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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8 November 2006Community remains upbeat despite gay union bans 3 The jubilation surrounding the election of many gay friendly candidates to Congress has been slightly overshadowed by the success of gay marriage votes across some US states, but campaigners say the margins suggest some progress.Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, Tennessee, South Dakota and Virginia all passed gay marriage bans, while Arizona was the only state out of the seven to reject a constitutional ban, a first in the US. -
8 November 2006Israel Tourism Minister backs gay pride debate 23 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveGays and lesbians are welcome in Israel but the issue of WorldPride should be left open to debate, the country's Tourism Minister announced last night.Isaac Herzog was unveiling a campaign for ThinkIsrael.com at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium last night, encouraging people to visit the "Holy land" of Israel. -
8 November 2006Homophobia is not Wright + PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveHomophobia is unacceptable in an office so should not be advocated on a football pitch, former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright said last night.Wright, now a football pundit and part time TV presenter, called on all discrimination to be outlawed as it makes it harder for players to perform. -
8 November 2006Mid-terms ‘tipping point’ for gay candidates 3 Gay campaigners have described the US mid-terms as a success after a record number of openly gay and lesbian candidates were elected.The Gay Lesbian Victory Fund endorsed 67 victory-endorsed candidates for the federal, state and local offices, with some winning historic races that make them the first openly gay or lesbian candidates ever elected in their states or legislative bodies. -
8 November 2006Gay Republicans blame conservatives for loss 3 A gay Republican lobby group has blamed conservatives for alienating voters and determining their mid-term losses, while the National Stonewall Democrats have described the results as a backlash against failed politics.The Democrats now dominate the House of Representatives after yesterday's mid-terms with a record number of gay and lesbian and gay-friendly candidates being elected, mainly from the Democrat Party. -
8 November 2006Gay group congratulates Governor Arnie 3 A gay group has congratulated California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on his re-election in the mid-terms.Since taking office in 2003, Governor Schwarzenegger has signed over 20 bills supportive of the gay and lesbian community including expansion of domestic partnership rights, hate crimes protection, housing and employment non-discrimination laws, improving HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment strategies, and ending the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in the state militia. -
8 November 2006Gay Republicans welcome Pennsylvania defeat 3 Gay Republicans have welcomed the defeat of Republican Senator Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania.He was ousted by Democrat Bob Casey, seen as gay-friendly, in a result welcomed by the Log Cabin Republicans.The Log Cabin Republicans described the result as a sign that Pennsylvania voters were overwhelmingly rejected the politics of division, intolerance, and fear. -
8 November 2006Cabinet urged out of closet over peerages 1 Gay and lesbian fans of equality minister Ruth Kelly will be interested to hear that she has been asked to give evidence of what she knew about loans made to the Labour Party.Ms Kelly, Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government, which will oversee new equality regulations regarding the gay community, has been asked to provide in writing anything she knows in relation to the cash for peerages scandal rocking British politics. -
8 November 2006Rumsfeld quits after poor mid-term results 3 Donald Rumsfeld has resigned as US Defence Secretary after a disappointing mid term election for the Republican Party.Mr Rumsfeld has been blamed for strategic blunders in Iraq and not equipping the military adequately and has also been attacked by gay groups for upholding the Pentagon's ban on openly gay and lesbian recruits.His resignation comes after the Republican losses implied discontent with the US policy in Iraq. -
7 November 2006Gay group attacks “progressive” South Australia 1 As Adelaide's gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and queer communities get ready for this weekends Pride March and the opening of the annual Feast Festival, a South Australian campaign group is warning same sex couples about the perils of not having their relationship recognised in the state.The Let's Get Equal Campaign has distributed a leaflet across Australia warning same sex couples of the possible consequences of the fact that their relationships are not legally recognised while they are visiting South Australia. -
7 November 2006Gay media group monitoring Haggard reports 1 A gay media watchdog has urged news outlets to be wary of their reporting of their coverage of the Ted Haggard scandal as it risks portraying the gay community in a negative light.Reverend Ted Haggard, Senior Pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado, resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals last week amid allegations that he had sex with a gay rent boy. -
7 November 2006Americans encouraged to choose equality in Senate vote 3 The polls have now opened for the US Congress and campaigners are calling on Americans to vote for equality by selecting gay friendly politicians.The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has created a scorecard of Senate representatives who have previously supported gay rights legislation and has also highlighted several areas where it will be a close race between gay friendly and anti-gay candidates. -
7 November 2006Gay campaigners looking to score equality in polls 3 As Americans go to the polls for the mid-term elections today, the Human Rights Campaign has selected candidates for the House of Representatives which it would like to see in power because of their commitment to gay rights.The campaign group has called on gay and lesbian voters to stand up for equality especially in states of Illinois, New Mexico, and Florida. -
7 November 2006Voters to decide on gay state amendments 3 It is an important day for gay rights in the USA as along with the mid-term elections, referendums are also being held on important LGBT matters such as same sex marriage and legal protections.Voters in Idaho, Colorado, South Dakota South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Virginia will have the opportunity to improve or limit gay rights in votes taking place today.
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7 November 2006Gay unions “deep crisis” for society + The Pope has yet again launched an attack on the gay community by claiming that moral values in society are fading away because of gay marriage, divorce and abortion.Addressing a Swiss delegation, there was nothing neutral about the pontiff's stance as he described marriage and the family structure as being in "deep crisis" because of divorce, abortion and the prospect of same sex unions. -
7 November 2006Stonewall Awards boost homophobia battle 2 Stonewall's inaugural awards last week helped the charity raise£25,000 which will now go towards their Education for All programme aimed at combating homophobia in schools.Sponsored by Barclays, the awards at the Royal Academy of Arts, celebrated the positive contributions made by individuals and organisations, both gay and straight, to the lives of gay people in Britain. -
6 November 2006Christians and Muslims unite against Scottish gays 4 The Scottish branch of radical religious party the Christian Peoples' Alliance has turned to the Muslim community for help in battling "secular values" and pro-gay laws.The party has garnered over 1,000 signatures from Muslims who are against incoming laws which would allow gay couples to adopt. -
6 November 2006Alternative route set for Jerusalem gay pride 23 WorldPride organisers have reached an agreement on an alternative route for the gay pride parade as the countdown to the event begins amid rising tensions.The march will now take place away from central and religious areas of Jerusalem and instead will converge around the government office complex in Kiryat Haleom. -
6 November 2006French football tackles homophobia + French football is showing the red card to homophobia in a new campaign launched at one of the country's top clubs.The Carton Rouge a l'Homophobie campaign kicked off inside the Parc de Prince stadium at a match between Paris Saint Germain and RC Lens in the French capital last night. -
6 November 2006Gay rights Episcopal Bishop begins reign + Katharine Jefferts Schori was officially consecrated as the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church last weekend.She is known to support gay rights and has already ruffled a few conservative feathers as she is the 2.3 million member denomination's first female leader.
