What did you miss this week in the world of LGBT news? Check out our Lesbian.com round-up and you’ll be ready to gather ’round the rainbow-colored water cooler to talk about five of the biggest, best and most interesting stories for July 6 – July 12.

Lesbian college student expelled for marrying partner

On Wednesday, Christian Minard, 22, received written notice from Southwestern Christian University that she was being expelled. The reason? She married her same-sex partner.

“I was informed that you recently married someone of the same sex and saw a few pictures from Facebook,” Brad Davis, the school’s vice president of student life, wrote. “Of course, this is opposing to our view as an International Pentecostal Holiness denominational university as well as the Lifestyle Covenant that all students must agree and sign.”

Minard, who married her partner March 17, is just one semester shy of earning her degree in sports management from the the International Pentecostal Holiness Church affiliated university. She claims that other students violate the cited Lifestyle Covenant regularly without repercussion and believes she was singled out for being a lesbian.

The expulsion leaves the would-be senior with an uncertain future.

“I’m trying to figure out how and where I can graduate,” Minard told CNN, noting that she’ll have to start paying off her loans at the end of next year unless things change. “… It’s going to be hard to get into classes that may be full, because they gave me very little notice before the fall semester starts.”

Italian mayor wants to ban same-sex PDA

If Mayor Gianluca Buonanno of Borgosesia, an Italian municipality, gets his way same-sex couples who kiss in public could be fined up to 500 euros ($680 USD) for the affectionate display.

Per a Huffington Post translation, Mayor Buonanno told Italian newspaper La Repubblica, “Kissing in public between homosexuals? No thanks… It’s a matter of respect. And I am convinced that is morally harmful for children.”

Buonanno is regarded as an eccentric, having previously engaged in behavior uncharacteristic of someone in position, including shredding the European Union flag to use as a handkerchief, waving a sea bass around during a session of Parliament and now announcing his intention to add a photo of anti-gay Russian President Vladimir Putin to his office decor.

According to Pink News, European Parliament member Daniele Viotti said the “new decree is just the latest, pathetic publicity stunt by a narrow-minded man who desperately wants to be in the spotlight.”

Colorado marriage ban struck down

On Wednesday, District Court Judge C. Scott Crabtree ruled that Colorado’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Crabtree found that Amendment 43 of the state constitution, approved by voters in 2006 and defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, “bears no rational relationship to any conceivable government interest.”

In his 49-page decision, the judge also stated that, “confining same-sex couples to civil unions is further evidence of discrimination against same-sex couples and does not ameliorate the discriminatory effect of the Marriage Bans.”

Crabtree immediately put his ruling on hold pending an appeal and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers issued a statement on his website indicating his intention to do just that.

“Judge Crabtree provides additional clarity that until the high court rules on the issue of same-sex marriage, Colorado’s current laws remain in place,” said Suthers.

2014 Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame inductees

Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner and Olympic swimmer Diana Nyad were among those honored Friday as inductees into the LGBT Sports Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization launched in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, was established to honor individuals and organizations whose achievements and efforts have enhanced the fields of sports and athletics for the gay and lesbian community.

Other notables joining Griner and Nyad in the 2014 class were Billy Bean (MLB), Wade Davis (NFL), Mayor George Moscone (straight ally, deceased), Tom Daley (Olympic diver) and Nike.

The inaugural 2013 class of inductees included tennis legends Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, and LPGA Tour champion Patty Sheehan.

Lesbian moms denied family pool pass

An outdated ordinance in Galion, Ohio, which defines a family as a “mother, father and up to three children” came under fire this week when Melody Mohn and her partner, Hela Young, attempted to buy a family pool pass at Galion’s Heise Park.

Mohn, a mother of three, had purchased a family pass for herself and her three children for the past nine years, but when she inquired about adding her partner under the “family” rate, she was denied based on the city’s definition of family.

Members of the city council agree that the ordinance language needs to be changed.

“We certainly don’t want to do anything to prevent children and parents to go swimming in our pool,” Carl Watt, Galion City Council president, told a local news station, adding about the current definition of family, “I mean, 20 years ago, it probably fit the scene, but not today. Not today’s lifestyle.”

Mohn is glad the City Council will be updating the ordinance and has no regrets about pushing for the change.

“We’re not the only same-sex couple, and we’re not the only non-traditional family, either,” said Mohn.

Given that the pool is set to close next month, it is unlikely that the Mohn/Young household will enjoy a family rate at the pool until 2015.

The post LGBT week in review: Lesbian student expelled, Griner inducted, lesbian moms denied first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Jennie McNulty

BY JENNIE MCNULTY
Lesbian.com

Astronaut (and Senator) John Glenn may be most famous for his quote about steps for mankind but he also said, “Too many people, when they get old, think they have to live by the calendar.” I’d like to acknowledge two phenomenal women who never look at that calendar and why we might want to be just like them when we grow up.

Reason No. 1,000,000,000 to love Cher: She turned down an offer to sing at the opening ceremony at Sochi Olympics in protest of the Russian Government’s anti gay policies. And, that’s a pretty big statement coming from someone who has a brand new CD about to drop and who doesn’t usually shy away from promotional opportunities. But, then again, Cher’s always followed the beat of a slightly different drummer. And, that beat goes on and on and on.

On May 20, Cher turned 67. Her new album, “Closer to the Truth” is coming out and it’s single, “Woman’s World” is already a big hit on the dance floor. She is reportedly readying for another tour. She is the ONLY artist to have a No. 1 song on the charts in 6 decades. Think about that. Six decades! That’s a long time to be not only current and relevant but exceptional and fantastic.

And, that’s just her musical success. She’s won not only a Grammy, but an Emmy, an Oscar and 3 Golden Globes. You have to admit that’s impressive. What is it about Cher that we just can’t get enough of? Why do we love Cher?

I’m a bit of a fan. In fact, I used to think I was Cher’s No. 1 fan until I moved to West Hollywood (Those boys win, but I’m close). I have, of course, all the albums and CDs. I have an original Cher doll, although, during one of my parties in college, somehow, Cher lost a shoe. I have boxes filled with articles I cut out about her as a kid. I have movie ticket stubs from her movie premieres (the one from “Silkwood” is framed along with the full page newspaper ad for its release), boxes of old VHS tapes with interviews, movies, commercials, anything she was in.

I’ll stop now because, at this point, I’m either losing your interest or scaring you, so let me get back to why I love Cher.

I first discovered Cher in fourth grade on the old “Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.” For those of you too young to remember that show, here’s a sample.

Cher wore those amazing outfits by Bob Mackie. She was sexy. She was cool. And she was FUNNY. She stood there with arms folded dryly delivering zingers at Sonny with a sly smile and an attitude of confidence.

Cher was the first woman who was cool and funny. Carol Burnett was hysterical (and a genius) but she was goofy funny with crazy characters and curtain rods as part of the merriment. Phyllis Diller, Totie Fields and Joan Rivers were hilarious, but it was very much a self-deprecating humor and they certainly weren’t known as sex symbols. Cher was different. Cher was sexy and hip and cool. Cher didn’t make herself less to get a laugh. Cher’s laughs made her even more. Sorry, Mr. Springsteen, Cher was, and is, the boss.

Cher in her 60s

Through the years, she’s just kept bringing it. In comeback after comeback, we love to see what Cher has for us now. She took time off from music to give us some great acting performances, then she came back, jumped on a cannon barrel and “Turned Back Time.” Then more movies and an Oscar before making us “Believe.” And, all the while, doing it in her own wonderful style whether anyone else liked it or not. I don’t know about you, but I wish I cared a little less about what other people think.

Several years ago, someone asked her for advice and she said, “Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” For six decades, she’s not listened to naysayers. She’s not let what others think affect her actions and she’s done what she’s wanted to do. I, for one, believe she can do anything she wants. I’d be first in line to buy tickets (I’d beat the gay boys, they’d never get up early). Although, if she’s ever in charge of supplying definitions for Webster’s Dictionary, she should probably let someone else handle the entry on “farewell.”

Cher is not the only amazing lady to emulate. A few weeks ago, Diana Nyad was responsible for a great many pulled muscles. If you’re unfamiliar with Diana, she’s the marathon swimmer who this past Labor Day swam over 53 hours from Cuba to Key West Florida. Nonstop. Without a wet suit or fins or stopping or hanging on to the boat, stroke after stroke after stroke for what ended up being 110 miles. SHE didn’t pull any muscles. She made the swim just fine. We pulled the muscles as we ran that extra mile, did one more set of weights, as we thought, “Hell, if a 64-year-old can swim all the way from Cuba, I can do one more … Ouch! Ahhhh, crap! Somebody get me some ice.”

By the way, Diana is 64. Yes, 64. Again, those numbers were 110 miles and over 53 hours. Many people tried to tell her not to do it (even some in her own team). They said, “Enough! It just can’t be done.”

They said she was crazy to try this again after having almost died in her previous attempts. On August 31, 2013, at 8:59:02am, Diana Nyad jumped into the water in Havana, Cuba, and 52 hours 54 minutes 18.6 seconds and 110.4 miles later, she walked onto the shore of Smathers Beach in Key West, Florida. Through sunburned and swollen lips, she bade us, “Never, ever, give up!” and “You’re never too old to chase your dreams” before collapsing into the arms of her handler. She does put up a convincing argument.

Swimmer Diana Nyad (via History.com)

Briefly, for those that aren’t familiar with this story (and, if you are, you may now skip ahead to the next paragraph), this was not Diana’s first attempt. It was the fifth. One attempt came in 1978 when bad weather and giant swells threw her too far off course to complete the swim. The following year, she made a swim of equal distance from the Bahamas to Florida, but it wasn’t “The Cuba Swim” of her dreams. And, really? Who hasn’t done the North Bimini to Cuba Swim? Please. Actually, no one. At that time, it set the record for longest swim in open waters without a shark cage. Nyad quit swimming for 30 years when, at 60, she decided to go for that dream one more time. She began training again, in secret at first, then, when she felt certain she could do it, she told her friends and assembled a team. She tried the swim from Cuba to Key West again twice in 2011 and once more in 2012. Bad weather currents, storms, asthma attacks and deadly jellyfish stings derailed these three attempts. This was it. This final shot, make it or not, she promised, this would be the last swim. OK, now you’re caught up.

After four failed attempts, Diana Nyad finally did it. She did it to prove to herself what she knew deep inside: She could make it. She did it to prove to all of us that we can do whatever our “it” is. She did it to make us all see that age has nothing to do with a dream and we’d be crazy to give up the chase.

So, my friends, I hope you appreciate what these two amazing sexagenarians have done. One has given us a lifelong lesson in being who you are never letting people tell you ‘no.’ The other has shown that, at any point in life, you can still fulfill your dreams, if you go for it. They’ve kinda made it impossible for us to have excuses.

“I couldn’t possibly go back and get that degree.” Oh, really? Are there sharks chasing you?

Jennie McNulty was named one of Curve magazine’s Top 10 lesbian comedians and is a featured Sweet performer. She can be heard weekly as co-host of LA Talk Radio‘s “Cathy Is In: The Cathy DeBuono Show.”

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The post Lessons from two sexy sexagenarians: Follow your dreams first appeared on Lesbian.com.

By now you know Diana Nyad is a long distance swimmer who captivated the world with her long distance swim from Cuba to Florida. On September 2, 2013 age 64 and on her fifth attempt Diana Nyad swam 110 miles in 53 hours to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the protection of a shark cage.

After completing the swim Nyad said, “I wanted it to be a lesson for my life that says, be fully engaged. Be so awake and alert and alive every minute of every waking day.”

Read more at LesbianLife at About.com

The post Diana Nyad: 5 things you didn’t know first appeared on Lesbian.com.

(Photo: Enrique de la Osa/Reuters)

BY TRISH BENDIX
AfterEllen

Diana Nyad broke world records this weekend when she swam 102 miles from Cuba to Key West without stopping. When it was finished, she had swam 52 hours and 54 minutes through the Devil’s Triangle without any protective gear or shark cages. The out swimmer emerged from the ocean and spoke to the press and her cheering supporters, saying she had three things she wanted to tell everyone: “One is, we should never ever give up. Two is, you’re never too old to chase your dreams. Three is, it looks like a solitary sport, but it’s a team.”

Read more at AfterEllen.com

AfterEllen is the pop culture site that plays for your team

The post Out swimmer Diana Nyad breaks world records with Cuba to Key West swim first appeared on Lesbian.com.