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Iceland tops first Gay Happiness Index | Gay Star News

▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/iceland-tops-first-gay-happiness-index150515

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Iceland has topped the first Gay Happiness Index with a score of 79 out of 100.

Gay dating network PlanetRomeo ranked countries on three criteria: public opinion, public behavior and life satisfaction.

Three other Nordic countries rounded off the top four – Norway (77), Denmark (76) and Sweden (73) – followed by Uruguay (73), Canada (72) and Israel (71).

#indice #index #gay #homosexualité #cartographie #visualisation

Church leader blames #Ebola on gay people

Edwin Sesange, Uganda gay rights activist, refutes claims the disease outbreak has anything to do with homosexuality - See more at: ▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/church-leader-blames-ebola-gay-people131014#sthash.ukIL9oIz.dpuf

▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/church-leader-blames-ebola-gay-people131014
#homophobie #homosexualité #LGBT

Russia ‘gay propaganda’ law may fall after historic court ruling | Gay Star News
▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-gay-propaganda-law-may-fall-after-historic-court-ruling021013

Russia ‘gay propaganda’ law may fall after historic court ruling
A Russian judiciary court has agreed with an international ruling, a sign they could be forced to in years to come to repeal the federal law

Gays fear police blackmail after Zimbabwe allows all phones to be bugged | Gay Star News
▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gays-fear-police-blackmail-after-zimbabwe-allows-all-phones-be-bugged02

Gays fear police blackmail after Zimbabwe allows all phones to be bugged
Zimbabwe LGBTs fear police will witch-hunt and blackmail them as new law allows monitoring of all private phone calls, text messages and internet use

Grandfather disowns daughter after daughter disowns gay son | Gay Star News
▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/grandfather-disowns-daughter-after-daughter-disowns-gay-son021013

Grandfather disowns daughter after daughter disowns gay son
In an incredible letter, he tells her: ‘You’re correct that we have a “shame in the family”, but are mistaken about who it is’

Gay contestant wins most controversial season of Big Brother ever | Gay Star News
▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-contestant-wins-most-controversial-season-big-brother-ever190913

Gay contestant wins most controversial season of Big Brother ever
Andy Herren wins $500,000 first prize but loses job
19 September 2013 | By Greg Hernandez
Andy_Herren
Photo: CBS

After a season filled with racial slurs, anti-gay slurs and overall bad behavior, gay contestant Andy Herren was crowned Wednesday (18 September) winner of the CBS reality competition Big Brother.

Gay activists to protest Olympic inspections despite ban | Gay Star News
▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-activists-protest-olympic-inspections-despite-ban200913

Gay activists to protest Olympic inspections despite ban
A protest in Moscow next week will go ahead. Permission awaited from officials in Sochi. Kostroma new court decision contradicts previous ‘gay pride bans are unlawful’ ruling

It does get better for gay teens, study says | Gay Star News
▻http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/it-does-get-better-gay-teens-study-says070213

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teens face less bullying as they get older, a study has shown.

The study of 8,700 English students, carried out by The University of Illinois and Brunel University in London, says homophobic bullying against young people declines as they get older and leave school.

#lgbt

French mayor cancels lesbian wedding after ’violent’ threats | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/french-mayor-cancels-lesbian-wedding-after-violent-threats091112

French mayor cancels lesbian wedding after ’violent’ threats
Mayor of Hantay in northern France was due to marry two women despite gay marriage law not yet passed
09 November 2012 | By Matthew Jenkin
Lille, France - city near Hantay where mayor has been forced to cancel lesbian wedding after receiving threats

The mayor of a small town in northern France has backed out of marrying a lesbian couple after receiving threats of violent.

Desirée Duhem, the mayor of Hantay, was due to perform a civil marriage ceremony for two women on 10 November, despite the government not yet passing a same-sex marriage bill and the union therefore likely to be invalid.

However, Duhem was forced to pull out of holding the ceremony after being sent ’violent and threatening’ messages, telling France 24 she didn’t want to risk ’darkening this day’.

She added: ’By a mutual accord between the two young women and myself, we have cancelled this civil act that is not yet authorised by law.’

France’s Socialist cabinet adopted a draft bill to authorise gay marriage and adoption on Tuesday (7 November) despite opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and others.

More than 1,200 French mayors and their deputies have signed a petition protesting marriage equality, demanding a ‘withdrawal clause’ for elected leaders who do not want to perform ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Catholics also revived a centuries old tradition, the ‘Prayer for France’, to specifically attack the government plans.

In a recent poll, it was revealed 65% of French people back gay marriage, and 53% agree with adoption by same-sex couples.

Head of Catholic Church in San Francisco decries gay marriage victories | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/head-catholic-church-san-francisco-decries-gay-marriage-victories091112

Head of Catholic Church in San Francisco decries gay marriage victories
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone: Marriage is between man and woman ’or it is nothing at all’
09 November 2012 | By Greg Hernandez

It’s already known that Salvatore Cordileone, archbishop of the Catholic Church in San Francisco, is a fervent supporter of Proposition 8 which banned same-sex marriage in California.

So it’s no surprise that following voters approving gay marriage in Maine, Maryland and Washington this week, Cordileone would not be happy.

’No matter what policy, law or judicial decision is put into place, marriage is the only institution that unites a man and a woman to each other and to any children born of their union. It is either this, or it is nothing at all,’ he wrote in a letter posted on the Archdiocese website.

In addition, voters in Minnesota rejected a ballot measure that would have banned gay marriage.

’November 6, was a disappointing day for marriage, as the effort to preserve the unique meaning of marriage in the law lost by only a narrow margin in four states, even though vastly outspent by those who promote the redefinition of marriage,’ Cordileone also wrote.

His appointment to be head of a church in a city with such a large gay population and history of LGBT activism drew protests earlier this year.

Cordileone was officially installed just last month and was recently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

In 2008, he helped raise funds to get Prop 8 on the ballot box and donated approximately $6,000 of his own funds in support of the referendum.

Vatican defiant in face of marriage equality wins | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/vatican-defiant-face-marriage-equality-wins101112

Vatican defiant in face of marriage equality wins
The Vatican newspaper has denied that the church is losing the fight on same-sex marriage and has warned US President Barack Obama about moving too fast on social issues
10 November 2012 | By Andrew Potts
Vatican City
Photo: Enrique Cornejo

The newspaper of the Holy See in Rome has denied that the Catholic Church is losing the fight on same-sex marriage despite recent gains in the US and France following national elections.

In an article in L’Osservatore Romano, Vatican journalist and historian Lucetta Scaraffia wrote that the Catholic Church was the only institution at a global level that was capable of resisting those that would ‘break up … human society’ following the US election.

‘You could say that the church, on this level, is bound to lose,’ Scaraffia wrote, ‘But this is not the case.’

Scaraffia wrote that the Church’s opposition to allowing same-sex couples to adopt in the UK and against government mandated access to birth control in the US had shown the world that ‘this is not about [fighting] progress.’

Instead Scaraffia claimed that the Catholic Church was fighting against ‘the loss of one of the founding freedoms of the modern state - religious liberty.’

Scaraffia is the first female writer to be allowed to contribute to L’Osservatore Romano in the newspaper’s 151 year history.

A November 8 editorial in L’Osservatore Romano also warned of a religious backlash against the second Obama Administration if it tried to move too far on social issues.

‘The United States chose to place their trust in the current president, guaranteeing him a second term,’ the editorial reads.

‘But if Obama wants to be the president of all American people, he must eventually acknowledge the requests that are rising with strength from the religious communities - the Catholic Church being the first in line - in favour of the family, life and religious liberty.’

A complaint has been made to the US Internal Revenue Service after it was suggested that efforts by several prominent Catholic bishops to tell parishioners how to vote may have broken the laws governing the church’s tax free status in the US.

Gay marriage will make France a ‘land of homos’, says senator | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-marriage-will-make-france-%E2%80%98land-homos%E2%80%99-says-senator

Gay marriage will make France a ‘land of homos’, says senator
Billionaire and senator Serge Dessault has said if France legalizes marriage equality, then there will be no more babies
10 November 2012 | By Joe Morgan
Senator Serge Dessault has said if gay marriage is legalized then France will turn into a ’land of homos’.

Marriage equality and adoption by same-sex couples will make France into a ‘land of homos’, according to a conservative politician and billionaire.

Speaking on French Culture radio, Senator Serge Dessault said if gay marriage was legalized then there would be no people having babies.

He said: ‘We’ll have a land of homos. And then in 10 years there will be no one left. It’s stupid.’

The 87-year-old said homosexuality was responsible for the self-destructing indulgence that led to the downfall of ancient Greece.

‘Total decadence, of course. It’s the end of the family, it’s the end of the children’s development, it’s the end of education. It’s a danger for the entire nation,’ said Dassault.

The entrepreneur was speaking on the same day France’s Socialist cabinet adopted a draft bill to legalize gay marriage and adoption on 7 November.

‘This is an important step towards the equality of rights,’ said Dominique Bertinnoti, the Minister of Family Affairs.

The bill, which will be introduced for a vote in early 2013 and is expected to pass in early 2013, has attracted strong criticism from religious and conservative groups.

France’s leading Roman Catholic bishop Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois has urged Christians to fight against the planned reforms.

‘The presidential and legislative elections earlier this year did not give them carte blanche, especially not for reforms that very profoundly affect the equilibrium of our society,’ he said.

The cardinal has also called the bill a ‘deception’ and ‘fraud’ saying that gay marriage risked harming children and that it would be ‘the marriage of a few imposed on everyone.’

Gay rights groups have also criticized the bill for not including medical assisted procreation, such as insemination for lesbian couples.

However President Francois Hollande has said there could be alterations to the law as it goes through parliament.

Slovakia says no to gay partnership law | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/slovakia-says-no-gay-partnership-law061112

Slovakia says no to gay partnership law
Slovakia’s parliament voted against the introduction of a same-sex partnership law
06 November 2012 | By Dan Littauer
Slovakia’s parliament, the National Council, voted against gay partnership today

Slovakia’s parliament rejected today (6 November) an opposition proposal to recognize gay partnerships.

The bill has been passionately debated with the government and right wing parties accusing the opposition of blasphemy.

Allegations were also made that granting same-sex relationship equivalent status as heterosexual marriage would be risky for society and undermine family values.

Fourteen deputies vote for gay partnerships, ninety four against and twenty abstained.

Martin Poliacik, co-author of the bill and member of the opposition Freedom and Solidarity party was quoted in Reuters saying: ‘The purpose of the official recognition of same-sex partnerships’ legitimacy is the fulfilment of these people’s love and responsible relationships’.

Pavol Hrusovsky, of the right wing Christian Democrats, said: ‘This draft law, ladies and gentlemen, is an insane legislative attempt to crash the entire legal system.

‘This is something that is unprecedented.

‘You are trying to change the face of this country.’

Whilst Slovakia is a devote Catholic country public opinion has shifted in Slovakia in the past few years, becoming more favourable to LGBT people and granting rights to same-sex couples.

A Pew Global Attitudes Project survey recorded that 68% of Slovaks believe that homosexuality should be accepted by society.

A recent poll suggest that 47 percent of Slovaks support the introduction of gay marriage while only 38 percent oppose it.

Of the European Union’s 27 member states, 14 recognize same-sex partnerships, including the neighboring Czech Republic.

The center-right government of Robert Fico approved in October the creation of a committee for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, as a forum for public debate, a move criticized by the Christian Democrats and Slovakia’s Conference of Bishops.

Tammy Baldwin makes history as first openly gay person elected to US Senate | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/tammy-baldwin-makes-history-first-openly-gay-person-elected-us-senate07

Tammy Baldwin makes history as first openly gay person elected to US Senate
Democratic candidates defeats Republican Tommy Thompson
07 November 2012 | By Greg Hernandez

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin made history Tuesday (6 November) by becoming the first openly gay person to be elected to the US Senate.

Baldwin, who has represented Wisconsin in the US House of Representatives for seven terms, defeated Republican Tommy Thompson who is opposed to gay marriage. She replaces retiring Democrat Herb Kohl in the Senate.

’I am honored and humbled and grateful, and I am ready to get to work - ready to stand with Barack Obama, and ready to fight for Wisconsin’s middle class,’ Baldwin told supporters at her victory party.’

Baldwin, 50, has said her sexuality has not been an issue on the campaign trail because voters in her state care more about such issues as the economy and jobs than their representative’s love life.

But Baldwin has acknowledged the significance of a lesbian being elected to the US Senate. She has gotten used to making history in this regard starting with becoming the first lesbian elected to the Wisconsin Assembly then the first non-incumbent gay person elected to the US House of Representatives.

Baldwin recently told the British paper The Guardian: ‘We never had an openly LGBT member of the US Senate and, even though there are strong pro-equality allies who serve there, it has always been a conversation about a group of people. So this changes everything.’

For fifteen years, her domestic partner was Lauren Azar, until the couple separated in 2010. They had registered as domestic partners in Wisconsin a year earlier.

Herndon Graddick, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin were among the LGBT leaders enthusiastic about the result.

’Tonight Tammy Baldwin made history and shone a bright light across America,’ Graddick said in a statement. ’No longer is the United States Senate a place for only a select few but for every citizen, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Tammy Baldwin’s victory showed what a majority of Americans already know: that candidates should be judged on their qualifications for the job and not their sexual orientation.’

Said Griffin: ’As the first openly gay person elected to the United States Senate, she is a role model for LGBT youth and all young women across the country. With a relentless focus on the issues that matter most to Wisconsin voters – economic security, access to healthcare, and fairness and inclusion for all – Senator-elect Baldwin earned the respect of all her constituents, gay and straight.’

Openly gay candidate Mark Pocan wins Tammy Baldwin’s US House seat | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/openly-gay-candidate-mark-pocan-wins-tammy-baldwins-us-house-seat071112

Openly gay candidate Mark Pocan wins Tammy Baldwin’s US House seat
First time in history gay member of congress is succeeded by another gay member
07 November 2012 | By Greg Hernandez

Wisconsin State Assemblyman Mark Pocan has won a seat in the US House of Representatives and made a little bit of history along the way.

Pocan, who is openly gay, succeeds Tammy Baldwin in the US lower house just as he had in the State Assembly. This marks the first time that one gay legislature follows another for the same seat. Baldwin on Tuesday (6 November) became the first openly gay member of the US Senate.

Pocan, 48, defeated Republican challenger Chad Lee in an electoral district that has been reliably Democratic in the past.

The winner has been an advocate for LGBT equality and served as co-chairman of the Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee.

Anti-gay Todd Akin loses Missouri senate race | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/anti-gay-todd-akin-loses-missouri-senate-race071112

Anti-gay Todd Akin loses Missouri senate race
Controversial Republican who said women rarely get pregnant from ‘legitimate rape’ loses election
07 November 2012 | By Anna Leach
Tea-Party-backed Todd Akin loses election for Senator of Missouri

Anti-gay and anti-abortion congressman Todd Akin has lost his bid to become Senator of Missouri.

Democrat incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill defeated Akin’s attempt to be elected in the mid-western state.

When asked if women who are raped should be allowed to have abortions during a radio interview in August, Akin said victims of what he called ‘legitimate rape’ rarely get pregnant. He apologized for the comments afterwards saying that he ‘misspoke’.

Akin also has an anti-gay rights record. He voted against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and tried to create a ‘conscience protection clause’ for those in the military who objected to it.

And when the president announced his support for same-sex marriage, Akin said ‘the Obama administration has once again revealed its unquenchable desire to tear down the traditional family unit brick by brick’, Advocate reports.

Senator McCaskill was the first female senator for Missouri when she was elected in 2006. She stopped short of supporting President Obama’s position on gay marriage in May but a spokesperson said she opposes discrimination against gays and lesbians.

McCaskill won a clear victory with 53% of the vote to Akin’s 41%. ’Mom: This one’s for you,’ she said in her speech, remembering her mother who died last week.

‘I don’t think people were voting for McCaskill, they were voting against Akin – or didn’t vote at all in protest,’ said Mary Simon, a Republican full-time mother in Missouri said to local newspaper St Louis Today.

At the time of publishing, the Democrats held on to 49 Senate seats and gained one, the Republicans held on to 44 seats and lost two, one seat remained independent and six seats were still to be announced.

Akin recently posted a message on his Facebook page saying:

Anti-gay MP suspended over I’m A Celebrity | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/anti-gay-mp-suspended-over-im-celebrity071112

Anti-gay MP suspended over I’m A Celebrity
Conservative politician Nadine Dorries to face questioning on her return to the UK after flying to Australia to star in reality TV show
07 November 2012 | By Andrew Whitty
Conservative politician Nadine Dorries to face questioning on her return to the UK after flying to Australia to star in reality TV show

Nadine Dorries, the British Member of Parliament to appear on reality show I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here, has been suspended by the Conservative Party.

The anti-gay politician caused controversy when it was revealed she had left for the Australian jungle without consulting her peers yesterday (6 November).

The party believe that the mid-Bedfordshire MP would be unable to fulfil her role and support her constituency whilst away as she could be out of the UK for up to a month.

There was outrage on Twitter when it was revealed that Dorries was a contestant.

Former MP, Louise Mensch tweeted: ’Nadine pretending that a serious issue like abortion rights is why she did this is the lowest of the low. Indefensible stuff.’

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, refused to give an official comment, simply stating: ’Nadine Dorries can speak for herself on this issue.’

Some saw humor in the story. The spoof Twitter account @Queen_UK tweeted: ’MP Nadine Dorries is going into the jungle. What she doesn’t know is she’ll be staying there until approximately the end of recorded time.’

TV channel cuts word ’gay’ from episode of The Simpsons | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/tv-channel-cuts-word-gay-episode-simpsons071112

TV channel cuts word ’gay’ from episode of The Simpsons
Britain’s Channel 4 apologizes for censoring a Sunday lunchtime repeat of the popular US cartoon
07 November 2012 | By Matthew Jenkin
TV channel cuts word ’gay’ from episode of The Simpsons
Photo by Fox

A British TV channel has apologized after cutting the word ’gay’ out of an episode of The Simpsons.

Channel 4 censored the word from a repeat of the US show on Sunday (4 November) at 12.55pm because it was deemed unsuitable for viewers at that time of the day, despite it being used in its proper context.

The 1994 episode features Homer and Ned Flanders at an American football match.

Although the donut-loving patriarch usually hates his God-fearing neighbor, the pair bond after Flanders buys him food and introduces him to a star player.

As they are leaving the game, Homer declares: ’I want everyone to know that this is Ned Flanders...my friend.’

But his passing workmates Lenny and Carl, whose relationship is a long-running joke in the show, hear differently.

’What’d he say?’ Lenny asks. Carl replies: ’I dunno. Somethin’ about being gay.’

During the edited episode, Carl’s line is cut out.

According to Channel 4, all episodes shown before 6pm are checked for offensive content, but the TV station admits it was wrong to make the change this time.

’We always carefully consider the context in which language is used in our programming,’ said a Channel 4 spokesman, reported The Independent.

’However, in this instance the episode was edited in error as neither the word nor the context was unsuitable.’

The derogatory use of the word ’gay’ as an insult or to imply something is uncool has in the past landed networks and celebrities including former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles in hot water.

Its use during times when children are watching has, therefore, been restricted under recommendations by UK media watchdog Ofcom.

New Zealand’s prime minister, John Key, was forced to apologize this week after joking a radio host was wearing a ’gay’ red jumper.

Key made the offensive gaffe during an interview with RadioSport’s Farming Show on Friday (2 November).

’You’re going to be nervous when you’re lining up on those par threes aren’t you,’ he teased DJ Jamie Mackay.

’You’re munted mate, you’re never gonna make it, you’ve got that gay red top on there.’

Gay orchestra set to perform in Anglican church | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-orchestra-set-perform-anglican-church071112

Gay orchestra set to perform in Anglican church
Christmas concert will feature Tchaikovsky and ’camp classics’
07 November 2012
Christmas concert will feature Tchaikovsky and ’camp classics’

The London Gay Symphony Orchestra is to perform a Christmas concert at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, the largest parish church in the City.

The LGSO is the largest in the UK and it’s members have performed at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank, as well as other international venues.

Christopher Braime, the conductor of the Christmas Concert, said: ’Christmas is a sensory time of year – the sights, the smells and, most importantly for me, the sounds: as soon as I hear the opening bars of The Nutcracker, Christmas leaps to life from the score.

’After all those hot ballet boys, Finlandia is an icy shower; The Snow Maiden lures with ice and fire and Dvorak invites us to don our party frocks and dance like a Slavonic.’

The LGSO perform only four times a year and are active in raising funds for charities such as Amnesty International and the Albert Kennedy Trust.

You can purchase tickets for the concert on 9 December here. The performance begins at 7pm.

Thugs break teen’s ribs in suspected anti-gay attack | Gay Star News
►http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/thugs-break-teens-ribs-suspected-anti-gay-attack071112

Thugs break teen’s ribs in suspected anti-gay attack
Police have released CCTV images of two men they are searching for in connection with the beating of a 19-year-old student in Plymouth, England
07 November 2012 | By Matthew Jenkin
Police are searching for these two men in connection with a suspected homophobic attack in Plymouth

A teenager was left with two broken ribs after a suspected homophobic attack in Plymouth, England.

The 19-year-old student and his friend were leaving the Dog and Duck pub in Mutley Plain at around 3.10am on October 6 when a man began hurling anti-gay abuse at him.

After calling him a ’fag’ and ’batty boy’ he was hit violently on the head.

Detective Constable Louise Steele, of the Plymouth Diverse Communities Team, said the victim’s friend tried to protect him as two attackers kicked the teenager while he lay on the ground.

’We live here, we know people,’ one of the attackers is believed to have shouted during the assault.

The victim was later taken to Derriford Hospital where he was treated for two broken ribs and severe bruising to his face.

Steele said: ’This was a completely unprovoked attack and from the comments the victim said he heard, we believe this was a homophobic attack.

’He suffered nasty facial injuries and very visible bruising.

’We know there were around 15 other people nearby at the time and at one stage a woman and a man raced over to help protect the victim from this assault.

’We believe one of the suspects even went on to attack another person further up the street immediately after this incident.’

Police have released CCTV stills of two men they would like to hear from in connection with their investigation.

If you recognize either man, contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on +44 (0)800 555111 quoting crime reference number EC/12/9587.