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-
30 January 2006China bans Brokeback Mountain 5 The critically acclaimed film of gay cowboys, Brokeback Mountain has been banned by Chinese censors because they object to its homosexual content.The film is directed by Taiwanese director Ang Lee, who was the director of Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.The national Xinhua News Agency claims that the "sensitive topic" of homosexuality has meant that the film is unsuitable for release within the communist country. -
30 January 2006Dead man’s father doesn’t blame gay TV star Barrymore 2 The father of the man found dead in the swimming pool of TV star Michael Barrymore five years ago, said today that he didn't blame the star for the death of his son.Stuart Lubbock, 31, was pronounced dead in hospital the morning after a party at Mr Barrymore's home in March 2001.His 61 year-old-father, Terry, met with Mr Barrymore for the first time this weekend and then told the Sun that he would work with Mr Barrymore. -
29 January 2006Gay man’s body found in country lane 1 The remains of a gay man from Notting Hill have been found next to a country lane in Luton, Bedfordshire.Alexandre Marques, 61, emigrated to London from Portugal in 1972 and disappeared from his bedsit in Notting Hill on Sunday 16th October 2005.Colleagues at the exclusive ARTS club in Mayfair reported him missing on October 21, after he failed to appear at work for five days. -
29 January 2006Barrymore set to marry gay lover and return to UK 2 Having been placed as the runner up in the hit Channel 4 series, Celebrity Big Brother, former TV star Michael Barrymore says that he's going to marry his gay lover.Mr Barrymore was mired in controversy in 2001 following the death of Stuart Lubbock, who was found with sexual injuries after drowning in Mr Barrymore's swimming pool. Following newspaper revelations, Mr Barrymore fled to New Zealand where he attempted to re-launch his career as a stage actor.
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28 January 2006Synagogue appoints gay rabbi five years after rejecting lesbian + Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London has appointed an openly gay rabbi just five years after it rejected a lesbian Rabbi to be the community's spiritual head.The synagogue was embroiled in controversy following the proposal to appoint an openly lesbian Rabbi, Melina Carr in 2000. Her appointment was recommended by the synagogue's rabbinical committee but was vetoed by the community. The synagogue later apologised to Rabbi Carr for "unwarranted intrusion into aspects of her private life." -
26 January 2006Student expelled for being gay 2 A student at an American university claims he was expelled from his course after the institution found out that he was gay.Michael Guinn was a student at the private Christian, John Brown University in Arkansas.He claims that he was thrown of his course after the university found his internet blog that listed details of his sexuality. -
26 January 2006Simon Hughes: “I’m bisexual” 21 Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat leadership contender has finally revealed that he is bisexual and that he has had gay relationships in the past. In the past weeks, he publicly stated that he was not gay.In an interview published this morning in the Sun, Mr Hughes admitted that he has had, "both homosexual and heterosexual relationships in the past." In the interview he admitted using a gay telephone chat service. This morning, Mr Hughes confirmed to PinkNews.co.uk that he is "bisexual." -
26 January 2006Simon Hughes admits to gay relationships and apologises for lying 19 Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat leadership contender has finally revealed that he has had gay relationships in the past. In the past weeks, he publicly stated that he was not gay.In an interview published this morning in the Sun, Mr Hughes admitted that he has had, "both homosexual and heterosexual relationships in the past." In the interview he admitted using a gay telephone chat service.
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24 January 2006Simon Hughes apologises for homophobic smears in 1983 22 Liberal Democrat leadership contender, Simon Hughes has belatedly apologised for homophobic campaigning that led to his election as an MP in 1983.Mr Hughes won the Bermondsey by-election in 1983 against the gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, then representing the Labour party in what should have been a safe seat. -
24 January 2006Simon Cowell slammed by gay rights groups + Pop Idol and X Factor judge, Simon Cowell, has been condemned by a leading gay rights group over a comment he made to a contestant on American Idol.Mr Cowell told a male contestant to "shave off your beard wear a dress" in the first episode of the fifth series, while fellow judge Randy Jackson asked one: "Are you a girl?" -
24 January 2006Will Grace to end with a wedding 3 The makers of the hit Channel 4 sitcom Will Grace, NBC, has announced that the series will end after eight years."It is a bittersweet moment for all of us at NBC to confirm that this will be the final season of the comedy Will Grace," said NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly yesterday.The show's producers say that the series will end with a two-hour finale which will include a baby and a wedding. -
24 January 2006Muslim leader will not face charges over gay comments 12 Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, will not face charges over allegedly homophobic remarks he made in a BBC radio interview, it was confirmed yesterday.It emerged earlier this month that Sir Iqbal would face investigation over the comments made on civil partnerships and gay rights in an interview for Radio 4's PM programme. -
13 January 2006NHS criticised over lack of planning for sexual health + NHS trusts in England have been accused of neglecting to plan adequately for sexual health provision by a consortium of sexual health charities.A report published today claims that despite central government funding being available for planning, half of all Primary Care Trust (PCT) local delivery plans for the next three years fail to mention specific targets to improving access to sexual health services. -
12 January 2006Muslim leader to be investigated by police over gay comments 12 Sir Iqbal Sacranie, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, is under investigation by the Metropolitan police over allegations that comments he made on homosexuality may have breached the Public Order Act.Scotland Yard said in a statement that it had : "received a report of comments made in a radio interview which the complainant believed were homophobic in nature and asked us to investigate."
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11 January 2006Government denies that marriage is a dirty word 1 The government have denied allegations made today in a national newspaper claiming that the words "marriage" and "weddings" will be consigned to the dustbin of history in order to avoid offending gay couples.The Daily Mail reported that the Department of Trade and Industry's Women and Equality Unit together with the Treasury and local authorities have sent a checklist of changes to registry offices following the introduction of the Civil Partnerships Act last year. -
11 January 2006Gay police officers face homophobia from Christians and Muslims 15 Gay police officers are facing "faith based" homophobia from colleagues, the Gay Police Association (GPA) claims.The GPA claims that its 24-hour help line has received a 75 per cent increase in calls and warns that much of this is caused by homophobia from Christian and Muslim officers.Vic Codling, the GPA's national co-ordinator told Police Review that there were 14 cases last year of so-called "faith based" homophobia. -
10 January 2006Tony Blair’s local doctor jailed for possessing gay paedophilia + A family doctor in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency has been jailed for 15 months for possession of gay paedophilia on his computerDr Riccardo Benci, a GP with Sedgefield Primary Care Trust in County Durham was suspended from working as a doctor after computer shop staff discovered the images when he took his pc in to be repaired.Judge Guy Whitburn, said that shock and fear was in evidence on the faces of the abused boys who were aged between 6 and 15. -
9 January 2006Murderer to marry gay paedophile lover behind bars 2 A convicted murderer has been granted permission to marry his gay paedophile lover behind bars. However, the prison service will not let them to share a cell.William Beggs, 42, known as the "Limbs in the Loch Killer," was jailed for life in 2001. Beggs drugged, raped and murdered 18 year-old Barry Wallace before dumping his head in the sea and his limbs and torso into Loch Lomond. He escaped to Amsterdam where he eventually surrendered to police. -
7 January 2006Gay rights groups ask the US government why they’re being spied on + A group representing lesbian and gay soldiers has today filed a Freedom of Information request with the US government to ascertain the extent of Pentagon spying of gay rights groups based in major universities.The Service-members Legal Defence Network (SLDN), have filed the request on behalf of themselves and 13 other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations, seeking information related to the Pentagon's domestic spy program. -
6 January 2006Government funded report claims Kevin Spacey is gay 1 The Hollywood star Kevin Spacey has been named as a prominent gay man in a report funded by the Department of Education.The report forms part of a series of lesson plans put together by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Group (LGBT) to be used in schools as part of the group's 'Its History Month' taking place in February. The Department of Education is believed to be contributing £20,000 to the project.
