One thousand incidents of domestic abuse among same-sex couples were reported in Scotland in the last year but it is thought the true number of incidents could be as high as 4,000.

To encourage more people to report such crimes, police have now set up third-party reporting systems and victims can now report crimes online. Although these reports cannot be used as a basis for prosecution, it is hoped they will increase confidence in the police.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter McPike of Strathclyde’s Domestic Abuse Task Force told the Scotsman he believed many LGBT people did not report domestic violence because they were scared of being outed.

He said that although there were 50,000 reported domestic violence incidents in Scotland last year, only a thousand of these involved lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans people. It is thought that between six and nine per cent of the population is gay or bisexual.

He added: “People can now tell us things in confidence. People don’t always want the police turning up at their doors with flashing blue lights. We need to build up the trust of people in the LGBT community. We want them to know that we would never take any action that would expose the victim.”

Stonewall research of lesbians has found that one in four have experienced domestic violence and four out of five who were a victim did not report incidents to police.

The Playboy mogul – who parted ways with second wife Kimberley Conrad in 1998 after nine years of marriage – cited irreconcilable differences in papers filed in Los Angeles.

Hugh – who has two sons with Kimberley, 19-year-old Marston and Cooper, 18 – said: “I would’ve been happy to divorce her when we separated, but she wanted to remain married for our boys.”

Kimberley’s lawyer said: “Mr Hefner’s divorce filing speaks for itself, and we’ll respond in due course.”

Hugh has reportedly claimed their relationship failed because the former Playboy Playmate cheated on him.

The 83-year-old star – who has several live-in girlfriends at the Playboy mansion – finally decided to end his marriage because Kimberley filed a $5 million lawsuit against him last month which was linked to the sale of one of their houses.

Gossip website TMZ reports: “Hefner told us that he was ‘faithful’ during the time they were together, but says Kimberley had cheated on him ‘early in the relationship’, Hefner says he knows who the other person is, but would not reveal the identity.

“Hefner did reveal his frustrations with the lawsuit – claiming he has paid Kimberley every cent that he agreed to pay her in their prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, adding, ‘I have been generous to a fault.’ ”

Hugh married first wife Mildred Williams in 1949, with the union ending in divorce in 1959.

She said: “That’s the last thing I want to see – what I look like having sex. It would take one shot of me not looking good and I would not be able to have sex ever again, because I would always just see myself looking like a hippo having sex.”

For much the same reason, Megan, 23, has also vowed never to appear naked on screen in any of her films, and is still mortified by photos of her in a flesh-coloured suit on the set of forthcoming cheerleader-turned-killer film ‘Jennifer’s Body’.

She added to MTV: “I can’t ever imagine myself doing nudity in a film. It lives forever, especially now, within the internet. I just can’t. “Everything you say gets judged, everything you do gets judged. Literally all I have left are my private parts and I don’t want to share them with the world. I’d like to keep them private. That’s why they’re called that!”

However, Megan isn’t too prudish to indulge in a steamy lesbian kiss with her ‘Jennifer’s Body’ co-star Amanda Seyfried, and the film’s writer Diablo Cody is dismayed the smooch will ultimately be labelled “gratuitous”.

She said: “All right, if the two protagonists of the film were a guy and a girl and in a particularly tense moment, they shared a kiss, no one would say it was gratuitous.

“But the fact that they’re women means it’s some kind of stunt. But it was intended to be something profound and meaningful to me and to Karyn Kusama, the director. “Obviously we knew people were going to totally sensationalise it.”

The music mogul – who once rejected the Spice Girls, the best-selling girl group of all time – says he would have kicked the iconic band off his British TV talent show unless they fired drummer Ringo Starr.

The 49-year-old star said: “If The Beatles came on the show we would have said, ‘We’ll take those three – Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison – but probably lose the drummer.’

“With Ringo, I’m afraid, we would have said ‘bad news’.”

Speaking in a US television interview with his ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ co-star Amanda Holden, Simon also revealed what drives him, saying: “I like winning, Amanda. That’s what excites me.”

Simon is now focusing on the career of Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle, who will perform on the final of ‘America’s Got Talent’ next week. Her debut album is due for release in November, and is expected to shoot to the top of the charts in America and Britain.

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In an interview with radio show Democracy Now, Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire, said there were no positive gay role models when he grew up.

He said: “I grew up in a time when ‘gay’ was not a word that you used to describe homosexual people. You only spoke about them in quiet whispers, if at all. . . This is before Ellen, before Will & Grace. And it was almost like committing suicide to understand yourself to be a homosexual person. It’s hard to remember how the world has changed so much in these last 20 years.”

Robinson was married for 13 years to Isabella Martin, but the couple divorced in 1986. Robinson said they realised they were paying “a terrible price” for the gap between reality and appearance.

He said: “I had shared with her before we were married that my relationships had been with men, but I had been in therapy to cure myself, but that some day it might raise its ugly head. And indeed, after thirteen years of marriage, we made a commitment, a decision for both of us, that we – in order to live up to our vow to honour one another in the name of God, that we would let each other go.

“I felt that coming out was a call from God. I think God wants our insides and our outsides to agree. . . Little did I know that, 20 years later, I would be a bishop of the Church and telling my story as a witness to what God can do in one’s life.”

He is now in a civil partnership with Mark Andrew, his long-term partner.

Last month, it was revealed that two gay Episcopal priests are among the candidates for the role of assistant bishop of Los Angeles, while a lesbian is in the running for the position of bishop of Minnesota.

On the chances of one or more them being selected, Robinson said he knew “for sure” their sexuality would not be taken into consideration.

He said: “What those two dioceses will do will be the same that every diocese does: it will look at all of the candidates, look at all of the issues facing the church in that place, and then they will elect the person that they feel is best qualified to lead them into the future. If that turns out to be one of those gay or lesbian candidates, then they will be elected and, I believe, consented to by the rest of the church.”

The 23-year-old actress, whose girlfriend is Samantha Ronson, starred as a guest judge on the sixth season of the fashion show, and has been lauded by the programme’s consultant Tim Gunn.

Gunn said: “I was surprised and pleased by how extremely knowledgeable about fashion and articulate Lindsay Lohan was.

“She’s very young and can be portrayed in ways that aren’t all together flattering, and she was a true statesperson and really weighed in on the designers and what they were doing exceptionally well. And it was really a thrill to have her.”

Gunn has also praised show host Heidi Klum – who is currently expecting a daughter with husband Seal, with who she already raises three children – for her sense of style.

He told People magazine: “Heidi has incredible style no matter what condition she’s in, and she looks fabulous in everything. “She just always knows what she looks best in and she’s remarkable. I marvel at her all the time.”

Despite being a successful model, the most important thing in Heidi’s life is her family. Tim revealed: “Seal and her kids always come first, and frankly we schedule things around that. I have the greatest respect for her. She’s very, very grounded.”

Other stars including socialite Nicky Hilton and actor Eric Dane – gathered with family and fans at the Hollywood Palladium to pay their respects to the musician, real name Adam Goldstein, following his death last week.

An onlooker said: “The crowd was very hip and eclectic, there were people dressed in smart black suits and people dressed in jeans and T-shirts. It was packed though, you could tell how well loved he was. It was a very sombre and sad crowd.”

During the two-and-a-half hour long service – which was structured like an Alcoholics Anonymous 12 steps meeting – his girlfriend, model Haley Wood addressed the 3,500 mourners.

She said: “He was my soulmate and now he is my soul. He is my amazing grace.” The memorial venue opened up three entrances, one for family and VIPs and one for friends and one for fans.

The service followed a private burial for 36-year-old Adam – who was found dead in his New York apartment last Friday – at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary two days ago.

Although the cause of DJ AM’s death remains unclear, it has been reported he was found with undigested painkillers in his stomach and mouth.

A crack pipe and some of the illegal drug were also discovered near his body, with his representative admitting he was due to go to rehab to battle his addiction. The musician died with a $1 million estate and no will.

Part of this article was produced by Bangshowbiz.com

The bisexual star said: “My sister texted me and she was like, ‘Madonna is 15 feet away from me. And there are two guys having sex in the audience.

“I just remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is exactly what I wanted. I’ve got Madonna and I’ve got gay sex!’ ”

Despite being delighted at having Madonna as a fan, the singer has rubbished comparisons between the two performers, insisting she is happy just to be herself.

She explained to V magazine: “Look, when I was a brunette, they called me Amy Winehouse. When I was a blonde, they called me Madonna. Then they called me Christina (Aguilera), then Gwen (Stefani). I just don’t think most people’s reference points go back very far.”

Despite her ascent to global stardom, the ‘Paparazzi’ singer insists she will always continue to play intimate concerts at gay clubs as she wouldn’t have a career without them.

She explained: “With the exception of God, my family, and best friend Matthew Williams, and the Haus of GaGa, the gay community is the single reason that I am here today.

“I started out playing gay clubs in America, then I went to London to play G-A-Y, where I didn’t think anyone knew who I was, and there were thousands of people there. How could I ever turn my back on those people who really fought for me? And besides the loyalty factor, playing in gay clubs is fun!”

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The 23-year-old bisexual star told Australia’s Matt and Jo radio show: “It’s too low brow for me to even discuss. I’ve made fun of it before but to talk about it is ridiculous.”

Gaga – whose real name is Stefani Germanotta – has previously made light of the claims, jokingly posting on a blog: “I have both male and female genitalia, but I consider myself a female.”

Meanwhile, the outrageous star has revealed she spends her free time watching her own concerts on YouTube. She said: “I like to watch my performances sometimes. I’m always trying to improve on choreography and the stage shows. I like to watch the lighting. “I often argue with my lighting designer on the show – as much as I like to light the show for the room, it’s important to light the show and design the sound for YouTube. “In truth, lots of my fans can’t make it to my shows in Israel or Germany or in Paris, so they go online to watch them.”

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A magistrate in Sagunto, Valencia, had presented an appeal to the Supreme Court saying he did not want to carry out the ceremony on religious grounds, typicallyspanish.com reports.

However, the General Council for Judicial Power, the body which oversees the judiciary in Spain, has already ruled that judges cannot refuse.

In addition, the Supreme Court ruled that members of the judiciary are subject to anti-discriminatory laws in the same way as everyone else.

Spain legalised gay marriage in 2005.

Scotland Yard statistics show a nine per cent rise in homophobic and transphobic offences to 1,372 in the year up to April. Greater Manchester police saw a 63 per cent rise in homophobic crime.

Acting Detective Superintendent Gerry Campbell, of the Metropolitan police, who led a recent operation against hate crime, said: “Homophobia cannot be considered a thing of the past, it’s on the increase.”

A confidential briefing note for Scotland Yard’s LGBT advisory group, seen by the Observer, stated that nine “critical incidents” were recorded in the force’s area since March 2008, compared with five incidents from 2001 to 2005.

Last month, a gay man was stabbed to death in Tottenham, north London. Daryl Phillips, 39, had been stabbed in the leg and was treated at the scene at Avenue Road, but was later pronounced dead.

In March, Gerry Edwards, 59, was stabbed to death at his home in Bromley, south London. His partner, 56-year-old Chris Bevan, was taken to hospital with stab wounds.

A gay couple in Bradford were shot in April. Neville Corby died at the scene at Ashbourne Road while his 31-year-old partner Craig Freer survived with gunshot wounds to the chest.

According to Crown Prosecution Service figures, prosecutions for crimes involving homophobia rose 60 per cent over the past two years to 995 cases.

The bill looked set for defeat until an amendment was added to allow clergy to refuse to marry same-sex couples.

Couples will also be allowed to keep the words “bride” and “groom” on their marriage licences or use the word spouse instead.

It will now to go Democrat Governor John Lynch, who has not yet signalled whether he will sign it.

Although he has previously voiced opposition to gay marriage, it is expected that he will be under pressure to allow the measure as a Democrat.

The Senate voted 13-11 on a second reading, in favour of the amended version of the bill that was passed in the House last month by a 186-179 vote.

The bill will take effect on January 1st and also recognises gay marriages and civil unions performed in other states.

New Hampshire legalised civil unions in 2007 and couples who had civil unions will become automatically married by January 1st, 2011, with the extra year designed to allow them time to arrange a formal ceremony.

If Governor Lynch passes the bill, New Hampshire will become the fifth US state to allow gay marriage after Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa and Vermont.

He is an honourable appointment and all eyes are on his rise to presidential success. He’s the future of his political party, and as the chairman of a committee assigned to oversee defence spending, he’s got all the right connections. As the presidential race draws near, Washington insiders begin to speculate that Collins will earn his party’s nomination for the country’s top job.

However, the prospect of Collins becoming president seems less and less likely, when his research assistant/mistress is viciously murdered, and some buried secrets begin to surface.

Collins was once a close friend to Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), who is now a top reporter in the nation’s capital. Assigned the task of investigating Collins by his ruthless editor, Cameron (Helen Mirren), McAffrey recruits fellow reporter Della (Rachel McAdams) in order to track down the truth and identify the killer.

The dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and the need to investigate takes McAffrey into new territory – a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation‘s power structures. And in a town of spin–doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one‘s integrity, love or life is ever safe.

Crowe works well in the part (indeed, he makes it hard to imagine Cal as Brad Pitt, who was originally cast), and he brings in some superb acting skills particularly when he realises what he might be getting into: at one point, Cal realises, with a shock, that he’s just rapped on the wrong door — well, the right one — and viewers can see and feel his fear, which turns his smooth talking into stuttering.
 
Although it isn’t quite conceivable that the fresh-faced President-to-be was a close friend to this caricature of a journalist, there is a wealth of chemistry between the other characters.

The script does a good job of condensing what was originally a BBC series and maintaining a buzz of urgency throughout to ensure a thriller of excellent quality.

The back story begins in what we are apparently to accept as standard, canonical Trek continuity. From there, the vengeful Romulan Nero passes through a black hole and arrives in this new movie’s universe – or, as we are specifically told, into the past of the same universe. And it is at this moment that, as Doc Brown would have it, time skews off at a tangent. A new timeline is formed, and this timeline is the one on which this particular movie hangs.

The moment of divergence for this new timeline is, rather conveniently, the day that James Tiberius Kirk is born. The events of the day, in which the time travelling Romulans play a major part, are shown to be incredibly significant in Kirk’s future.

Literally, this is the beginning. Audiences to this revised Trek quite literally get to pick up the very end of a new thread and start tracking the weave from there.
Somewhere in the middle of the film, the time loop trickery is addressed in dialogue. Knowing that their destinies have been altered, the characters make explicit mention of how their lives are now going to take very different paths to those they would otherwise have followed..

There’s a reason why this reboot succeeds, and it’s embodied by James Tiberius Kirk. The Star Trek universe desperately needs Kirk, and everything that he represents. It needs his wild abandon, his reckless dynamism, his pulsing virility.

Without him, and his kind, it became moribund, and fell out of favour. By resurrecting him, JJ Abrams has revived and revitalised Star Trek,.

The triumvirate of Kirk, Spock and McCoy were the cornerstone of this universe and while we grew fond of the likes of Picard, Data and even Trip Tucker, no-one ever truly eclipsed them. Why would you choose to make a Trek movie without those three, if you could?. All you have to do is cast the right people – which is what Abram’s did.

So is the film faithful to the old guard? In many cases it is as faithful as you could reasonably expect – although the script does rewrite history. Thanks to the alternate timeline, the heroes’ destinies are irrevocably changed. Year zero. Clean slate. And seeing those accumulated centuries of established continuity crumble into dust doesn’t feel like a betrayal – it feels like a liberation. From now on, we really are boldly going where no man has gone before. Anything could happen – and sometimes does (you won’t believe what Spock and Uhura get up to…).

There’s another reason this film is a triumph- it has passion. This is a film full of people who hurt, and it’s capable of hurting you . This Enterprise crew disagree with one another. They fight. They say “bullshit!” They scream their heads off when chased by CGI monsters, and when confronted by a visitor from the future, they enquire, “Do they still have sandwiches there?” They’re vital and funny and therefore we recognise them as people, real people, just like us.

There will be those who say the movie isn’t faithful to the original Star Trek but so be it. What has been created is a new format that will enthral children and adults alike – and will ensure that Star Trek will live long and prosper, where it could so easily have ebbed away.

The bill will allow the words “gender identity” or “gender expression” to be added to current laws protecting from discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, colour, sexual orientation or religion.

The House had voted 181-149 to block the bill last month but chose to reconsider after House Speaker Terie Norelli appealed.

A close vote of 188-187 means the bill will now be heard in the Senate.
It has been dubbed the “bathroom bill” by opponents, who say it will lead to an increase in sex attacks in public toilets.

State representative Ed Butler, who sponsored the bill, said it was “a simple little non-discrimination bill” which would prevent trans individuals from losing their homes and jobs on the basis of their trans status.

Representative Nancy Elliott, a Merrimack Republican, told the Concorde Monitor: “I don’t want a man coming, sitting next to me in the sauna.

“How many male prisoners would suddenly become a female to get into the girls’ prison?”

The union’s Have Your Say survey also revealed that workers believe trade unions must use education to eliminate homophobia and tackle discrimination.

Collette Cork-Hurst, national secretary for equalities, said: “It’s not too much to ask, LGBT people deserve fair treatment just like everybody else. We have to take this issue seriously and continue our union campaign for our LGBT members to achieve equality at work and in society.”

Betty Gallacher, chair of the national LGBT committee, said: “On a positive note, we have moved on and legislation has progressed to stamp out discrimination and hatred and to promote respect at work.

“We have to educate workers, parents, children and young people if we want to get real equality in the workplace. We are valuable members of our communities and no different to anyone else, we just love differently.”

On Monday, the Stonewall workplace equality convention highlighted equality as “economic sense”.

Keynote speaker Baroness Royall, the leader of the House of Lords, said: “Equality is not only a right in itself, but it makes economic sense too.”

Bailiffs arrive in the middle of the preparations and cause chaos at Home Farm. When Carl finds out De Souza own their proposed investor he bursts into Anna and Matthew’s wedding demanding they stop the ceremony – and hitting his brother in the face before revealing to Anna the truth about her father’s death. Will she put the facts behind her and marry the man she loves?
The villagers decide that the King family is cursed as the repossession of properties continue. Meanwhile, they watch from Mill Cottage, which has been saved from the process as the other properties cover the debt.

Elsewhere, when Edna has to make room for Lily’s return, Nicola finds herself in need of new living arrangements. She tries to rebuild her relationship with David but it seems he has his eye on another. As other options for a home and work in the village close down, Nicola seeks solace in the Church. Finding her former friend deep in prayer, Laurel takes pity on her and offers for her to stay at Mulberry.
Also, Lee is pleased to spend time around the farm helping Jo. He fixes an old drain pipe and then agrees to go to the suppliers for her. He calls at the Woolpack to pick up some paperwork and is forced to give Andy a lift. Andy uses the opportunity to cause trouble – with dire consequences for Jo.
Jo is grateful when Andy agrees to help her but Daz is shocked to find him at the farm and though Jo explains the situation, it’s clear that there’s no love lost between the brothers. Daz suspects that Andy is deliberately sabotaging the farm so he can be around Jo. Andy strongly denies this, but Lee catches him loosening some seals on the washing machine, and Daz is proved right.

After finding out that Andy is sabotaging everything, Jo orders him to leave. Later, Lee discovers a broken Jo crying at Butlers as the weight of her problems bears down on her. Jo realises that her only option is to leave the village and begs Lee to help her. How will she escape from her life of misery?

Meanwhile, Bob attempts to bring some cheer back into the village by suggesting a Christmas Day meal for the Hopes, Terry, TJ and Brenda. However, Terry is torn when he receives a postcard from Jean asking for TJ to visit in Morocco over the festive period. Terry is touched when Brenda encourages him to take TJ to visit Jean for Christmas. Is Terry and Brenda’s relationship growing stronger?

Three of the people involved in this groundbreaking event, festival director Col Cruise, director Kortney Ryan Ziegler and Ignacio Rivera, star of a “no script docu-porn,” spoke to MissTer Scratch, festival organiser.

Col Cruise, festival director.

Why did you decide to create a transgender film festival in the first place?

As a filmmaker I feel a strong need for more trans screen culture in London.

I want to support and encourage independent transgender filmmaking, so putting on a Transgender Film Festival seems like the best way to do that.

Self expression is vital for all of us, I learn so much from other people’s stories and life experiences from all over the world.

Film festivals educate and bring social awareness to a wider audience, they breakdown isolation, they help people feel connected with the whole world again.

What is the London Transgender Film Festival 2008 about?

This festival is very gender fluid and the films speak for themselves and show what it is to be a transgendered person on many different levels.

This is the beauty of the festival; it’s diversity and fluidity because there isn’t much of a concept of fluidity of gender or difference of gender about, definitely not in the mainstream, where a lot of education needs to happen.

The films in this festival dispel myths and stereotypes within the LGBTQI community and the wider community as well.

The festival is about trans awareness and education, it’s about non-violence and getting away from the narrow definition of gender, it shows us how to accept difference, diversity and love for each other and how that creates freedom and true happiness, that we actually can all get along together.

What films will be screened? Can you tell the readers some more about some of the films like ‘Still Black’ and ‘Trans Entities’? Why did you want to show these films at the festival this year?

I feel it’s going to be a great festival because we’re going to screen some amazing films that have never been screened in London before as well as some that have had some exposure…

I was really moved by Trans Entities when it previewed it this year.

I think it is a magical and very powerful film and due time we finally see the love and spirituality between two trans identified people of colour out there, in your face and why not?

I mean why should caucasians rule the porn scene, or think they know all about sex and love on the big screen.

The film has had some controversy and never really got a proper cinema screening in London, which is what kicked me up the arse to get a transgender film festival going.

I want to give the film what I feel it deserves, a proper cinema venue to show it in its full glory on a cinema screen.

It’s also cutting edge as no one has heard of the term docu-porn that much, which I think pushes boundaries in multiple ways and London needs that, if not universally.

Its true message lies in its exploration of sexual dynamics in love and poly relationships.

Still Black, well it found me really.

In fact I have been overwhelmed by the amount of films that have rocked up to this festival particularly films about transmen of colour.

I just think it’s time, their time, for their own self expression. The films create the festival really…not us…we just pull it all together…

What else can we look forward to seeing and experiencing at the London Transgender Film Festival 2008?

There’s going to be photo exhibitions, a video installation and a big party in the café with performances after the opening night suprise film.

There will also be a free session on Sunday at B3 Media on Electric Avenue around the corner where we will screen two films and have panel discussions about Transfeminism, Androgyny and Intersex and a forum called Butching The Trans: Where Have all The Butches Gone?

It’s going to be a great day. The rest, well films, films and more films at the Ritzy.

Kortney Ryan Ziegler, the director of Still Black.

What were your reasons and intentions behind making Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen?

With the recent explosion of queer films that explore trans issues, we felt that issues of race as well as representations of people of colour, were missing.

In light of this, we felt that by focusing on African American transmen, we could be help to foster important dialogue within the LGBT community.

Why is it important to make films about trans people of colour, in particular about black trans men?

It’s important because, sadly, still there is a dearth of representations of queer folks of colour in mainstream cinema or media. If not for indie filmmakers, our stories would continue to be invisible or marginalised.

More importantly, we felt that black transmen deserved to have a film that placed them at the centre of trans dialogues, rather than having them remain outside of it.

What do you hope to achieve with screening Still Black at the London Transgender Film Festival?

This film does not claim to embody what it means to be black, or transgender, or male.

But what it does do is offer just a small piece of the larger experience of being a black transman.

Most importantly, we hope that the stories in the film will inspire audience members to look beyond the negative portrayals and stereotypes of black men that we are all bombarded with on a daily basis.

Ignacio Rivera.

‘They’ (as they prefer to use non gendered pronouns) are a performer, activist, educator and sex worker and the founder of Poly Patao Productions which is dedicated to producing sex-positive workshops, performance pieces, films, play parties, and educational opportunities.

Ignacio, can you tell us more about your involvement in Trans Entities?

My partner Khane aka Wil Thrustwell and I were approached by a mutual friend Morty Diamond (Director of Tranny Fags porn) to do a real-couple porn.

He has known of our polyamory and kinky life as well as all of the events we do in conjunction with those identities.

He told us he felt strongly that others would be interested in our story…our love…our way of expressing our gender..our kink. We agreed and were able to do a no script docu-porn.

Do you think that documentary porn is important? How is it different to other kinds of porn?

Documentary porn is super important because it delves into different aspects of sex, kink and BDSM.

It doesn’t just show you but you get to hear opinion and commentary. You get to see the hot action and there is dialogue, information, a relationship that develops with the person on camera and the people watching.

Docu-porn serves great as a educational tool. Don’t get me wrong, I love the “get-right-to- it-and f**k-porn”, it too serves a purpose. Docu-porn just opens up a new way of watching and learning about sex.

The London Transgender Film Festival runs from 7th to 9th November. For more information visit www.transgenderfilmfestival.co.uk

In a shocking upset, the openly gay diver took home a gold medal in the 10-metre platform event at the Beijing Olympics, beating out the Chinese favourites.

Despite intensive coverage of other gold medallist’s personal lives during the Games, NBC failed to mention Mitcham was gay, or show footage of the diver’s partner cheering him on and congratulating him after the win.

In an interview found on YouTube.com, a gracious Mitcham thanks his mum, as well as his long-time partner, Lachlan Fletcher, after he scores the gold medal.

The celebration and joy is apparent on both their faces as they hug and show their affection for each other on camera.

It’s a fantastic moment, however, that was never shown during NBC’s coverage of Mitcham’s triumph in the event.

Mitcham’s victory over the Chinese in the 10-metre platform was a shocking upset, especially after he failed to even qualify for the earlier diving event on the 3-metre platform.

In what many have lauded in the press as the “perfect dive,” the Australian smoked the competition on his last try, pulling in an amazing score of 112.10 on his final dive—the highest individual dive score ever during an Olympic competition.

Mitcham had been behind favoured Chinese diver Zhou Luxin by about 35 points going into that last dive and no one had expected him to be able to take home the gold.

Such amazing stories at the Games were a staple for NBC, who farmed other similar athletes’ successes for every minute of airtime they could transmit.

However, while NBC was more than willing to talk about various athletes’ parents, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends (and even their love triangles), the network was remarkably silent about Mitcham’s family.

When Mitcham raced into the stands after his win to give his partner a kiss, NBC’s cameras did not follow him.

Never once did NBC mention Mitcham was gay. And while sexual orientation should not truly be a factor in such coverage, the omission stood out in sharp contrast to the lengthy discussions given to the ‘unique’ qualities of many other Olympic athletes by the network.

Being the only openly gay male athlete at the Summer Olympics was certainly a ‘unique’ aspect of Mitcham’s story.

And when Mitcham thanked his partner and his mother after his win, his heartfelt, passionate words were not heard by the millions of Olympic fans watching NBC—though they had heard such similar words from a plethora of heterosexual athletes about their families at the games.

However, despite accusations thrown at them for censoring their coverage of Mitcham at the Games, NBC says they did no such thing.

Speaking to AfterElton.com, NBC Sports spokesman Greg Hughes said the network wasn’t even aware of any controversy over their coverage of Mitcham.

When confronted with the complaints of censorship, Hughes simply stated that “we don’t discuss an athlete’s sexual orientation.”

Yet, as AfterElton.com’s Editor Michael Jensen pointed out to Hughes, every time the network talks about an athlete’s wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend or heterosexual love triangle—they are indeed discussing that athlete’s sexual orientation.

NBC’s response? The network doesn’t show such things “in every case… I could show you 500 athletes we didn’t show. We don’t show everyone. We don’t show every ceremony.”

Jensen wasn’t about to let Hughes off the hook however, continuing to badger him on why NBC would fail to give such standard coverage to Mitcham’s background and family when he had just pulled off an unprecedented and spectacular win—one of the most shocking in the entire Games.

Hughes wasn’t having any of it, however, saying once again that it was simply “not possible to cover the entire personal story of every athlete regarding their performance.”

Yet, NBC did find time to mention on air that Mitcham had previously quit the sport and had to deal with “personal issues” in his life to get back on track. Surely, being the only openly gay male athlete at the Beijing Olympics might have been a slightly more interesting tidbit to share?

Hughes had no further comment regarding the censorship accusations.

(Read more about Mitcham’s journey to the Olympics at Advocate.com)

Ann Turner and Mark Umbach © 2008 GaySports.com; All Rights Reserved.

After pulling off a last minute victory against the Chinese in the 10m dive, Mr Mitcham, while hugging his mother and his partner, he told reporters: “I want to thank absolutely everyone who helped; my partner Lachlan and my mum [Vivienne] here to support me and watch me get gold, because it was so important to have those two people here with me.

“I did not think I had a chance to get the gold and to actually get that was mind-blowing! I was crying thinking I had silver. And to get gold! I was a blubbering mess.”

Despite intensive coverage by NBC of other Olympic athletes’ families, Mr Mitcham’s partner received virtually no attention during the network’s coverage.

Cyd Zeigler of Outssports said: “It’s a big story. The only openly gay male athlete in Beijing pulled off one of the great upsets at the Olympics in a spectacular fashion.

“If he had had cancer, or if his parents had been killed in a car crash when he was 2, or if he had just proposed to his girlfriend, they would have mentioned it. But they never showed him hugging his boyfriend, never mentioned it. They referred to ‘personal problems,’ but I’m afraid they decided Matthew’s sexuality was off limits. A real shame.”

The following interview with Mr Mitcham in which he appears with his mother and partner, did not feature on NBC’s Olympic coverage of his historic win.

© 2008 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.