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May 25, 2013
Bucking national policy, LGBT adults welcome by Boy Scouts of America in New York City

BSA has voted to allow gay youth but to continue LGBT adult ban

Although openly gay youths will be able to participate in the Boy Scouts beginning next year, LGBT adults are still banned from leadership and volunteers positions.

Except in New York City.

The Boy Scouts of America's Greater New York Councils, which represents the five boroughs of New York City, says it will continue to admit adult members as leaders and volunteers. It will also continue to push for a more inclusive policy on an national level.

May 23, 2013
President of Boy Scouts of America endorses plan to allow gay members

National Council will vote on ending restriction which would still ban gay adults from participating

On Thursday (23 May), the 1,400-member National Council of the Boy Scouts of America meeting in Grapevine, Texas, is to vote on whether to end its ban on gay members.

In advance of the vote, the organization's president, Wayne Perry, has come out publicly in favor of allowing scouts to be openly gay saying it is the 'right decision' for the group.

May 10, 2013
63% of Americans support gay Boy Scouts plan

A new poll released today found a majority of Americans support a plan that would admit gay youth into Boy Scouts

A new poll reveals a majority of Americans are fine with gay Boy Scouts members.

According to a new poll published today by American news sources The Washington Post and ABC News, 63% of Americans interviewed said gay scouts should be allowed to join.

56% of those interviewed also opposed the ban on gay adults in the Boy Scouts.

April 9, 2013
Stars come out to celebrate R U Coming Out's first birthday

Beverley Knight, Dan Gillespie Sells and Evan Davis were among the celebrities who attended the support website's birthday party

UK LGBT support website RUComingOut.com celebrated its first birthday with a star spangled birthday party.

Celebrities in attendance included pop band The Feeling’s vocalist, Dan Gillespie Sells and singer-songwriter Beverley Knight.

February 22, 2013
Former straight scout wants anti-gay Boy Scouts of America to lose tax breaks

Eddie Kurtz calls organization's 'personal bigotry' a 'disgrace'

As the Boy Scouts of America continues to mull over whether to drop its ban on gays, one of its former members has decided to try and put a financial squeeze on the group.

Former scout Eddie Kurtz launched a petition drive this week urging the California legislature to pass a bill that would strip the BSA of its tax breaks because of its discriminatory policy.

February 14, 2013
Utah school bans, then allows same-sex singing Valentines

After fliers were given out saying 'Sorry, no same-sex delivery', protests from students forced the school to change its mind

A Utah school banned, then eventually announced it would allow same-sex singing Valentines today (14 February).

Cooper Hills High students were handed fliers last week about the school’s annual choir fundraiser, in which students were asked to make a donation and choir students in turn would deliver love songs to other students.

On the flier, it read ‘Sorry, no same-sex delivery’.

Students, parents and others were furious and sent protests to school administration saying it was singling out and discriminating against gay students.

February 9, 2013
Poll shows support for Boy Scouts to drop ban on out gay members

Quinnipiac University poll shows majority wants gays to serve openly in the Boy Scouts

A recent poll shows a majority of Americans see no problem with out gay Boy Scouts.

The Quinnipiac University poll, released on 6 February, shows that 55 percent of Americans want the Boy Scouts of America to drop its ban on out members.  Only 33 percent wish for no change in the BSA's policy.

January 22, 2013
Serbian far-right group claims gays are CIA agents

Gay Straight Alliance is suing far-right SNP Naši after it put them on a ‘blacklist’ of ‘foreign agents’ who are involved in crime and want to break up Serbia

Serbian gay rights campaigners are suing a far-right organization after it claimed they were being indirectly funded by America’s CIA.

The Serbian National Movement Naši (SNP Naši; Naši means ‘ours’ in English) put Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) on a ‘blacklist’ of ‘foreign agents’.

The on-going hate campaign peaked on 13 January when they displayed posters in public spaces in several Serbian cities, naming those on the blacklist.

January 19, 2013
San Diego Boy Scout camp leader comes out as gay on video, then quits his job

'I've chosen this moment to open up to every other member of the Boy Scouts of America who is in the same position I'm in'

Derek Nance is a gay man who has just quit a job that he clearly loved - and he did so on YouTube.

Nance had worked for 10 years at a Boy Scouts of America Summer Camp, a job he held while earning Bachelors and Masters degrees in college. But he did so as a closeted gay man.

This week, he decided to quit hiding.

January 2, 2013
Second Uganda gay youth worker arrested for ‘recruiting’ teens into homosexuality

Ugandan police arrest a second LGBT advocate and youth worker for law on homosexuality that doesn't exist 

Kabuye Najibu, of the LGBT group Youth on Rock Foundation, was arrested in Uganda today while visiting his co-worker who had been arrested on New Year’s Eve.

Najibu has been arrested on charges which relate to homosexuality, and could possibly include the unfounded allegation of ‘recruitment into homosexuality’, which does not exist under Ugandan law.

January 1, 2013
Uganda gay youth worker arrested for ‘recruiting’ teens into homosexuality

An LGBT advocate and youth worker was arrested by Ugandan police for law on homosexuality that doesn't exist on New Year’s Eve

On New Year's Eve, Joseph Kaweesi, LGBT youth worker and advocate, was arrested by Ugadan police and charged with crimes relating to homosexuality.

According to reports from Uganda, Kaweesi, one of the founder of the LGBT group Youth on Rock Foundation, is being held at Kawempe police station, in Kampala, capital of Uganda.

December 13, 2012
University of Iowa makes history by adding sexual orientation question on admissions application

Questions about sexual orientation and gender identity are optional

The University of Iowa has become the first public university in the US to add LGBT-specific demographic questions to its college admission form.

The school says it has added the questions, which are optional, in order to help with the success and retention of LGBT students.

December 11, 2012
Boys Scouts lose another corporate sponsor because of its anti-gay policies

Merck Foundation follows in footsteps of Intel and UPS

The Merck Foundation announced Monday (10 December) that it will not longer be donating money to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) because it bans gay young people and adults from serving as scouts and as scout leaders.

The foundation's move follows similar decisions by previous donors Intel and United Parcel Service Inc., widely known as UPS.

September 10, 2012
Youth LGBT project launched in Japan for World Suicide Prevention Day

Celebrities record messages of hope similar to the It Gets Better campaign

A project offering a sense of community and acceptance to LGBT youth in Japan was launched today for World Suicide Prevention Day.

Loosely translated as Connected Heart School, the project’s website features videos of celebrities giving messages of hope to young people, similar to the prolific It Gets Better campaign started in the US in 2010.

September 9, 2012
Nine year old leaves Cub Scouts due to its LGBT policy

Nine-year-old is done with the Cub Scouts because of its LGBT ruling

Christopher Tiner, a nine-year-old from the New England state of Maine, is ending his relationship with the Cub Scouts because of its treatment of LGBT scouts and leaders.

'I didn’t like it that they were kicking people out,' Christopher said to the newspaper the Bangor Daily News. 'I don’t think it’s fair.'

August 29, 2012
Ex-gay therapy ban a step closer in California

Attempts to alter the sexual orientations of minors look set to be banned in the US state of California after its state Assembly passed a bill on the issue in an overwhelming vote

California’s State Assembly voted on Tuesday to prohibit minors from being subjected to attempts to cure them of their homosexuality, bringing the state closer to becoming the first in the US to do so.

The Assembly voted 51-21 in favor of the ban on so-called conversion therapy which is disapproved of by the American Psychiatric Association for both adults and children alike.

A number of openly gay state Assembly members spoke in favor of the bill.

August 29, 2012
Scottish Catholics 'hurting gay bullying work with marriage fight'

Catholic Church says Scottish schools should teach same-sex marriage is 'risky and dangerous'

LGBT Youth Scotland have hit back at comments made by the Catholic Church in Scotland saying schools should teach that same-sex marriage is dangerous.

As the ‘war’ over same-sex marriage in Scotland continues, the Catholic Church is speaking out against the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence (CFE), which ensures that young people supported around the idea of health and wellbeing.

July 6, 2012
Gay version of ‘Hot or Not’ launched

New site allows you to rate gay men on relative hotness

If you’re feeling like confidence in your physical attractiveness could use a boost, this new website might help, or not.

On Gaystagram, created by 23-year-old Pedro Duarte, you can rate the relative attractiveness of gay men.

It's a similar concept to that of early-2000s internet sensation HotorNot.com.

Users submit self-portraits taken on hipster photography app Instagram, by tagging them with #gaystagram.

March 23, 2012
It Gets Better launches in Latin America

Chile joins gay teen anti-bullying campaign with Todo Mejora website

It Gets Better, the anti-bullying video campaign, has launched a Spanish-language version in Latin America called Todo Mejora.

Chile is taking the lead on the project and regional coordinator Julio Cezar Dantas says it appeals to Chile’s concern for others.

He said: 'It looks to show LGBT teens that there is no reason to hurt themselves, because as a country we are here for them, to hear them, embrace them and help them see things in a better light’.