Madonna speaks out over Malawi jailing of gay couple

Malawi’s most high profile benefactor, Madonna, has spoken out about the sentencing of a gay couple there, calling it ‘shocking’.

The case of Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonga Chimbalanga, 20, has been followed closely by the world’s media since they were detained last December for holding a ‘marriage’ ceremony.

Gay sex and gay marriage is still illegal in Malawi and many other African countries.

Last Thursday Monjeza and Chimbalanga were convicted of ‘unnatural acts and gross indecency’ and both handed 14 year jail terms including hard labour.

Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa told the couple he was issuing a “scaring sentence” so that the public would be “protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example”

The ruling is garnering world-wide condemnation, with human rights groups denouncing the sentencing as unjust, calling for Monjeza’s and Chimbalanga’s immediate release.

Madonna, who has two adopted children from Malawi spoke out after the sentencing: “I am shocked and saddened by the decision made this week by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison

“As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation”

In a statement posted on the singer’s Raising Malawi website she calls for “the progressive men and women of Malawi – and around the world – to challenge this decision in the name of human dignity and equal rights for all.”

U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon said the sentences “violated human rights principles that ban both discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as well as the criminalization of sexual acts between consenting adults”

Ban announced that he would be travelling to Malawi this weekend to meet and discuss several issues with Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika, including the Monjeza/Chimbalanga case.

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Danielle Radcliffe films support for Gay teen suicide charity

Actor Danielle Radcliffe has recorded a public service announcement in support of a gay teen suicide charity.

The Harry Potter star recorded the PSA for The Trevor Project – a 24-hour helpline for US gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth who are at risk of self-harm.

The 30-second clip features Radcliffe explaining what the charity is about and ends with the star encouraging LGBT youth: “Be proud of who you are”.

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization that provides an around-the-clock suicide prevention line for teenagers who are gay, lesbian or questioning their sexuality or gender.

Executive director and chief executive of the Trevor Project, Charles Robinson said: “LGBTQ youth suicide is a preventable epidemic, and at the Trevor Project, we know that community education is the key to combating these devastating statistics.

“Because this PSA features Daniel Radcliffe, it has the incredible power to educate communities and spread the word to youth that help is always available and that is okay to reach out for support.”

Radcliffe said: “I believe that The Trevor Project has a universal mission of acceptance that is so profound.

“If this brief PSA makes even one lost and alone young person aware of the Trevor Helpline and the lifesaving support it offers, then it will have been an endeavor well worth making.”

In an interview with Associated Press Radciffe said he feels it’s incredibly important that straight people show they care and are interested in the welfare of gay and lesbian youth.

Growing up with parents in the acting profession the 21 year-old says he was always surrounded by gay men: “It was never even something I thought twice about, that some men were gay and some weren’t”

The young star has become one of the world’s most recognized actors.

Radcliffe made his acting debut at the age of 10 as the young David Copperfield in a BBC adaption of Charles Dickens’ classic novel.

In 2001 he made his film debut opposite Pierce Brosnan in The Tailor of Panama. Later that same year he appeared for the first time as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone.

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Pope brands Gay marriage ‘Insidious and Dangerous’

Pope Benedict XVI has sited gay marriage, along with abortion as “dangerous threats to the common good”.

During a mass attended by more than 500,000 in Fatima, Portugal this week the Pontiff called for initiatives to address abortion and same-sex unions.

The New York Times reports that in a speech to Catholic social service groups Benedict suggested protections should be made for “the family based on the indissoluble marriage between a man and a woman, help to respond to some of today’s most insidious and dangerous threats to the common good”

It is believed that Benedict was referring directly to Portugal’s same-sex marriage bill - which was approved by parliament earlier this year.

The bill, expected to become law within days, has already been criticized by the Pope as an “attack” on the natural differences between men and women.

Gay rights campaigners have condemned the latest comments made by Benedict during his four-day visit to Portugal, branding him an “arch-homophope”.

Activist Peter Tatchell told PinkNews.co.uk “It is utter madness for the Pope to equate same-sex marriage with terrorism, war, poverty and climate destruction.

"He is not only losing his sense of moral priority but also his capacity for rational though."

In an interview with The Telegraph Derek Munn, director of public affairs for LGBT lobbying group Stonewall, responded: “Some might say that it’s dangerous and insidious for the Pope to spend so much time publicly belittling gay, lesbian and bisexual people,”

In 2008 Benedict suggested that the existence of gay people is as threatening to humanity as the destruction of the rainforests is.

He has also criticized gay rights measures within Britain’s Equality Act – included to ensure the church does not discriminate when hiring gays and lesbians - as being against “natural law”.

In a news release George Broadhead, secretary of gay humanist charity Pink Triangle Trust said: "These repeated attacks on gay rights, and in particular the right to marriage, amount to a paranoid obsession about what the Pope clearly perceives as an intrinsic moral evil.

"Given that the stance of all three main UK political parties is supportive of gay rights, are their leaders going to have the guts to condemn this overt hostility and will the new coalition government think twice about welcoming this ghastly bigot to the UK next [sic] September?"

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Related links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/world/europe/14pope.html
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/14/campaigners-anger-at-popes-latest-homophobic-comments/

High profile Anti-Gay campaigner holidays with male prostitute

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India Gay Film Festival heralds change

Being gay and living in India is not only a challenge for its residents, advances in gay rights around the world have little impact on the slow social changes afforded to India’s gay community.

It was less than a year ago that Delhi’s high court finally redressed Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code - effectively decrimanalising gay sex between consenting adults.

Although still suffering widespread discrimination, the ruling undoubtedly brings hope and heralds a new chapter for India’s LGBT population and its activists’ campaign for social equality.

It has invigorated gay pride; inspiring a re-launch of India’s first gay magazine – Bombay Dost – and now the Kashish Mumbai Queer Film Festival – a screening of more than one hundred gay films from around the world in two of the city’s mainstream cinemas.

The four day ‘Queer media’ event sold out within hours and has been hailed by activists as a milestone in gay visibility.

Bringing together the audience, the films and their makers organisers say a key aim of the new annual event is to create social change.

In an interview with radioaustralia.net Indian playwright Mahesh Dattani said the festival was monumental for the gay community.

“I think this a hugely important event; we've never had a queer film festival. I think there's so many myths and misnomers about queerness, about sexuality in general and I think this gives the audience an opportunity to try and understand and to actually see for themselves what queer love is and what queerness is about.

“We're such a traditional society of celebrators, we celebrate life, we celebrate sexuality, for goodness sake, I mean we wrote the Kama Sutra you know and I feel it's time we reclaimed our culture to somehow revisit our openness that somehow we've lost over the ages.”

As well as screening international shorts and features the festival also showcased many recent and undiscovered Indian films.

A panel judged competitive section awarded ‘Lost and Found’ Best Indian Short with ‘XXWhy’ - a film about Kerala’s first out female-to-male transgender winning Best Documentary.

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Related link:http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201004/s2882702.htm

Glee awarded for positive portrayal of gay Characters

Camp musical TV comedy Glee has won a gay award for its positive depiction of gay characters.

The 21st Glaad (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) media awards has honoured the show by naming it Outstanding Comedy Series 2010.

The comedy-drama, still airing its first season, has taken the entertainment industry by storm and has already won a Peabody gong and Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy with best actress, actor and supporting actress nominations.

Upon accepting the award, creator Ryan Murphy said that star gay character Kurt, played by actor Chris Colfer, would never be portrayed as “a victim” on the show. He also revealed that Kurt would have a boyfriend in the next series and the two would be celebrated as “prom kings”.

The GLAAD organisation’s annual awards ceremony recognizes and honours media that features fair, accurate and inclusive representations of LGBT people.

The critically acclaimed ‘A Single Man’ won Outstanding Film – Wide Release and RuPaul’s Drag Race scored Outstanding Reality Program.

Actress Drew Barrymore was presented with an award for her contribution in raising awareness and understanding of the gay community.

“The thing that means the most to me about an evening like this or why I want to fight and be outspoken about (gay rights) is there are so many people who are in desperate need of families,” she said. “That is the most important thing in the world: that we take care of each other because this is a family.”

Out gay pop star Adam Lambert performed two songs at the event. Upon being asked about Ricky Martin’s recent coming out he told Access Hollywood: “It’s great to see people like Ricky feeling liberated to come out and come forward, and hopefully it will open the door wide open for more and more people to be comfortable with who they are. “

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Related link http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/stars-rally-around-ricky-martin-at-glaad-media-awards_article_31315

Obama orders hospitals to grant gay couples visitation rights

Gay rights activists have applauded President Obama’s signing of a memorandum this week that affords gays and lesbians’ partners medical power of attorney.

The memorandum instructs the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement new policy that will prohibit discriminative hospital visitation rights.

In the past hospitals could bar visitors to a seriously ill patient if they were not related by blood or marriage.

The new directive affords patients the right to designate visitors and, crucially, that those rights are respected. Tragically it comes too late for long-term partners of gay patients who in the past were denied access to dying loved ones.

Although gay activists have campaigned for years to end the discrimination it is thought the recent high profile case of same-sex partners Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond, 39, inspired the new ruling.

Langbehn and Pond had been partnered for seventeen years when Pond collapsed whilst they were on holiday with their adopted children in Miami, Florida.

Despite being shown power of attorney documents hospital officials took eight hours to decide if they would permit Langbehn to visit her critically ill partner, by which time Pond had entered into a coma.

She was eventually granted permission to see Pond for five minutes as a priest performed the last rights.

The tragic case received high profile media attention highlighting the vulnerability of same-sex couples in times of crisis.

This week The President phoned Langbehn personally offering an apology and thanking her for her courage moments after issuing the memorandum.

In a statement issued on her family blog Langbehn praised and thanked The President for recognizing her case and issuing the new directive.

The memorandum also benefits patients without partners or children and members of some religious orders who wish to designate someone other than a family member to make medical decisions.

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David Cameron invited to Gay party

Conservatives leader David Cameron has been invited to attend a gay street party - to be held outside the party’s headquarters this Sunday.

Campaigners say ‘The Big Gay Flashmob’ event is being held to invite the Tory leader to clarify his party’s gay policies.

Organiser Peter Tatchell told gay media site Pink News: "Right now, the Tories don't have any official lesbian and gay rights policies.

"The Conservative Party annual conference has never voted for gay equality and there are no gay rights policies in any Tory policy document. The Conservatives are offering the gay community no new measures to remedy the remaining vestiges of homophobia."

The Tory party has been accused of sending “mixed messages” on gay rights. Cameron recently appeared on the cover of gay magazine Attitude where he pledged a commitment to full equality for gays and lesbians. Yet last week shadow home secretary Chris Grayling inferred that hotels should have the right to bar gay guests.

The party has also come under fire for its European affiliation with the Polish Law and Justice party who strongly oppose gay marriage and gay equality.

"David Cameron talks about gay rights but he hasn't got any specific gay rights policies. He isn't saying what he would do for gay people if he became prime minister. We want to know.” Lesbian activist and co-organiser of Sunday’s event, Tamsin Omond told Pink News.

"Sunday's street party will be a lot of fun. We hope David will join us. This is his big opportunity to end the confusion and outline his policies to ensure gay equality. We want him to join us – and to bring Chris Grayling too."

A Facebook page advertising Sunday’s party has so far attracted over 1200 revelers confirming their attendance.

Tatchell and Osmond have delivered a ‘pink and fluffy’ invite to the Tory headquarters.

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Related Link: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/04/08/campaigners-to-tell-cameron-to-come-out-for-gay-rights/

Ricky Martin: I’m Gay and blessed

Latino pop star Ricky Martin has announced via his website that he is a “fortunate homosexual man”.

Years of speculation over the singer’s sexuality have been laid to rest after Martin posted a lengthy blog in which he states: “A few months ago I decided to write my memoirs, a project I knew was going to bring me closer to an amazing turning point in my life.

“From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside.”

He goes on to explain how loved ones and associates advised him against coming out: ‘Many people told me: “Ricky it’s not important”, “it’s not worth it”, “all the years you’ve worked and everything you’ve built will collapse”, “many people in the world are not ready to accept your truth, your reality, your nature”.’

The Puerto Rican born singer eventually announces he’s gay in the final line saying: ‘I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am blessed to be who I am’

Martin’s sexuality wasn’t exactly showbiz’s best kept secret - photos of the 38 year old sharing beach space with his male partner have been clogging up gay blogs for months. In 2008 he fathered twin boys born to a surrogate mother.

The Livin La Vida Loca singer says it was his two boys who inspired him to be open: "This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day.

“To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change.”

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation President Jarrett Barrios said Martin's coming out is monumental.

"When someone like Ricky Martin comes out, hundreds of millions of people now have a cultural connection with an artist, a celebrity and, perhaps most importantly, a father who happens to be gay," Barrios said. "His decision to model this kind of openness and honesty can lead to greater acceptance for countless gay people in U.S., in Latin America and worldwide."

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Gay victory for prom girl McMillen

A federal judge has ruled that a student’s rights were violated when her school refused her and her girlfriend permission to attend its prom.

Earlier this month Itawamba Agricultural High School in Mississippi denied senior student Constance McMillen’s request to wear a tuxedo and escort her girlfriend to the event.

After Miss McMillen challenged the decision via the American Civil Liberties Union, the school decided to cancel the prom informing the students they would have to organize their own private function.

The case has in the past week grabbed world media attention following the American Civil Liberties Union’s decision to sue and force the school to reverse the decision.

An outpouring of public support for the student has since snow-balled - including an invitation to appear on the Ellen Degeneres’s Talk Show where Miss McMillen received encouragement from the host and a $30,000 university scholarship.

Kristy Bennett, legal director of the ACLU of Mississippi, said: “Prom is supposed to be about all students being able to express themselves, have fun, and make memories that will last the rest of their lives.

“Constance has a constitutional right to take the person she’s dating to the prom, just like any other student at any other public school.”

This week the court ruled the school’s decision unconstitutional but declined to force it to reschedule the event since a replacement private function had already been announced – open to all students, including McMillen.

The ACLU quoted the 18 year old in its announcement celebrating the outcome: “It feels really good that the court realized that the school was violating my rights and discriminating against me by cancelling the prom. All I ever wanted was for my school to treat me and my girlfriend like any other couple that wants to go to prom

“Now we can all get back to things like picking out our prom night outfits and thinking about corsages”

Several gay and lesbian students have since taken Constance’s lead, challenging similar same sex discrimination at their schools in regards to prom events.

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U.S. Military Personnel: Gays are OK

A new survey conducted among Iraq and Afghanistan service veterans reveals that military personnel feel ‘very’ comfortable with gays serving openly in the armed forces.

The poll carried out by Lake Research Partners and American Viewpoint, Inc registered an overwhelming majority of 73% responding positively when asked how comfortable they would feel serving along gays and lesbians open about their sexuality.

Sixty percent agreed that sexual orientation has no bearing on a service member’s ability to perform their duties, including 42% who strongly agree.

Overall 81% serving in the Air Force, 78% in the Navy, 67% in the Army, and 68% in the Marines agreed it was acceptable to let gay personnel not only serve, but to be open about their sexuality.

Currently, gay men and women are permitted to serve in the U.S. military as long as their sexuality is not disclosed.

The highly controversial Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy which prevents gays and lesbians from serving openly was introduced by the Clinton administration in 1993.

Mounting criticism of the policy, both within and outside the military, is putting pressure on the U.S. government to repeal the law.

Results of the survey which was announced by the Vet Voice Foundation show that the notion that today’s military members are uncomfortable around gay and lesbian people is unfounded says the report.

‘This recent bipartisan survey, conducted among service members in the United States, in many ways runs counter to the idea being asserted by many, that service members in the military cannot handle this change [Gay military personnel disclosing their sexuality]’ comments Vet Voice Foundation.

Notably, it is younger Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have the most positive attitude towards their gay colleagues. Eighty percent of veterans aged below 35 said they were personally comfortable serving alongside gays and lesbians.

Last month the US military’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff publicly denounced DADT calling for its withdrawal.

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Related link: http://www.vetvoicefoundation.com/new?id=0002

GaGa and Beyonce go Gay in new video

Lady GaGa and Beyonce play lovers on the run in a nine minute promo to accompany their new single, “Telephone”.

The video, which mimics female fugitive flick “Thelma & Louise” opens with GaGa arriving in prison, suitably flamboyant with tongue firmly implanted in cheek.

Same-sex innuendo features from the get go with uber-butch female prison wardens and jail-birds alike ogling GaGa as she’s stripped and thrown in a cell.

Beyonce plays GaGa’s partner in crime, Honey B who bails her out and the two set off on a Thelma & Louise type murder spree poisoning the patrons of a diner.

The final shot shows the two stars clasping hands as they escape the crime scene in their ‘Pussy Wagon’.

Lady GaGa’s meteoric rise to fame has been fuelled by a strong gay following who hail her as the new Madonna. “Telephone” features on the singer’s second album The Fame Monster and was originally written with Britney Spears in mind.

In support of her core fan base GaGa, real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, has become an advocate for gay rights.

Last October she joined the National Equality March in Washington in support of ending discrimination against the LGBT community.

She told Out magazine: “When I started in the mainstream it was the gays that lifted me up. I committed myself to them and they committed themselves to me, and because of the gay community I’m where I am today.”

Earlier this year the 24 year old hosted a Marriage Equality benefit in aid of same-sex partnerships.

“I feel intrinsically inclined toward a more gay lifestyle," She has said , "I myself am not a gay woman – I am a free-spirited woman.”

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Daniel Radcliffe: I’m not Gay, get over it!

Just because you support gay equality doesn’t mean you are necessarily gay - a highly complex concept that apparently seems to confound and amaze many people.

Harry Potter heartthrob Danielle Radcliffe has once again had to ‘deny’ persistent internet rumours that he prefers guys to girls.

When asked about it in an interview with MTV this week the young star said: “If people want to say that, they can. I’m not. I’m straight.”

“My favourite thing I saw was a guy on the internet who said, ‘Of course he’s gay – he’s got a gay face,’ which I thought was kind of an odd thing to say anyway” he laughed.

And the reason why?

The 20yo has proved himself to be one of that ultra rare commodity: straight men who actively support gay equality. Part and parcel of this is sometimes being on the receiving end of homophobia himself. Rather than let it get him down it inspires Radcliffe to take action.

After making a large donation to the Trevor Project, a suicide and crisis prevention helpline for LGBT people, he has now agreed to film an advert against homophobia.

Last year Radcliffe appeared on the cover of gay glossy “Attitude” and says he has always been outspoken when it comes to gay rights.

"I grew up knowing a lot of gay men, and it was never something that I even thought twice about—that some men were gay and some weren't," he recently explained to reporters in New York.

"And then I went to school and for the first time I came across homophobia. I had never encountered it before. It shocked me.

"I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals," he said. "Now I am in the very fortunate position where I can actually help or do something about it."

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‘Miss Beverley Hills’: God wants Gays dead

Once upon a time beauty queens extolled the virtues of world peace coordination and all things glittery…these days they seem to be hell-bent on gay bashing …erm, and fraud!

Hot on the heels of former Miss California Carrie Prejan’s (disastrous) views on same-sex marriage ‘Miss Beverley Hills 2010’ Lauren Ashley seems to have taken up the gauntlet on the gays…

In her quest to become the next ‘Miss California’ the pageant princess let rip when asked her thoughts on gay marriage by Fox News:

"The Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman. In Leviticus it says, 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.' The Bible is pretty black and white.”

And as if that wasn’t enough…

"I feel like God himself created mankind and he loves everyone, and he has the best for everyone. If he says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life."

Although, she was quick to add that she has ‘a lot’ of gay friends and "There's no hate between me and anyone.”

It was only last year that Miss California Carrie Prejean was asked to hand back her crown upon declaring she opposed same-sex unions.

After becoming a poster girl for the Christian right, news of her breast implants and home-made porn videos finally brought the curtain down.

Regardless, when quizzed about Prejean, Ashley commented: "She is definitely a beautiful person and I love that she stood up for what she believes in. I think that's gorgeous."

Intriguingly, the city of Beverley Hills has since announced they’ve never even heard of Ashley. Mayor Nancy Krasne said: “The city council was shocked to see statements made by a beauty pageant contestant under the name of Beverly Hills who does not live in nor represent our city.”

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57% of Americans say Gays should serve openly in the military

In 1993, as a compromise to an outright ban on gays in the U.S. military, the Clinton administration implemented a law that allowed America’s gay men and women to serve their country - as long as they kept their sexuality a secret.

Since then more than 13,000 American military personnel have been discharged from service simply for ‘admitting’ they are gay.

This shocking figure includes service men and women with skills deemed crucial to the military such as linguists, combat engineers and pilots.

The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ has become a high profile issue and one that the Obama administration has promised to, but as yet, has not overturned.

A new national survey carried out by Quinnipiac University indicates that the American public believes the policy is wrong and discriminatory.

Voters polled think gays and lesbians should be aloud to serve openly in the military by a 57% to 36% margin. An overwhelming majority of 66% feel that ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ amounts to discrimination. However, 54% say gays in the military should face restrictions on exhibiting their sexual orientation on the job.

Earlier this month the US military’s highest-ranking uniformed officer publicly denounced DADT calling for its withdrawal.

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Senate Armed Services Committee that repeal of the law is “the right thing to do” and that he personally was “troubled” by a policy which makes servicemen "lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."

Last month during a State of the Union Address President Obama stated that he will work with Congress and the military to "finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."

Most western military forces have removed policies that exclude sexual minority members. In the UK Gays and lesbians have been allowed to serve openly in the military for over a decade. Initial fears that it would lead to a breakdown of discipline and cohesion within units proved unfounded.

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Gay Fashion Czar McQueen Commits Suicide

From humble beginnings in the East End of London Alexander McQueen rose to world-wide fame as one of the fashion industry’s greatest designers.

Today a source at his office confirmed to the Daily Mail that the 40 year old was found dead, believed to have committed suicide.

“It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family." said a member of McQueen’s staff.

The four times winner of the “British Designer of the Year” built a glittering career that was unrivaled by designers of his generation.

In 2000 the young McQueen became creative director of Gucci acquiring 51% of the company. By the end of 2007 he had opened boutiques in New York, London, Los Angeles, Milan and Las Vegas.

Pop superstars Kylie Minogue, Rhianna and Lady GaGa are just a few of the celebrities who donned his creations.

McQueen was openly gay. Describing his coming out at a young age he said: "I was sure of myself and my sexuality and I've got nothing to hide. I went straight from my mother's womb onto the gay parade"

His close friend, international designer and style icon Isabella Blow also comitted suicide in May 2007.

In response to rumours of a rift between the two McQueen retorted: It’s so much bollocks. These people just don’t know what they’re talking about. They don’t know me. They don’t know my relationship with Isabella. It’s complete bullshit. People can talk; you can ask her sisters.… That part of the industry, they should stay away from my life, or mine and Isabella’s life. What I had with Isabella was completely disassociated from fashion, beyond fashion.”

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Links for this story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250249/Alexander-McQueen-commits-suicide.html

Colin Firth receives Oscar nomination for gay role

Bridget Jones Diary star Colin Firth has been nominated for an Oscar for his performance in A Single Man.

The British star will compete against George Clooney in Up In The Air, Morgan Freeman in Invictus and Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker for the best actor award at the Academy Awards next month.

The film’s depiction of a gay college professor trying to deal with the bereavement over his long-term partner’s death has already scored a best picture nomination at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

Based on Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel the movie is gay fashion designer Tom Ford’s directional debut. Playing down the gay aspect Ford has said the gay theme was not what drew him to make the film of Isherwood’s book.

"It's really a film about love and isolation that I think all of us feel, so it is very universal," Ford says. "When I see someone who sees the film and says, ' It's a gay story,' I don't even know what they are thinking, it just seems to me a human story."

Conversely, and in relation to the film, Firth has spoken out about the “Inivisible Boundaries” that block out gay actors from securing leading roles.

In an interview with gay media website PinkNews the star said "If you're known as a straight guy, playing a gay role, you get rewarded for that. If you're a gay man and you want to play a straight role, you don't get cast – and if a gay man wants to play a gay role now, you don't get cast.

"I think it needs to be addressed and I feel complicit in the problem. I don't mean to be. I think we should all be allowed to play whoever”

Similarly he told Parade magazine in December that Hollywood “constrains” gay actors.

Having starred in several highly successful British films including Love Actually and Mamma Mia! It is Firth’s first ever Oscars nod.

The 82nd Academy Awards takes place on March 7th in Los Angeles.

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Related Link: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/02/02/colin-firth-says-there-are-invisible-boundaries-for-gay-actors/

Bollywood goes GAY with latest blockbuster

In a culture where kissing on the big screen is considered a taboo, a new movie depicting a gay romance is about to spice Bollywood up.

The promotional poster for ‘Dunno Y … Na Jaane Kyun’ features two shirtless men in a sensual embrace and is being touted as India’s answer to Brokeback Mountain.

Few details have emerged about the script and, curiously, the dialogue is in English - a tactic perhaps to satisfy strict Indian censorship.

The Times Of India reports that well know director Anil Sharma’s brother Kapil Sharma, a fledgling actor who plays the lead, was ‘warned’ against taking on the role, accepting the offer after other stars declined.

“I feel today’s audience is mature enough, and they don’t want to see typical run-of-the-mill kind of films. Look, at Hollywood, Hasn’t Tom Hanks played a gay character? An actor should be open to playing any character conventional or unconventional.

“The only thing I was particular about, was that this character should not come across as a caricature or just as an object of mockery. I am truly happy with what I have chosen.” said the young actor.

Sharma plays a wannabe model from a small town who begins a relationship with another man as a shortcut to success. His character ‘Aryan’ works both as a gigolo and performs at private parties for rich gay socialites - something that is ‘quite common’ among aspiring models in Mumbai according to the actor.

Bollywood has rarely depicted homosexuality even though a thriving gay culture exists in the country.

“I took inputs from my gay friends and also went to gay parties in a group just to get the feel of their lifestyle. I even got hit on by a gay,” smiles Sharma.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in India only last year however convictions were extremely rare with no convictions at all in the last 20 years.

There is currently no legal recognition of same-sex couples under Indian law.

For weekly gay news, chat and soundbites visit www.mand8.com

Links for this story:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kapil-Sharma-gay-act/articleshow/5142286.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Indias-answer-to-Brokeback-Mountain/articleshow/5416589.cms

Glee ups the Gay-factor for season 2

Hot jocks, show-tune renditions of Madonna numbers and a guest appearance by Olivia Newton John – performing ‘Physical’ – can Glee get any gayer?

Oh yes it can!

Producers of the hit American musical comedy drama (try saying that after a couple of Singapore Slings!) are on a mission to out-gay gay staples Ugly Betty & American Housewives for season two.

Glama-gay misfit Kurt (Chris Colfer) gets a starring role…and a boyfriend.

Glee creator, Ryan Murphy told Entertainment Weekly: "We just announced we're doing a nationwide search for the season two cast, and [a love interest for Kurt is] one of the three roles that we're adding. And we're going to make them a power couple.

"We're not going to do the whole hiding in the shadows thing. We're going to make them popular, and out and proud and glamorous. Like prom king and king. We're doing the opposite of what's been done."

The Fox series which revolves around a group of all-singing high-kicking high school geeks (and a rather fabulous mash up of R&B and modern rock classics) is currently being showered with awards in the US.

Murphy also revealed that Grease star Olivia Newton John has agreed to duet her 80’s smash ‘Physical’ with ball-busting cheerleader coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) before the current season ends. A show entirely devoted to Madonna numbers has also been filmed.

Currently on a mid-season break the concluding episodes of Glee series one commence on April 13th in the US.

Meanwhile, fans of the show are currently being entertained with the numerous Glee tribute videos clogging up the internet – fans reinterpreting the show’s fabulous dance routines.

For weekly gay news, chat and soundbites visit http://www.mand8.com/news

Chinese authorities shut down gay pageant

Considering it was only declassified as a mental disorder there in 2001, China’s attitude towards homosexuality now seems to be positively skyrocketing.

Last year the first government backed gay bar opened in Kunming, in south-western Yunnan, and Shanghai held the first ever national gay pride celebration. Last week China Daily featured the ‘wedding’ of a male gay couple – in a positive light – on its front page.

This may seem meager progress but homosexuality was only decriminalized in China in 1997 – finally allowing its gay population to evolve.

Within the last decade an emerging gay community has set up its own support groups, websites and venues in most of the major cities.

However, world-wide media attention drawn by the country’s first ever Mr. Gay China pageant last Friday evening in Beijing proved a step too far for the authorities.

Just as the contestants were preparing backstage at the Lan Club eight police officers entered the venue and closed the competition down.

The event had garnered interest from the world media including London’s Guardian and The New York Times.

Gayographic, the PR company organising the event hoped that the pageant would contribute to gay visibility and the development of China’s gay community.

Although disappointed the organizers weren’t entirely surprised. Ben Zhang, head of the team managing the contest, said he knew the risks involved in holding such an event without official permission. He also believes that had he requested permission it would certainly have been refused.

Ryan Dutcher, an American and also one of the planners told The New York Times “We’re disappointed, to say the least.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a huge step backwards for the gay community,” he said, “but I guess it’s not a step forward, either.”

For weekly gay news, chat and soundbites visit www.mand8.com

Related Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/world/asia/16beijing.html