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

“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?

The Green Party LGBTIQ group has been busy re-designing their website. With the help of Dave Walsh who  has put a lot of work into the site, the new site will bring all the Greens LGBTIQ groups together on one website. It also incorporates all current MEP's. The site is aimed at those people who may wish to follow what their MEP's are doing in the way of LGBTIQ rights.

The Group's Media officer Ryan Cleminson said this of the new website, " The website is a great addition to the work of many people not just locally but regionally and at a National level as well. In todays age of technology I feel our website will help us engage and spread our message easily to the community locally regionally and nationally."

Visitors to the website will also be able to sign up to receive the latest news from the LGBTIQ Greens wherever they live in the country.

Read more: New Website for Gay Greens Launched

The President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Libyan Ali Abdussalam Treki, opened the Assembly session stating homosexuality was not acceptable for most of the world.

During the course of the assembly some journalists asked him about his position regarding the "Declaration for the Universal Decriminalisation of Homosexuality" which was made official on December 19,  2008.  He stated, “It is a very thorny argument. As a Muslim, I do not agree with it. I believe it is not acceptable for most of the world, and it is totally unacceptable for our tradition and religion”.

The Everyone Group believe this is “a serious statement that legitimzes the death penalty. The Secuity Council must immediately remove Ali Abdussalam Treki from the Presidency. In fact, with such a declaration, the president of the General Assembly has legitimised the violence, the imprisonment and the death penalty for thousands of homosexual people all over the world."

Read more: Homosexuality NOT Acceptable for Most of World - UN

A survey conducted by PRS for Music has revealed the UK’s vote for party conference songs.

Last year the Gordon Brown walked on stage with Jackie Wilson’s Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher. However, in the survey of over 1,000 people, Elton John’s 'Sorry seems to be the hardest word' was voted as most popular suggestion for the entrance of the Prime Minister this year.

Labour Party – most voted songs:

Sorry seems to be the hardest word – Elton John
Tragedy – Steps
So Sad – George Harrison
Die Another Day – Madonna

Conservative Party – most voted songs:  

Money, Money, Money – ABBA
I could be so good for you – Dennis Waterman
We are the champions – Queen
The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades – Timbuk3