Who says politicians are the ultimate thespians? Certainly not Michigan State Representative Jack Brandenburg: the politician has launched a war against Saginaw Valley State University over their production of Angels in America. The first battle came in radio form, when Brandenburg appeared on local WJR 760 AM and took on Tony Kushner's Pultizer and Tony award winning AIDS tear jerker.

Upon hearing of the play's production, the rambunctious Republican went to Pam Burns - the head honcho at the Subcommittee on Appropriations for Higher Education. Obviously an appreciator of fine culture - not to mention dire politics - Burns shooed Brandenburg away. Brandenburg may not love the theater, but he sure as hell loves a good fight.

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Detroit detectives may need to brush up on their crime solving skills. After the department dropped the Andrew Anthos murder mystery, Triangle Foundation and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force joined forces to crack the case.

For those of you not paying attention, the 72-year old homo died last February after suffering head injuries from an alleged anti-gay attack. Anthos and his niece both claim an unidentified man took Anthos down, but the coroner ruled it an accident.

Gay activists weren't satisfied and canvassed Anthos' neighborhood for leads. And, according to Triangle's director of victim services, Melissa Pope, their efforts have turned over more than a few leads:

In one evening, we have uncovered more than enough additional leads to redouble our efforts in this case. I’m surprised to hear the police department claim that they uncovered no witnesses with 40 hours of overtime spent on the case, when we were able to talk to several people in just one evening.

The Detroit Police made a mistake when they closed this case so quickly. We want to present the additional information we’ve discovered to Chief Bully-Cummings and ask her to re-open the case Andrew deserves justice, Andrew’s family deserves justice, and we are not going to rest until they have justice.

Growing up gay ain't easy. Especially when you're coming of age amidst juvenile homo-haters. While most faglings note verbal abuse, one Colorado teen got more than just fighting words last week.

Anthony Hergesheimer, 15, found himself on the receiving end of a six-person beat down. Rocky Mountain News reports:

The incident happened last Thursday afternoon, when Anthony Hergesheimer was walking home from Centennial High School along Denver Boulevard, the organization said. Six male students, ages 15 and 16, in a vehicle apparently passed by Hergesheimer several times before they stopped and hurled anti-gay insults at him.

One of the students also got out of the vehicle and threw a can of Lysol at Hergesheimer, who suffered a broken nose and severe facial injuries.

The school has suspended the six unidentified boys and officials are debating whether or not to expel them. Doesn't seem like much of a debate to us - what school wants a bunch of savages running around the halls?

It's for this precise reason that states need comprehensive anti-bully laws, such as Michigan's proposed bill

The Detroit Police Department may have ruled Andrew Anthos' death an accident, but some gay activists aren't convinced. The Triangle Foundation and The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have joined forces to find the 72-year old gay man's killer. Anthos died in February after allegedly falling on a snow covered sidewalk. Anthos and his niece both claimed a mystery man attacked the veteran rights activsts, but police say otherwise. Police spokesman James Tate insisted, "[Examiners] determined that he died of natural causes. There's no evidence that an assault occurred. Effectively, this case is closed." The Task Force and The Foundation are betting $25,000 it's not - that's the amount of money they're offering for Anthos' potential killer. The Foundation's Melissa Pope says:

The Detroit Police never really investigated this case. Since they haven’t, we will. We are committed to obtaining justice for Andrew and his family.
...
The coroner’s report wasn’t conclusive. The police claim that there were no witnesses, but they were able to come up with a suspect sketch based on a witnesses’ report. This just doesn’t add up.

Task Force leader Matt Foreman tied the controversial case to the always controversial issue of a federal hate crime bill:

Given Mr. Anthos’ deathbed statement and that of an eyewitness, the man who caused Mr. Anthos’ death is still at large. Since neither Mayor Kilpatrick nor Police Chief Bully-Cummings have given priority to this case, and the investigation has been dropped, we are increasing our reward to $25,000 to encourage other witnesses to come forward and bring the perpetrator to justice. The Detroit Police Department’s mishandling of this case is an insult to the memory of Mr. Anthos, to his family, and to our national community. This is a glaring example of why we need a federal law that addresses hate-motivated violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Michigan has won tremendous battle in the protracted war against anti-gay bullying. The Wolverine State's Democratic House of Representatives voted 59-50 to pass Matt's Safe School Law. Named after Matt Epling - a 14-year old who killed himself after enduring years of harassment - the bill specifically protects queer students from schoolyard jerks.

You may recall from a recent Happy Endings, conservatives had objected to the move, depleting pro-gay activist's momentum. A representative from the state's Triangle Foundation asked us to post something on it in hopes that it would make a difference. Apparently it did. Following the vote, that same representative sent us a note:

We've made it more than halfway - yesterday the Michigan House passed Matt's Safe Schools Law by a 59-50 vote! Now we're on to the Michigan Senate, which is still Republican-led thanks to gerrymandering. However, if we can get it through the Senate we're guaranteed the governor's signature.

I'll deeply appreciate anything you can do to help us keep a spotlight on this.

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We all may have been duped. Or, at least, mislead. Despite his family's ink-grabbing insistence, Detroit police and medical examiners claim that 72-year old Andrew Anthos was not attacked by an anti-gay mystery man.

They claim Anthos merely fell and hit his head: leading to injuries that took his life ten days later. Police Spokesman James Tate told reporters: "[Examiners] determined that he died of natural causes. There's no evidence that an assault occurred. Effectively, this case is closed." Anthos' niece, however, told police that the man had been hit by a man who asked him if he were gay. This account led to a legislative furor in which Senator Hansen Clarke and others rallied for more comprehensive hate crime laws. In the face of this evidence, Anthos' family still maintains malice. Anthos' cousin, Tony Hloros fumed:

I am absolutely disgusted (and) horrified. I swear to you my cousin was crying and he told me 'Tony, I can't believe it. He hit me in the side of the head and said are you gay?'

But, we suppose, considering Anthos' veteran activism, it's still nice to know he had a nation mourning his death. We just didn't know what kind of death it was...

Police: Man's death is not a hate crime [The Detroit News]

• Nobody likes a bully. They're brutish, nasty and their love lives are generally short. Yet they keep on bullying, particularly little gay boys and girls. Michigan's Triangle Foundation intends to stop them. The non-profit's been lobbying to pass Matt's Safe Schools Law. Named after Matt Epling -a 14-year old who killed himself after persistent bullying - the law will enact and enforce comprehensive anti-bullying regulations.

Through their tireless efforts, the Triangle Foundation successfully rallied a majority of lawmakers to support Matt's Law. Unfortunately, those nasties on the right managed to sway a few to the dark side. So, the Triangle Foundation wants all Michigan residents to contact their elected officials to put an end to this shit once and for all.

• We don't know how we missed this intriguing revolting piece of gossip, but Pete Doherty used to sell himself to "lonely pissed-up old queens". Guess you have to stay strung out somehow, huh?

• Our favorite sappho-journo Kerry Eleveld has penned on op-ed on the pros and cons of abandoning "marriage". She writes: "What if, instead of crashing the marriage party, the LGBT movement fashioned its own celebrations infused with the same legal protections given to spouses? We could probably redefine the currency of love for America faster than we could build popular support for gay marriage."

• Possibly one of the most disturbing stories we've heard in a long-time: 42-year old Kevin Whitrick hung himself on the internet. While some people urged him to stop, others encouraged him. One particularly nasty fuck said: "Fucking do it, get on with it, get it round your neck. For Fuck's sake he can't even do this properly". That's disgusting.

• OMG! A church has barred gay people from practicing their chosen religion? Insane!

• The murdered trannie from San Franny has a name: Ruby Rodriguez.

• Cord Jefferson may not appreciate Shemar Moore's hot bod, but we sure as hell do. But, yes, he's acting a little shameful for a TV Guide event. Although, when you think about it, isn't going to a TV Guide event the most shameful of 'em all?

• ACT-UP's celebrating 20 years of direct action with - what else - direct action. Tomorrow. Wall Street. Noon. Wear something gay.

Police have released this sketch of the late Andrew Anthos' alleged attacker. You may recall the veteran-rights activist died a few days after being assaulted with a metal pipe. Though there's no name to attach to the face, police are hoping people just like you can help them make an arrest. If you kids know this shady looking face, give them a ringer at (313) 596-2260. Just think - you could be a hero.

Speaking of heroes, Anthos' niece Athena Fedenis has pledged to finish what Anthos started and then some:

I promised two things, that I would get the dome lit and (pass) hate crimes (legislation). I don't think I'll be getting enough rest till this is all done.

Though certainly a sad story, there's a silver lining: Anthos' death has helped bring previously unacquainted member of his family together. We're sure Anthos would be pleased...

Talking about raining on a parade. We're sorry to inform you that Detroit-based Andrew Anthos died after being attacked early last week. Anthos and his niece were riding a bus when a man asked Anthos if he were gay. After getting off the bus, Anthos found himself at the receiving end of the man's pipe - and not in a good way. Unfortunately, the 72-year old Anthos' injuries were so extensive that doctors were unable to revive him and he died quietly Friday night.

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Sorry to start the day off on such an ugly note, but we have to tell you that a 72-year old Michigan man by the name of Andrew Anthos will be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair after a homo-hating thus beat him with a pipe.

Anthos and his niece were riding a Detroit bus when a man asked Anthos if he were gay. After Anthos got off the bus, the man followed him and proceeded to beat him with a pipe. While the man has yet to be arrested, Anthos has been paralyzed from the neck down. Detroit's WDIV reports:

Anthos is barely able to speak above a whisper and is paralyzed from the neck down. He is currently at Detroit Receiving Hospital, his family said.

Detroit police said they have not made any arrests in connection with this case. The Northeastern district of the Detroit Police Department is investigating.

Sure, Bill Donohue may be a total douche, but let's not rush to judge all religious types (lest we be judged, or whatever): a number of students at the Christian-minded Spring Arbor University have come out in support of ordained minister-turned-trannie, Professor John Julie Nemecek.

Nemecek got sacked after coming out as a woman, if you will. After working with the Michigan University for 16 loyal years, Nemecek started dabbling in cross-dressing, charting a course down the road to womanhood (period not included). The university didn't take too kindly to that and told Nemecek he would no longer be welcome to teach there, insisting his actions violated their "Christian" guidelines. Sticking it to the man, a number of students have protested the school's discriminatory actions. Not surprisingly, their chants and statements invoked the very Bible the school cherishes so dearly. One student said, "Jesus promotes love not discrimination", while another insisted, "Christ taught us to love people that are outcasts, if this school rehired her, that would be demonstrating Christ's love".

The school, unfortunately, doesn't seem to agree - they're sticking to their guns. Whether they'll be so strident at next month's hearings on the matter...well, that remains to be seen.

Two trannie-related news stories for you this morning, readers. The first comes to us from Vancouver, where the Canadian Supreme Court refused to hear female-to-male Kimberly Nixon's discrimination case against Rape Relief. Nixon filed the original suit over ten years ago, after the women's center refused to hire her after she revealed her transsexual status.

The two sides had climbed the judicial ladder, with one lower court judge granting Nixon the winner last year, but the non-profit stuck to its guns, insisting Nixon's past as a man made her unqualified to properly counsel rape victims.

Meanwhile, a professor at a Michigan-based Christian college named John Nemecek has been given the boot for his transgendered status, sparking a legal battle that will pit him against his religion.

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