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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29 November 2006South Africa’s gay union laws await President’s nod 10 South Africa's gay marriage legislation is now just awaiting the signature of President Thabo Mbeki before it can become law.The Civil Union Bill was approved by the National Council of Provinces this week and faces one final hurdle before it is passed allowing the "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnised and registered by either a marriage or civil union." -
29 November 2006Equality laws may ‘disregard’ disabled gays + Gay disabled groups have expressed concerns that the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) will not adequately support those who experience multiple discrimination.The CEHR, due in October 2007, will provide protection for minority groups such as gay people, the disabled and the elderly, but campaigners from gay disability group Regard are worried that the new equality laws will not correctly represent their views and will also be ignored by the wider gay community. -
29 November 2006Gay community attacks “deplorable” Christian ad 19 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveA newspaper advert taken out by Christian groups against the Sexual Orientation Regulations has been described as "ludicrous" and "deplorable" by gay campaigners.Yesterday's Times newspaper featured an advert from a group of Christian leaders calling themselves Coherent and Cohesive Voice, urging followers to write to Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly and equality minister Meg Munn to oppose the new equality laws and seek religious exemptions. -
29 November 2006Government provides HIV cash boost to gay community 1 An extra £1m is to be invested in work to tackle the rise in HIV cases amongst gay men and African communities in this country, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint announced today.The money will be used by the Terrence Higgins Trust and African HIV Policy Network on projects to strengthen HIV prevention and reduce transmission rates amongst these most at risk groups. -
29 November 2006Government slams “wild speculation” over gay laws 18 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveMinisters involved in drawing up the incoming Sexual Orientation Regulations have called for calm after a series of outburst by religious groups and leaders regarding the new laws.The legislation, due in the New Year for Northern Ireland, and April 2007 for the rest of the UK, guarantees equality in the provision of goods and services for all sexual orientations, prompting outrage from religious groups. -
29 November 2006Pope uses gay translator for Turkish delight + The Pope will be preaching a message of tolerance, respect and peace as he travels around Turkey this week, but he may even find his own values tested when he meets his interpreter, an Italian gay icon.According to reports, actress Serra Yilmaz, has been drafted in to help the pontiff build bridges with Turkey's Muslim community.Yilmaz has appeared in gay-interest films such as His Secret Life and Harem Suare -
29 November 2006Irish gays await civil partnerships 1 Gay and lesbian couples will be given the right to civil partnership style unions, according to a report unveiled by the government.Ireland's cabinet has been considering same sex unions this week and has come up with a registration system, but the State has refused to allow gay marriage. -
28 November 2006Media watchdog applauds trans casting 1 A gay media monitor has applauded the announcement that ABC's soap All My Children will introduce a transgender character at the end of the month.This is the first time a daytime drama — or any series on broadcast television — will chronicle a transgender coming out story. -
28 November 2006Activists launch gay-friendly medical guide 1 A gay rights group and a gay medical organisation have teamed up for a landmark project.The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) announced a first-of-its-kind relationship this week to rate the healthcare industry on how it treats its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender patients and to educate the community about what to expect from medical providers and facilities. -
28 November 2006EU gay group tackles diversity error + The European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights has vowed to seek an amendment to a statement from the European Parliament Bureau on diversity after it was revealed that sexual orientation was removed from the document.The decision has been criticised by LGBT activists working at the European level as a dangerous precedent in the light of efforts to stop the creation of a so-called hierarchy of discriminations within the European Union. -
28 November 2006Scholars fight gay military ban + A group of renowned constitutional scholars has filed a brief asking the First Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a District Court ruling and allow a lawsuit to move forward in an appeal by twelve military veterans battling the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law prohibiting military service by lesbian, gay and bisexual recruits.The nine recognised experts filed the amicus brief, in support of the service members in Cook v Rumsfeld, last week. -
28 November 2006Gay equality law’s ‘unacceptable’ 12 The church cannot be expected to cooperate with the government if gay equality laws are passed, a clergyman touted as the next leader of the English Roman Catholic Church has claimed.Archbishop of Birmingham Vincent Nichols, seen as the man to takeover from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, used a sermon over the weekend to attack the incoming sexual orientation regulations, accusing the government of 'imposing conditions' on the church. -
28 November 2006Irish cabinet considering gay marriage 1 The Irish government will consider options for creating greater equality for same sex couples, according to reports.Irish gay group the Gay and Lesbian Equality network has welcomed the news and views it as a sign that the government may approve gay marriage laws.The cabinet is due to consider a report commissioned by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell today.
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28 November 2006Scotland ignores homophobic crime + Disabled and gay groups have criticised the Scottish Executive after Deputy Justice Minister Johann Lamont confirmed that their communities would not be included in new hate crime laws.In a written answer to Labour MSP Susan Deacon, Ms Lamont, appears to backtrack on recommendations from the Working Group on Hate Crime in October 2004, which push for an inclusion of the groups as a "statutory aggravation" when considering the motives of the crime. -
27 November 2006Gay activists seek royal disapproval 1 Gay rights advocates in the Australian island state of Tasmania have written to Denmark's Crown Princess Mary asking her to point out the benefits to her childhood home that have come from its greater acceptance of gay and lesbian people.The letter is a direct response to recent media reports of anti-gay harassment and the absence of anti-discrimination laws in the Danish-administered Faeroe Islands, and coincides with the Princess's latest Tasmanian visit. -
27 November 2006Gay humanists welcome activist’s new role + The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has warmly welcomed the election of its long-standing member and committee member Terry Sanderson as the new president of the National Secular Society (NSS).Mr Sanderson, who has served for some time on the NSS Council of Management, was elected at the society's AGM over the weekend at London's Conway Hall. -
27 November 2006Gay health group seeks HIV support + Health care professionals with blood viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis are given insufficient support in their career, a report from the Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentist (GLADD) has revealed.The document, released today, shows an absence of resources and information to support individuals in the service living with the infections. -
27 November 2006Irish gay union support grows 1 Support for same sex unions in the Republic of Ireland is growing, a new report shows.The survey revealed that 51 per cent of the population backed civil unions for gays and lesbians while 33 per cent believe that same-sex couples should have access to full civil partnerships. -
27 November 2006LGBT activist launches blood service protest 2 A former National Union of Students LGBT Officer is continuing his activism by launching an online petition against the UK's ban on gay blood donors.The petition, which runs until April, has so far received around 800 signatures.It was started by James-J Walsh, former LGBT Officer of the National Union of Students. The petition echoes a campaign earlier this year against National Blood Service's (NBS) ban on gay and bisexual donors. -
27 November 2006Transport legislation benefits disabled gays + The lives of elderly and disabled people in the gay community will be made a little bit easier today after the Concessionary Bus Travel Bill was introduced.A special bus route stopped outside No10 Downing Street to launch the legislation, carrying a group of older and disabled people.
