WASHINGTON DC, October 7, 2008 — More than a dozen GLBT grassroots organizers met Monday evening to discuss the reformation of GLOV (Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence) in the wake of an alarming spate of attacks against members of the DC GLBT community in recent months, including the beating death of Tony R. Hunter.

Hate crimes based on sexual orientation outnumber all other hate crimes combined in the District of Columbia. According to the Metropolitan Police Department's statistics of reported hate-bias crimes, more than 60 percent of these crimes during the last four years have been categorized as "sexual orientation" related. That's compared to a national average of 15.5 percent of all reported hate crimes being anti-GLBT.

During the last week alone, two more hate-bias crimes in Washington have been brought to the attention of GLOV. One involved an attack by an off-duty security guard near the intersection of 15th and P Streets NW. Although the perpetrator was initially arrested after throwing a brick at the couple, yelling anti-gay epithets and following them home, the U.S. Attorney's Office has stopped pursuing any criminal charges. The second was a vicious attack on a gay man along the C&O Canal in Georgetown, which has resulted in the arrest of two individuals.

"I believe violence is disproportionately impacting our community," said GLOV cofounder Chris Farris. "But it's also important to recognize that violent crimes are victimizing the GLBT community, regardless of whether they are officially designated as hate crimes."

GLOV is being recreated based on similar efforts in the 1990s and will continue with their holistic approach to end violence by functioning as a watchdog group, raising awareness of the increase in bias crimes against the GLBT community, addressing legal and tracking issues related to those crimes and championing long-term strategies to reduce hate crimes across the city.

Farris facilitated GLOV's third meeting and was joined by cofounders David Mariner, director of the DC Center, Pete Perry a local activist, Mark Hayes, a Washington attorney, and Todd Metrokin who's July attack prompted the group's inception. Several other concerned GLBT citizens joined the meeting, including community organizers, a minister, and two friends of Tony R. Hunter who helped organize a vigil in his honor.

The next GLOV meeting will be on October 20th. For information on how to get involved, please visit www.glovdc.org.

Hundreds of pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Christians will tackle issues of race, class, ability, age, gender identity and sexual orientation at the Many Stories, One Voice conference to take place in New Orleans, La., Sept. 4-7. Two pre-conference institutes will discuss, analyze and strategize on how to organize around these issues.

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, participants will converge at For Such a Time as This, a gathering of transgender people and allies to discuss the dynamics of ministry with the transgender community, the challenges and advantages of becoming more visible in their faith communities and how to build relationships of support and accountability between transgender people and their allies. This pre-conference institute is convened by TransFaith Online in an effort to highlight transgender people and their concerns, as they become more visible in both secular and religious communities.

Is it just me or does John McCain's pick for Vice President bear an eerie resemblance to John McCain's first wife back in the early days? 

John McCain's first wife was a beautiful brunnete, and a model, when they first married.  As many of you know, Carol McCain suffered a terrible accident on Christmas Eve on 1969 when her car skidded on ice and hit a telephone pole.

John McCain was at the time a prisoner of war, and prisoner of war advocate Ross Perot paid for Carol McCain's extensive care.  Unfortunately, the injuries were extensive, and Carol faced extensive rehabilitation.  When John McCain returned from Vietnam, she was not physically the same as when he left. 

As you may know, John McCain cheated on his injured wife on several occassions.  Carol and John eventually divorced due to this infidelity, and McCain, high on his new-found fame as a returned POW, married a younger, prettier, and wealthier woman; his current wife Cyndi McCain.

Barack Obama Campaign has released the following statement from Barack Obama on the passing of Civil Rights Activist Del Martin:

"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear that Del Martin had passed. Del committed her life to fighting discrimination and promoting equality. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her spouse Phyllis Lyon, and all those who were touched by her life."

Mitchell Gold has made a name for himself as part of the powerful team Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. In 1989, Gold and Williams created their namesake furniture company in Taylorsville, North Carolina. Just nine years later, Inc. magazine positioned the company at number 57 on its list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies. In April 2005, Inc. named Gold one of its "26 Entrepreneurs We Love."

A long time supporter of  our community, Mitchell Gold is increasingly becoming known not just for amazing furniture, but also for his work as an advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality.  Gold founded the non-profit advocay organization Faith in America; and has edited a new book, Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing up Gay in America, which will surely become a must-read for all LGBT advocates, and has the potential to impact the future of our movement.

For their September show, In the Life visits the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival on its 10th anniversary, with a look at its kick-off feature, "Ask Not," about the impact of the U.S. military's ban on gays in the armed forces.

The clips from the movie are wonderfully compelling, and the interview with Director/Producer Johnny Symons brings new insight to the film.

Also on In the Life this month: Margaret Cho, The Cliks, It's Elementary anniversary, and a a look at the film Nina's Heavenly Delights. more after the jump.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Community will be well-represented at the Democratic National Convention and many GLBT Leaders and Organizations will play a role in convention events.

There will be a ground-breaking number of GLBT delegates at this year's convention.  The Stonewall Democrats estimate that When final number counts are released in Denver, more than 350 GLBT participants will attend the convention. This represents approximately 6% of total convention attendees and is 27% increase from the 282 LGBT participants who attended the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004.

Transgender Women of Color are rarely seen on reality television, as are LGBT People of Color.  But two African-American transgender women are changing that and making history and breaking barriers on reality television this season. 

When America's Next Top Model starts in September, Isis will be competing along with the other women.  Isis is the first ever transgender contestant on the popular reality show.  And even though the show has yet to begin, Fox News has already started with the inappropriate and ill-informed commentary. 

The National Black Justice Coalition has announced that Connecticut State Representative Jason Bartlett (D-2) will serve as their new Deputy Director.

Alexander Robinson, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, stated "I am thrilled to have an accomplished executive and legislator join our team. Jason is the realization of NBJC's vision of a society where we all live and serve openly as Americans."

Don't let the boyish good looks and boundless energy fool you; Michael Feinstein is rapidly approaching two silver milestones. Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the four time Grammy nominee's professional debut; and Feinstein's forthcoming album, The Sinatra Project, due September 2 from Concord Records, will be his 24th release (and eighth since joining the label in 1998).

Arguably the world's foremost, and certainly the most passionate and indefatigable, anthropologist and archivist of the Great American Songbook, Feinstein has dedicated his career to preserving, protecting and promoting the work of the great tunesmiths, ranging from household names like Gershwin, Porter and Berlin to such lesser-known craftsmen as Hugh Martin and Burton Lane. It's no wonder that the Library of Congress invited him to serve on its elite National Sound Recording Advisory Board.

(video preview after the jump)