Sources: Michael Sam to visit Dallas Cowboys

BY CHAREAN WILLIAMS

FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

The Dallas Cowboys will host Michael Sam at Valley Ranch on Wednesday, according to sources. The defensive end will take a physical, and the Cowboys expect to sign him to the practice squad if all goes well during his visit.

Sam became the first openly gay NFL player to be drafted when the St. Louis Rams selected him in the seventh round. He had three sacks and 11 tackles in the preseason, but the Rams cut Sam on Saturday. Their 10-player practice squad did not include Sam.

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Northern Mexico state approves same-sex marriage

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY -- The northern state of Coahuila has become the second place in Mexico after the capital to recognize same-sex marriage.

State lawmaker Samuel Acevedo said Tuesday he presented the bill that was voted into law because he wants gay couples to have the same rights of straight couples.

The state of Coahuila on the border with Texas began allowing same-sex civil unions in 2007, but gay couples couldn't adopt children or get social security.

Acevedo said that the law approved on Monday will help "fight discrimination."

Currently, the only place in Mexico where same-sex marriage is legal is Mexico City, where a same-sex marriage law was enacted in 2010.

Law firm Becker & Poliakoff: Anti-gay email from senior attorney Walter Kubitz is 'reprehensible'

On Aug. 25, a senior attorney at South Florida-based Becker & Poliakoff sent an email to practically everyone at the law firm trashing a federal judge's recent ruling that Florida's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional.

Wrote Virginia-based senior attorney Walter Kubitz:

Today’s reckless trashing of morality has been damaging on many fronts. For one, there has been a significant increase in sexually transmitted disease over the past few decades, with the gay plague of AIDS being a classic example.

We would do well to heed the Proverbs 11:21 warning of our ultimate Judge: “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished.” In other words, popularity does not trump peril.

Homosexuality, clearly condemned throughout Scripture, is especially perilous in that it tends toward the “reprobate mind” as spoken of in Romans 1:18-32 that makes its participants all the more hardened in their ways. The message to the homosexual, as to all, is “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found . . .” (Isaiah 55:6).

Now comes a public response from Becker & Poliakoff, describing Kubitz's email as "reprehensible":

Statement of Becker & Poliakoff

Statement of Becker & Poliakoff regarding the "all attorney" email sent on August 25, 2014

This past Monday, Walter Kubitz, an Intellectual Property attorney in our Northern Virginia office, sent a reprehensible email to all attorneys in the firm. His email was in response to a routine email sharing news about an important legal decision in Florida. 

Mr. Kubitz’ s remarks violated our firm’s email communication policy and our stated core values, which promote inclusion, openness and diversity. Of course, firm employees are entitled to differing opinions on religion and other subjects, however it was inappropriate for him to share such views in the workplace.

Gary Rosen, the firm’s Managing Shareholder and Richard Litman, the Managing Shareholder of the Northern Virginia office, have communicated clearly and directly to Mr. Kubitz that his rogue, disrespectful behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Becker & Poliakoff. We regret any harm caused by his misguided action. 

Vote now: Nominees announced for 2014 Pink Flamingo Awards (with video by comedian ANT)

The LGBT Visitor Center has announced nominees for the 2nd annual Pink Flamingo Awards to be held Sept. 23 at Miami Beach Convention Center.

Comedian ANT will emcee the event, which runs 7 to 10 p.m. and includes open-bar cocktail reception, silent auction, three-course sit-down dinner and live entertainment.

Below is the official nominees list. Click here to vote.

MIAMI BEACH – September 2, 2014 – The people have spoken. The top five vote-getters in each of 21 hospitality-related categories have been declared the finalists in the LGBT Visitor Center’s 2^nd Annual “Pink Flamingo Awards.” Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride 2014 TP Lords unveiled the finalists, surrounded by sexy “Pink Flaminguys” outfitted in pink Speedos, at a Kick-Off Party on Friday, August 29, at Palace South Beach. The winners will be announced at a high-spirited reception and dinner party on Tuesday, September 23, at the Miami Beach Convention Center with celebrity stand-up comedian ANT emceeing the evening affair.

The finalists were determined by write-in nominations from the community as well as from tourists who visit here, said Lori Lynch, executive director of the LGBT Visitor Center. The “People’s Choice”-style awards recognize the people and places that have helped make Miami Beach a world-class city and travel destination.

Finalists in the 2^nd Annual “Pink Flamingo Awards” are:

 

Favorite Hotel/Resort

· The Clevelander Hotel

· Fontainebleau Miami Beach

· National Hotel

· The Standard Spa Miami Beach

· W South Beach

Favorite Hotel/Boutique

· Essex House

· Gale South Beach

· Hôtel Gaythering

· The Angler's Boutique Resort

· The Betsy South Beach

Favorite Restaurant-Fine Dining

· BLT Steak @ The Betsy

· Juvia Miami Beach

· Milos

· The Forge

· Zen Sai Restaurant

Favorite Restaurant-Casual

· 13 Even

· City Hall The Restaurant

· Palace South Beach

· Spris

· Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

Favorite Chef

· Guily Booth

· Hedy Goldsmith

· Michael Schwartz

· Michelle Bernstein

· Todd Erickson

Favorite Drag Queen

· Adora

· Elaine Lancaster

· Noel Leon

· Pussila

· Tiffany Fantasia

Favorite Singer

· Diana Mera

· Envee

· Jane Castro JEI

· Karina Iglesis

· Robbie Elias

Favorite Nightlife Destination

· Clevelander Hotel

· House

· Score

· The Cabaret South Beach

· Twist

Favorite Dance Club

· House

· Hunter's Beach Bar

· Score

· The Manor

· Twist

Favorite DJ

· DJ Abel

· DJ Citizen Jane

· DJ Maximus 3000

· DJ Pride

· DJ Zheno

Favorite Bartender

· Charlie - Score

· Kelly Cambell - Rumors

· Kesia - Score

· Lorenzo – Hotel Gaythering

· Nathan – Twist

Favorite Promoter

· Dustin Reffca

· Edison Farrow

· Hilton Wolman

· Icandee Events

· Pandora Events

Favorite Media Personality

· Belkys Nerey

· Craig Stevens

· Louis Aguirre

· Roxanne Vargas

· Steve Rothaus

Favorite Miami Attraction

· Jungle Island

· Lincoln Road

· Miami Beach Botanical Garden

· Miami Seaquarium

· Perez Art Museum Miami

Favorite Retail Store

· Banana Republic

· Base

· H&M

· Macy's

· Zara

Favorite Gym

· Crunch

· Equinox

· LA Fitness

· Mpower Project Gym

· Steel Gym

Favorite Spa

· Bliss

· Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa

· Mandarin Oriental Miami

· Shore Club South Beach

· The Standard Spa Miami Beach

Favorite Non-Profit Organization

· Beta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc.

· Care Resource

· Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

· National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

· The Aqua Foundation for Women

Favorite Fundraising Event - One Day

· AIDS Walk Miami

· Miami Beach Botanical Garden Taste of the Garden

· Pridelines Masquerade Ball

· Task Force Recognition Dinner

· Unity Coalition Leaders, Legends and Lovelies Ball

Favorite Fundraising Event - Weekend or Longer

· Aqua Girl

· Miami Beach Gay Pride

· Miami Beach White Party

· Orgullo

· Winter Party Festival

Favorite Local Hero

· Cindy Brown

· Elizabeth F. Schwartz

· Gisela Vega

· Mark Gilbert

· Michael Gongora