Patrick McDonalds told The Crusading Guide newspaper that GLAG members were unaware of any international conference that was due to take place, and that the media had aggravated public hatred towards those with a same sex preference.

He also claimed that statements attributed to him by the media were untrue.

Mr McDonalds told reporters that the media had created the story, and that debate concerning the conference was nothing but speculation had caused trouble in Ghana.

The speculation appears to have begun last week when a spokesman claimed that the government was going to ban an international conference in Accra.

The original report of McDonalds complaint about his treatment by the media in The Crusading Guide has no quotes from him.

The Accra Mail claimed in August that GLAG allowed secondary school students to join, but Mr McDonalds denied this saying that membership to GLAG was only available to adults.

GLAG has over 500 members and several offices throughout Ghana.

Over the past few weeks the government has issued a claim that it would ban the conference, and has received backing for the move from both Christian and Muslim groups in Ghana.

A trio of Tory councillors are trying to reach out to people in their Greenwich borough by offering a surgery: “that specifically works for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.”

The councillors are holding monthly meetings at local LGBT bar The Woolwich Infant to help “younger people who, politically, are not so switched on, and don’t know who to get in contact with us,” according to one of three Greenwich Conservative councillor who devised the surgeries.

Chris Taylor, Andy Jennings and Nigel Fletcher are Tory representatives on Labour-run Greenwich council.

Their surgery has caused quite a stir in the Conservative Party, and not just because of the choice of venue.

Party activists on Tory blog sites feel that the move panders to the LGBT community unfairly and have questioned the validity of offering out-of-office services.

“People who have been complaining about the service predominantly tend to be people who are already turned on,” Cllr Chris Taylor told PinkNews.co.uk, “in an ideal world you wouldn’t need this.”

He claims that the move: “shows us as being more accessible. People have problems and the council needs to reach and help them.”

The real issue is more than just reaching out to people as councillors, he feels.

“I think it is sad that there is an image of the the Tory party that isn’t reflective of Tory party members,” he said.

“As a gay man I wouldn’t be in a party that isn’t accepting of my values.

“Labour take the gay vote for granted, but when (LGBT) people go to vote they have the same issues as everyone else.”

Fellow councillor Nigel Fletcher agrees, “I helped work on the Conservative Civil Partnership response, and we were able to get a lot of support.

“Historically if you had removed gay people from the scene the party wouldn’t have had much staff,” he jokes.

“The problem though is not removing discrimination from law, which is quite easy, but removing discrimination from society which is much more difficult.

“We, as a party, should encourage stable relationships.”

Cllr Flether is hopeful about the future: “In ten years time there may be no need for this initiative, but for the moment we are reaching out to where people feel comfortable.”

Although it certainly helps the Greenwich Tories change the image of the party, both councillors consider the service that they offer as entirely a-political, and speaking to some of those who have benefited from their expertise it is obvious that their party allegiance makes no different to locals.

The idea for a surgery was born from Cllr Taylor’s regular visits to The Woolwich Infant.

“People get to know you’re a councillor,” he told PinkNews.co.uk, “and people talk to you about whatever it is.”

It is by approaching people on their own ground that Cllr Taylor has helped more than a dozen people who have been desperate for some form of assistance. Some who just needed a point in the right direction while others who needed a lot of help sorting out their problems.

PinkNews.co.uk spoke to two people whom Cllr Taylor has helped in the past through meeting them at The Woolwich Infant.

Andy, 23, lives locally and suffered from debt problems with credit card companies, and faced the possibility of having to move back home with his parents.

He got himself out of trouble by chance: “Just by chatting to mates I heard of Chris (Taylor) holding meetings down here. I figured some thing’s better than nothing.

“Hearing that he came down here made it easier for me to contact him,” Andy continues, “it was something I had never heard of down here.”

Cllr Taylor put Andy in contact with the Citizens Advice Bureau who were able to help him sort out his rising debt problems.

“I have just about sorted myself out,” Andy says a year on, “back to a nice lifestyle without credit cards.”

Another, more complicated case, is that of Tracey, 29, who three months ago faced being evicted from her flat. Her rent arrears that had built up to nearly £1500 and she was being threatened with a court summons.

Having difficulty finding and holding on to work in the area exacerbated her problems.

“Chris (Taylor) gave me the low down on what would happen and helped me fill out all the forms.”

She is now still looking for work, whilst trying to pay off the arrears and court fees from her benefits at just £6 a week.

“Its good to have some one who knows the system,” she tells me in reference to her trouble getting hold of housing benefits.

Cllr Taylor agrees: “Its complicated enough for me to get anywhere, let alone for someone without experience in how the system works.”

Whilst there have been those that have questioned the choice of a LGBT bar as a venue, councillors Taylor and Fletcher disagree: “Its a very busy bar at night and on weekends, but its a safe bar and a community bar.

“I wouldn’t do this in some pubs,” Cllr Taylor says, “as a councillor I have to know its an atmosphere I can work in.”

“People want to feel politics is interested in them,” he says, “sadly we have to do it this way as people don’t know how to come to us. This will make sure get the LGBT community on our side.”

He denied charges that he had used threatening words and behaviour whilst handing out leaflets entitled “Same-sex love – same-sex sex: What does the Bible say?” at the entrance to the Cardiff festival on Saturday, reports BBC News Online.

Mr Green was supported in court by a group of eight Christian activists.

After his arrest he claimed that he was only exercising his right to free speech.

Green said in a statement “I thank God for the honour of being locked up for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

He was remanded by the court until 28 September.

The British National Party has come out in support of anti-gay protester Stephen Green, who was arrested at the Cardiff Mardi Gras for handing out leaflets condemning same sex relationships.

On their website the BNP has questioned the grounds for Mr Green’s arrest, and have noted how the BNP and Christian Voice share the same aims: “the Christian Voice Web site broadly echoes the BNP’s national outlook.”

This is despite Mr Green having been openly critical of the BNP in the past.

He told PinkNews.co.uk “they (BNP) can mind their own business. I don’t need their support and I don’t want their support.

“They’re only band wagon jumping.”

The BNP has spoken out in Mr Greens favour saying: “His crime? He was distributing Gospel tracts at a homosexual and lesbian event in Cardiff!”

Spokesman for the BNP Dr Phil Edwards, the National Press Officer, told PinkNews.co.uk the charges are “outrageous.”

“The man is telling the truth and quoting the bible. There is no hatred in what he is portraying, only the facts.”

Dr Edwards said that the BNP support Mr Green’s stance on homosexuality, saying that people should stick to being gay in their own homes.

Mr Green said that his arrest was “a gross infringement of his civil liberties.”

He also informed us that his hearing today was only to enter a plea of not guilty.

Christian Voice claims on their website: “Marriage vows don’t matter, half a generation of children are growing up without a father, the government is encouraging children into promiscuity, homosexuality and infertility, crime has soared, people seek escape in drugs, our hospitals are filthy, our politicians spend our money like water while we all live on debt, injustice is done in the courts and the poor are robbed by the national lottery.”

The BNP discourages homosexuality, arguing that it is unnatural.

“Our policy is tolerance towards homosexuality, plus we would reinstate section 28,” Dr Edwards told PinkNews.co.uk.

“We would offer counselling to get people away from their deviant lifestyles, or ask them to become celibate,” he added.

The two groups have clashed in the past, with Mr Green denouncing the BNP saying: “Now we know for certain both that the BNP is inherently racist and that its racism is based firmly on anti-Christian Darwinian evolutionary theory.”

The BNP have claimed in retaliation that Mr Green has been brainwashed by the media.

Chris Mole resigned from DCLG unhappy at the Prime Minister’s leadership and his silence regarding a departure date, following junior defence minister Tom Watson this afternoon.

Mr Mole, MP for Ipswich, was responsible for working in areas such as equality and social cohesion since 2001..

In a statement to PinkNews.co.uk Mr Mole said: “I strongly believe the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of too many colleagues and more widely within the membership of the Labour Party and that renewal can only follow a change of leadership, our fortunes will not recover until that change has taken place.”

“I am confident that I have reflected the views of the constituency party in taking this step,” he added.

He left along with other PPS’s Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, and David Wright. Mr Watson is the most respected party figure to quit so far, all had signed a letter demanding Mr Blair’s resignation earlier this week.

The survey is a vital part of Stonewall Cymru’s ongoing campaign work to “ensure fair treatment for lesbian and gay people in Wales” with survey findings presented to the Welsh Assembly to help towards delivering better services to LGB people across Wales.

Stonewall Cymru spokesman Matthew Batten said: “We are still hearing appalling cases of discrimination towards lesbian and gay people in Wales.”

“It is only by knowing what the situation is like in Wales that we can take action and change things for the better,” he added.

The last survey had its findings published in the 2003 report Counted Out, and it highlighted the real problem still affecting Wales LGBT community with one in three respondents claiming to be the victim of physical violence or bullying.

In the 2003 report over half of those 18 to 25 reported being a victim of violence or bullying.

As a result of the report the Welsh Assembly was spurred into action to help address these problems.

The 2006 survey aims to up the data available from the 2003 report, it is still running online at Stonwall Cymru’s website.

The survey looks to analyse areas such as ‘Relationship and Community Participation’ and ‘Crime and Criminal Justice.’

Stonewall Cymru’s Cardiff Mardi Gras stall was able to ensure that over 200 people took part in the Wales only survey.

They are now looking to get more to take part in the survey to improve the reports findings.

In an interview he said: “There are still things that I can’t do, being a gay man. You have to think carefully about things – about, for instance, prancing around with my top off in jeans.”

He claims that his sexuality has been a limiting factor in deciding how he acts on stage and in music videos saying: “Now if Robbie Williams prances around with his top off he’s a big hunk. Do you know what I mean?”

During the interview Mr Young spoke about his experience of coming out to the press, saying that it was about beating the Mail on Sunday that was threatening to ‘out’ him.

But in today’s Times2 he also spoke about his limitations as a gay artist.

Though he denies this is homophobia from music fans he said: “I always think I’m like a walking MORI poll and I don’t come across prejudice that much. I don’t think it’s homophobia. I think it’s just that people probably just don’t want to see it.”

In an open letter to Ghana’s President John Agyekum Kufuor the society praised the governments stance saying “we do not have to re-enact the iniquities that led to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.”

As reported in PinkNews.co.uk over the past week the conference was originally meant to be held in the capital Accra until it was banned by a government decision, overruling the city’s authorities which had originally licensed the conference to take place.

At the time a government spokesman made a comment saying “the government would like to make it absolutely clear that it shall not permit the proposed conference of International Gays and Lesbians to take place anywhere in Ghana.”

The letter also highlighted the socities aims towards the gay and lesbian community of Ghana: “As an Islamic organisation we do support the move by your Government to stop the gays and lesbians from organising a public function.”

“If possible, the religious bodies could team up to sensitise the youth and children in schools and neighbourhoods to stay clear of that sinful act that has been condemned by God,” it said.

Liverpool’s John Moores University has released a report that highlights the jump in gay infections from 300 men in 2003 to 359 in 2004 to 373 in 2005, and representing 44% of the total number of new cases in 2004.

The increase of just 4% from 2004 to 2005 was cause for some celebration, compared to the overall increase of 14%, as reported in today’s Liverpool Daily Post Echo.

Professor Mark A. Bellis, Director of the Centre for Public Health and co-author of the report, told PinkNews.co.uk: “While escalation in numbers of new HIV infections amongst gay men has not been as dramatic as in previous years we have still seen over 370 new HIV infections amongst gay and bisexual men during 2005.”

He added “although further dramatic increases appear to have been avoided, this still means that hundreds of individuals have needlessly been infected, when practising safe sex could have avoided such infections.”

The report highlights that the total rise in new cases since 2001 in the north west is 114%.

It also claims that one percent of Manchester’s male population in the 35 years old to 44 years old age range has a HIV or AIDS infection.

Professor Bellis comments: “While infections continue to be more common in gay men and some immigrant groups, HIV is now regularly identified in heterosexuals, both sexes and all types of communities.”

An example of this is the rise in the number of women infected, with a 20% rise in the infection rate.

The report also recognises that the rise this year in cases is largely due to new heterosexual infections, either from migrants such as workers or students or from UK citizens that were infected whilst in travelling on holiday or business.

Professor Qutub Syed, Director of Health Protection Agency North West, said: “HIV has almost become a forgotten disease, but these figures show that it is an ever present threat in our society. Anyone indulging in unprotected sex is taking an unacceptable risk with their health and possibly with their life.”

After last years figures Professor Syed said “People need to realise that HIV is not exclusive to gay men or to people who live in sub Saharan Africa.”

The avenue of advertising should also be considered, according to Professor Bellis, telling PinkNews.co.uk “regular condom adverts on television in this country are now long overdue.”

He said that despite the inevitable initial backlash ” such complaints should soon disappear and hopefully some good sexual health messages will replace alcohol and junk food promotions.”

American gay group Family Pride will be hosting Act OUT: the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Family Conference in Dallas this October to help LGBT-headed families and their allies.

“The need to advocate for LGBT families has never been greater: there were 15 anti-family bills during the last legislative session,” said Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of Family Pride.

She told reporters: “Fundamentalists think nothing of filing legislation that harms single parents, non-biological parents, and even grandparents, in their zeal to stop gays from being parents. The truth is that according to the 2000 US Census 77% of the children in this country are being raised by someone other than their married mother and father.”

Ms Chrisler concluded: “It’s time we started protecting all families and all children.”

Family Pride is aiming to help families across the US by providing training opportunities in areas such as advocacy, education, and community organising.

“Our goal for this conference is to pass along tools and information that will help LGBT-headed families secure equality,” said Ms Chrisler, “our families will return home inspired and equipped with all they need to stand up for their families with confidence and pride.”

The conference includes the presentation of research and information about LGBT-headed families gathered since Family Pride’s Academic Symposium this past Spring.

It also has leadership training for youth and adults with one or more LGBT parents led by COLAGE (Children of Lesbians Gays Everywhere).

“We’re looking forward to gathering in Dallas, which boasts the sixth-largest gay population in the United States but also has a long history of marginalizing and discriminating against our families,” claimed Trina Olson, Family Pride’s Program and Education Manager.

Mr Green was approached by officers who asked him to stop leafleting people, but he was arrested when he continued to distribute leaflets with extracts taken from the Gospel.

In a statement Mr Green claims: “I thank God for the honour of being locked up for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Of work between the Police and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community Mr Green said: “Maybe they work a bit too closely when an evangelist can be victimised simply because he is giving out leaflets quoting verses from the same Bible police officers swear on in court.”

He claims that his rights to free speech have been challenged, and that his leaflet calling for LGBT people to give up their choice is not offensive or inflammatory but “asks how the reader will stand in the Day of Judgment.”

Mr Green is unrepentant of his actions, saying that the Bible should not be held in contempt.

Organisers for the Cardiff Mardi Gras refused to comment on his arrest.

Matthew Batten, Policy and Public Affairs Officer for Stonewall Cymru said: “Cardiff Mardi Gras is the one event in Wales where lesbian and gay people come together to celebrate gay life in a safe and friendly environment.”

He told PinkNews.co.uk “Wales’ gay community has the right to be protected from this deeply offensive material, which equated being gay with incest.”

Mr Batten added: “South Wales Police have demonstrated their commitment towards the safety of the lesbian and gay community.”

Mr Green was later charged with “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby, contrary to section 5(1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986,” according to the police.

Whilst protesting at the EuroPride festival he claimed “You don’t have to be gay, there is a way out.”

He told PinkNews.co.uk at EuroPride “We are protesting about sodomy being openly paraded in the capital, bringing shame and judgement to the UK.”

The Mardi Gras festival began in 1999, when it first attracted just 6,000 people, but the event now brings all groups to Wales, from Doctor Who monsters, to a gay rugby tournament, to the “World’s First Gay Motor Show.”

The organisers have claimed that the Cardiff Mardi Gras is one of the biggest free lesbian and gay events in the UK.

The festival goers were also treated to a preview from The Pink New’s publishing partner 3Sixty magazine.

The patrons of the event include Doctor Who supremo and Queer as Folk creator Russell T Davies and singer and TV presenter Charlotte Church.

The festival drew support from local politicians with representation from Wales four main political parties.

Resident gay rugby team the Cardiff Lions hosted a seven a side tournament with teams from London, Edinburgh and Bristol all represented.

Player Jamie Lewis told reporters “They might not be the same off the pitch (as other teams), but on pitch they have exactly the same mentality, they can be equally as aggressive, equally skilled, equally as competitive and determined.”

Stonewall Cymru used the event to showcase their new all Wales LGB survey 2006.

A spokesman for Stonewall Cymru said: “The event went really well.

“We were busy from 11 to 5, and the rain didn’t put anyone off at all,”

He told PinkNews.co.uk that their stall alone dealt with over 200 people interested in the survey and another 400 more interested in other Stonewall campaigns.

A transsexual is considering taking her former bosses to an employment tribunal after claiming she was harassed and refused a reference after her contract was terminated.

Saria Ghani, who underwent gender reassignment in 2004, told The Pink News that she faced “verbal harassment” and “bullying” while working for Elan Computing, a global IT specialist.

Ms Ghani said she felt “left in isolation” by the treatment she received while working as a contract administrator. Staff would deliberately ignore her and described her condition as “man in a woman’s dress,” she claims.

She first voiced a grievance to the company last April, but an investigation rejected her claims.

Following her gender reassignment in 2004 she saw a new job at Elan as a fresh start, beginning as a temp in September 2005.

An Elan spokesman told The Pink News: “Saria Ghani worked in a temporary role at Elan from September 2005 until August 2006. Saria made a number of allegations each of which was thoroughly investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.

“Elan takes all complaints extremely seriously and fully investigates any complaints made.

The spokesman added that Ms Ghani initially wrote her own reference for her line manager, which is against company policy, he said she would be given one if she approached human resources.

This article first appeared in the September issue of The Pink News which is out now

Kwame Bartels, Minister of Information and National Orientation, told the Ghana News Agency “the government would like to make it absolutely clear that it shall not permit the proposed conference of International Gays and Lesbians to take place anywhere in Ghana.”

In Ghana homosexuality is illegal, and openly condemned by political and religious leaders.

The government spokesman also compared it to bestiality.

Mr Bartels said in a statement “the government does not and shall not condone any such activity which violently offends the culture, morality and heritage of the entire people of Ghana.”

The government is also seeking the people responsible for giving the meeting permission to take place.

“The Minister (of the Interior) is further directed to institute disciplinary action if they are found to have acted in contravention of our laws.”

The Ghanaian public and clergy had spoken out against the conference claiming it was an offence to the culture of the country.

One cleric claimed in a recent radio debate that “it is unfortunate all over the world homosexuals are coming out of their closets,” according to the Ghanaian Chronicle.

The debate was concerned with homosexual rights in Ghana, with a large degree of support from listeners for the country to remain homophobic.

There is deep seated belief in Ghana that gays and lesbians are abominations, who are despised by God and must be punished.

There were dozens of banners, demanding everything from an end to racial profiling to free chocolate and tampons, but a common theme running through the protesters was against government control over their lives and rights.

There was not, however, any protesters present to highlight issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

Nor was there any representation from the main political parties, though this is little surprise as merely talking to Brian Haw has been seen in the past as problematic for Westminster types.

The only political party represented was the Monster Raving Loony party.

Protest organisations such as Greenpeace were represented, with both serious and satirical protesters present.

In light of the serious protesters that made up the majority it is surprising that no LGBT protesters were present.

Not only are there issues regarding abuse of LGBT people in the UK, there are also problems for the LGBT community in countries such as Latvia, Poland, Russia and the USA that need to be highlighted.

Protest group Outrage! was unaware of the event, but its chief Peter Tatchell told PinkNews.co.uk that protest is an important tool in democracy.

“Without protests governments are totally unaccountable between elections,” he said.

“Protesting is an effective way to hold government to account and challenge policies that the public do not support, it is also an important way to up hold rights.”

Chalk drawings renamed the pavement opposite the House of Commons as the ‘Peace Pavement’.

The man protesting that everything should be legalised said, when asked, that gay marriage should be legalised.

“If it causes a protest ban it or legalise it, I don’t care, I’m tired, I want to go home,” he told PinkNews.co.uk.

The only political party representative there, when approached, answered that gay rights were essential as “through being gay you can appreciate the extreme beautifulness of people.”

He also claimed that Princess Anne’s son Peter Philips is a “muscular hunk.”

The mood at the one person, one protest gathering was jovial throughout, with comedian Mark Thomas speaking to the crowd during the one hour protest.

Using Brian Haw’s loudspeaker Mr Thomas suggested that the one person one protest format be made a regular event.

In the background Brian Haw could be heard speculating as to why you need suction pumps at the airport.

The unnamed rabbi swore that his “special sand” would bring the wife of a local man in Bnei Brak, Isreal, back to him, with the sand lifting the curse that his wife was under.

According to ynetnews the husband, went to see his rabbi complaining that his wife was divorcing him for her lesbian lover.

The rabbi informed him that to lift the curse he would need to put “special sand” on the doorstep of the lovers home.

The wife was meant to return to him by stepping on the sand.

After putting the sand on the door step the couples’ 18 year old son, dispatched to carry out the sorcery sting operation, came undone when he decided to set fire to the laundry of his mother’s lover.

On doing so he found himself unable to control the fire.

In his escape from the inferno his car number plate was spotted by the lover, who rang the police.

The local police, after arresting and questioning the father and son, released them, apparently forgetting the charges of attempted assault and arson that hang over them both.

Ynetnews reports that the police let the father and son go after hearing their desperate tale, advising the husband that there are better ways to woo is wife back to him.

PinkNews.co.uk reporter Nikki Sinclair, a lesbian who was previously married, cast doubts over whether “special sand” would send her back to her ex-husband, she said: “I’ve heard some crazy notions in my time but I think this is the strangest.

“He has nothing to base this on, I think he needs to be committed.”

However, Michael, an Orthodox Jew from San Francisco, swears by the idea, he writes on the site’s message board, “I don’t know about the particulars, but my story is very similar. My wife ran off with my ex-best friend back in 2003. At that time, as a result of my three tragedies {1 – my brother dying in WTC tower #1 on 9/11, 2 – losing my job during internet bubble bursting, 3 – divorcing wife of 10 years}, I returned to Judaism, and Orthodoxy.

“They lived about 30 minutes from my house for about 1 year. I went to their apartment and sprinkled dust on their doormat. Lo and behold, 3 years later she calls me and wants to re-marry me.

“Don’t scoff at the rabbis, sometimes their wisdom is greater than your secular scientific BS.”

Mr Lech, who has campaigned against nationalism and intolerance in Poland, will be speaking about personal and press freedoms in the country.

In particular he will be speaking about how homophobia is aired on the radio, whilst more liberal opinions are prohibited in the national media.

The prime minister of Poland this week claimed his country is being misrepresented by the press, and hit out at the Western media.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting in Brussels with EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Jaroslaw Kaczynski said: “Please do not believe in the myth of anti-Semitic, homophobic and xenophobic Poland this is a media thing – it is not real.”

Nigel Tart, the party’s spokesperson on LGBT issues, said: “Greens from all over Europe have been actively supporting fledgling Pride events throughout eastern Europe. We were horrified when the Kaczynski regime closed down Le Madame, a gay club which also housed the national headquarters of the Green Party.”

He added “For the prime minister to boast about the Polish gay scene in order to deny his government’s homophobia is just barefaced cheek!”

Mr Tatchell will be taking part in a public meeting entitled ‘LGBT rights in the UK: a new era for sexual equality or is there more to do?’ LGBT people and the law after the Equality Act.

The meeting is concerned with looking at whether or not there is more to do in the search for recognising members of the LGBT community as equal to others in the wake of recent improvements such as civil partnerships.

He will make a short speech to begin the debate. Both lectures will take place at Brighton and Hove town hall.

The speakers will host their events over the weekend of 22-24 September, later this month.

NUS officer Scott Cuthbertson told PinkNews.co.uk of their forthcoming campaigns for gay rights across the UK’s universities and colleges, including an increase in funding for students who have been cut off by their families because of their sexuality.

The union’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) officer revealed in an interview that the NUS has not only been challenging other organisations over the past year to change their views on LGBT people, but also that the NUS itself has been trying to modernise and increase the number of women involved in LGBT work.

“The last year’s conference was the first time that there had been more women than men on the conference floor,” Mr Cuthbertson said.

“With such a small number of women MPs this highlights the work that needs to be done,” he added.

Campaigning to end the ban on homosexuals donating blood will begin on 6 September, and will involve “a high profile campaign across the UK with various groups ending in a national day of action, hopefully supported throughout the country.”

The NUS will also begin campaigning against homophobic bullying in higher education “to start putting the focus on education as a whole.”

“We want to look at the whole of the bullying issue,” Mr Cuthbertson told PinkNews.co.uk.

Their final large campaign is to increase awareness of estranged students.

These are students who are forced to leave home and survive without parental support after telling their parents that they are gay or lesbian.

Mr Cuthbertson said: “The single largest problem for LGBT students is not when they are in education, but getting into education, due to estrangement from families.”

“Some students are forced to choose whether or not to come out to their families or be able to afford going on to (higher) education.”

He said that this was due to a lack of teaching LGBT rights and perspectives in school, due to “heterosexualism” in schools.

This “heterosexualism” was also present in forms such as degree ceremony ticket applications which have been forced to ask for ‘partner’ instead of ‘husband’ or ‘wife’ for instance.

Mr Cuthbertson said the NUS views universities and colleges as improving their stance on discrimination, he said: “We are a long way off a LGBT student not suffering homophobia during their course.

“We know that there are laws there, but it is a matter of these laws being implemented.”

He told PinkNews.co.uk that local LGBT groups can help students by campaigning for individual causes and problems on campus.

Other important issues for the NUS in the coming year include looking at the health of LBT women, a cause Mr Cuthbertson claims is “always neglected”, and campaigning for more open attitudes in the world of sport.

“The lack of big name LGBT athletes is extremely worrying, we know they are there,” Mr Cuthbertson said.

He also spoke about how the NUS LGBT group will be looking to debate the compatibility of their personal choice with organised religion at the next NUS conference.

“The leadership of some religious organisations are not as open as they should be to LGBT people,” he told PinkNews.co.uk, “they don’t make it as open as it should be.”

The decision from fire chiefs at Strathclyde Fire and Rescue (SFR) came after days of deliberation over what their response to the case should be.

In the end all nine are to receive “diversity training.”

One officer has been demoted from watch manager to crew manager, with a £5,000 pay cut.

The officers’ have now admitted that they should have performed their duties at the festival, and have received written warnings for their actions.

According to the Associated Press the officers bosses judged that their refusal to hand out the leaflets represented a “fundamental breach of their core responsibilities.”

Stonewall welcomed the decision by SFR, saying “it is not political correctness to ask public servants to do their job. Lesbian and gay people pay taxes too.” “

“Had these firefighters refused to go to a mosque or church there’d have been justified outrage,” they added

The SFR have said that “firefighters are well aware that fire prevention education and spreading the fire safety message is not a minor part of their job – it ranks alongside fire-fighting as a core, statutory duty.”

“Firefighters cannot, and will not, pick and choose to whom they offer fire safety advice,” they added.

SFR say that they view the punishment as appropriate, and the matter closed.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) party was held to blame by conservative Christian leaders for the disaster that emptied the city’s population into surrounding states, and has left the city requiring billions of dollars in aid.

“We lost 137,000 homes here due to the storm, but the parts of town that center the gay community are dry and have recovered well,” Larry Bagneris, Mayor Ray Nagin’s LGBT representative, told the Bay Area Reporter this week.

He also joked that despite the blame resting on “Southern Decadence” for the cities troubles, God “must have had bad aim because the hurricane missed us completely.”

“This act of God destroyed a wicked city,” said Repent America director Michael Marcavage on the organisation’s Web site in the wake of Katrina, as reported earlier this year by PinkNews.co.uk.

City officials have called the situation a “tale of two cities,” with some areas already getting back to pre-disaster life and others empty.

Health care services in the city remain in tatters, with one third still closed and those that are open aiming to become more self dependent to deal with the conditions in New Orleans, Reuters reports.

This has included widespread use of backup generators and some having to build their own water wells.

“We’re not even prepared for the regular flu (season),” Frederick Blum, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, told Reuters. “Hopefully it won’t take another disaster to get everyone’s attention.”

“Most of us were displaced but not challenged in Katrina’s aftermath,” Mr Bagneris said. “Most of the gay communities that were affected are now dry.”

There are apparently already tens of thousands returned to the city, of the 200,000 that have ventured back.

Yet the party is ready to start in New Orleans for the thousands in the local LGBT community, according to the Bay Area Reporter.

It is hoped that the “Southern Decadence” will bring 250,000 more people to the recovering city.

Currently the population of New Orleans is around 200,000 people, less than half present pre-Katrina.

“The professional people have all returned and are back to work. It was those working in the service industry that was hit the hardest,” Bagneris claims.

“When the levees breached it was the low and middle (income) families that were hit the hardest. It has been harder for them to get their lives back and some parts of town are still in shambles.”

Whilst a grim picture has been painted of the backdrop to the return of the LGBT community, Bagneris told reporters that the community itself was faring well.

“All the LGBT businesses are back up and running and we are expecting a great time during Southern Decadence, where a whole bunch of folks will be visiting.”

The poor response to the crisis by President Bush has, more than Iraq or any other foreign policy, seen his approval rating drop.

The problems affecting New Orleans have seen it compared more to Baghdad than New York.