Catholic adoption agencies seek ways round gay rules
Claims by the Roman Catholic Church that the government would be offering money to help them avoid new regulations in their adoption agencies have been dismissed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
In a statement issued last week on the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales website, they claim the government will "pay for further work to be done to explore whether within the law there might yet be ways found which will enable the adoption work to carry on and for our agencies to continue."
Man sues police over hammer attack
A Brighton man is suing Sussex Police after he claims they did not protect him from the violence of his former partner.
Stephen Smith, 38, was attacked with a hammer by a man he had met on the internet after he made it clear he did not want a committed relationship.
Gareth Jeffrey had bombarded him with text messages threatening to kill him, which Mr Smith said he reported to officers before the attack took place in March 2003.
Norwegian church lifts ban on partnered gay clergy
The Lutheran church of Norway has lifted an outright ban on clergy in same-sex relationships.
However, it will allow each bishop to decide whether or not to employ them.
The decision comes after a week of debate at the churches annual meeting, with the 86 member governing synod voting 50 to 34 to change the rules.
Police investigate suspicious death of trans woman
A forty-year-old trans woman has been found dead at her home in south-east London, according to reports.
Kayiode Dexter Telesford, who had been living for several years under the name of Kellie Telesford, died of strangulation at her home on Leander Road in Thornton Heath.
The police are treating the death as suspicious, and have asked anyone who saw Telesford between the 15th and 21st of November to contact them immediately.
Tatchell to celebrate 40 years of activism
One of the best-known gay rights advocates in Britain will soon be celebrating his 40th year of human rights campaigning.
Peter Tatchell began his first campaign in 1967 in his native Australia against the death penalty and opposition to conscription and the Australian and US war against the people of Vietnam.
"It is a great honour and privilege to have been part of the international human rights movement," said Mr Tatchell.
Army sergeant denies sending texts to lesbian soldier
An employment tribunal has heard an Army sergeant deny sending texts to a lesbian soldier claiming he could "convert" her.
Lance Corporal Kerry Fletcher, 31, claims she was picked on because of her sexuality and that the staff sergeant sent her text messages indicating he wanted to have sex with her when she was working at an army stables in North Yorkshire.
The sergeant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has maintained his innocence.
Champion athlete may have gender reassignment surgery
A former European pole vault medallist has decided to quit the sport, possibly to pursue a sex change operation.
Yvonne Buschbaum said that a persistent achilles tendon injury and a feeling that she was "emotionally in the wrong body" have contributed to her decision to end her career.
The 27-year-old said on her website: "For many years, I have had the feeling I am in the wrong body."
EastEnders actress wins damages over lesbian story
Actress Samantha Janus has won substantial damages from a claim that she had engaged in a "three hour drug fueled lesbian orgy."
She sued the Sunday Sport after story entitled "Sam's sex and drugs shame" hit newsstands on 22 July this year.
Two topless photos of Janus, taken by her ex boyfriend Doug Harwood, accompanied the article.
Warning over poppers link to HIV infection
Poppers usage could increase a gay mans susceptibility to HIV transmission during unprotected sex, a new UK study has found.
The use of the drug facilitates longer and rougher sex, as well as increasing the body's uptake of fluids.
The research, published in the online edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections, shows gay men are still the highest risk group in terms of UK HIV infection.
Chorister dismissed for coming out on TV
Italian gay rights groups have said the case of a chorister forced to leave his choir due to being gay proves the countries need for anti-homophobia laws.
Twenty year old Alberto Ruggin was dismissed by his priest after featuring on a television programme where he revealed his sexuality.
His priest, Don Paolino Bettanin, from the northern Italian town of Padua, claimed he was "disgusted" by the whole affair.
British government releases Iran hanging documents
Information has been released for the first time from the Foreign and Commonwealth office regarding the execution of gays in Iran.
The documentation takes the form of correspondence sent between embassies throughout the EU and dates back as far as May 2005.
It refers specifically to the case of two boys, Mahmoud Asqari, who was under 18 at the time the alleged offence was committed, and Ayad Marhouni who were hung in public.
Spray-on condom unveiled
A German inventor had invented a spray-on condom.
Jan Vinzenze Krause, director of the Institute for Condom Consultancy said the idea came from the idea that the condom should fit the man, and not the other way round.
Speaking to Spiegel Online he said: "If you go into a drug store to buy condoms, the ones they sell are mainly suited to men with the average penis length of 14.5 centimetres (5.51 inches), but a lot of people have penises that are smaller or larger than that"
Trans candidate faces legal challenge
Two city council candidates in the US have filed petitions against a transgender candidate accusing her of committing fraud.
Georgia Fuller and Stanley Harris, who both lost their bids for seats, have filed the lawsuit in Georgia claiming that Michelle Bruce falsely identified herself as female in the election earlier this month.
The case, which identifies her as 'Michael Bruce', has asked the judge to rule the election invalid.
Gays advised not to shop at Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart, the biggest private employer in the US has been given a "do not buy" rating in a new gay consumer guide.
Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay rights group in America, made its announcement, in time for the festive season, due to the company's refusal to give domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian workers.
The 2008 Corporate Quality index rated Wal-Mart, along with other retail giants including Toys R Us and Auto Zone, in the red category, advising gays and their supporters to shop elsewhere.
First gay Somali website launched
A website aimed at improving communication between Somalian gay men has now gone live.
The site, the first of its kind for the Muslim East African nation, is aimed at the UK Somalian gay community but it is hoped that it will reach those who feel trapped in the homophobic country and show that there are others like them.
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