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Your News

Most teenage girls believe gay couples make good parents, according to a new Girlguiding UK study.

Girlguiding UK are an all-girl association that offers girls and young women the best opportunities for personal and social development. They encompass the Rainbows, Brownies and Girl Guides.

The study shows mainly liberal attitudes towards the family, religion and cultural integration among teen girls and young women. The survey questioned a representative sample of 1,109 girls, aged seven to 21 across the UK. It found that a third of girls in the younger age group thought they would be "grown up" by the age of 15, while 90 per cent of 16 to 21-year-olds regarded themselves as "grown up".

Cheryl Cole, a judge on the ITV show the X Factor, was the most popular role model for 7 to 16 year olds. Michelle Obama, the wife of the American president, achieved the most votes among older girls.

Read more: Gay Parents Make Good Parents Teens Believe

Your News

The Daily Mail has pulled advertising running on its website accompanying an article by Jan Moir, which has caused a furore over her homophobic statements relating to Boyzone singer Stephen Gately's death.

One particular line in the hate filled article, which describes Gately's death as"sleazy", has angered many readers and the wider public. Moir wrote, "Another real sadness about Gately's death is that it strikes another blow to the happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships."

In angry response, a Facebook group has been set up asking for the retracting of the piece, as of 9pm Friday night it has just under 6,000 members. The group includes a list of companies whose advertising appeared on the Daily Mail website next to the vile column has been posted. These include BT, M&S, Kodak and Enjoy England. Find out more online: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=151083562155

"Why there was nothing 'human' about Jan Moir's column on the death of Stephen Gately", Charlie Brooker of the Guardian writes. A story on the BBC website about the furore is currently their most read article.

Over 1,000 complaints have been made about the piece, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) says. The PCC said the number of complaints received about the piece by Jan Moir was "approaching a record". Why not lodge a complaint about Moir's article on the basis that it breaches sections 1, 5 and 12 of the PCC code of practice.

Ultimately we are not surprised when the Daily Mail comes out with homophobic crap like this, it's what we expect from their journalists. But was there any need for such a hate filled piece that served no purpose but to upset the family, friends and fans of Stephen Gately?

Politics

David Wilshire MP has referred himself to parliament's sleaze watchdog after reports that he had used expenses to pay over £100,000 to a firm he owned.

In 1987 Wilshire designed Section 28 after seeing  a childeren’s book about a gay couple. The amendment he introduced to the local government act made it illegal to “promote in any maintained school the acceptability of homosexuality”. He claims it was only to save tax payers money. 

In a statement the MP for Spelthorne in Surrey said he was confident he would be cleared of any wrongdoing by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, but said he was quitting for the sake of his party.

He has made a statement, "The allegations made in today's Telegraph are deeply hurtful and unjustified. However, my constituents rightly want reassurance and the truth, these allegations also run the risk of harming my local party and our national party's chances of winning at the next General Election."

Read more: Section 28 MP may have to repay £100,000 expense claim

Politics

The Parliamentary recess ended for the Government of Gibraltar today and they set out the legislation for the new parliamentary term. In total, 13 pieces of legislation will be considered however the Same Sex Equalisation bill isn't on the legislative program.

Male homosexuality has only been legal since 1993 in Gibraltar with the age of consent at 18. In contrast the age of consent for lesbians and heterosexuals is 16.

Spokesperson for the South West Green Party on LGBT Issues Ryan Cleminson has commented, "I am disappointed that the bill tabled by Daniel Feetham hasn't been listed as a pending matter on the new legislative timetable, It's an important bill and for it not to be on the timetable of the new parliament is a grave misjudgment. It just shows how important LGBT equalities are to the Government of Gibraltar".

Read more: Gibraltar Lagging Behind in Gay Rights

Politics

Ben Summerskill, head of the gay rights group Stonewall, has pulled out of a fringe event at the Conservative party conference. 

He had been lined up as the main speaker at an event in Manchester's gay village, but Channel 4 News has reported that he will not be attending. 

"There is no doubt the progress that has been made in the last couple of years has genuinely been historic. It would churlish of anyone not to welcome the apology a couple of months ago over Section 28," said Summerskill.

"But the event tonight has been overshadowed by the presence, not just at conference but on the same platform as some senior members of the party, of people of such extreme and offensive views. And certainly there are people I've spoken to at the conference today, not just gay people but Jewish delegates as well, who share that viewpoint."

Read more: Stonewall Withdraw Support from Conservative Event

Your News

The UK’s first ever atheist charity book, 'The Atheist’s Guide To Christmas' is being launched. It features original contributions from 42 atheist stars including Richard Dawkins, Derren Brown, Simon Le Bon, David Baddiel, Charlie Brooker, Ed Byrne, AC Grayling, Josie Long and Ben Goldacre.

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has been chosen to benefit from the book. All royalties from sales of the book will be donated to THT. The book is published by The Friday Project and edited by comedy writer Ariane Sherine, the creator of this year’s hugely successful Atheist Bus Campaign.

Ariane Sherine, editor of The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas, said: “I’m very excited that this project is supported by so many brilliant writers. I hope we can raise as much for THT as atheists raised for the Atheist Bus Campaign. Given some of the comments the Pope made earlier this year about condoms and AIDS, we thought it was appropriate.”

Debbie Holmes, Head of Fundraising at THT, said: “We’re delighted THT has been chosen to benefit from this book. It’s a great stocking filler, and I don’t know about anybody else but I hope I find one sitting under the tree this Christmas.”

The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas is available from all good bookshops, and online here.

Politics

“David Cameron is all talk and no action on gay rights", says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of LGBT group OutRage!

"I challenge him to back up his gay-friendly words with concrete policies to end the remaining vestiges of homophobic discrimination. So far, he has not promised a single new policy for gay equality,” 

Mr Tatchell was speaking on the opening day of the Tory party annual conference, which is taking place in Manchester.

“The Conservatives will never be taken seriously as defenders of gay human rights unless they promise concrete policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. We don’t know what a Tory government would do because David Cameron offers only vague generalities, not policy specifics,” added Mr Tatchell.

“Mr Cameron has a poor voting record on gay issues. Only last year voted to deny lesbian couples equal access to IVF fertility treatment. In 2003, he voted to retain Section 28.

Read more: David Cameron - all talk and no action?

Health

Throughout October, Terrence Higgins Trust is holding sexual health workshops for gay or bisexual men who are university students in London. The workshops, called ‘What they didn’t tell you at school,’ aim to fill any gaps in knowledge that young gay men might have when it comes to sex and relationships.

Sex education in schools and colleges is often not consistent and few courses cover ‘gay sex’ in any detail. The two hour long group sessions, funded by the Pan London HIV Prevention Partnership, address the issues in a fun and engaging way.  Workshops will be delivered at King’s College London, Royal Holloway, City University, University of Westminster, SOAS, London Metropolitan, Brunel, University of East London and Heythrop College (University of London).

Ed, a participant from the Kings College London workshop said "Frank, clear and with no holds barred, this workshop was spot on. It talked about the big issues without taking itself too seriously. I'd recommend it to any gay or bi-sexual man, regardless of how little or much he already knows."

Read more: Gay Sex Workshops at London Universities