World
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20 June 2006Church accepts apology for gay bishop tensions 7 The Episcopal Church has approved an apology from the American Anglican Church for the actions of the General Convention of 2003 when tension was created due to the appointment of gay bishop Gene Robinson.The House of Deputies welcomed an expression of regret for "straining the bonds of affection" within the Anglican Communion at the denomination's General Convention. -
20 June 2006No problem with gay marriage in Canada 1 Support for readdressing laws opening marriage to same sex couples has fallen, a survey suggests.Canadians for Equal Marriage released a poll conducted by Environics Research Group asking whether people support equal marriage and whether the Conservative government should re-open the issue and have another vote or whether the issue is settled and there should not be another vote. -
20 June 2006Elton John sues the taxman + Sir Elton John has issued a lawsuit against the taxman in Georgia, claiming his Atlanta penthouse is overvalued.The gay singer alleges that the value of $4.6 million (2.5 million) on his 1,100 sq metre property is really worth $900,000 ($486,000) less.A win would see him save $16,000 (8640) a year, while a lose would cost him $77,250 (42,000.) -
20 June 2006Potential French President backs gay marriage + A contender to run in the 2007 French Presidential election has pledged support for same sex marriage.Segolene Royal, the favourite to stand as the Socialist Party nomination, told a gay magazine that she would introduce a gay marriage law if she was voted in. -
20 June 2006San Francisco remembers trans protests + A memorial plaque commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria Riot will be installed this Thursday at the corner of San Francisco's Turk and Taylor Streets.The 1966 riot was the first known instance of transgender resistance to police harassment in the US. -
19 June 2006Gay legal group challenges foster laws 1 A seven-year legal battle over the blanket exclusion of lesbian and gay people from serving as foster parents in Arkansas drew closer to an outcome this past week as attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) asked the State Supreme Court to uphold an earlier court decision striking down the state's ban."Every mainstream child welfare organisation has been saying for years that preventing lesbian and gay people from serving as foster parents has no basis in social science and only hurts the children the state should be protecting," said Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas. -
19 June 2006Gay group protects LGBT prisoners + The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has announced a $625,000 dollar settlement in the first case in the country to specifically address the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in juvenile facilities.The settlement ends an ACLU federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of three young people who faced anti-gay and anti-transgender abuse and harassment at the facility by staff and their peers. -
19 June 2006Poll suggests support for Australian gay unions 1 Over half of 18 to 39 year olds in Australia back a civil union law for same sex couples, according to a poll.The survey by ACNielsen/Age found that 45% of Australians supported the recently quashed ACT law, while 34% opposed it.Of this number, 56% of 19 to 39 year olds pledged support, compared to 48% of 40 to 53 year olds and 29% of people over 55. -
19 June 2006Sao Paulo hosts tenth Gay Pride 1 Around two million members from Brazil's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community gathered in Sao Paulo last weekend for the 10th annual Sao Paulo Gay Pride.Participants waved rainbow flags, and wore carnival costumes as well as the colours yellow and blue to support the Brazilian World Cup team. -
19 June 2006WorldPride organisers condemn attempts to “sabotage” gay parade 23 The organisers of this year's WorldPride in Jerusaelm have hit out at attempts to "sabotage" the event.Hagai El -Ad, executive director of Jerusalem Open House, criticised a petition seeking the event's cancellation and a "modesty parade" being arranged by one of the Israeli capital's rabbis. -
16 June 2006New York considers opposition to army gay policy + The Servicemembers Legal Defence Network (SLDN) is applauding the recent New York state resolution calling for the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel.The resolution, introduced by New York State Senator Thomas Duane, calls on New York's Congressional Delegation to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill that would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." -
16 June 2006Latvia rejects gay protection 1 The Latvian Parliament has defied European Union laws after refusing to implement anti discrimination policies regarding sexual orientation.The legislation, stipulated as a basis for the country's membership of the political body, was rejected by Mps, after some described homosexuality as a sin. -
16 June 2006Indianapolis church starts pro-gay campaign + First there were full-page ads in the Indianapolis Star asking, "Would Jesus Discriminate?"Then yard signs with the same message began appearing all over Indianapolis, followed by 25,000 door hangers were distributed with invitations to a Town Hall Meeting, one of which led to a lesbian's Indianapolis home being defaced with a swastika.Now major billboards across the city are also asking the question, "Would Jesus Discriminate?" -
16 June 2006Gay campaigner embarks on equality drive + Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Joe Solmonese will embark on a whirlwind national tour this summer to cities and towns across this country to enlist the support of Americans in this struggle for equality.The "Count Me In" Summer Tour will make its way from the rolling plains of Oklahoma City, OK to the streets of Chicago. -
16 June 2006Record numbers register for AIDs walk + AIDs Walk San Diego has announced that due to enhanced and early organising efforts, it is ahead of past years in terms of number of registered teams and individuals."With this year being the 25th anniversary of the first reported cases of AIDs, I believe the increased participation in AIDs Walk illustrates that our San Diego community remains absolutely committed to fighting this epidemic," said Jennifer Jones, director of development for The San Diego Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Centre, organiser's of the walk. -
16 June 2006Rabbi arranges “modesty” parade against Jerusalem Gay Pride 23 An orthodox rabbi in Israel is arranging a "modesty parade" to counter Jerusalem's World Pride event this summer.Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak has arranged the event for two days before the gay parade on August 11 2006, organised by Shofar, an orthodox group promoting a "return to religion."
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16 June 2006Muslim cleric backs gay burnings 5 Homosexuals should be thrown off buildings or burnt to death, a Muslim cleric has proclaimed.Yusuf Qaradawi described gay people as "perverts" who should be "punished," in an interview with Al Jazeera last week.He said homosexuals should be treated the same as any other "sexual pervert." -
16 June 2006EU gay group condemn Latvia 1 Latvia must protect its gay community or face legal sanctions, the president of the European Parliament's Intergroup for Gay and Lesbian Rights warned today.Michael Cashman reacted angrily after Latvia defied its EU obligations by rejecting including sexual orientation in a new anti discrimination law. -
15 June 2006Canadian gay marriage campaigns begin 1 Protest groups have today begun their campaigns on the issue of gay marriage.Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a free vote on the law last week scheduled for this Autumn.Anti gay marriage group Man and Woman Union gathered today to raise awareness of the vote, Warren Booth, organiser of the organisation, told the CanWest news agency, "I know MPs make their break soon for a couple of months, but we want to leave them with a thought before they take off for their vacation."
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15 June 2006Australian Senate rejects gay unions 1 Australian Capital Territory (ACT)leader John Stanhope has accused coalition senators of "shamefully and explicitly" endorsing second-class citizenship after failing to protect the Civil Unions Bill in the Senate, the remaining hope for the legislation to be passed.The ACT's local assembly approved the bill last month giving same sex couple's the right to a civil union after watering down the law to ensure it did not represent marriage, but the Federal Government quashed the law last week.
