Over the last decade, Richie’s repeated failures in his attempts to come up with a movie that could even come close to the success and quality of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels has begun to get embarrassing. He may have managed to keep a few fans with his initial follow-up, the confused and desperate to be cool Snatch back in 2000, but after the dire vanity project Swept Away – Mrs Richie hooking up with a pretty-boy hunk on a desert island for two hours of frolics in the sand – his once shining star sank to such depths that the words “a Guy Richie film” have become little more than a mark of shoddy lack of originality. Little wonder that his last effort to return to the gangster genre in which he made his name, 2005′s Revolver, ended up little-watched by anyone, and slated by those who did see it.

After all these disappointments, it’s hardly a surprise that Richie’s latest offering – yes, another gangster movie – is hardly the most anticipated film of the year, nor that US distributors have reportedly got cold feet about putting it out across the pond. It’s been so long since Lock, Stock that it’s easy to forget just what it was that made it so popular at the time – and Richie’s last few offerings tend to suggest that he’s forgotten just as much as the rest of us.

Yet the comparisons made between Richie and Quentin Tarantino at the time Lock, Stock came out were entirely justified. His characters were unpleasant yet likable. His dialogue was stylised and over-the-top, yet witty and engaging. And his sense of cinematic style was unlike anything the British film industry had put out for years – fast-paced, slick and trendy, and about as far away from the kind of lightweight romantic comedies Britain was then most associated with that you could wish for. But at the same time Lock, Stock – unlike its follow-up, Snatch – didn’t seem to be trying too hard. The sense of style was effortless, the feeling of cool permeating almost every frame. Little wonder, then, that Madonna – long-time style icon with her finger constantly on the pulse – was drawn to its director.

But after so many disappointments and so many years of being best known as “Mr Madonna”, can Richie rediscover whatever it was that helped him make Lock, Stock one of the films of the Nineties? Well, we’ll have to wait and see. Although the cast list is known and modestly impressive – with Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson and Thandie Newton heading an array of decent character actors – and the gangster-based plot is decidedly reminiscent of Lock, Stock, more details have been kept under fairly tight wraps. The only thing that is certain is that Richie himself is feeling confident – he’s planning this as the first film in a new trilogy.

The project is led by Broken Rainbow, a charity that supports LGBT victims of domestic violence.

They are working with Refuge and the Norwich-based Leeway Women’s Aid to raise awareness of the issues of domestic violence to corporate, private, statutory and third sectors in a bid to improve support for victims.

Rita Hirani, a consultant at Broken Rainbow, said:

“The project will employ a training and marketing consultant to work with the three partners to deliver a training pack on each charity’s work.

“Each charity will also be given the skills to deliver this training to other professionals working with victims to help improve the support they offer as well as training between the three charities themselves.

“This will enable all groups trained to signpost beneficiaries more effectively and have a better understanding of what support services each charity has to offer.

“In particular, it will promote the very specific needs of LGBT victims who can be doubly isolated by domestic violence if they have not ‘come out’ to families and friends, thus making it even harder for them to seek support.”

The charities, which all receive funding from the Nationwide Foundation, will receive an extra £50,000 to support the new project.

The project is supported by a Nationwide Foundation grant programme called the Investor Programme which offers funding to charities that focus on domestic violence, prisoners’ families or the rehabilitation of young offenders.

Lisa Parker, CEO of the Nationwide Foundation, said: “This is an excellent and innovative project and a true example of how rewarding and benefiting partnership working can be. When barriers are broken and the beneficiaries are put first positive change and support can be given to those who need it most.

“The project is one of a number that has followed two years of sharing ideas with domestic violence charities on how they could work together.

“Effective partnership working is not easy and needs sustained funding to encourage relationship building as well as to support the resultant projects.

“The Nationwide Foundation was prepared to invest in this work because of the untapped benefits that partnerships can achieve, such as this.”

The Nationwide Foundation is a registered charity that makes donations to other charities and is mainly funded by Nationwide Building Society.

The tribunal ruled that Islington council discriminated against her on the grounds of her Christian faith by asking her to perform civil partnership ceremonies.

But who bankrolled her case?

It was a media-savvy organisation well-known as leading opponents of the LGBT community’s efforts to secure equality.

Established in 1990 by a group of church leaders and Christian professionals, the Christian Institute has been one of the foremost opponents of the gay rights movement.

The Institute describes itself as a “non-denominational Christian charity committed to upholding the truths of the Bible.”

The evangelical Christian group has made its views on the institution of marriage, pro-life, education and gay rights very clear over the years.

The group regard it as their religious duty to impose their views into politics and believe Christians should “participate fully in our democracy.”

It claims that that their members and fellow travellers do not identify with one particular party, but a feature on their website makes it very easy to see which MPs hold the same views.

The site allows users to see the voting records for all MPs and through a simple Christian key, which has a tick for a morally right vote and an cross for a morally wrong one, users can find out which MPs voted for the bills they approve of.

For example Diane Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, was not one of their favourites with mostly morally wrong crosses by her votes.

On the other hand Gregory Barker, Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle, seemed to hold basically the same views as the Institute according to his voting records.

The Institute has supported many homophobic individuals in the past, including Ake Green, a Swedish pastor charged with inciting hatred against homosexuals when he compared homosexuality to paedophilia in one of his testimonies; the Bishop of Chester who said some gays can ‘re-orientate’ through therapy; and Lynette Burrows, who during a radio interview disagreed with gays being allowed the right to adopt and described the idea of a young boy with to gay men as “a risk.”

Pensioners Joe and Helen Roberts also received sympathy from the Christian Institute when in February 2006 the couple from Fleetwood, Lancashire wrote a strongly worded letter to their local council asking if Christian literature could be put beside gay rights information at Wyre civic centre.

A council official reported them to the police who paid them a visit at their home and told them their request had been close to a hate crime.

With the help of the Christian Institute the couple were later rewarded compensation for their homophobia from the police and the council.

The Christian Institute then decided to fight a long battle to take down the Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORs), equality laws that were brought in to protect the LGB community from discrimination.

The charity saw the proposed laws as a “new threat to religious freedom.”

In 2006 they published a leaflet on the SORs and the ‘threat’ they posed to the Christian religion.

In an article titled “Government forcing gay rights on churches,” the Institute wrote about how they feared that with the introduction of the new laws, gay rights activists would attack them through the courts.

In December 2006, Christian Institute Director, Colin Hart, told The Independent: “(Government minister) Peter Hain talks about equality. But he should read his own regulations, which elevate gay rights above all other rights for religious people, and rights on the grounds of age, sex and disability. It is a preferential status which will drive a coach and horses through religious liberty.”

In the same month the Christian Institute, along with other Christian groups, were allowed a judicial review of the SORs in Northern Ireland, claiming they were rushed through and constitute an attack on freedom of conscience.

The Institute also opposed a scheme to teach children about gay lifestyles through fairytales.

The push to include books for primary-aged children that encompass same-sex relationships has angered religious groups and re-ignited the debate about Section 28.

“The predictions of those who said the repeal of Section 28 would result in the active promotion of homosexuality in schools are coming true,” Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of the Christian Institute, told The Guardian.

In January 2007, along with other religious groups, they held an hour’s protest at Parliament Square against the introduction of SORs.

Although the protest received some media coverage, attendees seemed to be confused about which Christian group organised the protest and what they were protesting about.

In October 2007, along with the Islamic Human Rights Commission, the Christian Institute opposed incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation law, claiming it would restrict free speech, target Christians and stifle debate about homosexuality.

The Christian Institute has also involved itself with smaller causes.

In January 2008, gay retail was in the firing line when they tried, and failed, to block a shop, called Clone Zone, that sells sex toys and gay DVDs, opening a branch in Newcastle.

Recently the Christian institute backed the views of Iris Robinson, the MP wife of the First Minster of Northern Ireland, who said that homosexuality is disgusting, loathsome, nauseating, wicked and vile and claimed gay people can be “cured.”

The Institute claimed that reports to police that Iris Robinson’s comments may have broken laws on incitement to hatred are an attempt to intimidate her.

Moscow Prosecution Department told organisers that Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who previously referred to gay rights marches as “Satanic,” would not be prosecuted.

“We are not surprised by the conclusions of the prosecution department and its denial to start a criminal investigation against the Mayor,” said gay rights activist and Pride organiser Nicolas Alexeyev.

“We will thoroughly study the document which we received today and will decide whether to appeal it in courts.”

Moscow Pride organisers were denied the right to hold an event in May for three years running by the Mayor.

They wrote to the General Prosecution Department asking for a criminal investigation into the bans.

Organisers also tried to sue the President when they received no response to a letter sent to him about Moscow Pride but a court found that he was immune from legal action.

Tverskoi District Court and Moscow City Court are now considering the bans on this year’s Pride marches.

Activists tried to have the Mayor prosecuted under Article 149 of the Russian Criminal Code for using his political power to prevent legal public events for the LGBT community in the city.

“The prosecutors did not investigate whether Moscow Mayor breached Article 149 of Russian Criminal Code,” said Mr Alexeyev.

“The Mayor actually banned all public events of homosexual people in Moscow, depriving a huge social group of their constitutional right to express their views.”

Mr Alexeyev also said that the Moscow authorities have not allowed other public events to take place because it would bring attention to the problem of homophobia in Russia.

The Prefecture of the Central Administrative Area of Moscow banned collective picketing outside the office of General Prosecution, due to security concerns.

Mr Alexeyev took part in a solitary protest outside the offices. He held a placard that read ‘No one repealed Article 149 of Criminal Code yet’ and ‘Homophobia of Moscow mayor should be prosecuted’ and demanded a criminal investigation into the Mayor’s decisions and actions.

Bristol City Council plan to remove shrubbery in an part of the Downs popular with men looking for sex and put a report together about the management of the area.

“As part of the consultation, concerns were expressed by the council’s Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Group, and a small number of other consultants, that this action was potentially discriminating against gay and bisexual men, whose activities on this part of the Downs were objected to by other members of the local community and Downs users,” the report said.

Head of parks Peter Wilkinson told BBC News: “The general public are unhappy about people taking part in lewd behaviour in public spaces, whether it’s between men and women or people of the same sex.

“We are working together with Terrence Higgins Trust to make sure any work we will do is sensitive.

“We’re making sure people know what we are doing so we are not seen to be discriminating.”

THT confirmed that they are now in talks with the police and the council.

Last year a group of firefighters on the Downs shone their torches into the bushes catching a group of men engaging in outdoor sex.

After a three month investigation, during which the unidentified firefighters were on paid suspension, two were fined £1000, one was demoted and one received a written warning.

They had been en route from Temple Fire Station to Avonmouth Fire Station at 10:30pm on June 27 when they came across the men.

They were found by the disciplinary hearing of bringing the service into disrepute and misuse of fire equipment.

Kevin Pearson, Chief Fire Officer with Avon Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“There was no justifiable reason for that appliance to be in that location at that time.

“They should not have been there and there was no operational justification for their actions.”

Murphy wrote about his disappointment on his blog last week.

“I was very upset to hear the reports of violence at the Pride parades in Prague, Riga and Sofia in the last few weeks, and also very disappointed that pressure from various sources meant the Pride parade in Moldova scheduled for May did not take place,” he wrote.

“This was in marked contrast to the peaceful Pride held for the first time ever in Delhi on Sunday 29 June.”

Despite the 150 strong police presence at Pride in Sofia, Bulgaria, more than 60 skinheads and rightwing nationalists were arrested and a homophobic mob threw stones and petrol bombs.

Murphy went on to say: “The FCO is committed to promoting equality and ending the discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world and we’ve developed a program of skills and information for Embassies and diplomats to help achieve this.”

The FCO advises LGBT people travelling to Pride events to check their dedicated advice for LBGT travellers on their website before they leave. It is part of the ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign.

Last weekend at Pride in Budapest police were forced to use water cannons and tear gas on groups of right-wing demonstrators.

The angry mob tried to attack the peaceful march with petrol bombs, rotten food, faeces, eggs filled with acid or paint and stones.

A week before the Budapest Pride there were two separate arson attacks on gay venues in the capital using petrol bombs. Organisers thanked the police for fully supporting them during the march.

Murphy said: “Although we focus work in countries where homosexuality is criminalised, we also monitor the situation across Europe closely.

“The British Embassies in Warsaw and Riga, for example, were active in helping support and celebrate the diversity, equality and acceptance for all that the Pride events promote. We are also very active in international organisations in promoting our goal of equality for LGBT people in the enjoyment of human rights.”

In May the FCO issued an ‘LGBT Toolkit’ to its 261 embassies, high commissions and other diplomatic posts.

The kit contains information for other countries on the official British policy on gay rights and instructions on how to “provide added value to equality and non discrimination work.”

The violence and discrimination shown towards LGBT people abroad is one of the reasons why the government is under pressure over gay asylum.

Harriet Harman, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Secretary of State for Equality, was booed by some sections of a 20,000 strong crowd at Pride London last weekend.

According to human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell she was heckled because of the government’s stance on gay asylum seekers.

“The Labour government is locking up gay asylum seekers, refusing them refugee status and ordering them to be sent back to violently homophobic countries like Algeria, Uganda, Iran, Nigeria, Iraq and Belarus,” said Mr Tatchell.

“Those who are returned are at risk of arrest, imprisonment torture, rape and even murder.”

There are several recent examples of the Home Office refusing asylum to gay people whose home countries criminalise or repress homosexuality.

The latest is the case of JoJo Jako Jacob, 19, who was told he would be safe in his homeland of Syria if he behaves “discreetly.”

They claimed that Dmitriy Medvedev’s failure to answer a letter sent to him in May asking him to intervene broke a law that guarantees citizens a response within 30 days.

A Judge at Tverskoi District Court referred to a number of articles in the Russian Constitution including Article 91, which states that the President has immunity from any legal actions, in dismissing their claim.

Moscow Pride organisers were denied permission for a series of marches in May by the city authorities.

They appealed to the President to allow a march to take place in Alexander’s Gardens (Alexandrovsky Sad) located between the Kremlin and Manezhnaya Street, which is under the authority of the President, on 31st May.

Their letter reached the President’s administration on 16th May and was forwarded five days later to the Prefecture of the Central Administrative Area of Moscow.

The Presidential Administration relied on the law that allowed them to forward the letter to the most competent authority.

Organisers took their case to court on the 23rd June when they received no reply after 30 days.

“We are going to appeal this decision of Tverskoi District Court in Moscow City Court and take this case up to the European Court of Human Rights if needed,” said Nicolas Alexeyev, Pride organiser.

“We were denied court protection which contradicts with the European Convention on Human Rights.

“By issuing such a decision the court admitted full immunity of the head of state and his full unaccountability for the actions and inactions.

“Now the President is not obliged to answer to any letters of Russian citizens, he can just ignore them.

“The President quite possibly did not know anything about our letter to him though we, as applicants, are not obliged to understand how bureaucratic procedures of Kremlin administration work.”

Even though the Court recognised that the Constitution says that “everyone is equal before the law and court,” they came to the conclusion that a few people, including the President, are still protected by immunity.

“Our letter was addressed to the President and that is the reason why we apply to court against the President,” said Mr Alexeyev.

“Presidential administration officials probably again wanted to put all responsibility on Moscow authorities, but in this case representatives of the Prefecture acted in accordance with their powers and sent the letter back to the Administration.

“Only the President has powers to allow the events in Alexandrovsky Sad.

“We applied to Dmitriy Medvedev as a safeguard of the Constitution because Moscow authorities unlawfully denied us our constitutional right to freedom of assembly enshrined in Article 31 of the Constitution.

“It’s a pity that the President, even though he proclaimed that he would fight for human rights, did not interfere and put an end to the unlawful actions of Moscow officials.”

A group of 30 gay activists managed to stage short protests in front of Moscow City Hall and a statue of Tchaikovsky on June 1st without being arrested.

There followed a farcical game of cat and mouse as police surrounded an apartment where four activists were eventually arrested after hours of siege.

They were held overnight and charged with taking part in an unauthorised demonstration and failing to obey police orders.

The short demonstrations were planned in order to take the authorities by surprise.

The Mayor of Moscow has called gay rights activists “Satanic” and banned Pride in 2006 and 2007.

Pride organisers had applied for permission to hold five marches a day, every day of May.

All were rejected by Moscow municipal authorities on the grounds they would “endanger public order and cause negative reaction of the majority of the population.”

Last month Tverskoi District Court of Moscow held that the ban on one of those Pride marches was lawful.

Organisers are again planning to appeal the decision in Moscow City Court and then at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.”

UKBP was formed in 2005 following a successful day trip to the beach. With the help of the BME LGBT community the organisation was established.

“There will be something for everyone to enjoy and more importantly the pride event is an opportunity to proudly support and celebrate the talents and achievements of the UK’s Black, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community,” organisers said.

The UKBP festival promises to be an exciting day filled with music, entertainment, live performances, music by the UK’s best DJs, a market place, information stalls and much more.

UKBP is dedicated to promoting unity among Black people of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American descent who identify as Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual and Transgender.

UKBP are offering an early bird offer and giving 30% discount on the standard ticket price until Monday 14th July.

Students will also be able to get a discount of 50% off the standard ticket price.

There is also a limited “Diamond package” deal on offer which includes a champagne reception, buffet lunch and free entry to Bootylicious and Soul Naturelle.

UKBP is also looking for volunteers to help out on the day. For more information go to www.ukblackpride.org.uk

Our Proud Heritage features the GAY LOVE jumpsuit worn by Alan Wakeman, member of the gay liberation front, at 1972’s Pride and a photographic exhibition of Pride by the Pink Paper’s Scott Nunn.

Jack Gilbert, executive director of Proud Heritage, told PinkNews.co.uk:

“We have had a great response to the exhibition from the public, and from the primary school classes who come every day.

“If you can’t make it before 11 July, visit the online museum and check out the Queer Googlemap of London.

“We need your memories and materials about Pride too.”

Mr Gilbert estimates that the vast majority of British museums make no reference to gay people.

He said he is very proud with how the public have responded to the exhibition and estimates that about 10 to 20,000 people will have seen it by the time it closes.

On the public’s reaction, Mr Gilbert said:

“It was really interesting. We have had a lot of school kids come everyday and it is very interesting to see the teenagers reaction.

“One particular Roman Catholic school came and a nine year-old girl stood up and said, ‘My uncle is gay, he is a lovely man and I love him.’ The school were using the pictures to discuss homophobia and religion.

“What we want to do is to break down the boundaries of what is acceptable to display. What we are about is getting everybody involved.

“People are very happy that the pictures depict the diversity of the LGBT community.”

There has only been one negative response from a member of the public according to Mr Gilbert which came from a woman who said: “This shouldn’t be allowed, homosexuality is wrong.”

More than 100 people have signed up to the Proud Heritage manifesto. The group aims to built a permanent museum of LGBT history.

Mr Gilbert appealed to people to volunteer and sign up on the website as a friend.

“Our target is to raise £100,000 to cover our core costs to set up the national collection and museum.

“Every little helps. Signing up as a Friend is only £20, and there is Family, Proud Friend and Founder options too.

“If just 5,000 like-minded people became a Friend we would be sorted.

“After all if LGBT people don’t make the investment to honour our own history and memory, how can we expect other institutions to?”

As well as money people can also donate their memories of LGBT events by going online and filling in a response form or talking to someone in person.

Proud Heritage would like material as well as memories so images, audio and video files are always welcome.

For more information go to www.proudheritage.org

GEM was established in 1983, a crucial time for LGBT people, in a response to the fall of Gay News, Britain’s only gay paper at the time, and the threat of the AIDS crisis.

A new online archive of the magazines has been created.

Colin Clews, one of GEM’s founding members, said: “Given the large number of publications, and even larger number of websites, available to gays and lesbians today, it’s difficult to imagine just how restricted our information sources were 25 years ago.

“And it really was a very different world then: systematic police harassment of gays was the norm and AIDS was just emerging as a frightening and mysterious illness, with the only source of information for most people being homophobic and hysterical media stories about ‘the gay plague.’”

GEM was run by a group of dedicated volunteers and was printed and published in Nottingham.

In its short lifetime, the magazine only lasted from 1983 to 1984, the writers were able to cover some of the most important moments in LGBT history.

The most recent issue to be put online shows a picture of Pride marchers in London a quarter of a century ago.

Back then 2,000 people attended, a far cry from the estimated 500,000 who watched and cheered on Pride London at the weekend. Another issue, entitled Schools OUT, talked about the problems gay kids face in education.

“GEM sought to redress some of that misinformation and ensure that gay men and lesbians didn’t feel isolated in the face of this relentless onslaught,” said Mr Clews.

“But there was some positive stuff to report too; for example, the first signs that some local authorities were giving serious consideration to gay and lesbian rights as part of their Equal Opportunities policies.

“And some things have changed and others remain the same.

“That’s partly why we wanted to put GEM online now – it’s an indication of the way things were and a measure of how much we have (or haven’t) progressed.”

GEM certainly shows how some things do not change as there is a feature on a booklet about the experiences of gay people in school, an issue we are still dealing with today, and an interview with Peter Tatchell after his infamous Bermondsey by-election defeat.

Issue one and two were posted to mark the 25th anniversary of GEM’s first appearance in June 1983.

Issue three has now been posted online and later issues will be posted in the following weeks.

Gay East Midlands is available at www.gayeastmidlands.com.

He launched a worldwide search for a partner to have a civil partnership with next year on his 30th.

Sound romantic?

Well maybe you would like to head over to aftersomethingmore.com and set up a date with Mark.

He has set up the site to document each date and “use the power of the internet…to find the guy of my dreams.”

Mark who is from Liverpool, told PinkNews.co.uk:

“The more I looked at the online gay sites I realised they are only about one thing. I was thinking how could I meet a guy and I thought someone like me could use the internet to find love.”

Mark had a hard time accepting his sexuality when he was younger.

He was in a relationship with a woman for seven years and married to her for four of those years until the marriage broke down. Mark became depressed and attempted suicide.

“The marriage ended when I was 26 and I was left face to face with me and my issues. I hated my sexuality as I was brought up to believe that it was wrong. It took five months to get over and to say ‘this is me, this is who I am’ and I did what an 18 year old would and played the field.

“I embraced the scene for a while and was at Pride Manchester last year. I’m not being negative to those who have random sex because they are fulfilling a human need. I am after something more in life and so are others.”

Mark admits to using normal online dating sites before but believes setting up aftersomethingmore.com is better for him because it reflects his true personality.

Mark, creator of the award winning social network site Tribewanted, says he has no ideal man but would like to meet someone creative, driven and ambitious.

The qualities that are a turn off in a guy for him are smokers and guys with science fiction obsessions, but don’t despair chain smoking Star Wars fans as Mark is willing to make exceptions.

“This is what I am learning as I go on. I met a guy who was into Star Wars but we still connected.”

Mark has come under criticism for launching the site and has been branded desperate by some members of the gay community for wanting to find a partner in a year.

“I have had comments from lads saying it’s a bit desperate but isn’t going on Gaydar a bit desperate too.”

Since the website was first launched it has had 1000 hits.

Mark has received 35 date requests and has been on two dates so far.

He insists that he did not expect so many date requests especially without press attention.

His first date was with a teacher from Liverpool who took him on a tour of his home town and talked about how the city had changed over the years.

The second date was at the cinema with a guy who was engaged before but unfortunately his partner was sadly killed.

Although Mark is optimistic about his search in this non-stop world many people struggle to find that special someone over their entire lifetime. Does he really expect to find a partner in just a year?

“If I meet someone and they don’t want to get married yet that’s fine. I don’t think I’ve lost it’s just a continuation.

“People hook up together all the time and I want to dedicate my spare time to finding a guy of my dreams. Outside of my business , if I put my effort into this, then I am hopeful I might find ‘the one.’”

To find out more about Mark or request a date go to www.aftersomethingmore.com

The leader of the Liberal Democrats urged schools to realise the “unique role” they play in tackling homophobia and called for better monitoring of homophobic incidents as schools are responsible for teaching values to children who had been failed by their parents.

“Most parents do their very best for their children and seek to infuse them with good values and respect for others,” said Mr Clegg.

“But that is not always the case. There are parents who are careless, neglectful or cruel.

“And who do not teach their children the kind of values that we, as a society, expect of one another. That will always be the case. And I make no apology for saying that schools have a role in addressing and counter-balancing parental failure.

“That applies to homophobia and to homophobic bullying. A parent may be racist. But our schools still teach that racism is wrong. And it is their acknowledged duty to tackle it where it is manifest.

“Equally, a parent may be homophobic. Why is it that our schools have a higher threshold for tolerating homophobia in the school environment?”

Mr Clegg commented on how homophobic bullying impacts on pupils lives and “eats away at the confidence of gay people.”

“Half of young lesbian and gay people feel unable to be themselves at school, and seven out of ten who have experienced homophobic bullying feel that this impacts directly on their academic performance.

“Gay pupils have higher levels of truancy, drop-out, mental health problems, panic attacks and eating disorders.

“Worst of all, one survey has shown that half of LGB adults who were bullied at school contemplated self-harm or suicide. And four in ten had attempted it at least once.”

Mr Clegg commented on statistics from The School Report survey, conducted by Stonewall last year.

It found that more than two-thirds of young LGBT pupils have experienced homophobic bullying and one-third say that an adult in their school is responsible for the bullying.

Mr Clegg said that there are some teachers who do not tackle homophobic bullying as they feel unsure about whether they should intervene. He blamed this on the “shameful legacy of the Conservatives’ Section 28.”

He called for better monitoring of homophobic incidents.

“The Government should be made to face up to the true extent of homophobia in schools,” he said.  ~

“Schools’ performance in recognising and tackling homophobia should be an assessed criterion in OFSTED school inspections.

“We need to turn the spotlight on every school, and expose prejudice where it exists.

“Having supportive, trained teachers to turn to should not be a matter of the luck of the draw for gay pupils. It should be available to every one of them.”

Mr Clegg called for teachers to be re-trained and taught about the various issues that young LGBT pupils have to deal with at school and at home.

“I also want to make sure that teachers are trained to be aware of the issues that confront young gay and lesbian pupils. So that they are able to give those pupils the care and understanding that they need.

“Often young LGB people will not know whether they can trust family or friends to react well or be supportive. Sometimes they will tell those closest to them only to have their trust betrayed.

“Too many young people still find themselves on the street when they tell their parents that they are gay. So it’s vital, vital, that teachers understand those difficulties.

“That they know how to advise, reassure and support gay or questioning pupils who come to them seeking help. All too often they simply don’t.”

Mr Clegg spoke at Pride London on Saturday.

His comments today on homophobia in schools chime with those of Brendan Barber, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), at a union LGBT conference last week.

Mr Barber said that LGBT equality being taught as part of the school curriculum was the only way to fight homophobia in schools.

Terrence Higgins Trust and NAM have launched a new service which will offer one to one or group meetings with a health trainer.

People will be able to learn more about HIV treatments and how to manage their condition.

Adam Wilkinson, London Operations Manager at Terrence Higgins Trust, said:

“In the pilot we found that many people who didn’t even think they needed this service found it useful.

“It’s about making people experts in their own condition, so they can manage it better day to day. Our service really fits around the individual so people find it relevant, convenient and flexible.”

The service, which was successfully piloted in south London, allows people to choose whether to have a visit from the health trainer at home, see them at their clinic or speak to them over the phone.

There will be eight health trainers working in London. It is expected that most people who are referred from a HIV clinic will need at least two sessions with the trainer.

The HIV Health Support Service is funded by the Pan London HIV Prevention Programme and the South London HIV Partnership.

People can arrange to see a health trainer by calling THT Direct on 0845 122 1200 or they can also be referred on by their HIV clinic.

At the TUC’s annual LGBT conference in London Brendan Barber called on the government to include LGBT equality into the school curriculum in order to address the homophobic bullying in schools.

Mr Barber said:

“While the UK’s education system ought to be in the vanguard of the fight against homophobic discrimination, all too often it is in fact part of the problem.

“Whereas our schools and colleges have done much to counter racism and sexism, the same cannot be said when it comes to tackling homophobia. Despite some notable exceptions, too many educational establishments are breeding grounds for the worst kind of casual prejudice.”

A survey conducted by Stonewall last year was mentioned by Mr Barber at the conference.

The School Report found that over two-thirds of young LGBT pupils have experienced homophobic bullying, less than a quarter have been told that homophobic bullying is wrong in their school and one in six say they have had death threats.

A spokesman for the Schools Department told ITN: “Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. Homophobic insults should be viewed as seriously as racism. We must uphold every child’s basic right to learn in a safe and secure environment, free from bullying.

“Bullying of all kinds is a scourge on young people’s lives and the human cost can be devastating. It can leave young people feeling helpless and isolated and can have a damaging effect on their learning.”

Mr Barber said today:

“The consequences of all of this don’t just impact on academic attainment, which takes a pretty big hit.

“It does not just impact on mental health, which is suffering as incidences of self-harm rise. But also on the self-esteem of young LGBT people, which is being shattered.”

Mr Barber told the conference that the TUC has joined forces with the teaching unions, Stonewall and other LGBT groups to make LGBT equality education a priority for the government.

Prossy Kakooza, 26, fled Uganda after her family found her in bed with her partner, who she had met at university, and marched both women naked to the police station where Prossy was raped and tortured by police officers.

She escaped to the UK after her family bribed the guards to release her so they could have her killed. They believed this would ‘take away the curse from the family.’

The news of Prossy’s fight for asylum comes as Peter Tatchell spoke out against the government yesterday at the TUC LGBT conference.

He called on them to make ‘urgent’ reforms to the asylum system and stop gay refugees being sent back to ‘viciously homophobic countries such as Iran, Uganda, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Jamaica, Belarus and Saudi Arabia.’

Mr Tatchell urged the government to implement five policy changes to ensure fair hearings for LGBT asylum seekers.

These changes included asylum staff receiving training in sexual orientation and transgender awareness, the government telling asylum staff that homophobic and transphobic persecution are grounds for granting asylum and the official Home Office country information reports being upgraded to include the true scale of homophobic persecution.

Mr Tatchell said: “These are systemic failings by a callous and indifferent government that is more interested in cutting asylum numbers than in ensuring a fair, just and compassionate asylum system.”

The Home Office’s first decision to deny Prossy asylum did not take into account the fact that she had been mistreated by the state and would probably face the same treatment again if she returned.

The Home Office believed that she was raped and tortured, because of the medical evidence, but dismissed her attack as the ‘random acts of individuals’ and suggested that she could move to another town in Uganda.

In Uganda you cannot move to another town without a reference from your previous village and since she is a lesbian she would be persecuted wherever she went.

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and the penalty is life in prison.

The new ruling will allow Prossy to present her case again to the asylum tribunal which is likely to take place in the autumn.

The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus auditioned for the show a few months ago. The heats were judged by Russell Watson, Sharon D Clarke and Suzi Digby.

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus spokesman told PinkNews.co.uk:

“Although the judges haven’t been easily pleased, the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus have made an impression with our own take on popular hits, arranged by our Musical Director Ignacio Jarquin and his Assistant Music Director Howard Alexander.

“The boys have been working really hard, and all the extra effort has paid off as our performances so far have proved enough to win the judges over.”

The choir recently decided to change their name from The City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus in an attempt to re-brand the themselves for the show.

Last Choir Standing, presented by Myleene Klass and Nick Knowles, follows the same format of many other panel based entertainment shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Any Dream Will Do.

When the presenters followed the choirs through the competition the Gay Men’s Chorus became particularly fond of Myleene.

She joined the choir for a backstage rehearsal and they got on so well that they asked her to become a honorary member.

“The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus are extremely proud to be representing Brighton & Hove and the gay community as the only gay choir left in the competition,” the spokesman said.

The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will appear on Richard and Judy today to promote the show.

Last Choir Standing starts on tomorrow at 7.45pm on BBC One.

Under the headline “Gay troops paid for Pride march” the tabloid claimed “straight troops hit out at the move last night because they do not get the same privilege – even when they are going to see the REAL Queen.”

However, the paper was unable to name any soldier who objected, referring instead to “a furious squaddie” and two other anonymous sources.

Commander Graham Beard, the Royal Navy’s Equality and Diversity Policy Officer, told PinkNews.co.uk:

“Service personnel are allowed to claim duty travel expenses when appearing in uniform attending any event.”

One of The Sun’s unnamed soldiers allegedly told the paper: “A mate is off to London in his uniform to the Queen’s Garden Party but he will not be getting mileage to go. Fair, equal or what?”

Commander Beard said that they may have been misinformed as everyone is “fully entitled” to claim.

This year’s Pride will be the first time all three branches of the military will be allowed to attend in full uniform.

Commander Beard said: “The most important thing for our guys and girls is to be proud of being in the armed forces.”

He confirmed that they will be expecting 40 members of the Navy, 25 from the RAF, 15 to 20 Army members and 20 members of the Civil Service.

The Pride London parade is tomorrow.

Mehmet Caliskan, who was employed by Rupert Street Bar to protect their customers, admitted he “lost it” when Craig McCadden, 20, tried to enter the bar to meet some friends as it was closing.

Sentencing has been adjourned till 24th July.

Mathew Pinto, a 25 year old media producer who witnessed the attack, said: “I looked round and saw Craig being head butted in the face by the bouncer. Craig collapsed but was immediately picked up and thrown across the room, knocking over a table and smashing glasses.

“The bouncer ran over while Craig was still on the floor and kicked him in the face. Blood was oozing [from] his mouth. Craig’s just a skinny boy with a slight build and this burly bouncer was laying into him like a wild animal. It was an unprovoked attack and Craig couldn’t possibly defend himself.”

Mr Pinto said that he had to physically remove Mr McCadden from the venue and away from his attacker in fear that “the bouncer would have killed him otherwise.”

The incident, which was captured on CCTV, occurred on Saturday 7th April 2007 at 10.55pm.

Caliskan was apprehended by the police and interviewed at West End Central Police Station while McCadden, who is a nurse, was treated at Accident and Emergency at University College Hospital.

Gay Soho law firm Agreements.co.uk is demanding that Westminster Council revoke Rupert Street’s licence. Partner Mark Andrew said: “If a young gay man can’t go to a gay bar without being half murdered by their own staff then the council have a duty to shut them down.

“I would urge gay men to send out a message that this savage attack is unacceptable and to boycott Rupert Street.”

Criminal Law Barrister Adrian Amer, said: “The bouncer holds a position of trust to protect Rupert Street’s customers from this kind of violence. He may well be facing a custodial sentence, even for this first offence.”

Mr McCadden’s lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, are now suing the Rupert Street Bar for dental work and jaw surgery needed after the attack which could cost more than £31,000.

Rupert Street Bar is owned by Mitchells & Butlers who also own the All Bar One and Harvester Inn Chains. 

Liverpool’s gay community, and fans of the clubs and bars in the area, will be happy to hear that investors plan to enhance the quarter by using raised bollards to close off Stanley Street, Cumberland Street and Eberle Street from six in the evening.

Cllr Steve Radford, leader of the Liberal party group and Co-Chair of Liverpool Gay Business Association, said:

“Eberle Street and Cumberland Street are narrow streets where clubbers walk almost straight into the road. The fact they have not been closed to traffic already is a disgrace.”

Mr Radford hopes the changes to the quarter will attract more businesses to invest in the area and create a “café culture” which would appeal to many people.

“In the case of Stanley Street this will give a real opportunity to develop and diversify business and create a continental street style scheme,” he said.

Mr Radford claimed that Liverpool City Council have refused to invest in the area previously so they would not be seen to be “picking favourites.”

Previous estimates for the completion of the new quarter came to £500,000.

Mr Radford said: “The fact Liverpool City Council are timidly doing the sort of measures Manchester City Council did over three decades ago just shows how the dead hand of institutionalised homophobia still permeates the city.”

Members of the Gay Business Association will be distribute flyers in venues across the city in an attempt to encourage the community to support the plans for the quarter.

The consultation closes on 30th July.

Originally set up in 2002 as a reaction to a homophobic far right group that were making their way to Bournemouth, Bourne Free has become one of the UK’s best-loved celebrations of diversity and equality.

Organisers have catered to all tastes and throughout the three day festival party goers can experience a Jazz Night, Pride Parade and a Street Party as well as a Caribbean Affair.

Acts confirmed to perform include the UK’s first openly gay hip-hop act QBoy, The Boy George Experience, international singer and pianist Esther Vernon and everyone’s favourite sequinned car insurance selling trio The Sheilas, of Sheila’s Wheels fame.

A Bourne Free Wristband is required to enter the Street party and other gay venues over the weekend. These can be purchased for £5 at www.bournefree.co.uk

The Bourne Free Pride Festival starts on 11th July and ends 13th July. The event is for over 18′s only.