Articles written by the PinkNews.co.uk 'staff writer' are authored by one or more of the PinkNews.co.uk editorial team.
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17 February 2006Dublin man admits gay attacks + A man in Dublin has confessed to attacking a number of gay men in the city over the last 12 months, police report.Dublin's Gardai claim to have arrested the 17 year old last week and believe he may be to blame for a series of attacks that left one victim in a coma.The Southside People newspaper reported, Garda sources say that the unnamed youth has admitted beating Brian O'Callaghan until he was unconscious. -
17 February 2006Poll reveals Turkey’s conservative views on homosexuality + A significant amount of Turkish people are uncomfortable with homosexuality, a survey suggests.The poll conducted by the Open Society Institute and Istanbul's Bogazici University found that three quarters of Turks disapprove of gays and lesbians. -
16 February 2006Initiative launched to promote ethnic support of gay marriage 1 Five American organisations have announced a new initiative to elevate communities of colour who support marriage equality for same sex couples."The right-wing has perpetuated the idea that people of colour are overwhelmingly against marriage for same-sex couples, it is important that people see this for what it is, a half-baked myth that needs correcting," said Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director of Lambda Legal. -
16 February 2006Gay group condemns anti LGBT adoption bill 1 The gay rights group Family Pride has condemned the introduction of House Bill 515 in the Ohio House of Representatives. If passed, the measure would prohibit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and those who live with them, from adopting or serving as foster parents in Ohio."Child welfare and respected professional organisations are clear in their opposition to these types of measures," said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of Family Pride, the only national nonprofit organisation exclusively dedicated to securing equality for LGBT parents and their families. -
16 February 2006Senate to vote on gay marriage amendment + Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has announced that he will bring the already failed 'Marriage Protection Amendment' proposal up for a vote on June 5, 2006. Similar to 2004, the Senate vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment will come as the fall election season heats up."Not one marriage is protected by this amendment and all marriages are devalued when used as a political ploy," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Writing one group of people out of the protections of the Constitution is politics at its worst." -
16 February 2006Moscow gay pride facing violence + Gay groups planning to attend the Russian gay pride march in the Spring may face violent protests from Muslim groups.The leader of Russia's Muslims on Tuesday called for a "violent mass protest" if gay leaders go ahead with Pride celebrations. Chief Russian Mufti Talgat Tajuddin said gays could be killed if they went ahead. -
16 February 2006Hong Kong gay men spread HIV 1 Twenty gay men in Hong Kong gave each other HIV after meeting on the internet and deciding to spread the virus between themselves, according to health officials.The South China Morning Post revealed that Government health officials found all 20, who met between November 2003 and November 2005, had HIV with similar gene sequencing. -
15 February 2006Gay bar attack victim says paramedics were homophobic + A man who was attacked in a gay bar has complained after he felt paramedics gave him below standard treatment because of his sexuality.Robert R. Perry,52, was struck in the head with a hatchet and shot in the back by 18-year-old Jacob D. Robida, who later killed himself during a police chase. Two other men also were injured in the attack in February at Puzzles Lounge. -
15 February 2006Gay bishop getting help for alcoholism + The gay bishop at the heart of the Anglican Church's dispute over homosexuality is being treated for alcoholism.New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson, whose ordination in 2003 enraged conservative Anglicans and threatened to break up the church, revealed his problems in a letter on his diocese's website. -
15 February 2006Costs double for Pentagon’s gay sacking policy 1 The Pentagon's costs for firing service members for homosexuality under its "don't ask, don't tell" policy nearly doubled last year according to research.Figures from a University of California commission of military experts said it cost over $360 million to enforce the policy from 1994 to 2003. That is 91 percent more than the $190.5 million estimated a year ago by the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm. -
15 February 2006Hong Kong couples awaiting UK gay marriage approval 1 Hong Kong gay couples are awaiting a decision from the government on if the British Consulate can conduct civil partnerships in its country.According to the UK Civil Partnership Act, all "British nationals" can register for a same-sex civil union in a British embassy or consulate, as long as the local law agrees. -
15 February 2006Country singer releases gay cowboy song 2 Country music singer Willie Nelson has written a song about a gay cowboy romance to coincide with hit film Brokeback Mountain's visit to the Oscars.The song, released on Valentines Day, is called Cowboys Are Secretly, Frequently (Fond of Each Other), it was originally written in 1981. It was played for the first time yesterday on US radio. -
15 February 2006Singapore allows film fans to see Brokeback Mountain 5 Cinemagoers in Singapore will be allowed to watch gay cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain without censorship from tomorrow.The Guardian reported that despite the island's strict homosexuality laws and definition of gay sex as gross indecency, film fans over 21 will be able to watch the highly acclaimed movie. -
15 February 2006Banning smoking is the best thing Labour have done for the gay community 11 PinkNews.co.uk's Editor, Benjamin Cohen takes a look at the impact of the smoking ban on the gay community and argues that it may be Labour's finest hour."It's strange that after nine years of governing Britain, with all the changes to the way that the gay community is treated, Labour's most lasting change will be a ban on smoking in public places." -
14 February 2006Lesbian accuses bosses of homophobia + A lesbian is accusing her bosses of discrimination after she says they did nothing after she was groped by co workers and verbally assaulted over her sexuality.Bonnie Usher worked at the Cracker Barrel restaurant, a home country food chain, in Londonderry, New Hampshire. She filed a complained with the state's human rights commission against the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store accusing management of discriminating against her. -
14 February 2006Israeli lesbians granted joint motherhood + The Israeli Family Court recognised lesbian couples as joint mothers for the first time on Sunday.Tal and Avital Yarous-Hakak, received their adoption orders and are listed as the mothers of their three children.The orders were issued in light of a High Court of Justice ruling on the matter, according to which adoption laws allow the process, even if the both partners are of the same gender. -
14 February 2006Heath Ledger in new gay role + The star of Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger, who won accolades for his performance as a gay cowboy, looks set to play a gay man again.He is rumoured to be lined up for the role of gay icon, Hollywood actor Rock Hudson.Movie site AintItCoolNews.com claims the Australian actor is favourite to land the role of the closeted actor, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1985. -
14 February 2006Saddam calls trial judges homosexuals 2 Saddam Hussein called his trial judges homosexuals yesterday in a further tirade at the Baghdad court where he is accused of mass murder.The former Iraqi leader wanted to boycott the hearing but the chief judge ordered him to attend.Mr Hussein protested shouting, "Down with Bush!" as he walked into the Baghdad court. -
14 February 2006Well known gay figure murdered in Oxford 1 Two people have been arrested over the murder of a well known man on the Oxford gay scene.Detectives are remaining quiet over the death of Guy Thomas, 41, whose body was found in a flat in Cowley, Oxford, on Friday.Mr Thomas, 41, died from loss of blood from a head injury. Police believe he had been assaulted. A man aged 32 and woman aged 33 were arrested on the weekend. Yesterday, magistrates gave them until midday today to continue holding them. -
14 February 2006New Jersey to decide on gay marriage + Campaigners for and against gay marriage will be keeping an eye on New Jersey tomorrow when the issue is debated before the state Supreme Court.In the courtroom the arguments will mainly concentrate on who should decide whether to allow it: lawmakers or judges.The state Attorney General's office, defending New Jersey's ban on same-sex marriage, believes the Legislature should make such important and controversial decisions.
