A movie being written about Facebook? Lindsay at it again with dad? Lesbians taking over the law? It's all in this news in 5!

New York, USA - New York's HIV rate 3 times higher than nation's

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have released estimates on Wednesday that indicate New York City's rate of HIV infection is about three times the national rate. The agency estimates that 72 of every 100,000 New Yorkers, 4,800 individuals in total, contracted HIV in 2006, more than triple the national rate of 23 per 100,000. HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS.

"The populations that bear the greatest burden nationally -- blacks, for example, and men who have sex with men -- are highly represented in New York City," Health Commissioner Thomas Freidan said in a written statement. "Because HIV is more prevalent within those groups, the risk of HIV infection per sexual contact is higher."

The city launched a three-year initiative in June to administer HIV tests to the 250,000 Bronx adults who have never been tested. The program was announced just days after release of a study finding a high rate of "unsafe sexual behaviour" in the city.

GLBT

Bob Jones cites 'lesbian takeover' for new law

Outspoken media personality and author Sir Robert Jones has blamed a "lesbian takeover" as the cause of a new law that requires a court to address a jury foreman as a foreperson instead. Kate Penny, the spokeswoman for the Justice Ministry district courts said she believed jury heads in New Zealand had been called a foreman, regardless of gender, since 1841.

However this winter, a Criminal Procedure Bill was passed in parliament that changed the word to foreperson, taking effect from December. Ms Penny said in an emailed response to media prompts for comment that the wording change was consistent with the move to gender neutral language in statute law and reflected the language generally used in court.

On the contrary, Sir Robert Jones said it was an abuse of language and silly.

"It's typical of the Government where they have gone berserk with this sort of stuff." "It's not a feminist takeover, it's a lesbian takeover in Wellington," Mr Jones said.

"There's hardly a Government head that's not a lesbian ... so many lesbians are in top jobs and they don't want to acknowledge any sex.

It's a neutralisation of sex instead of saying foreman or forewoman."

As yet the Justice Ministry declined to comment on what Mr Jones had said.

LGBT Activist Del Martin dies

In response to the loss of pioneering LGBT activist Del Martin, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Centre’s Chief Executive Officer Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement:

"My heart goes out to Phyllis Lyon for the loss of Del Martin, her soul mate and beloved wife, with whom she shared her life for 55 years. Del's passing is a tremendous loss to Phyllis and to the LGBT community and to everyone who stands for the values she cherished and fought for throughout her life: equality and justice.

"Along with Phyllis, Del was a courageous civil rights pioneer. From co- founding the first lesbian rights organization and publishing the first lesbian newsletter to being among the first in California to legally marry her same-sex partner, Del has been at the forefront of our movement.

"She helped to lay the groundwork for much of the progress we have enjoyed and the impact of her visionary leadership will continue.
“I'll (personally) always be grateful to Del and Phyllis for being there for me and for countless other lesbians.
"You will be greatly missed, Del, but never forgotten."

In lieu of flowers, Phyllis has requested gifts honoring Del go to the National Centre for Lesbian Rights No on 8/NCLR Social Justice Fund at http://www.nclrights.org/NoOn8. These contributions will help fight Proposition 8, which would eliminate the right to marry for same-sex couples in California.

http://www.lagayCentre.org

ENTERTAINMENT

'West Wing' creator may be writing movie about Facebook

A Facebook profile created for Hollywood screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has claimed that he will write a movie about the invention of Facebook Inc.'s popular social network. For those doubting the legitimacy of the profile, the following statement is listed under the profile;

"I understand there are a few other people using Facebook pages under my name -- which I find more flattering than creepy -- but this is me," the profile notes. "I don't know how I can prove that, but feel free to test me."

The profile adds that Sorkin, who created the West Wing television series, has agreed to write the movie for Sony Pictures, with the producer Scot Rudin. But Facebook fans may not want to hold their breathe, as Sorkin readily admits on his profile that he doesn't yet know how Facebook works.

"I figured a good first step in my preparation would be finding out what Facebook is, so I've started this page," the page says. "Actually, it was started by my researcher, Ian Reichbach, because my grandmother has more Internet savvy than I do, and she's been dead for 33 years."

Sorkin urges Facebook users to send him questions and leave comments, which many have done already.
Despite having written two Broadway plays and several feature films, including A Few Good Men, Malice and Charlie Wilson's War, some are already questioning Sorkin’s ability to successfully write a compelling movie about Facebook.

I suppose time will tell.

Lindsay Lohan lashes out at father on blog

Add another to the long list of Lindsay Lohan related headlines as the 22-year-old actress lashed out at father Michael in a MySpace blod entry posted on Thursday. Lohan called her father a "public embarrassment" and a "bully" after earlier in the week, Michael said in an interview with E! that Lohan’s gal pal Samantha Ronson was "using" his daughter.

Lohan's publicist, Leslie Sloane-Zelnik, confirmed the post by Lohan was legitimate. This latest battle has been added to a long list of quarrelsome history between the two.

"If you have something to say to me, say it to my face — that's what I have believed my whole life — don't be a coward and say it to others first, let alone all the media in the world," Lohan wrote.

Lohan continued: "Having said that — the people were right, and he is yet to change — but this time, without his daughter by his side — he has become a public embarrassment and a bully — to my family, my co-workers, my friends and a girl that means the world to me (it's obvious who that is)."

The "Mean Girls" star continued, stating that she believes her father is addicted to fame, and if he really cared about her, he would respect her wishes. Seeming somewhat of a joke, Lohan then ended the post by saying that she had a therapist and it's not a cameraman at x17 (the celebrity photo agency and Web site).

In a separate post, Ronson said she was angry when she first heard about Michael's attack on her and called him a man "who is so desperate for attention that he goes to the media whenever possible." Ronson went on to say she felt "no need to publicly defend my role in Lindsay's life — I'm just sorry that she likes me more than him."

Olympic Champion Michael Phelps to host 'SNL' season premiere

Beijing Olympics Champion Michael Phelps will be hosting Saturday Night Live's 34th season premiere on Sept. 13^th, with Lil Wayne as musical guest.

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