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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30 October 2006Trans MP in toilet row 1 Europe's first transsexual MP may be given her own private bathroom after leaving other female toilet users feeling flushed.Vladimir Luxuria, a member Communist Refoundation Party, who was elected in Italy's recent polls, has caused outrage amongst politicians as they argue over which toilet she should be allowed to use. -
30 October 2006Pop tycoon funds gay pride fire appeal 1 A former pop mogul turned politician has promised to back an appeal from nine fire-fighters disciplined for refusing to distributing fire safety leaflets at a gay pride event.George Hargreaves, who launched gay icons such as Sinitta, is donating £50,000 to an appeal, vowing to take the case all the way to the House of Lords. -
30 October 2006Gay campaigners criticise paper’s “repugnant” cartoon 2 Gay campaigners have criticised the New York Post for publishing an anti-gay cartoon in reaction to last week's New Jersey ruling on same sex unions.New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled that gay couples should be equal before the law last week, prompting the Post's cartoonist to draw a man carrying a sheep wearing a bridal ceil to get married in the US state. -
30 October 2006Scottish bishops row over gay “appeasement” 4 A row has emerged between senior bishops of Scotland's Catholic Church over the denomination's stance on homosexuality.The debate centres around comments from outspoken Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Devine, who has accused the Church of a "policy of appeasement" after he claims it does not speak out enough against homosexuality. -
30 October 2006Gay historian backs Pope’s Islam remarks 2 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveHistorian David Starkey has backed the Pope's recent controversial comments over Islam, describing it as a 'religion of conquest.'The outspoken gay intellectual described Islam as a conquering religion with a "clear doctrine of holy war."On a recent visit to his German homeland, Pope Benedict quoted from a 14th Century philosopher that the prophet Muhammad only brought the world violence. -
27 October 2006Gay activist criticises Barker “witch-hunt” 10 Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has accused the British press of being "sensationalist" in its treatment of Tory Environment spokesman Gregory Barker's marriage break up after reports that he had a gay affair.Newspapers have been full of accusations over the last week that the Bexhill MP's marriage to Celeste broke down because he had an affair with a man, a claim which he denies. -
27 October 2006Israeli gays fear incitement 23 Israeli gay campaigners have complained to police about homophobic incitement as opposition to the upcoming WorldPride march grows.Religious groups and right wing conservative politicians have expressed their 'disgust' towards the gay pride march since the Jerusalem police, State Prosecution, the Jerusalem Municipality, the high court and gay rights groups agreed that it could take place on November 10. -
27 October 2006Human rights blogger sacked after posting Foley messages 3 A gay lobby group employee has been sacked after it was revealed that he was the first to publish email messages between disgraced ex-Florida Congressman Mark Foley and work experience interns.Mark Foley resigned from the US Congress earlier this month amid reports that he sent inappropriate sexually explicit messages to teenage interns, and now it has emerged that a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) employee was the source of the computer messages and posted them onto his blog using a work computer . -
27 October 2006Gay wedding planner opposes “lazy equality” 1 A gay wedding planner is calling for support of a campaign to make sure the new Equality Act doesn't allow any exemptions which would allow venues to refuse providing a location for civil partnerships.Pink Weddings is seeking over 3,000 signatures to take a petition to Downing Street in December to show opposition to "lazy equality."The government has faced criticism of a delay in implementing new guidelines protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in the provision of goods and services. -
26 October 2006New Jersey backs same sex unions 46 New Jersey's lesbian and gay community is waking up to the potential of fairer and equal rights this morning after the state's Supreme Court agreed that blocking same sex marriage is unconstitutional.In a move universally welcomed by gay groups across the US, the court agreed by a 4-3 split vote decision that the state legislature should allow same sex marriage and equalise gay rights. -
26 October 2006Conman caught after gay prank 1 Conman Peter Foster has been detained by police in Fiji after trying to escape capture by jumping off a bridge.Mr Foster, who sparked controversy in 2002 over his involvement with Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie's purchase of two flats in Bristol, caused a media frenzy in Fiji after starting rumours that a hotel was being opened offering rent boys. -
26 October 2006Chief Rabbi: Gay pride threat to Israel’s existence 23 Israel's Chief Rabbi has joined protests against the scheduled gay pride march in Jerusalem.Shlomo Amar called on all Jewish people to opposed the WorldPride parade which is scheduled to take place next month.Rabbi Amar claimed that the parade is a threat to Israel's survival. -
26 October 2006Stonewall encourages gay leadership + Stonewall is holding its second leadership programme, providing personal development for lesbian and gay professionals who have the capacity to be senior decision-makers within five years.The two-day programme, held from 26 -27 October and hosted by Henley Management College, is designed in collaboration with the Cambridge Leadership programme at Harvard University. -
26 October 2006Gay-friendly Labour MPs to stand down 1 The Labour Party is set to lose two of its longest serving supporters of gay rights after two Brighton MPs announced they would be standing down at the next General Election.Brighton based MPs Des Turner and David Lepper, who have consistently supported gay rights in Parliament for their high density of lesbian and gay constituents, both announced they would not run for re-election, citing their age as a reason, as well as discontent with the direction of the government. -
25 October 2006Homophobes boycott Wal-Mart 3 An anti-gay group is calling for a boycott of worldwide retailer Wal-Mart after accusing the store of promoting homosexuality.Self proclaimed family values group the American Family Association (AFA) has targeted the chain ever since it joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in August, but now the AFA has launched a petition against the company claiming it deliberately stocks over a thousand items promoting gay values such as same sex marriage. -
25 October 2006Pentagon urged to curb homophobic harassment 5 A gay military support group has criticised the Pentagon for not adequately protecting its officers from homophobic abuse after former army specialist Justin Fisher, who was convicted of conspiracy in the murder of Private First Class Barry Winchell was released from prison after serving seven years of an original 12 ½ year sentence.Winchell was attacked by Calvin Glover, a former soldier based at Fort Campbell, in July 1999, in what was later revealed as a homophobic crime. -
25 October 2006Lesbian jibes smear New York contest + The race for the Senate vote in New York is entering "swampy territory" after Republican candidate John Spencer reportedly called Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton a lesbian.Mr Spencer has been criticised by women's groups after allegedly commenting about the former First Lady's appearance, accusing her of having plastic surgery and questioning Mrs Clinton's sexuality. -
25 October 2006New Jersey ponders gay marriage 46 The New Jersey Supreme Court is expected to rule on the issue of same sex marriage later today.In a press conference scheduled for 1700 EST (2200 GMT), the court will announce its decision, sealing the fate of seven lesbian and gay couples and possibly opening up possibilities for others.The case has been led through the courts by gay law equality group Lambda Legal since 2002. -
25 October 2006Gay priest seeks Pope’s nod + A male prostitute turned gay priest is awaiting approval from the Vatican to be allowed to stand as a candidate for Bloc Quebecois in a by election next month.Raymond Gravel has been criticised by the Pope before over his support of gay priests, same sex marriage and abortion, but now needs the Holy See's approval through his boss, the Bishop of Joliette, to run for election. -
25 October 2006Activists seeks UN transgender support 2 A Ugandan gay activist has called on the United Nations to protect transgender people in Africa.Juliet Victor Mukasa, chairperson of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), revealed her experiences as a transgender in Africa when addressing the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva this week.
