Michael Overd, 47, from Creech St Michael in Somerset, allegedly told Craig Manning and Craig Nichol that they were “evil” and would “burn in hell”.

The defence reportedly claims Overd, of Creech St Michael in Somerset, was exercising freedom of expression, reading from the Bible as they passed.

The court has heard that the preacher had previously singled the gay couple out when he saw them holding hands in 2010.

According to the Press Association, Mr Nichol said: “He said ‘I have already told these two sinners over here that they are going to burn in Hell’.

“He looked at us and pointed at us when he said it. His voice was quite loud and very clear.

“I felt angry, embarrassed and ashamed.

“It was a really busy day and I felt that everyone was looking at us when he was saying these things to us.

“I asked him who he was to judge me and he said ‘It’s God’s words, it is in the Bible’.

“He said I should repent and ask God for forgiveness.”

The defence said Mr Overd was reading 1 Corinthians, which says: “Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

The defence also asked Mr Nichol why he did not cross the road to avoid Mr Overd as he walked through Taunton last summer.

The trial continues.

John Smith, of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, shouted “I don’t care if you’re gay, I’m going to stab you,” as he climbed into the man’s home, the Kent and Sussex Courier reports.

The attack launched by Smith, an alcoholic, was described as unprovoked. He also spat at a police officer who attended the scene.

He was charged with common assault, the use of threatening words or behaviour and assaulting a police officer.

Smith, 28, climbed into Nicholas Thake’s bathroom on 16 September last year.

James Nichols, prosecuting at Sevenoaks Magistrate’s Court said: “Police received a call from the victim saying there was a man kicking his door and he was being threatened by the defendant telling him ‘I don’t care if you’re gay, I’m going to stab you and shoot you’.

“Before police officers arrived, the defendant climbed up the drain pipe, got inside a bathroom window and grabbed Mr Thake round the throat.”

Smith had also attempted burglary at Summerfield Lodge Veterinary Surgery and Durnell Marketing while he was on bail. He was charged with a total of five offences and plead guilty to all.

He has been jailed for 160 days.

Openly gay agent Todd Krim had tweeted about Cruise’s team, the New England Patriots, losing at the Super-Bowl.

Cruise reportedly publicly wrote back to Todd Krim: “That was a gay a** f*****g tweet… You don’t say shit like that about my team the second they lose. Low.”

Krim. who had been helping actor Tom Cruise’s adopted son get DJ gigs, then wrote back: ‘Ummm ok Dude I was f**king joking.”

He reportedly wrote a public email saying: “I am no longer working with Connor Cruise.

“In fact, I am no longer speaking with [him ...] I refuse to be professionally (or even personally) associated with someone that engages in this sort of behavior.”

But the storm had blown over yesterday when he tweeted: ‘Everyone @theconnorcruise apologized to me for his texts which I accept so the matter is closed as far as I’m concerned. Let’s move on!’

Cruise was not the only sender of an ill-judged Super-Bowl tweet. Roland Martin has been suspended by CNN for his tweet about smacking a man who enjoyed David Beckham’s underwear advert.

Connor Cruise is one of two children adopted by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman during their 1990-2001 marriage.

Two men were left with severe burns by the attack after they were doused with flammable liquid and set on fire.

Police described the injuries of one as “life-changing”.

A 21-year-old man was charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent at the Rainbow & Dove, the Leicester Mercury reports.

The man is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court, Essex.

​Russell Banks, 21, and Robert Laszewsk, 20, suffered severe burns in the Charles Street pub’s beer garden.

Mr Banks was hospitalised for six weeks under sedation. The Leicester Mercury reported that he required a number of skin grafts. Mr Laszewsk was discharged from hospital after a week.

Mr Hughes joined former footballer Paul Gascoigne, comedian Steve Coogan and football agent Sky Andrew in agreeing a settlement.

After a hearing, Mr Hughes said: “the evidence in my case clearly demonstrates that the practice of hacking was widespread. It was criminal behaviour on an industrial scale.”

He added: “Sadly, the deficiencies of the original police inquiries, which failed to investigate the clear evidence of much of the criminal behaviour at one of the most important businesses in our country, are also all too apparent.

“We must now make sure that nothing like this can ever happen again.

“Anyone involved in criminal activity at the News of the World must be brought to justice, and all those who allowed a large company to behave in this way must be held to account.

“There must also be answers to the serious questions about how the police managed to fail so badly in their original investigation.

“I will now pursue this matter through my participation in the Leveson Inquiry, an inquiry which I fully support.”

Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator hired by the paper had already pleaded guilty to hacking into Mr Hughes’s messages, along with seven other people’s voicemails in 2006.

Mr Hughes was forced to come out as bisexual by the News of the World’s sister newspaper The Sun in 2005, in an interview to respond to claims to be made by the newspaper that he had contacted men using a gay telephone chat service.

News Group Newspapers is a subsidiary of News International, itself a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

Tom Cullen and Chris New star as Russell and Glen, a pair of young gay men who meet in a Nottingham gay club on a Friday night.

The film charts the way their relationship develops over the following 48 hours.

Haigh said the award was “amazing and unexpected; this past year has just been incredible. I just want to thank the actors, Tom and Chris, who really brought so much to the script and I share this with them.”

The film has currently grossed over £200,000 at the UK box office after reportedly being filmed on a £120,000 budget.

The director also won the British Breakthrough Film-maker award at last month’s London Film Critics’ Circle Awards.

Two British Independent Film Awards also followed: for Achievement In Production and Most Promising Newcomer for actor Tom Cullen.

Cullen is next set to appear alongside Cynthia Nixon in an adaptation of Ken Follett’s World Without End.

Best Film last night went to We Need to Talk about Kevin. Michael Fassbender won Best Actor and Olivia Colman took home the gong for Best Actress.

Organisers have called for supporters to bring a positive attitude to the event to show the government their passion for equality.

The Love Equally March is being promoted by the Scottish Youth Parliament, the Equality Network, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland and NUS Scotland.

Grant Costello MSYP, SYP Chair said: “All the evidence shows the majority of Scots support marriage equality, and the historic response to the Government’s consultation on same sex marriage demonstrates they are prepared to speak out for equality.

“Scotland’s young people are determined that the consultation is not the end, but just the beginning of the journey to a better nation with equality at its heart. We need all those supporters of marriage equality to march with us, be our Valentines and Love Equally on February 14th!”

Nathan Sparling, NUS Scotland LGBT Officer, said: “This Valentine’s Day, students from across Scotland will be taking part in the Love Equally march to show our unwavering support for Equal Marriage in Scotland. We’ll be marching on the streets of Edinburgh celebrating love, and asking for the Scottish Government to give us another reason to celebrate by making same-sex marriage legal in Scotland.”

Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said; “We know that the majority of Scots support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, but we cannot afford to just sit back and assume our politicians will lift the ban on same-sex marriage.

“Our opponents are running a well-funded campaign to pressure the Scottish Government to ditch their proposals, so it is vital that everyone who supports equal marriage speaks out. We urge equal marriage supporters to turn out for the Love Equally march on Valentines day and make our voice heard.”

Marchers will assemble at 2:30pm in Bristo Square and walk to the Scottish Parliament, arriving at 3.45pm. A Facebook event page can be found here.

A range of supporters for marriage equality will address the rally outside the Scottish Parliament.

April James, 19, is accused of attacking the girl in October after people in her party hurled homophobic abuse at the young couple, the Bexhill Observer reports.

The prosecution said they were unable to prove Ms James made homophobic comments herself, but said she was in the group that did.

Mark Kateley, prosecuting at Hastings Crown Court, said: “When the victim and her partner objected to the comments made, she was then assaulted by a group of females during which she was punched, had her hair pulled and at one point had her head banged against the door and ended up on the floor being kicked a number of times on the floor.

“The defendant admits making a kick to the head or shoulder.”

The attack reportedly ensued after the girls, both 16, kissed and the victim drank from a bottle of alcohol which was being shared on the train.

Her victim statement said: “This incident made me feel ashamed of who I am and made me scared of going out and getting on a train.

“It made me scared of being with my girlfriend.

“It has taken me a long time to be confident with my sexuality and this has knocked me back down.”

The defendant claimed the train was too busy for her to have assaulted the girl in the carriage, but accepts kicking her on the platform at Bexhill.

A further hearing is scheduled to take place in April at Hastings Magistrates Court due to disputed facts. 

Nicholas Whitaker, 34, said the “brief hug from behind” was only intended as a platonic greeting, the Yorkshire Post reports.

He told Leeds County Court: “Certainly not my intention to touch her breasts. I would have no reason to touch her breasts, no wish to touch her breasts.”

The gay church assistant denied the charges, which relate to a meeting last July at Wakefield Cathedral, the tallest church in Yorkshire. Whitaker said he may have touched the woman’s breasts, but it would have been unintentional.

Whitaker said the embrace lasted for around two seconds. The woman he is alleged to have assaulted said it was between thirty seconds and a minute.

The unnamed woman had previously told the court: “He put his arms underneath my arms and just grabbed hold of my bust and groped and felt and squeezed. It was awful.

“He just stopped doing it and went off … I just felt sick, really sick.

“I just went straight to the toilet and stood there in disbelief. I gathered my thoughts, I just couldn’t believe what had happened.”

The verger said he had never “made a secret” of being gay.

The case continues.

In a memo discovered by Lee Bennett in firm archives in 2010, a partner at Bivonas LLP had written that he should be sacked and that he would “take our cases to his batty boy mate”.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal agreed with the original ruling that the content of the memo was “a professional slur of the utmost gravity”.

The law firm had claimed the note, written in 2008, was a “personal aide-memoire”, not intended to be kept or showed to anyone.

It lost its argument on appeal that the Employment Tribunal was wrong to say that the insult was a detriment.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal found no evidence that any straight men had been insulted in the same way as Mr Bennett for being gay.

The firm could not provide justification for treating Mr Bennett differently to other employees.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission funded Mr Bennett’s defence against the law firm’s appeal.

John Wadham, Group Director Legal, Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “Homophobia will not be tolerated in the workplace or anywhere else. We funded Mr Bennett’s defence and this win has set a precedent for discrimination law.”

Bivonas said it had “the appropriate measures in the light of the Tribunal’s observations”.

The Sports Charter was launched in June 2011 at 10 Downing Street when Chief Executive Richard Scudamore signed on behalf of the Premier League.

All 20 Premier League clubs have now signed the Charter individually, the League said today.

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League said: “We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment with each of our clubs signing the Charter.

“The Premier League and our member clubs believe that everyone should be able to participate in, watch and enjoy sport – whoever they are and whatever their background.

“When the Sports Charter to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport was launched in June 2011 the Premier League signed it and we are pleased to re-affirm our commitment to it today with each of our clubs signing it individually.”

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone added: “Nearly 3,000 individuals and clubs have already signed up and I’m delighted that Premier League clubs have taken a stand by signing the Charter too.

“It sends a really strong signal when clubs in the best league in the world say enough is enough.”

The Charter is made up of four points:

- We believe that everyone should be able to participate in, watch and enjoy sport – whoever they are and whatever their background.
- We believe that sport is about fairness and equality, respect and dignity. Sport teaches individuals how to strive and succeed, how to cope with success and disappointment, and brings people together with a common goal.
- We are committed to making these values a reality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We will work together, and individually, to rid sport of homophobia and transphobia.
- We will make football a welcome place for everyone – for those participating in the sport, those attending matches and for those working or volunteering in it. We will work with all these groups to ensure they have a voice, and to challenge unacceptable behaviour.

Chris Basiurski, Chair of the Gay Football Supporters’ Network said: “We are delighted that the Premier League Clubs have decided to sign the Government’s charter but we are conscious that is just the first step.

“We are keen to ensure that the clubs are not just making an empty gesture but are truly committed to the cause of tackling homophobia and we are calling on them to commit as much time and resources to this cause as they have previously demonstrated in the largely successful fight against racism.

“With the recent BBC3 documentary highlighting that the issue of homophobia is prevalent in the game today, creating a safe and tolerant atmosphere in football for LGBT people has never been more important and we hope to see some real progress from the Clubs in the wake of their signing the Charter.”

Emilia Fox will play Lady Portia Alresford, a former lover of Blanche Mottershead, portrayed by Alex Kingston, best known for her role as ER’s Elizabeth Corday.

The first series of the Upstairs Downstairs revival was closely watched as the BBC’s answer to ITV’s seemingly unstoppable Downton Abbey.

The latter briefly tackled gay relationships in high society with a dalliance between the Duke of Crowborough and a footman of the Crawley family in its first series.

While that relationship was kept quiet, the lesbian affair in the inter-war drama Upstairs Downstairs is made public.

Writer Heidi Thomas told the Mirror: “These are two brilllant, intellectual women who have a deeply romantic friendship in the tradition of the great Edwardian romantics, which gives each of them endless stimulation and satisfaction.”

The “covert and difficult” relationships, she added, “causes a bit of a stir when it all comes out, but Blanche finds support and sympathy from an unlikely quarter”.

“She is quite a radical, very used to a free existence, and doesn’t understand why she would have to conform to the beautifully-kept world they’ve created for themselves.”

The series is due for broadcast in the spring.

The national event, which is in its eighth year, has as its theme the issue of homophobia in sport.

A full list of events across the UK can be found at the LGBT History Month website.

Suran Dickson, CEO of the anti-bullying charity Diversity Role Models, will be hosting Queer Question Time with a panel of 5 local, national, and international LGBT icons at the first event in Southwark.

Queer Question Time will cover the special topic of homophobia in sport as well as the Olympics and the Cultural Olympiad and the broader issues facing the LGBT community.

The panellists will include sports broadcaster Bob Ballard, the FSA’s Head of Corporate Responsibility Claire Harvey, founder of the Marlin swimming group Dave Merchant and Kelly Simmons, Head of National Game for the FA.

Sue Sanders, the Co-Chair of LGBT History Month UK and Schools Out and Councillor Abdul Mohamed, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Community Engagement will be opening the evening at 7pm followed by a performance from the Pink Singers, an LGBT community choir based in London.

The launch will take place at Glaziers Hall by the river Thames on Wednesday 1 February 2012.

Doors 6 – 9.30pm, Music from the Pink Singers 7pm, Debate 7.30pm
Entrance to the event is free but advance booking is required. Contact Helen Laker at Southwark Council on 0207 525 0848 or Helen.Laker@southwark.gov.uk.

Hudson died in 1985 from an AIDS-related illness after starring in nearly 70 films.

Production company Made in Manchester was presented with the award for the drama based on his life by former Dr Who star David Tennant, who also took home a Best Actor award.

ROCK was written and directed by Tim Fountain and starred Michael Xavier as Rock Hudson and Bette Bourne as legendary agent Henry Willson.

It was one of a number of pieces produced by Made in Manchester released via The Independent online.

Hudson, who was married to Willson’s secretary for three years in the 1950s, reportedly once seduced James Dean to win a bet against Elizabeth Taylor.

Dean starred in the movie Giant with Taylor and Hudson, but he died before the film was released.

Noreen Nash claimed: “Elizabeth and Rock took bets on who could get James Dean into bed first.

“I had an idea Rock would win but Elizabeth wasn’t so sure. James was troubled but gorgeous.”

MIM’s Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “We are delighted to have been recognised for this piece by the BBC. Special thanks must go to writer and director Tim Fountain, the actors, to producer Iain Mackness who pulled this production off in extra quick time and of course to The Independent online for giving us a platform.”

Byrne called on the BBC to expand its online space for audio drama.

He said: “Writers, actors, producers all love making audio drama but they rarely get the chance to do so. The BBC has it in their power to give this unique genre more space and to introduce it new audiences.”

ROCK can still be heard at the Independent.

The Rainbow Reykjavik Event Team along with tour operators Pink Iceland and Reykjavik Excursions, have put together a programme of events and tours.

Audur Halldorsdottir from Visit Reykjavik said: “We are really excited about hosting Rainbow Reykjavik and welcoming the LGBT Community from across the world to our beautiful and very LGBT-friendly country!”

Eva María Thorarinsdottir Lange, Managing Director of Pink Iceland said: “The Rainbow Reykjavik program provides a colourful mixture of various events, including tours to see the Northern Lights, geysirs, waterfalls and the Continental Divide, great meals, cocktail receptions and dance parties….as well as pure wellness and relaxation in the world famous geothermal spa of the Blue Lagoon.”

In addition to experiencing Iceland’s unparalleled nature, a ‘Queer Concert’ in Reykjavik’s new Harpa Concert Hall is also included in the programme.

After an LGBT community dinner in the the beautiful Kolabrautin Restaurant in Harpa Concert Hall, Rainbow Reykjavik is proud to announce that some of Iceland’s most famous artists are scheduled to perform, including Lay Low and Paul Oscar.

Organisers say Lay Low “took the country by storm, seemingly coming out of nowhere, and quickly became one of Iceland’s most celebrated and popular singer-songwriters”.

Paul Oscar is described as one of Iceland’s “most beloved performing artists, leading and involved in LGBT rights since the early 90′s”.

He enjoyed a triple win at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2007 for his solo album, Allt fyrirástina (Anything For Love).

He also represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest, was a judge in both the Icelandic Idol and X-Factor TV series, and is Iceland’s most sought after DJ and performer. Organisers said his float in the Reykjavík Gay Pride parade is always the “most anticipated of all”.

Rainbow Reykjavik says temperatures are moderate year-round, with snow a rarity in the world’s northernmost capital city.

“And always bring a bathing suit, whatever time of the year you visit. A favourite pastime is year-round outdoor swimming in countless geothermally heated pools and lagoons, with a typical temperature of 25-28°C. And there is no better time to see the Northern Lights!“ says Audur Halldorsdottir.

Icelandair is a proud Platinum sponsor for the event, and organisers describe the prices of their package as “unbelievable”:

• Roundtrip flight to Iceland
• 3 nights hotel stay in either Reykjavik Natura or Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
• Flybus transportation from and to the airport
• A soak in the Blue Lagoon
• Welcome party with local performers
• Gullfoss, Gaysir & Fontana Tour & Lunch box
• Dinner at the beautifult Kolabrautin Restaurant in Harpa Concert Hall
• Concert in Harpa
• Party at Barbara & Trúnó
• Light lunch
• LGBT History Walk in Reykjavík
• Cocktail reception
• Dinner Dance Party – Viking Theme

Nearly thirty years after his victory over Peter Tatchell at the 1983 Bermondsey by-election, Hughes sends a message for the human rights campaigner.

Peter,

Happy birthday and congratulations.

You deserve widespread thanks and appreciation for your relentless campaigning against discrimination and for the rights of gay and lesbian people and others, not just in this country but around the world. Your brave and principled opposition to authoritarian and illiberal regimes such as Russia and Zimbabwe have been models of political protest and powerful direct action.

Your commitment to a sustainable environmental future and political reform as well as to social justice is something you know we share.

It is a privilege to be your member of parliament and great that you have continued to live at the Elephant and Castle. I hope there will be many occasions in the future when we can work together for a more just world, as there have been in the last three decades.

Yours sincerely,
Simon 

1952: Born Melbourne, Australia.

1967: First human rights campaign – against capital punishment

1969: Came out as gay, aged 17, began campaigning for LGBT rights.

1971: Moved to London. Joined the newly-formed Gay Liberation Front.

Protested against the Miss World contest and joined GLF sit-ins in pubs that refused to serve queers.

Disrupted Mary Whitehouse’s and Cliff Richard’s Festival of Light rally against homosexuality and the so-called “permissive society”.

1972: Violently manhandled when he heckled a lecture by one of the world’s leading psychologists, Professor Hans Eysenck, who was advocating the use of electric-shock aversion therapy to “cure” gay people.

1973: Staged the first-ever gay rights protest in a communist country, East Germany. Held up a placard calling for “homosexual liberation.” Arrested and interrogated by the secret police, the Stasi.

1974-77: Worked with the National Union of Students LGBT rights campaign.

1983: Labour candidate in the 1983 Bermondsey by-election. Vilified because of his support for LGBT rights. Defeated. Bermondsey was the most homophobic election in British history, and dirtiest and most violent UK election for 100 years.

1986: Published the trail-blazing self-help book, AIDS: A Guide to Survival – the first book to give hope to people with HIV.

1987: Lobbied Thabo Mbeki of the African National Congress of South Africa, which resulted in the ANC officially renouncing homophobia and making its first public commitment to LGBT equality.

Founded the UK AIDS Vigil Organisation – the world’s first movement established to campaign for the human rights of people with HIV. Wrote the world’s first comprehensive HIV human rights charter, to oppose the escalating trend towards government repression.

1988: Coinciding with the World Health Minister’s Summit on AIDS in London, co-ordinated a 12,000-strong candlelight procession to support the human rights of people with HIV; prompting an unscheduled Summit declaration against HIV-related discrimination.

1989: Proposed to the ANC that the post-apartheid constitution should protect lesbians and gay men against discrimination. Submitted draft proposals that were later adapted and incorporated into the new constitution.
A founding member of the AIDS activist organisation ACT UP London (the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power).

1990: One of 30 people who collectively founded the queer rights direct action group OutRage! Coordinated a mass “Kiss-In” at Piccadilly Circus against the arrest of same-sex couples for kissing and cuddling. Organised simultaneous campaigns against police harassment of the LGBT community – gay convictions subsequently fell by two-thirds from 1990-93.

1991: “It’s OK to be Gay” campaign, which leafleted school pupils to combat Section 28 censorship of information about lesbian and gay sexuality.

1992: Organised the first challenge to the ban on gay marriage, when five same-sex couples applied for marriage licences at Westminster register office. Proposed an Equal Rights Act to guarantee equality for everyone and to outlaw all forms of discrimination. This idea was eventually incorporated into the Equality Act 2010. Invaded the Vatican Embassy in protest at Pope’s endorsement of anti-gay laws.

1994: Ambushed the motorcade of the Prime Minister, John Major, in protest at his opposition to an equal age of consent. Published Safer Sexy – the world’s first comprehensive guide to safer sex for gay/bisexual men. At the time, it was the most sexually explicit book ever published in Britain; pushing back the boundaries of state censorship.

Outed ten Church of England bishops in protest at church homophobia. This provoked the House of Bishops to condemn anti-gay prejudice and led Anglican leaders to begin their first serious dialogue with the LGBT community.

1996: Disrupted the Romanian National Opera’s performance of Aida at the Royal Albert Hall, in protest at Romania’s anti-gay laws.

1997: Organised Queer Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, in remembrance of LGBT people murdered by the Nazis and those who died fighting fascism.

1998: Interrupted the Easter Sermon of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, in protest at his support for laws that discriminate against queers. Convicted under the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860.

Exposed the escaped Nazi war criminal, SS Dr Carl Vaernet, who sought to eradicate homosexuality and conducted grisly medical experiments on gay concentration camp prisoners.

1999: With OutRage! colleagues, ambushed the motorcade of the Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe, in London; attempting a citizen’s arrest on charges of torture.

2001: Repeat attempt at a citizen’s arrest in Brussels resulted in him being beaten unconscious by Mugabe’s bodyguards; causing permanent minor brain and eye injuries.

2004: As an alternative to civil marriages and civil partnerships, proposed a Civil Commitment Pact – allowing couples to pick and mix from a menu of rights responsibilities, to create a tailor-made partnership agreement suited to their particular needs.

2007: Bashed by neo-Nazis and arrested at the Moscow Gay Pride parade in 2007. Returned to Moscow in 2009 and 2010 – arrested again.

2009: Campaigner of the Year, The Observer Ethical Awards

2010: Launched the Equal Love campaign to overturn the twin bans on same-sex civil marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships.
Awarded a Blue Plaque, unveiled by Sir Ian McKellen.

2011: Appointed (unsalaried) Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation. Coordinated the Equal Love appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

Four days before the Royal Wedding, protested outside Buckingham Palace that Prince William and Kate Middleton could get married but gay couples can’t.

Persuaded Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, to condemn homophobic persecution (the first Secretary General to do so).

For more information about Peter Tatchell’s campaigns and to make a donation: www.PeterTatchellFoundation.org

This article originally appeared in QX Magazine.

O’Malley had campaigned in 2010 to secure his second term promise to work toward enacting marriage equality while in office.

A similar attempt in 2011 failed to pass through the state legislature, but attempts to introduce a constitutional ban on gay marriage have also failed.

The new bill is reported to contain carefully-worded protections for religious bodies who do not want to conduct marriage ceremonies between gay couples.

In September of last year, warned that it will be a long fight to win full gay marriage rights with the same legal status as straight married couples but that it is achievable.

Speaking at a fund-raiser for Equality Maryland he said: “This is about making sure that every family in Maryland is able to raise their children in a loving and stable home, a home that is respected equally under the law.”

He added that he is “committed to expanding that circle of inclusion into those core fundamental beliefs that unite us as a people.”

“Even people that do not yet agree with us on this issue, there’s a lot of goodness in each and every individual, and we need to engage in that goodness. We need to call people to that goodness. We need to call people together in the centre of that circle that makes us a great state — that makes us a great country — because we believe in the dignity of every individual, and we believe in the advancement of the greater good.”

Ria Novosti reported yesterday that more than twenty right-wing joggers took to the streets of Sovetsk, a small town in the Baltic exclave, carrying Romanov flags of black, yellow and white emblazoned with the words “Russians choose sport.”

An anonymous phone tip-off apparently alerted police to an unsanctioned gay pride march.

The group was released when the nationalist organiser assured officers they were not rallying, but gathering for a sporting event.

Last year, Peter Tatchell reported from Moscow Pride on the series of arrests made on the day and allegations of collusion between police and neo-Nazis.

A month later, Russian police were reported to have arrested 14 gay rights campaigners at a St Petersburg rally.

Russian nationalists have used sporting events to promote patriotism and health in the past, but unsanctioned events are often disbanded by authorities.

Nationalism in modern-day Russia is associated with neo-fascism and the term itself is sometimes used in a pejorative way by political figures.

Peter Tatchell told PinkNews.co.uk nationalists were among the mobs who attacked Moscow’s attempted Pride events.

Mr Tatchell pointed out there was no indication the Sovetsk group, which is located in the Kaliningrad Oblast between Poland and Lithuania and shares no borders with Russia, was involved in those attacks.

He said: “I was one of the many LGBT activists who were assaulted by [nationalists] in 2006 and 2007. They are viciously macho and anti-gay.

“Their chauvinistic agenda is to purge Russia of people they see as undesirables, including LGBT people, ethnic minorities and liberal intellectuals. They want the restoration of Russia as a great imperial power. 

Mr Mbeki was taking questions at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) in Kampala when he was asked about the draft legislation and specifically what he would say to its sponsor, the Daily Monitor reports.

The bill, introduced by MP David Bahati in 2009, was designed to strengthen Uganda’s already-harsh laws against homosexuality but was indefinitely dropped by lawmakers.

In response to the question, Mbeki, who served as deputy President and President of South Africa following the abolition of apartheid, said: “I would say to the MP; sexual preferences are a private matter. I don’t think it is a matter of the state to intervene.”

“I mean what would you want? It doesn’t make sense at all. That is what I would say to the MP. What two consenting adults do is really not the matter of law.”

Bahati said in response: “His excellency needs to read the bill and understand the spirit in which it was brought and the context in which we are talking about.”

Clauses called for the death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality, the offence of continuing to commit gay acts after one conviction. Those who fail to report gay incidents to police would be jailed.

The bill received worldwide condemnation from countries, gay rights campaigners and human rights groups.

It languished after failing to be debated in early 2011, but was set to be revisited in the current legislative session.