carlota Michael Byrne has been acting, performing and producing in and around Philadelphia for the past 15 years. Some of his favorite roles include: Max in Bent, Steve in Jeffrey, a Witch in Macbeth, and over 20 roles in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged. Michael is a founding member of Big Mess Theatre. While co-creating their popular and critically, acclaimed Big Mess Cabaret, Michael gave birth to MC Carlota Ttendant. Carlota has become a local Philadelphia celebrity co-hosting the ever-popular Gay BINGO (raising over $1,100,000 for local HIV/AIDS services over the past six years). A documentary on Gay BINGO was produced and directed by Emmy Award winner Glenn Holsten for WHYY Public Television.

Michael has also been honing his voice as a writer/performance artist. Of his first solo work, produced at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the City Paper said, "a rarity in a Fringe full of pieces that went on just a little bit too long; it left you wanting more." Michael is the winner of the 1998 Philadelphia Gay News, Lambda Award for Outstanding Cultural Contribution by an Individual, and was honored as a Grand Marshall in the 2000 Gay Pride Parade.

The Gayborhood Games will feature 7 different competitions to find the most "Outstanding" in the following categories: dance crew, comedian, vocalist, drag act, hair salon/stylist, chef and bartender. Click here for more information.

Gay cop gets $415,000

Robert Colle, a former Millville, NJ police officer, will get $415,000 settlement from the town for his harassment case. Colle claimed he was ridiculed by the chief and other officers at the time because he was gay. He alleged that city officials ignored his harassment complaints and that officers refused to back him up when he was dealing with a disorderly woman.

Philadelphia not the norm in gay advertising

Current.com questions whether gay-friendly advertisers are hiding from mainstream audiences through hidden messages and practices. I have to admit after seeing their report that most advertisers do indeed sneak into the gay market through the back door....(I know, I know - pun intended). Check out Current's report.


They make a good point - right? Enter Philadelphia. If you live in the City of Brotherly Love, you may know Philadelphia advertises gay specific ads in mainstream places. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) recognized this phenomenon and addressed it early with their gay television commerical "Pen Pals." Philadelphia placed the commericial (the first and still only destination commercial) on the Comcast network back in 2004. The commercial ran on networks like gay-friendly Bravo but also ran on not so friendly ESPN. In fact, it ran on ESPN during football season, during football games! In case you missed it, here is the Pen Pals spot.



This year GPTMC upped the benchmark for other advertisers when it created this ad for its new campaign "With Love, Philadelphia XXOO."

The ad has already run in Suburban Station and on Walnut Street in Philadelphia for everyone to see.

For that, Nightlifegay.com congratulations GPTMC and Philadelphia for setting the standard!

APA rejects curing gays

The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.
No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution, adopted by a 125-to-4 vote. The association said some research suggested that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies. (source)

Trans included in ENDA

Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. Senate today. It marked the first time that a transgender-inclusive version of the bill has been introduced in the Senate. An inclusive version of ENDA was introduced in the House in June.

HRC President Joe Solmonese:
“The introduction of an inclusive employment non-discrimination bill in the U.S. Senate is an important and historic step in ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. No American, and that includes LGBT Americans, should have to worry about their livelihood being taken away from them simply for being who they are. The overwhelming majority of the American people are in favor of this legislation and now is the time for our community to visit their representatives in Congress to let them know we need this passed into law.”

"Fierce Advocate" on Advocate's cover

Intrepid reporter Michael Joseph Gross closely examines the Obama Administration’s actions, or lack thereof, on issues important to the LGBT community. Looking for answers, Gross talks to a dozen gay and lesbian leaders about how we can get both the White House and Congress to act in a timely fashion on important issues such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the Defense of Marriage Act, and Marriage Equality.

Paula Twitters Idol Departure

The beginning of the end for American Idol has arrived. Paula Abdul Twittered last night that she will NOT be returning to the show for the coming season. While Ryan Idol has inked a $45 million deal and Simon Cowell making even more, Paula has decided to leave after she was offered much, much less.

Gay Community Night Wins - Phillies Lose

The 7th annual gay community night at the Phillies was a huge success last night. Roughly 850 tickets were sold to the gay community as part of a sellout crowd at Citizens Park. Unfortunately, the Phillies lost to the Rockies in a score of 8-3. Check out a few photos of the event.

Bill Clinton to give Steven Spielberg 2009 Liberty Medal

The National Constitution Center’s 2009 Liberty Medal will be awarded to filmmaker and humanitarian Steven Spielberg for his artistic and personal commitment to the preservation of human rights. Through his award-winning films, Spielberg has presented stories of the struggle and triumph of humanity over tyranny, informing and inspiring millions to better understand the abiding call of liberty. Spielberg has also dedicated himself to gathering and archiving the testimonies of survivors and other witnesses of the Holocaust, ensuring future generations will never forget the tragedy of liberty lost. The public Liberty Medal ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2009, at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia.

This year’s Liberty Medal will be presented to Spielberg by President William J. Clinton, Chairman of the National Constitution Center, who said, "Continuing in the National Constitution Center's rich tradition of honoring distinguished leaders who have shown a commitment to change through action, we have once again chosen a highly deserving champion of freedom. I look forward to bestowing this award on my friend Steven Spielberg."

Joan Rivers every 15 minutes!

Update: Nightlifegay.com is happy to report that two more sets of Joan Rivers' tickets will be given away at our Smile Happy Hour on Thursday. That brings the total up to 4 sets! Stop by Tavern on Camac this Thursday from 6-8pm for $4 drinks. Then from 7-8pm, Harrah's Casino in Chester, will be giving away two tickets every 15 minutes for Joan's September 12th show.

Tavern on Camac - 243 S. Camac Street - Philadelphia

Wisconsin provides more rights

Wisconsin now grants gay couples more than 40 of the 200 legal rights previously reserved for married couples — including hospital visitation, final planning and employment leave rights. It is the first Midwestern state to do so through legislation — Iowa allows gay marriage, but that was the result of a court ruling.

Gay day at Phillies tonight

The 7th annual gay day at the Phillies kicks-off tonight at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will play the Colorado Rockies with the game beginning at 7:05pm. The opening pitch will be thrown by lawyer and former college football player Brian Sims. Sims was a Scholar Athlete and the captain of the 2000 National Championship Div. II football team.

The annual event, started by Larry Felzer and GALLOP (Gay & Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia) and the Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA (National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association) in 2003.

Hawaii football coach suspended 30 days

Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin has been suspended by the university for 30 days without pay for Thursday's anti-gay comments he made toward the Notre Dame football program during the Western Athletic Conference meetings in Salt Lake City.

During a Western Athletic Conference press conference, McMackin described Notre Dame's Haka dance with a derogatory term usually directed at gays -- "a little fag-t dance" before asking reporters not to print his remarks. He then twice apologized for his statements.

Chelsea hits a "homo run"

On her show last night, Chelsea Handler expressed utter shock that the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) did not even include Chelsea Lately in its latest report on how well TV is doing when it comes to depicting gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders. Here is what Chelsea had to say:

Galileo tops 90,000 goal

The Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy exhibit at Philadelphia'sFranklin Institute surpassed its attendance goal of 90,000 visitors this morning with a count of 90,095! The exhibit is only through 76% of its run - as it continues through September 7th....plenty of time to still see it.

Gay attacks in Isreal

Reeling from the worst attack ever aimed at homosexuals in Israel, members of the country's gay community and supporters rallied Sunday in the heart of Tel Aviv a day after a masked gunman killed two people at a center for gay youth.

New strain of HIV makes its way to humans

A new strain of the virus that causes AIDS has been discovered in a woman from the African country of Cameroon.

It differs from the three known strains of human immunodeficiency virus and appears to be closely related to a form of simian virus recently discovered in wild gorillas, researchers report in Monday's edition of the journal Nature Medicine.

The finding "highlights the continuing need to watch closely for the emergence for new HIV variants, particularly in western central Africa," said the researchers, led by Jean-Christophe Plantier of the University of Rouen, France.

The three previously known HIV strains are related to the simian virus that occurs in chimpanzees. (source)

Two gays picked for promotions in Episcopal Church

Only weeks after the Episcopal Church stopped the ban on promoting gay men and lesbians into the church, church leaders nominated two openly gay priests as assistant bishops on Sunday.

Although only two positions are open, six priests in L.A. have been nominated as candidates for two assistant bishops jobs. On that list are two openly gay priests, the Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool, 55, who is currently canon to the bishops in the Diocese of Maryland, based in Baltimore, and the Rev. John L. Kirkley, 42, who is rector of St. John the Evangelist Church in San Jose, Calif., part of the Diocese of California. (source)

Gayborhood Games tickets now on sale

Tickets for the Gayborhood Games went on sale today at 10am. Buy tickets Now!

Each year, some of Philadelphia's news outlets announce their "best of" winners. These lists compare businesses and performers that are LGBT friendly or owned by community members, naming winners in a variety of categories. Unofrtunately, there has never be an opportunity to witness a live competition between these standouts....until NOW!

In the spirit of live competition formats, such as ‘American Idol’ and ‘ America’s Got Talent’, Nightlifegay.com is thrilled to present the first annual ‘Gayborhood Games’ on Saturday, September 26th 2009 at PURE Nightclub. This groundbreaking event will pit top local talent against one another with prizes and titles at stake in the following categories: Dance Crew, Vocalist, Comedian, Hair Salon/Stylist, Chef, Bartender and Drag Act.