Cecil Sinclair died last Monday, aged 46, and Arlington’s High Point Church cancelled its invitation to host the service on Wednesday. The service was planned for Thursday.

An arrangement had been made for the church to provide a memorial service, photo presentation and feed guests.

However, the church decided to retract its offer when officials saw the photos submitted for the photo presentation.

“Some of those photos had very strong homosexual images of kissing and hugging. My ministry associates were taken aback,” Rev Gary Simons, head of the church, told Dallasnews.com.

According to Khou.com, the family insists the CD it gave the church did not contain such images.

Kathleen Wright, sister of Cecil, told The Associated Press:

“It’s a slap in the face. It’s like, ‘Oh, we’re sorry he died, but he’s gay so we can’t help you.’”

Mr Simons defended the church’s decision at Sunday’s Mass. He is quoted by Dallasnews.com as saying:

“This decision was not based on hate, or discrimination, but upon principle and policy, We cannot glorify homosexuality as a lifestyle.

“The Bible does say it’s wrong, You wouldn’t go to someone’s

house who doesn’t smoke and smoke there.”

The church had initially offered to host a service because Mr Sinclair’s brother is a janitor for the church.

A minister was sent to the family’s home immediately after his death and the church had been praying for him for six years.

Mr Simons told The Associated Press that the church wouldn’t have offered to host the service if it had known Mr Sinclair’s sexual orientation.

“Had we known it on the day they first spoke about it – yes, we would have declined then. It’s not that we didn’t love the family.”

Cecil Sinclair, a navy veteran, died of an infection while waiting for a heart transplant.

His funeral service was eventually held at a Arlington funeral home.

The largest of the marches was in Melbourne, where more than 5,000 people attended. All the marches were peaceful.

Prime Minister John Howard’s Liberal government passed federal legislation in 2004 banning same-sex marriage.

Earlier this year he proposed that HIV positive immigrants should not be allowed into the country.

“We are not in favour of discrimination, but of course our views on the nature of marriage in our community are very well-known and they won’t be changing,” Mr Howard said in an interview with Sky television in June.

Mr Howard is due to stand for re-election at the end of this year.

Earlier this month, the federal government announced plans to prohibit gay couples adopting from abroad.

According to Generationq.net Kelly Nettle, Senator for New South Wales, said at yesterday’s demonstration in Sydney:

“We saw the ban on same sex marriage happen just before the federal election and three years later we hear the Prime Minister talking about trying to impose a ban on same sex adoptions from overseas, just before a federal election.

“It’s a clear pattern about the Prime Minister trying to garner votes from the conservative religious fundamentalists within the community and in doing so seeking to scapegoat a particular section within our community.”

Last week Prime Minister Howard was presented with a petition demanding an end to discrimination against same-sex couples.

An MP from his own party handed him a copy of the online petition, which has been signed by 25,000 people.

It follows a report released in June by Australia’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission which highlighted the 58 laws that need to be changed to grant gay, bisexual and lesbian Australians equal rights.

The commission’s report found that same-sex couples and families get fewer leave entitlements, less workers’ compensation, fewer tax concessions, fewer veterans’ entitlements, fewer health care subsidies, less superannuation and pay more for residential aged care than opposite-sex couples in the same circumstances.

The report traced this pervasive inequality back to how lesbian and gay couples are excluded from federal law’s definitions of couples, partners and spouses.

Last month The Attorney General of Australia, Philip Ruddock, told gay activists that he is working on proposals to bring before the country’s Cabinet.

Last week the main opposition leader, Kevin Rudd, announced that the Labour party would not support gay marriage if they formed the next government.

According to the Monitor.co.ug, Oscar Kihika, the president of the Uganda Law Society said: “You can’t just arrest someone for saying they are gay.

“That’s like arresting someone just because he says he stole something, with no proof.

“You have to have a witness, and you would have to identify the stolen item before you could press charges.”

Homosexuality in Uganda is punishable with life imprisonment.

Mr Kihika says the law is ineffective and will continue to be until it is amended.

“Much of the Penal Code Act is antiquated, some of it should be reviewed, but much of it is still very useful. It will be a complicated law to revise.”

A police spokesperson, Asan Kasingye said “if it is a private act between two consenting adults, it is not like a case of defilement” and therefore arrests cannot easily be made.

Even a couple seen kissing in public could not be arrested. Mr Kihika said:

“Kissing in public would give circumstantial evidence, but not direct evidence.

“If police were there, I suppose they could take the person in for questioning but you cannot arrest someone without proof of penetration.”

Cases can only be easily pursued if a medical examination is conducted or if a minor has been involved.

Additionally lesbian activity is virtually impossible to prove.

However, despite the lack of prosecutions there is still deep antagonism towards gay and lesbian people in the country.

In 2004 Uganda became the first country in the world to introduce a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

The Church of Uganda recently followed the Church of Nigeria in severing its ties with the Episcopal Church in America over its more liberal stance towards the appointment of gay clergy.

Gay groups in Uganda last year spoke out against a local tabloid which printed a list of alleged homosexuals in the country.

Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) called for Ugandan citizens to stand up for human rights and protect minorities, a statement said: “Our brothers whose names were published in the Red Pepper tabloid are currently under-going discomforts and are living under unbelievable fear of being arrested, ostracised by their families or sacked from their jobs.”

The scheme has the support of many public figures, including Democrat US Representative Barney Frank and novelist Chris Rice.

The Gay American Heroes foundation aims to inform the public about hate crimes against LGBT people and inspire greater appreciation and acceptance of diversity.

Plans exist for a travelling multi-dimensional memorial to be displayed at college campuses, gay pride events and communities across the United States.

It will consist of rainbow coloured panels which are decorated with the names, faces and stories of victims. Educational information will be distributed at the events and will also be available from

their website.

Scott Hall, founder and president, decided to pursue the project after hearing about the homophobic murder of Ryan Skipper, who was killed in Florida in March.

According to Towleroad.com, Hall said: “We want to reach out to communities as soon as possible following a deadly anti-gay hate crime.

“We want to support the family and friends of the victim, as well as to work with local officials, law enforcement and service organizations to provide counselling and outreach.”

The exhibition is due to be completed by December 2007 and there are hopes for a permanent memorial to be built in Washington, D.C.

According to The Associated Press, Father Vsevolod Chaplin said that teachers should inform children not to follow the vicious examples of “homosexuals and prostitutes.”

His comments came during a debate between leading figures of the religious and scientific communities.

Last month, a group of scientists wrote to President Vladimir Putin explaining their concerns about religion’s growing influence on government.

They were specifically referring about the creation of a school course on Orthodox Christian culture and Russian universities being granted the power to award degrees in theology.

Andrei Vorobyev, a medical researcher, said: “The interference of the Church in government affairs have always been deplorable in Russian history.

“Education of schoolchildren should be based on teaching scientifically proven knowledge.”

Father Chaplin, on the other hand, asserted that “the scientific viewpoint cannot be a state ideology” and that the church should be a leading figure in framing moral standards.

He said: “We have to show them an unhappy homosexual in his 40s and an aging prostitute.

“Otherwise, in 30 years our children will turn into animals influenced by the cult of glamour and debauchery.”

In June, members of the church attempted to cleanse a Moscow river after a gay cruise sailed down it.

Taking the same boat and route as gay cruisers had only hours earlier, spokesman, Yuri Ageshchev, said one of their aims was to cleanse “the filth that filled the river after the trip of a big company of homosexuals.”

Homosexuality was decimalised in Russia in 1993. For the last two years, Moscow Pride has not been authorised by Moscow City Hall and has been marred by violence.

Sizakele Sigasa, 34, an activist for HIV/AIDS and LGBT rights, and Salome Masooa, 24, were discovered dead at field in Soweto, Johannesburg, on July 8th. They had both been shot and, it is suspected, raped.

On 22nd July Thokozane Qwabe, 23, was found in a field in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal with multiple head wounds. She was naked and it is thought she was also raped.

Gay advocacy group Human Rights Watch has sent a letter to Thabo Mbeki, the South African President, stating that recent killings have highlighted that the constitution’s promise of equal protection is not being fulfilled.

National Women’s Day is a celebration marking the day in 1956 when women protested against the pass system, an apartheid policy which restricted freedom of movement.

Jessica Stern, researcher at Human Rights Watch, called for the South African government to honour National Women’s Day, “by ensuring those responsible for the murders are brought to justice and by affirming that all women, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be entitled to equality and safety.”

South Africa’s 1996 constitution is seen as one of the most progressive and liberal in the world.

It states: “Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.”

Jessica Stern told queernet.org that “despite legal commitments to equality for all, lesbians in South African townships are still targeted for rape and murder.

“Poverty, prejudice, homophobia and sexism are building a new pass system, where many women dare not walk openly on the street.”

Police have not commented on whether Sizakele Sigasa’s sexual orientation was a motive for her killing. There have been four arrests in relation to her murder.

The official launch party will take place on Saturday 25th August at the Renaissance Rooms in Vauxhall, starting at midday.

There will be 16 performers at the event, including X Factor finalist Rowetta Satchell.

Other highlights include a fashion show, DJs and the chance to win a trip to Jamaica.

An after-party will be held from 10pm to 3am in the Chocolate Lounge in Kennington.

One of America’s most celebrated black gay writers, Thomas Glave, author of the collection Whose Song? and Words To Our Now: Imagination and Dissent, will be reading from his latest collection of uproarious essays, Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Writing from the Antilles.

He will also be taking audience questions, and signing copies of his works on Thursday 16th August, starting at 7pm in Gay’s The Word bookshop in Bloomsbury, London.

Admission is free. However due to limited seating people are advised to R.S.V.P by Tuesday 14th August through emailing info@outburstuk.org.

Outburst UK is a grassroots organisation dedicated to efforts that nurture pride and unity within the Black LGBT community in the UK, and to provide a happy, safe and supportive health focused environment.

The floods have been the worst experienced in Britain for over 50 years and are estimated to have caused more than £2 billion worth of damage.

Gloucestershire was the worst-hit county and at one point 350,000 people were without running water.

The event’s organisers still wish to mark Rainbow Day and support the local community in anyway they can.

A plan is being formulated to hold an event in the Gloucestershire Guildhall on Saturday.

Organisers are hoping to open the hall earlier than planned and for many of the scheduled events to go ahead.

All the proceeds from the day, minus essential running costs, will then be donated to the Gloucestershire Flood Appeal.

Meanwhile, additional events have been announced for both Manchester and Bradford Pride.

Bradford will host a lesbian and gay version of the BBC’s television programme Dragon’s Den.

The event will take place at 8pm on Saturday 8th September in Bradford’s Candy nightclub and the judging panel will consist of local business leaders.

Doncaster’s Gay/Trans Pride event organisers have released details of the entertainment planned for the staged area.

The event, taking place on Sunday 19th August will kick off at 12 noon and provide visitors to the festival with a line-up of 6 hours of some of the best entertainment around.

The line-up brings a mix of the best local entertainment and a sprinkling of talent from further a field including singing star Lesley Ball from London’s West End show Mamma Mia.

Manchester Pride has announced that the city’s emergency services have signed up to take part in the parade on Saturday 25th August.

Police officers, firefighters and NHS staff will join a whole host of companies and community groups from across the Northwest to celebrate the commitment to equal opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Jackie Crozier, festival manager of Manchester Pride, said: “I’m sure the emergency services will be a big hit with the crowds.

“Firemen in uniform are always going to attract attention, but personally, I’m looking forward to seeing some of the female firefighters!”

It is estimated that the festival generated £7.5 million for the local economy and businesses, with a record-breaking 150,000 revellers in attendance.

After a massive operation, tons of litter was removed from Preston Park, which is back to “pristine condition.”

A substantial clearing-up and recycling operation was kindly donated by William Cole Amusements.

Pride’s success and financial viability are the result of partnerships between the event organisers and local institutions.

Support this year was provided by organisations including Yo! Sushi, 3 Mobile, Unison, Brighton Pier and Brighton and Hove City Council.

This year’s event cost over £230,000 to stage and organisers paid tribute to the support it received.

This year’s week-long festival was also “the most colourful and biggest to date,” with more than 70 events.

Organisers highlighted problems with toilet facilities this year, which were overwhelmed by the increased turnout.

Despite having increased the provision of toilets for this year’s event, Brighton Pride has vowed to provide sufficient toilet facilities for next year’s event and is looking for a business partner to assist it in this area.

Brighton Pride is still accepting donations, either by texting ‘DONATE’ to 82772 or by visiting their website at www.brightonpride.org

Texts costs £3, with at least £1.85 going to Pride.