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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27 February 2006Study reveals homophobic abuse on LGBT teachers + A strict code of conduct is needed in schools to combat homophobic abuse, a teaching survey has revealed.The research, conducted by the Teacher Support Network, a charity providing practical and emotional support to UK teachers and lecturers, claims two thirds of respondents from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teaching community have felt discriminated against in the workplace because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. -
27 February 2006Priests publicly oppose Vatican gay stance + A group of Canadian priests have publicly criticised the Vatican's ban on gay clergy.In the largest internal opposition to the Catholic stance on homosexuality, 19 priests condemned the church's view on being gay and requested a new dialogue on the issue.They wrote a letter published in Montreal newspaper La Presse opposing the Catholic view that being gay is a "disorder" -
27 February 2006Israel offers gay national service 3 Teenage conscripts in Israel will now have the option to volunteer for a gay national service scheme instead of military service.The initiative will be available to anyone granted exemption from the Israeli Defense Forces. They will be able to complete their service through the Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexuals and Transgenders in Israel (Aguda). -
24 February 2006Simon Hobart died from drink- inquest told 37 Club promoter Simon Hobart died after an evening of heavy drinking, a South London inquest was told.Mr Hobart, who founded Popstarz, Ghetto and Trash Palace is credited for having initiated the gay indie scene in London and far beyond. He was found dead outside his flat in October last year. -
24 February 2006UK groups to protest Moscow Gay Pride ban 4 British gay campaigners will protest outside the Russian Embassy next week in opposition to the gay pride march ban in Moscow.The demonstration is being called by the organisers of the International Day Against Homophobia and will coincide with parallel protests in other European cities.Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov last week announced that the city government will not allow a gay parade "in any form" and any attempt to hold a gay event will be "resolutely quashed" -
23 February 2006Brokeback stars chased for Will Grace roles + Brokeback Mountain stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger are being chased by the producers of Will Grace to re enact their on screen kiss for the hit gay comedy.Sources say the actors are being asked to play gay cowboys on the show. They have yet to say yes.American magazine In Touch reported that the pair are interested, but are currently concentrating on next week's Oscar ceremony. -
23 February 20066 men arrested over lesbian murder + South African police have arrested 6 men in connection with the murder of a lesbian teenager.Zoliswa Nkonyana, 19, was reportedly stabbed and stoned to death by a mob of young people in the township of Khayelitsha.The local lesbian soccer team member was taunted and threatened by a woman who later came back with a group of young men who began beating her. Police said the victim was stabbed repeatedly and stoned with bricks until she died. -
23 February 2006Alderney man accuses island of anti gay persecution 1 A businessman has accused the island of Alderney of persecuting him because he is gay.Adrian Leopard, a chartered accountant and entrepreneur, ran the Longis View Hotel in Alderney, which he said welcomed everybody, including homosexuals. He claims false rumours were spread about him and he was targeted because of his sexuality. -
23 February 2006HIV groups say sexual health services are failing + A report published today suggests that local sexual health services are still in a bad state despite additional funding.The British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), the British HIV Association (BHIVA), Providers of AIDS Care and Treatment (PACT) and Terrence Higgins Trust (THT)paints an unhealthy picture of the state of local sexual health say funds are not getting through to local services and sexual health isn't being seen as priority. -
23 February 2006Drag queen stands for parliament 1 A renowned Italian gay pride figure is ditching the sequins and feather boas in a bid to become the country's first trans MP.Vladimir Luxuria, a former organiser of Italy's gay pride parades, has joined the Communist Refoundation and wants to be seen as a serious politician.Born Wladimiro Guadagno, she considers herself neither male nor female but dresses as a woman and prefers to be called a 'she.' -
23 February 2006Scottish students join gay blood donor campaign 1 Students in Scotland have joined a national campaign against a ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood.They feel the Scottish National Blood Transfusion service is discriminating against hundreds of healthy men. They will protest outside a blood donor session at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen urging others to give blood on their behalf . -
23 February 2006Property experts rank Eastern Europe as top gay destination 5 Eastern Europe is being touted as a top destination for gay couples looking for a holiday home, according to overseas property experts.Property writers at Home Overseas Magazine are recommending up and coming countries such as Bulgaria for the perfect getaway since several gay bars and clubs as well as dating agencies have opened up in many parts of the country. -
22 February 2006Club ridiculed over Brokeback Mountain calendar 4 A football club is being ridiculed by opposing fans over a calendar which features its players dressed like gay cowboys from hit film Brokeback MountainLeague One side Huddersfield Town were forced to reduce the price of the item from £5.99 to £1 this week after discovering that supporters were too embarrassed to buy it.However sales have increased in the last few days as fans do their best to stop other supporters buying them.
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22 February 2006Gay men face high bulimia risk 1 Gay men are at a high risk from eating disorders according to figures from the Scottish Executive.The report shows a seven fold increase in the number of men in Scotland suffering from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa over the past five years. Gay men are highlighted as a group under particular risk. -
21 February 2006Galloway: Britain in no position to condemn anti gay Middle East 1 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveBritain is in no position to blame the Middle East for the harsh treatment of homosexuals, according to George Galloway.Speaking exclusively to PinkNews.co.uk, the Bethnal Green and Bow MP claimed that years of military intervention and interference in Arab countries by Britain and the West meant they couldn't complain about homophobic attitudes in the Middle East and said anti gay laws could be justified by the Koran. -
21 February 2006Galloway: Respect candidates can be anti gay 1 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveRespect Party MPs are not expected to adhere to a unified policy on gay rights, says George Galloway.The senior party figure told PinkNews.co.uk that no candidate would ever be forced to agree on opposing issues, he said: "Because we're a coalition we don't bind a Muslim candidate in Yorkshire to the explicitly socialist parts of our programme." -
21 February 2006Gay sex scandal MP reunites with wife 5 The Liberal Democrat MP involved in an alleged gay sex scandal looks likely to be reunited with his wife, according to reportsThe Daily Mirror claimed that the wife of MP Mark Oaten has taken him back just weeks after newspaper revelations that he had a relationship with a male prostitute.They were pictured together at their Hampshire home after friends of wife Belinda, 37, said she was prepared to give their marriage "another go". -
21 February 2006Calls for protection to ministers who bless gay marriage 1 Ministers who bless civil partnerships will avoid disciplinary action under proposals to be suggested at the Church of Scotland's General Assembly.A report by the Kirk's legal questions committee will propose that individual ministers should be allowed to decide whether they want to attend the events. -
21 February 2006Russian politicians back gay pride ban 4 Russian politicians have spoken out in favour of the Mayor of Moscow's decision to ban a gay pride parade in the capital amid protest plans in the UK by gay groups.Ekaterina Lahova, who chairs the Duma's committee on women, family and youth issues, entered the debate by saying it was not "safe for the state to propagate homosexuality" and the action by the Moscow authorities in banning a gay parade was a "perfectly correct decision". -
21 February 2006Blood service to study gay population + The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is standing by its policy of not allowing gay people to donate blood, despite agreeing to a study of the South African gay population this week."Until such data is available which can enable SANBS to review its policy, the status quo will remain," an SANBS statement said today.
