Politics
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3 October 2006Irish lesbian couple seek marriage recognition + An Irish couple will begin a legal battle for the recognition of their marriage today.Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan were married in Canada in 2003 but want their union to be recognised by the Irish government too.The High Court in Dublin will hear arguments today in the case being taken by Dr Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan against the Revenue Commissioners and the State for recognition of their legal Canadian marriage in Ireland. -
3 October 2006MEP praised for gay rights work + Gay rights campaigner Sophie In't Veld has been nominated as MEP of the Year.The vice-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian rights has been recognised for her civil liberties campaigning particularly in regards to the gay community where she has pushed for greater LGBT rights throughout the continent. -
3 October 2006UK “ignorant” about HIV + The United Kingdom has one of the worst attitudes towards HIV in Europe, according to a survey by the European Union.The Eurobarometer survey for the European Commission asked 25,000 people across the continent how much they had changed their sexual behaviour in response to AIDS since 2002. -
3 October 2006Gay Tories surprised at Cameron’s history 6 Two of the Conservative's most high profile representatives expressed surprise today that Tory leader David Cameron had previously voted against some aspects of gay rights, but said it shows how far the party has now moved.Speaking at a fringe meeting of the party's annual conference in Bournemouth arranged by gay charity Stonewall, Conservative Vice-Chairman Margot James and Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert appeared unaware that Mr Cameron had once voted against allowing gay couples to adopt and repealing Section 28. -
2 October 2006”HIV is a gay disease. Own It. End It” 4 These are the words at the front of a new controversial advertisement campaign dividing opinion within the gay community.The L.A Gay and Lesbian Center has launched an extensive campaign to provoke debate within the gay community. -
2 October 2006Copper crowned Mr Gay UK 3 Yorkshire Policeman Mark Carter 23 has been crowned Britain's Mr Gay UK.PC Carter who lives in Bradford but works in Huddersfield beat 25 other regional winners to claim a years work of personal appearances, photo shoots and Ł5,000 worth of prizes. -
2 October 2006Archbishop disciplined over lesbian marriage 4 A retired Anglican archbishop has been disciplined and had his licence to officiate marriages revoked after admitting he had blessed a lesbian marriage last summer, reports the BBC.The fact that bishop Finlay officiated the marriage comes as a particular surprise as it was he who dismissed a priest back in the 1992 for having a homosexual relationship. -
2 October 2006Changes to South African gay blood donation ban 5 South Africa has overturned its ban on gay men giving blood, with one condition - celibacy.Gay men who have been celibate for over six months will be allowed to donate, reports the South African Independent online. -
29 September 2006Presidential hopeful apologises to South Africa’s gay community 3 South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma has apologise for offending the gay community and explained that his comments describing same sex marriage as "a disgrace" were misinterpreted.Zuma, who is fighting for his political life after being fired over a corruption scandal last year, angered activists after a local newspaper quoted him calling plans to legalise same-sex marriages a "disgrace to the nation and to God." -
29 September 2006Gays banned from church leadership roles in New Zealand 4 Leaders of New Zealand's Presbyterian Church today voted to bar gays and people having sex outside of marriage from having leadership roles within the church.The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand 's top decision-making body reaffirmed its 2004 rule that those involved in sexual relations outside of marriage cannot become ministers or elders. -
29 September 2006Young Liberal Democrats launch ‘homophobia is gay’ campaign 10 Young Liberal Democrats have launched a 'crucial' campaign to stop homophobic bullying in schools.The Liberal Democrat Youth and Students (LDYS) chose the Liberal Democrat Conference, which was held in Brighton last week, to launch the initiative.The lynchpin of the campaign is hundreds of pink badges bearing the satirical slogan "Homophobia is Gay". -
29 September 2006Matthew Shepard Foundation urge greater LGBT voter registration + The Matthew Shepard Foundation has launched a 'Get Out The Vote' campaign urging the US LGBT community to utilise their voting privilege.Writing in this month's issue of The Advocate Judy Shepard, mother of murdered gay hate victim Matthew Shepard, , called the low levels of LGBT voting ''totally unacceptable''. -
29 September 2006DfT seeks gay passenger views + The Department for Transport (DfT) today launched a consultation on how best to put into practice the principles of a strategy plan earlier this year which will affect travellers using train lines to and from the popular gay area of Brighton.The strategy aims to improve journeys for the majority of users on the line and address crowding issues. -
29 September 2006Gordon, gays and goodbyes- A Labour conference summary 1 Oh dear. -
29 September 2006American Airlines discipline gay couple 3 A gay US couple travelling from Paris to New York were astonished when they were told by an American Airlines stewardess to stop ''the touching and kissing,'' reports the New Yorker Magazine.Journalist George Tsikhiseli and his boyfriend Stephan Varnier, were told by a stewardess just after departure to stop their ''inappropriate behaviour.'' -
28 September 2006Sunshine attracts increased civil ceremonies + The number of gay civil ceremonies in Scotland increased by 20% compared to the beginning of the year.The figures released today from the Registrar General for Scotland show that many gay and lesbian couples used the warm summer months to register for civil partnerships
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28 September 2006“Raping me won’t make me straight” lesbian “mini pride” makes its voice heard + More than 40 South African women took to the streets of Soweto in a "mini pride" march promoted by the Forum for the Empowerment of Women, a gay human rights group based in the township.Holding placards reading "A lesbian with HIV/Aids is still my sister" and "Raping me won't make me straight" the group marched through the Johannesburg suburb, then listened to a series of speeches.
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28 September 2006Gay and Lesbian History Month met with protest in US + Over 120 complaints have been made to The Philadelphia School District over the recognition of Gay and Lesbian History Month on their school calendar.Cecilia Cummings, Philadelphia's senior vice-president for communications and community relations said the month was added for the first time this year in an effort to be more inclusive and follow the districts policy requiring equity for all minority groups. -
28 September 2006ANCYL distances itself from Zuma 1 The Africa National Council Youth League (ANCYL) has distanced itself from Jacob Zuma's homophobic comments made last Sunday at the Heritage Day celebrations in KwaDukza.The ANCYL has said the statement from Zuma represented his personal view and not that of the Africa National Council.
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28 September 2006Gay Christian dating website launched today 1 A new gay Christian matchmaking site has been officially launched today by truthsetsfree web site owner and preacher Justin R.
