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May 23, 2013

Scots gay rights campaigners and politicians tell Scottish government to act now so that Scotland does not fall behind England and Wales in legalizing marriage equality

Scottish LGBT rights campaigners and leading politicians have called upon Scotland’s government to publish a timetable for the introduction of a marriage equality bill.

The move comes after the UK House of Commons have voted for marriage equality; with a final vote in the House of Lords expected soon, commentators say Edinburgh is falling behind England and Wales.

Speaking with Gay Star News, Colin McFarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland commented: 'The Commons overwhelmingly voted to extend the legal form of marriage to same-sex couples in England and Wales.

May 23, 2013

Trans campaigners highlight problems with England and Wales’ equal marriage bill saying they were betrayed by gay allies

Trans activists were left ‘despairing and angry’ at England and Wales’ equal marriage bill saying they have been betrayed by the British government and LGBT allies.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed its third reading in Britain’s House of Commons last night with Members of Parliament voting 366 to 161 in favor of the legislation on Tuesday (21 May).

The bill now has to pass through the House of Lords where it will face opposition but the government appears determined to ensure it passes.

May 22, 2013

UK Prime Minister has attempted to heal the rift in the Conservative party by saying marriage equality opponents are not 'bigoted'

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said the equal marriage bill in England and Wales will help gay teens ‘stand that bill taller’ today.

The Conservative leader also attempted to heal divisions in his party by insisting marriage equality opponents were not ‘bigoted’.

May 22, 2013

UK Prime Minister has attempted to heal the rift in the Conservative party by saying marriage equality opponents are not 'bigoted'

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said the equal marriage bill in England and Wales will help gay teens ‘stand that bill taller’ today.

The Conservative leader also attempted to heal divisions in his party by insisting marriage equality opponents were not ‘bigoted’.

May 22, 2013

The death of veteran Indian gay rights activist Shivananda Kahn prompts outpouring of appreciation for his achievements

Gay rights advocates in India and around the world are mourning the death of 'committed, passionate, inspiring, nurturing, visionary' activist Shivananda Khan, who passed away on Monday (20 May).

'[Khan] forged a pioneering path across the decades in helping achieve rights and equality for LGBT individuals and communities in diverse geographies and sociocultural environments from Europe to Asia and the Pacific,' said a statement from the organization he helped found, Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM).

May 21, 2013

Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats has voiced his concern with the England and Wales equal marriage bill

A British bisexual Member of Parliament (MP) has caused controversy in the House of Commons by saying ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’.

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said during a discussion on humanist weddings that his religious beliefs influenced his decision on whether to vote for same-sex marriages.

He has tabled an amendment that would separate church and faith-based marriage to the England and Wales equal marriage bill.

May 21, 2013

Humanist supporters told England and Wales gay marriage bill was not the best way to change the law. Amendment shelved while waiting for new information from government

Supporters of a plan to allow humanists to conduct weddings, for gay and straight couples, in England and Wales have pulled their proposal after a debate in parliament.

British Members of Parliament (MPs) spent several hours debating the amendment put forward to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales today (21 May) in the House of Commons.

But now they have pulled it awaiting more information from the government on how to overcome legal challenges their amendment may face.

May 21, 2013

Lesbian tennis superstar Martina Navratilova to launch week of events. Summer Rites music festival added. Gala dinner with London mayor

Bosses of Pride in London have given the green light to this year’s event having reached key fundraising and volunteer recruitment milestones.

Until this moment, it was theoretically possible the event would be canceled.

But now Pride in London has announced this year’s festival will go ahead with a week of celebrations, a full parade through the center of the UK capital, a rally in Trafalgar Square and a party in the gay district of Soho.

May 21, 2013

'I quite fancy my brother!', top Conservative peer says England and Wales same-sex marriage bill could allow him to marry his son

Gays marrying will lead to a lesbian queen giving birth to a future monarch by artificial insemination, a former Tory chairman has warned.

Lord Tebbit, 82, also told the Big Issue magazine the legislation in England and Wales could also allow him to marry his son to escape inheritance tax.

May 20, 2013

Church 'unconvinced' there was a ‘genuine and widespread public need’ for change as gay marriage bill goes through UK parliament

Church of England bosses have forced their own leader – Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – to pull support for straight civil partnerships.

It is part of their official response to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales which the government is currently pushing through the UK parliament and which will be debated again today.

The Church of England is the state religion of Britain and its bishops will have a vote on the legislation when it reaches the House of Lords.

May 20, 2013

Tory party in-fighting and an amendment giving straight couples civil partnerships could delay the equal marriage bill until after the next election

Conservative party in-fighting and an amendment giving straight couples civil partnerships could delay the England and Wales equal marriage bill for up to two years.

The bill, which returns to the House of Commons today (20 May), is the subject of fierce debate among members of parliament. It will be voted on after two days of discussion.

Members of parliament, led by Tory Tim Loughton, have tabled an amendment expanding civil partnerships to include heterosexual couples.

May 20, 2013

Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Yvette Cooper tells opposition party MPs to not vote for Tim Loughton's opposite-sex civil partnerships amendment

British political party Labour has announced they have abandoned support for a 'wrecking' amendment supporting opposite-sex civil partnerships today (20 May).

Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary and the Shadow Equalities Minister, has announced Labour will table its own amendment.

As outlined on The World At One, she explained the amendment would establish 'an immediate consultation on opposite-sex civil partnerships', which, she said, could begin even before the bill has completed its parliamentary pasage.

May 20, 2013

Pub manager claims he was forced to leave his home and place of work after he chose to give Ipswich their gay pub back

A pub landlord is furious after he was fired five months after he decided to turn a ‘thriving’ pub gay.

James Iannone, 37, moved into the Grinning Rat in Ipswich, in Suffolk, England, after taking on the running of the pub in January.

The pub chain has now told him he has to leave as they had hired a new landlord, the Ipswich Star reported.

May 20, 2013

Those who make a difference to the LGBT community will be immortalized in a comic strip themed concert by the acclaimed London Gay Men’s Chorus

David Bowie’s celebrated refrain 'We can be heroes, just for one day' is the key message behind the London Gay Men’s Chorus (LGMC) new concert.

Honouring the people who have contributed to bettering the everyday lives of the LGBT community, the aptly titled Heroes will be performed at Cadogan Hall in the UK capital from the 24 to 25 May.

May 20, 2013

Veteran gay activist Peter Tatchell says UK government is ‘inconsistent, hypocritical and wrong’ by offering same-sex marriage but not straight civil partnerships

The current same-sex marriage bill going through the UK Parliament should be changed to allow for heterosexuals to have civil partnerships, veteran gay activist Peter Tatchell has said.

He is urging Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote for an amendment making the change to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales which is coming before the House of Commons again today (20 May).

May 20, 2013

New YouGov poll shows majority of Britons support same-sex marriages and civil partnerships for straight couples

Most Britons back same-sex marriage legislation with only a third against.

That's the result of a new poll by YouGov.

It indicated ongoing support for the legislation going through the UK Parliament for the change in England and Wales. Separate legislation is being developed in Scotland.

The survey found 54% of Britons support same sex marriage legislation, with 36% opposed. Among Conservatives, more people oppose the measures than support them but the margin is narrow (48% to 45%).

May 20, 2013

As members of parliament vote on the bill, the case for gay marriage gains support via twitter

Same-sex marriage advocates in England and Wales are gearing up for another debate in the House of Commons today and tomorrow (19-20 May).

But while members of parliament lock horns, members of the public have taken to Twitter to make their voices heard.

Whether it's satirical, funny, or just making a great point, we've gathered 18 amazing tweets in support of marriage equality. Check them out here:

May 19, 2013

Christopher Bryant, editor of gay and lesbian online magazine Polari, and his partner were viciously beaten last night in an anti-gay attack

The editor of an online gay and lesbian magazine was attacked last night in South London.

Christopher Bryant, editor of Polari magazine, and his partner Damon were walking home from Bryant’s birthday dinner through South London’s Betts Park when the couple was intercepted by a group of six men, who started speeding up and following the couple down the path.

Bryant told GSN that as soon as they started running, the men started running as well, and first caught his partner Damon.

May 17, 2013

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Morgan says the British police have changed and now want to encourage LGBT teens to trust them

The culture of the Police Service in Britain is developing into one where you can be as comfortable at work as you are at home – that is the strategic aim. It is worth noting that there are eight local police forces listed in the Stonewall Top 100 Index of gay-friendly employers and LGBT officers are included in the majority of UK police forces. It hasn’t always been this way.

May 17, 2013

The European Song Contest reaches an epic conclusion with not one, but two gay kisses, and an appearance by Bonnie Tyler

The Eurovision Song Contest is the world’s most watched annual TV program with an expected audience of over 100 million people. It is known for its kitsch songs, flash costumes and over the top performances…and this year is no exception!

The beginning of this year’s final resembles the opening of the Olympics as all 26 competing nations enter the arena waving their respective flags. They make their way along an elevated platform whilst a choir sings a new song written by Abba’s Bjorn and Benny especially for the contest.

May 17, 2013

UK Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister Maria Miller says there will be a review into whether straight people will want a civil partnership

UK civil partnerships could be granted to straight couples, after senior minister Maria Miller acknowledged there should be a ‘review’ into the future of the unions.

Last night (16 May), the culture secretary and equalities minister said after lobbying by members of parliament over the status of civil partnerships, the government will ‘formally review’ their future.

Miller is opposed to giving civil partnerships to straight couples, which she has called ‘not a requirement’.

May 17, 2013

GSN teams up with London Gay Men’s Chorus and London Gay Big Band to spread the word about fighting homophobia and transphobia

Gay Star News joined forces with the UK capital’s talented LGBT singers and musicians to make a video to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

While reports out for IDAHO today (17 May) again show the shocking levels of abuse, harassment, discrimination, violence and even murder faced by the world’s LGBT citizens, the GSN video tries to bring some hope.

May 17, 2013

Gay dating site’s co-founder Henry Badenhorst exits business. New management team pledge to ‘reinvigorate the global dating scene’

Henry Badenhorst, co-founder of Gaydar, the website which revolutionized gay dating, has sold his shares and left the business after 14 years.

A new investment partner has been brought in to allow a management buy-out of the company. Gaydar will now be headed by former manager Trevor Martin who becomes chief executive officer.

Badenhorst set up Gaydar with his boyfriend Gary Frisch in 1999 after a friend complained he was too busy to look for dates.

May 17, 2013

GSN meets one of Europe’s leading champions for LGBT equality who argues gay and trans citizens need the European unity more than ever

It was raining in Brussels and I was late. I’d over-estimated my walking speed and sense of direction on my way to meet with Michael Cashman, one of the UK’s representatives to the European Parliament.

His assistant Renaud rang me: ‘Where are you now?’

‘I don’t know. I can see the Sofitel?’

‘Oh. You have to cross the park. I will meet you in reception.’

Well-groomed and impeccably dressed, Renaud was sympathetic when I finally made it to the reception of the parliament – my clothes dripping and my shoes covered in grass.