Ken: UK anti-discrimination law 'not working'
London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone, has launched an attack against Britain's anti-discrimination law on the day the new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is established.
The Commission brings together a number of anti-discrimination commissions into one equality body designed to enforced anti-discrimination legislation and offer employers, public sector bodies and individuals practical advice.
But the mayor claims that the current level of legal protection is inadequate.
Killer Huntley on hunger strike over "gay lover"
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.
Top Tory: BNP voters 'legitimate views'
The Conservative shadow secretary for community cohesion has caused outrage in political circles by claiming that BNP voters hold some "very legitimate views."
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a Muslim, was one of David Cameron's most celebrated appointments to the front bench earlier this year, but her comments have reopened accusations of a drift to the right on the eve of Mr Cameron's vital leader's speech at the party conference.
In an interview with the Independent, Baroness Warsi said: "There are a lot of people out there who are voting for the British National Party and it's those people that we mustn't just write off and say 'well, we won't bother because they are voting BNP or we won't engage with them'.
Nearly half of Brits face discrimination
Research conducted for the new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) indicates that 46 percent of Brits believe they have faced some form of discrimination.
The new commission, which incorporates the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission, is being launched today.
Its Chair, Trevor Phillips, said: "We live in an age of difference where most of us believe that people must be judged on their abilities, not their age, what they look like, their disability or their families and private lives."
Turks have the most sex
The world's largest survey on sexual behaviour has found that Turkey is the most virile nation on earth, but doctors and scientists are urging caution on its findings, branding it "unscientific."
The Durex Global Sex Survey asked 317,000 participants in 41 countries about their sexual habits, and will be published in this months Foreign Policy magazine.
While the general trend is for individuals in richer countries to have a larger number of sexual partners, Turks seem to buck the trend, totting up 14 partners in a lifetime.
Labour hit back at Tory attack on civil unions
Former Eastenders star and Labour MEP for the West Midlands, Michael Cashman, has hit back at Tory MP Michael Ancram for his comments on civil unions yesterday.
Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Ancram said treating civil unions like normal marriages "insults the intelligence of the British people."
He continued: "They are not the equivalent of marriage.
Cardinal attacks homophobic radio station
Poland's most influential cardinal has launched a broadside attack on a notorious radio station branded anti-Semitic and homophobic by its critics.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Archbishop of Krakow, spelt out fears that the position of the church in Poland was increasingly being confused with those of Radio Maryja, run by Fr Tadeusz Rydzyk - a Redemptorist monk.
"Pastoral work is gradually slipping out of bishops' control and into the hands of others," he said.
Dean tells US gays: 'We'll make the changes you're looking for'
In a clear statement of intent Democratic party National Committee Chair and former leadership nominee Howard Dean has told US gays to vote for his party if they want to improve their legal rights.
"I think the message is pretty clear," he said. "Vote Democrat and we'll make the changes you're looking for."
Mr Dean claimed a host of measures which protect gay rights and outlaw discrimination had been achieved because of the Democratic party.
Buenos Aires offers gay discount card
Authorities in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires have introduced a discount card for gay tourists.
Card-holders can use the card at participating restaurants, hotels, medical emergency centres and even lawyers' offices.
The cards are released as Buenos Aires enjoys an unparalleled influx of gay tourists, now constituting 10 to 15 percent of visitors to the city.
Gay Paris Mayor aims for second term
Paris' openly gay Mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, has confirmed he will run for a second term and outlined a green, socially conscious programme for re-election.
"My programme is aimed at placing Paris ahead of the curve," Mr Delanoe told Le Parisien.
The confirmation of his campaign has done little to stifle suggestions he could become 2012 presidential candidate for the Socialists, however.
Stonewall questions world's largest law firm
Gay rights group Stonewall has asked to meet representatives of the world's largest law firm, Clifford Chance, following a sexual discrimination case brought against them by a former partner.
The sexual orientation claim by former competition partner Michael Bryceland was the first of its kind against a UK law firm, but it was settled in April for an undisclosed amount.
The firm has failed, however, to respond to Stonewall's request for a meeting.
Moscow court slams gay activists
n attempt by gay activists to protest a ban on their parade last May has met with failure as Moscow's Tverskoy court rejected their case.
The court ruled that successful attempts by the city authorities to ban the parade were legal.
Event organiser and prominent gay leader Nikolai Alekseyev told Interfax the judge was challenged by plaintiffs during the hearing due to improper actions but the legal basis for the ban was nonetheless upheld.
Senior Tory: Civil partnerships 'insult the intelligence'
A leading Tory MP, Michael Ancram, has launched a withering attack on civil unions, saying treating them in the same way as marriage "insults the intelligence of the British people."
In an open attack on Conservative leader David Cameron, the MP for Devizes unveiled an alternative manifesto today calling on the party to adopt more traditional Tory policies.
Warning the leadership to stop "trashing" its Thatcherite past, he said Cameron should "unveil the party's soul based on those core values, principles and beliefs that form the timeless make-up of that Conservative soul."
US priest turns to Uganda to fight homosexuals
Uganda's Anglican Church consecrated an American priest as bishop yesterday, in order for him to lead his own congregation in Virginia against homosexuality.
It is the latest move in the struggle for gay recognition in the Anglican community, following the consecration of two American bishops to the Church of the Province of Kenya .
Reverend John Guernsey will now look after the 33 parishes in the US which have agreed to come under the rule of the Province of the Church of Uganda.
Gay French rugby clubs unite as World Cup nears
France's network of gay rugby clubs are closing ranks to challenge homophobic sentiment on and off the pitch as the World Cup gears up to its first match.
French gay rugby clubs game relatively late to the game, sometime after the UK, South Africa and Australia started the trend, but they are intent on making up lost ground.
"It always surprises people when at the beginning of a match we introduce ourselves as a gay team, but once on the pitch, we earn the other side's respect," Christophe Solignac, trainer for the "Melee Alpine" (Alpine Scrum) team in Grenoble in the French Alps told AFP.
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