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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16 March 2006Homophobia being kicked out of sport + Gay footballers are looking to give homophobia a thrashing after highlighting the issue in a 7-0 friendly victory against the UK Parliamentary Football Club.The match, between gay football team Stonewall FC and the all party parliamentary side, was arranged to raise awareness of homophobia. -
16 March 2006Report slams gay housing provisions 2 Housing providers have a severe lack of knowledge of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) housing requirements, according to a study.A report by Stonewall Cymru and Triangle Wales revealed gaps in housing provision for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people, which they blame on homophobia and low awareness of the needs of the gay community. -
16 March 2006Gay singer auctioned for HIV charity + An erotic Tracey Emin print and a night out with gay star George Michael were two of the auction lots which helped to raise over £230,000 at the Lighthouse Gala Auction last night.The auction, sponsored by Barclays, was attended by Tracey, Kenny and other celebrity supportersincluding Penny Smith, Richard Arnold, Lee Otway and Lord Brockett. -
15 March 2006Leeds students protest against homophobic lecturer + PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveStudents at the University of Leeds are raising concerns over a lecturer they claim made openly homophobic, racist and misogynistic remarks in a interview with the student union paper.Dr Frank Ellis, lecturer in Russian and Slavonic Studies said that homosexuality is wrong and should be "weeded out of theological seminaries." -
15 March 2006Poor healthcare for gays and lesbians 3 Gay and lesbian seniors are being given unequal access to health services, according to researchers.A study by The McGill School of Social Work in Canada claims that elderly people in the gay and lesbian community are discriminated against by the very health care organisations and social services committed to supporting them. -
15 March 2006Gay men express Brokeback shock + Disgruntled fans of gay cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain are trying to overcome the loss of the best picture award at the Oscars by running an advertising campaign to highlight their shock.Internet blogger Dave Cullen collected $26,000 from over 600 people last week for an advertisement in Daily Variety which suggests that Brokeback Mountain, which was named best picture through "unprecedented consensus" in other ceremonies, should have also won the Oscar. -
15 March 2006Prisoner kept calm by gay porn 1 A convicted paedophile has been issued with gay porn by a psychologist at the top security Broadmoor prison hospital, a tabloid has claimed.John Leather, 47, was reported to have been given pictures of naked and aroused men in an attempt by medical experts to keep him calm in his room. -
15 March 2006Hearing didn’t listen to gay banker’s view, tribunal told 4 An HSBC manager didn't adequately probe claims of gross misconduct, a tribunal was told today.Lawyers for Peter Lewis, who claims he was sacked from the bank because he was gay, accused Mark Bucknall, HSBC's co-head of global investment banking, of being biased after not considering Mr Lewis's side of the story before dismissing him. -
14 March 2006Gay pride and football prejudice + PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveAs Ashley Cole files his lawsuit over "gay orgy" allegations, the Football Association's director of Corporate Affairs, Simon Johnson tells PinkNews.co.uk's Marc Shoffman, how English football is leading the fight against homophobia and discrimination.When you walk into the FA head office in trendy Soho Square, you are greeted with the three lions roaring with pride as plasma screens blast out the latest sports news alongside pictures of top English stars. A cabinet shows off sparkling trophies that professional football players sweat and strive for each week. -
14 March 2006Gay campaigner denies Zimbabwe coup + The Zimbabwe government has accused British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell of an alleged coup in the country.Weapons were shown on Zimbabwean television claiming to have been seized at the home of one of the plotters from the Zimbabwean Freedom Movement, which Mr Tatchell has previously been linked with. -
13 March 2006Prison service looking for gay recruits + The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is looking to shed its "straight man" image by appealing to more gays and lesbians.The service wants to increase its share of homosexual staff to at least six out of every 100 prison officers.They have launched an advertising blitz in gay publications to recruit the gay community in Glasgow, Barlinnie and Edinburgh jails.
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13 March 2006Immigrants tested with gay kiss 1 Muslim groups are criticising the Netherlands over the use of films featuring two men kissing to test asylum seeker's liberal attitudes as a basis for entry into the country.Applicants' reactions will be tested to see if they can accept the language and culture of Holland.Leaders from the Muslim community in Holland say the film is offensive, "It really is a provocation aimed to limit immigration. It has nothing to do with the rights of homosexuals." -
13 March 2006Government ensures equal access for gay community 1 Pubs, hotels and restaurants will face prosecution for turning away gay customers, according to government plans announced today.The scheme fulfils a promise made last year that the 2006 Equality Act would ban discrimination based on sexuality in the supply of goods, facilities and services.Trade and Industry secretary Alan Johnson announced the consultation on reforms this afternoon, he said: "It's easy to forget how far we have come in the past eight years. We have repealed clause 28, equalised the age of consent for gay men and introduced civil partnerships." -
13 March 2006News of the World could sue PinkNews.co.uk over Ashley Cole stories 25 PinkNews.co.uk, the gay news website that published an unedited version of a photograph of the footballer Ashley Cole and the radio DJ, Masterstepz may face legal action from the News of the World.Notification was received from solicitors acting for the News of the World this morning stating that they reserve the right to commence third party proceedings against the site in relation to the libel claims of Mr Cole. -
10 March 2006EastEnders star turned MEP to hold gay marriage 1 Former EastEnders actor Michael Cashman will become Britain's first MEP to have a civil partnership this weekend.The Labour MEP for the West Midlands will wed his long term partner, Paul Cottingham tomorrow at a star studded ceremony in South London attended by names such as Barbara Windsor, Patrick Stewart and Tony Blair. -
10 March 2006Pension rights for partners of gay police officers 1 The partners of gay police officers will be given pension benefits for the first time, according to a new scheme announced yesterday.In a landmark move by the police force, officers in same sex or unmarried relationships will be allowed to nominate a partner to receive half their pension after they die, even if they are no longer together at the time of death. -
10 March 2006Gay banker not sacked over sexuality, tribunal told 4 HSBC's human resources manager has insisted that a gay banker was not sacked because of his sexuality.HR manager Natalie Hattrell told an employment tribunal that the bank had followed "entirely correct procedures" when it dismissed Peter Lewis, who claims he was fired because he was gay.
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9 March 2006Rabbis delay over Jewish gay marriage rights + The Conservative Judaism movement in America has delayed its decision on lifting a ban on homosexual rabbis and gay marriage.The organisation was expected to debate a removal of the prohibition this week but the Rabbinical Assembly has instead decided to wait until December to vote on the controversial issue. -
9 March 2006Archbishop dismisses gay debate + The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned Anglican leaders that he does not want to use the Church's upcoming conference as a debating ground for homosexuality.In a letter to communion leaders, Dr Rowan Williams said he felt there was not "much enthusiasm" for reopening the issue which was discussed at the 1998 conference, where it was affirmed that homosexual behaviour is incompatible with the Bible. -
9 March 2006UK Census ignores the number of gays in the village 5 The 2011 Census will contain a civil partnerships section but questions on sexual orientation have been omitted, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.However, a nationwide government survey which includes questions on sexuality will be sent to UK households as part of a bid to calculate the amount lesbian, gay, and bisexual people living in Britain.
