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May 15, 2013
Indian gay film festival invites Iris Prize to join jury

Iris director Berwyn Rowlands says he is delighted to join the acclaimed representatives of LGBT film at the Kashish festival in Mumbai

India’s premier LGBT film festival has invited the director of Cardiff’s Iris Prize festival to take part in judging this year’s films.

Berwyn Rowlands will sit on the five strong jury at Kashish – also known as the Mumbai Queer Film Festival. It will be held from 22 to 26 May.

April 25, 2013
Indian T-shirt brand apologies for gay rape joke

Gay rape joke goes viral in India, but Facebook says it does not violate the Community Standard on hate speech

Indian cult T-shirt brand Bewakoof has apologized for a joke about gay rape on their Facebook page.

After cricketer Chris Gayle set a world record in an Indian Premier League match in Pune earlier this week. Bewakoof posted a joke that said 'If a man rapes another man, he is called GAY. If a man rapes 11 other men he is called GAYLE.'

The joke got more than 15,000 shares and 18,000 likes before it was taken down.

April 20, 2013
Australian opposition party may change gay marriage vote policy

Opposition leader Tony Abbott says it will be up to a future parliament to revisit the issue of gay marriage and the party room will decide what its position is

Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott has left open the door for fellow MPs to make a conscience vote on same-sex marriage.

This came on the heels of his Liberal party’s New South Wales premier coming out in support of same-sex marriage and calling for free choice. The party’s youth wing has also been calling on Abbott to change.

April 19, 2013
Australian state premier says he supports gay marriage

Prominent Liberal politician comes out in support of legalizing same-sex marriage in Australia

The premier of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has come out in support of same-sex marriage.

'As a Liberal who believes that commitment and family units are one of the best ways in which society is organized, I support the concept of same-sex marriage,' said Barry O'Farrell to Fairfax Media, dismissing the argument that gay marriage would damage traditional marriage as 'utterly ridiculous'.

March 25, 2013
Ellen and Portia treated like royalty on Australian tour

Ellen show rolls into Melbourne after making a splash in Sydney

Popular American talkshow host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia are being treated like royalty on their Australia tour - with airline Qantas laying on personalized treatment and Victoria state premier Denis Napthine holding a black tie dinner in their honor tomorrow night.

The couple arrived in Melbourne today and were greeted by dedicated fans wearing Ellen t'shirts and displaying banners outside their hotel.

March 13, 2013
James Franco movie to premiere at Melbourne Queer Film Festival in place of banned film

A film about censorship of a 1980 movie set in New York's gay S&M scene will be shown instead of the Australian-Classification-Board-banned I Want Your Love

James Franco and director Travis Mathews have given their film Interior. Leather Bar to premier at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival in response to the ban of another Mathew's film.

I Want Your Love, which features six minutes of unsimulated gay sex, was banned by the Australian Classification Board, despite authorizing a film featuring sex between men and donkeys last year.

March 7, 2013
Gays, football lads, girls and late-night burger eating

A short LGBT film charting the mixed – and drunk – characters in a late-night burger bar is to get its first screening on TV

A short gay film set late at night in a burger bar is to get its world premier screening on BBC Two in Wales.

Burger is getting its release on the TV station before touring the festival circuit.

It stars a cast collected in the Welsh capital of Cardiff from the Royal College of Music and Drama, a supporting artists agency and the local gay scene.

Together the football lads, the straight group, the gay guys, the girls came together and filmed on location in a burger bar in the heart of the student area of Cardiff.

February 27, 2013
Australian Christian group campaigns against program to stop bullying of LGBT school kids

Family Voice Australia says sexual orientation is not a significant cause of bullying in school and the Proud Schools program is 'indoctrinating them [children] with lies about sexuality'

An Australian Christian lobby group is trying to stop an anti-homophobic bullying program in schools in New South Wales.

In letter to state Premier Barry O'Farrell seen by Gay Star News Family Voice Australia writes that the Proud Schools program, which started in pilot form two years ago and is soon to be rolled out across the state, is 'indoctrinating them [children] with lies about sexuality'.

February 7, 2013
PM, Premier and Lord Mayor all welcome Sydney Mardi Gras in 2013

Australia’s Prime Minister, the state Premier of New South Wales and the Lord Mayor of Sydney have all released statements of support for the 2013 Sydney Mardi Gras season

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, New South Wales (NSW) Premier Barry O’Farrell and the Lord Mayor of Sydney have all released statements of support for the Sydney Mardi Gras at the start of its 2013 festival season.

‘I warmly welcome everyone who has come to share in Sydney Mardi Gras 2013,’ reads Gillard’s statement in the 2013 festival guide.

January 27, 2013
Canada gets first lesbian premier

The Canadian province of Ontario has its first female premier following a vote on Friday – making her also the first openly gay or lesbian person to lead a Canadian provincial government

On Friday the Canadian province of Ontario appointed Kathleen Wynne to be its next premier – making her the province’s first female leader and the first openly gay or lesbian provincial leader in Canadian history.

Wynne, a Canadian Liberal Party MP, had previously served as the province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Aboriginal Affairs before resigning from cabinet to run for the party’s leadership.

December 21, 2012
Australian marriage equality advocates send Christmas message

Marriage equality advocates in Australia are encouraging people to talk about the importance of marriage equality when they spend time with their family these holidays

High profile Australian supporters of marriage equality have joined forces to encourage people to talk about the importance of letting gays and lesbians marry when they spend time with family this holiday season.

A new online video campaign by advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) features Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, Labor Senator Louise Pratt, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Australian Medical Association head Professor Kerryn Phelps, independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and NSW Greens Legislative Council member Cate Faehrmann.

November 20, 2012
Cross-party group gives hope for gay marriage in New South Wales

Australian state is moving ahead with marriage equality by working across party divisions

A cross-party group of MPs have given hope that same-sex marriage could come to one Australian state, New South Wales (NSW).

MPs from the Liberal-National right-wing coalition, the Labor party, the Greens and an independent (former Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich) are working together on a same-sex marriage bill.

November 13, 2012
English footballer says gay rumors killed his career

Former Manchester City midfielder, Ian Bishop, slams 'ridiculous' gay gossip which he claims ruined his football career

A former Premier League footballer claims his chances of playing for England were killed by rumors that he was gay.

Ian Bishop, midfielder for Manchester City from 1998 to 2001, blamed gossip that he was having an affair with former City and West Ham player Trevor Morley for not being picked to play for his country.

October 25, 2012
Football lovers fear racism row will stop action on gay hate

Gay campaign group worries media storm over Kick It Out drive will mean homophobia and transphobia neglected in British game

Campaigners fighting against racism in British football are being urged not to neglect homophobia and transphobia in their Kick It Out drive.

Campaign group Kick It Out started its annual anti-racism drive on 18 October, running until 29 October, with players traditionally wearing T-shirts as a show of support.

Several players made headlines this week, including Jason Roberts and brothers Rio and Anton Ferdinand, after refusing to wear the T-shirt until more is done to address racism in football.

October 1, 2012
Sydney Mardi Gras invites former homophobe to join the parade

State premier turned anti-depression advocate Jeff Kennett is invited to join LGBTI pride parade after he changes his views on gay marriage

A former state premier who has made homophobic statements in the past has been invited to join the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade following a change in his views.

Jeff Kennett, who served as Liberal Premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999, is now chairman of beyondblue, Australia’s national anti-depression initiative, who are sponsoring Sydney’s Mardi Gras in February 2013.

September 30, 2012
Australian state premier accused of failing election promise on marriage

The Premier of the Australian state of Victoria has been accused of failing to deliver on a 2010 election pledge to allow a free vote on same-sex marriage after a spokesman cast doubt on the issue

The Premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Ted Baillieu, has been accused of failing to deliver on an election commitment to allow a conscience vote on same-sex marriage after a spokesman told The Sunday Age newspaper that he had no plans to follow other states’ moves in that direction.

‘Clearly the [federal parliament] has undisputed authority to deal with this matter,’ the spokesman told The Sunday Age.

September 27, 2012
Global fitness trends: New York City

GSN visits New York City to experience some of the latest developments in the world of fitness

The Reebok Sports Club on New York City’s Upper West Side casts a long shadow in the fitness industry.

September 20, 2012
Gay marriage campaigner stands for election in Sydney

Alex Greenwich will stand as an independent candidate in the gay capital of Australia

Outgoing MP for Sydney Clover Moore has officially endorsed Australian Marriage Equality’s Alex Greenwich to stand for election to replace her.

‘The Parliament needs a strong independent voice to stand up for the issues and concerns that are important to the people of Sydney, and that is why I am endorsing Alex Greenwich,’ Moore said.

September 13, 2012
Gay German footballer fears for safety if he comes out

A top Bundesliga player has spoken anonymously about being in the closet, saying there is still 'little hope' for gay athletes to be open about their sexuality

A top German footballer has secretly come out as gay but refuses to go public because of fears for his safety.

Speaking anonymously to magazine Fluter, the Bundesliga player said: 'I would no longer be safe if my sexuality was to be made public.

'I don’t know whether I will be able to take the constant tension between the model heterosexual player and the possible discovery until the end of my career.'

September 8, 2012
Australian Christian Lobby refuses to hear alternative views

The Australian Christian Lobby has refused to have a speaker at its national conference who would have challenged the organization’s extreme claims about homosexuality, after the Australian Prime Minister cancelled her appearance

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has declined an offer by a former Liberal Party state premier to speak in place of the Australian Prime Minister at its national conference after the organization’s head claimed that homosexuality was more dangerous than smoking.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard pulled out after ACL managing director Jim Wallace repeated the claim a second time.

August 24, 2012
Be your favorite Sex and the City girl with show inspired perfume

Two new perfumes  launched to celebrate the cult tv show and the city that inspired it all

It’s been almost a decade since Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda sipped their last cocktail after the cult television series Sex and the City ended in 2004.

But two feature films later, with a prequal television series, The Carrie Diaries, to premier in 2013, our passion for those four women still runs deep.

However, if you are having withdrawal symptoms Givaudan have just the thing for you.

They have created two new summer perfumes and body sprays, Sunrise and Sunset, to capture the ultimate glamor and chic of Manhatten. 

August 21, 2012
‘Reverse boycott’ call for Australian state of Tasmania over same-sex marriage

There have been calls for a ‘reverse boycott’ of the Australian state of Tasmania, once considered the most homophobic, over its taking the lead in introducing marriage equality

The man who lead a 1994 campaign to boycott goods produced in the Australian state of Tasmania over its refusal to decriminalize homosexuality has called on people to ‘buy Tasmanian’ in the wake of state Premier Lara Giddings' announcement that the state will legalize same-sex marriage.

August 11, 2012
Australian states revolt on marriage equality

The state South Australia looks set to become the second Australian state to legalize same-sex marriage while the territory that houses the Australian capital will restore official ceremonies to its civil unions scheme

A second Australian state government has announced it will move to legalize same-sex marriage at a state level on a day that thousands of protestors marched in cities all over the country calling on federal parliamentarians to deliver on reform.

At a rally in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, state Labor Party leader and premier Jay Weatherill declared his government would support a Greens party bill legalizing same-sex marriages at a state level.

‘I support the principle of marriage equality,’ Weatherill told a cheering crowd of protesters.

August 7, 2012
Tasmanian opposition leader stands against gay marriage

Liberal leader of the opposition in Tasmania will not allow his MPs a conscience vote on gay marriage

The leader of the opposition in the Australian state of Tasmania has announced that he will not allow his MPs a free conscience vote on gay marriage.

The announcement from Liberal leader Will Hodgman means the ruling Labor Party lead by Premier Lara Giddings will need all ten Labor MPs and the five Green MPs to pass gay marriage legislation.

August 7, 2012
Website launched to campaign for gay marriage in Tasmania

Campaign group present legal and economic argument for bringing marriage equality to the Australian state of Tasmania

Campaign group Australian Marriage Equality have launched a website specifically for the state of Tasmania to support efforts to legalize gay marriage there.

On Saturday (4 August) state Premier Lara Giddings said at that she is pushing for Tasmania to become the first state in Australia to allow people of the same gender to marry.