Articles by Lydia Malmedie

11 July 2007
UPS accused of discrimination against gay employees + Gay rights groups have criticised the delivery company UPS for depriving employees in same-sex partnership of health insurance benefits.According to New Jersey law, same-sex couples in civil unions have equal entitlement to employment benefits, yet UPS makes a difference between married couples and those in civil-unions in terms of health insurance.This means the company is defying a court ruling which required equality regardless of sexual orientation.
11 July 2007
Castro’s niece pushes for gay rights in Cuba 3 Almost a year after Cuba's president Fidel Castro temporarily resigned from power due to his ill health, human rights are still under threat on the island.At the same time improvements of LGBT rights are in sight.There is a change in attitude towards LGBT people in the Caribbean dictatorship under Fidel's brother Raul Castro, who holds the position of interim head of state.
10 July 2007
Vienna court acquits gay rights activists of libel 1 Two activists from a gay rights organisation based in Vienna were fully acquitted in their appeal against a court ruling yesterday.The chairman of the Homosexual Initiative (HOSI), Christian Högl, and general-secretary Kurt Krickler, had been accused of libel by a Member of Parliament from the Christian-Conservative Party, Walter Tancsits.The accused had lost a previous trial and were ordered to reimburse the MP an April court ruling.
10 July 2007
Homophobic government faces election test + The conservative Polish coalition government, known for its nationalistic and homophobic views, is at risk of falling apart.Twins Jaroslaw and Lech Kaczynski, the Prime Minister and President respectively, run one of the largest countries in the EU with a population of 38 million people.Yesterday Prime Minister Kaczynski fired his coalition partner, deputy and head of the main coalition party, Andrzej Lepper, for suspected involvement in corruption.
10 July 2007
LGBT health summit will ‘empower choice’ + The title of this year's LGBT Health Summit - Choices, Voices, Knowledge and Power - makes clear the strong themes delegates will get to grips with in Manchester on the 20th and 21st of August.30 presenters and 16 workshops will cover issues on health inequalities experienced by lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.One aim of the summit is to provide information and training on LGBT health issues such as disability, crime, mental health, the impact of stereotypes and identity, ageing and drugs
4 July 2007
Assault on trans woman not a hate crime 3 A teenager has been found guilty of aggravated battery, but not of hate crime by a juvenile judge in Palm Beach Country, Florida, today.In June 2006, the then 17-year old beat a 39-year old trans-woman, according to his attorney out of self-defence.The woman claims that the teen was sexually aggressive towards her, although she had told him that she was not a biological woman.
3 July 2007
Gay journalist claims to be straight 5 An award-winning gay journalist and activist as announced he is now an ex-gay.Michael Glatze founded the Young Gay America magazine and received awards such as the National Role Model Award from leading homosexual rights organisation Equality Forum.He also produced a well-received documentary film on suicides of gay teenagers in the US.
3 July 2007
Woman too ‘masculine’ for the women’s bathroom + Has anyone ever double-checked the door sign when they saw you standing in the bathroom?Then you are familiar with the bathroom issue many people who do not match certain stereotypical gender norms have to deal with.The reaction of a bouncer in New York City, who evicted a woman from the bathroom of a Mexican restaurant in Greenwich Village, still seems outrageous.
3 July 2007
MEP receives award for moral courage + The Pride Parade in Berlin took place last week and for the seventh time, the organisers recognised moral courage of individuals and organisations with the "Zivilcourage-Preis" (the Civil Courage Award.)Among those honoured was a German member of the European Parliament, Lissy Gröner.The Social Democrat is a vocal advocate for gay, lesbian and female rights and was first elected into the EU Parliament in 1989.
28 June 2007
Presidential candidate visits with the gays + While his wife Elizabeth kicked off San Francisco's Pride and supports gay marriage, presidential candidate John Edwards has been more careful about his support to the LGB community.He claims that he wants to end discrimination of gay and lesbian couples, but he is not in favour of gay marriage.Despite the fact that he has not fully endorsed LGBT demands of equal rights, a group of 25 prominent community leaders supports his candidature.
28 June 2007
Comment: Changing attitudes to gays + CNN has issued a number of opinion polls in the past. Their questionnaires touch on topics like the presidential candidates, terrorism and climate change. Homosexuality is another topic they have issued surveys on in the past years.The results of this year's CNN opinion polls on Homosexuality and Gay Rights were published today. And what seems to promise a 'rosy future' for US-American attitude towards gays and lesbians, has to be considered with caution.
27 June 2007
LGBT abuse group secures Justice funding + An organisation that helps victims of hate crimes, sexual abuse and violence have been given over £35,000 by the new Ministry of Justice.Galop's award comes at a time when homophobic hate crimes are widely under-reported due to fear of the victims, humiliation or lack of information on the importance of reporting.A lack of confidence in police and statutory services is also a factor.

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