Kevin Clash takes leave of absence after being accused of having a relationship with 16-year-old boy
Not everyone was surprised to find out that the man behind the voice of Elmo is gay, but when news broke that Kevin Clash may have had an affair with a 16-year-old boy, things started looking grim on the usually chipper Sesame Street.
Clash, who hails from Baltimore, has been playing the voice of Elmo for the past few years. But amid accusations that he had an affair with a 16-year-old about seven years ago (the accuser is now 23), Clash, 52, took a leave of absence from the long-running children’s show after admitting that he had a relationship with the young man after he became an adult, according to the Baltimore Sun.
TMZ broke the story after being contacted by the young man in June. And while no evidence has been produced to substantiate the affair (the two did exchange emails), both Sesame Street and PBS are investigating. “I had a relationship with [the accuser],” Clash confessed to TMZ. “It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not.”
That’s all fine and dandy, but if you’re working for one of the most well-known children’s television franchises in the world, maybe you should consider dating guys who are at least old enough to get into Woody’s.
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New study follows teens who are happy, healthy and academically succesful
These kids also had strong family bonds, and they were nearly unanimous in describing their mothers as “good role models.” They also make friends with plenty of straight peers – and most say they feel comfortable bringing friends home and being open about their mom’s sexual orientation.
“We have been following these families for 26 years,” says Dr. Nanette Gartrell at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law in California. “These kids were planned and their lesbian mothers were very engaged in parenting. At the end of high school, the teens tell us that they have excellent grades, feel connected to their families and friends, and admire their parents. As a psychiatrist, I can say that these are the types of childrearing outcomes that every parent hopes for.”
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Have a drink to benefit ActionAIDS
 For the third consecutive year, ActionAIDS is hosting Bar AIDS at area bars and coffeeshops to raise money for vital health services in Philadelphia. Inspired by “Dining Out for Life” in which participating restaurants share a percentage of profits to help fight the disease, Bar AIDS is raising dollars and sharing educational materials all day today.
In addition to having an adult beverage, tea or coffee for a great cause, participating venues will also be selling raffle tickets to win an all-expense paid vacation for two to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic courtesy of Apple Vacations and RIU Hotels and Resorts.
Volunteers from ActionAIDS, as well as the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, Mazzoni Center and Philadelphia FIGHT will also be available to collect donations, share vital information about prevention and to help sell raffles for the event – from breakfast to lunch and late night.
Some of our favorite bars and cafes are participating this year, including The Bike Stop, Knock, Nineteen, Square 1682 at the Hotel Palomar, Tabu, Tavern on Camac, U Bar, Woody’s and Voyeur. Click here for a full list of destinations.
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Lady Gaga teams with Office Depot
 Courtesy of Office Depot Because when you think of Office Depot, you think of a meat dress, right? Office Depot announced it will donate a cool million to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. It’s actually pretty great considering that the foundation encourages young people to be themselves and discourages bullying. Seeing as how all the little monsters are running to the Depot to get their school supplies this season, the chain wants to send a message about tolerance.
Gaga has also helped create limited-edition gear like Post-Its, friendship bracelets and Sharpies. And 25 percent of sales of these items will also go to the foundation.
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Equality Forum releases the list of notables for each day in October
Since 2006, Equality Forum has put the spotlight on 217 LGBT icons who have made important strides in the arts, science, politics and culture. As we get ready for LGBT History Month in October, the Philly-based organization has given us a preview of who’s being honored this year.
“The 217 Icons, including the 31 Icons for 2012, demonstrate the impressive and diverse international impact of the LGBT community,” says Malcolm Lazin, founder of LGBT History Month and executive director of Equality Forum.
Icons are selected for their accomplishments in their field of endeavor, their status as a national hero or their significant contributions to LGBT equality, he says. The icons are chosen based on nominations from organizations and individuals – this year’s co-chairs were Professor George Chauncey, chair of the History & American Studies Department and Yale University, and Sue Rankin, professor of education and LGBT Studies at Penn State University.
And the LGBT History Month 2012 Icons are:
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What are you doing on July 24th?
 More than 500 people from Philadelphia will be traveling by bus to Washington, D.C., this month. On July 24th, they’re making the almost 200 mile trip to march in the “We Can End AIDS” mobilization. There’s a reason so many Philadelphians are attending the event. Sadly, our HIV/AIDS rate is one-and-a-half times higher than New York City’s and is well above the national average.
“The march is dedicated to fight for AIDS treatments for all, sound public policies that curb the spread of HIV/AIDS,” says Sunny Bjerk, a spokesperson for the event, “such as federally funded-syringe exchange programs, confront HIV criminalization and anti-LGBT violence and discrimination.”
The event coincides with the International AIDS Conference that is taking place in D.C. (July 22 – July 29).
Interested in making the trip? Click here for details.
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Frank Kameny's an asteroid, study blasts gay parenting, Beyonce shows big love to Frank Ocean and much more
 Beyonce shows a little love for Frank Ocean (courtesy of Beyonce.com) Marriage equality is now a mainstream value, says new report. A new poll shows that the majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, including more than half of Latinos.
Rachel Maddow’s accuser is ordered to pay for all legal costs. But Bradlee Dean is fighting the ruling, saying the MSNBC host took his comments about gay people out of context on her show.
Parenting study blasts same-sex moms and dads. The controversial results are now being used by LGBT rights opponents in court.
Episcopal Church approves transgender ordination. The bishops also okay gay blessing prayer.
Log Cabin types join Freedom to Marry. The young conservatives join the initiative to legalize same-sex marriage.
An asteroid is named for Frank Kameny. The gay rights pioneer is remembered for his early activism well before the famous Stonewall Riots.
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Rutgers Camden is looking for a few good men for a new study
 Photo by Think Stock In May, President Obama came out in support of gay marriage. And while it’s a big step for the LGBT community, not everyone is quite so supportive (remember that recent legislation in North Carolina?). That’s why the Healthy Development Lab at Rutgers University in Camden has been studying diversity in adult relationships for nearly a decade now.
For the most recent study, the university is seeking gay male couples to better understand how men’s same-sex partners influence their health, especially their eating behaviors.
Very little research, says Rutgers, has examined men and their same-sex partners in relation to health, nutrition and well being. The study lasts two hours – and couples get paid $100.
“Participants in our research routinely say that the experience is fun, interesting and provides an opportunity to learn more about their partners,” says Hanna Garrity, a spokesperson for the study.
If you or a gay male couple you know are interested, click here to apply for the study. Or email the lab directly: RUHealthyLab@gmail.com
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One woman wants to change the way women think about romance
 T.J. Davis, founder of The Lesbian Dating Project (illustration by G Philly) Dating. It’s all about the dating. That’s why Philly’s T.J. Davis launched The Lesbian Dating Project on Tumblr as a way to rethink how lesbian relationships are portrayed in the mainstream media – and how women communicate with each other.
“This project is for both lesbians who are struggling with finding quality connections and relationships in the dating scene and also for lesbians who are in relationships and simply want to keep the spark alive with their current partners,” says Davis.
The site tackles everything from sex, money and fidelity, to honesty, loneliness and coming out. Davis encourages other lesbians to share their personal stories, too.
“I am also collecting surveys from lesbians across the country to get their thoughts about their current dating scene and what the benefits of The Lesbian Dating Project would possibly have on their dating life,” she says.
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The Philly Dyke March and friends are paying tribute to two teens who were targeted in Texas
 Photo by Think Stock This week, two teens – Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Christine Chapa, 18 - were shot in Portland, Texas. The crime has sent shock waves through the LGBT community around the country as family, friends and concerned citizens try to make sense of the crime.
Since being gunned down, Olgin has died and Chapa remains in the hospital, with little known about why the two young women were targeted, though investigators are saying the crime could be motivated by bias. Both were found in a grassy area by a couple the morning following the shooting.
On Friday (June 29) in Philly, organizers from the Philly Dyke March are planning a vigil to pay tribute to the young women and to bring attention to violence against the LGBT community.
“I was heartbroken when I first read about the girls in Texas,” says Kate Hinchey, who’s working with the Dyke March on last-minute details for Friday’s event. “It is still so unclear if the motive was their relationship, but I still believe we have to stand up against violence against women.”
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