::: The makers of Rockstar Energy drinks have reportedly threatened to file suit against an LGBT blog for printing a commentary calling for a boycott of Rockstar products because the company is owned by the son of virulently homophobic right-wing talk-radio host Michael Savage. Bilerico Project posted the call by guest blogger Michael Jones in April. Bilerico editor Bil Browning explains in a post today, “Rockstar's lawyers came calling and threatened legal action if we didn’t immediately remove the offending post for ‘factual inaccuracies.’” Browning points out that several other blogs removed similar posts to avoid threatened lawsuits by Rockstar, but says that his site will not remove the post. “We have offered Rockstar's lawyers a correction to the post, but we've refused to remove it,” Browning writes.

    ::: The former head of Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Jimmy Flannigan, says he was fired by the group’s board for reasons that he says were never explained to him. The chamber announced Tuesday that Flannigan has “resigned his position to pursue other interests”. The group’s newly-appointed president, Chad Peevy said in a press release, “Jimmy has worked incredibly long and hard hours to promote the Gay and Lesbian Chamber, gay and gay-friendly business, Austin Pride, and the Austin lesbian and gay community as a whole,” according to a story on the leadership change in Austin Business Journal. Peevy called the 2009 Pride celebrations that Flannigan had overseen “one of the best” in the city. But Peevy added, significantly, “But … there is room for improvement, and we’re committed to making those improvements”. Flannigan wasn’t willing to let things stand with that and fired off a press release of his own, stating that the board had fired him after he refused to sign a resignation letter. “It would be a shame if their actions have a negative impact on all that we’ve accomplished in the past two and a half years, and it’s my wish that the community find a way to move forward in a positive fashion,” he said in the press release.

   ::: In an editorial today, New York Times calls the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy “not only unfair to gay men and lesbians but damaging to the military as well”. Significantly, the paper’s editorial board calls on President Barack Obama to consider an executive action like a “stop-loss” order to fulfill his many campaign promises to end the ban. “President Obama should see if there is indeed any action he could take on his own while awaiting the military’s assessment. In the end, it will be up to Congress to root out ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ by overturning the law that brought it about,” the paper says.

Headlinks:

   »» Anchorage: Hundreds air their views at Assembly meeting [Anchorage Daily News]
   »» immigration: Gay couples forced to flee US over immigration law [Associated Press]
   »» discrimination: Va. women's prison segregated lesbians, others [Associated Press]
   »» showbiz: Gay Celebrities: The Big Cover-Up [E! Online]
   »» gay pride: Yishai urges Netanyahu to cancel Tel Aviv gay parade [Ha'aretz]
   »» politics: Detroit's 1st Openly Gay Candidate [WDIV TV]