Marc Shoffman was chief correspondent of PinkNews.co.uk between 2005 and 2006. He was online editor between 2006 and 2007.
-
1 December 2006Hilary Benn calls for HIV action + Silence is not an option in the battle against HIV and AIDS, the International Development Secretary said last night.Speaking at the London School of Economics on the eve of World AIDS Day, Hilary Benn warned that it is unacceptable to ignore the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and AIDS while "7,500 people will die of AIDS tomorrow, while 11,000 will be infected with HIV." -
1 December 2006Prime Minister backs HIV fight 1 Gay men are amongst groups who get the least help because of the stigma surrounding HIV, the Prime Minister said today.Writing in the Daily Mirror, Tony Blair vowed to keep up the fight against HIV and AIDS.His remarks come on World AIDS Day, 25-years after the first diagnoses of the virus. -
1 December 2006Gay activist reveals Harmondsworth homophobia + Harmondsworth and all Britain's asylum detention centres are inhuman hell-holes that should be closed down, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said today.He spoke after a riot at Harmondsworth asylum detention centre over conditions this week.The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers, issued a damning report on Tuesday, describing conditions in Harmondsworth as the worst she has ever seen in an immigration and asylum detention centre. -
1 December 2006Gay venues smoke free by July 2007 5 All enclosed public places and workplaces in the UK will become smokefree from 1st July 2007, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced today.Gay venues have already told PinkNews.co.uk that they feel they can cope with a ban, which will be introduced in Wales and Northern Ireland in April 2007 and in England in July 2007. -
30 November 2006Dawn raids target homophobia + Five hundred police officers raided addresses and arrested perpetrators of domestic, race hate and homophobic crimes across the capital this morning.The dawn raids are one part of a two-week initiative to put the fear back onto the offenders, and encourage victims to report crimes.The number of domestic violence incidents reported to police in 2005/06 was over 108, 000, with 24% of incidents accounting for all reported violence and 20% of all murders. -
30 November 2006Deputy PM defends gay rights laws 18 Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is often accused of not having much relevance in government, but yesterday he took a stand for gay rights.Representing Tony Blair at Prime Minister's questions, Mr Prescott backed the incoming Sexual Orientation Regulations amid criticism from a Northern Ireland MP. -
30 November 2006Gay MEP attacks ‘un-Christian’ Church equality reaction 18 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveLabour MEP Michael Cashman has joined government condemnation of remarks made by Christian leaders regarding the new Sexual Orientation Regulations.Former EastEnder turned politician, Mr Cashman, the head of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Lesbian and Gay Rights, described comments by the Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols, and the Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, as well as a controversial advert in the Times, as "totally un-Christian." -
30 November 2006US Jews to discuss gay behaviour 3 The Jewish Conservative Movement in the US is preparing for a vote on the issue of gay rabbis and same sex marriage next week with members of the community predicting that ordination and unions will be given the nod.It comes in reaction to rabbinical students pushing for "ordination regardless of orientation" and many rabbis coming out or performing same sex ceremonies despite a ban. -
30 November 2006European Parliament rejects gay discrimination claims + The European Parliament's Bureau has rejected accusations that it has ignored anti-discrimination policies regarding sexual orientation.The department was criticised by the International Lesbian and Gay Association after a draft resolution of the European Parliament's Secretariat, the administrative arm of the political body, had initially included sexual orientation, but was later amended. -
30 November 2006PinkNews leads opposition to Christian ad 18 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveAn anti-gay advert from Christian groups in the Times on Tuesday has already prompted an influx of complaints to the advertising watchdog as a result of a campaign launched by PinkNews.co.uk.The gay community reacted with outrage earlier this week after a group of Christian leaders calling themselves Coherent and Cohesive Voice, placed an advert in the newspaper accusing the government of taking away "freedom of conscience" through the new Sexual Orientation Regulations. -
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.
