Completely preventable. Yup. The many-minute beating of a gay Houston teen that only ended when a neighbor whipped out his shotgun could have been prevented if two principals and/or his bus driver had the sense to take the student seriously. The November 12 attack took place after school, on a neighbor’s property, as Jayron Martin fled from his attackers after getting off the school bus. As one student wailed on him with a metal pipe, trying to ‘beat the gay out,’ eight of his classmates stood around and watched until the neighbor appeared with his shotgun, possibly saving Martin’s life.

That’s right. Despite having a written letter from Martin, detailing his fears and the threats made against him, three school officials theoretically in charge of protecting students in their care did nothing but give empty assurances that they would “call him down” to the office. After suffering a concussion, Martin is now too scared to go back to school or even show his face on camera, according to a Houston television station.

Elsewhere…

D.C. – Women should delay beginning screenings for breast cancer until they’re 50, and young women should delay their first screening for cervical cancer until 21, according to two influential physicians’ groups. The New York Times provides some background here. (NYT)

D.C. – The Washington Blade is back up and running…as The DC Agenda.

D.C. – Catholics vs. Gays in the nation’s capitol – Round 2. Fight! (The DC Agenda)

D.C. – The Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network is not too happy with the Obama administration’s newest Pentagon appointee, who will supervise the implementation (or non-implementation) of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. (PHB)

D.C. – Feds threaten to withhold AIDS funding to the city of Washington D.C. because of what they call the city’s gross mismanagement of the money. (HIVPlus Magazine)

Iowa – One of Iowa’s LGBT movers and shakers pleads innocent to charges she helped her spouse embezzle millions of dollars from her spouse’s employer. (Des Moines Register)

Florida – Take that wingnuts! Trans protections approved in Tampa. (The Advocate)

California – Why does it seem like hate crimes are up this year? Because they are – at least in LA. (Santa Clara Signal)

New Jersey – A narrow majority of the Garden State supports same-gender marriage, according to a new poll. Politicians continue to sit on the fence, though. (The Advocate)

And finally, Jon Stewart wants to see Mick Foley protect 10-year-old Will Phillips from slurs (or, presumably, metal pipes)