Today’s meeting was part of a new initiative to improve the relationship between the police and minority groups.

PC Andy Ricketts, PC Cassie Hall and Sergeant Mathew Butterworth were present at the LGBT Tourist Information Office in Soho, the heart of London’s gay scene.

Sgt Butterworth said: “Hate crime in Soho is falling but we need to make sure that victims feel the confidence to report these crimes when they occur.

“We’re really trying to make ourselves more visible to the community and through meetings like this we really hope to get ourselves out there.”

PC Ricketts added: “We have been talking to a lot older members of the LGBT community who have had negative experiences from another era of policing.

“What has been so encouraging is that a lot of people from this section of the community can see the changes that have happened through the years and they now have a much more positive view of the police.”

The Equalities and Diversity Unit has rolled out an extensive programme of events including a stall in Old Compton Street and regular meetings with LGBT businesses in the local area.

One of the schemes launching over the coming months will be third party reporting, where people can report crime without having to contact police.

Various bars and business will be designated as places where people can report crimes to store managers or bar staff.

“Despite the progress that we have made, many people from minority groups would feel more comfortable reporting a crime to someone who wasn’t a police office,” said PC Hall.

“Even if people don’t want us to follow up the incident it is important that we know when such crimes occur so that we can effectively tackle the issue.”

LGBT Tourist Information Office director Michele Cremona told Pinknews.co.uk: “It is evident from the amount of work that the Equalities and Diversity Unit are doing that they are committed to working more closely with the LGBT community.

“The LGBT Tourist Information Office works with so many areas of the LGBT community and I can see how initiatives such as the ‘third party reporting’ scheme can benefit people who might have shied away from reporting a crime previously.”

The 17-24-30 group was set up by Mark Healey to mark the 10th anniversary of the London nail bomb attacks.

“I wanted to bring people together to remember the attacks on three different communities in Brixton (17th April), Brick Lane (24th April) and Soho (30th April)” Healey told Pinknews.co.uk.

“Over 2,800 people joined the 17-24-30 Facebook group and pledged their support.

“I think that it’s really important for the community to get involved in the fight against Hate Crime.”

The group took on more prominence after the tragic homophobic murder of Ian Baynham near Trafalgar Square:

“The brutal murder of Ian Baynham last year was a stark reminder of the human cost of homophobic hate crime, which is on the rise.

“London has a proud history of coming together to oppose hatred and division; as it was epitomised by the vigil we organised in Trafalgar Square last year.

Within fifteen days the group organised a candle-lit vigil called “NO TO HATE”. Approximately 10,000 took part in the vigil in Trafalgar Square, events also took place around the UK and in countries as far as the US and New Zealand.

“Our main objective now is to set the group up as a charity so that it is more accountable and accessible to the communities that it wants to work with,” explained Healey.

The group has agreed to focus on four events; three events are in the process of being planned for April 2010 to mark the 11th Anniversary of the London nail bomb attacks and a much larger event on 30th October 2010 launching an international hate crime day.

“We want as many countries as possible to join together and hold an event against hate crime.

“At the candle lit vigil last year there was a real sense of community, a connection amongst everyone there. I think that we should use that hope and that strength to remember what has happened and ensure that it does not happen again.”

The “NO TO HATE” vigil last October was London’s largest ever vigil against hate crime.

A number of politicians and representatives attended and spoke about the importance of tackling hate crime. Reading out Prime Minister Gordon Browns letter of support, Labour minister Maria Eagle reiterated:

“The homophobia which killed Ian, like Daryl Phillips, Gerry Edwards, James Kerr and Jody Dobrowski before him, breeds in the silence.

“My thoughts are with Ian’s family and friends, and with those of James Parks who remains critically ill in hospital.”

Speaking on the night exclusively to Pinknews.co.uk, Sarah Brown applauded those responsible for organizing the event:

“ The organisers have done an extraordinary job,

“It’s unbelievable that they have done so much in just two weeks.”

If you would like to support the 17-24-30 group you can get more information from www.17-24-30.org or search 17-24-30 on Facebook.

The premiere was due to take place on Thursday February 11th with a special event at Wembley Stadium.

The film, in the form of a 90-second advert, had been hailed as “groundbreaking” after a Stonewall report found that homophobia was prevalent in the sport.

“Contrary to what the FA is now saying, the video and strategy was agreed nearly two years ago,” continued Mr Tatchell.

“This postponement comes on top of the FA’s dissolution of the broad-based Tackling Homophobia Working Group. Set up several years ago, the group had helped push forward many of the FA’s constructive initiatives to rid football of homophobia.

“The FA has now reconstituted the Working Group with a hand-picked, much smaller and less representative number of members. It no longer includes all interested stakeholders. Many relevant LGBT groups are not included.”

In the film the main character abuses a newspaper seller, tube train passenger and an office worker with anti-gay taunts. The video finishes with him shouting homophobic abuse at a football match. The captions make the point that since homophobia is not acceptable at work, it should not be acceptable on the terraces either.

“The ad agency’s advice was that shock tactics were the most effective psychological device to expose and shame bigoted fans into stopping their homophobia,” he continued.

“They are professionals and experts in these matters.”

Yesterday, ‘Kick it Out’, the body responsible for tackling homophobia and racism in football, responded to the FA’s decision to postpone the showing of the short film.

In a statement the ‘Kick it Out’ director commented:

“We believe the advertising film that has been made to challenge homophobia in football is a decisive step in the long battle to tackle homophobic attitudes, abuse and harassment.

‘Busters World’, part of the DirectgovKids website, aims at teaching children through interactive games and quizzes and is named after a cartoon dog called Buster.

Children were however shocked to discover that the top listing on google for ‘Busters World’ was a gay porn site specialising in men with a balloon fetish.

A spokesman from the Department of Children, Schools and Families said:

“The naming of this web page was clearly a mistake and we regret the supplier’s usual thorough checking procedures seem to have failed.”

Children clicking on the link are confronted with a screen that says, “Busters world is an adult content website dealing with male pornography and fetish content.”

But many parents were concerned over the way that such a site had become more accessible to children.

‘Busters world’ is part of the DirectgovKids website and is aimed at children aged 5-11. On its website it claims its mission is to:

“Invite children to explore in a self-contained world, full of online games and activities.

Intriguingly the ‘Busters World’ website has a similar mission statement…

“This area was designed to inform, educate and otherwise entertain inquisitive minds”

Describing Judge Vaughn Walker’s sexuality as “the biggest open secret in the landmark trial”, the San Francisco Chronicle spoke to an unnamed federal judge who commented:

“He has a private life and he doesn’t conceal it, but doesn’t think it is relevant to his decisions in any case, and he doesn’t bring it to bear in any decisions.”

The federal trial is examining whether Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, is constitutional.

Gay marriage was legalised in California in May 2008. Voters banned it under Proposition 8 the following November. The estimated 18,000 gay couples who were able to marry in that brief window have been allowed to remain married.

Judge Vaughn has not always been popular amongst the LGBT community. In 1982 he represented the US Olympic Committee in a successful bid to keep San Francisco’s Gay Olympics from infringing on its name, the lawsuit was widely
viewed as homophobic.

“Walker, by the way, didn’t seek out the Prop. 8 case – it was assigned to him at random,” the San Fransisco Chronicle continued.

“If the judge decides that Prop 8 is unconstitutional, supporters of the measure are sure to take it to the federal appeals court and the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

“Kendell expects that if that happens, the measure’s proponents will make an issue of the judge’s sexual orientation.”

Testimony has ended in the case, and final arguments from both sides are expected soon.

The project, named FLOWE(RED), will sell ethically sources flowers imported from Africa and donate all profits to projects aimed at tackling HIV/AIDS in Africa. Last week saw the launch of its website www.flowered.com

FLOWE(RED) told Pinknews.co.uk, “(RED)’s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.”

“Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the dominant financer of programmes to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with approved funding of US $15.6 billion (£10 billion) for programs in 140 countries.

“The Global Fund supports programmes based on agreed performance targets and disburses money in response to proven results. At the end of July 2009, programmes supported by the Global Fund have averted more than 4 million deaths by
providing AIDS treatment for 2.3 million people.”

Last month a study in the medical journal The Lancet warned that HIV rates among gay men in some parts of Africa are ten times higher than their straight counterparts.

The UN agency UNAIDS estimates that two-thirds of the 33 million people worldwide who have HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Figures released from the agency last year show that since 2001, when the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed, the number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa is approximately 15 per cent lower.

Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT)RED mark contribute to the Global Fund to help finance AIDS programmes in Africa.

Current partners are: American Express, Apple, Bugaboo, Converse, Gap, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Nike, Dell, Windows and Starbucks.

Last month Pinknews.co.uk reported how at a meeting discussing the possible collaboration of victims of homophobic and domestic violence, the 68 year old Tory Councillor remarked:

“The scream team will be conversing with the queen team.”

The comment prompted accusations of homophobia from Liberal Democrat Cllr Karen Chilvers, who has since made a formal complaint to the council standards committee, Cllr Parker is now under investigation.

The Liberal Democrat councillor of three years told the Daily Telegraph that she had taken particular offence at Cllr Parker’s remark because she has worked with victims of domestic violence in the past. “My view is we’re elected to represent all people and we shouldn’t be ridiculing them,” she said.

But despite accusations of homophobia Cllr Parker, who has served as a Tory councillor for four years, claims that he has been inundated with letters of support from the gay community:

“I seem to have become quite a gay celebrity at the moment and I’ve had lots of emails from the gay fraternity as far away as Cheshire and Derby,” he said.

Cllr Parker also claimed to have had emails congratulating him on “being so clever”.

A spokesman for Stonewall, said:

“All elected representatives are meant to serve and reflect the community as a whole including gay constituents.”

The council code of conduct states that council members ,”should have respect for others and promote equality by not discriminating unlawfully against any person and by treating people with respect regardless of race, age, religion, gender or sexual orientation.”

The there has been much debate on LGBT websites as to whether the comments were offensive. On the Pinknews.co.uk site ‘bearfeile.com’ commented:

“In all honesty I find the remarks quite funny. I think us gay guys are too quick off the mark to criticise people for making remarks like that when we can be just as bitchy. There is more out there in terms of gay bashing, Christian right wingers and homophobes than someone cracking a joke.”

However, many took a different opinion:

“Don’t the Council have a diversity and equality policy that he can be disciplined for being in breach of,” added ‘Abi1975’.
“The fact he finds domestic violence a topic for humour makes me wonder about the safety of Mrs Parker.”

Keith Parker is the councillor for the Brizes and Doddinghurst ward in Brentwood.

The London AIDS memorial group was founded on December 1st 2009 by Gary Henshaw and Swarmite Ananda. Its aim is to provide a permanent AIDS memorial where people can gather to remember the ones who ‘succumbed, dying bravely, defiantly and with no knowledge of the battle ahead.’

What is the motivation behind this project?

Losing so many friends to AIDS and having no place to remember them.

Swarmite Ananda and myself have created a Facebook group and see ourselves as “ball rollers” who can build up enough interest to see the idea becoming a reality.

We think that so many people have forgotten about those who have died of AIDS in the rush to see HIV as a manageable disease; the concept of which has become debatable.

How has HIV/AIDS affected you personally?

AIDS and HIV have had a devastating effect on my Life.

During the Nineties people I knew started dying and I was not used to young people dying.

In 2001 my closest friend Albert Died, it was a terrible experience and only a couple of years later my other best friend Brendan died too.

It is on their Birthdays, the anniversary of their deaths and on difficult days that people need a place to go. For me a memorial would symbolise their continued presence in my life.

Where are you hoping to get the funding from?

We are not funded by anyone yet as the project is in its infancy but the response has been amazing and we have had offers from a wide range of people who want to offer their skills to raise the money.

Organisations, individuals already involved in HIV/AIDS projects and club promoters have all put their names forward to help.

Where would you like to see the memorial located?

It will be up to the new start-up forum group to begin the process of considering locations. Our discussion board on Facebook is full of ideas and locations but we are fully aware that it depends a lot on funding and London borough co-operation.

The most common feedback so far though is that it should be in a central location and that it should be situated somewhere quiet enough for people to pay there respects peacefully.

What do you think the memorial should look like?

All we know is that Brighton has a statue, Manchester has a beacon of Light and London has nothing. We aim to create something unique to represent London’s multi-cultural energy and street style that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Manchester ran a design competition while Brighton commissioned a sculptor to create a wonderful monument.

I think it makes sense for London to hold a design competition, when you consider the talents that reside here, and the amount of people affected by HIV/AIDS.

How long do you think it will take for the project to happen?

We have aimed for London World Pride 2012 to have something in place even if it is an exhibition of where and what it would be.

Has there ever been any other similar group before in London’s history?

To our knowledge, no one has created such a project in London which is why we got over 1,500 members in less than a week on our Facebook group page. People kept saying – why hasn’t this been done before?

Why do you think the project has been given so much support from the gay community?

So many people from London’s gay community, especially those who grew up in the 80′s and 90′s, have had HIV/AIDS affect them and there loved ones.

On world AIDS day we held a fundraising event at Ku Bar for a great charity called ‘The Food Chain‘ and our customers helped to raise over five thousand pounds in one night, I think that is shows how much support the gay community is prepared to give to the fight

We are making huge advances in HIV/AIDS treatment but that fact remains that it still casts a large shadow over the LGBT community and I think that the gay community has consistently shown their determination to stand together on this issue.

If you would like to join the London AIDS memorial group click here.

Gary Henshaw is the creator and owner of the Ku Bar chain of gay bars. 

US newspaper DC Agenda claims that President Yoweri Museveni pledged to US secretary of state for African affairs Jonnie Carson on two separate occasions that he would reject the bill currently making its way through parliament.

The bill’s sponsor, David Bahati MP, has argued that it will curb HIV infections and protect the “traditional family”.

It has been subject to worldwide condemnation and since the first reports emerged in mid-October, has received widespread media attention.

UK prime minister Gordon Brown told President Museveni last month of his concerns and the United Nations and the World Health Organisation have said that Uganda may lose the chance to host an important permanent Aids research organisation if the bill is passed.

Yesterday PinkNews.co.uk reported that a far right Christian group had urged fellow Christians to support Uganda’s proposed law that would make homosexuality punishable by death.

Christian voice leader, Stephen Green commented: “What is at stake here is no less than Uganda ‘s status as a sovereign nation. Will they allow themselves to be bullied by Western secularists, or will they stand by their Christian values and the traditional African way of life?

“I hope and pray it will be the latter, and that the Western homosexuals and abortionists who are trying to corrupt their youth will be sent a firm message to stop their wickedness.”

Last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution to strongly condemn the bill. It called on Ugandan authorities “not to approve the bill and to review their laws to decriminalise homosexuality”.

The resolution also reminded the Ugandan government of its legally-binding obligations under international treaties as well as its inability to withdraw from ratified international human rights treaties.

The legislation is scheduled for a final reading in January. 

Same sex couples have been allowed to enter civil partnerships since 2006 but the new legislation will give gay couples equal rights when it comes to family social security benefits and loans.

The new bill will also give same sex couples the right to adopt.

David Razu, a legislator from the left-wing Social Democratic Party, told Reuters:

“We are putting an end to segregation and stigmatisation of a sector of society, giving access to full marriage rights.”

Mexico has traditionally been a conservative Catholic country but Mexico City has developed a popular and vibrant gay scene in recent years.

Argentina became the first Latin American country to allow civil unions across the country for same-sex couples in 2002.

Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay have all offered same sex couples the opportunity of civil partnerships but this is the first time that full marriage has been legislated in Latin America.

Earlier this month a gay Buenos Aires couple who hoped to become the first to fully marry in Argentina said that the city mayor should be fined for not authorising their wedding.

Jose Maria Di Bello and partner Alex Freyre planned to marry on World AIDS Day after Judge Gabriela Seijas ruled last month that the ban on gay marriage violated Argentina’s constitution.

Mexico’s Catholic archdiocese has stated that legalising gay marriage is immoral and will destroy families.

“Recognising homosexual civil unions as marriage goes against the public good and the emotional development of our children,” said Giovanni Gutierrez, a city lawmaker from President Felipe Calderón’s National Action Party.

The decision to allow full marriage for gay couples prompted jubilation in the streets from Mexico City’s LGBT community and gay rights groups. 

Employment Judge David Kearsley found that Mr Awford had been unfairly dismissed by store manager David Gray.

Mr Awford, known on the club circuit as, ‘Dean the Queen,’ was awarded £30,000 compensation, as well as £118 in unauthorised deductions and £67 holiday pay.

However, claims that Mr Awford suffered sexual orientation discrimination and sexual harassment were dismissed.

Awford claimed that his boss David Gray continually directed homophobic insults at him and humiliated him in front of customers.

Awford told the employment tribunal he had made no secret of his sexual orientation but Gray would call him a “poof and “faggot”, along with referring to him as “she”.

He said: “During my employment I was subjected to continual harassment due to my sexual preference.. . Mr Gray was an extremely volatile and abusive employer.

“[On one] occasion I was in a white suit and he said ‘look at you, you faggot.’ Faggot is a word I don’t like and I would complain verbally about what he was saying to me.”

“Many homosexual males would have found the comments made by Mr Gray offensive. The tribunal is not condoning Mr Gray’s behaviour,” Judge Kearsley said.

“Equally many women would have found the comments about their underwear on the chiller offensive.

“But we have considered the character of the claimant and the absence of any complaint during the period of employment.”

He continued: “The tribunal doesn’t accept that Mr Gray made any comments that were particularly capable of constituting harassment.

“He referred to himself as Dean the Queen and would recount details of his sexual activity.”

“I am delighted that the unfair dismissal claim was upheld. I’ve known all along that my treatment at work was wrong,” Awford told The Telegraph.

“I only hope Mr Gray will ensure that no other employees are treated so shabbily in future. I hope I have helped improve his employee relations ahead of the festive period.

“I suppose as far as Gray’s At Northwick are concerned then I could be the Christmas fairy.”

“Consumers of gay porn prefer to watch ‘bareback’ films over ‘condom’ porn, and bareback production companies enjoy significantly stronger sales than those that require their performers to use condoms,” he told PinkNews.co.uk.

“There is a window period between an individual becoming infected with the HIV virus, and that individual showing up positive in an HIV test. During the window period, the infected individual can transmit the virus to others during unprotected sexual intercourse.

“For that reason it is not possible for a production company to guarantee the safety of an actor in a bareback film.”

Earlier today Pinknews.co.uk reported that an American HIV/AIDS charity are petitioning for a ban on the production of bareback porn in the state of California.

“Last year, in order to protect its performers against HIV infection, Eurocreme took the difficult commercial decision to produce only ‘condom’ films,” continued Lincoln, who founded the company in 2002.

“In the absence of any legislation governing porn production in the UK, this moral stance places us at a serious disadvantage in the marketplace.”

Bareback porn saw a massive resurgence in popularity in the late nineties and is now one of the top selling genres in the multibillion pound gay pornography market.

Many have blamed the rise in popularity on an increasingly apathetic attitude towards HIV/AIDS amongst gay men.

Commenting on the campaign in California to make the production of bareback porn illegal, Lincoln told PinkNews.co.uk:

“Bareback sex is not a criminal offence, and it would be a dangerous precedent for the Government to legislate against the depiction of a perfectly legal activity.

“Porn companies exist to entertain, and it should not be left to them to educate the general public at their own expense.

“It is also facile to imagine that legislation will prevent the consumer accessing bareback porn; It will instead send him down the route of piracy and filesharing. The correct approach in the UK is for the producers, retail outlets and the gay press to self-regulate, much as has been proposed in the USA. This would at least allow responsible adult companies to compete on a level playing field.”

“If the Government is to become involved in this issue in any way, it should be to devote funding to HIV awareness programmes, particularly directed towards young people.”

Eurocreme was founded in the United Kingdom by director Max Lincoln, whose first film was ‘DreamBoy’, released in 2002.

Opening on Saturday evening, the bar is situated in the tourist town of Dali in the southwestern province of Yunnan. It is the first venue of its kind to receive government backing.

The project, which was due to be opened on World AIDS day on December 1st, aims to provide help and support for the LGBT community as well as provide information on HIV/AIDS  prevention.

Last year China’s Ministry of Health implemented its first ever national programme to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS among gay men.

The programme marked a subtle new phase in the one-party-state’s attitudes towards homosexuality since sodomy was decriminalised in 1997: No approval, no disapproval and no promotion.

The bar, which was founded by Dali HIV/AIDS charity worker Zhang Jianbo, was given 120,000 yuan (£10,000) of financial support from the government.

China’s health ministry warned earlier this month that homosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS was gaining pace.

Gay sex accounted for just 0.4 percent of new infections in 2005, but that figure had risen to 3.3 per cent by 2007.

Of the estimated 700,000 Chinese people living with HIV or AIDS, 11 per cent contracted the virus through gay sex, according to Ministry of Health figures.

Zhang, a doctor at a hospital in Dali, said in an earlier interview that raising awareness of the disease among the gay community was “extremely important”.

The official China Daily newspaper said in 2005 that the number of gays in China came to around 30 million, although it conceded few were willing to acknowledge their sexuality.

While homosexuality is still officially classified as a “mouldering life style of capitalism” in the officially communist state, there are no laws against gay sex or lifestyles. Neither are there any laws protecting Chinese gays from discrimination.

The packed square observed a two minutes silence, after which the names of the victims of homophobic hate crimes were read out. The Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown attended and spoke exclusively to PinkNews.co.uk

Commemorating the life of Ian Baynham, who was murdered in a homophobic attack near to Trafalgar Square, thousands lay candles at the foot of Nelsons Column spelling out the words, ‘NO TO HATE.’

The crowd stood in silence as Shaun Newport from the LGBT tourist information office read out a letter of support from Stuart Milk, nephew of prominent gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

A number of politicians and representatives attended and spoke about the importance of tackling hate crime. Reading out Prime Minister Gordon Browns letter of support, Labour minister Maria Eagle reiterated:

“The homophobia which killed Ian, like Daryl Phillips, Gerry Edwards, James Kerr and Jody Dobrowski before him, breeds in the silence.

“My thoughts are with Ian’s family and friends, and with those of James Parks who remains critically ill in hospital.”

Speaking exclusively to Pinknews.co.uk, Sarah Brown applauded those responsible for organizing the event:

“ The organisers have done an extraordinary job,

“It’s unbelievable that they have done so much in just two weeks.”

Acting as compere for the vigil, television broadcaster Sandi Toksvig told the 10,000 strong crowd:

“Tonight is not about politics, but we have had messages of support from all of the political parties. Only one party has failed to send their voice of support, I’ll let you guess which one that it.”

The crowd heard from a number of openly gay politians including Labour minister Chris Bryant and Deputy London Mayor Richard Barnes.

Making a reference to the recent Jan Moir scandal, Labour Minister Chris Bryant said:

“Ian Baynham was not a death of natural causes.”

Speaking after the event, organiser Mark Healey told Pinknews.co.uk:

“I’m really happy with how it has gone this evening; it was fantastic seeing so many people coming out and giving their support.”

Events took place in a number of locations last night including Brighton, Liverpool and San Fransisco.

The Prime Minister writes:

“As you gather this evening to share your grief and to bear witness to the intolerance which caused it, I wanted to send my appreciation to you for having the courage to act even in the midst of your sorrow.

“The homophobia which killed Ian, like Daryl Phillips, Gerry Edwards, James Kerr and Jody Dobrowski before him, breeds in the silence.

“So too does the kind of mindless violence which resulted in the death of Michael Causer. So thank you for speaking out today and resistingthose whose hatred diminishes their humanity.

“My thoughts are with Ian’s family and friends, and with those of James Parks who remains critically ill in hospital.

“And tonight we also remember the thousands more from so many different communities who have been the victims of assault, harassment or abuse and who carry the emotional, mental and physical scars which can last a lifetime.

“And so I give you my word today that resisting all forms of hate crime remains a top priority for the Labour Government. The Home Office has recently issued a new Hate Crime Action plan to increase reporting, bring more perpetrators to justice and give better support to victims.

“Perhaps the cruellest impact of hate crime is the loneliness and fear which it inspires in the communities it targets. And so to defeat hate we need not just policies – but pride. That is what you are all showing this evening.

“So let us say as one that we stand together strong in our diversity and united in our determination that while the march towards equality may be long, nobody will ever have to travel the road alone.”

A number of events both in the UK and internationally will take place this evening, making it the first such international event.

The vigil, which is being organised by volunteers, is seeking donations to assist with running costs. If you would like to donate via paypal visit http://tr.im/172430 or alternatively you can pay directly to the 17-24-30 groups donation account, sort code 40-03-22, account number 41446843.

The Mayor raised the matter with the Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson at yesterday’s meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

The Commissioner assured the Mayor that the Met is taking the issue of homophobic crime seriously and he outlined measures that include third party reporting and increased sanctioned detection rates, as well as raising staff and community awareness and efforts to encourage the community to report attacks.

The number of homophobic hate crimes in London has risen by 18 per cent since last year, Scotland Yard figures show.

According to the statistics, 1,192 homophobic offences were recorded in the 12 months to September this year. Compared with 1,008 in the same period last year, this is a rise of 18.3 per cent.

The Mayor said today: “Londoners have become increasingly concerned about the number of homophobic attacks and the recent death of Ian Baynham was particularly appalling. My thoughts are with his friends, family and everyone affected by hate crime.

“London is known around the world as a place where people can be who they want to be. Homophobic attacks and other hate crimes must not be tolerated and we are committed to working with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that they are dealt with rigour.

“We must keep hate crime high on the agenda across London if we are to ensure perpetrators are held to account and reduce the risk of it happening in the first place. So I would urge anyone affected by, or witnessing a hate crime, to report it.”

Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said: “My sincere condolences to Ian Baynham’s family and friends. This was a dreadful crime and we are, and will continue to do everything we can to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”

“As I said publicly yesterday, we have seen an increase in reported homophobic crime and that clearly is of concern to us. This is attributed in some ways as a result of increased confidence by the community, however there is still significant under reporting of this crime, which we wish to address.”

Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes, who is attending the vigil, commented:

“This was a terrible crime and a tragedy for all who knew and loved Ian Baynham. London’s strength and dynamism lie in its many communities and every person should have the right to live their lives as they choose, free from persecution and abuse. It is a dark episode, but as Londoners we must seize this opportunity to raise awareness about the tragic consequences of homophobia and to educate our young people.”

Up to 10,000  people are expected to take part in a silent candle-lit vigil against Hate-Crime this evening in Trafalgar Square.

The event, which is being organised by volunteers, is seeking donations to assist with running costs. If you would like to donate via paypal visit http://tr.im/172430 or alternatively you can pay directly to the 17-24-30 groups donation account, sort code 40-03-22, account number 41446843.

Councillor Ruth Black who heads up ‘Castro’, will be responsible for running the recently bankrupt Glasgow LGBT Centre, a one-stop shop for the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Ms Black was previously manager of the LGBT Centre, although left before it closed earlier this year with debts of more than £300,000.

Glasgay claims it has been successful for almost 20 years yet the council wants to give the running of the LGBT centre to an organisation not yet established and with no management, governance or staff arrangements, as well as a direct connection with the previous regime.

Pride Director Ross Stevenson told Pinknews.co.uk:

“The Glasgay bid offered a lot more then the Castro bid, they would have made it a much more vibrant place.

“I am against Ruth Black running the centre as I feel that she did have a role to play in the downfall of the centre.”

“The main factor here is that the Castro bid will pay back the £300,000 loan, what happens to the facility doesn’t seem to have been taken into account.”

The facility provided a base for a number of LGBT community projects:

“It was a community hub,” added Stevenson. ” It provided a service for people who don’t want to go on the scene.”

The centre was closed in April, just two years after moving into new premises in the Merchant City.

The £1m refurbishment of the facility included a £300,000 loan from the council, which the Castro bid has said it will pay back.

If it goes ahead, the ­proposal will involve the council giving Castro £47,000 to re-open the centre.

A council spokesman said: “The recommendation is based on the expert advice of officers from different services across the council. They believe the Castro proposal is more strongly aligned with the social inclusion agenda.”

A council spokesperson denied accusation that the Castro bid was given a more favourable deadline, “there were no deadlines, people were not asked to apply and  no deadlines were given to either party.”

Glasgay is one of the most well-regarded LGBT arts events in the UK. It was founded in 1993.

The event, organised by the facebook group 17-24-30,  is being held to commemorate the homophobic murder of Ian Baynham.

Organiser Mark Healey told Pinknews.co.uk:

“We have been inundated with support from people all around the world. This is the first ever international day of remembrance for the victims of hate crime.”

There will also be vigils this evening in Brighton and San Francisco.

A number of high profile speakers will speak at the vigil, which has received support from Stuart Milk, nephew of prominent gay rights campainger Harvey Milk who was murdered in a homophobic attack.

“After the two minutes silence there will be a roll call of all the victims of homphobic hate crime from the last 10 years,” Healey told Pinknews.co.uk.

“We are asking everyone to come straight to Trafalgar Square for the Vigil, please do not bring banners and placards – we want to see a sea of candles and faces.

“We have been in contact with some of Ian’s friends, to start establishing what needs they have, what ideas they would like us to include.

“Unfortunately it may be a long time before Ian’s body is released, the family have indicated that they would like a private service, with ideas for an event for Ian to be staged at a later date.

“Friends and members of the family are planning to attend the Vigil, as well friends and families of other victims of Hate-crime.”

The event, which is being organised by volunteers, is seeking donations to assist with running costs. If you would like to donate via paypal visit http://tr.im/172430 or alternatively you can pay directly to the 17-24-30 groups donation account, sort code 40-03-22, account number 41446843.

Project director Shaun Newport told Pinknews.co.uk:

“I’m really pleased with how well it has gone down with the community. We obviously get a lot of people visiting London who want to know about the bars and clubs, but we have also get a lot of people who want advice on health facilities in the area.”

The LGBT service, which is situated in London’s Chinatown, was launched last Friday and attracted support from local LGBT businesses and community groups.

“Since the awful homophobic attack last week we have had a lot of people wanting to know how they can lend there support to LGBT community projects.

“I think that it’s really good to have a place where people can come, have a coffee and find out more about London’s vibrant scene.

“We are currently in discussion with a number of venues and businesses and we will soon be selling tickets for events, we really want to have as many people working with us as possible and we are always on the lookout for gay businesses that would like to get involved.”

If you would like to get involved in the Gay Tourist Office email Shaun Newport at shaun.newport@gaytouristoffice.co.uk

The packed event, hosted by gay social networking group Village Drinks, was held at London club No 4 Hamilton Place.

Phillips debated against cabinet minister Angela Eagle, who is the only out lesbian in parliament. The debate was chaired by Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill.

Eagle argued: “I don’t think that equality damages freedom of speech; in order to have a much more profound freedom we need more equality.”

“Equality has become an Orwellian word,” responded Phillips. “We are in grave danger of turning thought into crime.

“Is it wrong to criminalise the giving of offence; is it right to criminalise disapproval?”

“I’m not in favour of thought crimes,” responded Eagle, who is the cabinet minister for pensions.

“But I’m not in favour of hate preaching either. I think that when you protect a minority you present a social solidarity.”

Addressing the issue of freedom of speech, Eagle added: “If people feel secure in their place in society then maybe they’ll take less offence to things that are said.”

The debate moved on to the issues of gay adoption and marriage:

“The state has a vested interested in heterosexual marriage,” commented Phillips, who in the past has criticised gay adoption and accused gay rights activists of intolerance towards Christians.

Following David Cameron’s apology for Section 28 earlier this year, she argued that the gay rights agenda undermines marriage and has called homosexuality a “lifestyle choice”.

“I think that civil partnerships are a good thing,” retaliated Eagle. “Yet Melanie here thinks that it undermines marriage; I don’t think that any of my heterosexual friends who came to my wedding day felt that their own marriage was compromised.”

One Village Drinks member told PinkNews.co.uk: “I think that freedom of speech is important but when you are in a position like Melanie’s and you’re read by millions of people you have a responsibility.

“I think that the debate highlighted the clash between church and state,” another guest told Pinknews.co.uk.

Putting this point to Melanie Phillips herself, the Daily Mail journalist told us: “I don’t think that separating church and state would have any benefit in reference to what have talked about tonight.

“For some things I think it might help but certainly not for these issues.”

Another guest told PinkNews.co.uk: “I think that it is essential that gay people have exactly the same rights as straight people, especially when it comes to things like hospital visitation rights and taxes. I don’t think that Melanie thinks that is the case.”

Village Drinks founder Neil Spring told PinkNews.co.uk: “I’m really very proud to host this lively debate about the issue of equality.

“I think that Melanie is a force to be reckoned with. It’s really good for gay people to have the chance to question her; even though I’m sure that her answers won’t satisfy everyone.”

Despite a number of heated comments, the crowd remained calm throughout. “I’m surprised no one heckled her,” one guest commented.