Don Belton, an assistant professor of English at Indiana University and one of the leading gay African-American voices in academia, was found stabbed to death in his home on Monday. His assailant, an ex-Marine named Michael Griffin, age 25, has told police he killed Belton after an argument and scuffle over two encounters Griffin describes as sexual assaults. In searching Belton’s home, however, police found his diary, in which he expresses happiness that someone named “Michael” had entered his life.

Is Griffin twisting relationship remorse into rape to justify the killing? Or did the professor really get Griffin drunk and rape him twice?

Elsewhere…

Uganda – David Bahati, the Ugandan MP behind the “Kill Gays” bill is claiming he’s received death threats instead of chocolates in his Christmas stocking. AllAfrica.com reports that Bahati’s claim has yet to be confirmed, so it could just be grand-standing as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni goes toe-to-toe – after US prodding – with members of the country’s religious establishment over the bill. Meanwhile, the rumored anti-homosexuality bill in nearby Rwanda doesn’t stand a chance, according to leading lawmakers; in fact, existing punishments for homosexuality may be removed from the Rwandan penal code with little more than a whimper. (EDGE Online, Box Turtle Bulletin)

New Hampshire / Iowa / NYC / Mexico – Marriage equality will take effect at 12:01 tomorrow morning in New Hampshire, and in March in Mexico City, and couples are lining up. In Iowa, pro- and anti- marriage equality groups are planning rallies for the start of the upcoming legislative session, and in New York, state Sen. Hiram Monserate (a critical figure in torpedoing this month’s marriage equality vote in New York) is facing the possible end of his political career for slashing his girlfriend’s face with a broken bottle. (Towleroad, Associated Press, OneIowa, LezGetReal)

Vermont – A Lesbian couple can’t volunteer with their son’s Cub Scout troop, because their presence would be “pushing [their] lifestyle on the boys.” (EDGE Online)

Ohio – The Republican-controlled Ohio state Senate doesn’t believe in protecting LGBT teens from dating violence. (The Bilerico Project)