Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Gay MP David Laws apologises for expenses claims
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Liberal Democrat MP David Laws has apologised for his expenses claims after he was found to have wrongly claimed £40,000 in rent paid to his boyfriend.
The former chief secretary to the Treasury resigned from the Cabinet last May after the claims were revealed. He claimed that he wanted to keep his sexual orientation secret.
After an investigation, a Commons committee and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon, concluded today that he committed “a series of serious breaches of rules” for money he claimed from the taxpayer.
Yeovil MP Mr Laws is to be suspended from the Commons for seven days – a rare punishment seen as second in severity to expulsion. The suspension will begin on June 7th. He will also apologise to parliament.
The commissioner found that Mr Laws should not have been paying rent to a partner but said: “Mr Laws’ desire for secrecy led him to act in a way which was not compatible with the standards expected of an MP”.
It was also found that he had claimed for maintenance and repair costs for the London property. While these may have been acceptable if he was a cohabitant, Mr Laws was a lodger.
Mr Laws had lived with his boyfriend, the lobbyist James Lundie, for seven years. In 2006, Commons rules changed to bar MPs claiming expenses for rent paid to partners or family members. Mr Laws says he did not declare the relationship because he wanted it to stay a secret.
Mr Lyon wrote: “I have no reason to doubt that Mr Laws’ primary motivation was to keep secret the sexuality that he had kept hidden. . . I have no evidence that Mr Laws made his claims with the intention of benefiting himself or his partner in conscious breach of the rules.”
The committee and commissioner found that the MP had already repaid £56,592 – the full amount of his second home allowance claims between July 2006 and July 2009.
They accepted that the MP could have claimed “considerably more” under Commons rules if he had been open about the relationship.
In a statement, Mr Laws said: “I accept the conclusions of the inquiry and take full responsibility for the mistakes which I have made.
“I apologise to my constituents and to Parliament. Each of us should be our own sternest critic, and I recognise that my attempts to keep my personal life private were in conflict with my duty as an MP to ensure that my claims were in every sense above reproach.
“I should have resolved this dilemma in the public interest and not in the interests of my privacy.
“However, from the moment these matters became public, I have made clear that my motivation was to protect my privacy, rather than to benefit from the system of parliamentary expenses, and I am pleased that the Commissioner has upheld that view.
“I have also, from the very beginning, made clear that I believed that my secrecy about my private life led me to make lower overall claims than would otherwise be the case, and this has been confirmed by the Parliamentary Commissioner and by the committee.
“The taxpayer gained, rather than lost out, from my desire for secrecy, though I fully accept that this is not an adequate reason for breaking the rules.
“This last year has been a difficult one, and I am grateful to family, friends, constituents and colleagues for their support and understanding.”
US House panel attempts to delay lifting of military gay ban
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A US House panel has approved a defence bill which contains a clause to delay the lifting of the ban on openly gay soldiers.
The House Armed Services Committee voted 33-27 to approve an amendment requiring the chiefs of all four military services to certify that the change won’t hurt military readiness, AP reports.
The law to repeal the policy only requires the president, defence secretary and joint chiefs of staff chairman to certify it will not harm the military.
However, Republican lawmakers argued that President Obama has never served in the military, Admiral Mike Mullen has never served in ground combat and defence secretary Robert Gates was a political appointee.
It is not clear what effect the amendment will have. Earlier this year, all four chiefs testified that that they were not seeing issues with the lifting of the ban.
President Obama signed a law to repeal the 1993 ban in December.
The ban will not be lifted until military chiefs have certified that repealing the law will not harm military readiness. Following this, 60 days must pass. It is expected the policy will end in the summer.
Minnesota Senate approves referendum on gay marriage ban
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The Minnesota Senate has given the go-ahead to a 2012 voter referendum on whether the state should have a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
The bill, introduced by Republican senator Warren Limmer, passed by 30-27 votes. One Democrat senator, Leory Stumpf, joined Republicans in voting for it.
A companion bill is also being considered by the House.
The state already bans gay marriage but opponents say that the law must be strengthened to ward off challenges by gay rights campaigners.
One senator who spoke against the move, Minneapolis Democrat Scott Dibble, showed the chamber a photo of him and his boyfriend and said the campaign would be “ugly” and “divisive”.
Although support for gay marriage is growing across the US, voters given the chance of a referendum on the issue have always come out against marriage equality.
Of the 31 states which have voted on constitutional gay marriage bans, all have approved the measures.
Delaware governor signs civil unions into law
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The governor of the US state of Delaware has signed a civil unions bill into law.
As he signed the bill yesterday, Governor Jack Markell told gay couples in a 500-strong audience: “Your family is now equal under the law.”
Once the law comes into force on January 1st 2012, gay couples in the state will have “all of the same rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities as married persons under Delaware law,” the measure says.
Faiths may perform the ceremonies if they wish, but cannot be forced to.
Delaware joins six other states in allowing civil unions for gay couples.
Five US states and the District of Columbia allow gay couples to marry.
Uganda to debate gay execution bill tomorrow
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Uganda’s parliament will debate the anti-homosexuality bill tomorrow (Friday).
There was confusion yesterday over the status of the bill, which was apparently removed and then replaced on the day’s order paper.
Reports now say that it is scheduled to be discussed tomorrow. Today is a national holiday.
The bill’s author, MP David Bahati, has claimed that the most extreme clause on the bill, the death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality, has been removed.
However, no amended version of the legislation has been published.
If passed in its current form, the bill will demand the execution of gay people who have sex while HIV-positive or with minors or disabled people. The death penalty would also be used for repeat offenders.
Other clauses would require people such as family members, teachers and doctors to report cases to homosexuality to the police within 24 hours or face a prison sentence.
More than 1.4 million people have signed petitions against the bill, which US President Barack Obama called “odious”.
Earlier this week, British foreign secretary William Hague said he was pressuring Uganda to drop the bill.
The legislation is popular with Ugandan MPs and citizens. Homosexuality is viewed as un-African and against Christian values.
Scotland loses one lesbian MSP, gains another
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Ruth Davidson, a former BBC journalist, has become Scotland’s second openly lesbian MSP.
While Ms Davidson was elected for the Glasgow region, Liberal Democrat MP Margaret Smith, who is also a lesbian, lost her seat to the SNP’s Colin Keir.
Of Scotland’s other gay MSPs, Green MSP for Glasgow Patrick Harvie and SNP MSP for Dundee West Joe FitzPatrick held their seats. Iain Smith, the Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Fife, lost his seat.
Ms Davidson held the Glasgow region seat for the Conservative Party after the previous incumbent, Bill Aitken, retired.
MSPs were sworn in yesterday.
Speaking after last week’s election, Ms Davidson said she had “very big shoes to fill” in replacing Mr Aitken.
She added: “Well, I think anyone that knows me knows that I’m not shy of standing up on my hind legs and giving it both barrels.”
Ms Davidson lives in Partick with her partner. A graduate of Glasgow University, she has lived in the city for most of her life.
Two years ago, she came third in the by-election for the seat of Glasgow East.
She has said in the past that she does not often speak about her sexuality because “it’s not the most interesting part of my life”.
She said in 2009: “In terms of coming out I had my first female partner about four or five years ago. I was open about it at the time and I’m open about it now.
“But I don’t tend to talk about it because it’s not the most interesting part of my life, you know? Some people are gay and that’s it.”
I let down gay youngsters, George Michael says
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George Michael says he wants to make amends to the gay young people he’s let down over the years.
The singer said that gay children had to witness the “homophobia” directed towards him every time he slipped up. He added his controversies had prevented him from defending the rights of LGBT youngsters.
Michael has been arrested twice for outdoor sex and convicted for drug and driving offences. Last year, he spent four months in prison after crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, the star said: “It’s really a matter of thinking what can I do to contribute as a gay man, because I have a serious problem with the fact that every time I would let myself down I felt definitely that I was letting young gay people down, because they would then witness the homophobia that is thrown at me and the wording of that homophobia and the language that is being used.
“So I have some plans to try and do things to help gay kids and I think we’re a notoriously bad community at helping our own when it comes to children because we don’t have any children.”
He added that he wanted to “make up for some of the damage” he had caused.
Michael also announced that he wants to assemble a “gay collective” to help him record his next album, although he would not say which musicians might be involved.
Today, he announced that he will begin a ‘Symphonica’ tour at a number of opera houses with a full orchestra.
Man charged over East End anti-gay stickers
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An 18-year-old man has been charged with a public order offence over homophobic stickers found plastered around London’s East End.
Mohammed Hasnath, 18, of Leamouth, Tower Hamlets, was arrested last month at his home.
He has been charged under section 5 of the Public Order Act of causing harassment, alarm or distress.
He allegedly posted the stickers at four locations in the area between Friday February 11th and Monday February 14th.
Mr Hasnath is on bail and will next appear at City of Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday June 1st.
The stickers, which were found in Brick Lane, Poplar, Bow and Canary Wharf, showed a red line through a rainbow flag and the words ‘gay-free zone’.
They said: “Arise and warn. Gay free zone. Verily Allah is severe in punishment.” At least 70 have been reported.
After the anti-gay messages were discovered, local residents began a campaign to remove them and replace them with messages of love.
A Pride parade was also planned but had to be cancelled after it was revealed that one organiser had links to the far-right group English Defence League.
Two drag queens attacked in Liverpool’s gay quarter
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Two drag queens have been attacked in separate incidents in Liverpool’s gay quarter.
Last Friday, drag queen and DJ Lady Shaun was punched in the face in the early hours of Friday morning. She was knocked unconscious and suffered a broken jaw.
Passing police officers chased a suspect but were unable to catch him.
Lady Shaun told the Liverpool Echo: “We need to make our streets safe for everybody. I see myself as a gay ambassador to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and transsexual people and I want them to know that we shouldn’t be ashamed to stand up for ourselves.”
She also praised police for their support.
In another incident three weeks ago, choreographer and performer Calvin Fox was pushed to the ground by two people and suffered cuts and bruising to his face.
Mr Fox, who said he had never been attacked before, told the newspaper: “After last year’s Liverpool Pride, an amazing event that had no trouble reported, we thought Liverpool had woken up and accepted the term ‘gay’.”
Police said there had been a “slight rise” in anti-gay attacks but attributed this to better reporting.
Chief Insp Louise Harrison said: “People are feeling more confident and comfortable reporting these incidents to the police, whereas before lots of these crimes were going unreported.
“We have to strike a balance between a heavy police presence which could scare people off and those that say it makes them feel safer, but we will continue to talk to the gay community.”
Two years ago, PC James Parkes was left fighting for his life after being beaten in an unprovoked homophobic attack in the city’s gay village.
Peter Tatchell claims WikiLeaks soldier Bradley Manning is a ‘gay hero’
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Bradley Manning, the US soldier held for allegedly leaking secret government files, is a “gay hero”, rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has claimed.Mr Tatchell said that if Mr Manning had leaked the documents to WikiLeaks, he should be praised as a human rights defender.
The former military intelligence analyst has been held in custody for the last year. He was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq on suspicion of passing restricted material to the whistleblower website and has been charged with 34 offences, including making information available to the enemy.
While the charges he faces carry a maximum penalty of death, US military prosecutors have said they will not seek this. Instead, he may face life in prison if convicted.
The material in question included 700,000 US diplomatic and military cables and footage of a July 2007 airstrike on Baghdad. The 23-year-old’s supporters claim that the leaked files expose civilian deaths which had been covered up by the military.
Mr Manning is gay but was unable to declare his sexual orientation under the US military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.
Speaking today, Mr Tatchell said that the soldier was “inspired by his commitment to human rights” and had attended gay Pride marches and campaigned against bans on out gay troops and same-sex marriage.
Describing Mr Manning as a “humanist and a man with a conscience”, Mr Tatchell said he had allegedly been driven to release the files because he “became disillusioned with his country’s foreign and military policy [and believed] it was betraying the US ideals of democracy and human rights”.
“It is only (allegedly) thanks to Bradley Manning that we now know the truth about this slaughter of innocent civilians – and about the killings of hundreds of other civilians in unreported and undocumented incidents,” Mr Tatchell said.
The soldier, who is waiting to hear if he will face a court martial, was recently moved to another jail after concerns were raised about his well-being.
He was required to strip regularly and was held in a bare cell. Last month, he was moved to a medium-security prison in Kansas following lengthy assessments. He is now able to live alongside other prisoners and his surroundings have been described as more comfortable.
Mr Manning’s mother Susan, who is Welsh, criticised British MPs last month for not helping him.
The Foreign Office said last month that the British embassy in Washington had relayed MPs’ concerns about Mr Manning’s treatment to the White House.
Mr Tatchell has urged Mr Manning’s supporters to take action, including writing to the soldier, contacting their MPs and lobbying the US embassy in London.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Foreign secretary William Hague says Britain is lobbying Uganda over anti-gay bill
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Foreign secretary William Hague says that the UK is continuing to urge Uganda not to pass a bill that could see gay people executed.
Responding to questions on Twitter, Mr Hague wrote: “We oppose this bill and will continue to raise our concerns with Ugandan government. We urge Ugandan MPs to reject it.”
He continued: “Our embassy is lobbying Ugandan gov & the UK initiated a formal EU demarche [diplomatic move] to the Ugandan foreign minister on the bill.”
The bill has spent two days before a parliamentary committee and is due for a second reading tomorrow, if parliament has time to discuss it. Tomorrow is the last scheduled day of parliament and it is listed on an order paper of following business.
In its current form, the bill prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality, such as repeat offences. Among other things, it also calls for up to three years in prison for teachers, doctors, friends, landlords and family members of gay people who do not report them to authorities.
Reports this afternoon suggested that some aspects of the bill may have been modified. Anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa claimed today that he did not want gay people to be executed.
US blogger Jim Burroway, the author of the Box Turtle Bulletin blog, who has been following events closely, claimed MPs could pass the bill to divert attention from Uganda’s current problems, which include unrest over rising food and fuel prices.
He wrote: “Clearly, passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which is very popular among ordinary Ugandans, would be a cynical diversionary ploy on the part of the government.
“If the bill does come up for a second reading, that is when amendments to the bill may be offered. A third reading can quickly follow a second reading, at which time the bill would be passed and sent to the president.
“The president can assent to the bill or return it to parliament for changes. According to one parliament member, the president has not returned a bill to parliament during his term.”
Campaigners are calling on as many people as possible to sign petitions to ask President Yoweri Museveni not to accept the bill.
Slim majority of Republicans support legal recognition of gay relationships
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A poll says that just over half of Republicans support some form of legal recognition for gay couples.
The Public Policy Polling survey asked 1,000 people who identified as Republicans about their views on marriage equality.
Only 12 per cent said gay couples should be allowed to marry. Support for civil unions was higher, with 39 per cent agreeing with them.
This meant that 51 per cent back either marriage equality or civil unions.
But 48 per cent said there should be no recognition at all of gay relationships.
Support for marriage equality was highest among high-income respondents as 24 per cent in this category said gays should be able to wed.
Last month, another American poll suggested that just over half of voters support marriage equality.
The CNN poll found that 51 per cent of the 824 adults surveyed said gay couples should be allowed to wed.
Among those under 50, support levels rose to 60 per cent.
CNN polls in 2008 and 2009 found that just 44 per cent of those surveyed supported gay marriage.
Lady Gaga teams up with FarmVille creators to launch GagaVille
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Lady Gaga has announced a partnership with social games giant Zynga to launch GagaVille, a take on the popular FarmVille and CityVille.
Zynga, home to the most popular games on social network Facebook has
previously launched projects with Snoop Dogg, Dreamworks and Niceklodeon.
However, the company today said that the deal with Lady Gaga is its most significant to date.
GagaVille will showcase the bisexual star’s style and themes together with themes from her new album Born This Way. From 17th to 19th May, GagaVille players can unlock a new unreleased track per day. From 20th May, users can unlock tracks from the new album.
Lady Gaga branded $25 Game Cards will include bonus tracks and exclusive Lady Gaga branded virtual goods.
Lady Gaga said “I want to celebrate and share ‘Born This Way’ with my little monsters in a special way that’s never been done before…Zynga has created a magical place in FarmVille where my fans can come play, and be the first to listen to the album.”
Earlier this year, Lady Gaga signed an exclusive deal with US retailer Target but backed out after the company made donations to anti-gay causes.
California Senate approves equal benefits bill
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The California Senate has narrowly approved a bill to encourage companies to give equal benefits to the spouses of gay employees.
Democrat Senator Christine Kehoe’s bill says that state agency contracts will only be awarded to companies who offer the equal benefits.
Ms Kehoe said the legislation would encourage equality. The bill applies to contracts over $100,000.
The bill just got the majority it needed to pass, with 21-15 votes. It will now go to the Assembly.
The legislation is supported by Equality California, which says Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, Berkeley, San Mateo County, San Diego and Santa Monica already have the ordinances.
Interim executive director Jim Carroll said: “Studies have shown that employees who are treated fairly have higher retention rates and are more productive. The Equal Benefits bill both advances equality, benefits business and ensures that our precious tax dollars do not subsidise discrimination.”
David Laws guilty of a series of expenses rule breaches
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Former Cabinet minister David Laws has been found guilty of a series of breaches of parliamentary expenses rules.
The Liberal Democrat MP was chief secretary to the Treasury for just days last May. He resigned when it was revealed he had paid £40,000 in expenses to his boyfriend who was also his landlord.
According to the Evening Standard, Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon found him in breach of six areas of Commons rules.
The Commons’ Standards and Privileges Committee will now look at the investigation and report back later this week.
When the story broke last year, Mr Laws said he had failed to declare the relationship because he wanted to keep his sexuality secret.
He said: “My motivation throughout has not been to maximise profit but to simply protect our privacy and my wish not to reveal my sexuality.”
Prime minister David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg were understood to be keen to see him return to the Cabinet but this will depend on the wording in the report.
Mr Laws will not face criminal charges over his claims.
Anti-gay pastor rejects Ugandan death penalty for gays
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Anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa has told a Ugandan parliamentary committee that he does not agree with the death penalty for gays and lesbians.
The preacher told the committee that he supports controversial legislation for punishing homosexuality because it is “killing” society.
But he reportedly stopped short of praising the bill’s harshest clause – the death sentence for “aggravated” homosexuality.
The bill’s author, MP David Bahati, originally included the clause to state that the death penalty could be used in cases involving repeat offenders, minors, HIV-positive people or disabled people.
But he told AP news agency that this “was something we have moved away from”.
However, the bill still contains language to lengthen prison sentences for gay people and also calls for punishment for anyone who does not report homosexuality to police. This would include doctors, landlords, teachers and even friends and family members.
Mr Ssempa reportedly told the committee: “The parliament should be given the opportunity to discuss and pass the bill, because homosexuality is killing our society.”
It is not clear whether MPs will get a chance to debate the bill before this session of parliament ends on Friday.
During the hearing, Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo said the bill would not stop homosexuality and would lead to more cases of HIV.
“How can we expect doctors to treat everyone when this bill will require them to report on their patients who are LGBT?” he said.
Gay Labour MP David Cairns dies
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David Cairns, the Labour MP for Inverclyde, has died at the age of 44 after a short illness.
The former Scotland minister had been suffering from acute pancreatitis since March. He died in hospital in London last night.
A Labour spokesman said: “David’s untimely death is a huge loss to parliament and politics in this country.”
A further statement from the party said: “It is with great regret that we have to announce that David Cairns, member of parliament for Inverclyde, passed away at 23.00 last night at the Royal Free, London.
“David had been suffering from acute pancreatitis after he was admitted as an emergency patient eight weeks ago.
“Our thoughts are with his partner Dermot, his father John and his brother Billy and all his many friends and family.”
Mr Cairns was a Catholic priest before turning to politics. After working as a researcher for MP Siobhain McDonagh and as a Labour councillor, he was elected as MP for Inverclyde in 2001.
He was Scottish minister between 2007 and 2008 but resigned in 2008 over Gordon Brown’s leadership.
Mr Cairns was chair of the All Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS and was also a patron of LGBT Labour, as well as being the chairman of Labour Friends of Israel.
National AIDS Trust called him a “visionary and inspirational leader” of the parliament group, while LGBT Labour, who called him a “very good friend”, said his death was a sad loss.
James Asser, the co-chair of LGBT Labour, said: “Everyone at LGBT Labour is very upset and shocked to hear of the death of David. He had been a great friend and champion of LGBT Labour and on issues of equality within parliament and the Labour Party.
“He was doing great work chairing the All Party Parliamentary group on HIV and AIDS and he was also outspoken against homophobia abroad.”
Fellow MPs also paid tribute to Mr Cairns. Labour MP Tom Harris wrote that he was a “gifted and popular MP with a political instinct that was second to none”, and called him “one of my closest friends”.
US Navy wants to allow gay marriages on bases
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The US Navy is planning to allow chaplains to conduct gay marriages on its bases once the ban on openly gay soldiers is lifted this summer.
The move would allow chaplains to perform the ceremonies in states which allow the practice.
An April 13th memo from Navy head chaplain Rear Adm Mark Tidd says: “Consistent with the tenets of his or her religious organisation, a chaplain may officiate a same-sex, civil marriage: if it is conducted in accordance with a state that permits same-sex marriage or union; and if that chaplain is, according to the applicable state and local laws, otherwise fully certified to officiate that state’s marriages.”
The memo, leaked to a conservative website, added: “Regarding the use of base facilities for same-sex marriages, legal counsel has concluded that, generally speaking, base facility use is sexual orientation-neutral. This is a change to previous training that stated same-sex marriages are not authorised on federal property.”
Some politicians have complained that the change will violate the Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts federal recognition of marriage to that of a man and a woman.
Todd Akin, a Republican representative from Missouri, has secured more that 60 signatures from fellow lawmakers on a petition against the plans.
He said: “While a state may legalise same-sex marriage, federal property and federal employees, like Navy chaplains, should not be used to perform marriages that are not recognised by federal law.”
Yesterday, the Pentagon responded that the Defense of Marriage Act “does not limit the type of religious ceremonies a chaplain may perform in a chapel on a military installation”.
New York governor begins tour to highlight gay marriage
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Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, has kicked off a state tour to highlight his legislative agenda for 2011.
Marriage equality is one of the priorities, along with a property tax and ethics reform.
The Democrat governor hopes to press people to support his aims and pressure lawmakers about them.
He said in a statement: “Our entire team is going to travel the state to speak directly to New Yorkers about the issues that can move this state forward, and it begins in Syracuse.
“We need to pass a property tax cap, ethics reform, and marriage equality during this legislative session. The clock is ticking, but when the people speak, the politicians will listen. We will assemble a broad coalition of New Yorkers to support this agenda and work tirelessly to get it passed in Albany.”
The Advocate reports that Mr Cuomo’s office has not released further details but judging by past tours, he may reference marriage equality in high-profile speeches and send deputies to speak with LGBT audiences around the state.
Last month, Mr Cuomo told gay rights campaigners he will devote his “full attention” to marriage equality.
Speaking to campaigners in a closed meeting, he reportedly said: “For me, this is personal.”
US Olympic official quits over gay marriage comments
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Former Olympic gymnast Peter Vidmar has resigned as the chef du mission of the US 2012 team after anger over comments he made about gay marriage.
In 2008, Mr Vidmar, a Mormon, joined the fight against California’s gay marriage law.
As well as joining two rallies and donating $2,000, the gold medal winner was quoted at the time as saying: “It’s good for our society to have a traditional definition of marriage.”
His comments resurfaced last week in an article on Outsports.com and then in the Chicago Tribune, leading fellow athletes to condemn him.
The figure skater Johnny Weir, who is gay, told Outsports.com: “I certainly wouldn’t want to be represented by someone who is anti gay marriage. It isn’t just about marriage; it is being allowed equal rights as Americans. The fact this man who is very publicly against something that may be represented on the American team is disgraceful.”
In a statement on Friday, Mr Vidmar, 49, said: “I have dedicated my life to the Olympic movement and the ideals of excellence, friendship and respect. I wish that my personal religious beliefs would not have become a distraction from the amazing things that are happening in the Olympic movement in the United States. I simply cannot have my presence become a detriment to the US Olympic family. I hope that by stepping aside, the athletes and their stories will rightly take centre stage.”
Before resigning, he told reporters he had not tried to hide his remarks and added: “I fully respect the rights of everyone to have the relationships they want to have.”
Will The Music Press Yawn About Tyler, Another Viciously Homophobic Rapper?
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Rising rap star, music press darling, and Coachella 2011 "breakout artist" Tyler was the subject of a lengthy and fawning New York Times profile published last week. His new album, Goblin, debuts today. “Goblin” is spiteful, internal, confident, vitriolic, vividly bruised stuff, a shocking — and shockingly good — album that bears little resemblance to contemporary hip-hop. It has more in common with the stark, thick-with-feelings independent rap of the mid-to-late-1990s and also the improbably rich-sounding minimalism of the Neptunes in the early 2000s. For every caustic rhyme about violence there’s a pensive, unexpectedly gentle production choice to go with it. Unlike the maximalism of hip-hop radio, you can feel the air in these songs, the gasping for breath.But what the Times misses is that their new hero is viciously anti-gay and litters his multiple daily Twitter updates with references to "faggots" and "homos."
Another recent Tyler tweet: "Just walked into Abercrombie with my sister cause she wants a shirt. It smells like faggot in here." We'll have to see if the music press and promotion machine cares about this at all. Goblin is pegged to debut at or near the top of next week's album chart.Glee Spoiler: Prom Queen
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Stay out of the comments if you haven't seen tonight's episode. Otherwise dive in and dish.Monday, May 9, 2011
Chaz Bono ‘thrilled’ with results of transition
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Chaz Bono, the son of singer Cher, has spoken candidly about his transition from female to male.
Speaking ahead of a book and documentary about his journey, the star said he never had a moment’s doubt that he was supposed to be a man.
Bono, 42, grew up as Chastity and was a lesbian activist for many years. He announced two years ago that he was transitioning and completed the process last year, albeit in the public eye.
Speaking to TIME, he said he had “confused gender identity with sexual orientation” when younger.
He said: “So when I was about 13 or 14, I realised I was attracted to women and then made the assumption that I was a lesbian, and didn’t realise that that wasn’t the case. It was the fact that I was a man and a heterosexual man. The issue wasn’t my sexual orientation, but rather my gender identity.”
The star, who says he wants to speak up for trans rights, has refused to talk about whether he has had genital surgery.
But he said that he was “thrilled” about the results of his ‘upper’ surgery, or breast removal.
“It was the greatest day, probably of my life,” he said. “It was getting rid of something on my body that felt like it didn’t belong there since they started to develop at, like, 11 or 12.”
Bono revealed that he spent time talking to psychologists about how he would deal with transition but said he “never had a moment’s doubt” about whether it was the right thing to do.
He said: “I had felt uncomfortable as a women my whole life. So that wasn’t the issue. It was about finding the strength to transition and how that would affect my life.”
The star added that he was continuing to publicise his journey to “bring awareness” of the issue.
Becoming Chaz will be broadcast in the US on the Oprah Winfrey Network tomorrow.
Bono’s memoirs, Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man, will also be released this week.
Speaking ahead of a book and documentary about his journey, the star said he never had a moment’s doubt that he was supposed to be a man.
Bono, 42, grew up as Chastity and was a lesbian activist for many years. He announced two years ago that he was transitioning and completed the process last year, albeit in the public eye.
Speaking to TIME, he said he had “confused gender identity with sexual orientation” when younger.
He said: “So when I was about 13 or 14, I realised I was attracted to women and then made the assumption that I was a lesbian, and didn’t realise that that wasn’t the case. It was the fact that I was a man and a heterosexual man. The issue wasn’t my sexual orientation, but rather my gender identity.”
The star, who says he wants to speak up for trans rights, has refused to talk about whether he has had genital surgery.
But he said that he was “thrilled” about the results of his ‘upper’ surgery, or breast removal.
“It was the greatest day, probably of my life,” he said. “It was getting rid of something on my body that felt like it didn’t belong there since they started to develop at, like, 11 or 12.”
Bono revealed that he spent time talking to psychologists about how he would deal with transition but said he “never had a moment’s doubt” about whether it was the right thing to do.
He said: “I had felt uncomfortable as a women my whole life. So that wasn’t the issue. It was about finding the strength to transition and how that would affect my life.”
The star added that he was continuing to publicise his journey to “bring awareness” of the issue.
Becoming Chaz will be broadcast in the US on the Oprah Winfrey Network tomorrow.
Bono’s memoirs, Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man, will also be released this week.
Gay MP David Laws may be reprimanded over expenses
9:20 AM
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Liberal Democrat MP David Laws is expected to be reprimanded over his expenses claims when a parliamentary standards report is published this week.
The former chief secretary to the Treasury’s return to government may be hampered by the verdict, reports said.
Mr Laws resigned from the cabinet in May last year after just days in the job. It was revealed that he had claimed more than £40,000 in expenses to rent paid to his boyfriend, the lobbyist James Lundie.
The MP said that he did not declare that Mr Lundie, his landlord, was also his partner because he was not out and did not want to reveal the relationship.
Lib Dems pointed out that he could have claimed more money if he had been honest about the relationship and claimed for a mortgage with Mr Lundie. The MP apologised and has reportedly now paid back the money.
John Lyon, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, is expected to rule that Mr Laws broke parliamentary rules. He has also looked at the MPs’ utility bill claims, which were in “rounded” figures.
Mr Laws may be asked to apologise to MPs. However, he is not expected to be referred to police for an investigation.
After he resigned from the Cabinet, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and prime minister David Cameron both said they hoped to see him return to government soon. This will depend on the severity of the report and a return would also require one of the five Lib Dems in the cabinet to resign.
Under last year’s coalition agreement, five places in the Cabinet are reserved for Lib Dems.
The former chief secretary to the Treasury’s return to government may be hampered by the verdict, reports said.
Mr Laws resigned from the cabinet in May last year after just days in the job. It was revealed that he had claimed more than £40,000 in expenses to rent paid to his boyfriend, the lobbyist James Lundie.
The MP said that he did not declare that Mr Lundie, his landlord, was also his partner because he was not out and did not want to reveal the relationship.
Lib Dems pointed out that he could have claimed more money if he had been honest about the relationship and claimed for a mortgage with Mr Lundie. The MP apologised and has reportedly now paid back the money.
John Lyon, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, is expected to rule that Mr Laws broke parliamentary rules. He has also looked at the MPs’ utility bill claims, which were in “rounded” figures.
Mr Laws may be asked to apologise to MPs. However, he is not expected to be referred to police for an investigation.
After he resigned from the Cabinet, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and prime minister David Cameron both said they hoped to see him return to government soon. This will depend on the severity of the report and a return would also require one of the five Lib Dems in the cabinet to resign.
Under last year’s coalition agreement, five places in the Cabinet are reserved for Lib Dems.
Girl, 13, is latest victim of South African ‘corrective rape’
9:18 AM
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A 13-year-old girl in South Africa has reportedly become the latest victim of the ‘corrective rape’ epidemic.
The girl, who was attacked on Thursday in Pretoria, was said to be open about being a lesbian and it is believed she was targeted for this reason.
The phenomenon of corrective rape involves the targeting of lesbians in order to ‘cure’ them. There have been high-profile cases in the country, including the recent rape and murder of gay rights campaigner Noxolo Nogwaza.
Government spokesman Tlali Tlali promised a police investigation and assistance for the girl and her family.
“The government condemns this senseless and cowardly act of criminality,” he said.
”Gay and lesbian rights are human and constitutional rights which must be protected and respected at all times.”
Dipika Nath, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: ”If the police and other state officials do not act swiftly, it will only be a matter of time before they have to account for their failure to the family and friends of the next lesbian who is beaten and killed.”
Last week, the government announced the formation of a task team to tackle anti-gay hate crimes.
A government spokesman said that the task force would comprise the police, the social development department, six judges and six LGBT campaigners.
The team will be charged with developing a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI-sensitive shelters, he said.
The girl, who was attacked on Thursday in Pretoria, was said to be open about being a lesbian and it is believed she was targeted for this reason.
The phenomenon of corrective rape involves the targeting of lesbians in order to ‘cure’ them. There have been high-profile cases in the country, including the recent rape and murder of gay rights campaigner Noxolo Nogwaza.
Government spokesman Tlali Tlali promised a police investigation and assistance for the girl and her family.
“The government condemns this senseless and cowardly act of criminality,” he said.
”Gay and lesbian rights are human and constitutional rights which must be protected and respected at all times.”
Dipika Nath, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: ”If the police and other state officials do not act swiftly, it will only be a matter of time before they have to account for their failure to the family and friends of the next lesbian who is beaten and killed.”
Last week, the government announced the formation of a task team to tackle anti-gay hate crimes.
A government spokesman said that the task force would comprise the police, the social development department, six judges and six LGBT campaigners.
The team will be charged with developing a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI-sensitive shelters, he said.
Gay activists’ petition against Ugandan ‘kill gays’ bill
9:17 AM
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Gay rights campaigners hope to collect enough signatures to ask Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni to refuse to sign an anti-homosexuality bill.
The legislation, in its current form, calls for harsher punishments for homosexuality. For “aggravated” case, such as those involving disabled people, those with HIV or minors, it calls for the death penalty.
Landlords, teachers and family members could also be prosecuted for failing to report gay people to police.
The status of the bill has been unclear for months, with conflicting reports about its progress through the legislature.
Late last year, it appeared to have been scrapped. However, campaigners say that parliament may vote on it this week and are urging people to sign a petition against it.
The petition, started by Allout.org, says: “Our best chance at stopping the bill is each other – if thousands of us spread the word we can make clear that the world is watching and we will not allow this to stand.”
The appeal adds: “Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has shown himself to be sensitive to international pressure. Last year, a massive response from people around the world pushed him to stop the bill in its tracks.”
President Museveni has not given his opinions on the bill but ethics minister James Nsaba Buturo said last January that the leader did not agree with killing gays and lesbians.
The anonymous blogger GayUganda wrote last week that parliament’s return to the bill was a “diversion” tactic to take attention away from riots and the fear of more civil unrest.
The legislation, in its current form, calls for harsher punishments for homosexuality. For “aggravated” case, such as those involving disabled people, those with HIV or minors, it calls for the death penalty.
Landlords, teachers and family members could also be prosecuted for failing to report gay people to police.
The status of the bill has been unclear for months, with conflicting reports about its progress through the legislature.
Late last year, it appeared to have been scrapped. However, campaigners say that parliament may vote on it this week and are urging people to sign a petition against it.
The petition, started by Allout.org, says: “Our best chance at stopping the bill is each other – if thousands of us spread the word we can make clear that the world is watching and we will not allow this to stand.”
The appeal adds: “Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has shown himself to be sensitive to international pressure. Last year, a massive response from people around the world pushed him to stop the bill in its tracks.”
President Museveni has not given his opinions on the bill but ethics minister James Nsaba Buturo said last January that the leader did not agree with killing gays and lesbians.
The anonymous blogger GayUganda wrote last week that parliament’s return to the bill was a “diversion” tactic to take attention away from riots and the fear of more civil unrest.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Fox Fires Gingrich And Frothy Mix
8:14 AM
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Fox News has terminated its contracts with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich in anticipation of their presidential campaigns. The network had suspended the pair in early March. Mr. Santorum filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission this week to officially explore a campaign for the nomination. He was set to participate in a debate in Greenville, S.C., Thursday night hosted by Fox News, the first debate of the 2012 election cycle. Mr. Gingrich announced his intention to form an exploratory committee earlier this year and is expected to formally take that step later this month. Both men have traveled extensively this year to meet with potential supporters in the early primary states.
Broadway Legend Arthur Laurents Dies
8:09 AM
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Openly gay Broadway legend Arthur Laurents has died at the age of 93. Theater Mania reports:Laurents was best known for his collaborations with Stephen Sondheim, including writing the books for West Side Story and Gypsy (earning Tony nominations for both), Anyone Can Whistle, and Do I Hear a Waltz. Early in his career, Laurents wrote such plays as Home of the Brave and The Time of the Cuckoo. In later years, he wrote and directed the musicals The Madwoman of Central Park West and Nick & Nora. Laurents directed the 1975, 1989, and 2008 revivals of Gypsy, each of which earned Tony Awards for its respective leading ladies, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Patti LuPone. He also directed the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story.Laurents was temporarily blacklisted during the McCarthy era after a review of one of his plays was published in the Communist Party USA newspaper.
NOTE: Laurents asked that his obituaries include this line: "He was predeceased by his partner, Tom Hatcher, with whom he had lived in happiness for more than 50 years."
NOM Warns NY GOP: We'll Spend $1M Against Any Pro-Marriage Senator
8:07 AM
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NOM's Brian Brown has informed the New York Times that he is ready to spend $1M to oppose the reelection of any GOP state senator that votes in favor of same-sex marriage. NOM has made similar threats in other states. “We spent over half a million dollars in New York” in 2009, he said, “and we’re ready to spend that and more this time. We are willing to spend a million against any Republican senator who votes for gay marriage.” The group would not say which lawmakers were singled out. But State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., a Democrat from Queens who has voted against the bill in the past but said he was undecided this time, said, “We’ve gotten about 400 calls and e-mails from voters in the last two weeks, the vast majority of them opposed to the bill.” Mr. Addabbo said he kept count because he planned to cast a vote on the bill that “reflects the will of my constituents.”
Brazil’s Supreme Court approves civil unions for gay couples
8:03 AM
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Brazil’s Supreme Court has voted overwhelmingly to give gay couples the right to civil unions.
The panel backed the measure 10-0, with one abstention.
The ruling does not grant gay couples the right to marry, but it will allow “stable” couples the right to benefits enjoyed by straight married people, relating to benefits, inheritance and tax.
They will be able to register their relationships with solicitors or public bodies. Religious and public ceremonies will not be allowed.
Justice Carlos Ayres Britto, who wrote the ruling, declared: “The freedom to pursue one’s own sexuality is part of an individual’s freedom of expression.”
Opponents had argued that Brazil’s constitution says that a “family entity” is “a stable union between a man and a woman”. But the Attorney-General’s office said that this was a definition, not a restriction.
Gay groups called the ruling historic and Claudio Nascimento, head of Rio de Janeiro state’s Gay, Lesbian and Transsexuals Committee, told O Globo: “The degree of civilisation of a country can be measured by the way people in a nation treat their homosexual community.”
Another gay rights group, Grupo Gay da Bahia, said that the ruling could help cut down hate crimes against LGBT people.
It claimed in January that 250 LGBT people were killed in hate crimes in 2010.
Elsewhere in Latin America, Argentina and Mexico City allow gay couples to marry.
Gay Arizona dads adopt 12 children
8:00 AM
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A gay couple from the US state of Arizona have revealed they are adoptive parents to 12 children.
Steven and Roger Ham cannot legally adopt in the state as a couple, nor can they marry. But they have given a dozen children the chance of a ‘forever family’.
The story began in 2003, after the couple decided they wanted to become parents. They adopted five-year-old Michael, who had been neglected. Shortly afterwards, they won their battle to adopt his four siblings.
In the following years, they fostered dozens of children and eventually adopted another seven.
They completed their family in March 2009 when Steven flew to Washington to meet four-year-old Logan. After discovering that he had an 11-year-old sister, Isabel, Steven told their caseworker that he would take both of them to avoid splitting them up.
At the same time, Roger received a call from a caseworker telling him that the biological mother of one of their children had given birth again and asked if they would take the baby girl. At 12 children, they decided to close their fostering and adoption licence.
The couple are both listed on the birth certificates of their two children from Washington, while only Steven is the legal parent of the ten adopted in Arizona.
Steven, a part-time care worker and temp, and Roger, a school-bus driver, told the Arizona Republic about the military precision needed to get the kids fed, washed, dressed, to school and to various activities ever day.
They have a 15-seater van and as well as 12 children, look after four dogs, two cats, a guinea pig and a parrot.
The family lives in a 3,000-sq ft house and has strict rules, such as grounding for bad grades, good spelling in text messages and tidying everything away.
However, the couple say they are happy to let their children be themselves, allowing their sons to join cheerleading squads or wear nail polish.
The children range in age from Olivia, almost two, to 16-year-old Vanessa.
Steven, who takes on the brunt of the childcare through the day, said: “Sure, there are days when I am ripping my hair out, but I wouldn’t change it for anything,.
“We knew the kids deserved a better life, and someone who would love them, no matter what. None of my kids will ever tell you, anytime in their lives, even years from now, that they didn’t feel loved.”
Read more and see pictures of the Ham family
Second student in Tyler Clementi suicide case to appear in court
7:59 AM
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The second student implicated in a gay US teenager’s suicide is to make her first court appearance today.
Molly Wei, 19, was charged with invasion of privacy after allegedly watching a secret recording of Tyler Clementi having sex with another man.
Another student, Dharun Ravi, 19, has already been indicted by a grand jury on 15 charges, including bias intimidation, invasion of privacy, witness tampering and tampering with evidence.
The trio were students at Rutgers University in New Jersey when last September’s tragedy happened.
Mr Clementi, who had not told anyone he was gay, killed himself by jumping from the George Washington Bridge after he discovered he had been filmed.
Prosecutors say that Mr Ravi and Ms Wei watched Mr Clementi’s sex session through a webcam in the room he shared with Mr Ravi. Both deny the charges.
Ms Wei, who left the university after Mr Clementi’s death, has not been indicted.
She will appear at a court in Brunswick and has applied to a pre-trial intervention programme which may allow her to avoid jail time and a criminal record.
Mr Ravi is accused of filming his roommate with the intention of intimidating him because of his sexual orientation.
He is also accused of trying to cover up what he had done by deleting tweets and asking a witness not to give evidence against him.
Speaking in April, the Clementi family said: “If these facts are true, as they appear to be, then it is important for our criminal justice system to establish clear accountability under law. We are eager to have the process move forward for justice in this case and to reinforce the standards of acceptable conduct in our society.”
Mr Clementi’s death led to a national conversation about homophobic bullying and LGBT teen suicides.
