Georgia's homophobia exposed in row over "gay" rally
Organisers of a rally celebrating diversity and tolerance in the eastern European country of Georgia were forced to call off the event after it was falsely reported as a gay Pride parade.
The rally, part of the Council of Europe 'All Different, All Equal' diversity and human rights campaign, was cancelled when organisers, Georgian human rights group Century 21, received abusive telephone calls, emails and threats of violence.
The abuse started after Georgian paper Alia reported that "pederasts" were getting ready for a parade in the capital, Tbilisi.
Massachusetts gay marriage rights extend to out-of-staters
Same-sex couples from the US state of New Mexico can get married in Massachusetts, state officials ruled this month, after determining that gay marriage had not been explicitly banned in New Mexico.
Massachusetts is the only US state to have legalised same-sex marriage. A gay rights group from the state asked officials to clarify the rules for out-of-state couples.
Along with Rhode Island, New Mexico is the only other US state that has not explicitly either banned or allowed same-sex unions.
Activists target UN General Secretary over gay rights
Protesters ambushed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon as he spoke in San Fransisco last night, demanding he break the UN's silence on lesbian, gay and bisexual rights around the world.
Standing on their seats, the protesters, holding a sign reading 'Gay rights are UNiversal' chanted: "Break the silence, talk about gays."
Charity urges gay men to come out to their GP
The Terrence Higgins Trust has launched a campaign to encourage gay
and bisexual men to come out to their doctors and better navigate
their GP surgeries.
44 per cent of gay men have not told their doctors, and could be
missing out on better care as a result.
The campaign, via their chapsonline.org website, also explains how the NHS works.
Executed Iranians may have been gay
Expatriate Iranian sources are reporting that some of the 16 people
hanged last week, labelled 'the most famous hooligans in Tehran', were executed for being gay.
Islamic law states that all sexual acts outside of a heterosexual
marriage - referred to as sodomy - are forbidden.
As part of a wide-ranging crackdown on 'indecent behaviour', police
arrested over 1000 men in May in poor districts around Tehran.
Peter Tatchell stands by Beenie Man and Banton signatures
Campaigner Peter Tatchell today called claims that two reggae stars did not sign an agreement to stop performing homophobic music "absurd."
Buju Banton and Beenie Man both gained positive press coverage around the world for publicly renouncing homophobia by signing the Reggae Compassion Act.
Now Banton's management team has said he did not sign up.
Stonewall targets homophobic doctors
Doctors who discriminate against lesbian, gay or bisexual patients are being targeted by a joint initiative launched today by Stonewall and the General Medical Council.
Research by the gay equality organisation found that LGB people faced discrimination in the health service, including doctors who did not want to offer smear tests to lesbian patients, discriminatory comments and doctors refusing to register patients because of their sexuality.
Translating machine to replace sacked gay linguists
After firing 60 Arabic translators for being gay under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law, the US military has been forced to rely on an untested translating machine, it emerged this week.
US National Institute of Standards and Technology researchers are now testing a prototype, real-time, two-way translation system to meet the shortfall of translators in Iraq, where linguistic misunderstandings can be fatal.
Lesbian couple question Presidential hopefuls
A lesbian couple and a southern Baptist pastor quizzed Democratic presidential candidates about their views on same-sex marriage in a landmark debate on Monday night.
Users submitted more than 3,000 video questions via video sharing site YouTube, and according to the debate's CNN host Anderson Cooper, same-sex marriage emerged as a popular issue.
The lesbian couple, from New York, asked whether the Democratic candidates would grant them the right to get married.
Trans truck driver takes legal action against employer
A transsexual who claims she was hounded out of her job as a trucker after she began her transition from her former male gender is seeking thousands of pounds in damages from her former employer.
Vikki-Marie Gaynor, 37, from Wallasey in Wirral, is bringing a sexual discrimination claim against Exel Europe, part of delivery giant DHL, and recruitment agency Blue Arrow.
The ex-soldier claims that previously friendly members of staff started ignoring her, and began a campaign of harassment.
Joy as gay couples register in Washington
Gay and lesbian people in the US state of Washington came a step closer to marriage this week, as a new state law granting same-sex couples some of the rights enjoyed by heterosexuals came into effect.
Domestic partnerships give registered partners several of the rights granted to married couples.
To qualify, couples have to be at least 18, live together and not already be married or in a domestic partnership with another person.
US given sexual orientation information on travellers
The European Commission quietly approved an agreement this Monday which gives the US Department of Homeland Security unprecedented access to the personal information of anyone on a transatlantic flight, including details of their sexual orientation.
The DHS insists on the right to use the information for disease control, and there are fears that gay passengers may be singled out as possible HIV risks.
The agreement adds 19 possible new categories, including details of passengers' sex lives.
Pride London denies links with gay lifestyle expo
PinkNews.co.uk exclusive
The organisers of Pride London today denied giving a company permission to use its name and logo to promote a gay lifestyle exhibition slated for Pride season next year.
Andrew Clark, a director at Eton Events, who used the Pride London logo on its website and publicity material, said that Jason Pollock, chief executive of Pride London, had approved the partnership.
Homophobic judge under investigation
A Spanish judge who ordered a mother to choose between her partner and her daughters, because "a homosexual environment threatened their education," is under investigation.
The woman, from Murcia, south east Spain, was faced with the impossible choice after her husband discovered her in a compromising position with another woman.
He filed for divorce and was awarded custody of the couple's two daughters, after 'proving' his wife is a lesbian.
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