365Gay: Guilty plea in gay porn producer murder

FROM 365GAY.COM:

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — One of two men accused of killing a gay porn producer, who he thought was a competitor, has been sentenced to life behind bars.

Under a deal with prosecutors, Joseph Kerekes pleaded guilty Monday to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. It is expected he will testify against his onetime lover Harlow Cuadra, who is still facing a first degree murder charge in the 2006 slaying of Bryan Kocis, the owner of Cobra Video.

Both Kerkes and Cuadra originally were charged with first degree murder and prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty. Second-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison.

At a preliminary hearing last year, two medical examiners testified that Kocis died of massive blood loss after his head was nearly sliced off.

Luzerne County Coroner Dr. John Consalvo testified that Kocis suffered between 28 and 29 post mortem stab wounds before his home was torched in an attempt to cover up the killing last January.

When Kocis’ body was discovered by firefighters, more than 80 percent of the body was covered by third-degree burns.

Homicide detectives were able to find Kocis’ computer in the charred remains of the rural home and forensics scientists salvaged and reconstructed part of the hard drive.

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Dallas Voice: Tragedy of the closet; cop’s secret gay love affair and tragic death

FROM THE DALLAS VOICE:

As murder retrial gets under way, story of a clandestine gay love affair and a young man’s tragic death should serve as a cautionary tale

By Hardy Haberman

For some people, being “in the closet” is a personal hell. But it often affects others, too.

Take the case of Steven Rios, a married police officer from Columbia, Mo.

According to prosecutors, Officer Rios, when faced with the possibility of having his gay relationship revealed to his wife and family, decided to reach into his closet and pull out a knife — a knife he used to slash the throat of Jesse Valencia, a 23-year-old student attending college at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Officer Rios began the relationship with Valencia in 2004 when he arrested the student for interfering with a police call about a loud party. Rios told the court that their sexual relationship began that very night.

Rios was convicted of the murder three years ago, but an appeals court ordered a retrial, saying the trial court allowed inadmissible hearsay testimony the first time around.

The new trial began Monday, Dec. 1, and Rios faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole if he is convicted. Court officials said they expect the trial to end by Friday, Dec. 5.

The story is a graphic example of how the closet can kill. It should be a wake-up call for every LGBT person that is trying to hide their sexual orientation.

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365Gay: Gay Pride parades spread AIDS, says Moscow Mayor

FROM 365GAY.COM:

By 365gay Newscenter Staff
12.04.2008 2:34pm ESTMoscow — LGBT rights advocates and AIDS workers are voicing shock at comments by Moscow’s mayor linking gay visibility to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Speaking at an international AIDS conference in the Russian capital Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said he will continue to ban gay pride parades in the city to prevent spreading HIV/AIDS.

“We have banned and will continue to forbid this propaganda by sexual minorities, as they could turn out to be one of the factors in the spread of HIV infections,” Luzhkov told the conference.

“Certain homegrown democrats believe that sexual minorities can be a primary indicator and symbol of democracy, but we will forbid the dissemination of these opinions in the future as well.”

Luzhkov also stunned conference attendees by saying condoms were not reliable in protecting against HIV.

“Certain manufacturers state that condoms are reliable protection against AIDS, but modern science has proven this is untrue.”

Luzhkov’s remarks came only days after the federal government’s own AIDS Czar said HIV/AIDS is growing by 10 percent a year and that about 1 million people are infected.

The 72-year old mayor’s assertions are the latest in a long running battle with gays in Moscow over his refusal to grant permits for pride celebrations.

Despite Luzhkov’s refusal to grant a parade permit earlier this year the third Moscow Pride took place on Sunday June 1. Gay activists picketed the monument to the Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky and then hung a huge banner from an apartment in front of Moscow City Hall.

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GLAAD: Poll Shows Religion and Economic Status Influential Factors in Prop 8 Support

Via Press Room at GLAAD:

December 04, 2008

A new poll indicates that the religious beliefs and economic status of voters played a greater role than age and race in determining support for Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that took away marriage for same-sex couples in California. According to the poll, conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, people who identified as practicing Christians were very likely to support Prop 8, as were voters who did not attend college and voters who earned less than $40,000 a year. The poll also determined that age and race, among others, were less important factors.

Related Media Coverage:
The Associated Press- December 4, 2008
“Poll: Calif. gay marriage ban driven by religion”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g3Yrv2lixhDpA_1XiY2rZUm9Ol4wD94RPF600

Media Contact:
Adam Bass, Media Field Strategist – West
Phone: (323) 634-2018
Email: bass@glaad.org

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