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June 19, 2013

Bespoke furniture factory says harassment was ‘just banter’ but cabinet maker claims workers left male underwear catalogue and abuse on his desk

Cruel homophobic taunting was rife at a renowned bespoke furniture-making factory, an employment tribunal heard today (19 June).

The entire cabinet making department was branded ‘the queer ones’ in banter and name calling which led Mark Crowther to sue the firm in High Wycombe, southern England for discrimination by sexual orientation.

The 51-year-old told the tribunal he was forced out of his job at the exclusive luxury furniture firm after suffering years of homophobic abuse and taunts from his co-workers.

June 19, 2013

'I'm sure a lot of people will feel a bit ridiculous about it - probably embarrassed'

Robbie Rogers, the first openly gay player in the history of the Major League Soccer league, thinks 'it's kind of sad' that gays are still such a topic of debate in American society.

'It's kind of sad that in 2013 we're still busy having to discuss all this stuff - marriage and Boy Scouts and even that out athletes are such a big deal,' the LA Galaxy player said this week during a visit to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

June 19, 2013

James Wharton, the author of a new book about ten years of being gay in the British military, has refuted reports he would send an apology to Prince Harry

Prince Harry would describe himself as ‘100% gay-friendly’, a gay soldier has revealed to Gay Star News.

James Wharton, in his new autobiography Out in the Army, describes serving openly gay in the British military for ten years.

In 2008, six soldiers threatened to beat him up over him being gay.

‘I think I’m going to be murdered by the infantry,’ he told Prince Harry, who apparently told him: ‘Right, I’m going to sort this shit out once and for all.’

June 18, 2013

Lyon gay pride participants attacked in four separate incidents, activists blame homophobic rhetoric used during the debate on France’s gay marriage as inciting hate 

Anti-gay attackers beat up and spat on a man because of his sexuality during Lyon pride, while at least three other incidents of anti-gay attacks have been recorded.

All the attacks occurred during the evening during the 18th gay Pride of Lyon that celebrated France’s historical passing of the marriage equality bill.

In one incident, two male attackers, one 23 year-old and another aged 17 kicked to the ground and spat on a gay man around 5pm in Lyon’s town center on Saturday (15 June).

June 18, 2013

GSN talks to Imma Battaglia, just elected as a Rome city councillor, who angered Pope John Paul II in 2000 by hosting a 'weird' World Pride

For the first time in history, an openly lesbian activist has become a local councillor in Rome, the city of the Holy See.

And she wants to unite the LGBT population of the city to make the eternal city a gay capital in the style of London, New York or Berlin.

Imma Battaglia, 53, has been elected for the Sinistra, Ecologia e Libertà party, led by gay Puglia governor Nichi Vendola.

Battaglia organized the first official Italian pride in 1994. And she was also in charge of the World Pride 2000, organized in Rome in the year of the Catholic Jubilee.

June 17, 2013

According to new research, gay people say they are more likely to be put off by religious organizations than the rest of the population

June 17, 2013

Lesbian and gay voters were left disappointed after the newly elected left-wing mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, did not attend Saturday's parade

LGBT voters in Rome are angry with the newly elected mayor because he failed to attend Saturday’s pride parade (15 June).

Despite being a left-wing and socially involved politician, Ignazio Marino from Partito Democratico (PD) said he could not go to the pride for ‘family reasons’.

He released a videomessage to the LGBT community, saying he stood for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cause.

‘But this is not enough’, Andrea Maccarrone, LGBT association Circolo Mario Mieli’s president, told Gay Star News.

June 16, 2013

National Public Radio chronicles the ups, and downs, of transgender life in the US

While the gay equality movement in the US has made recent strides, from the abolition of Don't Ask, Don't Tell to the increasing number of states where gay marriage is legal, too many transgender men and women still live in the shadows.

National Public Radio aired a piece (15 June) on the lives of transgender Americans, specifically teenagers and young adults.

June 16, 2013

President Barack Obama tells gay and straight  dads that they have a great, and difficult, job

In his radio address honoring Father's Day, President Barack Obama made sure to include gay dads.

'Being a good parent – whether you’re gay or straight; a foster parent or a grandparent – isn’t easy,' the president said.  'It demands your constant attention, frequent sacrifice, and a healthy dose of patience.'

The short talk didn't dwell on specific policies, although he promised  'to encourage marriage and strong families.' Instead, the president talked about growing up without a father.

June 15, 2013

But just 56% have told their mother about their sexual orientation or gender identity, and 39% have told their father

A survey of just under 1,200 American adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender shows that 92% feel like they have become more accepted in the past decade.

But that doesn't mean it's been easy according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the experiences and attitudes of the LGBT population released this week.

June 15, 2013

Russian immigrants plan to use New York Gay Pride parade float as a symbol of freedom

The line in the advertisement says it all: 'celebrating our life in the free world.'

Gay immigrants from the former Soviet Union are putting the final touches on a Russian float that will be part of the 30 June New York City Gay Pride Festival.

June 14, 2013

One of the least tolerant societies in the world for accepting homosexuality has the highest amount of searches for gay sex terms

Google searches relating to gay sex are most common in Pakistan out of all the countries in the world, new research from Mother Jones discovered yesterday.

June 12, 2013

MI5, the British secret service, announced as new sponsor for this year’s awards rewarding best LGBT and other diversity

At one time all British spies were like James Bond – straight, white and middle class. But no longer. MI5, the British secret service, is backing gay, trans and other diversity by sponsoring the 2013 National Diversity Awards.

They will be just one of the brands supporting a skyfall of diversity talent – positive role models and community organizations and businesses from the LGBT, ethnic minority, age, gender, religion and disability communities.

June 12, 2013

Lord John Browne, openly gay former boss of BP highlights none of Britain’s top 100 companies are headed by an out LGBT person

Google, BP and Barclays Bank have signed up for a new networking club designed to push LGBT executives to the head of the boardroom table.

OUTstanding In Business was set up with the backing of Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP, who points out not a single FTSE 100 company is led by an openly gay or lesbian business person.

Browne himself hid his sexuality for years and only came out after quitting BP in 2007.

June 11, 2013

Star Trek actor and gay icon helps US host Conan O'Brien with a viewer's complaint about how 'water works'

Gay icon George Takei has explained how everything in nature is gay.

The Star Trek actor came to help Conan O’Brien with an audience question that the red-haired comic had got a monologue wrong when demonstrating how ‘water worked’.

The gay rights activist came on stage to tell the fretting viewer how nature tends to work differently for gay and straight people.

He said: ‘You see water works differently for straight people. That’s because water itself is gay.

‘We wouldn’t have raindrops or oceans if water didn’t like to bind to itself.

June 11, 2013

Marie, the mother of Michael Causer, says she wants to build a hostel for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people

Five years ago, a gay teenager called Michael Causer was murdered.

At a house party in Liverpool, thugs stole his phone while he slept. When pictures of him and his boyfriend were discovered, he was brutally beaten.

Ten days later, he died from his brain injuries.

But now, in 2013, his mother Marie Causer is on a £1 million mission to help other LGBT youths.

After she and her husband Mike set up the Michael Causer Foundation, several lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people contacted them with their own stories of suffering.

June 11, 2013

Filipino gay rights activist say that a study showing the Philippines as the most gay-friendly country in Asia, and the tenth in the world, doesn't reflect the reality for LGBT people living there

Filipino gay rights activist Oscar Atadero has told Gay Star News that a study that found the Philippines is the tenth most gay-friendly country in the world, and the most gay-friendly country in Asia, is a 'dubious honor'.

'The results of the survey should be taken with a bit of caution,' said Atadero, who is a researcher for Rainbow Rights, adding that with a global survey cultural and linguistic nuances can be lost in translation.

June 10, 2013

Super Bowl champ tells crowd: "We all know that at the end of the day, love wins baby!'

Hours before The Pointer Sisters would unite the crowd in song with their familiar hits at the LA Pride Festival Sunday (9 June), NFL star Brendon Ayanbadejo took to the main stage at West Hollywood Park and talked equality.

'It's important for me to get all my straight allies in the NFL to team up with you guys. Together we can get there,' the former member of the Baltimore Ravens said. 'We all know that at the end of the day, love wins baby!'

June 8, 2013

Bottini calls Michelle Obama 'arrogant' for shutting down lesbian protester this week

Day one of the three-day LA Pride Festival belonged to the ladies and one lady in particular: Ivy Bottini.

Bottini (pictured) was honored Friday (7 June) for her more than 45 years of activism on behalf of women's and LGBT equality.

June 7, 2013

Communist leaders are hoping the glittery singer will go for a dark kaftan, knee-high leather boots and a fut hat at his July gig

Flamboyant gay British singer Elton John may have to lose the glitter and glam for his upcoming performances in Russia, or face the backlash.

The ‘I’m Still Standing’ singer, who will play in the southern city of Krasnodar, could be breaking the anti-gay laws if he wears his usual outfits.

Local Communist party leader Mikhail Abramyan suggests instead of sparkling glasses and feather boas, perhaps ‘more respectable’ traditional Cossack clothes would be better for the concert.

June 7, 2013

Reverend Irene Monroe asks why murders and suicides of gay and trans people of color don’t get the attention they should

Last month sadly marked the 10th anniversary of the murder of Sakia Gunn of Newark, New Jersey. And her murder is mired, at best, by myths and, at worst, malicious intent.

Depending, however, on the LGBTQ circles you run in and where you get your news, you may or may not know who she was. For many, Gunn was and still is a small blip on the gay and national news radar screen.

June 6, 2013

StudentsFirst drops support of anti-gay Tennessee politician and stands behind 11-year-old Marcel Neergaard

Marcel Neergaard's voice, and petition, were finally heard and an education reform group stripped away an honor it gave to a politician who supports anti-gay policies.

June 5, 2013

Researchers suggest the reason more communication, openness and resilience to outside pressure is why gay families appear more happy

Children brought up by same-sex couples are happier, healthier, and more sociable according to the initial findings from the world’s largest study on the subject.

The research, which studied the wellbeing of 500 children in Australia, found the self-esteem of children and the amount of time they spent with their parents was no different from the rest of the population.

But infants looked after by gay couples scored higher for overall health and family cohesion.

June 4, 2013

The American Bar Association will vote to end the use of so-called ‘gay panic’ defenses at its annual meeting in August, 15 years after the murder of Matthew Shepard

The American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section has passed a resolution to protect victims of so called gay and transgender ‘panic’ legal defenses and will take the resolution to the association’s annual meeting in August.

The passing of the resolution by the Criminal Justice Section, which supports members of the LGBT community by no longer allowing defense attorneys to use victims’ identities or their sexual orientation against them in court, was welcomed by the US National LGBT Bar Association.