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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18 January 2006First International Gay Film Festival 57 The first International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival began this week, at the Festival Del Sol in Gran Canaria.Twenty-five films will showcase the diverse realities of gay and lesbian life around the world. The 5 day event willfeature movies from a variety of genres such as comedy, drama and thrillers. -
17 January 2006Brokeback Mountain rides home victorious + It was a good evening to be gay in Hollywood as cowboy drama Brokeback Mountain scooped top honours at the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles, last night.The highly tipped movie won best film, best screenplay, best original song and best director for Ang Lee. However, lead actor Heath Ledger lost out on the best dramatic actor award to Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote. -
17 January 2006Lib Dem candidate gets gay backing 57 Gay rights activist, Peter Tatchell put previous political battles aside this week to express his support for Liberal Democrat leadership candidate, Simon Hughes.Mr Tatchell a former Labour candidate, was defeated by Mr Hughes in the 1983 Bermondsey by-election, which was marred by homophobic taunts and violence towards Peter Tatchell's campaign. -
16 January 2006Police force is top gay employer 57 Staffordshire Police has helped the British law enforcement sector overcome previous allegations of institutional homophobia by becoming the nation's top gay-friendly employer.The force that encourages gay officers to go on marches, take parenting leave and organise parties with local homosexual groups was ranked first in the Workplace Equality Index, compiled by gay activist charity, Stonewall. -
16 January 2006Gay groups angered by Scottish Catholics 1 Gay rights campaigners and adoption groups have been angered by the Catholic church in Scotland's plans to seek an exemption from allowing gay couples to adopt.Senior Bishops are seeking a "conscience clause" giving the church and other faith-based groups the right to reject applicants to their adoption agencies on the basis of gender. -
15 January 2006Comment: Would the Pope face arrest for homophobia? 13 PinkNews.co.uk's Marc Shoffman asks if the Pope would be welcome in Britain after his comments on gay marriage.It's been a busy month for gay rights activists. After a brief respite from the Muslim Council of Britain's, Sir Iqbal Sacranie's homophobic comments, now the Pope Benedict XVI has used a public platform to denounce homosexuality. -
24 December 2005Christians accused of homophobia + A retired couple faced a police investigation this week after objecting to their council's stance on gay issues.Devout Christians, Joe Roberts 73, and his wife Helen, 68, of Fleetwood, Lancashire, wrote to Wyre Borough Council accusing them of "pandering" to minority groups. They said they felt discriminated against.The pair had questioned the council's bid to improve equality, part of which would see gay lifestyle magazines distributed around staffareas.
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23 December 2005LAPD to sponsor Gay Games 3 The Los Angeles Police Department has become the first law enforcement group to sponsor the Gay Games after announcing its support for next summer's competition in Chicago.At least 12 officers have signed up to compete in the 2006 Gay Games VII and plan on wearing their police uniforms during the opening ceremony, scheduled for July 15.
