Police Sergeant Charged with Using Excessive Force Against Gay Man Retires, Will Collect $118K Annual Pension

Police Sergeant Charged with Using Excessive Force Against Gay Man Retires, Will Collect $118K Annual Pension

A Palo Alto police sergeant charged in a federal lawsuit with using excessive force against a man because he is gay, has retired.

The Mercury News reports: “Sgt. Wayne Benitez retired from the department on Sept. 30 and began collecting a monthly pension of $9,866 — earning him an annual retirement package of about $118,600, according to Amy Morgan, information officer for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. … In April, attorneys representing Palo Alto resident Gustavo Alvarez filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, which is still ongoing, against Palo Alto, its police department and six of its employees, including Officer Christopher Conde, Officer Thomas Alan Destefano Jr. and Sgt. Benitez.”

KCBS reported: “According to court documents, in February, 2018, five Palo Alto police officers kicked down Gustavo Alvarez’ door and ripped him from his home, then slammed him onto the hood of his car — knocking out some of his teeth — all while taunting him for being gay. The encounter happened after Alvarez had refused to be detained for allegedly driving with a suspended license, he said. Alvarez was booked for DUI and resisting arrest. Those charges were later dropped for lack of evidence.”

Said Alvarez’s lawyer to the Mercury News: “Obviously the police department and the city of Palo Alto thus far have failed to step up and condemn the actions of these officers. To think that taxpayers are still rewarding (Benitez) is incomprehensible at this point in time and history. It’s disgusting and symptomatic of a department that tolerates its employees breaking the law.”

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Police Sergeant Charged with Using Excessive Force Against Gay Man Retires, Will Collect $118K Annual Pension

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 18, 2019

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 18, 2019

HRC JOINS ACTIVISTS TESTIFYING IN FAVOR OF D.C.’S COMMUNITY SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF 2019: The testimony, offered during a D.C. City Council hearing, was in support of the act, which would eliminate criminal prohibitions and penalties for consensual sex work and establish a task force to recommend further improvements to public safety, health and human rights. The legislation, which maintains the prohibitions on coercion and trafficking, is sponsored by Councilmember David Grosso. More from HRC.

HRC’s Carmarion D. Anderson & Laya Monarez testified today in favor of D.C. legislation that would eliminate criminal prohibitions & penalties for consensual sex work & create a task force to recommend improvements to public safety, health & human rights. t.co/pYm4aKykOm pic.twitter.com/bdnbsqAAM1

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) October 17, 2019

REMEMBERING THE LEGACY OF CIVIL RIGHTS ICON AND CHAMPION FOR EQUALITY REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD): Elijah Cummings was a tireless champion of racial justice and LGBTQ equality in Congress and beyond. It is a profound loss for the city of Baltimore and the entire nation. We honor his enduring legacy to fiercely fight for the most marginalized among us. More from Out Magazine.

TOMORROW — PRODUCER AND ACTOR EUGENE LEE YANG TO RECEIVE VISIBILITY AWARD AT 2019 SAN FRANCISCO GALA: “As an all-star talent and artist, Yang (@EugeneLeeYang) bravely uses his Try Guys channel platform to lift up the LGBTQ community, celebrate Asian American visibility and open hearts and minds across the United States,” said HRC Foundation Senior Vice President Jay Brown. More from HRC.

  • HRC will also honor Levi Strauss & Co. with the Corporate Award and John Lake, Vice President, Multicultural Strategy and LGBTQ Segment leader for Wells Fargo, with the Charles M. Holmes Community Service Award. More from San Francisco Bay Times.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY — CELEBRATING POET WALT WHITMAN FOR LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH: To commemorate his 200th birthday, the Library of Congress, which has the most extensive array of Whitman and Whitman-related collections in the world, held a series of exhibits and public programs to showcase the trove. The Library’s exhibits also touched on Whitman’s relationship with Peter Doyle, an Irish immigrant and streetcar driver, who is believed by many to have been the love of Whitman’s life. More from HRC.

ICYMI — HRC WAS ON CAPITOL HILL TO TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EFFORTS ON HBCU CAMPUSES: More from HRC.

In partnership with the bipartisan @HBCUCaucus and the @LGBTEqCaucus this #HBCUOutLoud Day, @HRC hosted a discussion on the ways Congress can partner with HBCUs to support LGBTQ diversity and inclusion efforts on campuses. t.co/zWzh6yKHEZ pic.twitter.com/ulXcgqHn3N

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) October 16, 2019

TOO OFTEN, TRANSGENDER TRAVELERS FACE NEGATIVE TREATMENT BY TSA: Allison Hope (@bubballie) writes for CNN about the experiences of trans travelers, who report being targeted for pat-downs, bag searches and questions regarding their legal ID due to their gender identity. “For many transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming people, going through airport security is a grueling and often humiliating and traumatizing ordeal,” says Shannon Minter (@shannonminter5), legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). More from CNN.

HOW NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALS ARE AFFIRMING LGBTQ PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES: They are some of the highest-scoring health care facilities on HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index. More from North Carolina Health News.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

AUSTRALIAN ANGLICAN CHURCH MEMBERS RALLY FOR ACCEPTANCE OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY AFTER BEING TOLD BY ARCHBISHOP THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE CHURCH: More from The Guardian.

SAME-SEX COUPLE UNABLE TO SECURE IRISH CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILD BORN ABROAD THROUGH IVF: Sinéad Deevy and Kashka Sankowska, had their child in Spain, are facing barriers to registering their child’s citizenship in Spain, as well as their own countries of citizenship. More from Irish Times.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

Hello Beautiful lists 20 iconic looks from non-binary actor and Pose star Indya Moore (@IndyaMoore); HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY to the Washington Blade; OutSports shares Bayard Rustin’s sports legacy for LGBTQ History Month

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-october-18-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Talk Shows & Late Night Shows go purple and stand against bullying on Spirit Day

Talk Shows & Late Night Shows go purple and stand against bullying on Spirit Day

Credit: Trevor Noah/Andy Cohen

On Spirit Day, messages of love, acceptance, and solidarity for LGBTQ youth were heard around the world. Many talk shows and late shows helped to amplify these messages by going purple on-air to stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ youth everywhere. Check out some of the highlights from Entertainment Tonight, E!, Access Hollywood, Extra, The View, The Talk, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, A Little Late with Lilly Singh, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Late Show with Steven Colbert, and Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen below:

Entertainment Tonight

E! News & Nightly Pop

Access Hollywood

ExtraTV
 
The Talk

Our ladies are wearing purple in support of taking a stand against bullying for #SpiritDay. pic.twitter.com/XIpNRc6IVi

— The Talk (@TheTalkCBS) October 17, 2019

The View

We’re proud to wear purple today in honor of @glaad’s #SpiritDay! Join us and take a stand against bullying and #ChooseKindness. Learn more: t.co/t0Nkn6vVfQ pic.twitter.com/0f3dlo4fHy

— The View (@TheView) October 17, 2019

Jimmy Kimmel Live!
 
A Little Late with Lilly Singh

No one should be bullied or called names simply for being who they are. That’s why @Lilly’s wearing purple for #SpiritDay.

If you’re interested in learning more you can head to t.co/JG4IIgEWZA! pic.twitter.com/gfzSmQC6MZ

— A Little Late With Lilly Singh (@latewithlilly) October 17, 2019

 
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Rocking the purple tonight to stand in solidarity against LGBTQ+ bullying! #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/NvGEawrOlR

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) October 18, 2019

 
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

#LSSC is proud to join @glaad for #SpiritDay to take a stand against bullying. pic.twitter.com/vG0tZN7s1Q

— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) October 17, 2019

 
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Tonight @Andy is wearing purple in honor of #SpiritDay

Join us and take the pledge with @glaad: t.co/gHkATpgu7R pic.twitter.com/NCKrWPspKB

— WWHL (@BravoWWHL) October 18, 2019

October 18, 2019

www.glaad.org/blog/talk-shows-late-night-shows-go-purple-and-stand-against-bullying-spirit-day

Former Defense Sec’y James Mattis Mocks Trump’s Bone Spurs, Says He’s Honored to be Called ‘the World’s Most Overrated General’ — WATCH

Former Defense Sec’y James Mattis Mocks Trump’s Bone Spurs, Says He’s Honored to be Called ‘the World’s Most Overrated General’ — WATCH

Speaking at the Al Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York, former Defense Secretary James Mattis mocked remarks Trump made this week calling him “the world’s most overrated general.” He also jabbed Trump for draft dodging.

“I’m not just an overrated general, I am the greatest—the world’s most—overrated,” said Mattis. “I’m honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress. So I guess I’m the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly that sounds pretty good to me.”

Added Mattis: “You do have to admit that between me and Meryl, at least we’ve had some victories. Some of you were kind during the reception and asked if it bothered me to be rated this way based on what Donald Trump said. I said, ‘Of course not. I earned my spurs on the battlefield … Donald Trump earned his spurs in a letter from a doctor.’”

Former Defense Secretary Gen. Mattis roasts Pres. Trump: “I earned my spurs on the battlefield.”

His remarks came a day after Pres. Trump called Mattis “the world’s most overrated general” during a meeting with lawmakers about the situation in Syria. t.co/rrLbFGXPpE pic.twitter.com/PO1gkdd7Bl

— ABC News (@ABC) October 18, 2019

The post Former Defense Sec’y James Mattis Mocks Trump’s Bone Spurs, Says He’s Honored to be Called ‘the World’s Most Overrated General’ — WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


Former Defense Sec’y James Mattis Mocks Trump’s Bone Spurs, Says He’s Honored to be Called ‘the World’s Most Overrated General’ — WATCH