Jessica has been the editor of PinkNews.co.uk since 2009.
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8 September 2011Poll: North Carolina residents oppose gay marriage ban 8 A small poll of voters in the US state of North Carolina says that most would vote against a proposed ban on gay marriage. Republican lawmakers announced last week that they will push for a voter referendum on the issue in 2012. -
8 September 2011Two freed over South African lesbian’s murder + Two of the nine suspects accused of murdering a South African lesbian have been released. Zoliswa Nkonyana, 19, was stoned and stabbed to death after a night out in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on February 4th 2006. -
8 September 2011Man who falsely accused Louis Walsh of sexual assault charged + A man who accused X Factor judge Louis Walsh of sexual assault has been charged with making false claims. Leonard Watters, 24, initially claimed that 58-year-old Walsh had groped him at the Krystle nightclub in Dublin after a Westlife concert in June. -
8 September 2011Disgraced designer John Galliano avoids jail over anti-Semitic slurs 25 Former Dior designer John Galliano has been given a suspended fine of 6,000 euros for using racist and anti-Semitic slurs. The disgraced fashion star avoided jail for two outbursts in a Parisian cafe last February and October. -
8 September 2011Grindr founder creates mainstream meet-up service ‘Blendr’ 19 The founder of gay phone app Grindr has created a new service aimed at the mainstream. Joel Simkhai, who launched Grindr two years ago, says new iPhone app Blendr will help people find dates and friendships nearby. -
8 September 2011One-year blood donation deferral for UK gay men 64 The Department of Health has announced it will remove the lifetime blood donation ban on any man who has ever had gay sex. Instead, there will be a one-year deferral period, meaning that men who have not had gay sex in the last 12 months may donate blood. -
8 September 2011Scottish Catholic leader attacks gay marriage 102 The leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, has accused marriage equality campaigners of trying to "rewrite nature". In a strongly-worded attack on same-sex marriage, he said the plans would be "strenuously opposed". -
8 September 2011Man convicted of sending death threats to Stonewall head Ben Summerskill 11 A man has reportedly been given a suspended prison sentence for sending death threats to Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill. Anthony Ryan threatened to "put a bullet in the head of Dame Summerskill" after Stonewall supported a gay couple who were turned away from a bed and breakfast. -
7 September 2011US medical schools ‘don’t provide enough LGBT training’ 5 A study of American medical schools suggests that they are not giving students enough training on lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender issues. According to the research, most medical schools provide just five hours on LGBT health issues, while one third offer no training on the matter at all. -
7 September 2011Ugandan ‘family’ campaign calls for progress on anti-gay bill 79 A 'family' campaign in Uganda is urging lawmakers to pass the anti-homosexuality bill. The Family Life Network and Uganda Coalition for Moral Values says the government should do the "right" thing, rather than bow to international pressure. -
7 September 2011Actors’ union to ask gay members about homophobia 13 Equity, the union for actors and performers, is to ask its LGBT members whether they feel safe being out and if they have suffered prejudice. According to The Stage, an online survey asks members about harassment, discrimination, safety and whether they were advised to stay in the closet. -
7 September 2011Video: ‘Rory’s story’ shows inequalities of civil partnerships in Ireland 16 A short video clip about a boy and his two mothers shows the consequences of 'discriminatory' civil partnerships in Ireland. Made by Marriage Equality Ireland, the clip, titled 'Rory's Story', shows the family as happy and accepted until the day the law classes them as strangers. -
7 September 2011Court says Arizona must continue paying benefits to gay government workers 5 A court has ruled that the US state of Arizona must continue to pay spouse health benefits to gay and lesbian government workers. The state began granting the benefits in 2008 but a 2009 law sought to remove them. -
7 September 2011California governor signs equal benefits law 13 California's governor, Jerry Brown. has signed into law a measure to encourage companies to give equal benefits to the spouses of gay employees. -
6 September 2011Lesbian congresswoman Tammy Baldwin hopes to become first out gay senator 21 US congresswoman Tammy Baldwin has entered the race to win retiring Wisconsin senator Herb Kohl’s seat in 2012. If she is successful, she will become the first openly LGBT senator. -
6 September 2011Virginia woman sues over ‘lesbian perception’ firing 14 A Virginia woman claims she lost out on a job at a youth group because board members looked at her Facebook profile and assumed she was a lesbian. -
6 September 2011Human rights group claims Iran hanged three men for gay sex 111 A human rights group has claimed that three Iranian men have been hanged for having gay sex. Iran Human Rights, which says it covers news from the country's official news sources, said state-run Iranian news agency ISNA reported the hangings. -
6 September 2011Rap star Game urges gay artists to come out to avoid passing on ‘AIDS’ 44 Rapper Game has said that he believes a number of other rap stars are gay and should come out. The 'Mr Life' performer, whose real name is Jayceon Terrell Taylor, said he was not homophobic but has a problem with people who stay in the closet. -
6 September 2011Next round for California’s gay marriage ban 21 The next challenge for California's ban on gay marriage comes today when the state's highest court considers whether gay marriage opponents have the legal standing to defend it in court. -
6 September 2011Scottish domestic violence stereotypes ‘fail gay and transgender people’ 19 The Scottish government's definition of domestic violence leaves some victims 'invisible', a law lecturer has claimed. Brian Dempsey, who teaches at the University of Dundee in Scotland, said that the standard view of male abusers and female victims means that LGBT people may be unable to access help.
