Paris Hilton Uses the N-Word--What Else Did She Say?

What's Paris's problem? The hotel heiress was caught on tape (again) spewing anti-gay and racial slurs at guests while attending a party with her sister, Nicole. The video began circulating on the web after it was acquired by ParisExposed.com, which bought it from an auction of Paris's deserted L.A. storage locker.  You still can watch the video here (includes graphic language). This is not the first time Hilton's use of the "N-word" has gotten her into trouble. After an October 2004 incident, Hilton assured the press, "I am not a person who discriminates against anyone--ever." Sure Paris, we believe you.

This time GLAAD--the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation--wants an explanation. Will Paris step up and take the heat? Read more.

Obama's Facebook Friends

Will the Digital Age impact the election? Ask Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who thanked his online draft committee for engineering a massive turnout for his George Mason University appearance on Friday--his first rally since announcing his presidential exploratory committee last month. How many friends does Obama have on Facebook, and can a social-networking site win an election? Read more.  

Virginia 'Regrets' Slavery--No Apology?

Despite protests from some lawmakers, Virginia delegates signed a resolution Friday conveying "profound regret" for the state's role in perpetuating the slave trade--one of the greatest efforts to date by any state to make such amends. But it's not exactly an apology. In light of extensive controversy surrounding the resolution, however, most lawmakers are pleased with its language. One delegate expressed hope the bill would emphasize Virginia's evolved race relations on a broad scale, but is this a realistic expectation given that another representative told Virginia blacks to "get over" slavery just a few weeks earlier? Read more.

Forest Whitaker's First Oscar?

Actor Forest Whitaker isn't new to the big screen, but his role as African dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland" may earn him his first Oscar. Already a recipient of a Golden Globe and SAG award for this performance, Whitaker hopes to add his first Oscar to the list. How did Whitaker get his start, and why would an Oscar mean so much to him? Read more.  

More Bad News for Michigan--Domestic-Partner Benefits Outlawed

First affirmative action, now same-sex benefits--Michigan can't get a break. A Michigan appeals court ruled Friday that public institutions may not provide same-sex benefits to LGBT employees on the grounds a 2004 statewide same-sex marriage ban prohibited such offerings. Why? In order to receive domestic-partner benefits from Michigan public universities that provide them, gay and lesbian employees had to substantiate their relationship. The courts maintain that the ban makes recognizing such relationships illegal, thereby negating the legal validity of providing the benefits in the first place. How many universities will be affected, and what do LGBT groups have to say about it? Read more.

Gay Bar President Resigns Over Press Blunder

The former president of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Law Association (LeGal), John Scheich, resigned after an off-handed response to a recent case landed him in the lion's mouth of the LGBT legal community. Days after Sullivan & Cromwell associate Aaron Charney filed a sexual-orientation discrimination suit against his firm, Scheich was approached by the press for comment, to which he replied, "I don't know Aaron Charney or the details of his case, but if I had to line up on one side or the other, I would have to line up with ... Sullivan Cromwell." Reports Yahoonews.  Why the insensitivity--shouldn't Scheich have known better?

Discrimination Still a Problem

Federal job-discrimination complaints rose in 2006 for the first time in four years, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Center (EEOC)'s  latest data. Charges of racism and sexism account for an overwhelming 66 percent of all complaints filed, reports The Associated Press. What does this tell us? Discrimination--especially that based on race/ethnicity and gender--remains a systemic problem in this country--so what is newly appointed EEOC Chair Naomi Earp going to do about it?

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