Scottish parliament elections: Labour and Lib Dems promise gay rights action

The Scottish Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have made manifesto promises on marriage equality ahead of May’s election.

Labour – which is on an equal footing with the SNP in polls – says it will consult on the issue while the Lib Dems offer a firmer commitment.

Labour’s manifesto says: “We also believe that the time is now right to consult on options to provide genuine equality for same-sex couples and their families, by addressing the different status of civil partnership and marriage. We are clear – Scotland shouldn’t be left behind on these issues.”

It also pledges to deal with the issue of historical gay sex convictions for actions which are no longer crimes and “investigate the best way” to allow religious civil partnerships.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto promises that the party will “extend legal marriage to gay couples and civil partnerships to heterosexual couples”.

It adds that the party will work with Westminster to review the ban on gay men donating blood and encourage schools to do more to tackle homophobia.

The Conservative manifesto contains no mention of equality or gay rights.

The SNP is to publish its manifesto next week, with the Green party manifesto following a week later.

Tim Hopkins, of the Equality Network, welcomed the promises from Labour and the Lib Dems and said the Green manifesto was expected to show strong gay rights support.

He told PinkNews.co.uk: “We always thought it was relatively unlikely that Labour and the SNP would say they would introduce marriage equality and the best we’ve got so far from Labour is a promise to consult. But the language used – ‘genuine equality’ – is a good sign.”

Last year, in a general election PinkNews.co.uk Q&A session, SNP leader Alex Salmond did not give his views on marriage equality.

Mr Hopkins said: “The whole agenda [on marriage equality] has moved forward hugely in the last 18 months. It would be unfair to draw conclusions as to what the SNP will say in their manifesto.”

Labour and the SNP are neck-and-neck in the latest polls. Mr Hopkins said that the race was “wide open” at this point.

“From what we have seen so far, these are already the best manifestos [for gay rights] we have seen in a UK election,” he said.

But he added: “[The Conservative manifesto] is very disappointing. The word ‘equality’ doesn’t appear once in the document – and neither does ‘disability’.”

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Anti-gay Catholic archbishop slapped in face with custard pies

A Belgian Catholic archbishop who said HIV is “justice” for gays has been hit in the face with custard pies.

Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard, the head of the country’s Catholic Church, was targeted on Tuesday while speaking at a university near Brussels.

Footage posted on YouTube shows him being hit with pie while walking to the venue and inside it.

According to AFP, one of the people who threw the pies told Belgian reporters: “For all those homosexuals who daren’t tell their parents they are gay, for all those young girls who want to have an abortion, he absolutely deserved it.”

There is a tradition of gay rights campaigners using pie for protest. In 1977, US gay rights opponent Anita Bryant was ‘pied’ on camera at a press conference.

Archbishop Leonard made his comments about HIV last year.

“All I’m saying is that sometimes there are consequences linked to our actions,” the archbishop said, “this [HIV] epidemic is a sort of intrinsic justice.”

He is also said to have called homosexuality a travesty of nature and suggested that elderly paedophile priests should not be punished.

His spokesman Juergen Mettepenningen resigned over his boss’ remarks, saying: “Monsignor Leonard at times acts like a motorist driving on the wrong side of a freeway who thinks all the other motorists are wrong.”

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Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful’ voted most gay-empowering song

‘Beautiful’ by Christina Aguilera has been voted the most empowering song of the last decade for gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

The 2002 hit has the lyrics: “I am beautiful no matter what they say. Words can’t bring me down.”

It was written by major songwriter and producer Linda Perry, who is a lesbian.

According to a Stonewall poll of 1,007 people, the song beat ‘Better’ by Boyzone and ‘Born This Way’ by Lady Gaga into second and third place respectively.

Aguilera, who is rumoured to have had gay relationships, said: ‘I’m delighted to have been voted the most inspirational pop act by Stonewall’s supporters – my gay fan base is so important to me and this continues my special relationship with them.’

The song’s video shows a gay couple kissing and a transgender woman applying her makeup.

It was commended by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation in 2003 and Aguilera said it sent a “universal message” to anyone who has suffered discrimination.

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Prop 8 judge speaks for the first time about being gay

The judge who struck down California’s ban on gay marriage has spoken publicly for the first time about the fact he is gay.

US District Judge Vaughn Walker, now retired, was outed during the course of last year’s trial by a newspaper which said his sexuality was an open secret.

He did not acknowledge the report at the time, despite criticism from gay rights opponents that he would be biased.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Walker said he had never considered his sexual orientation as a reason not to hear the case.

It would be a “slippery slope” if judges began dropping cases because of their own sexual orientation, race or gender, he said.

Reuters reports that Mr Walker revealed he was in a ten-year relationship with a physician.

He has had a tumultuous relationship with the gay community throughout his law career, having once represented the US Olympic Committee in a case against a gay group which wanted to call itself the Gay Olympics.

He said: “I was the ogre of the gay community when I was nominated, and a hero when I leave,”

Gay rights opponents appealed Mr Walker’s decision and the case is due to come before the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeal, after the Supreme Court has ruled whether anti-gay groups have the legal standing to challenge the ruling.

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5,000-year-old ‘transgender’ skeleton discovered

Archaeologists have discovered a 5,000-year-old skeleton which they believe may be the remains of a transgender person.

The male skeleton was found in a suburb of Prague and is buried in a manner previously only seen for female burials.

The body is believed to date from between 2900 and 2500BC and is from the Corded Ware culture of the Copper Age.

Men’s bodies from that age and culture are usually found buried with their heads towards the west and with weapons.

But this skeleton was found with its head towards the east and was surrounded by domestic jugs – as women’s bodies from the time are usually found.

At a press conference in Prague yesterday, archaeologists theorised that the person may have been transgender or ‘third sex’.

Kamila Remišová, the head of the research team, said: “From history and ethnology, we know that when a culture had strict burial rules they never made mistakes with these sort of things.”

Archaeologist Kateřina Semrádová told Czech Position: “We believe this is one of the earliest cases of what could be described as a ‘transsexual’ or ‘third gender grave’ in the Czech Republic.”

This is not the first time a skeleton has been found buried as a member of the opposite sex. One woman from the Mesolithic period, who was assumed to be a warrior, was found buried with weapons.

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Lesbian and bisexual women urged to have cervical screening

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation is urging lesbians and bisexual women to go for cervical smear tests.

The charity says some lesbian and bi women may not be aware they could be at risk of cervical cancer.

Traditionally, it was assumed that the HPV virus, one of the causes of cervical cancer, could only be transmitted through sexual contact with men and LB women were sometimes wrongly told they did not need screening.

However, research has found that it can be transmitted through sexual contact between women.

Around 80 per cent of lesbians are estimated to have slept with a man at least once and even if a woman has never slept with a man, her female sexual partners may have done.

Annie Emery, programmes manager at the LGF, said that all women between the ages of 25 and 64 should have cervical screening regularly.

She said: “Over the years, some lesbian and bisexual women accessing screening have experienced homophobia, assumptions that they are heterosexual, inappropriate treatment and, most damaging of all, misinformation about their health when it comes to cervical screening.

“Therefore it is crucial that LB women know that they do need cervical screening, and that they have the confidence to access services and get the kind of test that works for them.”

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Bryan Fischer: I'm Worried That Donald Trump Doesn't Hate Gay People Enough

American Family Association spokesdouche Bryan Fischer is worried that Donald Trump doesn't hate gay people enough to earn the endorsement of the right wing.

Does he believe the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is constitutional? Does he believe President Obama violated his oath of office by refusing to defend this law in court? Does he support a federal marriage amendment that would define marriage as a one-man, one-woman institution and prohibit marriage counterfeits like civil unions and domestic partnerships? Would he reverse President Obama’s decision to grant certain spousal benefits to the sexual partners of homosexuals, contrary to DOMA? Would he support reinstatement of the ban on open homosexual service in the military? Would he veto the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) if it came to his desk? Would he sign a repeal of the Hate Crimes act, which will criminalize speech that is critical of homosexual behavior?

Fischer also says that Trump's three marriages "ought to be a huge problem for social conservatives," an issue Fischer doesn't seem to have with thrice-married serial adulterer Newt Gingrich, who regularly appears on Fischer's radio show

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Nicki Minaj says ‘openly bisexual’ rumours aren’t true

Pop star Nicki Minaj has shot down rumours that she is “openly bisexual”.

The star, who has been linked to fellow singer Rihanna, said people were “thrown off” by the fact she embraces gay culture.

When asked if she was bisexual by Q magazine, she said: “That’s definitely not true…”

She added: “I say whatever I want in my songs and just leave it at that. I guess some people are thrown off by me embracing gay culture, but I don’t feel the need to explain that. Unless someone asks me a specific question.”

Earlier this year, the star claimed she had a gay boy living inside her.

She said: “Roman’s a little gay boy who lives in me.”

“Every time I talk he sort of just appears and I tell him, ‘Roman, you know, stop it, you’ve gone mad, I tell you, mad.’ He’s an outlet to say what I need to say but sometimes don’t want to.”

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Donald Trump doesn’t ‘feel good’ about gay marriage

US billionaire Donald Trump says he doesn’t “feel good” about the issue of marriage equality.

The thrice-married tycoon, who is a potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has stated his opposition to the issue several times in the last month.

Speaking on the The O’Reilly Factor this week, he said that the denial of rights to gay and lesbian couples was not a “big problem”.

“I’m against it,” Trump said. “I just don’t feel good about it, I don’t feel right about it. I’m against it.”

“And I take a lot of heat because I come from New York. You know for New York it’s like, ‘How can you be against gay marriage?’ But I’m opposed to gay marriage.”

When asked about the view that current laws violate gay civil rights, Trump responded: “I say that we have other problems in this country.

“And I don’t think a president should be elected on gay marriage or not gay marriage, because we have some very big problems,” he added.

In an interview with the Des Moines Register in early March, Trump was asked whether gay couples should have access to the same civil benefits as straights.

At first, he responded that his views were not “fully formed.” Then he added: “As of this moment, I would say no and no” to gay marriage and civil benefits.

Trump is the owner of the Miss USA pageant.

In 2009, he dismissed Miss California Carrie Prejean, an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, for “failing to attend engagements”, but Prejean insisted it was because of her stance on same-sex marriage.

He said last month that he was “incredibly tempted” to run for president in 2012 and will make a decision by June.

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Polish MP expelled for lesbian joke

A Polish MP has been expelled from his party for making a sexist joke about lesbians.

Robert Wegrzyn of the centre-right Civic Platform party was given the boot this week, two months after he made the off-colour joke.

In February, when asked for his views on civil partnerships, he responded: “We can forget about gay men, but I would gladly watch lesbians.”

He went on to criticise gay people for “flaunting” their sexuality.

Mr Wegrzyn has confirmed he plans to appeal against the decision. He admitted his joke was inappropriate but said the penalty was too harsh.

He backtracked on his comments after women’s groups complained.

Last month, he said: “I am sorry if this joke insulted anybody because it really could have sounded sexist. That was not my intention.”

He added: “My views on relationships between two people are unchanging and conservative but this does not mean I am a homophobe or discriminate against anybody… I oppose discrimination against anybody on grounds of sexual orientation.”

Tomasz Tomczykiewicz, parliamentary leader of the Civic Platform party, said at the time that Mr Wegryzn’s remarks were “silly” and “irresponsible”.

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Australian Catholic school accidentally allows ‘gay cure’ seminar

A Catholic school in Australia accidentally allowed a ‘gay cure’ Christian group to use its premises for a seminar.

St Columban’s College in Queensland said it immediately withdrew permission for the Miracle Christian Center’s presentation after it learned the nature of the group.

The Miracle Christian Center promises to help free gay people from homosexuality. It is promoted by Adam Hood, who claims he is now straight.

St Columban’s principal Ann Rebgetz said yesterday that the group deliberately withheld the nature of its meeting.

A statement said the meeting was not in line with the “Catholic Christian ethos of our community”.

However, the Miracle Christian Center, based in Victoria, says it may take legal action after the school’s ban.

President Dorian Ballard said his group was not homophobic and accused school officials of discrimination.

“We are not homophobic, many of us have come out of the homosexual lifestyle,” he told the Herald.

“We are not afraid of homosexuals; we love them, we’ve ministered to them for years.

“This topic is always up for debate. It’s great to hear a lot of different views in the broad spectrum and we have been silenced, we have been discriminated against.”

Australian gay website SameSame.au reported on Mr Hood’s ‘coming in’ YouTube video last year (watch below).

“Can a homosexual be free from same sex thoughts, attractions and feelings?” the ad asks. “Adam Hood says ‘yes’, so come and hear Adam tell his story of how he was set free from homosexuality.”

“The neckerchief-wearing ‘ex-gay’ told his unbelievable story on video last June,” the website said.

“Our favourite bit is at 6:00 – ‘I remember on our wedding night, when we finally consummated our marriage, I literally screamed at the top of my lungs – JESUUUUSSSS! Like, I was so happy! He delivered me, you know? I love women! And I love my wife’s body! And I love her physically, and it’s holy!”

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Gay British man arrested and beaten in Saudi Arabia

A British man was arrested and beaten in Saudi Arabia by religious police when they discovered he was gay.

Stephen Comiskey, a 36-year-old nurse, was threatened with beheading and thrown in a cell, the Sun reports.

He says he was tricked by religious police who sent him a text message pretending to be a friend. Homosexuality is a capital offence in Saudi Arabia.

After his arrest, he was throttled until he signed a confession in Arabic and had his passport taken away.

He spent six months in the country, unsure whether he would be killed.

Mr Comiskey, who had been working at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, was allowed to fly home this week after diplomatic talks.

His case was the subject of a media blackout until now.

The nurse, from Airdrie, Lanarkshire, told the Sun he took care not to break the country’s strict anti-gay laws.

It has been suggested that Mr Comiskey was targeted as revenge for the case of a gay Saudi prince who was jailed in Britain last year for murdering his servant.

Saudi authorities allegedly lobbied for Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud’s sexuality to be kept secret but British judges refused the request.

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New iPhone app Kroozr comes with ‘weirdo filter’

A new iPhone app is threatening to knock Grindr off its perch as the number one app for gay men.

Kroozr claims to use smartphone technology to determine whether men in the user’s vicinity are gay and can even filter out undesirables, such as those wearing sandals with socks.

According to creator Peter Kelly, the app takes the guesswork out of gaydar, cuts down on valuable ‘sussing out’ time and weeds out weirdos.

All users need to do is turn on their smartphone and wait for Kroozr to assess nearby men with its inbuilt Kinsey Scale.

Mr Kelly said: “Kroozr is the new future of gay dating that will turn every trip to M&S, every queue for the cashpoint, every Boris bike trip into a hot party full of your type of guy.

“Just fill in the details of your ideal man, turn on the app and go about your business. When you get within eyeshot of a hot guy, you can check him out on Kroozr.”

He added: “We’ve even developed a ‘filtering’ feature, whereby you can set the app to screen out men with ponytails, bumbags or Chinese symbol tattoos.

“There’ll be no more turning up expecting Rob Lowe and getting Bob Crow.”

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Gay sailor told he can stay in the US Navy

A gay sailor who was outed has been told by a military panel that he can stay in the Navy.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Derek Morado, 26 told reporters that the three-member panel apparently agreed with his lawyer’s argument that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is now dead.

He said he was “surprised” but “ecstatic” at Thursday night’s decision.

His lawyers argued that Navy Secretary Ray Mabus would be unlikely to approve the discharge because the policy – which bars gay troops from revealing their sexuality – is to be lifted imminently.

Morado, who joined the military at the age of 17, was outed in 2009 by a colleague.

He had posted a picture of himself on MySpace kissing another man, who he says was just a friend.

The sailor was supported by gay group GetEqual.

Director Robin McGehee said in a statement: “Today was a victory, and we’re grateful to Derek for lending his story and his voice to highlight the fact that servicemembers are still facing the discharge process, even 100 days after the law was repealed.”

President Obama signed an order to end the ban last December but it will stay in place until military chiefs certify it can be lifted without damaging the services.

There is no set date for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to end, although the president has said troops will serve openly by the end of the year.

Gay troops have been warned to stay in the closet for now.

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Parents of ‘gay rumours’ suicide boy urge youths to seek help

The parents of a 15-year-old boy who killed himself after rumours circulated that he was gay have urged young people to seek help if they feel suicidal.

Dominic Crouch, a pupil at St Edwards School in Cheltenham, threw himself from a six-storey block of flats last May after returning from a school trip.

An inquest in Cheltenham this week heard that pupils played spin the bottle on the four-day art trip and there were rumours that Dominic had kissed a boy.

Speaking after the inquest, his father Roger Crouch said his son, who was straight, had been “deeply upset” by the gossip.

He and his wife Paola said: “Can we repeat what we said at Dom’s funeral to young people – if you ever find yourselves in a similar position then talk to someone before you make a mistake from which you, your family and friends will never recover.

“We now want to rebuild our shattered lives, support our daughter Giulia through university, even though we know that we will never again know the joy that Dom’ brought to all of us for the 15 years of his life.”

Dominic, a keen rugby player, left school at lunchtime on the day of his death and went to a nearby block of flats. He gained access to the roof through a trapdoor.

Mr and Mrs Crouch said that more should be done to restrict access to high spaces and criticised his school for failing to notice he was missing from afternoon classes.

The couple added that schools must look out for signs of depression or bullying in pupils.

They said: “Dom was clearly upset by rumours he believed were being spread about him and we need to recognise that what may seem like a laugh to one young person can be deeply upsetting to another.

“We feel that schools need to be much more watchful to the spreading of rumours or gossip about their pupils and teachers need to intervene when pupils seem upset or distracted.”

The couple also called for better monitoring of youth suicides to help prevent future tragedies.

They said: “We have been struck since Dom’s death by the number of young people in this county who for whatever reason feel driven to take their own lives.

“Yet the deaths of young people who take their own lives are not systematically monitored or even recorded by the NHS and other agencies. If we don’t know the scale of the issue then it is very hard to have strategies in place to prevent future deaths. The Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board needs to look seriously at the issue of suicide by young people and what can be done to prevent it.

“We believe that more needs to be done to educate young people about the reality of early death by suicide and the impact that it will have on them, their family and friends.”

Dominic’s family are raising money in his name for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund which supports children in South Africa.

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