Lisa Lawson, a missing 40-year old lesbian from Henry County, has been found dead, according to a post on social networking site Facebook made by Lawson's girlfriend, Michelle Alexander.
It is with the greatest level of sadness that I have to come to you all and let you know that Lisa has been found, but she is no longer with us. We really do not care to discuss the details so please understand if I don't respond. We are working on arrangements and will let everyone know when services will be. #lisamatters Rest In Peace Lisa... I love you more than Love...
A community vigil to be held sometime next week
The case of a gay man convicted of killing a man who allegedly called him and his boyfriend “faggots” will go before the state Supreme Court on Monday.
The state is appealing a White County judge’s ruling granting a new trial to Samuel Mitchell Abernathy. Abernathy was convicted of stabbing and killing Darrin Ramey after Ramey called Mitchell and his partner at the time, John Geren, “faggots.” The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Southside Bar in Helen, Ga., in January 2008.
Mitchell was convicted in November 2008 of malice murder and sentenced to life in prison.
According to a press release from the state Supreme Court, Abernathy said he was jumped by Ramey and acted in self-defense. Abernathy and Geren were both charged with murder but the state dropped its charges against Geren after he agreed to testify against Abernathy.
President Barack Obama issued a statement today regarding the killing of Ugandan gay activist David Kato, who was beaten to death late Wednesday night. Kato, according to the Associated Press, worked for Sexual Minorities Uganda, a gay-rights advocacy group.
According to the AP, local police said that Kato's sexual orientation was not a factor in his murder, but last year, Kato appeared in the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone with a number of other allegedly gay men next to a headline that read, "Hang Them!"
Here's Obama's statement on Kato's death:
Local law enforcement investigators have ruled the death of a gay campground employee a murder and are investigating the crime as a “homicide by gunshot.”
On Sept. 8, victim Todd Tumlin was found in the woods off Pulliam Mill Rd. near the site of River’s Edge, a gay campground where Tumlin worked. Tumlin had been reported missing on Aug. 28 and had last been seen in the immediate area.