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May 21, 2012

Photo goes viral after President Obama confirms his support to gay marriage

This mystery photo is at least a year old but now its message has gone viral.

It spells out some of the most damaging costs to LGBT youth as a result of homophobia and intolerance.

The photo was reposted in response to President Obama’s appearance on the American daytime chat show The View on 15 May, where he confirmed his support for gay marriage.

One of the young people's placards reads: 'I found death threats in my locker.'

While another reveals: 'I am afraid to hold my boyfriend's hand.'

May 21, 2012

Antony and the Johnson’s singer says in interview with The Observer ‘as if we just want to be included in these business-as-usual institutions’

Transgender singer Antony Hegarty spoke about feminism and gay rights in an interview with The Observer on Sunday, ahead of his curation of the Meltdown festival at London’s Southbank Centre this August.

May 21, 2012

The search is on to find Eurovision's Next Top Model and Eurovision's Next Top Male Model at wiwibloggs.com

The search is on to find Eurovision's Next Top Model and Eurovision's Next Top Male Model at wiwibloggs.com.

While the Eurovision Song Contest is really about the music, the staff at wiwibloggs realized that the Eurovision also taps in to the world of 'glamorous fashion'. Each year readers on the website vote for their favourite female and male 'models'. Two rounds of eliminations have already taken place and you can cast your vote for the final by 3 June.

May 21, 2012

One gay UK and European premier will feature at this year's festival 

AIDS-panicked New York and the darkest hour for gay people in Uganda are both profiled in a documentary film festival in north east England.

Now in its 19th year, the internationally acclaimed Sheffield Doc/Fest will be taking over the screens of Sheffield city centre for five days in June.

The festival will include 83 feature documentaries, 10 outdoor screenings and 27 shorts. Many films will be followed by a question and answer session by the filmmaker.

This years program features three films about gay culture, including one European premiere.

May 20, 2012

Royal prince and rugby hunk pose for picture supporting the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation

Britain’s Prince Harry has revealed his support for rugby legend Ben Cohen’s anti-bullying charity.

The prince and rugby union star posed together after a charity football match celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

The image, which Cohen recently posted on his Facebook and Twitter page, shows the two hunks holding up a t-shirt for The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.

Cohen tweeted: ‘My opposite number in the football match today was the Great Prince Harry! Harry loves what we are doing with StandUp!’

May 20, 2012

Lesbian writer Irshad Manji launches the Malay version of a new book amid criticisms that she promotes ideas against religion and human nature

A Canadian Muslim gay activist launched the Malay version of her controversial book on liberal Islam in Malaysia, despite official efforts to ban all her public events.

Irshad Manji and her local publisher ZI Publications eventually managed to pulled off the launch for ‘Allah, Liberty and Love’ (Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta in Malay) in front of a 50-odd crowd yesterday (19 May), after two other venues pulled out of hosting her.

May 19, 2012

Anti-gay group objects to billboard in Los Angeles featuring male couple sharing a single T-shirt

First it was JC Penney, then Urban Outfitters then JC Penney again.

Now the anti-gay group OneMillionMoms, a subgroup of American Family Association, as another retailer in its sights: The Gap.

May 19, 2012

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia event ruined by religious homophobic activists

Orthodox Christians put a stop to a rare attempt to combat homophobia in Georgia on Thursday (17 May).

Around 20 participants in the gay parade had joined the march through the country’s capital Tbilisi waving rainbow flags and placards. The march was meant to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), a day for education and tolerance.

May 18, 2012

London Pride is back from 17 June to 8 July, with culture at its heart as Britain hosts World Pride

Pride London, who are this years host of World Pride, have confirmed the first details of the festival.

A string of cultural and campaigning events are happening in the run up to parade day on 7 July.

Beginning with the Opening Ceremony in Soho on 17 June, the festival aims to celebrate the cultural diversity of the global LGBT community.

The central theme of the whole fortnight will be to call for the global decriminalization of homosexuality, especially within Britain’s Commonwealth.

May 18, 2012

Fancy a change? New hair color in 60 minutes

Live, the expert in trendy hair color, have come up with a new product which makers Schwarzkopf claim will give your hair longer lasting intensity and shine.

Live Color XXL can transform your hair from its natural color to a vibrant new one in as little as 60 minutes.

Whether you want to go hypnotic red, cyber purple or deep black, Schwarzkopf offers a number of exciting colors to chose from.

May 18, 2012

The US Secretary of State sends 'powerful' message to world on gay rights as four men are due to be hanged for sodomy in Iran

World Pride organizers say Hillary Clinton's formal acceptance of a gay rights award sends a 'powerful' and 'poignant' message to the world as four men in Iran await execution for sodomy.

Pride London and global LGBT organization Kaleidoscope Trust will honor the US Secretary of State with the World LGBT Award at a star-studded black tie dinner in the British capital for World Pride on 5 July.

May 18, 2012

A new report on transgender people in Asia says in some areas 49% are HIV positive

A new report into the rights and HIV vulnerability of transgender people has found that in some areas of Asia 49% of trans women are HIV positive. The report blames the alarmingly high prevalence rates on ‘stigma and prejudice’.

May 18, 2012

Virgin founder Richard Branson makes video for gay marriage campaign

Billionaire entrepeneur Richard Branson is the latest high profile Briton to make a video for a new campaign promoting same-sex marriage.

Out4Marriage is getting politicians, famous names and ordinary members of the public to record a video explaining why they support marriage equality. Although it’s only 10 days old, hundreds of people, gay and straight, have already taken part.

May 18, 2012

'Silver Soiree' in London celebrates HIV charity's 25th birthday

A fundraiser marking the National Aids Trust's 25th birthday raised £30,000 for the UK charity.

The Spring Awakening event, held at London's stylish 11 Cavendish Square venue last night (17 May), was themed the 'Silver Soiree' to celebrate NAT's quarter of a century anniversary.

May 17, 2012

Azerbaijani group say 'no place in Azerbaijan for immoral gays'

Prominent Eurovison website, esctoday.com and other fan sites have been hacked today in an apparent anti-gay cyber attack.

The group behind the attack claim that Eurovision, the prominent European song contest which is coming to Azerbaijan over the next week, backs gay pride.

May 17, 2012

Manny Pacquiao says that he supports gay rights, but opposes gay marriage

Filipino world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao has denied quoting a violent anti-gay passage of the Bible and defended his opposition to gay marriage after a backlash.

National Conservative Examiner published an article last weekend in which it appeared Pacquiao, who is also a congressman in the Philippines, quoted a Bible passage from Leviticus that says gay people ‘must be put to death’.

May 17, 2012

Police have refused permit for concert following threats from Islamic groups

Following news Indonesian national police refused a permit for a Lady Gaga concert in Jakarta, the tour’s promoter has said the ‘process is still ongoing’.

Indonesian Islamic groups voiced concern about the concert, that is scheduled for 3 June, going ahead and the police said they had been threatened with mass demonstrations by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

May 17, 2012

Montenegro sees rally for LGBT rights as French Caribbean island holds first LGBT march

Activists in Montenegro marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) by marching on the Turkish embassy in protest at the country's treatment of LGBT people.

Members from rights group, the LGBT Forum Progress, carried banners reading in English, Montenegrin and Turkish, 'Never hush, never share a crime' and other messages of love and tolerance.

May 16, 2012

John Bercow highlights Britain’s opportunity to listen to and support LGBT rights activists worldwide at Kaleidoscope Trust event

The Speaker of Britain’s House of Commons, John Bercow, has said the Commonwealth should be used to help decriminalize homosexuality in countries around the world.

Bercow, was speaking at an event run by new global LGBT rights organization Kaleidoscospe today (16 May) ahead of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) tomorrow.

Among those in the audience at the Commonwealth Club in central London were Britain’s equality minister, Lynne Featherstone MP, as well as other parliamentarians.

May 16, 2012

Three artists have just 14 minutes to save the world - how on earth will they do it?

So, rumor has it that the world is going end this year (again). Now, who is going to rescue us from complete and utter annihilation?

In his production, I Love You but We Only Have Fourteen Minutes to Save the Earth, award-winning director Nathan Evans presents three artists, all of which have only 14 minutes to save the world - the only question is how?

The three artists featured in the London show are 'avant guardian angel', David Hoyle, the 'reigning alternative Miss World', Fancy Chance and 'eco worrier extraordinaire', Timberlina. 

May 16, 2012

Shocked daughter tells TV show how vicar refused to bury her 74-year-old mother because she was a lesbian

A Danish priest who refused to bury a 74-year-old lesbian is the subject of a TV show on the country's DR1 channel.

The deceased’s daughter, Kirsten Østergaard, told the programme that the priest’s announcement came as a shock, reported Danish gay website Homotropolis.

'I thought, can it really be true that we should be ashamed of it?' she said.

'I looked at my mother’s life partner and she was completely silent and then I became really upset on her behalf. It’s a terrible situation to put her in.'

May 16, 2012

Journalist Alessio De Giorgi says: 'I think Italian politicians will accept gay marriage only after the discovery of life on Mars'

The first man to ever marry his gay partner on Italian soil is now thinking about marrying someone else.

Alessio De Giorgi, editor in chief of LGBT website Gay.it, told Gay Star News: ‘I’d like to marry my partner Lorenzo. It’s a possibility, we are thinking about it.’

De Giorgi separated from his previous partner, Christian Panicucci, in 2007.

May 16, 2012

From United States to the Fiji Islands and Italy, LGBT associations unite against gay hate and discrimination

Three Italian Catholic cardinals have agreed to prayer vigils held by the religious group Gionata for the victims of gay hate and discrimination for the first time.

LGBT groups will pray for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Milan, Florence and Palermo, in Sicily as part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) to be celebrated tomorrow (17 May) in an estimated 100 countries around the world.

May 16, 2012

Two men sentenced to jail and deportation from United Arab Emirates after woman 'saw' them having gay embrace, highlighting privacy issues

Two men ‘spotted’ fondling each other in a parked car near a beach in Jumeirah, Dubai were sentenced to three months prison to be followed by deportation, reported the National, an Emirates based daily yesterday (15 May).

The two, a salon receptionist 27-year-old Filipino named by the initials 'RS', and a 32-year-old Omani named by the initials AA, were arrested by the police just after 3am on 9 April following a tip off from a member of the public.