Within the programme, which was broadcast in two parts on BBC3 on 30th and 31st December, lesbians were described as “munters” and viewers were told that female Hollywood superstars should be saved for heterosexuals.

In the first episode (which is still available on the BBC iPlayer), bisexual actress Lindsay Lohan and her partner DJ Samantha Ronson were listed as number 43.

During the programme, BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Spooney said of lesbians: “Let the munters and mingers get each other. That’s cool. Nobody wants them.”
He then referred to Lohan and Ronson: “But when they’re hot and fit…you know what I mean?

“Hollywood superstars: they should be saved for guys.”

Porn actor Ron Jeremy made several references to ejaculating on the couple.

Paul Flynn, of Grazia magazine, commented that the high profile of Lohan and Ronsons’ relationship is a positive thing for the lesbian community, as “You don’t have hot, cool lesbians in culture; they don’t exist.”

Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell told PinkNews.co.uk: “The remarks by DJ Spoony and straight porn actor Ron Jeremy were gratuitously sexist and homophobic.

“The production company and the BBC should have never broadcast them.

“The upcoming repeats should either cut or bleep-out their stupid, bigoted remarks.

“The BBC should also issue a public apology.

“Spoony should be suspended by the BBC and only be allowed to continue presenting his Radio 5 programme after he has apologised on air and promised not to repeat his homophobic garbage.

“Ron Jeremy’s comments were needlessly offensive, he’s an ugly, sexist pig, which no right-thinking woman, lesbian or straight, would want to meet, let alone have sex with.”

Mr Tatchell’s comments come after PinkNews.co.uk reader Georgina Burns, complained to the BBC that the comments made within the programme were offensive to lesbians.

Ms Burns told PinkNews.co.uk: “From the moment they discussed a real lesbian they spent 70% of the time on men salivating.

“Paul Flynn’s comment on there being no ‘hot, cool’ lesbians; I couldn’t believe it! Every male stereotype of women was in the programme.

“None of them discussed Samantha Ronson as a person.

She added: “The BBC won’t allow the word ‘faggot’ on to be played in a song on Radio 1, but every week lesbians and women in general are slated in the media.

“I left such a bad taste in my mouth; it seems that you can just say what you like about lesbians.

The BBC wrote to her saying that the comments were made in a “light-hearted fashion with no malicious intent.” The BBC added that the commentators were “voicing their own opinion – they don’t represent the views or opinions of the BBC.”

Epilogue
The article published by PinkNews.co.uk resulted in scores of complaints to the media regulator Ofcom and the BBC Trust. The later upheld the complaints by PinkNews.co.uk readers saying that the comments upheld negative stereotypes. Unforutnately, this was just one of a series of occasions that the BBC was accused of homophobia. A report by Stonewall just last week named the BBC the worst broadcaster for on-screen portrayal of gay people.

Howard-Lloyd said at the European Symposium on Gay and Lesbian Tourism last week that travel agents and tour operators should show their support, rather than simply exploiting “the pink pound.”

He said: “It’s all very well to say: ‘Here’s our gay-friendly offering,’ but the minute a tour operator says it is going to do a gay programme, we would wonder why.

“We know how valuable the pink pound is and we are really quite cynical about anyone taking advantage of it.

“We’ve seen through all that and that’s why the organisations that actively work with the community and support it are the ones we trust.

“Travel companies that sponsor Pride realise there’s a bit of give and take.

“If they spend money with us then it sends a sign to us that they’re serious about our market and not trying to cash in.”

Jo Allen, one of the founders of newly-relaunched Gaypedia, the online travel information website for gays and lesbians, echoed these sentiments, and highlighted the importance and value of the gay travel market.

She told PinkNews.co.uk:

“The gay travel market is estimated to be worth in region of £5 billion annually.

“Travel agents and tour operators are starting to identify this as a growing and valuable market but often struggle to provide first hand experience of a gay-friendly destination or resort.

“This is why we are seeing gay and lesbian travellers seeking inspiration and impartial advice from fellow gay travellers online.”

The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has been ordered by the High Court to have a gay asylum seeker, removed from the UK, brought back to Britain.

He was seeking asylum in Britain as, he claims, he feared persecution in his native country due to his sexuality, the Associated Press reports.

The man, known only as Mr X, was removed from the UK under false pretences in September 2008.

An attempt to remove Mr X was carried out on 14th September. At this time, he refused to cooperate, saying that his latest legal representations by the Refugee Legal Centre had not been answered.

The Refugee Legal Centre said that they had new evidence that could sway his asylum claim on the grounds of homophobic discrimination in his home country.

Four days later, before this new evidence could be hear, Mr X was told that he was being taken from Tinsley House immigration removal centre to speak to an immigration officer.

Instead, he was taken in a van to a plane bound for his country of origin.

On arrival, he claims that he was handcuffed, punched in the genitals, and had his legs belted together as he was carried onto the aircraft.

Mr X, 38, was not given the standard 72-hour notice period, in which he would be given a chance to call friends and legal support.

High Court deputy judge Sir George Newman said that Mr X’s removal was “manifestly unlawful” and that the Home Secretary must “use her best endeavours” to bring him back.

The judge added that the actions of the security staff were deliberately to “avoid any complication that could arise from his removal becoming publicly known.”

Judge Newman ruled that the UK Border Agency’s actions were “grave and serious.”

Legal representatives for the Home Office admitted that Mr X’s removal was unlawful, but argued that flying him back to the UK would only result in him again failing to obtain asylum.

A UK Border Agency spokesperson told PinkNews.co.uk:

“We are disappointed by the High Court’s decision.
 
“When somebody has been found to have no right to stay in the UK we expect them to leave voluntarily and if necessary will enforce their removal.

“It is important that individuals who have no right to be here are removed as part of robust immigration system.

“We are fully investigating what happened in this case.”

Mr X arrived in the UK in September 2001, working here until his asylum claim failed and he was selected for removal from the country.

Since returning to his home country, Mr X claims that he was beaten, and was hiding from the police, fearing interrogation over his sexuality.

He is expected to launch a claim for damages against the Government due to its conduct towards him. 

Instead, the 808s and Heartbreak star said that the term will be used in future as synonymous with fashionable and stylish.

Speaking in an interview with Detail, West said:

“I like to embody titles or words that have negative connotations, and explain why that’s good.

“Take the word gay. Like, in hip-hop, that’s a negative thing, right?

“But in the past two, three years, all the gay people I’ve encountered have been, like, really, really, extremely dope.

“I haven’t gone to a gay bar, nor do I ever plan to. But where I would talk to a gay person, the conversation would be mostly around art or design, it’d be really dope.

“From a design standpoint, kids’ll say, ‘Dude, those pants are gay.’

“But if it’s good, good, good fashion-level, design-level stuff, where it’s on a higher level than the average commercial design stuff, it’s gay people that do that.

“I think that should be said as a compliment. Like, ‘Dude, that’s so good it’s almost gay.’”

West has talked about his perception of gay men as fashion icons in the past, drawing speculation over his sexuality. He said in a statement:

“Stereotypically gay people got such good [style] … they were smart enough to take a fresh-ass logo like the rainbow and say that it’s gonna be theirs.”

He also admitted in an interview with MTV that he “used to be scared to talk to a gay person,” but in a recent concert in New York, urged fans to reject homophobia.

Within the programme, which was broadcast in two parts on BBC3 on 30th and 31st December, lesbians were described as “munters” and viewers were told that female Hollywood superstars should be saved for heterosexuals.

In the first episode (which is still available on the BBC iPlayer), bisexual actress Lindsay Lohan and her partner DJ Samantha Ronson were listed as number 43.

During the programme, BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Spooney said of lesbians: “Let the munters and mingers get each other. That’s cool. Nobody wants them.”

He then referred to Lohan and Ronson: “But when they’re hot and fit…you know what I mean?

“Hollywood superstars: they should be saved for guys.”

Porn actor Ron Jeremy made several references to ejaculating on the couple.

Paul Flynn, of Grazia magazine, commented that the high profile of Lohan and Ronsons’ relationship is a positive thing for the lesbian community, as “You don’t have hot, cool lesbians in culture; they don’t exist.”

Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell told PinkNews.co.uk: “The remarks by DJ Spoony and straight porn actor Ron Jeremy were gratuitously sexist and homophobic.

“The production company and the BBC should have never broadcast them.

“The upcoming repeats should either cut or bleep-out their stupid, bigoted remarks.

“The BBC should also issue a public apology.

“Spoony should be suspended by the BBC and only be allowed to continue presenting his Radio 5 programme after he has apologised on air and promised not to repeat his homophobic garbage.

“Ron Jeremy’s comments were needlessly offensive, he’s an ugly, sexist pig, which no right-thinking woman, lesbian or straight, would want to meet, let alone have sex with.”

Mr Tatchell’s comments come after PinkNews.co.uk reader Georgina Burns, complained to the BBC that the comments made within the programme were offensive to lesbians.

Ms Burns told PinkNews.co.uk: “From the moment they discussed a real lesbian they spent 70% of the time on men salivating.

“Paul Flynn’s comment on there being no ‘hot, cool’ lesbians; I couldn’t believe it! Every male stereotype of women was in the programme.

“None of them discussed Samantha Ronson as a person.

She added: “The BBC won’t allow the word ‘faggot’ on to be played in a song on Radio 1, but every week lesbians and women in general are slated in the media.

“I left such a bad taste in my mouth; it seems that you can just say what you like about lesbians.

The BBC wrote to her saying that the comments were made in a “light-hearted fashion with no malicious intent.” The BBC added that the commentators were “voicing their own opinion – they don’t represent the views or opinions of the BBC.”

The broadcaster said that the complaint would be circulated to BBC executives.

The club insists that the boards on which the images are mounted are in place to stop vandals smashing the club’s windows, as has happened before.

Planning authorities say that the 4ft boards violate planning regulations, and ordered them to be removed in December after several members of the public complained that the images are offensive.

The club was given until January to remove the images, but as of yet has not complied.

Councillors have threatened to take enforcement action if the club fails to cooperate, and could impose a heavy fine.

Bloxwich West Councillor Melivn Pitt said he could not see what the fuss was about, but other councillors were opposed to the sign.

Development committee chairman Councillor Mike Bird said that members of the community such as faith groups or the elderdly would find the images offensive. He told ExpressAndStar.com:

“The last thing I want to see is another business in Darlaston close down.

“But now, owners of the club should be talking to the council’s planners to see how they can get around the problem.

“The right action would be to accept the officers recommendation to proceed to legal action.

“As for people saying these are homophobic views, this is absolute rubbish.

“Personally I have quite liberal views, but there are those who do take offence.

“There is also the view these boards are a distraction to passing motorists.”

Keith Chambers, Councillor for Bentley and Darlaston North, supports the action to be taken against Kinky Boots.

“That was the right decision as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

“Quite a few people in the community found those images quite offensive and I share that view.

“The sooner those signs are taken down, the better.”

The row over the images has caused many members of the community to come out in support of Kinky Boots.

A Facebook group, described as being “For everyone gay or straight who think that the boards causing controversy should be allowed to remain,” has been set up, and so far has 734 members. 

Mr Young’s partner of 38 years Larry Cains served with the Australian Army in Borneo during World War II, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

When Mr Cains died 10 years ago, Mr Young applied for a pension.

As the Veteran’s Entitlement Act was only available for heterosexual couples, Mr Young’s application was denied.

He took the case to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr Young told the Sydney Morning Herald:

“I didn’t really need the pension.

“What I wanted was to take on the little man, [the former prime minister John] Howard, and fight.

“I wanted a decision that wouldn’t just apply to my own circumstances.

“What I wanted was something that would apply right across the board.

“I wanted something that would say that, yes, there was discrimination and it didn’t just apply to me.

“It applied to all facets of our law.”

Although in September 2003 the UN ruled that Australia was in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and that Mr Young was entitled to the pension, the government delayed reviewing the case until November 2007.

In November 2008, however, the Australian government passed laws allowing gay partners of soldiers to claim pensions, and Mr Young’s claim was finally allowed.

He said: “The laws have been changed; we’ve won now. I’ve been waiting 10 years.” 

Founded in 1983, Stonewall Housing first opened a house in 1986 for eight young residents.

The organisation now supports 41 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people between 16 and 25 in six houses around North and East London.

Since its creation, Stonewall Housing has housed or advised over 12,000 people.

Although celebrating its foundation, Stonewall Housing also sent out a serious message about the continuing need for LGBT people with housing problems.

Since its inception, the organisation has found that half of its clients believe that their housing problems are directly related to their sexuality or gender identity.

20% who become homeless due to homophobia either sleep on the street or crash at the homes of friends or acquaintances.

A quarter of clients report homophobic harassment to Stonewall Housing, and one-fifth report that they have been victims of domestic abuse.

Consequentially, 80% of people who call Stonewall Housing are suffering from poor mental health.

Stonewall Housing said in a statement today:

“Even after 25 years, there is still a huge amount of work to do.

“We are looking into provisions for older LGBT people, and we also provide training on housing issues for LGBT people to mainstream organisations.

“We would also like to open more houses, as our waiting list is usually full.

“On to the next 25 years!”

The organisation also publicised a number of case studies detailing the situation of some of its clients.

One client, Jake, was living in a flat in South London when he began to experience homophobic comments from neighbours when he was seeing a partner.

He was later assaulted by local men.

Police and Victim Support wrote to his housing association requesting that he be moved elsewhere, but they refused and advised Jake instead to avoid behaving “in a way that may identify him as gay.”

With Stonewall Housing’s help, Jake was transferred to another property, and a complaint was made against his housing association, which eventually paid him compensation. 

11 agencies were given a 21 month exemption period from the Equality Act in April 2007, which forbade discrimination in the provision of good and services on the grounds of sexuality.

The exemption period ran out at the start of the new year.

Of those 11 agencies, five have changed their position and will now comply with the laws, whilst one is to close, and two are still seeking exemption, BBC News reports.

The Christian Institute’s Mike Judge told BBC Radio 5Live that the new law is “aggressive” towards faith organisations.

He said: “I think it’s iconic of a situation where you’ve got a clash between sexual orientation rights and religious rights where in almost every circumstance I’ve been aware of, religious rights have been seen to play second fiddle.”

The compliance with the new regulations by Catholic adoption agencies has been met with strong criticism by some members of the Church.

In October 2008, the Bishop of Lancaster Patrick O’Donoghue threatened to evict adoption agency Catholic Caring Services from church premises for complying with the Equality Act.

It is as yet unknown as to whether the remaining three agencies will comply or continue appealing for exemption. 

Norton, whose TV shows often involve much nudity and double entendre, told Telegraph.co.uk:

“The show goes on quite late so I plan to do some jokes.

“After 20,000 countries have voted it’s quite late and the children have gone to bed, and even Terry could be quite risqué at times.

“Look, if I only present the show once, I’ll be happy.”

Norton took on the £6 million contract to present Eurovison on UK screens in December 2008.

At the time, he said:

“Sir Terry is nothing less than legend and is an impossible act to follow, but somebody must and I just couldn’t say no.

“I can’t wait to get to Moscow.

“With a combination of cheap vodka and a language barrier what could possibly go wrong?”

Sir Terry gave up his 35-year tenure as the voice of Eurovision in Britain as he felt that it was “no longer a music contest” and that Western European acts had little chance of winning in Moscow.

Adams, 45, won the vote with a 58% majority in spring 2008.

During the election campaign, Adams’ sexuality was not brought up by either himself or the opposition. He said:

“This is a testament to how fair-minded Portlanders are that it wasn’t an issue.

“I spend my time on the basic issues of life.

“A part of that includes equal rights, but that’s not even close to a majority of the time.”

“My passions for public service includes promoting social justice equality for all, but it obviously also includes finding good jobs for people, which is also part of my family’s background of not being able to always have economic security.

“Being gay is part of me, so is being Irish-American, so is being from a small Oregon town.”

Adams had previously been chief of staff to Mayor Vera Katz for 11 years, and had been a city councilor since 2004.

When Adams won the election in 2008, Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund , said:

“In Oregon, fairness has won the day.”

The fund works to increase the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government in the United States.

It has helped to increase the number of openly gay elected officials from 49 in 1991 at its foundation to more than 400 today.

60 of those were elected in 2008.

31 year old Humberto Hernandez Salvador was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Richmond.

He is currently being held without bail for kidnapping, carjacking and gang rape, as well as violating probabtion.

A 15 year old boy from Richmond, who has not been named, was also arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of sexual assault, kidnapping and robbery.

A third suspect, a 16 year old boy from Hercules, turned himself in to police on Wednesday night.

This suspect was accompanied by his family, SFGate reports.

A final suspect, Josue Gonzalez, was arrested on Thursday. The 21 year old turned himself in after a $1 million warrant was issued for his arrest.

Gonzalez was accompanied to the police station by his girlfriend, stepfather and mother, who had urged him to go to police after seeing reports of the attack.

Richmond Police Lieutenant Mark Gagan told the Associated Press:

“The crime had an immediate effect on our community.

“Locally people were very afraid to know that these people were out there.”

After the attack local people distributed leaflets asking for witnesses and held vigils for the victim.

The 28 year old woman, who cannot be named, was attacked on 13th December.

The suspects allegedly attacked as she got out of her car.

According to police, the suspects knew the victim was a lesbian, due to a rainbow gay pride stick on her vehicle, and made comments about her sexuality.

For this reason, police have classed the assault as a hate crime.

The suspects then allegedly embarked on a 45-minute attack, when they hit the woman with a blunt implement, undressed her and raped her.

On seeing another person approaching, police said, the suspects allegedly put the woman into her car and took her to a derelict apartment building.

Here the victim was raped again, before being left naked outside the building whilst suspects allegedly stole her wallet and car.

The victim is currently recovering, and a non-profit rape crisis centre, Community Violence Solutions, has opened a fund under a pseudonym to help her pay for relocation.

Having held performances from worldwide stars such as Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears, the Astoria has always been a part of London’s thriving gay scene.

January 15th will see Ibiza’s Manumission club return to the UK for the first time in 15 years at the Astoria.

The night will mark the beginning of Manumission’s world tour of clubs.

A complete line-up for the night, dubbed “Manumission Comes to London” has yet to be announced, but organisers describe the event as featuring “a fusion of rock and dance acts.”

The Astoria was opened in 1927 as a cinema and was converted into a theatre in 1976.

The plans to demolish the Astoria was met with protests from famous musicians and petitions signed by tens of thousands of people.

Much sadness was expressed by gay clubbers when popular club G-A-Y left the Astoria.

Promoter Jeremy Joseph said in May that had made the decision to leave the Astoria after fifteen years “after a lot of thought and consideration.

“So what is the future for G-A-Y? Well priority goes to G-A-Y Bar and Late, and you will be seeing changes there including G-A-Y Late doubling in size,” he said.

The knock-on effects for those who use those businesses is also growing.

FYI Radio, the new queer alternative podcast station, is one of the smaller organisations suffering from the credit crisis.

FYI broadcasts its podcasts, produced for and by the young gay community, online through Podango, an online host service.

Last week, Podango announced that it must shut down temporarily due to financial difficulties.

This means that all of FYI’s podcasts, including previous seasons and its New Generation series, will go offline if an alternative cannot be found.

Podango issued this statement to its users in an email:

“It has been determined that we will need to hibernate Podango.

“Operations as of the close of business on the 31st of December.

“Just last week we found out that a planned investment was delayed putting us in a financial situation where we will need to restructure through various strategic opportunities that are evolving.

“We expect at some point within the next month or so to relaunch under a different structure and possibly with a new owner.”

Podango urged its users to relocate their data to another host to avoid losing it.

FYI Radio director Ryan Haynes told PinkNews.co.uk:

“We were devastated to learn on returning from Christmas that Podango is due to close due to lack of investment following the knock on effect from the world wide credit crunch.

“This is going to have a major impact on FYI Radio, as Podango is our key source of distributing content to our listeners.

“We are franticly researching alternate ways to broadcast programmes to our loyal listeners, and realise that even a small organisation like ours is not safe during the economic slowdown.”

Mr Haynes went on to assure listeners that FYI will return in the new year as scheduled.

For more information visit FYIRadio.net 

Felix Pearson, 19, Kenneth Monroe, 27, and Darriel Wilson, 20, lived together in New Orleans, all from Mississippi.

They were found by the building manager who saw one of the victim’s bodies through the window and alerted the authorities.

At least two of the men are known to have been gay and one was possibly transgender, as one of the victims was found by police “wearing women’s clothes.”

Police say that they believe the three men knew their killers; there had been no sign of breaking and entering, and officers believe that “the victims and their killer or killers were associates and may have entered the home together.”

As of yet, the incident has not been classified as a hate crime.

Members of the black gay community has come together online to remember the deceased.

Darriel Wilson’s friends have created a Facebook group page in honour of him, where members have posted messages, poems and commemorative images.

There are currently 233 members of the group.

The page description reads:

“This is a group paying tribute to the loss of a fallen commrad [sic].

“To many of us Darriel was the laughter behind all of our pain.

“We can all come together here and bring his memories to life.

“This is a troubling time.

“RIP Darriel…. YOU will be Missed!!”

Bookies William Hill have named George Michael as third in the running for first celebrity arrest of the new year.

Tabloid demon Amy Winehouse is the bookies favourite at 7/4, whilst former Libertines frontman and jailbird Pete Doherty is the 5/2 runner up.

Also in the top ten favourites were Naomi Campbell, Joey Barton, Russell Crowe, Peaches Geldof, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams and Michael Owen.

William Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams said:

“[Steven] Gerrard was a huge surprise and any of the celebrities could have an off night, even Michael Owen could loose his goody goody reputation.”

George Michael was arrested in August and found in possession of cocaine and marijuana. He was released with a caution, prompting criticism of the Metropolitan Police from Conservative MP Ian Duncan Smith.

Throughout 2006 and 2007, George Michael was regularly in the headlines over various drug related incidents.

He was cautioned twice for possessing cannabis when he was found asleep behind the wheel of his car on two separate occasions.

This comes in the wake of a row at the UN, where the Vatican refused to sign up to a universal declaration of human rights regardless of gender or sexuality.

Under current laws, the Holy See must accept Italian laws automatically apart from in the case of “radical incompatibility” with canon law.

The new statute signed by Pope Benedict XVI will put an end to this system.

From the start of the new year, all Italian laws will be subject to scrutiny by Vatican authorities before being implemented in the city-state itself.

President of the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Vatican Law Jose Maria Serrano Ruiz said that the decision to change the legal system was due to the “instability” and “exorbitant” number of Italian laws.

He also said that the frequent contrast between Italian law and the “irreversible principles of the Church” was a motivation behind the new statute.

Elio Vito, Italian Parliament Relations Minister, agreed in part with Ruiz, saying on Wednesday: ”There’s no doubt that there are too many laws, they are often written badly and they are sometimes not very understandable.”

Simplification Minister Roberto Calderoli, however, is currently planning to cut over 36,000 laws from the Italian system, making them much clearer than before.

There is currently an ad hoc committee working to simplify and streamline language in the Italian laws.

Mr Vito added that the committee in the Chamber of Deputies is working at eliminating : ”those mysterious references and paragraphs and articles with which everyone has come unstuck at least once.”

Meanwhile, the government is planning to publish the newer, simpler laws online to improve public access to them.

In early December the Roman Catholic Church caused uproar at the UN when it strongly opposed a declaration ensuring anti-discrimination protection for LGBT people.

Fr Federico Lombardi attacked the formal declaration to be read out at the UN next week calling on international human rights mechanisms to promote and protect human rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

54 nations support the declaration, among them all 27 EU member states, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The Vatican’s observer at the UN claimed last week that the declaration will somehow be used to force countries to recognise same-sex marriage.

“If adopted, they would create new and implacable discriminations,” said Monsignor Celestino Migliore.

“For example, states which do not recognise same-sex unions as ‘matrimony’ will be pilloried and made an object of pressure.”

The declaration makes no mention of gay marriage or civil partnerships.

The study, by assistant professor Kevin C. Heslin of Charles Drew University, Los Angeles, explored rates of prostate cancer in relation to sexual orientation and ethnicity.

Interviews with 19,410 men, all aged over 50 years, showed that the proportion of black gay or bisexual men who had been tested was 12-14%.

This figure is significantly lower than the proportion of straight black men, and 15-28% lower than gay or bisexual white men.

Overall, there was no difference in rates of testing when comparing gay, bisexual and heterosexual men.

This lead Professor Helsin to conclude that men who are both black and gay or bisexual are significantly barred from prostate cancer testing.

This means that black gay or bisexual men are statistically more likely to be diagnosed late with prostate cancer, meaning that their chances of successful treatment are lower and that they are more likely to die of the disease than any other group.

Professor Helsin told Medlexicon.com:

“Gay and bisexual black men had the lowest use of the PSA test, compared with every other group of men in the study.

“For blacks, being a member of both racial and sexual minority groups represents a kind of double jeopardy when it comes to getting PSA testing.”

In 2008, 28,660 men died of prostate cancer in the United States, and 186,320 new cases were diagnosed. 

THT was set up in 1982, the first charity to be set up in response to the HIV epidemic of the 1980s.

It was named after Terrence Higgins, one of the first people in the UK to die of AIDS. He died aged 37 in July 1982 in London.

Sir Nick told the BBC: “I’m absolutely delighted.

“This is great recognition of the pioneering work of Terrence Higgins Trust, the importance of patient and public involvement in health research through INVOLVE and the impact of the health watchdog, the Healthcare Commission.

“I’m very privileged to work with three amazing organisations and to be honoured in this way.”

THT has always been strongly connected to the gay community and has done much to change public perceptions of gay men, and to highlight the importance of government responses to HIV.

Since joining as an office manager in 1985, Sir Nick progressed to become head of THT in 1991.

He has been a driving force in gaining research funding into HIV treatment, contributing to the discovery of antiretroviral therapy in this way.

Sir Nick is the chair of INVOLE, a group which promotes the public’s involvement in the NHS.

He was made Commissioner of the Healthcare Commission in 2004 and named as one of

Britain’s most influential people in the Independent in 2006.

Other HIV campaigners have congratulated Sir Nick and spoken in support of his knighthood.

HIV Treatment Update editor Edwin J Bernard said: “It is remarkably significant that someone who has worked so hard in the HIV sector has finally been recognised.

“After 25 years of the Terrence Higgins Trust it is about time.

“Much of the media focus has been on the international Aids problem. I hope this shines the spotlight on HIV/Aids in the UK.”

The number of HIV positive people in the UK has increased greatly in the past decade. In 2000, 3,875 people were diagnosed, compared to 7,734 new diagnoses in 2007.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are amongst the most affected groups; 3,160 MSMs were diagnosed as HIV positive in 2007 alone. 

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, will receive an OBE for services to Equality and Diversity.

Mr Summerskill told PinkNews.co.uk:

“We hope this will give encouragement to the 80,000 people who have supported Stonewall and made things happen.

“We’re delighted that the honours system has marked the beginning of Stonewall’s 20th anniversary year in this way.

Founded in 1989 in opposition to Section 28, Stonewall has been integral in the fight for gay rights in England and Wales.

“2009 also marks the 10th anniversary of the Admiral Duncan bombing, something which reminds us how much work there still is to do to make Britain a country free from prejudice.”

Other names on the list include novelist Terry Pratchett, who has sold 55 million books worldwide, as well as Led Zepplin frontman Robert Plant and actor Michael Sheen (best known for his portrayal of Tony Blair in hit film The Queen).

Actress Liz Smith, best known as Nana from British sitcom The Royle Family, is awarded an MBE.

Several people were rewarded for their bravery and service during the 7/7 attacks on London, including Tim Coulson, from Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire; Stephen Hucklesby; from Leamington Spa; Elizabeth Kenworthy, from Waltham Abbey, Essex; David Matthews, from Luton; Gerald McIlmurray, from Epsom, Surrey; and Antonio Silvestro, also from Epsom.

Sara Payne, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne, is honoured for services to child protection.

CBEs are given to two journalists; Press Association executive chairman Paul Potts and financial journalist William Keegan.

One of the most notable aspects of this year’s list, however, is the predominance of sportsmen and women.

This year’s honours list is dominated by Olympians and and Paralympians, following team GB’s successes in Beijing.

Triple gold medallist Christ Hoy will receive a knighthood, whilst fellow cyclis Bradley Wiggins, 28, receives a CBE, as does British Cycling performance director David Brailsford.

MBEs are awarded to for gold medal-winning cyclists Ed Clancy, 23, Geraint Thomas, 22, Jason Kenny, 20, Jamie Staff, 35, and Paul Manning, 34.

Britain’s three female Olympic champion cyclists Nicole Cooke, Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Romero also get MBEs.

14 year old Paralympian swimmer Eleanor Simmonds and Formula 1 victor Lewis Hamilton also receive MBEs.