Lesbian senator calls for same-sex marriage in Australia (Pink News)
Virginia Campaign Cancels RNC Guidebook Order (NBC4 Washington, D.C.)
Deputy First Minister to address Pride rally (Scotland Today)
GLBT youths bravely pave way for change (The Olympian)
Cardinal’s body exhumed to ‘bury gay past’ (The Australian)
Court’s gay ruling upsets Christian bodies (Mail and Guardian)
Gay-pride parade suit set for trial (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Wood rumoured as Rivkin’s lover: court (The Australian)
Men jailed for ‘gay marriage’ (News 24 South Africa)
Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! (DVD Talk)
New Orleans gay party threatened by tropical storm (Pink News)
California prisons prepare for gay weddings (USA Today)
Voters oppose ban on gay marriage (The Washington Times)
Transgender Iranian refugee charged with murder in shooting (The Times-News)
Concourt holds sex decision (Daily Dispatch)
Bail granted over ‘lesbian murder’ (Adelaide Now)
Gay festival during Ramadan angers Bosnia Muslims (The Star)
Second hottest girl in NYC a transsexual? (Salon.com)
Belgian jailed for gay marriage (Adelaide Now)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Lesbian Activist Martin Dies at 87 (Big Gay News)
Poll: Ban on Gay Marriage Struggling (Big Gay News)
Gay Mayor of Paris bids for Socialist party leadership (Pink News)
Church to apologise to homosexual music teacher (SABC News)
Transgender petition signatures verified (The Gainesville Sun)
Gays have no legal rights: ministry (Hindustan Times)
Man sues Bible publisher for discriminating against gays (Canton Observer)
Young transsexuals should be allowed to put puberty on hold (Guardian Unlimited)
Here! Films acquires “Queen Raquela” (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Businesses To Gays: Hate The Player, Not The Game [Public Relations] (Gawker)
Give gays a break, says Ramadoss (Hindustan Times)
94% of top US companies protect gay employees in the workplace (Pink News)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 (UPI)

A proposed ban on gay marriage in California is struggling to find support, poll results indicate.

The Los Angeles Times said the Public Policy Institute of California poll results released Wednesday indicated that 40 percent of poll respondents supported Proposition 8, which would outlaw the recently legalized practice of gay marriage statewide. The proposition is on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The Aug. 12-19 poll, which had a margin of error of 3 percentage points, found that of the 1,047 state residents questioned, 54 percent opposed the proposed ban.

Yet when directly asked whether they support or oppose gay marriage, respondents were even with 47 percent choosing each response, the Times said.

The Times said the poll’s results indicated support for the proposition may be slipping in California as a July poll found that 42 percent of respondents supported the measure and 51 percent opposed it.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27 (UPI) — Lesbian rights activist Del Martin, whose health had been failing for some time, died Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 87.

This summer, Martin was wheelchair-bound when she married her partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, in one of California’s first same-sex wedding.

“Her last act of activism was her most personal — marrying the love of her life,” Kate Kendell, a friend and executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Martin, who co-founded the lesbian rights organization Daughters of Bilitis in 1955, died at UCSF Hospice, nearly two weeks after being admitted with a broken arm.

“Ever since I met Del 55 years ago, I could never imagine a day would come when she wouldn’t be by my side,” Lyon said in a statement issued by the center. “I am so lucky to have known her, loved her and been her partner in all things.”

Martin, whose given name was Dorothy but who went by Del, is survived by a daughter, Kendra Mon, from a brief first marriage when she was 19, and two grandchildren.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PFLAG re-establishes gay support group (Newport News-Times)
16th St. Mall Fills With ‘Guerrilla Street Theater (CBS4 Denver)
Laws Aim to Protect Domestic Violence Victims (Fairfield Citizen-News)
Ore. Tribe Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (ABC News)
Upcoming Gay Events (The Advocate)
New rape law to acknowledge Korea’s male and trans victims (Pink News)
New lesbian cruise company to set sail in 2009 (USA Today)
‘Project Runway’ needs a fresh design (MSNBC)
Fired transsexual city manager finalizes divorce (Miami Herald)
Actor-producer Allen Dizon takes a break from gay-themed roles (PEP)
TV network denies censoring gay Olympic gold medallist (Pink News)
GAY-PARENT MECCA (New York Post)
Community College defends controversial poster (The Plain Dealer)
Ballot question on gay marriage in Massachusetts (Republican-American)
Tamil actor to highlight transgender problems in ‘Ardhanari’ (Calcutta News)
Re: Fast food and gay marriage (The Union)
Voters to be told gay vows already banned (Arizona Daily Star)
Gay pairs like boros, raising kids in Bronx (New York Daily News)
Religious Americans Speak Up for Gay and Transgender Neighbors (PRWeb)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

Bisexual Editor’s Gay Marriage Slam [The Gays] (Gawker)
Exhibition reveals official fears over gay characters in the theatre (Pink News)
NBC censored gay Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham (Pink News)
Ark. to vote on barring gay foster parents (Baltimore Sun)
New HIV infections up 45% in Philippines: official (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Woman forced from fed building for lesbian shirt (KGET 17 Bakersfield)
1913 gay wedding referendum OK’d (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

Churches Vow to Fight Gay Marriage (Big Gay News)
Referendum on 1913 marriage law passes first test (Boston Globe)
Secretary hails ‘most inclusive convention’ (Rocky Mountain News via Yahoo! News)
35,000 parade for gay pride in Ottawa (CBC Ottawa)
Obama Looses Support Of Gay Media Leader (KTAL Shreveport)
Gays make their voices heard (Rocky Mountain News)
Ex accused of killing lesbian lover (Daily Telegraph)
Karan to star as a transgender person (IndiaGlitz)
Convention is Democrats’ most diverse (USA Today)
Gay-marriage opponents campaign for California ban (Houston Chronicle)
Sydney plans homophobia-free zones (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
National Gay/Lesbian group hails Biden choice (York County Coast Star)
Gay hero Matthew Mitcham wins Olympic 10m diving gold medal (Pink News)
Trapped in a male body: Maxine about her life as a transsexual (Malta Star)
Hallmark, gay marriage a match made in heaven? (The Morning Call)
Public stance holds sway in gay-marriage debate (Daily Nebraskan)
Gay-marriage opponents campaign for California ban (Houston Chronicle)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24 (UPI)

An effort is taking place to coordinate California churches’ opposition to same-sex marriage, organizers say.

Campaign organizers are aiming to get 1 million Catholics, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, evangelical Christians, Sikhs and Hindus to post lawn signs supporting a state ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Proposition 8 is aimed at countering a state Supreme Court decision this year that struck down a ban on gay marriage.

“This is a rising up over a 5,000-year-old institution that is being hammered right now,” said Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Church, an evangelical congregation in La Mesa, Calif.

Susan Russell, a priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Calif., said not all faith leaders should not foist their views on all Californians.

“But I’ll resist to my last breath, vote, e-mail and blog their right to inflict their religious beliefs on the Constitution of the state of California.”

Political analysts say the interdenominational effort could change the way political coalitions are built in the Golden State.

“Pan-religious, faith-based political action strategies … I think we are going to see a lot more of (this) in the future,” said Gaston Espinosa, a professor of religious studies at Claremont McKenna College.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

LGBT Delegates Prepare for Conventions (Big Gay News)
Ellen, Portia Ponder Having Kids (Big Gay News)
Group claims gay greeting cards are detrimental to children (Pink News)
Denver: Gay Dems meeting early to talk strategy (Vail Daily)
Minister on Trial Again for Marrying Lesbian Couple (The Advocate)
Military Veterans Who Transition Victimized by Discrimination (The Advocate)
LCCC atheists put up ‘gay Jesus’ poster (The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram)
Gay footballers gear up for the world championships (Pink News)
Oregon tribe to allow same-sex marriages (AP via Yahoo! News)
America’s Next Transgender Top Model? (ABC News)
McCain: It Was the Gays Who Tortured Me (Gay City News)
Double gay suicide in Cornwall shocks local residents (Pink News)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21 (UPI)

With the ceremony behind them, U.S. same-sex newlyweds Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi say they’re considering having children.

“We go back and forth” on having children, de Rossi, 35, told Poeple Magazine. “I don’t know if it’s our immediate future. It’s something we talk about every few months.”

U.S. television talk show host DeGeneres, 50, and former “Ally McBeal” actress de Rossi tied the knot in a secret, low-key Los Angeles ceremony last weekend in what some observers say is the highest-profile same-sex marriage so far in the United States. But now the couple are looking to the future, the magazine reported.

“(Having children is) something we would never take lightly and just say, ‘That would be fun,’” DeGeneres said. “It’s a lot of work and we recognize that. In a way, we want to be selfish because we love our life, but we know how much that adds to it.”

Ellen told People, “If they would be as pretty as Brad and Angelina’s kids, we might.”

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

DENVER, Aug. 21 (UPI)

Denver’s political convergence is under way with a conference of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender delegates before the Democratic National Convention.

The Stonewall Democrats, nearly 360 in total, have set up a four-day series of sessions to plan ways to promote an anti-bias agenda within the larger convention and in fall elections, The Denver Post reported Thursday.

“I think a lot of delegates, especially LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) delegates, are looking at how they can use the convention effectively,” said John Marble, spokesman for the Stonewall Democrats. “If we do this right, we can really use this as an organizing convention.”

The group expects to particularly work to defeat anti-gay-rights legislation in three states, Florida, California and Arizona, along with pushing to ensure “strong language” opposing LGBT discrimination be included in the Democratic Party national platform.

Jimmy LaSalvia, a spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans, told UPI about 100 Log Cabin members and openly gay delegates, alternates and convention guests are expected to attend the Republican convention, but since Republicans do not track demographic groups in their delegate counting, there is no way to know for sure how many delegates are gay.

“We view the Republican National Convention as an opportunity to engage in conversations with our fellow Republican leaders,” LaSalvia said. “It’s by making our case and winning folks over to our side, our community will achieve full equality.”

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Leo Abse, Longtime Labor MP, Dead (Big Gay News)
‘Project Runway’: Good queen fun (Los Angeles Times)
Gay rights supporter Stephanie Tubbs Jones dies (Pink News)
Hallmark’s new market: Gay wedding cards (Chicago Tribune)
Military Pride: Personal Stories (RainbowNetwork.com)
Malawi Gay Rights Movement to promote female condoms (Pink News)
Transgender Bragg veteran takes job loss to court (The Fayetteville Observer)
Media Gays Invade! (Metro Weekly)
Gays arrive to push anti-bias agenda (Denver Post)
Church spat down to the wire in gay battle (Independent Online)
Trans Woman Fights in Court for Federal Job (The Advocate)
Drag Diva Coco Peru: the boy behind the girl (Provincetown Banner)
Presbyterian pastor due back in church court over gay wedding (USA Today)
Credit Suisse to offer gay banking service in UK (Pink News)
Fla. town backs ex-principal in gay student case (AP via Yahoo! News)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

LONDON, Aug. 21 (UPI) — Leo Abse, a longtime member of the British Parliament known for advocating gay rights and divorce reform, has died.

A friend reported that Abse, who was 91, died at Charing Cross Hospital in London late Tuesday, The Times of London reported.

Abse, first elected in 1958, represented Pontypool in Wales for almost 30 years.

As a legislator, Abse sponsored more Private Members Bills than any one else. The most notable was the Sexual Offenses Bill, which in 1967 decriminalized homosexual conduct between men over the age of 21.

Two years later, Abse succeeded in getting the Divorce Reform Act passed.

“He was a very distinguished parliamentarian and social reformer who has left an indelible mark on his country,” said Paul Murphy, the Welsh Secretary.

The Times said that after he left Parliament, Abse wrote a number of books, including a “psycho-biography” of Margaret Thatcher and one that looked at “an analysis of the repressed homosexual components of the relationship between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.”

Abse’s first marriage lasted more than 40 years, ending with his wife’s death. In 2000, he married Ania Zepulkowska, a Polish electrician almost half a century his junior, The Times said.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Book Rejects Metrosexual for ‘Retrosexual’ (Big Gay News)
Police fly gay flag at festival (BBC News)
Teens charged with murder of supposed gay gang member (Pink News)
Rachel Maddow first lesbian to host major TV news program (Metro Weekly)
Lawsuit alleging money for gay sex settled out of court (NWAnews.com)
Improve Treatment for Gender-Variant Individuals (Psych Central)
Gay rights champion Leo Abse dies aged 91 (Times Online)
Lithuanian mayors claim EU trucks are “propaganda of homosexuality” (Pink News)
Lambda Alliance caters to gay, straight students (The Red and Black)
Names of IVF lesbian couple suppressed (AAP via Yahoo!7 News)
Block club fails to support ‘gay-friendly’ lounge at old Moda site (The Plain Dealer)
Evangelicals march on Washington (USA Today)
Argentina gay couples get to inherit pensions (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Catherine Roberts: Military Pride (RainbowNetwork.com)

Get even MORE breaking news from any of our live, constantly updated news feeds, now available in 12 languages:

English | Español | Français | Deutsch | Nederlands | Italiano | Português | русский | 中國話 | 한국어 | Ελληνική | Český

LONDON, Aug. 19 (UPI)

A British author has written a book that posits the opposite of the so-called metrosexual man is a “retrosexual.”

Dave Besley’s new book, “The Retrosexual Manual: How To Be a Real Man,” urges readers to reject such metrosexual concepts as carrying purse-like bags, being flattered by attention from gay men and referring to men’s toiletries as “products,” The Sun reported Tuesday.

Besley wrote the retrosexual man instead engages in behaviors including rejecting foreplay in favor of having the woman send a text when she’s ready for intercourse and avoiding public crying at all costs.

The book says retrosexuals are not allowed to know the definitions of words such as manicure, pedicure, facial and exfoliation. They also must only give women compliments in such a way that denotes a lack of understanding — for example, Besley suggests men tell their women, “That’s a nice badge, brooch-type thing you’re wearing.”

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.