Tony Grew edited PinkNews.co.uk between 2007 and 2009. He now edits ePolitix.com
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24 August 2006Gays in Nepal demand legal protection + It is arguably the last feudal society on earth, ruled with an iron fist by a royal dictator.Gay, lesbian and transgender people in Nepal face regular abuse, beatings and rapes at the hands of the security forces.Now The Blue Diamond Society, surely among the bravest gay rights activists in the world, have publicly announced that they want Nepal to give them legal protection. -
24 August 2006Gay activists to picket ex-gay conference + In an amusing spot of role-reversal, gay activists in Texas are planning to protest outside a church holding a conference for ex-gays.Truth Wins Out will picket the church in Carrollton, TX, this Saturday, as a one day conference by Christian organisation Living Hope covers topics such as "Raising Gender-Healthy Kids" and "Homosexuality and the Bible." -
24 August 2006Lesbian Barbie upsets Mattel 6 The honour of a tiny 46-year-old plastic woman is at the centre of an argument between a Brazilian artist and a major toy manufacturer.The pneumatic curves of the iconic Barbie doll have provided inspiration to photographer Karin Schwarz.Her pictures of the blonde in compromising situations with other female models have upset Mattel -
24 August 2006“Gay sex party” ends in tragedy + A party at the flat of a German aristocrat ended in tragedy last night when a man fell 60ft from a window of a Chelsea property.The man, in his late thirties, was pronounced dead at hospital. The incident happened at approximately 5.30 this morning.Police sources told The Sun newspaper that a 'gay sex party' was taking place at the flat of Count Gottfried von Bismarck. -
24 August 2006Swedish gays may get church weddings 1 We are told it is what every girl dreams of: the big church wedding.Proposals before the Swedish government could see that dream become a reality for the country's gay and lesbian couples.Until 2000 the Church of Sweden was established, meaning was is the official state religion. It now has autonomy from the government. -
23 August 2006EU “naïve” over the reality of gay acceptance + Human rights activists have criticised the EU for being naïve in thinking that legislation alone would change social attitudes in the former communist countries of eastern Europe.Hate crimes against LGBT people and ethnic minorities are on the rise across the former Eastern Bloc, with attacks on gay pride parades in Latvia and Estonia merely high-profile examples of everyday harassment. -
23 August 2006Homophobia, or just time moving on? 1 A Bromley man has told his local paper he fears that a former gay pub is being homophobic by displaying signs informing customers that it is no longer gay.Chris Jones told The Bromley News Shopper that the pub, the Crown Anchor, closed for refurbishment since the start of the month, has been at the centre of gay life in the area for over 20 years. -
23 August 2006Manc pride to feature 12ft gay angel 2 Age Concern are set to make an impression at this year's Manchester pride, with an ingenious float and some custom-made wheel chairs.The charity want to highlight the support they give to older LGBT people, and after individual appearances at a range of pride events, Age Concern branches from across the NorthWest have joined forces. -
23 August 2006South Australia under pressure to grant gay rights + A decade after the first Australian state granted equal rights to gay and lesbian couples, the government in South Australia are still dragging their heels.Despite a 2002 manifesto commitment to update the law, the ruling Labour party still have not passed the required legislation.Opposition politicians in the state of 1.5 million people have had enough, and today vowed to unite to force the issue when the state parliament gets back to work next week. -
22 August 2006California LGBT teens get legal protection at school 1 The California State Assembly has finally passed a bill which will protect gay and lesbian students and school staff from abuse.The measure has been very controversial, but by a 46 to 31 vote, the bill will now to go the state Senate for approval.The Speaker of the Assembly, Fabina Nunez, welcomed the new law. -
22 August 2006Suicide linked to cruising arrest 2 Gay rights campaigners in Northern Ireland say they know of at least one man who has killed himself after being arrested for cruising.PA Mag Lochlainn, a well-known activist, told The Mirror: "The danger is people who haven't made their sexuality public find themselves outed."The damage it can do is immense. We know one man who has taken his own life after an arrest." -
22 August 2006Democrats want more LGBT delegates at 2008 convention + The Democratic National Committee has agreed delegate selection rules that should see more gay and lesbian representation at the next party convention.The set-piece convention will pick the Democratic candidate for the next presidential election in August 2008.Many pundits name Hilary Clinton as the most likely choice for her party's nomination. -
22 August 2006Cardiff Mardi Gras to feature scary monster + The organisers of this year's Cardiff Mardi Gras are expecting a record 40,000 people to party on the streets of the Welsh capital on the 2nd September.Now in its seventh year, the event has grown into the second-largest free gay event in the UK.But changes in the licensing laws mean that revellers will no longer be able to bring their own alcohol to the party -
22 August 2006COMMENT: Time for a gay schism? 2 It has been a bad month for gay identity. Whatever that is. From gay police to overweight pop idols, it seems everyone has something to say about how best to express their sexuality.Tony Grew examines what it means to be gay in 2006 If I was to wear an earring, what would that indicate to you? According to gay police officer Neil Bloomfield, it is an indication of sexual preference. He took his employers to a tribunal because male officers are not allowed to wear earrings, while women officers are. -
21 August 2006Gay partnerships face serious opposition in Ireland 1 The Irish Department of Justice has revealed that of the 4,000 submissions to their working group on domestic partnership, most are opposed to changing the law.The group was established by the Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, to examine the issue of how a partnership would be defined and which benefits will be extended to gay and lesbian couples. It is due to report in October. -
21 August 2006Australia runs low, but still won’t accept gay blood 5 Yesterday the Australian blood service pleaded with people to donate, saying that it only has 36 hours worth of supplies left.Today, the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal will hear why the Australian Red Cross thinks gay blood isn't safe enough.23-year-old Michael Cain is bringing the action against the Red Cross. -
21 August 2006Where are all the gays, GLAAD asks TV networks + American gay rights activists have revealed that only 1.3% of characters on network entertainment programming are LBGT.The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) said that despite the increased interest in gay and lesbian issues at the cinema, the conservative big six networks were still not anywhere near representative. -
21 August 2006McKellen and Gervais clash over Extras script + Gay icon Sir Ian McKellen has revealed that his guest appearance in the upcoming series of BBC hit comedy Extras caused tension with creator Ricky Gervais.The series features famous actors playing grotesque versions of themselves and has previously starred Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller and Samuel L Jackson.Writing on his official website, McKellen revealed that he wanted rewrites to the script. -
21 August 2006Thorpe: gay rumours don’t bother me + Olympic legend Ian Thorpe has said that persistent rumours about his sexuality are not based in fact.The 23-year-old swimmer also hit back at rumours that he has grown fat while training in LA.Known as 'The Thorpedo', he won five Olympic gold medals for Australia, and has high hopes for more glory at the 2008 Beijing. -
21 August 2006Ofcom slaps C4′s wrist over Elton’s teatime cursing + Television regulator Ofcom has criticised Channel 4 over an episode of the Paul O'Grady show in which Elton John used the word "wanker."MediaGuardian reports that the regulator regarded the use of the curse word as unfortunate.Although the term is regarded as mild, a large part of O'Grady's audience are older people, and therefore more likely to be offended by its use.
