Benjamin Cohen founded PinkNews.co.uk in 2005 and was editor until 2006. He was technology correspondent at Channel 4 News between 2006 and 2012.
Twitter: @benjamincohen-
20 February 2006Internet rumours “name” gay football star 23 The internet has today been rife with rumours surrounding the identity of two leading Premiership footballers, filmed in a gay orgy and viewed by a reporter at the News of the World.The tabloid newspaper said that the footballers, who can not be named for legal reasons, were caught on camera in an orgy with well a known music industry figure. The newspaper claimed that one player engaged in sexual acts using a mobile phone as a sex toy. -
19 February 2006Brokeback Mountain rides away with four BAFTAs + The gay cowboy romance, Brokeback Mountain emerged as the victor at the BAFTAs, held in London this evening. The film scored best film whilst Ang Lee, received the best director award.Jake Gyllenhaal, won the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of Jack Twist. Speaking after the ceremony, he said: "It's just a pleasure to be a part of this movie and I can't even believe I've got this for it." -
19 February 2006Gorgeous George + He is a little bit nutty
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19 February 2006Tottenham Hotspur to ban homophobic fans + Tottenham Hotspur are to become the first Premiership football club to ban homophobic chanting on the terrace. The club have warned fans that offenders may be ejected from premisses and risk having their season tickets voided.The club have instituted the rules following a series of homophobic chants directed at Tottenham's former captain, Sol Campbell during their recent home win over Charlton. -
18 February 2006Gay rights group claim victory against Muslim leader + The gay rights group, Outrage!, claim that Sir Iqbal Sacranie, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain was forced to withdraw from making a key note address at the trade union-sponsored "Unite Against Fascism" conference held in London today, following protests against his alleged homophobic views.However, Sir Iqbal was likely to have been absent due to the event clashing with a London rally against the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed in the European press. -
16 February 2006Cambridge dean to defy Bishop on gay marriage 1 The dean of a leading college at Cambridge University has written to the Bishop of Ely informing him that he will break the Church of England's ban on clergy offering services for civil partnerships or gay marriages.The dean of Emmanuel College, the Rev Jeremy Caddick has written to the Bishop of Ely arguing that he believes that the college does not fall within the Church's jurisdiction. -
16 February 2006Elton John wins damages for “rude” slur + The gay pop star Sir Elton John has accepted an undisclosed sum and an apology from the Sunday Times over an article which described him as "rude".Sir Elton, who famously described a group of Tawianesse journalists and photographers as " "rude, vile pigs" took offence at an article titled "Rock royals get too grand" which described his AIDS Foundation Summer Ball. -
13 February 2006“Neighbours from hell” evicted after homophobic and anti-disabled abuse 2 A family described by the police as as a "neighbours from hell" have been evicted from their Cheltenham home after they taunted abuse at gay people and attacked a disabled man.The single mother and her three daughters shouted abuse at visitors to the gay EXS nightclub on Cheltenham High Street from their home nearby. -
13 February 2006Princess Diana’s home opened for gay weddings + Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales has been accused of cashing in on his late sister's memory by opening up her ancestral home for gay weddings.Althrop House, where the late wife of Prince Charles was brought up, can be rented out for £50,000 as a luxury wedding venue for gay and straight couples. -
12 February 2006“Bisexual football stars in gay orgy”- tabloid claims 23 A tabloid newspaper has today claimed that two leading Premiership footballers are bisexual and have engaged in a gay orgy.The News of the World, said that the footballers who can not be named for legal reasons were caught on camera in an orgy with well known music industry figure.The newspaper claims that one player engaged in sexual acts using a mobile phone as a sex toy.
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12 February 2006Gay star hits out at “old fashioned” Hollywood + Sir Ian McKellen, the openly gay star of the Lord of the Rings has criticised Hollywood's attitude to homosexuality during a speech at the Berlin Film Festival.Sir Ian who was receiving a lifetime achievement award said that it was very hard for gay actors in America to be open about their sexuality."The film industry is very old fashioned in California," he said. -
10 February 2006Casanova + Fresh from a much-lauded and award-nominated turn as a rugged and secretly gay cowboy coming to terms with his love for another man in Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger here returns to more familiar territory, proving both his rampant heterosexuality and his great comic timing. After all, how better to demonstrate that just because you've played a gay cowboy doesn't mean you're gay than by taking on the role of the most infamous seducer of women in history? -
9 February 2006Moving on out or a storm in a coffee cup? 8 Can the Conservatives really woo the pink vote?The Conservative party are changing; at least that's what leader David Cameron would like you to believe. One of the key architects of the change is Francis Maude, former Foreign Office minister and now chairman of the Conservative Party.In his first major interview on gay rights, he explains toPinkNews.co.uk's Benjamin Cohen that his party's approach to gayrights in the 1980s and 1990s were wrong, that Section 28 was amistake and expresses his love for his openly gay brother who died of AIDs 12 years ago. -
8 February 2006Contact Us + -
4 February 2006Who do the LGBT community think should lead the Lib Dems? 19 The Liberal Democrats have hardly been out of the news of late as they build up to the election of a new leader. Sexuality has never been a more important issue in politics since Simon Hughes, the former front-runner for the leadership came out as bisexual.Today, we are asking for your choice as leader of the Liberal Democrats.The Liberal Democrats do not stand in Northern Ireland so for this reason we are only inviting votes from readers residing either in England, Wales or Scotland. -
4 February 2006Thanks + -
4 February 2006Gay flamingos celebrate fifth anniversary with their children 24 Britain's only gay flamingos Carlos and Fernando, are celebrating their fifth anniversary together with their adopted children at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Gloucestershire.The pair surprised staff at the wildlife park after they came out five years ago and began to engage in a series of complex mating rituals. The pink birds have been inseparable ever since and have even raised chicks together after they stole eggs from neighbouring straight couples. -
1 February 2006Gay kiss advert cleared for broadcast + The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that an advert for Dolce Gabbana that features two men kissing is suitable for broadcast at any time.The television advertisement for DG watches showed various brief shots of people in cafes, restaurants and on a dance floor. In each shot, they were wearing two DG watches. In the final scene, a man loading groceries into his car gave one of his watches to a second man, after which they kissed briefly on the lips. -
31 January 2006Brokeback mountain leads the Oscars pack 5 The critically acclaimed film of gay cowboys, Brokeback Mountain has led the pack with eight Oscar nominations, which were announced earlier today.The film which has wowed audiences across Britain has scored some high profile fans including the Conservative leader, David Cameron.It scored nominations for Jake Gyllenhaal, best supporting actor, Heath Ledger, best actor and Ang Lee as best director.
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31 January 2006Man may loose his sight after homophobic attack 1 A gay man from County Donegal, Northern Ireland has been told that he may loose the sight in one eye after being beaten in a suspected homophobic attack.The unnamed 20-year-old, was attacked by two men in as he walked along a quiet street on Sunday.The attackers punched the man on the face and knocked him to the ground. He is now recuperating in hospital.
