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Gay Slur Haunts Richardson as Democrats Prep for Gay Debate

As Democrats prepare for the first-ever presidential debate to focus on gays and lesbians, one candidate, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, is still apologizing for offending openly gay Latinos last year. Last year, Richardson was a guest on the now canceled talk-show radio program "Imus in the Morning," hosted by Don Imus. During the airing of the program, Richardson and Imus used a derogatory word that many Latinos consider to be a hateful Spanish term for gays and lesbians. What did they say, and will Richardson be able to make amends to the LGBT community? The presidential debate, scheduled for Aug. 9, will be sponsored by the gay TV network LOGO and the Human Rights Campaign. Read more.

Wealthy Blacks Still Victims of Loan Bias

Wealthy blacks regularly receive mortgage loans above market value, according to a report released Tuesday by the Washington-based National Community Reinvestment Coalition. The study, based on an analysis of nationwide mortgage data collected by the Federal Reserve for the most recent year available, found that middle-class and upper-income blacks in 167 metropolitan areas were at least twice as likely as whites with similar incomes to receive loans with high rates. In comparison, there were 70 metropolitan areas where low-income blacks faced a similar likelihood of receiving above-market rates. Read more.

Ladies: Billy Dee Williams Is Back

Billy Dee Williams is making a comeback on the small screen on an evening soap opera. The veteran actor is starring in "General Hospital: Night Shift," debuting Thursday at 11 p.m. EST on SoapNet. The 13-week series transplants some of the characters from the ABC daytime soap to the graveyard shift at the hospital. Back in the 1970s, when he was making his ascent as Hollywood's "black Don Juan," Williams turned down repeated requests to join "General Hospital" as a series regular. Read more.

Double Amputee to Run in Race With World's Best

A double-amputee who races on carbon fiber blades attached below his knees will get a chance to compete with the world's best runners. Oscar Pistorius, a 20-year-old South African, will run the 400-meter dash at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Sheffield, England, on Sunday in a field that includes Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner. Also entered in the race are former Olympic relay gold medalist Darold Williamson of the United States, United Kingdom Commonwealth Games 400-meter champion John Steffensen of Australia, and former 400-meter Olympic hurdles champion Angelo Taylor. "I've been chucked in the deep end with the best guys in the world. There's a lot to learn," says Pistorius, who was born without fibulas. "There never has been a Paralympic sprinter to fuse the gap between able-bodied and disabled sport." Read more.

Muslim Dunkin' Donuts Owner Sues Over Pork

Walid Elkhatib, a Dunkin' Donuts franchise owner, doesn't want to sell pork products. It's a stance he's prepared to argue in court after Dunkin' Donuts said it was mandatory that he do so. On Tuesday, a U.S. appeals court ruled that Elkhatib can proceed with a discrimination lawsuit that claims the company discriminated against him based on race by making the sale of breakfast sandwiches with bacon, ham or sausage a mandatory part of his franchise agreement. Elkhatib, a Palestinian Arab, has owned a Dunkin' Donuts franchise since 1979, before the company began selling any pork. Breakfast sandwiches were introduced in 1984 and his Chicago-area Dunkin' Donuts outlets sold them without bacon, ham or sausage for nearly 20 years. Dunkin' Donuts even provided Elkhatib with a sign that said "Meat Products Not Available." So why the change of heart?

Advertisers Drop BET Show, Say It 'Exploits Blacks'

BET's "Hot Ghetto Mess" is receiving negative feedback from advertisers. At least two companies have already pulled ads from the program saying the series exploits blacks. After the program debuted late last month, State Farm Insurance Co. and The Home Depot asked the network to remove their ads from the series. BET contends that the program is nothing but a mix of love and social commentary. Network officials say other advertisers remain in place and that they have no plans to change the series at this point. The program, also referred to as "HGM," combines viewer-submitted home videos and BET-produced man-on-the-street interviews that the channel said are intended to challenge and inspire "viewers to improve themselves and their communities." Read more.

Will APA Change Stance on LGBT Counseling?

The American Psychological Association (APA) is currently preparing for the first review in 10 years of its policy on how to counsel gays and lesbians. Gay-rights activists anticipate the review will help end all attempts to change their orientation. Such attempts, often described as "reparative therapy" or "conversion therapy," are considered futile by many gay-rights activists. However, conservative religious leaders and counselors defend their right to offer this type of treatment. Conservative members also say they've been excluded from the review panel. Read more.

Asian Americans Show Distinct Cancer Patterns

Researchers have found that Asians, both U.S.- and foreign-born, have the most distinctive patterns of cancer. According to a report featured in the journal "CA," published by the American Cancer Society and which focuses on the ethnic subgroups (Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese) shows that different groups appear more prone to different types of cancer. Asian Americans have lower overall cancer rates than other racial/ethnic groups in the United States, but cancer is one of the major causes of death for Asians, resulting in more deaths than heart disease. Read more.

Christian Fraternity Sues University of Fla. Over Gender, Religious Discrimination

University of Florida officials allegedly told Beta Upsilon Chi that it cannot be registered as an on-campus student group or an off-campus Greek fraternity because only men are allowed to join and it requires its members be Christian. Now Beta Upsilon Chi is suing. The university does not permit discrimination such as excluding women and non-Christians from fraternity involvement, say university officials. Beta Upsilon Chi, also known as Brothers Under Christ, was founded in 1985 and has 21 chapters nationwide. The University of Florida chapter has eight members and claims that the school's failure to recognize it has hampered recruiting efforts. Read more.

Who Called Beyoncé a 'Roboho'?

Celebrity news site TMZ.com recently published a fashion article featuring singer Beyoncé Knowles dressed in a futuristic outfit. TMZ described Knowles, who was performing at the BET Awards, as looking like a "roboho." National Action Network president the Rev. Al Sharpton attacked the web site for defaming "someone who symbolizes the strength, dignity and uplifting of black women" in such a manner. TMZ defends their remark, stating that they did not use the term to describe Knowles as a "ho," they were referring to her outfit. Does that make a difference? Read more.  

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