World
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14 September 2006Legal recognition for gay couples in Uruguay 2 Uruguay is expected to become the latest country to recognise the legal rights of gay couples.The country of 3.6m people will become the first nation in South America to grant such protections, although many cities and regions throughout the continent have made similar legal provisions. -
14 September 2006Canada considers gay marriage debate 1 Canada's conservative government could introduce legislative changes to enhance protections for those who oppose same-sex marriage on religious or moral grounds if Members of Parliament don't pass a motion to re-open the contentious debate.According to The Calgary Sun, the motion, which stems from an election pledge by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is expected to give MPs a clear-cut question on whether or not Parliament should revisit the issue—not poll the moral stand of each MP on gay marriage. -
14 September 2006Historic gay rights activist dies 1 Tyron Garner, one of two men whose 1998 arrests led to a US Supreme Court decision that struck down bans on sodomy, has died, according to a spokesman for the legal firm that represented him.According to the Associated Press, Garner died early on Monday at a Houston hospital. -
14 September 2006Doubts raised over South Africa gay marriage law 10 South Africa's Civil Union Bill has drawn yet more criticism ahead of a hearing on the law next week.Committee members of the Department of Home Affairs, in charge of drafting the legislation, have raised concerns that not enough organisations were consulted about the bill. -
14 September 2006Gay man denied fertility services 1 Gay legal group Lambda Legal has filed a complaint with the Orlando Human Rights Board this week on behalf of a gay man denied fertility services because of his sexual orientation."Dr. -
13 September 2006Gay ex-Governor to break silence On ‘Oprah’ 1 Former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who resigned from office two years ago after announcing he was gay, is set to tell his story on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."According to The Associated Press, Winfrey landed the exclusive interview with the 49-year-old because of her sense of faith and spirituality, according to friends of the former governor. -
13 September 2006Church condemns gay hate campaign + New Zealand's Presbyterian Church has criticised a gay hate campaign amid a ruling by the denomination on homosexual clergy.Stickers have been sent to members of the Presbyterian Assembly with the phrase "gays are a cancer in our church, let's keep them out of leadership," as they prepare to vote later this month on whether to allow gay ministers in the church. -
12 September 2006Israeli Embassy pink with gay pride + The Israeli Embassy in Paris has been dubbed "the pink embassy" by Foreign Ministry officials.The nickname was awarded to the embassy after it was revealed that two of its employees are in same-sex relationships and are recognised as 'married' couples by the Foreign Ministry. -
12 September 2006Medical school bans gay student groups 1 The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association has publicly decried the decision of the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, a private medical school in California, to ban a student group that focuses on the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients and students.In 2002, students at the school formed the Touro University Gay-Straight Alliance (TUGSA) with the mission of "promoting equitable health care delivery through awareness and education, and... -
11 September 2006Lesbian tennis legend retires 1 Tennis ace Martina Navratilova ended her professional playing career for the second time yesterday with a mixed doubles victory at the US Open.The lesbian legend made the accolade her 59th major title which has included 18 singles trophies, 31 women's doubles and 10 medals for mixed doubles. -
11 September 2006Lesbian star to host Oscars + Ellen DeGeneres has been chosen to host next year's Oscars.The lesbian comedian will become the first out performer to host the 79th Annual Academy Awards, scheduled to take place in February 2007.It will even be the first time she attends the awards ceremony, although she has hosted the Emmys and the Grammys twice. -
11 September 2006Gay groups unsure of South African marriage law + It was hailed as a sign that the continent was becoming more tolerant towards homosexuality, but now campaigners are claiming South Africa's gay union legislation falls short of what they were promised by the country's highest court last year.Last December the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that same-sex marriages should enjoy the same legal status as those between men and women, thereby giving the parliament a year to amend the 1961 marriage law.
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11 September 2006Gay community remembers terror attacks + As the world remembers the terrorists attacks on America five years ago today, gay widows and widowers are hoping their partner's suffering can help show US lawmakers the importance of equal representation and rights.It is rumoured that of the 2,973 people who died, 22 gays and lesbians lost their partner on September 11 2001 when two hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Centre in New York followed by a crash at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. -
11 September 2006Brad Pitt seeks gay marriage 1 Fielding the latest in a string of queries from journalists wanting to know when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie plan to tie the knot, Pitt, long an advocate for social change, announced he and Jolie won't be marrying until restrictions on who can tie the knot are dropped."Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able," the 42-year-old actor and new father tells Esquire Magazine in the October issue, out this week. -
11 September 2006Ugandan tabloid outs alleged lesbians 3 Thirteen alleged lesbians have been outed by the Ugandan tabloid newspaper RedPepper.They include two boutique owners, a basketball player and the daughters of a former MP and a prominent Sheikh.Under the headline, "Kampala's notorious lesbians unearthed", the tabloid published a photo of two very beautiful unnamed women embracing at a party. -
11 September 2006Israeli gays petition court for march date 23 World Pride organiser the Jerusalem Open House has submitted a petition to the Supreme Court today, against the Israel Police and the Jerusalem Municipality.The petition demands that permission be granted to hold the Jerusalem March for Pride and Tolerance without delay, and that it be held before the upcoming Jewish holidays. -
8 September 2006Germany asks gays to tolerate the Pope 4 Germany's gay community has been urged to show "tolerance" to the Pope as he begins a tour of his country of birth tomorrow.Pope Benedict XVI, referred to as Papa Ratzi in Germany, begins a six day tour of his native Bavaria on Saturday where he will visit the state capital of Munich and the village of Marktl am Inn where he was born in 1927. -
8 September 2006Rights organisations condemn outing of gays 3 Human rights activists have criticised a newspaper in Uganda for publishing a list of men they claim are gay. -
8 September 2006US synagogues preparing for gay rabbis 3 US synagogues are preparing for a policy shift of biblical proportions after a Conservative Jewish leader this week accepted that the movement may lift its ban on openly gay rabbis.Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, is reported to be visiting synagogues to sound out opinions on ordaining openly gay clergy. -
8 September 2006Latvia avoids gay media ban 2 Latvia's gay community has narrowly avoided a law which would have banned all mention of homosexuality in the mass media.The Latvian Parliament yesterday rejected a bill proposed by the Latvia First Party aiming to protect the "family institution."A party statement said the law should ensure the media do "not weaken the role of the family institution, do not split society, and do not create a misconception about a group of individuals claiming special treatment due to their beliefs."
