Law
- Law
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1 October 2007Irish government criticised by own Equality Authority over gay teachers + The Irish Equality Authority has accused the Irish Government of hypocrisy over its commitment to gay rights after claims it is refusing to change laws that discriminate against gay teachers.The 1998 Employment Equality Act gives religious schools an exemption over discrimination law if employing someone will in it's view undermine the school's religious ethos. -
1 October 2007Killer Huntley on hunger strike over “gay lover” 1 The murderer of 10-year olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, Ian Huntley, has gone on hunger-strike after prison authorities denied him access to his gay lover, a convicted killer by the name of Dean Wood.Wakefield prison authorities have so far denied four of the pair's requests for a visit, and the 33 year old has now decided to raise the stakes."I have not eaten and I will not," Mr Huntley said. -
29 September 2007Gay NYPD officer suing for discrimination + An gay police office has claimed that he was threatened with violence and verbally abused by fellow officers and was treated unfairly by supervisors at the New York Police Department (NYPD).Michael Harrington, 30, made the claims in a lawsuit filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court.Other officers called him a "faggot" and one said he would hurt Mr Harrington if confronted, he claims. -
28 September 2007Three months in prison for homophobic abuse 1 An Essex businessman has been sentenced to three months in prison after drunkenly threatening and shouting homophobic abuse at his neighbours.43-year-old asbestos contractor Stuart Makemson of Twelve Acres, Braintree, brandished a snooker cue at Andrew Morrison saying: "I'm going to take that nose off your face with this."Mr Morrison and his wife had been woken earlier by Mr Makemson verbally abusing their gay son and his boyfriend, reported the Essex Chronicle. -
28 September 2007Lord Browne bounces back with board appointment + The former chief executive of BP who was forced to resign after allegations made by his ex-boyfriend became public is to join the board of a leading architects firm.The Mail on Sunday newspaper was responsible for exposing that Lord John Browne lied in court documents about where he met his former lover, Jeff Chevalier.Lord Browne is to join the board of Foster + Partners as a non-executive director. -
28 September 2007Civil rights groups join calls for same-sex marriage + Scores of religious, civil rights and child advocacy organisations — along with numerous municipal governments, bar associations and leading legal scholars — urged the California Supreme Court to put an end to state laws that deny same-sex couples the protections of marriage by submitting 30 amicus briefs earlier this week."We are not treating all Californians equally if some can marry and others cannot," said Alice Huffman, president of the California Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. -
27 September 2007Manslaughter accused blames sex injuries on his dog 1 A man on trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with manslaughter has claimed that serious injuries to the dead man were caused by his dog.David Currie from Warrington died from a heart attack brought on by serious internal injuries he sustained during sex at the home of Steven Boyd.But 47-year-old Boyd, from the Wirral, denies manslaughter and claimed that the injuries were caused by his dog Tosh, a great Dane/bull mastiff cross. -
27 September 2007Police need your help to catch killer of gay man + Manchester police are appealing to the city's gay community to help them with their investigation into the murder of 24-year-old David Brown in Hulme.They have released CCTV footage of the last time he was seen alive and are appealing to witnesses to help them catch his killer.David had been on a date in Manchester City Centre on Thursday 20 September 2007, exactly a week ago today. -
27 September 2007Trans youth to undergo surgery in Latin America + A 17-year-old transsexual boy has been granted gender reassignment surgery in Argentina.The Consulting Bioethics Committee of the Córdoba Judiciary decided that the child, known as Nati, can now go ahead with surgery and can also have the gender changed on her official documents including her birth certificate.The landmark decision to allow Nati to receive the surgery follows three years of petitioning. -
26 September 2007Study finds suicide more likely in those unsure of sexuality + Young people confused about their sexuality are most vulnerable to suicide, a study of university students has revealed.The University of Washington research found that while gay, lesbian and bisexual participants are twice as likely as heterosexuals to have attempted suicide, those who still have issues with defining their sexuality are six times as likely.Of the 528 participants, 79 of these identified themselves as same sex attracted heterosexuals. -
26 September 2007Elton photo removed over child porn allegations 5 Police have seized a photograph owned by singer songwriter Sir Elton John as they believe it breaches child pornography laws.The image taken by renowned American photographer Nan Goldin was due to go on display as part of her Thanksgiving series at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead when a concerned member of gallery staff contacted police yesterday.The photograph Klara and Edda Belly Dancing features two semi naked young girls playing. -
26 September 2007Lesbian couple arrested in same-sex marriage protest + A lesbian couple was arrested in Denver yesterday following their protest of Colorado's ban on same-sex marriages.Sheila Schroeder, 43 and Kate Burns, 44, staged the sit-in protest in the Wellington E.Webb Municipal Building, when they were refused an application for a marriage licence from the Denver Clerk and Recorder Office.The couple, who have been together for five years, took Rev. -
25 September 2007Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights + Straight Americans will be making a stand for gay rights next month by holding candlelit vigils to show public support of the LGBT community.Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights takes place from 7-13 October and is the first event of its kind.The event is hosted by gay-friendly members of each participating state. -
25 September 2007Appeal over lesbian denied child custody + A custody case involving a lesbian mother has taken a strange turn in Georgia, where officials from the American Civil Liberties Union have stepped in to urge court officials to dismiss a county judge's contempt order and jail sentence against the woman.Earlier this year, Wilkinson County Judge John Lee Parrott ordered that a seven-year-old be removed from the home of Elizabeth Hadaway after discovering Hadaway is gay.The 28-year-old paramedic assumed custody of the girl more than a year ago at the request of her biological mother. -
24 September 2007European Commission approves HIV drug + Only days after news of the failure of a major Merck HIV vaccine research trial, rival pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. -
24 September 2007Out athletes discuss life as a gay footballer + American football has long been considered one of the manliest of activities.While baseball is America's national pastime, it is football which has captivated audiences for nearly 150 years and become the most popular of American sports.Since it's inception, surprisingly, only a few athletes have come out publicly as gay players. -
24 September 2007NI politician praises police cruising sting operation + A controversial operation against men looking for sex in public toilets in the Northern Ireland town of Coleraine has been praised by a local SDLP representative.Twelve men have been brought before the courts after the Police Service of Northern Ireland launched a surveillance operation at public toilets in the town after complaints from local residents.A 46-year-old man from Londonderry and a 44-year-old from Coleraine were fined £250 by North Antrim Magistrates Court after being convicted of "intentionally engaging in sexual activity." -
22 September 2007Councillor guilty of paedophile slurs against opponent 130 A Labour party councillor has been barred from public office for three years and fined £1000 for making false allegations of paedophilia against her gay opponent.Miranda Grell, who works as a researcher for London's Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, wept as District Judge John Woollard passed sentence.Ms Grell, 29, was also ordered to pay £3000 towards prosecution costs.
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21 September 2007Costa Rica considers law to prevent gay adoption 1 A bill has reached the first stages of becoming law in the central American country of Costa Rica that would prevent gays, lesbians and bisexuals from adopting children.The proposed amendment to Costa Rica's Family Code, the law regarding marriage, divorce, paternity and adoption, was agreed by all 57 elected members of the Legislative Assembly.The bill bans adoption by individuals or gay and lesbian couples. -
21 September 2007Trans bus driver’s appeal dismissed + A transsexual bus driver who was fired for using the women's toilets had her appeal dismissed by a federal appeals court in Denver last week.In 2002, in preparation for gender reassignment surgery, Krystal Etsitty was taking hormone therapy and living as a woman.She had officially changed her birth name Michael to Krystal and had changed this detail on her driver's licence.
