Articles by Maryam Omidi

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13 November 2007
Birmingham police criticised over gay pub raid 3 Police in the West Midlands have failed in their efforts to get a gay pub's licence revoked.Their request followed an earlier attempt to raid The Fountain Inn for pornography and drugs after receiving an anonymous tip-off.Police bungled the raid when they went to an Irish family pub, The Fountain, a mile down the road. The pub's drinkers were highly amused by the blunder.
13 November 2007
Stonewall Cymru community liaison officer honoured 1 A Stonewall officer has won an award for "outstanding commitment to diversity" in her work tackling issues of homophobic hate crime.Jenny Porter, Stonewall Cymru's community liaison officer, received the award at the North Wales Criminal Justice Board Volunteer and Justice Awards Ceremony this week.Ms Porter works with the police and criminal justice agencies in Wales to develop ways of dealing with homophobically motivated hate crimes
12 November 2007
Life sentence for teenager guilty of homophobic murder 1 A teenager was sentenced to life imprisonment today for murdering a gay council officer in a homophobic attack.David Meehan, 19, admitted to murdering James Kerr, 51, in South Inch public park and leaving him for dead while he and his accomplices went to a party.According to Mr Meehan, the three walked past Mr Kerr on their way back but ignored their victim who was still breathing.
12 November 2007
Americans warm to same-sex unions + More than half of Americans support civil unions according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post polls.In total, 55 per cent approve of legalising civil unions and giving same-sex couples the same rights as those who are married in matters such as insurance, inheritance and pensions.The latest figures are up from 45 per cent in the same poll in 2006.
12 November 2007
New Polish PM pressed on civil unions + Gay rights activists in Poland have asked incoming Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss legalisation of civil unions, the introduction of comprehensive sexual education in schools and the ban of discrimination based on sexual orientation.Mr Tusk is head of the centre-right Christian-democratic Civic Platform Party (PO), which won the election on 21st October.According to Catholic World News PO member Stefan Niesiolowski said: "I will not agree to homosexual marriage."
6 November 2007
Gay rabbi hits out at Bible-inspired homophobia 4 An Orthodox American rabbi spoke out against using the Bible to justify prejudice in a sermon yesterday.Steven Greenberg, America's first openly gay rabbi, shared his belief that the Bible is open to interpretation and should not be used to condemn homosexuality.According to The Columbus Dispatch, Mr Greenberg said: "No one can say, 'It says in the Scripture,' to ground any policy."
5 November 2007
Lesbian group’s transgender ban challenged + An Australian transgender psychotherapist has taken a lesbian support group to an equal opportunities tribunal on the grounds of discrimination.Tracie O'Keefe in Sydney, claims that she was refused an invitation to an event organised by the gay organisation Sappho's Party because of their strict policy excluding transgender people.The group only allows those who were female at birth to join.
5 November 2007
Army sexual orientation discrimination tribunal begins 2 A lesbian soldier's life was made hell by a male sergeant who vowed to "convert" her, an employment tribunal will be told.According to Lance Bombardier Kerry Fletcher, 30, the senior officer told her that she had not yet experienced a "real man."He also added, "You don't know what you're missing."Her case is being heard at an employment tribunal in Leeds today. The Ministry of Defence said: "We take allegations of sexual discrimination seriously."
5 November 2007
Daughter of homophobic activist is out and proud 1 The daughter of a vehemently anti-gay activist has revealed that she is a lesbian.Claudia Contrada, whose mother Amy Contrada forms one half of the US hate group MassResistance, has stood up for young people struggling with homophobia in their homes or communities.In 2005, Mrs Contrada attended a conference which advocated sending gay teenagers to conversion camps. MassResistance is a homophobic organisation in Massachusetts, which has campaigned zealously against all pro-gay developments since its inception in 1995.
5 November 2007
Gay teenagers are homecoming couple 1 A gay couple have made school history in the United States by being the first-ever elected homecoming prince and prince.Brandon Raphael and Kiernan Gatewood, both 16, wore sashes proudly proclaiming their royalty as they rode through the city of Davis, California, in the school's annual homecoming parade.According to the Sacramento Bee, "They stood in the back of a pick-up truck, arm-in-arm, smiling warmly despite the rain."
30 October 2007
Film to depict gay love of two Spanish icons + A gay love affair between two of Spain's most celebrated creative luminaries, painter Salvador Dali and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, will be depicted in the new film, Little Ashes.Named after a Dali painting, the film chronicles the 18-year-old Dali's arrival in Madrid in the 1920s and his subsequent friendship with the dramatist Lorca.As the relationship between the two intensifies, the sexually repressed artist is unable to consummate the affair and instead watches as Lorca sleeps with a female friend.
29 October 2007
Candidate drops out of election over nude photos on gay sites 4 An Australian campaigner for family values has been dumped as a candidate by the Family First Party after nude photos of him were discovered on gay websites.Although Andrew Quah, 22, admitted that it was possible he had posed for two of the images, he claimed that a third had been digitally manipulated.Several websites are running the pictures, with one describing him as "Australia's Smallest Loser."
29 October 2007
MP welcomes removal of “gay panic” defence + A Gay Labour MP in New Zealand has praised the decision by the country's Law Commission to remove the "gay panic defence."Charles Chauvel said that the defence, which allowed a person charged with murder to claim that they were driven into a state of violent temporary insanity by a sexual advance from the victim, was unacceptable.The defendant rarely wins acquittals but if pleaded successfully the murder charge is reduced to manslaughter.
29 October 2007
United Nations to host LGBT rights panel + Following the launch of the groundbreaking Yogyakarta Principles earlier this year, the United Nations will be hosting a panel discussion next month to explore discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.The event, which will bring together non-governmental organisations, UN representatives and state delegates, is an initiative co-sponsored by Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.The Yogyakarta Principles refer to the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.
29 October 2007
Liverpool hosts a celebration of queer culture + homotopia, Liverpool's annual celebration of gay culture, returns to the city this week for the fourth year in a row.The event, the biggest to date, will incorporate a diverse and eclectic programme of art, theatre, music, dance, comedy, photography, debate, film and cabaret.Highlights include the National Theatre of Scotland's Liverpool debut with their critically acclaimed performance of Venus As A Boy.
23 October 2007
Requiem concert to mark World AIDS Day + The London Oratory School's Schola and a host of star soloists will mark World AIDS Day 2007 with a concert to raise funds and awareness.The internationally-acclaimed boy's choir will be performing the Gareth Valentine and Durufle versions of Requiem as well as the world premiere of a new commission by Colin Mawby entitled A Song of Hope. All proceeds will go to Terence Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV and AIDS charity, and SOS Children's Villages for children orphaned through AIDS.
22 October 2007
Brazilian senator uses paedophilia to condemn gay rights 1 A Brazilian politician has caused outrage by comparing homosexuality to paedophilia.Senator Magno Malta made the comment during a speech opposing a proposed new law which will classify homophobia as a criminal offence.Mr Malta said that allowing homosexuals to be openly affectionate in public would be the same as legalising paedophilia.

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