SDPL was established six years ago, as a splinter group from the post-communist Democratic Left Alliance. It currently has four seats in the Polish Senate.

Mr Borowski was the Speaker of the Senate for two and a half years. According to a member of SDPL, Mr Borowski would have 40 per cent support in Warsaw if he were to run for mayor, although he has not yet publicly declared his candidacy.

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk on the subject of Europride 2010 and LGBT rights in Poland, Mr Borowski likened the struggle to a miner chipping at a coal face.

“Every event of this kind [EuroPride] needs to convince the part of society that [homosexuality] is nothing special; it’s normal.”

He also claimed to have statistics that show a gay acceptance rate in Poland of just 15 per cent ten years ago.

“Now it is 70 per cent,” he said. “And there is a large part that is undecided.”

Mr Borowski said that EuroPride has already had an impact on Poland, by “evoking discussion.”

He referred to the decision by the Senate to not send a representative to EuroPride. Mr Borowski stressed that it is important that this discussion took place at all. He pointed out that there has been some criticism of the decision, which also shows progress.

Commenting on the representation of the LGBT community in the Senate, Mr Borowski was non-committal.

“I think we have homosexuals in our parliament – but they are well hidden.”

Anti-gay protesters held up the parade several times, as marchers waited in 35° Celsius heat.

Two thousand police officers separated the marchers from the protesters along the route, and occasionally intervened when the protesters threw water bottles or eggs at the parade.

One of the largest protest groups was the small far-right National Rebirth of Poland (NOP) group. Police in flak jackets were quick to keep them segregated from the march.

At the start of the march, a woman holding a banner that quoted the Bible and condemned the “homosexual sin” was challenged by several marchers.

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk, gay Conservative minister Nick Herbert said: “We get a few protesters even in the Pride marches in London. But there are thousands of people here who are in support of this.”

“What’s the history of these kinds of marches worldwide – it has been a story that gradually these important values of equality are asserted.”

“Just seeing the reaction of some of the young people on the streets, waving and so on, you do sense that this isn’t something that’s going to go away.”

Though progress was sometimes slow, the parade eventually reached its destination of Constitution Square.

Mr Herbert and Mr Todd rode on the Fundacja Równości (Equality Foundation) truck during the parade, which was attended by approximately 10,000 people.

Mr Todd told PinkNews.co.uk: “Warsaw is a brilliant choice for EuroPride. You’ve only got to see the level of support here – thousands of people, mostly young Poles, marching here, having a really good time. This is challenging some of the stereotypical views that we hear a little bit about in the UK about this country.”

Mr Todd also said that he was “convinced that Poland is actually a very tolerant country. Some of the images that you hear about of concrete and greyness and anti-Semitism and homophobia are simply way, way wide of the mark.”

“My view is that individuals, like nations, are learning throughout their entire lifetime, and you can always do better, you can always get better, and you can always learn from others.”

Commenting on the anti-gay protesters that were present during the parade, Mr Herbert said: “How many protesters were there compared with the numbers of people marching? They really were a tiny minority of protesters … There’s thousands of people here who are in support of this … Just seeing the reaction of some of the young people on the streets, waving and so on, you do sense that this isn’t something that’s going to go away.”

When asked if the UK government had plans to work with the new Polish government to promote equality, Mr Herbert acknowledged: “It is important that internationally we use our position as a great democratic country to say that equality and human rights matter to us.

“I think that the Conservative party has made a very important and rapid journey over the last few years; we are now a modern progressive party that is open to all.”

Mr Herbert did acknowledge that his party has further to go on LGBT issues, but added: “When we saw David Cameron and Nick Clegg hosting the reception for London Pride a few weeks ago, I think this really was a sign that we’re moving to a new position now in British politics where there is agreement between the main parties about these issues, fundamental agreement that equality matters, it’s here to stay, and it’s our job to entrench it.”

PinkNews.co.uk asked Mr Herbert why the prime minister had met with Jarosław Kaczyński so close to the Polish elections, and whether there was a danger that this could send mixed messages about UK support of Polish LGBT equality.

“The prime minister is the prime minister of a big and important country in the European Union, and it’s absolutely right that we should be meeting with politicians throughout the EU. That’s an entirely understandable thing that he would want to do.”

When asked if there had been any developments on Boris Johnson’s new-found support for gay marriage, Mr Herbert laughed and said: “Well as you know, what David Cameron and George Osborne said just before the election was that gay marriage is something that we should look at, in time.”

“It’s not something we’ve got immediate plans to change, but we recognise that there are views that say that the name is important.”

Speaking in 2003, company chairman Richard Hayne told The Philadelphia Weekly: “As a company, we don’t contribute to any cause except non-controversial things like a breast cancer walk. I don’t know anyone who is for breast cancer.”

However, Hayne has personally contributed money to various Republican politicians and committees (information freely available from the Centre of Responsible Politics).

Over the last decade, Hayne’s contributions include $8,500 (£4,370) to the Republican Federal Committee of Pennsylvania and $2,000 to Republican senator Arlen Specter.

However, the biggest contribution has been towards Rick Santorum and affiliated projects.

Hayne has contributed a total of $13,150 to Santorum, who was recently voted out of office – largely due to his extremist right-wing views.

In the past, Santorum has made strong anti-gay comments, including equating homosexuality with incest, bestiality and paedophilia.

Of a scandal in the Catholic church, Santorum said “we’re talking about a basic homosexual relationship.”

In the same interview, Santorum told Associated Press that he has “no problem with homosexuality. I have a problem with homosexual acts … The question is, do you act upon those orientations?

“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery.”

More recently, in his column in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Santorum called the decision to allow same-sex marriage in California “distressing.” The column was titled “A wake-up call on gay marriage after ’03 alarm went unheeded.”

He went on to write: “Is anyone saying same-sex couples can’t love each other? I love my children. I love my friends, my brother. Heck, I even love my mother-in-law. Should we call these relationships marriage, too?”

Santorum is also against what ‘Housing Works’ call “reality-based” HIV prevention strategies.

He is against clean needles for drug users, and against condoms as a method of HIV prevention. Santorum supports the ‘abstinence-only’ method of prevention.

George Bush has repeatedly praised Santorum, often calling him a “man of compassion.”

Urban Outfitter’s Richard Hayne has always been reluctant to disclose how much his own views on the subject align with Santorum’s.

In the Philadelphia Weekly interview, he initially denied his financial support of Santorum, and then said:

“I don’t want to mislead you. Like many people, I have some affinity for Rick Santorum, and I have problems with some of his positions.”

When asked what his own views were about homosexuality, Hayne responded: “I’m not going to comment on it.

“I have my own opinion, but I am not going to share it. Our job as a business is not to promote a political agenda. That’s not what we do.

“There are all kinds of political views held by my employees. Some would be horrified to learn that we contributed to Santorum’s campaign, and others would be fine with it.

“We openly discuss and joke about our political differences.”

Glen Senk, the company’s openly gay chief executive of business, told the Pink Paper: “There is nothing homophobic about Dick Hayne.”

“When he made these donations I said to him: ‘I’m personally offended by the fact that you would support this guy. If he had his way I’d be in jail.’ And he said to me: ‘You’re right, I hate his views regarding homosexuality, but I’m not a one-issue voter’.”

Urban Outfitters was founded by Hayne and his wife in 1970. Hayne now owns more than 200 Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie stores.

The company recently opened a new store in Leeds, its ninth in the UK.

The Santorum connection is not the only controversy that the company, which has quarterly profits of more than $53 million, has attracted.

In 2003, a t-shirt with the phrase “Everyone loves a Jewish girl” surrounded by dollar signs was repeatedly condemned.

In 2006, sparkly handgun shaped Christmas decorations went on sale in Philadelphia – a city that had seen more than 300 gun-related murders that year.

Following this year’s ‘Myths and Fairytales’ theme, the CSRA will be dressing up as various knights of the Round Table.

The group wants to encourage people from across the Civil Service to join in with the festivities, including medieval dancing rehearsals, pre- and post-Pride functions, and walking groups to accompany the CSRA float during the parade.

William Fordham of the CSRA told PinkNews.co.uk:

“With the right numbers, we’re planning to organise some choreography before the event, based on a “King of the Fairies” medieval dance.”

The CSRA is an informal alliance of all departmental LGBT networks and groups within the Civil Service.

They support diversity in the Civil Service, and recently set up a full executive board of network members from almost all Government departments.

Later in the year there will be a cross-Government CSRA conference, and working with the Government’s plans to relaunch a new Diversity strategy for the Civil Service.

“The new Diversity strategy that the Civil Service is launching is intended to look at the Civil Service’s commitment to diversity, as laid out in the Civil Service 10 point diversity plan,” said Mr Fordham.

“The 10 point plan seeks to actively improve services provided to the public through developing a diverse Civil Service at all working levels, as well as pointing to broader change that could be achieved across management and leadership practices across all forms of business.”

Pride London is on July 5th.

CRSA’s website is under construction.

CSRA is the cross-departmental network group that represents and supports lesbian, gay and bisexual staff in the Civil Service.

CSRA works in collaboration with a:gender, the corporate staff network for staff who have changed or need to change permanently their perceived gender, or who identify as intersex.

Who is in CSRA?
CSRA is made up of representatives from Government Departments and their agencies, LGB & T network groups.
All LGB & T members of staff within the Civil Service are able to become members of CSRA.
In addition CSRA welcomes non LGB & T colleagues as associate members.

Who attends CSRA meetings?
CSRA meetings are usually attended by the co-ordinators of departmental network groups. If they are unable to attend then network co-ordinators are encouraged to send another member of their departmental network.

When do CSRA meetings take place?
There are typically between 4 and 6 CSRA meetings each year. Details of the dates of forthcoming meetings can be found by clicking here.
The CSRA Executive meets on a monthly basis during the first working week of each calendar month.

What are the aims and objectives of CSRA?
CSRA’s has two overall aims. Firstly CSRA has a pastoral role to support LGB & T staff in the workplace and support departmental network groups. Secondly CSRA has an advocacy role to represent and articulate the views of LGB & T staff to the rest of the Civil Service.

The Catholic Children’s Society in Westminster plans to ignore the equality laws, and continue only placing children with heterosexual couples or single people.

The agency claim to have found a legal loophole that would allow them to remain open, while adhering to their beliefs against homosexuality.

By amending their by-laws to refer directly to married heterosexual couples, the agency claims that it would avoid having to provide their services to gay and lesbian couples.

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) has issued a statement condemning the attempt to avoid providing adoption services to gay and lesbian people.

They call the decision made by the agency to try to circumvent the purpose of the Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORs) by using a loophole “sadly misguided.”

The LGCM also drew attention to other Roman Catholic agencies which have “put children first and are making a smooth transition to accommodate the [SORs] without any loss of service to the young ones.”

The Sexual Orientation Regulations, which came into force last year, make it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation when accessing goods or services. The law applies to adoption agencies.

The Roman Catholic Church tried to get an opt-out from the regulations for their adoption agencies, but after a Cabinet row they were unsuccessful.

In the end, Catholic adoption agencies were given a 18 month exemption from the regulations. The exemption was given in order to give Catholic adoption agencies a chance to change to accommodate the law.

If, by the end this year, agencies have not complied with the regulations they will be shut down by the government.

However, the Catholic Children’s Society in Westminster plan to defy those regulations.

The LGCM believe that, having lost their legal arguments against the regulations, the Catholic Children’s Society in Westminster are planning to force the government to shut them down.

“It is clear that the Trustees of the Catholic Children’s Society in Westminster have made this decision solely for political reasons, hoping to garner public support as they are subsequently seen to be “bullied” into following the law.”

The LGCM challenge the agency to “put the children first and to withdraw from their present confrontational course.”

“We believe the Trustees are using these vulnerable children as a political tool and we urge them to stop abusing their trust in this way.”

Reverand Martin Reynolds, from the LGCM and himself an adoptive parent, thinks that the agencies should be honest and acknowledge that they have been “allowing gay couples to adopt for years but with only one of the partners registering as the parent.”

“The great work that they do should be preserved.” he added.

Of the stance taken by the Roman Catholic Church, he said: “When these needy children are so powerless it is a shame for this Church to be seen playing such power games with their future happiness.”

Graham Birse, the acting British high commissioner has said that EU states, under the Slovenian Presidency, are in discussion with the Gambian ministry of foreign affairs.

A government representative told IRIN “we decided we should come up with a common message and we are all aligned with it.

“Obviously we don’t agree with the President’s statements.” they added.

Last month it was reported that Gambian President Yahya Jammeh turned on homosexuals and foreigners in an address at a victory celebration rally in Tallinding.

The Daily Observer said the President had issued:

“An ultimatum to homosexuals, drug dealers, thieves and other criminals, to leave the Gambia or face serious consequences if caught.”

Government officials have denied he made any threatening comments.

President Jammeh has in the past claimed that he can cure HIV/AIDS.

Scott Long, Executive Director of the LGBT programme in the Human Rights Watch, told IRIN that the strongest leverage international organisations have is “to shame and embarrass the president.”

HRW reported that President Jammeh retracted his threat to kill gay and lesbian people, but has not the threat to expel them from the country.

“We are monitoring situation through contacts in-country to keep track of what the police and others are doing as a result of the statements, and we’re waiting to see the government’s next move.” Long told IRIN.

“If you can attack even these most marginalised people, it could set a precedent for attacking wider human rights.”

Gambia is a mostly Muslim nation of 1.7 million people, which punishes homosexual acts, even in private, with up to seven years in prison.

The party is 80s themed, and intends to be a celebration of the changes which have taken place for the Irish LGBT community in the past 25 years.

This year’s Pride festivities include the Parade on June 21st, which will mark the anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York.

There will also be a Pride ceilidh, a family sports day and many parties over the ten days.

10,000 people are expected to attend the parade.

Amy O’Keeffe, a Dublin Pride spokeswoman, said:

“These ten days are not restricted to the gay community but are a celebration for the entire city.

“Pride is an opportunity to raise awareness on outstanding gay issues but it is also a time to be proud of our city’s positive attitude and ongoing progress.”

Dublin Pride aims to celebrate diversity, inclusiveness and increased visibility.

The theme of this year’s festival, ‘Always the Bridesmaid and Never the Bride’, aims to highlight the lack of marriage rights for LGBT people in Ireland.

Paddy Bourke, the mayor of Dublin, said he is looking forward to this year’s festival.

“Every year our Pride festival infuses Dublin with colour and atmosphere unique to our gay community,” he told ireland.com.

“I’m sure Pride 08 will be one to remember.”

Gay men have a chance, alongside everyone else, of bidding for a night out with the ex-model, whose catchphrase on the show was “I’m only 24.”

What better way to remedy post-series depression than bidding on a date with Alex?

Informally dubbed “the fit one” by many viewers, a date with Alex is up for auction now on charity website www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk.

“This is your chance to see if he is as charming in real life as he is on screen,” said organisers.

“Not only would this be an ideal self-indulgent treat, but why not share the wealth and club together with some pals and give a date with Alex to a deserving friend?

“Or perhaps you want to show off on a night out by bringing an extra special date.

“The possibilities are endless.

“What’s more, 90% of the proceeds from the auction will go the Bolton Children’s Opportunity Group, a charity very close to Alex’s heart.”

The Bolton Children’s Opportunity Group is charity that provides a stepping stone between home and playgroup/nursery “by giving disabled and able bodied children the opportunity to play and learn together and providing a support group for parents.”

Alex told thedailygoss.com how it feels to have attained a “sex symbol” status:

“It’s nice. It’s flattering. Obviously I’ve never had it before.” said the 6ft 4in former model, who is now 25. To make a bid on a “dream date” with Alex, click here.

The Canadian poet Rachel Zolf won the award, as well as $10,000 (£5,010) prize money, for her book Human Resources.

The Trillium Awards, awarded by the Ontario government, is the province’s leading award for literature.

Previous winners include Margaret Atwood, Thomas King and Michael Ondaatje.

Aileen Carroll, Ontario’s Minister of Culture, said:

“The Trillium Book Award gives us an opportunity to celebrate and promote some of our finest authors.

“The finalists and award winners have all played an important role in fostering a culture of creativity in our province.

“I congratulate each of them on receiving this distinguished prize.”

Ms Zolf’s Human Resources was recently short-listed at the world’s pre-eminent LGBT Literary awards.

The awards are presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation, the leading organisation for LGBT literature in the US.

Another of her poetry collections, Her Absence, This Wanderer, was a finalist in the Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation (CBC) Literary Competition.

The British pop star, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, has added two London dates to his stadium tour.

The performances on August 24th and 25th at Earl’s Court will be called The Final Two.

They mark the end of the 25 Live Tour, which started nearly two years ago.

A spokeswoman confirmed: “he’s not going to play any more big arenas.”

George Michael told the BBC:

“Mainly the reason is because I’m 45 and I think pop music should be about youth culture.

“It shouldn’t be an endurance test.”

He also said that he wanted to “stay away from my own idiocy” and “try and behave.”

George Michael was recently in the news over plans for a Wham! film, being planned by the band’s former manager Simon Napier-Bell.

As Michael controls Wham!’s music, Napier-Bell confirmed that “[George] will have the yes or not on each script presented. He will want control.”

Wham! were signed in 1981, and their debut album Fantastic reached number one in the UK. Their second album, Make It Big made the US number one slot.

After reportedly selling 20 million albums, and between 10 and 15 million singles, Wham! split up in 1986.

His first single after Wham!, I Want Your Sex, was banned before 9pm by the BBC, who stated that it “encourages young girls to participate in sex.”

In the early 90s, Michael met Anselmo Feleppa.

The pair were in a relationship until Feleppa’s death in 1993.

Michael’s single Jesus to a Child, and the album Older were both dedicated to Feleppa.

Questions about Michael’s sexual orientation plagued his career until 1998, when the pop star was arrested in a Californian public toilet for “engaging in a lewd act.”

Michael publicly came out after the incident, and was open about his relationship with former cheerleading coach Kenny Goss.

He told MTV: “I got followed into the restroom and then this cop – I didn’t know it was a cop, obviously – he started playing this game, which I think is called, ‘I’ll show you mine, you show me yours, and then when you show me yours, I’m going to nick you.’”

While Michael and Goss had planned to have a civil partnership back in 2005, this was postponed due to his upcoming tour.

Throughout 2006 and 2007, Michael was regularly in the headlines over various drug related incidents.

He was cautioned twice for possessing cannabis when he was found asleep behind the wheel of his car on two separate occasions.

He has now said that he wants “a quieter life.”

The film, Lesbian Vampire Killers, a “bloodthirsty romp featuring buckets of gore and plenty of bare breasts” is currently in production.

With the tag-line “What more could you want?” the comedy/horror film is being produced by AV Pictures.

The cast includes Paul McGann (a former Doctor Who) as ‘The Vicar’ and Matt Horne and James Corden (from Gavin and Stacey) as “two no-hopers.”

Horne and Corden find themselves “stuck in a remote cottage with a camper-van full of sexy foreign student girls, besieged by a hungry army of lascivious lesbian vampires … Can they make it until dawn or will the Sapphic soul suckers bleed them dry?” according to the synopsis.

Writers Paul Hupfield and Stewart Williams were apparently challenged to come up with the “dumbest and yet most commercial title possible” according to IMDB and came up with Lesbian Vampire Killers.

Matthew Horne told the BBC: “I love lesbians, I love vampires and I quite like James Corden.”

However, some are unimpressed.

Among them is Geraldine Joosten from the Netherlands, who heads up the Angry Lesbians online group.

After reading about the film in a newspaper, Joosten started an online petition on her website, www.angrylesbians.biz

Joosten told PinkNews.co.uk that the film seems like “one of those old fashioned stereotypical flicks that have haunted lesbians and a lot of women for a long time.

“For years lesbians have been used to titillate men, for years women have been used as objects. We were finally moving away a bit from this image and now this happens. It feels like a crime.”

Joosten is worried about the impact that a film like this might have on both the men and the women who might watch it for the cast – especially with Lily Allen set for a cameo role.

“Women should stand up for themselves, and lesbian love should not be used to cater to men’s fantasies,” she said.

“These movies show lesbians as violent creatures that have to use force and evil to gain their partner who is then kept as a love slave and blood donor for their bloodlust.

“In the last few years we have made some progress changing people’s perspective. A movie like this could undo all this.”

PinkNews.co.uk contacted AV Pictures for comment but they did not respond.

Ms Joosten’s was one of the creators of the ‘Lez Daddy’ awards, which David Walliams won last year.

To sign the petition visit www.thepetitionsite.com/1/wwwangrylesbiansbiz

The new law will amend the definition of civil marriage in Norway to make it gender neutral.

It will replace a 1993 law that gave same-sex couples the right to enter into civil unions.

Couples with a pre-registered civil partnership will be able to convert it into marriage.

The new legislation also increases parental rights, and makes it easier for lesbians to undergo the same in vitro fertilisation treatment available to heterosexual couples.

A lesbian who is married to another women who becomes pregnant through IVF will have all the rights of parenthood “from the moment of conception.”

In cases of adoption, both partners, gay or lesbian, would have complete joint parenting rights.

Anniken Huifeldt, the minister for Family Issues, called the bill an historic step towards equality.

The law was backed by the Labour Party, the Centre Party and the Socialist Left Party.

Some members of the Conservatives and Liberals also voted for the law.

However, the law was criticised and voted against by opposition Christian Democrats and the Progress Party.

Dagfinn Hoybraten, leader of the Christian Democrat party, called the bill “a big experiment.”

He stated that while his party was against discrimination, it wanted to protect the rights of children.

“We are now creating a system where the father is reduced to a sperm sample,” said Ulf Erik Knudsen, a member of the far-right, reports AFP.

Under the new legislation, the Church of Norway will also be allowed (but not compelled) to bless same-sex marriages.

About 85 percent of Norway’s 4.7 million people are registered as members of the state Lutheran Church of Norway, although far fewer are active.

Norway joins Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa and Canada in granting gay people full marriage rights.

The new laws make it easier for children of lesbian couples to inherit money from their non-birth mother, and allow both mothers to appear on the child’s birth certificate.

The Attorney General for New South Wales, John Hatzistergos said that the bill means “the non-birth parent will have obligations to that child in the same way that every other parent has.”

The vote for the “Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Bill 2008” was passed last week by 64 to 11.

Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith voted against the legislation, in a move that went against both his party and the leader of the national party.

A member of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Emily Gray, said that many Liberal MPs who voted against the reforms were confused about their meanings.

“A lot of that was stemming from the fact that they believed that fathers would be removed from birth certificates following these reforms and that’s just simply not true at all,” she said.

“With 71 per cent of the Australian population now supporting equal rights for same-sex couples, it’s about time that this equality came through,” she said. “We’re really happy that it has.”

While all Australian states have anti-discrimination legislation in place, laws regarding official relationship status vary from state to state.

No Australian state offers civil union or same-sex marriage, however some have a domestic partner agreement or registry.

In New South Wales, a lesbian or gay couple will still not be able to adopt children as a couple, but must do so individually. 

The four-day event returns to the city from the 23rd to 26th October.

Highlights of this year’s YLAF include a two day book festival, a ‘Love Lottery’ games night, Club DIVA and writing workshops with Stella Duffy.

Also, for the first time, YLAF will move to the Grand Opera House on the Friday, for a night of lesbian comedy and music.

Club DIVA, the UK’s biggest lesbian party night, returns to York Racecourse on Saturday 25th October. A Retro Lounge, Club Floor and Chill Out Zone are all promised, with Sadie Lee and Claud Cunningham are already confirmed.

There will also be a marketplace of stalls, food, full bar service and free parking.

For June only, tickets will be available at ‘early bird’ prices, making now the cheapest time to buy.

The Book Festival is open to all women, and men as guests of women.

Club DIVA is women-only. Trans and intersex people are welcome.

For more details and to book tickets, go to www.ylaf.org.uk

The First National Conference of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals was inaugurated by president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who called for a “time of reparation” in Brazil.

At last week’s conference President Lula announced his support for gay rights, and stated he will “do all that is possible so that the criminalisation of homophobia and the civil union may be approved.”

He also called homophobia “the most perverse disease impregnated in the human head.”

Toni Reis, president of the Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals, advocated a gay statute.

This would codify in law specific rights that Brazil’s legal framework could not prejudicially deny to LGBT citizens.

The conference, which was called an important historic event in the history of Brazil, coincides with the news of a gay Brazilian army sergeant who was recently arrested, reportedly for desertion.

He had given a series of media interviews about his sexuality before he was detained.

Homosexuality has been legal in Brazil since 1823, except in the armed forces, and civil unions are allowed in some areas.

However, homophobia and gay-bashing remain significant problems in the country of 184 million people.

A bill outlining the new proposed legislation was expected to be published in March, with the legislation being introduced early this summer.

In November last year Sean Power, Ireland’s then-Minister of State for Equality, said that the government was keen to pass the new laws as soon as possible and that they didn’t anticipate any objection from the opposition.

However, the leader of Ireland’s Green Party, John Gormley, indicated that there are disagreements between the main governing party Fianna Fail and the Greens, their junior coalition partners.

Speaking at the launch of Dublin’s Pride festival, Mr Gormley said the delay in publishing the proposed new legislation was due to the complexity of the issue.

A recent change of Prime Minister and a Cabinet reshuffle have both added to the delays.

The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) confirmed to PinkNews.co.uk that a draft scheme was circulated in March as promised, and that this is currently being finalised.

The government are taking the approach of “better to do things correctly rather than quickly.”

Although no date has been given, the bill is expected to be published soon.

The Greens support full gay marriage in Ireland, while the government contends that civil partnership is easier to achieve, because gay marriage would require a constitutional change that would split the country.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in the Republic of Ireland in 1993.

Both discrimination and incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation are illegal.

The United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS announced the winners yesterday.

There were more than 550 nominations from 147 countries.

The award is designed to celebrate “Community Leadership and Action on AIDS,” and to recognise the communities who have displayed courage, resilience and strength in providing support to those living with HIV.

One of the three Indian organisations to win the award, People Like Us (PLUS) is a community based organisation of young transgender dancers.

They have a walk-in shelter care, providing services such as counselling, financial support, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

PLUS are “firm believers in community participation, and partner strategically with local, regional and international organisations for advocacy and programme implementation.”

Agniva Lahiri, the Executive Director of PLUS, told PinkNews.co.uk that it “feels great” to have their work recognised as the only one of the 25 laureates who work with transgender people.

“In that way its really special.

“The award is for celebration of excellence in HIV/AIDS response, as well as a sober reflection of gains and losses in the campaign against the epidemic.

“The recognition will break the communication barrier surrounding HIV/AIDS, and break through the silence, denial and stigma associated with the epidemic.”

PLUS’s prize money will go towards community campaigns and leadership initiatives, as well as opening three new shelter homes.

The Red Ribbon Awards are presented every two years.

25 laureates are announced and each awarded $5,000 (£2,550).

At an international AIDS conference in Mexico City in August, five of these laureates will be chosen to receive special recognition, and awarded an additional $15,000.

The Director of UNDP’s HIV/AIDS Practice, Jeffrey Malley, said there were many “brilliant examples” of community action and leadership on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

“However, most of them are unheard and unsung,” he said. “The Red Ribbon Award is a way to recognise and honour them.”

The 25 winners are:

ASONVIHSIDA (Nicaragua), Associación Civil Amavida (Venezuela), Association de Lutte contre le Sida (Morocco), Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights (Ghana), Coalition of Women living with HIV/AIDS (Malawi)

Consol Homes (Malawi), Empower Foundation (Thailand), Estonian Network of People living with HIV (Estonia)

FIMIZORE – “Organisation for the rights of all” (Madagascar), Fortaleciendo la Diversidad (Mexico), Grupo de Amigos con VIH (Mexico), Hamyaran Mosbat – the Mashhad Positive Club (Iran)

Mama’s Club (Uganda), National Federation of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (Nepal), Ntankah Village Women Common Initiative Group (Cameroon), People Like Us – PLUS (India), Phoenix Plus (Russia)

Power Positive Support Community Based Organisation (Kenya), Promoteurs Objectifs Zéro Sida (Haiti), SANERELA + (South Africa), Sanghamitra (India), Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust (India), Social Action for Women (Thailand), Voice of Roses (Kenya) and YAKEBA (Indonesia).

It is made up of 35 member states.

The OAS passed the resolution at a General Assembly on Friday.

Human Rights Watch called it “a crucial step to end the silence around violence against LGBT people in the Americas.”

“For the resolution to have an impact, concrete changes in law and policy must follow.” said Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Programme at Human Rights Watch.

“It is critical that member states of the OAS continue to support protections against violence and discrimination in other international venues.”

The Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity was adopted by the OAS General Assembly on the 3rd June with support from 34 countries.

More than ten OAS countries have national or state laws which protect all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Countries such as Chile, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina are currently discussing specific anti-discrimination laws.

During the General Assembly, activists from Latin American LGBT organisations brought some of their concerns to OAS members, for instance how LGBT community leaders often experience harassment throughout the Americas, and the need for specific protections for LGBT people.

The 44-year-old pop star has sold in excess of 80 million records in a career spanning three decades.

That career started with Wham! – a pop duo formed in 1981 with Andrew Ridgeley.

Former Wham! manager, Simon Napier-Bell, is planning a documentary film focusing on the band’s heyday in the mid-80s, when the band released some of their most famous songs.

The film’s budget is said to be £50 million.

However, yesterday, Napier-Bell raised concerns about whether George Michael would consent to the use of Wham!’s music, and said that the pop star would have control and final say on each script presented.

Speaking to ITV, Napier-Bell said: “There are several people sniffing around my Wham! film.

“I’m not sure any of them will come off because they all require Wham! music in them and George controls that.”

In 1998, George Michael was fined $810 (£400) and ordered to do 80 hours community service after being convicted of ‘engaging in a lewd act’ in a California public toilet.

He publicly came out of the closet shortly after.