Politics
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18 October 2006Study calls for gay partner health benefits + Researchers are calling on US employers to provide health insurance to all partners after a study revealed that unmarried couples are less likely to have medical support and therefore more likely to suffer illness.The study by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy released today documents unequal access to employment-based health insurance for same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples. -
18 October 2006Gay voters given election guidance 3 As the US population prepares for the Congressional elections, a gay rights group has prepared a document helping the LGBT community decide who to vote for.The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has compiled a scorecard that outlines how they have voted on GLBT issues during the 109th Congress. -
18 October 2006European Commission funding gay family support + The European Commission is aiming to stamp out homophobic violence by helping families of gays and lesbians support their relatives.The Commission has funded a two year project entitled "Family Matters Supporting families to prevent violence against gay and lesbian youth" the aim of which is to prevent violence against lesbian and gay youth by supporting their families. -
18 October 2006Ex-Chief Rabbi attacks gay pride march 24 A controversial ultra-orthodox Israeli Rabbi has joined protests against the WorldPride march in Jerusalem.Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual leader of the Shas political party and former Sephardic Chief Rabbi, has given his backing to the rally against the parade describing it as "filth." -
18 October 2006Academics criticise Kelly over gay equality delay 18 Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly must resign if she continues to obstruct equal rights for gays and lesbians, says the University and College Union (UCU).The union, which represents 110,000 lecturers and academic related staff, today added its voice to others criticising the delay of legislation which would make it illegal for organisations and businesses to deny services to gays and lesbians. -
17 October 2006City Council blocks gay masseuse 1 An application by a gay massage therapist for a home-business permit in Manassas, Virginia. -
17 October 2006Massachusetts Governor rallies against gay marriage 2 Governor Mitt Romney is facing criticism after calling upon evangelicals to condemn gay marriage and to fight what they see as a threat to Christian values in a nationwide broadcast last weekend.In a cavernous, gilded room festooned with American flags, Romney and a slew of leading conservative speakers described how a "homosexual agenda" was interfering with the constitutional rights of same-sex marriage opponents to express their dissent and religious freedom. -
17 October 2006Gay group promotes family life + Over 200 European delegates are expected to gather in Bulgaria next week to promote the diversity of families.The meeting being held in Sofia is entitle "We are Family - Our families in Europe and the European family," it is organised by the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and Bulgarian gay group Gemini. -
17 October 2006Texas rounding up gay families + Gay and looking for a good place to raise your kids? You might want to consider Texas.It may sound crazy, but a study in The Gay and Lesbian Atlas concludes that San Antonio, a major Texas city, has the largest amount of queer couples with kids in America. -
17 October 2006Gay rights concern for Nepal talks + Gay rights in Nepal may become isolated as talks between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA - government) and the Maoists in Nepal continue, a local LGBT group has warned.The Blue Diamond Society has expressed concern that gay rights will be forgotten while the country discusses more controversial issues of the future of the monarchy and arms management. -
16 October 2006Gay campaigners attack Ruth Kelly over equality delay 19 Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has once again come under criticism regarding her view on gay rights after it has emerged that exemptions may be allowed for Catholic groups in the upcoming Equality Act.The new law, which has now been delayed until April, aims to outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods and services for the LGBT community, but protests from Christian groups appear to have led to a delay. -
16 October 2006Pole designs EU birthday logo + A Polish submission has been chosen as the logo for the European Union's 50th anniversary.Szymon Skrzypczak's design was chosen by a panel including gay designer Tony Malone, out of over a thousand applicants.The year 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. -
16 October 2006Conservatives join gay diversity scheme + The Conservative Party has over the last year aimed to change its image amongst the gay community, this has included inviting more gay and lesbian politicians to join the party and backing laws such as civil partnerships and the new Equality Act, now the party has become the latest major British employer to join Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme.The programme promotes good practice around sexual orientation issues and assists employers in recruiting and retaining lesbian and gay staff. -
16 October 2006Congress’ first openly gay man dies + The country's first Congressman to publicly acknowledge that he was gay has died age 69.Gerry Studds passed away last weekend at a Boston hospital after collapsing earlier this month.His doctors at Boston Medical Centrr determined that he suffered from a blood clot in his lung, Studds' husband Dean Hara told the Associated Press. -
16 October 2006Gay Congressman under fire over camping trip + Federal prosecutors in Arizona have opened an investigation into a camping trip taken by Representative Jim Kolbe with two former pages and others in 1996, according to a law-enforcement official.According to the Associated Press, Republican Congressman Mr Kolbe took the former pages as well as staffers and National Park Service officials on a raft trip in the Grand Canyon in 1996, his spokeswoman said. -
16 October 2006Government defends gay equality delay 18 Demands for Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly to quit because of a delay in the new Sexual Orientation Regulations have been dismissed.The Liberal Democrat's Women and Equality spokesperson Lorely Burt has been leading calls for the minister to step down after reports that the new Equality Act may be amended to allay fears of Christian groups, her demands were echoed by the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association.
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16 October 2006Foley scandal fails to spoil public gay support 3 Attempts by anti-gay right-wing leaders and anti-gay groups to brand the Mark Foley scandal as a gay issue have failed to impact voters' support of GLBT issues, a survey has revealed.Gay advocacy organisation, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), says it's been monitoring what it calls a coordinated effort to place blame on the gay community and equate Mark Foley's behaviour to the fact that he is gay. -
16 October 2006Comment: Public or Papal duty? 18 While gay campaigners question the reasons behind a delay in introducing the new Sexual Orientation Regulations, PinkNews.co.uk's Tony Grew asks who Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly is really representing.When Alastair Campbell, Director of Communications at Number 10, was asked about Tony Blair's religious faith, he famously replied, "We don't do God." -
16 October 2006Gay charity calls for housing support 3 A major new report into housing needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in Wales has revealed a shocking link between the gay housing crisis and homophobic harassment.The study, carried out by Stonewall Cymru and Triangle Wales, found that a major cause of housing problems for LGB people is arson, burglary, graffiti and physical assault. -
16 October 2006Gay bashing victim dies + The gay man who was brutally beaten and then hit by a car near a popular New York gay cruise spot has died.Michael Sandy died on Friday after his family removed him from life support, after being attacked in Brooklyn last week,According to Newsday, the 29-year-old's family decided to remove him from the respirator after observing his birthday last Thursday at the hospital.
