LGBT News Clips Wednesday (February 29, 2012)

Wednesday (February 29, 2012) News
Headline		Date	Outlet	Links
Activism/Protest (1)
	Citibank, Barclays Urged to Condemn Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Courts/Legal (1)
	Supreme Court Rejects NOM Appeal of Maine Disclosure Law	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Discrimination (1)
	Lesbian Couple Told to 'Get a Room', Asked to Leave Phoenix Restaurant After Kiss: VIDEO	02/29/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Education/Youth (2)
	New York City Congressional Democrats Reach Out To Gay Teens	02/28/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
	Students Demand Gay Reparations from Harvard	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Entertainment/TV/Movies (3)
	Lady Gaga to Launch Anti-Bullying Foundation Today	02/29/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Martina Navratilova Joins Dancing With the Stars	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	By George, Clooney's Got Us	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Hate Crimes/Criminal (1)
	Tulsa Teen Beaten Unconscious in Anti-Gay Attack at Party: VIDEO	02/29/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Marriage (5)
	Fourth Minnesota City To Oppose Gay Marriage Ban	02/29/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
	Grandparents of Gay Man Speak Out in Powerful Video for Marriage Equality: WATCH	02/29/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
	Senator Shaheen Pushes Democrats to Adopt Marriage Equality Plank	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Baltimore FOX Affiliate Helps Gather Names for Maryland Voter Referendum on Marriage Equality	02/28/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
	Outspoken "Ex-Gay" Campaigns for Minn. Marriage Amendment	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Military (1)
	Gay Couple in Marine Homecoming Photo Speaks Out: VIDEO	02/28/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
National Politics (1)
	Rachel Maddow Talks to Frank Rich About the Silent Hypocrisy of Pro-Gay Republican Power Players: VIDEO	02/28/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Politicians/Leaders (1)
	Gay Rhode Island Congressman Faces Tough Re-election Battle	02/28/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Polling/Research (2)
	Poll: Record Support for Marriage in California	02/29/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Poll: Majority of Iowans Oppose a Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: VIDEO	02/28/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Religion (1)
	Baptists Rally Against North Carolina Gay Marriage Ban	02/28/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
Transgender issues (1)
	Penn adds transgender employee insurance	02/29/2012	Daily Pennsylvanian, The	Text	View Clip
Citibank, Barclays Urged to Condemn Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The A new Change.org petition is calling on Citibank and Barclays to take a stand against Uganda's antihomosexuality bill. Return to Top
Supreme Court Rejects NOM Appeal of Maine Disclosure Law | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The The Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal from the National Organization for Marriage challenging a Maine law that requires the groups to name its donors, although a second appeal to allow the list to remain private is still pending. Return to Top
Lesbian Couple Told to 'Get a Room', Asked to Leave Phoenix Restaurant After Kiss: VIDEO | View Clip 02/29/2012 Towleroad A lesbian couple in Phoenix were asked to leave the Sheraton Hotel's District restaurant on Sunday after sharing a kiss during an anniversary dinner, ABC15 reports: Kenyata White and Aeimee Diaz were celebrating their one-year anniversary Sunday at Sheraton's District... Return to Top
New York City Congressional Democrats Reach Out To Gay Teens | View Clip 02/28/2012 On Top Magazine Six Congressional Democrats who represent New York City have reached out to troubled gay teens in an It Gets Better video Return to Top
Students Demand Gay Reparations from Harvard | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The Harvard students are demanding university officials take responsibility for a 1920s-era secret court that expelled students for being gay or being perceived as such. Return to Top
Lady Gaga to Launch Anti-Bullying Foundation Today | View Clip 02/29/2012 Advocate, The Lady Gaga and her mother are set to launch their national anti-bullying effort today, the Born This Way Foundation, at Harvard University. Return to Top
Martina Navratilova Joins Dancing With the Stars | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The Tennis legend Martina Navratilova will be among the celebrity competitors on the next season of Dancing With the Stars. Return to Top
By George, Clooney's Got Us | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The Gearing up for the one-night-only L.A. reading of 8, Dustin Lance Black's Prop. 8 play, George Clooney reaffirms his commitment to marriage equality and opens up about persistent gay rumors, his bromance with Brad Pitt, and the prospect of playing Paul Lynde. Return to Top
Tulsa Teen Beaten Unconscious in Anti-Gay Attack at Party: VIDEO | View Clip 02/29/2012 Towleroad Cody Rogers, an 18-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was beaten unconscious at a party over the weekend because he is gay. FOX 23 reports: Rogers is slowly starting to heal. "There were some ladies who invited their boyfriends (to a going... Return to Top
Fourth Minnesota City To Oppose Gay Marriage Ban | View Clip 02/29/2012 On Top Magazine The City of St. Louis Park is expected to approve a resolution opposing Minnesota's proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage Return to Top
Grandparents of Gay Man Speak Out in Powerful Video for Marriage Equality: WATCH | View Clip 02/29/2012 Towleroad Jacob Reitan, an activist and friend of Towleroad who helped found the Soulforce Equality Ride back in 2006, has put together a touching video with his gay cousin and his grandparents in response to efforts seeking a voter referendum on... Return to Top
Senator Shaheen Pushes Democrats to Adopt Marriage Equality Plank | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire is the first U.S. senator to join the Democrats: Say I Do campaign, which urges the party to include language for the freedom to marry in the platform to be ratified at its convention this September. Return to Top
Baltimore FOX Affiliate Helps Gather Names for Maryland Voter Referendum on Marriage Equality | View Clip 02/28/2012 Towleroad Baltimore's WBFF FOX45 is helping anti-gay activists gather signatures for a voter referendum on marriage equality. See link (lower right) in front page banner image I've screencapped above. Writes Kevin Naff at the Blade: So much for "fair and balanced."... Return to Top
Outspoken "Ex-Gay" Campaigns for Minn. Marriage Amendment | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The An "ex-gay" activist who claims gay people seek to "recruit" young people has joined with a Minnesota state legislator to campaign for an anti–marriage equality amendment to the state's constitution. Return to Top
Gay Couple in Marine Homecoming Photo Speaks Out: VIDEO | View Clip 02/28/2012 Towleroad Brandon Morgan and Dalan Wells, the couple in the Marine homecoming photo that went viral over the weekend speak to Honolulu news station KHON. Says Brandon: "This is a homecoming picture. Gay, straight, it doesn't matter who you are. Love... Return to Top
Rachel Maddow Talks to Frank Rich About the Silent Hypocrisy of Pro-Gay Republican Power Players: VIDEO | View Clip 02/28/2012 Towleroad Frank Rich sat down with Rachel Maddow last night to discuss why pro-gay Republican power players like Paul Singer and Dick Cheney (rumored to have lobbied behind the scenes for marraige equality in Maryland) - and gay Republicans like Ken... Return to Top
Gay Rhode Island Congressman Faces Tough Re-election Battle | View Clip 02/28/2012 Advocate, The A new poll indicates that Congressman David Cicilline, the openly gay former mayor of Providence, trails his Republican opponent by double digits, with a 65% disapproval rating among voters in his Rhode Island district. Return to Top
Poll: Record Support for Marriage in California | View Clip 02/29/2012 Advocate, The A new Field Poll finds 59% of Golden State voters favor of marriage rights for same-sex couples, with 34% opposed. Return to Top
Poll: Majority of Iowans Oppose a Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: VIDEO | View Clip 02/28/2012 Towleroad A new poll is bad news for those pushing for an amendment banning same-sex marriage there, the Des Moines Register reports: The poll found that 38 percent favor a legislative initiative to pass a constitutional amendment, while 56 percent are... Return to Top
Baptists Rally Against North Carolina Gay Marriage Ban | View Clip 02/28/2012 On Top Magazine About 100 people gathered at a Baptist church on Saturday to opposed a proposed gay marriage ban in North Carolina Return to Top
Penn adds transgender employee insurance | View Clip 02/29/2012 Daily Pennsylvanian, The A year after deciding not to extend insurance coverage to transgender employees seeking gender reassignment surgery, Penn has reversed its decision. The University announced on Feb. 28 in the Penn Almanac that coverage for transgender benefits will be extended to include sexual reassignment surgery under the Aetna Point of Service II plan. Members of Penn's LGBT community — who have lobbied for the addition of transgender insurance over the past few years — greeted the news with enthusiasm. "I am very pleased," LGBT Center Director Bob Schoenberg said. "The University has done a good thing and the right thing, and I'm very glad about it." The change in policy will be effective July 1. Although transgender students have had access to insurance coverage for reassignment surgery since fall 2010, yesterday's announcement marks the first time that coverage has been extended to faculty and staff. According to Schoenberg, this change comes as the result of a long process of lobbying and advocacy work. "There were a lot of people who worked on this issue and advocated for the change," he said. "It was not just members of the LGBT Center staff or just members of the LGBT community. There were many people who felt this was the right thing to do." About a year ago, Penn declined to provide insurance for employees seeking gender reassignment surgery, citing financial constraints and cost containment as factors leading to the decision. "Penn has studied this topic for several years, and based upon research that was done, we came to the conclusion that it is an issue of medical necessity," Susan Sproat, executive director of benefits for Human Resources, wrote in an email. "We are happy to now include this as an eligible covered service." Sproat added that, while recent data suggests the average cost of each surgery will be approximately $16,000, "we have no clear estimate of utilization" for overall cost. With Tuesday's announcement, Penn joins a short list of schools that offer this type of insurance to transgender employees. According to the Human Rights Campaign, American University, the University of Michigan, the 10 University of California schools and Harvard University are among the institutions that offer some form transgender coverage for faculty and staff — though the exact details of the schools' programs vary substantially. While College junior Jake Tolan, vice chair of political affairs for the Lambda Alliance — the umbrella organization for LGBT student groups — said the exact number of transgender employees who might opt for coverage under Penn's new plan is unclear, he hopes many will at least be aware that the plan is available. "We have the coverage, but it's still a matter of educating people how to take advantage of it, pointing out where the pitfalls in the system may be," he said. Though Tolan said Tuesday's development was "wonderful," he acknowledged that he was slightly disappointed with the level of publicity the University gave to the announcement. Penn devoted two sentences on the sixth page of the Almanac to news of the coverage availability. "If I had my way, I would have liked the University to have made a more explicitly political statement about it," Tolan said. Sproat wrote that Penn followed "standard communications protocol" with the placement and weight given to the announcement in the Almanac. Regardless, many are encouraged by the fact that the expansion of insurance benefits will help to maintain Penn's reputation as a trendsetter among LGBT-friendly college campuses. "Penn is absolutely a leader of the pack on LGBT issues, but unless we continue to make progress on these fronts, we're going to risk losing talented staff to other universities," College sophomore and Lambda Alliance Chair Hugh Hamilton said. "I'm very proud that the University has made this decision." Return to Top

 

LGBT News Clips Monday (February 27, 2012)

Monday (February 27, 2012) News
Headline		Date	Outlet	Links
.HRC In the News (3)
	HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius pitches Obama re-elect at N.C. gay-rights fundraiser	02/27/2012	Charlotte Observer	Text	View Clip
	HRC Gets Warm Welcome In The QC, Some Say It's About Time	02/27/2012	Fox Charlotte	Text	View Clip
	Boehner panel appeals ruling against DOMA	02/27/2012	Washington Blade	Text	View Clip
Education/Youth (1)
	Old Dominion University To Offer Separate Housing For Gay Students	02/26/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
Entertainment/TV/Movies (2)
	What Glee Tells us About Our New LGBT Allies	02/25/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Ellen DeGeneres' JCPenney Commercials To Debut During Oscars	02/25/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
Hate Crimes/Criminal (1)
	Tyler Clementi's Roommate Ravi Dahrun Wasn't Homophobic, Claim Witnesses	02/25/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Marriage (1)
	9 Ohio Mayors Support Effort To Legalize Gay Marriage In The State	02/26/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
National Politics (2)
	Documents: Babeu ran private boarding school with history of physical abuse	02/27/2012		Text	View Clip
	Joseph Backholm Likens Gay Marriage To Bloodletting	02/25/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
Politicians/Leaders (2)
	Gay Republican Says Mormons Threw Him Under Bus	02/25/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	John Boehner Appeals Ruling In Karen Golinski DOMA Case	02/25/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
State/Local Politics (1)
	Forced Vaginal Probing A Source Of Levity Among Virginia Legislators: VIDEO	02/25/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Transgender issues (1)
	Gender Non-Conforming Kids More Likely to be Abused	02/25/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Other (5)
	Rick Santorum Says Separation of Church and State Makes Him Want to Vomit: VIDEO	02/27/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
	Idaho Activists Not Backing Down	02/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Famous Radio Host Comes Out	02/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	A Marine Comes Home	02/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
	Utah Moves Closer To Abstinence-Only Education: VIDEO	02/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius pitches Obama re-elect at N.C. gay-rights fundraiser | View Clip 02/27/2012 Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C. - At a Charlotte, N.C., gathering that often sounded like an Obama campaign rally, top Cabinet member Kathleen Sebelius told nearly 1,400 people at a gay-rights fundraiser Saturday night that it is "hugely important" to not only re-elect her boss in November but also to defeat the proposed North Carolina constitutional amendment further limiting marriage to a man and a woman. Democrat Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said a host of Obama-initiated advances for the gay community - including repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the military - could be "wiped out in a heartbeat" if the Republican presidential nominee wins this year. She suggested in her 14-minute speech at the Charlotte Convention Center that gays, lesbians and other Obama backers in this key swing state use the May 8 vote on the amendment as a sort of practice run for the effort needed in November to keep North Carolina's 15 electoral votes in President Barack Obama's column. "I know there's an important election in early May in North Carolina," Sebelius told the North Carolina gala of the Human Rights Campaign, the country's largest gay and lesbian civil rights group. "And I think it's a great template for what needs to be done to organize people and turn out people for November. North Carolina is hugely important in this next (presidential) election." Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx personally welcomed those at the gala - a sign that things have changed since 2005, when then-Mayor Pat McCrory, a Republican, refused to issue a welcoming letter for the gala in Charlotte that year. During his remarks Saturday, Foxx also spoke out against the proposed constitutional amendment reaffirming North Carolina's ban - already in state law - of same-sex marriage. Saying he'd heard from gay and lesbian city workers and police officers who could not take bereavement time or care for their partners, Foxx told the crowd that "when I go into the ballot box in May ... I'm going to be voting against Amendment 1." He said he was concerned that passage of the amendment would scare away from Charlotte - site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention - those businesses that want to attract talented gay and lesbian employees. "They ... don't want a 'Not Wanted' sign hung over their front (door)," Foxx said. Representatives from three of the night's corporate sponsors - Wells Fargo, Time Warner Cable and Bank of America - boasted to the crowd that gays and lesbians feel welcome working for their companies. Top Wells Fargo official Laura Schulte even announced that her company had just lit up the city's new Duke Energy tower in the rainbow colors of the gay and lesbian community. At the request of the Human Rights Campaign, the convention center reserved at least two bathrooms in the lobby outside the gala for "gender-neutral restrooms." In her remarks, Sebelius cataloged the advances the Obama administration has made on issues important to homosexuals. Under the health care reform law administered by her department, for example, it will be illegal for insurers to discriminate against anyone because of sexual orientation or gender identity. People overseas who have HIV/AIDS are no longer barred from traveling to America, she said, and the Obama administration has waged a campaign against bullying in schools. No longer, Sebelius said, should people be denied the right to pursue their dreams "because of who they love." Also at the gala, CNN anchor Don Lemon was given the group's Visibility Award, which honors gays and lesbians who "are living open and honest lives." Return to Top
HRC Gets Warm Welcome In The QC, Some Say It's About Time | View Clip 02/27/2012 Fox Charlotte Charlotte, NC - Tie straightened and tuxedo pressed, Ken Whittenauer is ready for the Human Right's Campaign Gala. Whittenauer says, "There are a lot of people who understand that the LGTB community is just trying to be treated equally." For the last 10 years the annual HRC event has been part of his routine. It's a fundraiser for the national group which promotes gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender rights. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts is in attendance. She says, "It's a human right's issue." The gala hasn't always had a warm welcome from some of the city's elected officials. But times have changed. This year's opening speaker is Mayor Anthony Foxx. Mayor Foxx says, "The reality is that our community is much more diverse in many respects than we often give it credit for." It is the first time a sitting mayor has welcomed the HRC to Queen City. Charlotte's first openly gay council person says it goes beyond the mayor office. Councilwoman LuWana Mayfield says, "Look at the opportunities that we've had with business. Look the fact that we are still considered a banking capital. Our major banks offer domestic benefits packages, our county offers domestic partner benefits." Mayfield and her partner Gelisa Stitt say it's proof the city welcomes all. Many say that's something that make the Queen City more attractive looking ahead to the DNC. 2012 HRC Carolina Co-Chair Dan Mauney says, "I think all eyes are on Charlotte and I think that social issues are our issues." But for Ken Whittenauer and his partner Russ Leciejewski it's not about politics, it's about feeling at ease in the community they love. Whittenauer says, "It feels like we are very much a part of the main stream in Charlotte." More than 1400 attended the gala. Its success comes months before North Carolina votes on its controversial Amendment One. It would define marriage between only one woman and only one man. Return to Top
Boehner panel appeals ruling against DOMA | View Clip 02/27/2012 Washington Blade A panel led by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) filed a notice on Friday to appeal a district judge's ruling against the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act to a higher court. The three-page notice states that the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the U.S. House "respectfully appeals" the ruling earlier this week against the anti-gay law to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The notice doesn't offer a reason for the grounds for appeal. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jeffery White — appointed to the bench by former President George W. Bush — ruled against DOMA in the case of Golinski v. United States, saying the statute "unconstitutionally discriminates against married same-sex couples." The decision announced on Friday appeals this decision to the Ninth Circuit. Fred Sainz, vice president of communications at the Human Rights Campaign, called the appeal "unfortunate but to be expected" from Boehner and Republican leadership. "The Republican House leadership clearly believes that continuing to deny committed gay and lesbian married couples the rights they so richly deserve is a part of their mission as elected officials," Sainz said. "The fact that our hard earned tax dollars is paying for this folly is both insulting and demeaning to all LGBT people." The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group is made up of Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). The notice of the appeals states that Pelosi and Hoyer "decline to support the filing of this notice of appeal." Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesperson, slammed House Republican leadership for its continued defense of DOMA in court. "The District Court in Northern District of California flatly rejected the arguments of Speaker Boehner and his taxpayer-funded lawyers that insulted millions of Americans and their families," Hammill said. "The court made it clear that there is no legitimate interest in denying a class of couples the rights and responsibilities guaranteed to married couples under state law." Hammill also took issue with the amount of money that Boehner devoted to defending the anti-gay law. Last year, the speaker bumped up the cost cap of defending DOMA to $1.5 million. "Over the past year, the initial $500,000 in outside legal fees Speaker Boehner plans to spend has tripled to $1.5 million without any vote of the BLAG," Hammill said. "That is a tremendous amount of taxpayer money expended, on a purely partisan basis, to defend discrimination. With progress on marriage equality coming from all corners of our country, Speaker Boehner would have been better served and saved taxpayers' money if he had more carefully reviewed the district court's ruling and had declined to file a notice of appeal." The House took up defense of DOMA after the Obama administration announced last year that it would no longer defend the anti-gay law in court. A spokesperson for Boehner deferred comment to counsel on why the appeal was necessary, but lawyers working on behalf of the panel didn't immediately respond to a request to comment. A White House spokesperson deferred comment to the Justice Department, which didn't respond on short notice to comment on House leadership's decision to appeal the decision. Lambda Legal, along with Morrison & Foerster LLP, filed the case in 2008 on behalf of Karen Golinski, who was denied spousal health benefits by her employer, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Golinski has been partners with Amy Cunninghis for more than 20 years, and the two were legally married in 2008 under California law before Proposition 8 took away marriage rights for gay couples in the state. Tara Borelli, a Lambda staff attorney, expressed confidence that the lower court ruling would stand up on appeal to the Ninth Circuit. "We are confident Judge White's thorough and well-reasoned decision will stand the test of time," Borelli said. "We do not know what the grounds of this appeal may be, but one thing we do know: DOMA is doomed, and efforts to extend this discriminatory law, while not unexpected, serve only to harm loving couples and families." Return to Top
Old Dominion University To Offer Separate Housing For Gay Students | View Clip 02/26/2012 On Top Magazine Old Dominion University will offer separate housing for students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender Return to Top
What Glee Tells us About Our New LGBT Allies | View Clip 02/25/2012 Advocate, The Glee shows us how our LGBT allies are changing. Return to Top
Ellen DeGeneres' JCPenney Commercials To Debut During Oscars | View Clip 02/25/2012 On Top Magazine JCPenney will debut five commercials starring Ellen DeGeneres as the company's new spokesperson during Sunday's Oscars telecast Return to Top
Tyler Clementi's Roommate Ravi Dahrun Wasn't Homophobic, Claim Witnesses | View Clip 02/25/2012 Towleroad Opening remarks were made yesterday in the criminal trial of Dahrun Ravi, the Rutgers freshman whose webcamming of roommate Tyler Clementi's gay hookup may have led to Clementi's suicide. One of the Rutgers sudents who watched the illicit webcast, Cassandra... Return to Top
9 Ohio Mayors Support Effort To Legalize Gay Marriage In The State | View Clip 02/26/2012 On Top Magazine Nine Ohio mayors have endorsed an effort to legalize gay marriage in Ohio Return to Top
Documents: Babeu ran private boarding school with history of physical abuse | View Clip 02/27/2012 The DeSisto School sits abandoned in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It was a private boarding school for troubled teens with a long and troubled history of its own. Pinal County Sheriff and U.S. Congressional candidate Paul Babeu was the school's Headmaster and Executive Director from 1999 to 2001. While Babeu ran the school, the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services launched an investigation into repeated allegations of abuse. The ABC15 Investigators traveled across Massachusetts and tracked down reports that have never been released. The documents show that during Babeu's tenure the school was not licensed. Other allegations include detailed instances of physical and sexual abuse. Holli Nielsen was a student of DeSisto while Babeu was Headmaster. "It's not unreasonable to say we were cult-like," said Nielsen. SEVERE PUNISHMENTS Click here to read more about DeSisto's controversial disciplinary methods When the rules at the school were broken, student faced serious consequences. Nielsen told us about strict punishments and how each punishment had a special name. "Take a verb, add an -ed to the end and that's a DeSisto term," said Nielsen. One of the punishments was being "sheeted". Nielsen told us about her experience of being forced to strip down and wear nothing but a sheet in front of her peers. "That's how I spent my 16th birthday," said Nielsen. "It was just miserable." The state documents obtained by ABC15 also reveal students "strip searched" each other and "routinely took group showers"... "leading to sexual abuse." Being "cornered" was considered by many students to be the worst punishment. That meant sitting, facing the wall for hours, days and sometimes weeks. "You have to sit like this with your feed flat on the ground. You can't cross your legs," said Nielsen. "From 7 in the morning to 9:30." In one case, records show a student with bi-polar disorder, ADHD and impulse control disorder was "cornered" for "weeks on end." The student's medication was not monitored properly. He began to "urinate and defecate" on himself. He was also taken to the hospital for pneumonia. Days later, that same student was returned to DeSisto and sent back to the corner. We asked Nielsen if Babeu was aware of students being "sheeted' and "cornered". Nielsen replied, "He was there for that. Yes. He was certainly aware of that. There were a lot of things that happened there that probably shouldn't have." ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE Andrea Watson founded Parents for Residential Reform in Boston after her daughter was raped at a different boarding school. The group advocated for safer boarding schools. Watson helped work on the DeSisto case. "They did not feel like they had to adhere to any standards or rules," said Watson. "Those people were so good at covering things up. It's still beyond my belief." QUESTIONABLE RELATIONSHIP Several students we spoke with say they also knew a secret about Babeu. It was a secret that Babeau's older sister said she discovered one day after visiting his home. Lucy Babeu told the ABC15 Investigators she confronted her brother after finding a student from DeSisto school living with Babeu. "I said what is this student from Desisto doing here? He says, 'Lucy, he's my boyfriend. I love him'." Lucy Babeu told us her brother was having a relationship with the male student. "I said Paul get a hold of yourself here," said Lucy. "You were his teacher! You were his Executive Director! You can't do this." ABC15 is not identifying the former student. He has not responded to our interview requests. At the time, he was 17 which is the legal age of consent in Massachusetts. "He was of age. He would be what we considered a high school senior," said Nielsen. Holli says she knew the student personally. "It was widely known but not discussed. People we're aware of it," said Nielsen. "It was kind of swept under the rug." Babeu left the school in 2001. Three years later, the state investigation forced DeSisto to shut down. Babeu declined our requests for an on-camera interview, but did just send us this statement: "DeSisto Private School's mission was to save troubled, yet talented youth in a therapeutic environment. The Sheriff served three years and was recognized for helping restore financial stability of the school. He was never the target of any investigation or lawsuit. Sheriff Babeu is a recognized leader for Victim's Rights." Return to Top
Joseph Backholm Likens Gay Marriage To Bloodletting | View Clip 02/25/2012 On Top Magazine Joseph Backholm, the executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, has likened gay marriage to bloodletting Return to Top
Gay Republican Says Mormons Threw Him Under Bus | View Clip 02/25/2012 Advocate, The Presidential hopeful Fred Karger says Mormon leaders nixed his website. Return to Top
John Boehner Appeals Ruling In Karen Golinski DOMA Case | View Clip 02/25/2012 On Top Magazine House lawyers under the direction of John Boehner have announced they will appeal this week's ruling declaring DOMA unconstitutional Return to Top
Forced Vaginal Probing A Source Of Levity Among Virginia Legislators: VIDEO | View Clip 02/25/2012 Towleroad Not two weeks ago, male Republicans in the Virginia legislature were advocating mandatory "trans-vaginal" ultrasounds for women seeking abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy. If they'd had their way, women seeking abortions would have had camera-equipped metal thingamajigs forcibly... Return to Top
Gender Non-Conforming Kids More Likely to be Abused | View Clip 02/25/2012 Advocate, The Harvard finds kids who defy gender norms more likely to be sexually abused. Return to Top
Rick Santorum Says Separation of Church and State Makes Him Want to Vomit: VIDEO | View Clip 02/27/2012 Towleroad In addition to remarks over the weekend that Higher Education is dangerous because President Obama is trying to indoctrinate kids by suggesting they attend college and remaking them in his own image, Rick Santorum explained to George Stephanopoulos why JFK's... Return to Top
Idaho Activists Not Backing Down | View Clip 02/26/2012 Advocate, The LGBT activists in Idaho aren't giving up on their rights. Return to Top
Famous Radio Host Comes Out | View Clip 02/26/2012 Advocate, The Ron & Fez Show co-host comes out on air on anniversary of father's death. Return to Top
A Marine Comes Home | View Clip 02/26/2012 Towleroad Above: A pic of the homecoming of Brandon Morgan, of the United States Marines Corps, posted to the Gay Marines Facebook page yesterday. It's now got 1,000 comments and 800 shares. Thanks to Joe.My.God for forwarding it along. He's also... Return to Top
Utah Moves Closer To Abstinence-Only Education: VIDEO | View Clip 02/26/2012 Towleroad Abstinence-only "sex education" is nearer to becoming a mandate in Utah after the State House quietly passed HB363 by a terrifying 45-28 margin last week. The bills' defenders have been saying weird things. From The Salt Lake Tribune: "We've been... Return to Top