DOMA Plaintiff Edie Windsor, Prop. 8 Attorney David Boies Honored at NYU 2013 Commencement: VIDEO

NYU had its 2013 commencement yesterday, and it was all about marriage equality, and it was stirring.

DOMA plaintiff Edie Windsor was given the school's Presidential Medal, and Prop. 8 lawyer David Boies was the keynote speaker. Mr. Boies received a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa. He was introduced by constitutional law professor Kenji Yoshino (second video).

Said Boies: "One of the platitudes of our country is that all people are created equal. I can't tell you today how the Supreme Court is going to rule in June but what I can tell you is that if we don't win it in Perry we will continue the fight until we do win it. So congratulations, and join us in trying to make platitudes real."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

NYC Gay Man's Killer Indicted; Lawyer Blames Murder on Client Being Sexually Abused as a Child

The New York Daily News reports that a Manhattan Criminal Court has indicted Elliot Morales, 33, who shot Mark Carson, 32 (pictured), in the West Village on Saturday night in a hate crime murder. Morales did not appear in court, but his attorney did. Writes the Daily News:

The lawyer, Kevin Michael Canfield, later said Morales is not guilty of the slaying and is "devastated by the charges."

"He didn't murder anybody," Canfield said, suggesting there were other factors at play.

"He was sexually abused as a child by a male authority figure which led to a lifetime of alcoholism and drug abuse," Canfield told the Daily News, adding, "It's a terrible tragedy."

Despite other factors which may have contributed, Morales was caught soon after he shot Carson, and the gravity of the situation is very real. Towleroad previously reported on Morales' charges which included murder as a hate crime and weapons charges, as well as the massive march and rally which followed on Monday.

The Daily News recalls the incident:

"Look at you faggots, you look like gay wrestlers," Morales allegedly told victim Mark Carson and his friend minutes before policed say he shot Mark Carson, 32, in the head.

Authorities said he callously laughed as he confessed to the random killing. His gleeful expression came as he allegedly told investigators, "I shot him in the face."

The indictment follows several weeks of increased anti-gay bias incidents in New York City, including the beating of two separate gay couples near Madison Square Garden, as well as an attack on New York nightlife promoter Dan Contarino. The Daily News reports that Morales will face "his Supreme Court arraignment on June 18th." For now, he is being held at Rikers Island with no bail posted.

Orion Griffiths Crowned 'Broadway Beauty Pageant' Winner After Sexy Contortionist Strip Tease: VIDEO

The annual Broadway Beauty Pageant took place on Monday night in New York, and raised more than $50,000 for the Ali Forney Center, the city's largest LGBT homeless youth shelter.

The evening featured Callan Bergmann (Silence! The Musical), Julius C. Carter (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark), Yurel Echezarreta (Matilda), Matthew Goodrich (The Nance), Orion Griffiths (Pippin), and Paul HeeSang Miller (Mamma Mia!). Nathan Lee Graham (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) also performed. The judges were Andrea Martin (Pippin), Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), and Michael Urie (Buyer and Cellar), and the evening was hosted by four-time Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award-winning actress Tovah Feldshuh.

The winner of the pageant, selected by the audience, was Pippin's Orion Griffiths. Matthew Rettenmund of Boy Culture shot a video of Griffiths' unique performance. That screenshot above is Griffiths before his clothes started coming off. And most of them did.

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...

NOM President Brian Brown Condemns Murder of Gay Man in NYC

Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, released the following statement yesterday:

"We condemn in the strongest possible way the murder of a gay man in New York by a killer who apparently hurled anti-gay insults at him moments before the killing. This senseless act cannot be condoned in America or anywhere, and we urge that the perpetrator be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Our heart goes out to the family of the victim, and we hold them in our prayers. While this killing appears to have no connection to the current debate about redefining marriage, there is no room for violence toward any American — whether they support traditional marriage or not. No person should be subjected to violence because they are gay or lesbian or because they believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. There is no place for violence, period."

Arrest Made in NYC Attack on Gay Man Amid 'Alarming Spike': VIDEO

ABC7 last night took a look at anti-gay hate crimes in NYC after two more, one against a nightlife promoter in NYC's East Village and one against a couple in Soho, were reported.

CBS2 spoke with that nightlife promoter, Dan Contarino, about the attack that sent him to the hospital.

Watch both reports, AFTER THE JUMP...

Contarino's attacker, has been arrested. ABC7 has more:

In one incident, the victim, 45 year old Dan Contarino, and the suspect both live at a nearby homeless shelter, on Avenue D. They left the shelter to have drinks and then went to get pizza.

Police said the victim said at some point they had a conversation about homosexually. The suspect became enranged, yelled anti gay remarks and struck the victim several times in the face. Contarino went unconscious and woke up at Bellevue Medical Center.

The suspect, 39-year-old Gornell Roman turned himself in to a police precinct in the Bronx late Tuesday night. Roman is charged with felony assault, felony aggravated harassment and misdemeanor assault, all as hate crimes. Roman has more than two dozen prior arrests, many drug-related charges. Roman is charged with assaulting 45 year old Dan Contarino after they went out for drinks and pizza in the East Village Monday night.

They started up a conversation about homosexuality while walking back to a homeless shelter where they both were staying. Roman assaulted Contarino on the way back to the shelter, yelling anti gay remarks and striking the victim several times in the face. Contarino went unconscious and woke up at Bellevue Medical Center, where he was treated.

Watch both reports, AFTER THE JUMP...

Anthony Weiner Gets into the NYC Mayoral Race: VIDEO

Nearly two years after stepping down from Congress after his sexting scandal, former Rep. Anthony Weiner has launched himself into the NYC mayoral race with a YouTube video.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

In a new Quinnipiac poll, 49 percent of voters say he should not run:

The poll, taken before Mr. Weiner’s candidacy was announced by video early Wednesday, found that his possible candidacy was given a thumbs-down by 49 percent of voters, while 38 percent approved. White voters were especially critical, with nearly 2 to 1 saying he should not run. Women were also turned off by the idea, with 52 percent saying he should not run and 35 percent saying he should.

Just a month ago, the same question yielded more-mixed results, with 44 percent of voters disapproving of the general idea and 41 percent approving.