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PUERTO RICO

PROFESSIONAL BOXER ANNOUNCES HE IS A “PROUD GAY MAN”

Orlando Cruz via Facebook

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- A featherweight professional boxer and former Olympian stunned the world of professional boxing Wednesday after announcing that he "is a proud gay man.” Orlando Cruz, 31, began boxing at age 7, and his amateur career culminated in his selection to the 2000 Puerto Rican Olympic Team in Sydney. His teammates included former world champions Miguel Cotto and Ivan Calderon.

Cruz, who lives in San Juan Puerto Rico is currently the Number 4 ranked Featherweight in the sport globally by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). 

In an open letter published Wednesday, the boxing champion wrote:

"I’ve been fighting for more that 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself. I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career. 

“I have always been and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and will always be a proud gay man. I don’t want to hide any of my identities. I want people to look at me for the human being that I am. I am a professional sportsman that always bring his best to the ring. I want for people to continue to see me for my boxing skills, my character, my sportsmanship. 

“But I also want kids who suffer from bullying, to know that you can be whoever you want to be in life, including a professional boxer. That anything is possible and that who you are or whom you love should not be impediment to achieving anything in life. 

“I want to thank my family, especially my Mom, who’s my inspiration and my best reason to continue to live and my brother and my sister. I want to thank my friends for their love and support. And I also want to thank my team for believing in me and being so supportive not only in this decision, but throughout my career. 

“I am and will always be a proud Puerto Rican gay man.”

Before commencing his professional career in the sport, Cruz posted an amateur career record of 178-11. He won 7 Puerto Rico National Title’s and spent 4 years on The Puerto Rican National Team. Cruz won 7 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze in various international tournaments. Cruz made his professional debut on December 15, 2000 and won his first world title on March 22, 2008 (vacant IBA Featherweight Title) and a regional title on October 14, 2011 (WBO Latino Featherweight title).

His next fight is scheduled for October 19 at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida in which he will defend his WBO NABO title against Jorge Pazos. A win against Pazos should position Cruz for a world title shot.

Cruz is sitting down with Telemundo’s Jessi Losada in an exclusive tell-all interview later this week that is scheduled to air the week of October 15.

Massachusetts

Convicted Transgender Prisoner Seeks Reimbursement For Legal Expenses In Massachusetts Federal Case

NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS -- Convicted killer Michelle Kosilek — granted a taxpayer-funded sex-reassignment surgery ordered by a federal judge — is demanding $698 in reimbursement for legal expenses for arguing her case from behind bars while Kosilek's attorneys are seeking fees of around $800,000, according to documents filed this week in U. S. District Court.

Kosilek- who has been diagnosed with gender-identity disorder- won the right to gender reassignment surgery after U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark Wolf said in a 126-page ruling issued last month, that the treatment for Kosilek had been prescribed by Department of Correction doctors, and that the only justifications for denying the treatment were based on public opinion.

The state is appealing a Wolf’s ruling to allow Kosilek to undergo the gender reassignment surgery.

Kosilek, who first sued the Massachusetts Department of Corrections 12 years ago, is asking that the court reimburse her legal expenses:

“I incurred the following out-of-pocket expenses,” Kosilek writes in a hand-written note that was included in today’s filing. Those expenses, she writes, include: $496.86 for stamps; $156.18 for bulk postage; $26.10 for envelopes; $7.80 for copies; $11.75 for filing fees. 

“Having prevailed, I am asking the court to order the defendant to reimburse me for my expenses. Signed under pain and penalty of perjury, Michelle Lynne Kosilek,” the filing reads with her signature.

The total amount sought is $698.69. In the same filing, Ms Kosilek’s attorney, Frances S. Cohen cites the Prison Litigation Reform Act in demanding $644,573 in attorneys’ fees and costs of $161,873 — for a total of $806, 446.

Cohen, justified her expenses and fees, writing that she had fought for a client who had an “unpopular diagnosis.”

“Prosecuting this case was a huge undertaking by many measures,” Cohen wrote. “Plaintiff’s counsel has borne the burden of keeping an often frantic and distraught client informed.”

Cohen had previously offered to waive her firm's fees, excluding out-of-pocket expenses, on the condition that the Department of Correction does not appeal against Judge Wolf’s ruling. In a legal brief filed last Friday, attorneys for the DOC notified the court of their intention to appeal his decision.