Marc Shoffman was chief correspondent of PinkNews.co.uk between 2005 and 2006. He was online editor between 2006 and 2007.
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13 November 2006Gay humanists back Elton John’s religion attack 8 The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has backed comments from Sir Elton John after he claimed that religion promotes the hatred of gays.The gay singing legend launched an attack on religion last weekend accusing it of promoting homophobia and suggested that it should be banned. -
13 November 2006Pig-headed gay row over medieval marriage contest + Committee members organising an ancient marriage event are debating whether to include civil partners in a 900 year old contest to find the happiest married couple.The Dunmow Flitch Trials are held every four years and require married couples to persuade a judge and jury of "6 maidens and 6 bachelors" that they would "not wisht themselves unmarried," but now a debate has emerged between the Essex organisers whether to include same sex couples. -
13 November 2006Gay campaigners welcome Sir Elton’s support 1 Activists have welcomed Sir Elton John's support for gay campaigns after he pledged his support for gay rights.In an interview with The Observer Music Monthly, the gay artist backed a gay pride concert in Moscow, where a gay rights meeting was plagued with violence earlier this year.Sir Elton said: "What we should be doing as musicians is trying to bring people together. The idea for a 'Gay Pride' concert in Moscow is a brilliant idea." -
13 November 2006Campaigners seek Christmas cheer for El Salvador gays + Amnesty International is encouraging people across the UK to send a message of solidarity to William Hernández - a gay activist in El Salvador who has received death threats apparently intended to deter him from campaigning - as the campaign group launches its annual Greetings Card Campaign.William Hernández is the director of Asociación Entre Amigos (Between Friends Association) and he and other members of the organisation have allegedly received death threats. -
13 November 2006US Church suggests therapy to solve gay issue + The US Catholic Church will discuss guidelines on ways of welcoming gay people into the church at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) this week, with one controversial suggestion being therapy.The guidelines attempt to create a balance between welcoming gays and lesbians into the Church whilst upholding religious teachings. -
13 November 2006Ugandan lesbian faces deportation 2 A Labour MP is supporting a Ugandan lesbian's plight after she is facing deportation despite fleeing her Muslim father after he threatened to kill her, according to reports.Faridah Kenyini, 20, came to Britain in 2004 and has been in a relationship with Sarah Garenette, a British security officer, however, a judge at her asylum hearing recently questioned her sexuality and ordered that she return home. -
10 November 2006Mid-terms make gay groups GLAAD 3 A gay media monitor is calling on the US to examine how growing cultural acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and families helped to shape -- and will be impacted by -- the 2006 mid-term elections.The poll saw a record increase in the amount of gay and lesbian candidates elected, but was coupled with gay marriage bans implemented in several states. -
10 November 2006Victoria backs gay union scheme + Victoria state Premier Steve Bracks has backed gay registration schemes, as state elections emerge.Mr Bracks has reportedly sent officials to meet with the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLR) group to agree on a Tasmanian style gay union scheme.He has been under pressure to introduce such a law but has previously ruled out calls for civil unions. -
10 November 2006Jerusalem gays find pride 23 It's been ridiculed, threatened and cancelled three times, but 4,000 members and supporters of Jerusalem's gay community have managed to pull a rally together today in replacement of a pride march.The event, held at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Givat Ram campus, included performances from Israeli hip-hop group Hadag Nachash, speeches by politicians and religious leaders. -
10 November 2006Mid-terms present ‘new opportunity’ for gay army policy 3 A gay military group has hailed the mid-term elections as a 'new opportunity' to end discrimination in the armed forces caused by the Pentagon's Don't Ask Don't Tell ban on openly gay recruits.The Servicemembers Legal Defence Network (SLDN) announced it is looking forward to the new Democratic leadership in Congress but warned there is still much to be done. -
10 November 2006Gay soldiers fought for freedom despite discrimination + It's a shame that lesbian and gay personnel contributed so much to both World Wars but had to return to discrimination in Britain, gay campaigner Peter Tatchell said today on the eve of Remembrance Day.Remembrance day is held to mark the anniversary of the end of the First World War and also to remember the soldiers and civilians who died in other wars, which Mr Tatchell said statistically would have involved a lot of gay and lesbian personnel as well as other members of the community. -
9 November 2006Gay friendly Democrats control Senate 3 The Democrats have taken control of the US Senate in the mid-terms as the final election results come through.The party already won the House of Representatives yesterday but winning the Senate would make it the first time since 1994 that the Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress and could mean a brighter future for gay rights legislation. -
9 November 2006Tourism minister shamed over Jerusalem Gay Pride 23 An Israeli gay rights campaigner has criticised the country's Tourism Minister for not opposing violence against tomorrow's gay pride march in Jerusalem, while tension builds before the event with vigils being held along with calls for calm.Speaking at a World Travel Market event this week, Israel's Minister for Tourism, Isaac Herzog, encouraged holidaymakers to visit the country, telling PinkNews.co.uk that there are no problems with gays and lesbians coming. -
9 November 2006Homophobia “perfectly legal” in Faroe Islands + LGBT activists in the Faroe Islands have generated around 20,000 signatures in an online petition demanding an end to sexual orientation discrimination and a registered partnership law to bring the islands into line with the rest of the Nordic region.The petition expresses discontent that homophobia is made "perfectly legal" because the government does nothing against it. -
9 November 2006Jerusalem gay pride cancelled amid Gaza violence 23 Jerusalem's gay pride march has been moved into a controlled area following escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, meaning police cannot guarantee adequate numbers to prevent riots between the ultra orthodox Jews and parade marchers at tomorrow's event.A compromise has reportedly been reached between the religious community, who had been protesting daily against the march, and the organisers, meaning the event will now comprise of a rally at a stadium. -
9 November 2006Church leader opposes gay school book 1 A Staffordshire cleric has launched a campaign to stop literature about gay relationships being shown in schools.Pastor Rod Lewis is calling on local residents to support his opposition to a book called Daddy's Roommate, which contains pictures of two men cuddling on the couch. -
9 November 2006Gay gardener rejected 4 A Texas gardening company which refused a business partnership because the request came from a gay man has been inundated with complaints.Garden Guy told Michael Lord he could not be met with last month because the company "chooses not to work with homosexuals."The landscapers proudly claim to follow the word of God, believing the grass is greener on the other side, and is against gay marriage, but now the owner Sabrina Farber has been mown down by verbal attacks and emails criticising her stance. -
9 November 2006Gay designer zips into jungle 1 A gay fashion designer, a former soap-star and Tony Blair's sister in-law will be roaring into the jungle for the latest series of ITV's reality show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here next week.Gay designer Scott Henshall, who has dressed stars such as Paris Hilton and Kylie Minogue, says he aims to attract some male talent in the jungle, where he will be joined by ex Neighbours heartthrob Jason Donovan, and Lauren Booth, half-sister of the Prime Minister's wife. -
9 November 2006Gay campaigners join calls for equality “shake-up” 12 Activists from gay, black, disabled, elderly and religious groups gathered in City Hall to discuss the Discrimination Law Review which will set out the manifesto for the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) and will form the Single Equality Act.Alan Wardle, Public and Parliamentary Affairs spokesman for gay charity Stonewall, joined a panel headed by Lee Jasper, Director of Equalities at the London Mayor's Office, which included representatives from the Muslim Council of Britain, trade unions, lesbian MP Angela Eagle and the Disability Rights Commission. -
8 November 2006“Incredible night” for gay equality 3 Gay campaigners are hailing an "incredible night" for gay equality in the US as over 200 pro-gay candidates were elected for seats in Congress and as Governors in the US mid-terms and many anti-gay figures were ousted.The Democrat Party now dominates the House of Representatives, with Nancy Pelosi representing the party as the first female speaker, while the Senate is neck and neck, signalling a possible change in direction regarding America's foreign policy and perhaps even some state's attitude towards gay rights.
