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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3 May 200610,000 Irish gays missing out on marriage 1 The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has welcomed the publication of a new study revealing the number of gays and lesbians who have chosen to marry in countries that uphold marriage equality.Marriage equality is enshrined in the laws of the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the US state of Massachusetts, where the constitution forbids the creation of second-class citizens. -
2 May 2006Gay ministers become Britain’s first married clergy 2 A gay couple have become the first clergymen to have a civil partnership in Britain.Paul and Brizz Miles-Knight, a layman and a priest, had a ceremony on the bank holiday weekend, with the backing of the United Episcopal Church, set up for those who have lost faith with Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism. -
2 May 2006Anti-gay boycott hurts Ford sales 2 Sales of Ford cars have been hurt by on off protests by a Christian group, according to dealers.In its latest campaign, the American Family Association (AFA) is calling for a boycott of the carmaker because of its support of a gay pride event in Detroit. -
2 May 2006Local Labour group accused of “using homophobia to win votes” 3 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveTension is mounting in the upcoming local elections, particularly in Lambeth where a conflict has arisen between the local Labour group and the ruling Liberal Democrats.Lambeth Labour posted an article written by the South London Press on their website last month which claimed gay Lib Dem councillor Charles Anglin was posting naked pictures of himself on the internet. -
2 May 2006Gay friendly London Mayor launches EuroPride 6 The London Mayor has called on the gay community to think about how it can help LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people in countries where homosexuality is illegal.Ken Livingstone, speaking at the launch of EuroPride06 today, said other cities have a long way to go compared to London's position on gay rights. -
2 May 2006Human rights group protest Russian gay abuse + The attack by neo-fascists and religionists on a gay gathering at a Moscow nightclub has been condemned by the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA).GALHA has written to the Russian Ambassador in London, Yury Fedotov, to complain about this incident and the increasing persecution of gay people in Russia. -
2 May 2006Jamaica hits back at critics of homophobia 7 Jamaican academics have hit back at claims that rap and reggae music have incited violence and homophobia towards gay people in the Caribbean.International Development Minister, Gareth Thomas, blamed the music genre for sparking homophobic abuse, on a visit to the country last week, but some Jamaicans are suggesting the cause is from Britain. -
28 April 2006Half a century of gay progress 1 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveToday marks 52 years since the process of decriminalising homosexuality began. PinkNews.co.uk takes a look back at over half a century of struggle, despair and adversity.The Times newspaper reported on April 28 1954 a committee would be set up "to examine the subject of homosexual offences and the parallel problem of the law relying to prostitution and solicitation." -
28 April 2006Gay couples may owe thousands in tax + PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveUnmarried same sex couples may owe the taxman £1,600, according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).When gay and lesbian couples were granted civil partnership rights in 2005, the law also stated that even those couples who do not have a ceremony would be treated as a unit for tax credits. -
28 April 2006HIV diagnoses on the rise + New quarterly figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have confirmed that the number of reported HIV diagnoses in 2005 currently stands at 6727, and the final figure is expected to rise and exceed that of 2004.Lisa Power, Head of Policy at Terrence Higgins Trust said "From this data it seems the number of people newly diagnosed in 2005 is likely to be higher than the previous year, yet again. -
28 April 2006Anti-gay Scolari rejects England job + PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveOn the same day that journalists, sportsmen, gay groups and MPs questioned the suitability of Luiz Felipe Scolari for the England managerial job, he has pulled out of the running.The manager, nicknamed "Big Phil," was rumoured to have been offered the role by the Football Association, but said at a news conference today, "In the last few days when I was not even the manager of England my freedom was taken away from me and that is not the coaching I am used to. -
28 April 2006Gay icon Elizabeth Taylor close to death + Dame Elizabeth Taylor, once named the most beautiful woman in the world, is close to death, reports claim.The legendary Hollywood actress has been suffering from heart failure since being diagnosed with a congestive heart condition in 2004.Friends close to the 74-year-old two time Oscar winner claim she is bedridden in her Bel Air California home. -
28 April 2006ACT reduce gay marriage plans 1 The Australian Capital Territory has given in to federal government pressure by removing any reference to marriage in its Civil Unions Bill.ACT leader Jon Stanhope is expected to announce a series of changes to the planned legislation, including a separate civil celebrant register instead of using commonwealth law, and a paragraph stating that it's not a marriage. -
28 April 2006Anti-gay Scolari rejects England job 1 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveOn the same day that journalists, sportsmen, gay groups and MPs questioned the suitability of Luiz Felipe Scolari for the England managerial job, he has pulled out of the running.The manager, nicknamed "Big Phil," was rumoured to have been offered the role by the Football Association, but said at a news conference today, "In the last few days when I was not even the manager of England my freedom was taken away from me and that is not the coaching I am used to.
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27 April 2006Lesbian wins top book award + A gay author has won one of the world's top literary prizes for the second year running.Lesbian Camilla Gibb, won the Trillium Book Award in the English-language category, for her book, Sweetness in The Belly, described as a compelling description of life as a white Muslim woman. -
27 April 2006Gay MP lines up for Parliamentary swim + Westminster politicians including gay MP Chris Bryant and Minister for Women and Equality Meg Munn, are set to get a bit more slippery when they meet for a Commons vs Lords swimming race this summer.MPs and peers met for a photo shoot this week to publicise the race which aims to raise money for the Women Caring Trust and the Million Dollar Swim, which support children and families in Northern Ireland. -
27 April 2006Drug offences on the rise + Offences known to affect the gay community have risen , despite overall crime remaining stable, according to Home Office Figures.Although the report does not publish whether incidents were homophobic or gay related, violent crime which may include homophobia rose by one per cent and drug offences by 21 per cent. -
27 April 2006BBC interview with homophobic reggae star sparks protests 7 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveA BBC radio interview with a reggae singer known for anti gay lyrics sparked complaints from gay activists this week.BBC radio station, 1Xtra, compiled a package celebrating dancehall culture and included an interview with Buju Banton, an artist who became notorious in the early 1990s with his homophobic hit single, Boom Bye Bye, which incited his audience to shoot gay people in the head in the head, pour acid over them and set them on fire.
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26 April 2006Lesbian drama in top five ad complaints + An advert for Living TV's lesbian drama, the L Word, received the second largest amount of complaints from viewers last year.The figures in the Advertising Standard Authority's (ASA) annual 2005 report revealed 650 complaints regarding posters for the series, which viewers complained were degrading to women. -
26 April 2006Mark Oaten’s wife reveals gay affair reaction 5 The wife of former Liberal Democrat leadership contender, Mark Oaten, attacked and threw her wedding ring at him after finding out about his six month gay affair.Belinda Oaten revealed her feelings in a five page magazine interview with Hello magazine, detailing her reaction to a News of the World story in January, which said the married father of two had been involved in a relationship with a "rent boy."
