World
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15 December 2006Gay activists welcome ‘advances’ in equality 46 Gay activists have welcomed "pro-active advances" in gay rights as New Jersey looks set to sign two gay equality bills into law.New Jersey lawmakers passed two pieces of legislation today that are seen as positive steps forward for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality in that state. -
15 December 2006Romney repeats gay marriage opposition 2 Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has reaffirmed his homophobic credentials amid reports that he once courted the gay lobby.The religious right in the US have been seeking answers from the potential Republican presidential candidate after it was revealed that he once courted the gay community for their support in a 1994 campaign for the US Senate. -
15 December 2006Lesbian comic apologises to Chinese community 2 Lesbian comedian Rosie O'Donnell has apologised for mocking Chinese people on her talk show The View.O'Donnell was criticised by Asian Americans across the country after imitating Chinese broadcasters in a discussion about actor Danny DeVito being drunk. -
15 December 2006Petition calls for end of ‘Special relationship’ with US + A petition posted on the Downing Street website has called for the 'special relationship' between America and the UK to be scrapped, citing differences over foreign policy and gay rights.Following proposals this week proposing same-sex couples parenting and fertility rights in the UK, the petition declares that certain states in the US would fail to mirror these rights, if ratified in law. -
14 December 2006Media watchdog opposes homophobic platform + A gay media watchdog is urging the community to protest against Time magazine allowing 'family values' fundamentalist James Dobson to contribute to the publication.The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) was outraged this week after Mr Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, wrote an article criticising US Vice-President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter over her parenting plans. -
14 December 2006Gay marriage opponents seek damages 1 An anti-same-sex marriage group in Massachusetts is suing the state in a federal court seeking as much as $5 million in damages from lawmakers for blocking a final vote on the proposed constitutional amendment last month.The lawsuit, filed in US District Court by VoteOnMarriage.org, argues the 109 lawmakers violated the supporters' rights to free speech, to petition the government and to due process under the law.
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14 December 2006Homophobia illegal in Faeroe Islands + The Faeroe Islands parliament has passed a law banning discrimination against the gay community.It comes after a petition from campaigners expressed discontent that homophobia is made "perfectly legal" because the government does nothing against it, but yesterday a new law was passed by 17 votes to 13. -
14 December 2006Prodi demands “wise and serious” gay laws 1 Italy will push ahead with plans to give unmarried and gay couples rights, the country's Prime Minister has announced.Romano Prodi came to power in April promising civil partnership style laws for the gay community as well as heterosexual cohabiting couples.Equal Opportunities Minister Barbara Pollastrini said Mr Prodi wants to discuss a "wise and serious" law. -
13 December 2006European Court rejects sibling inheritance rights + The European Court of Human Rights has rejected the pleas of two elderly sisters asking for the same inheritance tax rights as married and gay couples.The siblings have been living together in Wiltshire since they were born, but Joyce, 88, and Sybil Burden, 80, fear that one of them will be left with a large inheritance tax bill when the other passes away. -
13 December 2006Gay groups welcome ‘historic UN decision’ + Three gay groups have been granted consultative status to the United Nations (UN).The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this week granted consultative status to ILGA-Europe, the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association, and to the Danish and German national lesbian and gay association, LBL and LSVD. -
13 December 2006Tanzanian Anglicans cut US ties over gay issues + The Anglican Church of Tanzania has broken away from the US Episcopal Church claiming it can no longer tolerate the denomination's liberal view on gay clergy and same sex unions.It reflects a growing rift within the Anglican Communion on the issue of homosexuality.The African clergymen agreed a statement earlier this week at a meeting in Dar es Salaam, which expressed opposition to gay ordinations and unions. -
13 December 2006Another day, another gay clergyman 1 Just when the Christian-Right was recovering from the revelations of Evangelical preacher Ted Haggard's gay meetings, another leader has stepped down after a male prostitute revealed more gay relations within the church.Paul Barnes has stepped down as head of the Grace Chapel in Colorado after an anonymous rent boy threatened to go public with his name and others. -
13 December 2006Anti-gay church fined for funeral protests + Westboro Baptist Church has been ordered to pay $3000 of compensation in court costs and fines after a soldier's father complained about the group protesting outside his son's funeral.The Kansas church, led by Reverend Fred Phelps, is known for its protests at military funerals where its members attribute America's problems to its liberal stance towards homosexuality. -
13 December 2006Is Britney Spears proving she’s not a lesbian with a new lover? + Just a few days after denying a lesbian tryst with celebrity heiress and air head Paris Hilton, Britney Spears has allegedly found a new boyfriend.Only a few weeks after announcing her divorce from Kevin Federline, Spears was apparently spotted cuddling up with Jonathan Rotem, who coincedinatlly produced Federline's recent album.Spears and Federline announced a split after a two year marriage. -
12 December 2006Nigeria debates gay ban law 1 Nigerian lawmakers are currently debating a bill that would ban same sex marriage as well as any gay organisations or meetings.The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill now in the National Assembly, was introduced by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.It would even ban sharing a meal with a gay person. -
12 December 2006Gay community fear ageing 1 LGBT baby boomers have more distinct concerns about ageing with regard to financial stability, personal support and end-of-life legal issues than those in the general population, according to a new survey."Out and ageing: The MetLife Study of Lesbian and Gay Baby Boomers," the first national survey of its kind, found both men and women fear outliving their income in retirement. -
12 December 2006South Oz introduces gay community officers + Southern Australia is looking to combat hate crimes in the state by introducting Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers.The move, welcomed by the gay community, will see 16 trained police officers as a point of call for LGBT people who are victims or are worried about hate crimes.Chief Inspector Martin Jeffrey Bruhn, said it would build trust with the gay community. -
12 December 2006Gay activists welcome HIV lifeline + Gay activists have welcomed the reauthorisation of the Ryan White Care Act by the US House of Representatives.The Act provides medical and psychosocial services to people living with HIV/AIDS, it is named after a boy who was expelled from school for having AIDS, and dedicated his life to helping sufferers and proving that it is not a 'gay disease.'
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12 December 2006Turkish gay magazine owner face prison + A criminal case has been filed in Ankara against the chief editor and owner of Turkey's only gay magazine, Kaos GL.Umut Guner, owner of the magazine and vice president of the Kaos GL Association, is being accused of publishing pornographic issues based on Turkish Penal Code, Article 226.If convicted, he will face up to three years of jail sentence. -
12 December 2006Cheney puts lesbian daughter first + US Vice-President Dick Cheney has been applauded by gay campaigners for his attitude towards his lesbian daughter's pregnancy.Mr Cheney's office released a statement last week describing him and his wife as "looking forward with eager anticipation to the arrival of their sixth grandchild" amid reports that their daughter Mary is having a baby with her partner of 15 years Heather Poe.
