Politics
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13 October 2006Lesbian use of IVF increasing 2 The last five years have seen a 2.5 fold increase in numbers of single women having IVF and a 4 fold increase in lesbian couples having IVF, the UK's fertility regulator has revealed.Single women and lesbian couples across the UK are being urged to make their voice heard on the fertility services they receive by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority - the UK's Fertility regulator - as new figures showing that a growing number of these women are coming forward for fertility treatment. -
13 October 2006Gay benefits excitement drops + Government ministers are warning gay campaigners not to get too excited after to a landmark decision yesterday saw the Irish government agree to compensate a gay man for taking unpaid leave from his job to care for his partner.Equality campaigners hailed it as "important recognition" for same sex couples but the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan insisted that the case would not set a precedent. -
12 October 2006Conman in hiding after gay slurs 1 Australian conman Peter Foster is reported to be on the run in Fiji over alleged gay slurs.Mr Foster, who sparked controversy in 2002 over his involvement with Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie's purchase of two flats in Bristol, caused a media frenzy in Fiji after starting rumours that a hotel was being opened offering rent boys. -
12 October 2006UN criticises Cameroon’s anti-gay policies + The United Nations has criticised Cameroonian authorities for detaining 11 men on their basis of their presumed sexuality.The men were arrested at a bar frequented by gays and lesbians in Yaoundé, Cameroon last June and sentenced to 10 months imprisonment after being found guilty "sodomy." -
12 October 2006Irish Greens back gay marriage + Ireland does not currently even have any laws regarding same sex unions, but the country's Green Party has today vowed to introduce total equality between the gay and straight community by promising same-sex marriage, civil partnerships for both same-sex and heterosexual couples, and legal rights for couples who live together.The Party believes legislative changes are necessary to ensure equality for all, to offer protection for the contemporary family and to provide a legal framework in areas including taxation, inheritance and maintenance. -
12 October 2006Belarus drops diplomat gay porn charge + Belarus has dropped a gay pornography charge against a Latvian diplomat.A feud emerged last August between officials in Belarus and neighbouring Latvia after Belarusian national television screened footage describing "a dirty homosexual orgy" claiming to involve a Latvian diplomat. -
12 October 2006Equality group welcomes gay carer compensation + The Equality Authority has welcomed a decision by the Irish government today to compensate a gay man for taking unpaid leave from his job to care for his partner.The equal rights group called it an "important recognition" for same sex couples in the Republic of Ireland, after the unnamed claimant won his case under the Equal Status Act.
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12 October 2006Gay vote vital for Congress 3 Gay voters will have a huge impact on the outcome of next month's Congressional elections after research has revealed that the lesbian, gay and bisexual electorate is above the national average in closely fought states.The Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy released a report on gay demographics today discovering a 30 percent increase in the number of same sex couples in the US over the last five years. -
11 October 2006LGBT community talks about sexuality + Gay and lesbian campaigners, politicians and celebrities are encouraging other LGBT people to feel the freedom of admitting their sexuality openly to mark National Coming Out Day.The event, commemorated today, started in Washington in 1987 when half a million LGBT people and supporters marched together for gay equality, in its 19th year it is still campaigning for people to be out and proud. -
11 October 2006Conservative US politics deterring gay visitors + A new study says that US conservative politics deters people from travelling to the America.The study, produced by Community Marketing, surveyed more than 7,500 gays and lesbians worldwide.According to the study, lesbians and gay men from Canada were more deterred by US politics than respondents from other parts of the world. -
11 October 2006Lesbian couple drop marriage appeal 10 The lesbian couple whose legal Canadian marriage was declared invalid by the High Court earlier this year has given up its appeal due to a lack of funds but vows to fight on through campaigns.University professors Sue Wilkinson, 52, and Celia Kitzinger, 50, will not be taking their fight to the Court of Appeal because of their current court bill of £25,000 which covers the government's legal costs for the case. -
11 October 2006Gay ex-hostage promoting peace 1 Gay peace activist James Loney is looking to turn the experience of being held hostage in Iraq into a campaign to help promote peace between religions and confront extremism.Mr Loney's abduction by Iraqi militias between November 2005 and March 2006 became the focus of international media attention, his partner and family kept his homosexuality a secret in fear that his captors would execute him. -
11 October 2006Stonewall helps small business promote gay equality + Gay charity Stonewall has launched its first guide advising Britain's four million small businesses how to become more gay-friendly.Gay People, Your Business is designed to be read in 15 minutes for companies who may not understand or have the time to translate legal and business jargon. -
11 October 2006Americans becoming more supportive of gay issues + Two new studies released today to mark National Coming Out Day show that more Americans know someone who is gay and, as a result, are more supportive of LGBT issues."As we continue to introduce our lives and relationships to Americans, more are responding in a positive way and being increasingly supportive of full equality under the law," said Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese. -
10 October 2006Mental health day important for gay community 4 Mental health charities are joining together today to stop the increasing rates of suicide caused by severe depression, an issue of great importance to the gay community.World Mental Health Day, an international awareness campaign, aims to highlight the plight of those people suffering from severe mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia, which can lead to suicide.
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10 October 2006Queer women campaign for better healthcare + A lesbian, bisexual and transgender health group is looking for Scottish women to talk about sex.Queer Women's Action (QWA) is organising a weekend seminar in Pilochry for women from all over Scotland to come and share their experiences of healthcare in the country. -
10 October 2006Gay bars to monitor street smoking 5 Gay bars in Soho welcomed the idea of a smoking ban when MPs passed a bill prohibiting it earlier this year, and now Westminster Council has taken another step by ensuring the smokers won't just be moved outside.The local authority of Westminster contains many gay venues which will have to ensure there customers no longer light up from next year, but the Council wants to make sure the new law doesn't result in customers smoking in the street. -
10 October 2006Gay activists oppose Iran deportations + As the Netherlands mulls resuming deportations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender asylum seekers back to Iran, and Sweden begins such deportations again, human rights activists are urging both European governments to adhere to their international legal obligations not to send people back to the risk of torture.Human Rights Watch has written letters toDutch and Swedish authorities saying the states cannot return people to countries where they face torture, ill-treatment or death, a fate known to be awaiting LGBT in Iran where Sharia law proscribes the death penalty for homosexuality. -
10 October 2006Stonewall denies preferential gay treatment 1 Gay charity Stonewall has rubbished a report which claims that special interest groups such as the gay community are turning the United Kingdom into a nation of victims and undermining legal equality.The book We're (Nearly) All Victims Now! published by the Civitas think tank estimates that around 73% of the population now make up victim groups which undermines equality before the law. -
9 October 2006Foley sex scandal dates back to 2000 3 As the US Congressional elections draw nearer yet another embarrassment has emerged for the Republicans as it has emerged an Arizona representative knew about disgraced former Florida politician Mark Foley's controversial email exchanges back in 2000.It has now been revealed that Republican of Arizona, Jim Kolbe, previously confronted Mr Foley over his relationship with a page after the intern showed him internet messages.
