Tony Grew edited PinkNews.co.uk between 2007 and 2009. He now edits ePolitix.com
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29 December 2006Gay teens reluctant to reveal sexuality to GPs + A study among out LGBT teenagers in the US has found that only 35% of them have revealed their sexuality to their doctor.131 teenagers attending the Models of Pride Youth Conference, which met in Oregon to discuss empowerment for LGBT people, took part in the survey.The fact that all of the young people who participated in the study were attending such an event means they are more open about their sexual orientation than most other gay teenagers. -
29 December 2006Chat room teenager stabs 43-year-old lover 3 An intergenerational relationship that started on the internet ended with a near-fatal stabbing, Carlisle Crown Court has heard.19-year-old Artan Fana was sentenced to two years in jail for stabbing 43-year-old Mark Holden in February this year.The Essex teenager had met Holden in an internet chat room and they spent many hours getting to know each other online. -
29 December 2006Camper than Christmas? + For some it was the most exquisite realisation of their gay daydreams - what if real life was just like a musical?For others it was car crash television, a jaw-dropping, buttock-clenching disaster and yet another sign that ITV have lost not just the plot but the whole damn novel.Viewers will have a chance to judge for themselves as the programme that divided the critics returns to our screens tomorrow night. -
29 December 2006Gay Lib Dem defects to the Tories 2 A prominent gay Liberal Democrat has defected to the Conservative party, launching a bitter attack on the leadership of Ming Campbell.Richard Porter, a former London Borough of Southwark councillor, is reported to be one of two current LibDem prospective parliamentary candidates to have switched their allegiance to David Cameron's party.Mr Porter was contacted by PinkNews.co.uk and confirmed his defection. The Liberal Democrats press office had no comment on reports of defections at this time. -
27 December 2006The future of New Labour? + One political drama will dominate 2007 - the fight for the soul of the Labour party. With Gordon Brown almost certain to succeed Tony Blair, the contest for deputy leader is the one to watch.In an exclusive interview with The PinkNews, outsider candidate Jon Cruddas MP outlines his ambitious plans for reform of the Labour party. New New Labour, in fact. -
11 December 2006Lesbian Tory ‘feels at home’ after selection 2 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveConservative Party Vice-Chairman Margot James has spoken of her delight at being selected to contest the Stourbridge seat at the next general election, claiming it will be like "going home."Ms James, the party's first openly lesbian female candidate at the last election, will fight Labour MP Lynda Waltho for the Black Country constituency of Stourbridge, a key Conservative target, after being selected last week. -
8 December 2006No going back on gay marriage – Canadian PM + The Conservative Prime Minister of Canada has conceded defeat over his plans to re-open the debate over gay marriage.In July 2005, under the previous Liberal administration, Canada became the fourth country to allow gay and lesbian couples to get married.During the 2006 election campaign, the Conservatives had pledged to re-open the debate about the issue. -
8 December 2006Cabinet row over goods and services discrimination 3 Ruth Kelly and Peter Hain are at loggerheads over the introduction of new rules barring discrimination against LGBT people.Regulations making it illegal to refuse goods or services on the grounds of sexual orientation are being introduced in Northern Ireland before England and come into force on January 1st.As the Northern Ireland Assembly is suspended, decisions about the province are taken by the Secretary of State, Peter Hain. -
8 December 2006UK Youth denounce Polish homophobia + The UK's national youth council has called on politicians of all parties to denounce publicly the attitude of the Polish government towards LGBT people.The British Youth Council, a coalition of over 150 youth organisations, including GirlGuiding UK and the NUS, issued a statement today highlighting the multiple incidents of discrimination and homophobia involving high-ranking Polish government officials and politicians. -
7 December 2006Electrifying performance kills drag artist + Joan Montegracia was the third on stage at a competition for drag artists in the Philippine city of Caloocan. She was about to wow the audience with her impersonation of actress Aubrey Miles.As she moved to the centre of the outdoor metal stage and took the microphone, she dropped suddenly to the ground.The audience looked on in anticipation, thinking the dramatic fall to be part of the act. A loud round of applause failed to rouse Joan to her feet. -
7 December 2006Scotland rejects adoption prejudice + The Scottish Parliament this afternoon rejected a motion to block gay and lesbian couples from adopting by 98 votes to 11.The motion was proposed by Scottish Nationalist MSP Roseanna Cunningham. She told MSPs that the majority of Scots had concerns about gays adopting children.She added that in her opinion the best place for children to be raised was in a household with a mother and father. -
6 December 2006Estonian gay activist to stand for parliament 1 One of Estonia's most prominent gay men has announced that he is to run for a seat in the country's parliament in next year's general election.Andi Ravalepik told Eesti Paevaleht newspaper that he will be contesting a seat in the 101-member Riigikogu in the March 2007 general election. -
6 December 2006Indian tribe accept lesbian couple 57 A lesbian couple have undergone a formal tribal 'wedding' ceremony in a village in eastern India. A priest of the Khanda tribe performed the ceremony after their families had persuaded villagers of the validity of their relationship.30-year-old Wetka Polang and Melka Nilsa, 22, from Dandabadi village in Koraput district, found love after disastrous relationships with men.They initially ran away to another village, but returned and paid fines to the village to allow their 'marriage' to be blessed. -
6 December 2006Brown’s green Budget plans? More tax 3 In what is widely expected to be his last pre-Budget report, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced increases in transport taxes and investment in skills training.Mr Brown, clear favourite to succeed Tony Blair next year, set out his green credentials by raising tax on fuel duty by 1.25p and doubling air passenger duty from £5 to £10, effective from midnight tonight. -
6 December 2006Italian city grants gay couples limited rights 4 Padua city council has outraged the Vatican by allowing gay and lesbian couples to register their 'family.' The decision, taken late on Monday, also applies to unmarried heterosexual couples.In Italy, a "certification of family" is required for various minor legal procedures, such as officially taking time off work to care for a sick relative or being placed on waiting lists for council houses. -
6 December 2006Gay rabbis now kosher + The ruling body of American Conservative Judaism has come to a compromise over the ordination of gay rabbis.The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards held a two-day closed meeting in New York and yesterday presented three differing positions that may be adopted by Jewish seminaries across North America's 750 synagogues. -
6 December 2006Canada to vote today on keeping gay marriage + The great 'debate' in the Canadian parliament yesterday about the legality of gay marriage turned out to be more like a cry in the dark.The minority Conservative government had made headlines across the world with its pledge to repeal the decision last year to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.In the event Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not even turn up for the debate. Neither did most of his cabinet. -
6 December 2006South Australia gays get new rights + South Australia is to grant a series of rights to gay and lesbian couples. The upper house of the state's parliament voted in favour of the measures yesterday.The new law is a major victory for gay rights campaigners in the state. Any two people who live together and present themselves as a couple, will be covered by the legislation, regardless of whether or not their relationship is sexual. -
6 December 2006SNP maverick attempts to derail gay adoptions + A major shake-up of adoption law in Scotland, which would see gay and lesbian couples able to adopt children for the first time, is under attack from a Scottish Nationalist.Roseanna Cunningham, an SNP member of the Scottish Parliament, has tabled a motion which would prevent gay couples from adopting. The new legislation will be debated at Holyrood today.Under the new arrangements proposed by the Scottish Executive, gay and lesbian couples, as well as unmarried straight couples, who be eligible to jointly adopt children.
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5 December 2006NYPD loses gay discrimination case 57 The New York Police Department has said it will appeal a court ruling that found a senior officer guilty of homophobic discrimination.Assistant Chief James Hall blocked the appointment of a gay police sergeant to the Youth Services section, then harassed two other officers who stood by their colleague.
