Teen in Exorcism Tells "Tyra Banks" He is "Healed" and Ex-Gay

The teen that has caused a sensation when a video of him being exorcised from "homosexual demons" was posted on YouTube has stated on "Tyra Banks" that he has been "healed."

From Rod 2.0:

There is a disturbing update to the case of the fundamentalist Connecticut church that became the focus of a child welfare investigation after it posted YouTube video which shows the pastors performing an exorcism of a black gay teen's "homosexual demons." The 16-year-old appeared on Tyra Banks on Wednesday and now claims he has been "healed" by the exorcism and no longer gay.

Read some more of his statements here.

Is homosexuality still taboo and unacceptable in the black community? Is this the only way for this teen to be accepted by his family? The conflict between sexual identity and the religious community (and identity) is very real, and one that seems to be difficult to resolve.

First HIV Vaccine Helps Prevent AIDS Infection

For the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the HIV virus.

From The Huffington Post:

The World Health Organization and the U.N. agency UNAIDS said the results "instilled new hope" in the field of HIV vaccine research.

The vaccine – a combination of two previously unsuccessful vaccines – cut the risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than 31 percent in the world's largest AIDS vaccine trial of more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, researchers announced Thursday in Bangkok.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/24/first-vaccine-helps-preve_n_298250.html

Read the full report here.

More Tour Dates Canceled for 'Homophobic' Jamaican Singer

You may have heard recently about Buju Banton, a Jamaican reggae singer who's currently on tour. More of this dates are getting cut. Banton's anti-gay anthem, "Boom Bye Bye," a popular song in Jamaica that talks about shooting gays and burning their bodies, has been a source of controversy. Banton however still has around 30 stops on his U.S. tour.

From Edge on the Net:

One venue that refused to cancel Banton’s appearance was the Trocadero in Philadelphia. Banton was scheduled to appear there on Sept. 12, but so were protesters who vowed to show up and demonstrate against Banton and against Trocadero owner Joanna Pang and a local promoter.

A Sept. 13 press release from the Gay Liberation Network noted that Web site CancelBujuBanton.com had announced that the performer had seen gigs fall through in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Minneapolis in the span of a few days.

Read the full story here.