Eliana Nicolaou accused the government of putting the man’s life at risk after he was twice rejected for asylum status.

In Iran the penalties for homosexual acts are flogging, stoning or hanging.

The man, currently in prison for cannabis use, is in a four year relationship with a Cypriot man, who said in a letter to Nicolaou that he would take extreme action if his boyfriend was deported.

“Homosexuality is completely forbidden in Iran, ” a source within the Iranian Embassy in Cyprus told the Cyprus Mail.

The Iranian man did not mention he was gay when he first applied for asylum as he was scared to say it in front of a third person, believed to be an Iranian interpreter, at the interview. He was still rejected after he revealed his sexuality in a second application.

Ombudswoman Nicolaou said the Asylum Service failed to explain clearly and in a convincing manner why it had rejected his asylum application.

She pointed out that no reference had been made to the risk of persecution on account of his homosexuality if he was returned to Iran.

“Where homosexuality is illegal in a particular society, the imposition of severe criminal penalties for homosexual conduct could amount to persecution,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Emilia Strovolidou told the Cyprus Mail.

“From the moment there is such a strict law, you can’t predict how it will be applied and whether it will be applied.

“However, the likelihood is always there, and the severe penalties exist, regardless of specific cases.”

There have been several stories this year regarding the deportation of homosexual Iranians.

Mehdi Kazemi was allowed back to the UK after claiming he faces execution for his sexuality.

Any participating female who is suspected of being a male will be evaluated from their external appearances by experts and undergo blood tests to examine their sex hormones, genes and chromosomes for sex determination, according to Prof. Tian Qinjie of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Initial test results would be available in three days, while an official result takes seven days.

The tests were first introduced in the 60s to catch out Olympic cheats who tried to pass off men as women to win events and up until 1999, every female had to be tested.

The idea was scrapped because of the controversy surrounding the procedure and the fact that only women are tested.

Chromosomal abnormalities may cause a woman to fail a test, even though it gives her no competitive advantage, says the New York Times.

Also, if a female athlete fails a test she must have a physiological examination, which many consider invasive and a privacy violation.

Xinhua news agency reports that Polish Olympic winner Ewar Kobukkowska was the first athlete to be banned after she failed the early form of a chromosome test in 1967.

She won a gold medal in the women’s 4 X 100 metre relay and the bronze in the women’s 100 metre sprint at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

She was found to have a rare genetic condition that gave her no advantage over other athletes, but was nonetheless banned from competing in the Olympics and professional sports.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, eight athletes failed the tests but were all cleared by subsequent examinations.

In another case, Indian middle distance runner Santhi Soundarajan attempted suicide after she failed the sex determination test at the 2006 Asian Games and was stripped of her medal.

The Beijing Games begin on 8th August.

Jason Warriner, a founding member of the College’s LGBT group, RCN OUT!, was first elected to the influential position in 2006.

At the RCN Congress nurses from across the UK gather to debate about healthcare policy and the future direction of the organisation.

Held every spring, it attracts upwards of 4,000 delegates.

The RCN, founded in 1916, has close to 400,000 members across the UK.

It represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies.

“I am delighted with my re-election and look forward to ensuring that all members have a representative voice within the RCN and the wider world,” Mr Warriner, Matron for Sexual Health and HIV at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, told Medical News Today.

“The last two years have been particularly pleasing as we’ve seen the College continue to modernise and it’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members now play a higher profile role in events such as Gay Pride and the first LGBT Annual Health Summit.

“I am pleased that in the last two years there has been a greater recognition of the contribution LGBT nurses make to the health of the nation and I’m hopeful that this will continue.”

Mr Warriner has worked on projects to support LGBT staff in the workplace.

As well as chairing the Congress, he will also lead the committee responsible for setting each Congress’s agenda.

In May Congress overwhelmingly passed a motion in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people.

More than 95% of delegates supported the call for the RCN Council to “develop and promote best practice to combat the barriers to health and homophobic bullying faced by LGBT youth in the UK.”

Last year the RCN backed calls for ‘explicit and proactive’ training in the NHS to combat gay prejudice.

Greenland’s news site Sermitsiak reported that the law, which legal experts said was not necessary until now, is set to take effect in 2010.

“Homosexuality hasn’t been something that has been important for people,” Søren Volder, chief legal advisor for the Home Rule government told Denmark’s Politiken newspaper.

Greenland, a self-governing Danish province with a population of 56,000, is the only Nordic country without such legislation.

Historian Jens Rydstöm believes that while lesbians can fulfil traditional female roles, gay men are often thought of as incapable of performing masculine tasks such as hunting, and are discriminated against.

Passing the law has enormous symbolic value,” said Rydstöm.

“”This is an important message to send to Greenland’s gays and lesbians,” he said. ”

He suggested that a combination of the media’s willingness to report about homosexuality and legislation preventing discrimination could help it become more acceptable.

More than 150 bottles of the drugs have been seized in five states since the beginning of the year.

The authorities stepped in after they became suspicious of the number of orders for the product.

Tests revealed the bottles, posted from Thailand, contained image and performance enhancing drugs including deca durabolin and testosterone.

“Customs National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said these drugs could not be imported into Australia without a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

“Despite the professionalism of this smuggling operation, Customs officers were not fooled by the labelling and its misdescription,” Mr Janeczko said.

“These detections also serve as a reminder that the use of performance and image enhancing drugs is not confined to elite athletes.

“These substances have the potential to cause serious health risks.”

Customs executed search and seizure warrants on premises throughout Australia and issued several individuals with formal warnings and seizure notices about these shipments while other detections remain under investigation.

Customs is also liaising with authorities in Thailand to prevent further shipments.

“This is the latest in a growing number of attempts to beat Customs controls on these types of drugs with Customs successfully prosecuting many such cases in recent times,” Mr Janeczko said.

“Despite the professionalism of this smuggling operation, Customs officers were not fooled by the labelling and its misdescription,” he said.
“
Several people are expected to face prosecution.

The maximum penalty for smuggling performance enhancing drugs such as those seized is five years’ jail or a $110,000 (£52,500) fine.

Replacing the annual Cardiff Mardi Gras, which was cancelled due to lack of community and financial support, the organisers of Cardiff Pride have promised to have all the important key elements people have come to expect over the years.

There will be a women’s stage, supported by lesbian magazine Diva, hosting a variety of entertainment aimed at women, while men will have their own zone.

Another change for the event, at Coopers Field on September 6th, is the entrance fee, though all proceeds will be donated to local gay causes and Welsh charities.

The main stage will run until 9pm with the line-up including the original 1960s Tiller Girls and Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, who reached the final stages of BBC1′’s Last Choir Standing.

There will be a dance tent sponsored by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, in conjunction with Cardiff gay venues Club X and Kings Cross, and dance night specialists Decadance. A host of top named DJ’s will also feature.

Spectators can also look forward to a larger than ever cabaret marquee, hosting a variety of comedy, singers and drag artists.

There will also be food outlets, a funfair, village market, community stalls and a VIP area.

After dark, the action moves to the street party and fun at the local gay bars and clubs. For more information click here.

David Walliams and Matt Lucas have taken their show stateside and hope their new characters appeal to their new audience, taking into consideration that the American approach to comedy differs from British humour.

“We talked about American comedy being a little cooler and Britain being a bit sadder,” Lucas told the Daily Mail.

“”But also we’re not afraid to dress as women which is a little bit rarer in American comedy,”” Walliams said.

In true American style, two of the new characters are jocks Tom and Mark who the Daily Mail report will have “surprise packages in store which will no doubt shock viewers”.

We are also introduced to Ellie-Grace, a misguided child beauty pageant hopeful, and her pushy mother, who should leave the audience in stitches.

Lucas’ favourite character is Bing Gordyn, the eighth man on the moon.

Played by Walliams, Bing is bitter because of the lack of acknowledgment of his accomplishments compared to other astronauts.

Other characters include Conor and Mildred, an American boy from the Deep South and his grandmother.

The six part series will also see some of our favourite characters such as gymslip mum Vicky Pollard.

Former Friends star David Schwimmer will direct some episodes. He directed British comedy Run, Fat Boy, Run last year.

Little Britain USA will air on HBO in September and later in the year on the BBC.

Having first held the festival ten years ago, the ‘Swedish Sin, Breaking Borders’ themed event is set to attract members of the LGBT community from across the world as it has now been extended to ten days.

“This year is 40 per cent larger than last year,” parade coordinator Paul Turner told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, regarding the number of groups that have applied to take part in the colourful parade.

There will be gay choirs, teacher’s unions, political parties, emergency services and even gay allotment gardeners.

Turner said the Swedish fire brigade would be at the parade for the first time.

The 2006 EuroPride parade in London attracted 500,000 spectators.

The festival’s ‘Swedish Sin, Breaking Borders’ theme focuses on international LGBT issues with guest speeches by Sweden’s EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstrom, Indian Prince Mavendra Singh Gohil and gender science professor Tiina Rosenberg.

“The theme has two aims,” said Jonah Nylund, president of Stockholm Pride.

“One is to show pride over the progress made in Sweden for homosexuals, bisexuals and transgenders.

“The other is to highlight the problems in the rest of the world, mainly in Eastern Europe where gay Pride events are banned and attacked time and time again.

Malmstrom participated in a Pride seminar and parade in Warsaw in 2007 and was active in the EU parliament’’s work group for LGBT-issues during her time in Brussels.

“I am proud to represent a government who wants to be a strong voice for the rights of LGBT-people,” she told Stockholm Pride.

“”I will speak about human rights and that they are universal and that it’s depressing that LGBT-people rights’ are violated in Europe today.””

Mavendra Singh Gohil revealed he was homosexual in 2006. He is the president of an Indian HIV organisation and one of very few openly gay people in India.

“”We have chosen Mavendra Singh Gohil because he can give EuroPride visitors an image of the situation for LGBT-people in other parts of the world,”” said Nylund.

Europride begins on Friday at the Skansen open-air museum with a popular sing-along event.

Over the ten days, there will be special film screenings, museum exhibitions, seminars and parties, and the parade through the city on August 2nd.

For more information click here.

Swedish website The Local reported that the 35-year-old was convicted of killing a man in his own home on December 28th 2007 and of the robbery and attempted murder of a 44-year-old man the day before.

He was also convicted of robbing two men on the ninth and 15th of December, having finished a sentence in January 2007 for similar crimes.

“All the victims were, or are, homosexual,” said public prosecutor Fredrik Ingblad at the man’s indictment hearing, The Local reports.

“He has taken advantage of their sexual preferences and violated them.”

The man met his victims through internet chat sites and gave the impression that he wanted to have sex with them, meeting them in their apartments in Stockholm.

His last victim died from knife wounds and a knife was used in the attempted murder.

The victim received a number of threats and stab wounds, including one on the sole of his foot as he lay naked in bed with his hand tied behind his back.

He also had his wallet, holding 900 kronor (around £75), stolen.

The 35-year-old robbed another man in his apartment, taking his computer, jewellery and several bottles of alcohol, on December 9th.

He has been informed that he is suspected of the murder of a woman in Eslöv in southern Sweden in 2000 and may soon be indicted in that case as well.

It was reported in June that the 60-year-old politician was accused of sodomy by his assistant and had temporarily sought refuge in the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

He had been due to make a statement over the claims, but was earlier driven to a police station and then taken to hospital for a medical examination.

Ibrahim denies the allegations, which mirror the case that saw him locked up for six years in 1998, but police are not giving him bail.

“They are keeping him tonight,” lawyer Sankara Nair told the AFP news agency.

“Their excuse is they need to take further statements.”

Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is a crime in Malaysia, which has a Muslim majority, and is punishable by 20 years imprisonment.

A statement on Ibrahim’s website said as he entered his neighbourhood, ten police cars, half unmarked, forced Ibrahim’s entourage to stop.

Armed police wearing balaclavas took him to the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters.

“The manner in which they surrounded our vehicle, it put a lot of fear and intimidation into us,” Nair told the BBC.

Ibrahim’s lawyers were not permitted to travel with him to the police station.

“We have to record his statement to complete our investigations,” Deputy National Police chief Ismail Omar told the BBC.

“Once the facts are in, we can make a decision.”

Ibrahim has called on his supporters to remain calm after large demonstrations were held when he was arrested in 1998, which BBC correspondent Robin Brant, in Kuala Lumpur, believes will happen again.

Ibrahim was jailed in 1998 after his former boss, Mahathir Mohammad, then prime minister of Malaysia, sacked him in order to stop his rise to power, claiming he is gay.

Human rights groups said that the charges that Ibrahim had sex with his brother, his driver and his speechwriter are untrue, and were used to smear him to stop him from succeeding to the prime ministerial role.

He was initially given 15 years for sodomy and corruption but the ruling was overturned in 2004.

“I doubt Anwar will be released tonight as this is a very serious allegation and there are a lot of things to be investigated and the police must carry this out fully,” Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar told AFP.

The Bourne Free is a “colourful celebration of equality and diversity in Bournemouth – through entertainment and awareness.”

This year’s turn out at the three day event surpassed 2007 and with the exception of a minor protest, the day was trouble free.

“It’s totally amazing, a fantastic feeling,” said Peter Lovegrove, chairman of the Bourne Free committee.

“There were not just gay supporters but business support too.”

The celebrations began with a brand new Jazz Night on Friday 11th July, which provided three hours of free entertainment.

Despite a few early showers, more than 300 spectators gathered in the Lower Gardens and enjoyed smooth sounds from musicians including Esther Vernon and Bafaana.

Saturday sunshine encouraged 3,000 people to attend the Support our Services themed parade through the town.

Naughty nurses, shirtless sailors, police and firemen marched alongside open top buses, fire engines, colourful floats and a huge rainbow flag.

The trademark Bourne Free show on Saturday afternoon featured top acts including Jamie Watson, The X Factor‘s Dolly Rockers and The Boy George Experience.

The event attracted many more people than last year.

“I looked down at the bandstand and was gobsmacked,” said Mr Lovegrove.

The Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Stephen Chappell, officially opened the show and the council flew  rainbow flags at both the Town Hall and at Pier Approach.

A massive Street Party in the evening provided more live performances from the pink sequinned Sheilas from the Sheila’s Wheels adverts, Rozalla with her five Top 20 hits, gay hip-hop star, QBoy, and Bournemouth favourite Nicolette Street.

Teams of dancers, stilt walkers and fire eaters all added to the atmosphere.

When the party finished, 2,500 revellers continued partying across many of Bournemouth’s gay pubs, bars and clubs.

On Sunday 13th July, there was a Caribbean Affair at Jimmys, The Branksome and Bent plus a Raffle Draw at The Xchange.

“The Jazz evening was a bit of a wash out,” Mr Lovegrove said, “and there was a minor incident where heterosexuals were protesting at the ticket gate.

“They were removed by authorities. But other than that it was a completely trouble-free event.”

17th International AIDS Conference will be held in Mexico in early August.

The Mexican government has been accused of failing to implement promises to address HIV-related human rights abuses.

“Mexico has good laws on HIV/AIDS,” said Anuar Luna Cadena of the Mexican Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

“But government institutions don’t adequately monitor abuses faced by people living with HIV or make sure they get the treatment and the protection they’re legally entitled to.”

The conference is appropriately titled ‘Universal Action Now’ as 400 AIDS and human rights organisations called on governments across the globe to end the human rights abuses fuelling the spread of HIV and AIDS, stating little progress can be done without taking action.

“Ahead of the 17th International AIDS Conference, governments are still violating the rights of people living with or at high risk of HIV infection,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas Director at Human Rights Watch.

“Governments have done little to fulfil their frequent promises to end HIV-related rights abuses.

“But until they act to end such abuses, even the best-planned policies to treat HIV and stop the spread of AIDS will fail.”

In Africa, nearly one-third of all new HIV infections occur among injecting drug users but prevention measures, such as needle-exchange programmes and medication-assisted treatment with methadone, are banned by law in many countries.

“It is a tragic irony that those at highest risk of HIV often receive the least attention,” said Richard Elliott, executive director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.

“In many countries, drug users are the majority of people living with HIV, but the smallest group receiving antiretroviral treatment. When they’re arrested, they’re even less likely to receive the HIV prevention and treatment services they need.”

HIV and AIDS services for sex workers and gay men are also targeted by abusive police forces.

They confiscate condoms from outreach workers and extort bribes, confessions, testimony, and sexual “favours” from sex workers.

Meanwhile, in Africa, laws that deny women equal access to divorce, property, and inheritance increase vulnerability to infection and hinder access to treatment.

Domestic violence or rape by a partner is not seen as a crime thus women are more at risk from infection.

“African governments rush to ratify international conventions, but drag their feet when it comes to ensuring human rights protections for women,” said Michaela Clayton, director of AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa.

“Legislation protecting women’s rights has languished in African parliaments for years. Protecting women from violence and securing equal rights to property are critical steps to stemming the AIDS epidemic.”

The 2008 AIDS fact sheet states that Universal Action Now is “an important reminder that the HIV/AIDS epidemic does not exist in a vacuum.

“Strengthening health systems in developing countries and addressing underlying social injustices that contribute to HIV risk and vulnerability – such as poverty, gender inequality and homophobia – are essential strategies in the global response to HIV.

“For those not yet engaged in the struggle, Universal Action Now is an invitation to get involved and make a difference.”

“There is no shortage of rhetoric about the importance of human rights in responding to HIV,” said Vivanco.

“This conference is the time to turn words into action.”

Graham Ferguson, an anti-corruption detective with the Metropolitan Police, and his partner Gerard Collins, a British Transport Police officer, were arrested after Ferguson’s colleague found indecent images of children on a disk in his office, which then led police to search their home.

Police found a floppy disk and a CD, both containing “illicit or illegal” images, under the couple’s bed, the court was told.

Jurors at Southwark Crown Court heard that DC Ferguson, 41, had been on sick leave when his colleague made the discovery in an unlocked filing cabinet in Ferguson’s office and reported it to his manager.

DC Michael Rutherford checked if the images related to any cases that Ferguson may have been investigating but none of his cases related to ped.

Prosecutor Tim Hunter told the court there was “no legitimate reason” for DC Ferguson to have had the DVD in his possession.

“The case is that the images on the disk are illicit or illegal and they didn’t seem to relate to a professional task.”

It is alleged that the disk held 57 paedophile movie files and one still image.

“It was the type of material that needs to be treated with the highest level of care,” Detective Sergeant Tim Thorne said.

“If it is evidence it should be in a police evidence bag and sealed. If it is a working copy it should be labelled and also sealed.

“It was not common to have that sort of material in and around the office.”

Officers searched the home of DC Ferguson and PC Collins, 27, where, along with the secret stash under the bed, they found a laptop that also held similar images.

The floppy disk contained 25 indecent images and the CD contained two images. The laptop held a movie file and a single image.

DC Ferguson is accused of possessing indecent images in relation to the disk found in his office while PC Collins is accused of two counts of making indecent images and a further count of possessing like material.

Both jointly face two counts of possessing indecent photographs.

The couple deny all charges.

The trial continues.

Northern Pride said on its website that, following the advice of Newcastle City Council’s Safety Advisory Group and Northumbria Police, who are escorting the parade, they can no longer accept applicants for the parade.

Supporters are asked to line the parade route instead.

As it is the first parade for Northern Pride to include floats, they set a limit of participants so they could monitor how well their safety plan works.

Northern Pride arrives this weekend in Newcastle and kicks off this Saturday with the Pride Breakfast at followed by the Pride parade through the city centre.

The parade will have floats, flags, costumes and banners.

For a chance to relax or take part in fun and games, the Pink Picnic is free and open to all after the parade.

There will be bands, stalls, street performance, sports and a fair.

On Sunday evening, supporters over 16 are welcomed to a comedy night at the Journal Tyne Theatre with special £10 tickets on sale.

The Last Laugh promises four top comedians.

An art exhibition displaying the work of talented LGBT artists is open now until the 20th.

A film night on Wednesday 16th July aims to “explore and highlight queer life in cities around the world especially ones where it is (becoming increasingly) difficult to be homosexual.”

For more details of all events visit the Northern Pride website.

The Times reported that Archbishop of Armagh, Alan Harper, said that if homosexuality was proven to be biologically predetermined “it will be necessary to acknowledge the full implications of that new aspect of the truth.”

The Primate of All Ireland was speaking at the annual conference of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

However, a statement from the Church of Ireland issued today said:

“The address calls for a mature discussion of the issue of homosexuality that draws upon both scripture and the results of scientific research using the application of traditional Anglican methods.

“Archbishop Harper’s closely argued address applies Anglican method as described by the 16th century theologian Richard Hooker.

“The Archbishop does not call for a particular outcome. The Archbishop’s address draws no parallels between same-sex relationships and marriage.”

In his speech, Archbishop Harper challenged those who use St Paul’s epistles, in which homosexuality is condemned.

He said the Church was a body open to evolution in its doctrines to take on board developments in science and understanding.

Thus, if it is proven that people are born homosexual, “the Church would have to accept that homosexuals committed “natural” rather than “unnatural” acts with each other”.

The editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette, Canon Ian Ellis, said that the Anglican community on the island not ready to recognise same sex marriages.

“I understand the Archbishop was indicating that should it become to be understood that homosexual acts were natural as opposed to unnatural then the Church of Ireland may be prepared to discuss a new status for homosexual relationships,” he told the Londonderry Sentinel.

Ireland has been at the centre of several stories surrounding gay rights in recent months.

The Republic of Ireland has just introduced a draft civil partnership bill while Northern Ireland politician Iris Robinson caused uproar when she said homosexuality an abomination and implied gay people could become heterosexual through therapy.

The Anglican communion has been at loggerheads over gay issues since the ordination of an openly gay bishop in the US in 2003.

Last month a group of 300 bishops attended a conference in Jerusalem where they repudiated the Church for being supportive of gay relationships.

They are to boycott the Lambeth Conference, a gathering of Anglican leaders held once a decade by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It begins later this month.

Safer Wales and the LGBT Excellence Centre Wales believe they have come up with “a Welsh answer to a UK-wide problem,” namely bullying and discrimination against minority groups in education.

They are offering schools training and support to students, teachers, school staff, governors, school counsellors, and parents as part of their “Safe Space” programme.

The “Safe Space” programme uses “game-show style workshops and theatre performances” to raise awareness of sexual orientation and gender identity issues.

The new initiative comes after a recent survey of more than 250 Welsh students revealed that 79% of them felt that their school was not safe for people to be openly gay.

66% felt that their school is not safe for heterosexual students to support their LGBT friends, and 56% felt that their school is not safe for teachers and staff to be openly gay.

“These statistics are astonishing and speak for themselves,” said Federico Podeschi, managing director of the LGBT Excellence Centre Wales.

“Sadly they are also reflective of the reality of most schools in the UK.”

On Monday Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg strongly condemned the impact homophobic bullying has on pupils’ lives.

Speaking at the annual Stonewall Education For All conference, he said:

“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.”

The School Report survey, conducted by Stonewall last year, spoke to children across Britain.

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.

“Bullying in schools is no longer tolerated,” said Mark Williams, the Combating Homophobia Coordinator at Safer Wales.

“We should all be protecting the welfare and well-being of all pupils who are victims of name-calling, abuse, harassment and discrimination because of their diversity.”

The Welsh Assembly Government supports an end to bullying in Welsh schools and circulated the “Respecting Others: Anti-Bullying Guidance,” following consultation, in February 2003.

“A way to stop bullying is for all students and staff in schools to make a stand against this commonly accepted abuse,” said Mr Podeschi.

“It’s not just lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people who suffer, but anyone who is different.

“We need to work together to protect our basic human right to be ourselves.

“For the majority of students and teachers this means acting as a buddy, someone who is willing to speak up for the rights of LGBT youths.

“Taking a stand is not easy as we’ve seen in our survey with students fearing for their own safety or buddies fearing being labelled as gay themselves.”

Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, said at a union LGBT conference last week that gay equality being taught as part of the school curriculum was the only way to fight homophobia in schools.

Cardiff County Council has supported the pilot of the “Safe Space” programme and interest has been expressed by Carmarthenshire and Wrexham County Councils.

Peter Tatchell and two fellow protesters were trying to get into yesterday’s conference, hosted by newly-formed Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FOCA), at All Souls Church in central London when they were attacked.

FOCA opposes the recognition of same-sex relationships and female bishops.

“”This breakaway Anglican faction is fundamentalist, homophobic and sexist,” Mr” Tatchell said.

““It opposes equal rights for women and gay people, and is allied with hardline church leaders whose bigoted teachings are fueling anti-gay witch-hunts in many countries.””

The human rights campaigner was joined by Brett Lock, from gay rights group OutRage, and Christian and Ugandan gay rights activist, Kizza Musinguzi.

When they tried to enter the church, they were physically ejected and Mr Tatchell said he was punched in the chest by a church steward.

Mr Tatchell and supporters unfolded their banners, reading “Church of Hate! Stop Crucifying Queers!,” “Defend gays, fight Christian bigots” and “Anglicans Repent Your Homophobia”, once they were outside the building.

See pictures.

750 clergy and churchwardens attended the conference, addressed by the Archbishop Gregory Venables from South America, Archbishop Peter Jensen from Sydney and Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Orombi.

Archbishop Orombi has starred in his own drama in the past, excommunicating heterosexual bishop Christopher Senyonjo because he defended gay people against persecution.

He has stirred up trouble in Uganda where violence and hatred against gays is rife, which led to the imprisonment and torture of Mr Musinguzi.

“”The church is supposed to be all-loving,” said Mr Musinguzi, who is currently seeking asylum in the UK. “

“It is not acceptable that it has one set of rights for straight Christians and a lesser set of rights for gay Christians.

“When Archbishop Orombi takes a stand against gay people, he signals to the population that it is ok to discriminate against gay people.

“Gay people in Uganda face imprisonment, torture and mob violence. Many are driven out of their communities and left destitute.

“The government excludes gay people from its HIV programmes, leaving them to die without medication.

“The Church of Uganda is exacerbating this homophobia, neglect and persecution.””

Mr Tatchell added that the Archbishop of Nigeria is backing the state-sponsored persecution of lesbians and gays in Nigeria and is “orchestrating a victimisation campaign against the Nigerian gay Christian leader Davis Mac-Iyalla, Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria.”

“Jesus Christ is recorded in The Bible as condemning many sins but he never once condemned homosexuality,” said Mr Tatchell.

“The anti-gay campaign of the breakaway Anglican leaders is a perversion of Christ’s gospel of love and compassion.

“These splitters are Old Testament fundamentalists, not true followers of Jesus Christ.””

Frequent spats concerning gay priests and female bishops have rocked the General Synod of the Church of England, with fears of a split.

FOCA was founded at a recent conference held in Jerusalem which defied the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office said yesterday it would not comment as it did not want to pre-empt the next General Synod meeting.

Last week the House of Lords ruled that a man could legally be recognised as the father of his partner’s biological daughter despite the fact that the couple were never married and do not have plans to marry.

They have been together ever since the child was born with the biological father making no contributions to the child’s upbringing.

The couple had previously lost a case in Belfast High Court and in the Court of Appeal in their five year battle.

The outcome of the case clearly states that it will be possible for unmarried couples to apply for adoption but does not exclusively say that it applies to same-sex couples.

Though, as it does not exclude them either, it brings hope that gay couples will be allowed to adopt in Northern Ireland, coming into line with the rest of the UK.

It is claimed that gay couples should be “eligible” and in a “normal position” to apply jointly to adopt a child though there will be setbacks.

Although unmarried couples are able to adopt, the status of any couple will be taken into consideration in the application process.

For example, a couple who have been together for a year but have a shaky relationship will not be eligible to adopt.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said: “As well as providing for Civil Partnership Registration for same-sex couples, it will also provide certainty as to the status of cohabitation agreements, and a legal safety-net to people living in long term relationships who may otherwise be very vulnerable at the end of a relationship, whether through break-up or through bereavement.”

The new bill, expected to take effect by this time next year, creates a legal relationship for same-sex couples, covering registration of civil partnerships, property and financial matters and dissolution of the partnership.

However, the bill does not apply to opposite-sex couples or siblings who are living together.

It does offer financial protection for co-habiting heterosexual couples with the safety net of a redress scheme in the event of economic vulnerability at the end of the relationship.

To qualify for a civil partnership you and your partner must both be 18 by the date of registration and give three months notice of when you wish to register the partnership.

Just as heterosexual marriages, the union cannot take place if either one of you is already married or in a civil partnership and you cannot enter a civil partnership with family members, including those related by adoption.

Partnerships are only annulled if it is found that either party had given false or misleading information regarding the age and marital status of either of the parties, if the couple are are related in any way, information that would have initially prevented the partnership.

The main principle of the bill is to ensure that those in civil partnerships are entitled to the same benefits as married couples based on the fact that they are long term unions, though civil partnership is not the same as marriage.

The government claims such a move would be open to Constitutional challenge under Article 41 of the Constitution.

Minister Eamon Ryan said the Green Party were pleased to see the proposed legislation and looked forward to it being enacted, although he acknowledged that his party had wanted to go further.

Under the new bill, acts such as the mental health act, immigration laws and domestic violence will be amended so that civil partners receive the same provision as spouses in opposite-sex marriages.

Yet, one of the major changes, and perhaps the most anticipated, is a civil partner recognised as lawfully sharing the estate of a deceased person.

Partners have the right to share the estate as long as they respect the rights of the deceased person’s children and the rights of a former spouse.

In addition to that, civil partners are entitled to pension benefits as long as they have been registered.

Nevertheless, if your partner has deserted you for more than two years and you have not reconciled at the time of their death, you are not liable for any of share of the estate if you are the first named civil partner.

When a partnership has been dissolved, the court can request for a partner to make maintenance payments to the other to meet any liabilities or expenses reasonably incurred before a dissolution was applied for.

Payments stop when either partner dies or when the partner in favour enters a new civil partnership or marriage. This also applies to property orders and for all rules in general.

Any payments made to a partner after a dissolution remain effective until they enter a new partnership.

Ciaran Cuffe, a spokesperson for the Green Party Justice said the announcement was “a significant step forward for same sex couples, and represents progress on the path towards full marriage equality.

For more information about the proposed legislation click here.