UK
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21 July 2006London Mayor criticises Latvia’s “attack on human rights” 1 The Mayor of London has called the decision to ban Latvia's Gay Pride "an unacceptable attack on human rights."His words have been echoed by gay rights group Outrage, Amnesty International and the Latvian President, who have all criticised the authorities in Riga for cancelling the parade in the capital on public order grounds. -
21 July 2006Government urged to debate gay adoption “ramifications” 1 The Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw has been called to initiate a debate on the "ramifications" of allowing gay couples to adopt in Northern Ireland.Mr Straw, setting out the timetable for debates leading up to and after Parliament's summer recess, was yesterday asked by Democratic Unionist MP for Strangford Iris Robinson, to schedule a gay adoption debate after the break as a matter of "urgency." -
21 July 2006Gay star reveals suicide attempt + Gay actor Stephen Fry will reveal his struggle with depression and suicide contemplation in a new BBC documentary highlighting the condition later this year.The screen and stage star, presenting BBC2's The Secret Life of A Manic Depressive, will recount the time he walked out on the West End play Cell Mates in 1995 and sat in his car considering whether to turn on the ignition and kill himself with the exhaust fumes. -
21 July 2006London gay pride group condemn Riga’s “return to dark ages” 1 Campaigning charity and organiser of Europe's largest gay event, Pride London, today condemned the decision of the City Council of Riga to ban the city's Gay Pride amid threats of violence from extremist groups.Pride London hosted EuroPride 06, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender celebration this year, attended by 600,000 people from all over Europe. -
21 July 2006Prescott cleared over anti-gay tycoon links + Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott broke ministerial rules when he did not immediately declare his stay at an anti-gay US tycoon's ranch, a Parliament watchdog concluded today.However, the House of Commons standards committee cleared the minister for not registering a cowboy outfit he received from Philip Anschutz after a stay at his Colorado home. -
21 July 2006Gay community going green + Gays and lesbians are going greener faster than any other group of people, according to research.Findings by advertising and marketing agency, Gasoline, suggest the pink pound, a measure of the amount of money the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community group has to spend, is going green faster than any other group. -
21 July 2006God save the queers 1 PinkNews.co.uk's Katherine Knowles meets the man behind those pink flags which have dominated gay pride marches across the country and the world.First there was the flag. -
20 July 2006Homophobic attack victim remembered in school award 2 An annual award for human kindness and consideration has been created in the memory of murdered gay bar manager Jody Dubrowski at his old school in Stroud.Announcing the award Dubrowski's step father Mike Haddock told the children "We are all different but we have to know how to treat each other. -
20 July 2006Call for Indian legalisation of homosexuality 57 In their push for a reduction in the rate of HIV infection, the Indian government's HIV/AIDS control body has filed a statement in the Delhi High Court supporting the legalisation of homosexuality.In a boost for gay rights in India, where a 145 year old law dating back to British colonial rule is still used by police to harass gay people, the National AIDS Control Organisation's (NACO) statement calls for section 377 of the Indian penal code to be abandoned. -
20 July 2006“I’m a lesbian and our guitarist has one hand” 1 PinkNews.co.uk's Katherine Knowles meets a band proudly challenging physical, emotional and musical barriers."We're all equal here, man" says Jackie Romeu, the lead singer of new band Nelson Romeu. -
20 July 2006BBC defends ‘gay car’ comment 29 The BBC has again been forced to defend one of its big name presenters following the recent furore surrounding the controversial use of the word gay by Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles.On Sunday's Top Gear programme, presenter Jeremy Clarkson asked an audience member if he would buy a certain car, the audience member said, "No, it's a bit gay." -
20 July 2006Jewish News responds to criticism from gay community 23 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveDefending columnist Howard Palmer's anti-gay pride column in last week's Jewish News, editor Zeddy Lawrence today told PinkNews.co.uk that it was simply reflecting a view held by a large sector of the Jewish community and that his comments do not reflect the newspaper's stance.Gay British Jewry reacted with outrage this week after Palmer's column described the upcoming gay pride march in Jerusalem as "a circus of stomach-churning stunts of sin." -
20 July 2006Campaigners condemn gay hangings + To mark the first anniversary of Iran's hanging of two gay teenagers, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, in the city of Mashhad, Labour MP Chris Bryant hosted a public meeting at the House of Commons last night.Speakers included Chris Bryant MP and Azar Majedi, Chair of the Organisation for Women's Liberation in Iran. -
20 July 2006Gay community backs GPA’s anti-religion ad 9 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveThe gay community has backed an advert by the Gay Police Association (GPA) which attributed recent homophobic attacks to religious belief.Scotland Yard is considering an investigation into the group after it placed an advertisement in The Independent's diversity supplement which coincided with the EuroPride rally, displaying a pool of blood next to a Bible. -
20 July 2006Scottish homophobic attacks spur gay protection calls 1 The Scottish Executive is facing pressure to make homophobia a hate crime after new figures reveal a significant rise in anti-gay attacks.Figures obtained by a Scottish newspaper investigation suggest there has been a 100 per cent increase in incidents over the last year.The Scotsman claims that "In the Lothian and Borders region, police have revealed that 30 homophobic offences have been recorded this year, compared with 37 for the whole of 2005. -
19 July 2006Lawyer receives damages over gay passport slur + An immigration lawyer has received £20,000 in damages after the Sunday Times falsely reported that he was advising asylum seekers to have fake gay marriages to obtain residency in the UK.The paper apologised to Dr Akbar Malik of Malik Law Chambers for the story, which also erroneously appeared on PinkNews.co.uk, claiming the lawyer told immigrants that they could obtain a passport quicker by entering a sham civil partnership. -
19 July 2006Fire-fighters investigated after abstaining from gay pride 3 Ten members of Glasgow's fire service may face disciplinary action after refusing to distribute safety leaflets at a recent gay pride march in the city.The Cowcaddens fire-fighters had been asked to hand out leaflets at the rally in a publicity exercise but are believed to have refused on moral grounds. -
19 July 2006Drug tests to take place at Brighton Gay Pride 4 A human rights group is advising attendees of next week's Brighton Gay Pride how to deal with police who may ask to conduct a voluntary drug test.Sussex Police will be using the Ion Track device, which detects small traces of illegal substances, at the event, but the Release group fears lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender revellers will be unfairly targeted. -
19 July 2006Jewish columnist “inciting homophobia” 23 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveThe Jewish gay community has reacted angrily to a newspaper columnist who criticised the upcoming World Pride Jerusalem march branding it "stomach churning."Howard Palmer, a writer for The Jewish News, spoke out against the parade in his regular column, calling it embarrassing for Israel and the Jewish people. -
19 July 2006NAT to Walk for Life + The National AIDS Trust's finance director is to embark on Crusaid's Walk for Life at the end of this month, wearing a 9ft red ribbon.The event is Europe's biggest HIV fundraising walk, wearing a 9 ft red ribbon, and Tim Gutteridge will represent the Trust by wearing its symbol on the 10km walk through Central London.
