Justin Bieber attends gay Republican meeting, and 6 other stories you might have missed
PinkNews brings you a roundup of news from the past seven days.
The PinkNews roundup recaps some of the most widely read and notable news stories from the past week, which you may have missed.
1. Channel 4 set a target for six percent of employees to be LGBT
The broadcaster unveiled tough new diversity targets, which requires the proportion of LGBT staff to more than double by the year 2020.
Channel 4 said it made its “own assessment” to get to the six percent figure, which it claims is representative of the general population. Currently 2.4 percent of staff identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
2. Forrest Gump star Gary Sinise dropped plans to speak for a ‘gay cure’-supporting group
Gary Sinise cancelled his plans to speak to Catholic organisation Legatus – after he was notified the group encourages people to seek a cure for homosexuality.
The Of Mice and Men actor said: “I don’t want my mission – which is designed to be unifying – to be disrupted by these, or any controversies, and therefore have decided to withdraw.”
3. Justin Bieber accidentally attended a meeting for gay Republicans
Pop singer Justin Bieber raised eyebrows when he crashed a social event for gay Republicans, which was being held in the private area of an LA restaurant.
Event chair Ben Coleman said he initially didn’t recognise Bieber – who he likened to “a butcher version of Miley Cyrus” – but said the star did not seem fazed to be sat in the middle of the mixer.
4. Alan Turing biopic ‘The Imitation Game’ was nominated for eight Oscars
A film based on the life of gay codebreaker Alan Turing picked up eight nominations for Academy Awards.
The Imitation Game is up for best picture, best director (Morten Tyldum), best actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), best supporting actress (Keira Knightley), best adapted screenplay (Graham Moore), best editing (William Goldberg), best original score (Alexandre Desplat) and best production design (Maria Djurkovic and Tatiana Macdonald).
5. Stephen Fry married his partner Elliott Spencer
Comedians Elliott Spencer and Stephen Fry tied the knot, two weeks after news of their engagement broke in the press.
The pair secretly married on Friday – only revealing that the ceremony had taken place on Twitter afterwards.
6. The US Supreme Court took up a case that could bring equal marriage to all 50 states
The highest court in the US announced it would review rulings on same-sex marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.
The Justices will attempt to clarify whether the Constitution compels states to perform same-sex weddings – and a ruling could cement equality across the US.
7. A ‘Glee’ character came out as transgender
Coach Beiste, played by Dot Marie Jones, revealed in ground-breaking scenes that he would transition from female to male.
The show won praise for the poignant line: “This isn’t about about who I want to to go to bed with, it’s about who I want to go to bed as.”
