Australian government plans to censor net content
Internet freedom may be to be under threat in Australia when the new Labour government introduces censorship guidelines to combat child pornography and violent websites.
The government has announced plans to restrict and block inappropriate content and provide a censored version of the internet.
Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy said: "The government policy applies to computers in homes, schools and libraries and targets pornography and ultra-violent sites."
Orthodox bishop links homosexuals to paedophiles
A senior Russian church leader has condemned social acceptance of homosexuality, declaring that it is the church's "duty" to correct public opinion.
In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegal, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, who is head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, said that not viewing homosexuality as a sin will lead to a variety of other sexual perversions.
"If you excuse homosexuality, why not excuse paedophilia?" he said.
Robbers who posed as gay jailed for five years
Two men who pretended they were gay so that they could rob a man they met in a nightclub have been sentenced to five years at Bristol Crown Court.
Benjamin Butler, 29, and Matthew Wyatt, 33, duped John Gibbs at the Vibe club in Bristol before going back to his flat where they threatened him with a knife, stole his money and tied him up.
The pair then fled, leaving Mr Gibbs imprisoned in his flat. A few days later he spotted the thieves in the city. He called the police and they were arrested.
Gay airport guard claims sexual harassment
A gay security guard at Heathrow airport was harassed by a female colleague for sex, an employment tribunal heard yesterday.
Allwyn Rondeau, 46, who lives in Feltham, Middlesex with his partner of 15 years, told the tribunal how he had rejected 42-year-old Lucy Chilton's persistent advances time and time again because he was gay, but she would not give up.
The tribunal heard that on one occasion Miss Chilton "stuck her bum in the air saying 'come on give it to me'", according to The Daily Express.
Shock at male rape estimates in Sydney
New figures have revealed that hundreds of men are being raped in Sydney and its eastern suburbs every year.
A report from the Eastern and Central Sexual Assault Service at Royal Alfred Hospital stated that although 44 male victims complained of being sexually assaulted last year, this number was just "the tip of the iceberg".
Experts claim that as much as 95 per cent of male victims did not report such crimes to the police. Manager Lisa Simpson said: "There is a huge denial about same-sex sexual assault."
Help for the one in four LGBT people who suffer domestic abuse
Victims of sexual abuse can now find help at Galop, a safety charity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
A new caseworker at the London-based charity is available to help LGBT victims of sexual violence make anonymous reports to the police and provide them with advice.
According to the caseworker, Jamey Fisher, the aim of the service is to "help LGBT people who have experienced sexual abuse at any point in their lives."
NI equality commission explores LGB concerns
A report has been published by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to help enable lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals to access their rights under equality law.
The purpose of the report was to explore the obstacles facing both LGB individuals and equality bodies when it came to the realisation of LGB rights.
Its findings showed that many LGB people are cautious about disclosing their sexuality.
Irish gay emigrants reluctant to return home
An increasing number of gay Irish emigrants are choosing not to return to Ireland because they can't take their partners with them.
The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) said that the issue is a huge problem for Irish nationals whose partners cannot live or work in Ireland.
Calls to GLEN about the issue have doubled in the past two years.
The situation is also difficult for Irish people living in Ireland who are in a relationship with a foreign national.
Australian capital delays same-sex unions
Laws allowing same-sex unions in the Australian Capital Territory are to be delayed after concerns were voiced by the new federal attorney-general, Robert McClelland.
The decision follows talks between Mr McClelland and ACT attorney-general Simon Corbell about the proposed legislation to grant legal recognition to same-sex unions, which was due to come into effect in February 2008.
The discussion came after the previous attorney-general Philip Ruddock tried to block ACT laws.
Parkinson's drugs led to gay sex addiction claims father
A father-of-two with Parkinson's disease may be awarded damages in France after he turned into a gambler and a thief with uncontrollable homosexual urges because of drugs prescribed for his treatment.
Didier Jambart, 47, is suing for €400,000 (£287,000) after being prescribed with dopamine agonist drugs, which he claims led to severe mood swings.
During his highs he turned to gambling and accumulated debts of €130,000.
Euro queer youth discuss gay-friendly schools
Today 100 young LGBT people from all over Europe are gathering in Málaga, Spain, for a three-day meeting of International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer Youth and Student Organisation.
IGLYO member organisations will discuss the organisational priorities and strategies on advancing equality and human rights for LGBTQ young people.
Euro MP Michael Cashman will be speaking at the event. He is President of the European Parliament Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights.
Labour fund created to support LGBT candidates
The Labour Party has launched a campaign fund to support LGBT candidates, especially women, at future elections.
Dorothy's List was set up with the objective of raising £2,000 to help members of the LGBT community overcome the obstacles which they face when running for political office.
LGBT Labour said that they have so far received a positive response both from the LGBT community and from Labour party candidates and members.
Gay activists arrested as observers query Russian election
Gay rights campaigners were arrested yesterday at a polling station in Russia for attempting to conduct an "illegal gathering."
The group was there to protest against homophobic Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who was expected at the polling station later that day.
Mr Luzhkov has banned the last two gay pride marches in Moscow calling them a "work of Satan." Activist Nicolas Alexeyev was arrested after he wrote "No to homophobes, no to Luzhkov" on his ballot.
PM pledges more money for HIV/AIDS
Gordon Brown has unveiled government plans to increase the AIDS support grant by 20 per cent, equivalent to £17.6m, over the next three years.
But, he stressed, in his announcement made the day before World AIDS Day, commitment is needed from the whole of society to help fight stigma and educate people to protect themselves.
Mr Brown said that HIV and AIDS are "one of the greatest challenges of our time and a key priority for this government."
Equalisation of age of consent angers Northern Ireland politicians
Gay rights groups in Northern Ireland are at loggerheads with the Roman Catholic Church and the Democratic Unionist Party over proposed legislation to lower the age of consent from 17 to 16, bringing it in line with the rest of the UK.
Justice Minister Paul Goggins MP, who unveiled the draft Sexual Offences (NI) Order, said that there is no convincing reason for the age to be different than it is in the rest of the UK.
The change to the age of consent is a matter for the British government and not the Northern Ireland Assembly or Executive.
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