The New Jersey Appellate Division, an intermediate appeals court, threw out a state court jury’s conviction of Dharun Ravi on fifteen different criminal counts, finding that trial evidence about how Ravi’s actions in September 2010 adversely affected his college dormitory roommate, Tyler Clementi, had tainted all the verdicts in the case because it may have caused the jury to convict Ravi based on the victim’s belief rather than the defendant’s intent. Five of the convictions … <Read More>
anti-gay bullying
Federal Judge Says Straight but Not Gay Students Are Protected from Homophobic Harassment Under Title IX
Ruling on pretrial motions in a case brought by the estate of a student who committed suicide after allegedly suffering severe harassment from fellow students at a public school, Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby (N.D.N.Y.) allowed the plaintiff to amend the complaint to add a Title IX cause of action for sex discrimination by an educational institution, based on the homophobic nature of slurs aimed at the decedent in Estate of D.B. v. … <Read More>
Michael Perlman’s “From White Plains” – Fault Line Theatre
The tiny Fault Line Theatre company is finishing up a run of a new play directed and co-written by Michael Perlman, “From White Plains,” at the Signature Theatre’s new performance space in West 42nd Street. I saw it last night and thought it was stunning. I think the run lasts through this Saturday, and I encourage people to see it.
The cast – Craig Wesley Divino, Karl Gregory, Jimmy King and Aaron Rossini – are … <Read More>