Gay Marriage UK - Banned by law in church?

 

Gay weddings in the Churches of England and Wales will be explicitly banned under new laws on same-sex marriage, the Government has announced.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller said other religious organisations would be able to "opt in" and offer weddings to homosexual couples.

David Cameron has backed the idea of gay marriage in church but Mrs Miller said there was too much opposition.

Unveiling the Government's plans in the Commons, she promised that religious freedom would be protected via a "quadruple lock".

As well as the ban for the established churches, it will be illegal to force a religious organisation or individual to conduct a gay wedding or allow it to happen on their premises.

Paris Hilton Apology - Too Little

Paris Hilton has issued a lengthy public apology after she was secretly recorded making homophobic comments to a gay friend in a taxi.

During the conversation, in which a man is heard logging on to gay dating app Grindr, Hilton says:

“Ewwww…gay guys are the horniest people in the world…they’re disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS…I would be so scared if I was a gay guy…you’ll like, die of AIDS.”

Gay Rights Activist Arrested

San Francisco police department have arrested a veteran gay rights campaigner in connection with child pornography allegations. The SF Police say Larry Brinkin faces felony charges of child pornography possession and distribution.

US Teen Sues school board

The gay teenager from Indianapolis who had been expelled from school for taking a stun-gun to school for protection from the homophobic bullies that had plagued his school days, is now suing the public school system for failing to protect him from bullying.

Darnell Young, 17, and his mother Chelisa Grimes, filed the lawsuit on Friday in Indianapolis, seeking unspecified damages over several recent incidents of bullying.  These incidents all lead Darnell Young to fire the stun-gun in school which then resulted in his expulsion from the  Tech High School.

Legal representatives working for the family said that Indianapolis Public Schools had failed to protect Darnell Young from homophobic bullying, and that they had discriminated against him for his sexuality.    Christopher F. Stoll, from the National Centre for Lesbian Rights,  who is working on the case said,  “All students should be able to get an education without fearing for their physical safety, and they should be able to rely on school administrators to protect them when abuse does occur.”

More American Scouts Quit

Ned Coltman and his mother, Judy, of Reading, removed his Eagle Scout badge from his Boy Scout uniform.

To earn his Eagle Scout badge, Ned Coltman built a 65-foot handicap access ramp out of renewable materials for a conservation center in Reading. In 10 years as a Boy Scout, he learned how to lead, endure hardship, and live honestly, but now he is quitting the Scouts. reports Liam O’Kennedy

US TV Channel Bans TV Show

NBC Utah affiliate KSL-TV has pulled the upcoming Ryan Murphy sitcom "The New Normal" from its fall lineup, calling the series as "inappropriate on several dimensions."

The show, which follows a mother who serves as a surrogate for a Los Angeles-based gay couple, stars Justin Bartha, Ellen Barkin and Georgia King. It's set to debut on Sept. 11 on NBC at 9:30 p.m. ET. But Utah's KSL-TV doesn't want anything to do with it during "family viewing-time."

American Embassy Plays Host For Gay Pride Event

NAIROBI - On Tuesday, the U.S. embassy in Kenya's capital hosted a gay pride event, believed to be the first of its kind in the country.  The event is as part of the Obama administration’s policy to fight prejudice against lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. 

On Tuesday morning the embassy presented what is thought to be the first LGBT Pride celebration in Kenya, where homosexual acts are punishable by law.  Similar events are being held at U.S. embassies around the world.  The push to promote global LGBT rights follows several victories for gay rights advocates in the U.S. over the past year.

Australian Sally Army Apologise For Gay Hate

The Australian Salvation Army has apologised after a senior official said that gay people should be put to death.

Major Andrew Craibe was asked by an Australian LGBT radio station if the organisation believed LGBT people should die.

Major Craibe said: “You know, we have an alignment to the Scriptures, but that’s our belief.”

He added: “I qualify by way of, that’s where my belief system is structured, you know? It’s what it comes to, that salvation story, and that we can be redeemed from that. That’s my belief.”

Major Bruce Harmer, the Salvation Army’s Communications and Public Relations Secretary for its Eastern Territory, said in a statement: “The Salvation Army sincerely apologizes to all members of the [LGBT] community and to all our clients, employees, volunteers and those who are part of our faith communities for the offence caused by this miscommunication.

“The Scripture in question, viewed in its broader context, is not referring to physical death, nor is it specifically targeted at homosexual behaviour.”

He added: “The leadership of The Salvation Army continues to reflect on Christian and Biblical tradition, and especially on the themes of justice and mercy, to further deepen the understandings of our own members and build a more healthy relationship with the [LGBT] community.“We pledge to continue to offer services to all Australians and to treat each person with dignity, respect and non-discrimination.”

Ukraine GLBT Activist Survives Another Attack.

Taras Karasiichuk, the popular head of the Kiev Pride 2012 organising committee,has been beaten for the second time in just six weeks, this time leaving him with a broken jaw.

During the attack on 22 June an unidentified man approached Karasiichuk close to his apartment, asking “Are you a fag?” before kicking him in the head and face.

On 20 May, in a similar incident, Karasiichuk and two other members of the Pride committee were attacked and beaten following a news conference. The conference was held to announce the committee’s decision to cancel the planned Kiev Pride parade, after large numbers of anti-gay protesters arrived in the city and the police refused to provide protection for parade participants.

Lesbian News Reader Jane Hill To Marry

Popular BBC Newsreader Jane Hill has confirmed  on Twitter that she will enter into a civil partnership with her partner, Sara.

Hill, 42, who came out publicly in 2009, has worked as a newsreader on the BBC’s 24-hour channel for 14 years and also continues to present broadcasts on BBC One

She wrote on Twitter: “Yes, Sara & I are getting hitched.”

She added: “Still a bit shocked I think! (and hungover).”

The Telegraph drew consternation from some quarters by including quotation marks in its headline “BBC newsreader Jane Hill is to ‘marry’ a woman cameraman”.

The paper’s celebrity news section said: “Having “outed” herself as homosexual in the BBC’s staff magazine, Jane Hill has now accepted a “marriage” proposal.

Liverpool's Gay Streets!

Liverpool has become the first city in Britain to have street signs emblazoned with the rainbow arch, the first of which was unveiled on Stanley Street at the heart of the city’s new gay quarter on Friday.

The signs, which appear along Stanley Street, Cumberland Street, Temple Lane, Eberle Street and Temple Street, have been introduced following the decision by the city’s council to officially recognise the Stanley Street Quarter as a gay area in August. The signage is one of the first visible initiatives to be implemented following this recognition.

Over 1000 attend Stuart Walker's funeral.

  More than 1000 people attended the funeral of the murdered barman Stuart Walker last week.

It was a crime that attracted worldwide headlines due to the horrific way in which  Mr Walker died.  The young gay man was found “horrible” injuries at a lampost near an industrial estate in the Scottish town of Cumnock last month.  Not only had he been savagely beaten he had also been set on fire. 

Many of the Cumnock's  9000 inhabitants attended the funeral service for the man that was the “life and soul of our family” according to his sister.    She also said: “You were our ray of sunshine when you were here. And now you will forever be our brightest star, watching over us.”

The day of Stuart’s death, 22 October, was described as “one of the darkest in Cumnock’s recent history” by the vicar, Reverend Patterson.  A Leona Lewis track was played as around 600 mourners following the hearse to the town cemetery.

Earlier this month an  18-year-old who was arrested and has now been charged with murder, theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice.  Ryan Esquierdo, also from Cumnock, remains in police custody, however as yet there are no answer to question the family and the community most desperately seek,    why he had taken the life is this friendly and popular man.

 

Liverpool church linked to “home exorcisms” to cure gays

 The Frontline Church, Liverpool, which runs courses “helping Christian men and women out of homosexuality” has been described as being part of the “Dark Ages”.

The church’s courses are connected to the American LIFE Ministry, whose website instructs gay readers on home “exorcism”.

A document published on the Liverpool church’s website claimed people became gay as a result of “pain in childhood”.

Peter Burton Dies.

 One of gay journalism's most prominent early figures, Peter Burton, has died at the age of 66, reports the UK's PinkPaper.com can report.

The acclaimed writer and publisher is thought to have died from a heart attack.

Born in London's Hackney in 1945, he began to write for gay travel guide Spartacus in the late 1960s while running a separate magazine from a guesthouse in Brighton.

In 1973, he began writing for the broadsheet title Gay News and, by 1976, he was acting as PA to the editor Denis Lemon and serving as the paper's literary editor.

David Kato's Murderer Sentenced.

 

Sidney Nsubuga Enoch (L) the man suspected to have murdered Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato has been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for the crime. Photo by Johnson Mayamba  

Mukono High Court has on Thursday sentenced Sidney Nsubuga Enoch, 22, the man suspected to have murdered a gay rights activist in January this year, to 30 years in prison.

The 30 year sentence was passed by Justice Joseph Mulangira after Nsubuga admitted to have murdered David Kato 46, on 26th January 2011. This verdict was passed based on the evidence produced in court by the lead state prosecutor, Ms. Loe Karungi.

Ugandan gay activist wins RFK Human Rights Award

A gay rights activist in Uganda, where a bill that would punish gays with prison or death has stirred worldwide outrage, is poised to receive the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in Washington on Thursday.

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of the former U.S. attorney general, is to be joined by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in presenting the award to Frank Mugisha at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. It is the first time the award is being bestowed on an activist working for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.

"It gives me more courage to continue doing the work I'm doing," Mugisha told The Associated Press ahead of the award. "It sends out a message, not only to my country but to other countries that criminalize homosexuality."

The 29-year-old Mugisha leads an underground group whose members routinely shift locations in Uganda for their safety. Uganda, a conservative East African nation, is one of more than 70 nations that have imposed laws against being gay.

TimPermanent

Special music feature from Howard Stump.

TimPermanent is about to release his latest collection of music. I first heard his music at the beginning of the year when he released Marker, a wonderful EP. My appreciation only grew when he released an acoustic cover of Robyn's song, Dancing On My Own. He is about to release another EP, Resident. I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy, and it is outstanding. I first covered Tim through the release of Marker. You can find that here. Tim has been an out and proud performer since he was part of the socially-conscious anti-folk duo Testosterone Kills. As a solo performer, he weds electronica with infectious Pop and heartfelt lyrics.

Nightmares for two arson victims at Leicester gay pub

A man who was injured when he was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire at a Leicester pub has said he still has nightmares about the attack.

A £5,000 reward has been offered after a serious assault at a Leicester pub which resulted in two men receiving burn injuries.

The incident took place at about 12.40am on Tuesday October 25 at the Rainbow and Dove Public House in Charles Street.   The fire ignited in the beer garden at the pub and two men, aged 21 and 20, were taken to Nottingham City Hospital. 

Murder hunt finds £150,000 in bags!

 Officers investigating the murder of a reclusive property developer have found £150,000 in cash at his two homes in London.  William John Saunderson-Smith, who was known as John, was found dead two weeks ago, having suffered a blunt trauma head injury.

The 58-year-old was known to frequent gay clubs in central London but police, who admit details on the circumstances leading to his death remain "sketchy", are not treating it as a homophobic crime.

The body of Mr Saunderson-Smith was found in Dewhurst Road, West Kensington, London, on the afternoon of October 21, reports the Press Assoc.

Daily Mail's Melanie Phillips is the BIGOT of the year!

 Daily Mail columnist Melanie Phillips took on strong competition at Thursday night’s Stonewall Awards to become the charity’s Bigot of the Year.

Phillips was chosen by the Stonewall supporters as the figure to most notably have “gone out of their way to harm, hurt or snub lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the last year”.

In January, she accused the government of trying to brainwash children by including references to gays in lessons about censuses and population movement, and by teaching about the roles of the male in other species. Reports the UK's Pink News.