PITTSBURGH (AP)—A lawyer rejected from practicing law in Pennsylvania in the 1800s because he was Black was posthumously admitted to the state’s bar Oct. 21.

The family of George Vashon accepted a Certificate of Admission during a ceremony before the state Supreme Court. Chief Justice Ronald Castille noted the “ancient practices” that led to Vashon’s rejection despite having been qualified to practice law in the state.

ADMITTED TO BAR—Pittsburgh attorney Wendell Freeland, right, presents the Certificate of Admission to practice law awarded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to the descendants of George B. Vashon in a ceremony at the courtroom in Pittsburgh, Oct. 20. Vashon’s great-great grandson Paul Thornell, left, holds his son, 7-year-old Nolan Thornel, as Freeland presents the document. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

ATLANTA (AP)—The megachurch pastor accused of luring four young men into sexual relationships categorically denied the allegations for the first time in a court filing Monday, saying he was only a mentor to the men who filed civil lawsuits against him.

Bishop Eddie Long has for weeks vowed he would fight the lawsuits in court, and promised in church sermons he would not let the legal troubles prevent him from doing its work. While his attorney has denied the allegations on his behalf, Long had not refuted them publicly until he filed his legal response. He said in the filing that each of the “claims of sexual misconduct are not true.”

by Cyril Josh Barker

NEW YORK (NNPA)—Recent anti-gay attacks and suicides among gay youth have ignited a conversation about a problem that those in the LGBTQ community say is nothing new.

As the case of what many are calling one of the most brutal anti-gay crimes unfolds, three of the 11 suspects accused of participating in an attack in an abandoned house in the Bronx have been set free. Brian Cepeda, 17, Bryan Almonte, 16, and Steven Carabello, 16, were all cleared on charges after the Bronx district attorney’s office said there was a lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, one of the latest suicides took place in the city when 26-year-old Black gay youth activist Joseph Jefferson took his own life on Oct. 23, Jefferson worked with HIV/AIDS charities and was an assistant to promoters of Black LGBTQ events.

by Ula Ilnytzky
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Shannon Tavarez, the 11-year-old who starred on Broadway in “The Lion King” and whose battle with leukemia won the hearts of many, including Alicia Keys, Rihanna and 50 Cent, has died.

Tavarez died Monday afternoon at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, on Long Island, said Katharina Harf, co-founder of the bone marrow donor center DKMS.

LOSES BATTLE —This July 16, 2010 file photo shows actress Shannon Tavarez at her home in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Rick Maiman, File)