Catholic School Forcing Male Transgender Student to Wear Female Robe at Graduation: VIDEO

An Albuquerque, New Mexico Catholic school is demanding that Damian Garcia, a trans student, wear a girl's gown to graduation. Damian was born Brandi Garcia but identifies as a male, had a name change last year, and is known as Damian to students, teachers, and his parents, but the Superintendent of Saint Pius insists he is a girl and must wear a white robe.

Damian's father is angry about the humiliating treatment, KRQE reports:

“I look at him and I call him my son. That's how he wishes to be acknowledged is as a male,” said father Luis Garcia.

The Saint Pius Superintendent tells KRQE News 13, Saint Pius goes by what the student's birth certificate says if there's any question on what gender-color they wear at graduation.

Says Damian: “I just want to walk in my black robe, nice and proud and have that memory to look back on with my family and friends. I would rather not walk than to embarrass myself by wearing a female robe.”

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Lesbian Couple Arrested After Locking Themselves to One Another at Albuquerque, NM Marriage Bureau: VIDEO

A lesbian couple of nine years was arrested yesterday after locking themselves to one another in the marriage license area of the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Watch it all go down, AFTER THE JUMP...

ABQ Journal reports:

April Parker, 38, and Amanda Rich, 31, were part of a group of about 40 people protesting for marriage licenses for same-sex couples.

“Gay, straight, black, white, marriage is a civil right!” the group chanted, as Parker and Rich used bike locks to attach themselves back-to-back in two chairs inside the office.

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Lt. David Knowles told Parker and Rich they could stay in the clerk’s office until 5 p.m., provided they did not interrupt business. A few minutes later, the women moved their chairs to block others from getting marriage licenses.

The demonstration in which Parker and Rich were involved was just one of 20 in six states organized by GetEqual and Marriage Equality USA meant to coincide with Valentine's Day.

Watch ABQ Journal's report on the arrests, AFTER THE JUMP...

Gay Man Severely Beaten Outside Albuquerque Nightclub

The weekend beating of a gay man outside the Effex nightclub in Albuquerque, New Mexico brought people out to a meeting last night in which they called for improved security in the area.

The gay man was beaten by a gang of several men after rushing to the assistance of a woman being assaulted by the gang.

KOAT reports: "Dozens in the local gay community are demanding change saying they don't feel safe in downtown Albuquerque. They claim there have been a lot of problems before this weekends beating and on Wednesday pleaded with the mayor's office and the police department to make some serious changes. 'I don't think there's any way to describe how horrible it is,' said the victim. The victim said he wanted to remain anonymous in fear of retaliation. He said can't forget his experience after leaving the Effex Club on Saturday. 'I was pushed back and held back we were both sprayed in the face with pepper spray just before they started to chase us,' the man said. He said he and his partner stopped to help a girl on a downtown sidewalk when five men ran after them yelling derogatory statements about their sexual orientation. Then, he said they started kicking his significant other. 'His knee was shattered. His leg was broken and he's in a lot of pain,' he said. 'I am scared to go downtown and it's up to you and to you to help make this a safe place not just for the gay community, but for all people.'"

Police and the DA's office are not classifying it as a hate crime at this time because the motivation for the crime, they say, is unclear.

Watch a news report from local station KOB, AFTER THE JUMP...