08/01/2010
Reports The Independent:
"A comprehensive study of global lesbian, bisexual and gay rights, seen by The Independent on Sunday, reveals the brutal – and, in many instances, fatal – price people pay around the globe for their sexuality. The research, which was conducted by the charity network the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), shows that 76 countries still prosecute people on the grounds of their sexual orientation – seven of which punish same-sex acts with death."
"On a global scale, the nations doing something positive for gay rights are dwarfed by those behaving negatively. While 75 countries will imprison you if you are gay, only 53 have anti-discrimination laws that apply to sexuality. Only 26 countries recognise same-sex unions."
Rights for gay people in Africa don't seem to be improving at all. In fact many countries are seeing the opposite:
"ILGA's study of global gay rights shows that, elsewhere, admitting to being gay is still a matter of life and death. In much of Africa, the past decade has seen the lives of gay people go "from bad to worse", the report says. More than 50 per cent of African states have taken action to criminalise homosexuality and religious homophobia is rife."
And it appears as if it certainly won't be getting much better in Southern Sudan, where homosexual sex is illegal, anytime soon.
Yesterday, Salva Kiir Mayardit (seen here in his trademark hat), president of Southern Sudan, was asked by Radio Netherlands Worldwide about homosexuality: "It is not in our character [...] it is not there and if anybody wants to import it to Sudan [...] it will always be condemned by everybody."
Posted 12:29 PM EST by Steve Pep in Africa, Gay Rights | Permalink
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Let the games begin. The Gay Games commenced in Cologne yesterday. The Earth Times reports on the opening ceremony:
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle delivered the opening address in Cologne's Rheinenergiestadion. Homosexuals are asking for respect, not privileges, he said. Westerwelle's male life partner, Cologne entrepreneur Michael Mronz, was in attendance.
The Eighth Gay Games, also considered the world's largest rally for the rights of gays and lesbians, are being held under the motto, "Be part of it!" Held every four years since 1982, the Cologne games are the first to been held in Germany. Pop singers Taylor Dane and Agnes performed amid a colourful, choreographed show featuring 1,500 participants. The opening ceremonies included the lighting of a flame. Nearly 10,000 athletes from 70 countries were expected to compete in 35 disciplines, including same-sex pairs figure skating, billiards and chess. The oldest competitor is a 92 man from the United States who plans to compete in body building.
Watch videos of the ceremonies, including the lighting of the cauldron and Dane sing the Gay Games anthem, "Facing a Miracle," AFTER THE JUMP.
Head on over to Outsports for some great, thorough coverage.
Meanwhile, representatives from Cleveland are in Cologne for research purposes as that city will host the Games in 2014.
Also, it looks like Cleveland Synergy Foundation, the non-profit group that helped bring the Gay Games to Cleveland, is out as the official promoter. The Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports: "While no one will say what happened, Synergy appears to be out as an organizer for the 2014 Games. The Federation of Gay Games announced in a news release earlier this month that it had ended its relationship with Synergy. The city of Cleveland, meanwhile, refused to advance Synergy $38,000 in travel-related expenses for the games in Cologne, citing the group's failure to submit reports in a timely manner."
Continue reading "Gay Games Open in Cologne, Germany"
Posted 11:49 AM EST by Steve Pep in Gay Games, Germany, Sports | Permalink
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The Mid-day News is reporting that the top condom-producing company in India, Family Planning Promotion Trust, has developed a so-called "gay condom" which, when introduced, will be targeted toward gay men. So what makes the condom gay? Apparently, each will contain extra lubricant, therefore, making anal sex more enjoyable and less painful. Or, at least, in theory.
From the article: "A preliminary feedback indicates that discomfort was one of the major reasons why same sex couples do not use condoms during intercourse. Since most condoms are suited for vaginal and not anal sex, the new 'gay condom' will contain extra lubrication."
"'We are still in the process of developing the product. As far as the costing goes, we are still unsure if it must be sold in the socially marketed category or in genera one. However, this concern is secondary to product development,' said an executive from the company's family planning trust, requesting anonymity. The new condom will be called Spice Up."
One of the main reason's for the condom's introduction is the sudden increase of HIV infections among gay men in India. A date for the condom's release has yet to be announced.
You may remember that India decriminalized homosexuality just over a year ago. Sounds like companies in that country are wasting no time in manufacturing products geared toward the LGBT community.
Posted 4:00 AM EST by Steve Pep in AIDS/HIV, India | Permalink
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07/31/2010
The Clintons's statement
via The NY Times: “Today, we watched with great pride and overwhelming emotion as Chelsea and Marc wed in a beautiful ceremony at Astor Courts, surrounded by family and their close friends. We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate the beginning of their life together, and we are so happy to welcome Marc into our family.”
Just for the record, Clinton wore a strapless beaded gown designed by Vera Wang and Hillary Clinton wore a plum-colored gown by Oscar de la Renta.
More pictures of the $2 million affair, including a couple of President Clinton, AFTER THE JUMP.
Continue reading "Chelsea Clinton Weds In New York"
Posted 11:37 PM EST by Steve Pep in Bill clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton | Permalink
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The LGBT group Sleep With The Right People! Support Hotel Workers! will demonstrate
in front of the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego this afternoon to
protest GOProud, who is holding an event there today that features Fox News Channel's Tammy Bruce. GOProud is a conservative gay Republican group. The hotel's owner, Doug Manchester,
was a big contributor to the "Yes on Prop 8" campaign, donating a hefty $125,000 in February 2008 .
The LGBT community and the UNITE HERE! labor union have been behind a boycott of the hotel since 2008 and this is the first LGBT group to break it since.
Says Cleve Jones, who is affiliated with UNITE HERE!:
“The solidarity between the labor movement and the LGBT movement is a powerful coalition. In San Diego, the owner of the Manchester Grand Hyatt—the second largest Hyatt in North America—gave $125,000 to put Proposition 8 on the ballot. Our union and the LGBT community are boycotting the Manchester Grand Hyatt, because there is power in the union and there is power in coalition.”
Protests begin at 4:30pm at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place in San Diego. The GOProud event runs from 5pm to 7pm.
You may remember that hundreds of people showed up at a protest of the hotel back in January.
Posted 6:50 PM EST by Steve Pep | Permalink
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"Study":
“People who either identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual, or
have had a same-sex encounter or relationship, tend to come from more
disturbed backgrounds." Yeah, right.
WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning was closeted military man who leaked documents after a big argument where he was "lectured by ex-boyfriend." Would the leak have occurred if DADT didn't exist and Manning had more of a support system in the military?
Lindsay Lohan keeps dressing up as Marilyn Monroe.
New Michael Jackson album featuring "sensational" leftovers from his "Bad" album due in November.
Jersey Shore's Snooki leaves the pokey.
VA AG Ken Cuccinelli on letter he sent our earlier this year calling for removal of anti-discrimination laws: "Could we have dragged our feet and made it take longer? Yes. Should we have? Yes. Should it have been written less like somebody who's a cold-blooded, objective engineer wrote it? Yes. The one thing we got right in there was: the law."
Lack of money in the register, not Jesus, prevented this cell phone store from being robbed.
Matt Bomer shoots new scenes of White Collar with a pink collar.
Andy Cohen and Steven Colbert re-enact a Housewives cat fight.
Politician sends out flyers with opponent's "face superimposed over a rainbow flag, with two male figures holding hands." She also lied claiming he wants to legalize public sex in restrooms.
NY Mag on James Franco: "Franco, you might say, is queering celebrity: erasing the border not just between gay and straight but between actor and artist, heartthrob and intellectual, junk TV and art museum. His obvious relish for gay roles challenges the default heterosexuality of Hollywood leading men like Clooney or Pitt."
Twitter marks a big milestone: 20 billion tweets!
Yes, there is a difference between jazz hands for spirit fingers.
Well that was quick. Levi Johnston
and Bristol Palin's engagement has been called off.
Apparently Prince Charles thinks he needs to save the world.
Irish transgendered woman says she will apply for refugee status in Canada if that country tried to send her back to Europe.
Report: "The Vancouver School Board has significantly downsized its anti-homophobia and diversity consultant's hours, despite calls for greater anti-homophobia education in schools."
Posted 4:04 PM EST by Steve Pep in Andy Cohen, James Franco, Ken Cuccinelli, Lindsay Lohan, Matt Bomer, Michael Jackson, News, Transgender, Twitter | Permalink
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