Gay Belfast 2005 News

Five gay couples in Northern Ireland were making history today as the first in the UK or Ireland to have their partnerships legally recognised. Two lesbian couples and one male couple were due to "tie the gay knot" during civil partnership ceremonies in Belfast's City Hall. One lesbian couple was also set to exchange vows in Antrim, at the town's civic offices, while another same-sex couple were registering their relationship in Newry. Ballymena-born Grainne Close (32), and her US partner Shannon Sickels (27), were expected to be the first to hold a "gay wedding" in Belfast. It was expected that the first ceremony would be in Derry, where the registration office opens earlier than Belfast, but the couple postponed because of the massive media interest. Sonia Drain (35), and Pauline McConnell (38), were due to register their partnership at Antrim today. Speaking before the ceremony, Sonia said she was nervous but looking forward to it. "We've known each other now for about 14 months, although we've only been going out for eight weeks," she said. "We joked about getting registered at the start, but then we talked about it seriously and the two us just knew that was what we wanted. "Family and friends have been fantastic. They see that we are very happy." Today's ceremonies have been hailed as the most significant historical event for Northern Ireland's gay community, by leading gay rights organisation the Rainbow Project. Security was stepped up at Belfast City Hall as fundamentalist Christian protesters gathered to voice their opposition to the new legal partnerships. The Stop the Parade coalition - which was set up to oppose the annual gay pride festival in Belfast - has "rebranded" itself for the occasion as The Christian Reform Foundation. The group's spokesman Jonathan Larner said the protest would be visible and vocal, yet lawful. "I believe that civil partnerships are a sinful parody of the marriage bond and it undermines that bond by trying to make a moral equivalent with a sinful lifestyle," said Mr Larner. Outside the City Hall there was a lorry carrying a large billboard picturing a heterosexual married couple approved with a huge green tick, alongside a gay couple in wedding dress with a dismissive red 'X'. Free Presbyterian ministers were also planning to preach about the sanctity of marriage throughout the day. The Anti-Racism Network urged supporters to come out and publicly show their backing for same-sex couples and the new legislation. "This is a day for celebration for anyone committed to equality and an end to discrimination," said spokeswoman Barbara Muldoon. "This is a hard won day where recognition will be given for the first time that no group in our society is entitled to monopolise love and partnership." The Civil Partnership Act allows same-sex couples property and inheritance rights equal to married heterosexual couples. The legislation will also entitle gay couples to the same pension, immigration and tax benefits. It is only open to homosexual relationships and cannot be used as an alternative to heterosexual marriage. The first ceremonies in Scotland take place tomorrow, while couples in England and Wales can register their partnerships from Wednesday.

The buzz that has been gripping Hollywood for weeks - that the best route to Oscar glory may lie in straight actors playing gay roles - is looking closer to reality with early awards and outstanding initial word-of-mouth for Brokeback Mountain, the cowboy epic with a same-sex twist. Starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as two ranch hands who, in 1962, form more than just a platonic bond in the craggy landscapes of Wyoming, Brokeback Mountain was named best picture by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association at the weekend. Ang Lee won best director. Lee, the Taiwanese director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and his two stars could hardly have hoped for a better launch for the film as the awards season gets under way in Hollywood, notably with the unsealing of Golden Globe nominations today and the Oscar nods not far away. Also stirred by the film's early omens have been the hearts of America's gay and lesbian community, which is agog to see whether, with its two box-office stars and almost universal critical approval, it can break the mould of on-screen gay caricature and attract a truly mainstream audience. Nor is Brokeback Mountain alone on cinema screens in exploring gender themes. Philip Seymour Hoffman was named best actor at the critics' awards for his mesmerising portrayal in Capote of the gay writer Truman Capote. In limited release in the US today, meanwhile, is TransAmerica, starring Felicity Huffman - who appears in Desperate Housewives - as a man striving to become a woman through surgery and hormone treatment. That film too has drawn warm critical praise from almost every quarter. Also playing to US audiences are The Dying Gaul, starring Peter Sarsgaard as a grief-stricken gay screenwriter seduced by Hollywood, and Neil Jordan's Breakfast on Pluto, the tale of a young transvestite in Northern Ireland who becomes ensnared in Republican terrorism while pursuing his identity as a man living as a woman. That there should be such a landslide of gay-themed films seems almost obtuse given the political landscape in the US, which is experiencing a conservative backlash to recent progress made - at least in one state, Massachusetts - towards gender rights and gay marriage. But the fact of it becoming such an important socio-political controversy may explain why directors have been attracted to it. By far the most ambitious of these films is Brokeback Mountain. While its studio, Focus Features, describes it as a love story that happens to play out between men, it remains remarkable because it dares to show the physicality of the love, even if the sex scenes are brief and relatively discreet. It is not that Hollywood has been eschewing gay roles. Since the same-sex sitcom Will & Grace hit network television, there has been no shortage of them in films. Almost never are they leading protagonists, however, and they often serve as comic relief. So the big question is: how will Brokeback Mountain fare? If middle America is as conservative as some assume, could such a film - however stunning its cinematography and exceptional its acting - do anything more than attract the art-house crowd, women, and of course, gays and lesbians? Aware of the challenge, the studio has adopted almost a stealth strategy in distribution. The film opened in just five cinemas at the weekend and will not go on general release in the US until the new year. Early estimates show Brokeback Mountain achieved a higher per-screen box office take than any other film this year. The combination of hot ticket sales and rapturous reviews could catapult it to mainstream audiences. "I hope 'the heartland,' so to speak, is more mature than it's made out to be," remarked Ledger of the film.

Gay couples in Northern Ireland have started to put their names forward for civil union ceremonies. The first ceremonies in the UK under the Civil Partnerships Act can take place in the province on 19 December. It will enable gay and lesbian couples to form civil partnerships after decades of campaigning for a change in the law. Twenty couples made provisional bookings for registration at Belfast City Hall and six in Londonderry. Northern Ireland will now become the first to hold a same sex ceremony, with Scotland and England and Wales following on 20 and 21 December respectively. Under the law, couples who want to form a partnership must register their intentions with local councils.
Belfast couple Henry Kane and Christopher Flanagan, were among the first to register their intentions at Belfast City Hall. Mr Flanagan said they went through the paperwork and discussed their choice of music and vows. "It's taking us seriously as being a couple," he said. "There's a lot of stigma about gay people being promiscuous, and it's just showing that we're two people together and we want to show our love so we're getting married just like a normal couple would get married." Mr Kane said that they needed the security of a legal framework to ensure property rights and that their wishes would be respected. Mr Flanagan said while "a lot of people don't class it as a traditional wedding they class it as a civil partnership", to him and his partner it was a wedding. Sean Morrin from the Rainbow Project said that it was the most "significant day that the gay community has experienced". "The whole idea that our relationships will now be recognised legally that equal rights will be handed out to same gender couples is amazing," he said.

Chairman of the Alliance Party set to resign over Civil Partnerships (29 November 2005)

An argument over whether civil partnerships should be performed in Lisburn City Council room normally reserved for weddings prompted the chairman of the Alliance Party to resign his position Monday. "We have a wedding suite. And as a council, we decided to keep that room for weddings, and not allow civil partnership registrations there," said Lisburn Councillor Trevor Lunn, in a quote published by Ireland On-Line. But his political party felt otherwise, overturning his decision to keep lesbian and gay couples from celebrating their unions in the same place Lisburn's straight married couples do. Saying his party betrayed him, Lunn stepped down. How can I chair an organisation hinting at disciplinary action against me? The campaign against Lisburn from within the Alliance Party has continued to the point where I thought it would be better if I wasn't chairing the organization. I always thought the Alliance Party was a broad enough church that we could support some difference of opinion. But it appears that, in terms of equality issues, we just can't. The party has managed to make a major issue out of something trivial," Lunn insisted, adding that he actually supports lesbian and gay partnerships. The 59-year-old insurance broker's resignation comes just months before he was to finish his two-year tenure as chairman. Same-sex couples in Britain will get civil partnerships - granting legal recognition of their commitment and most of the rights enjoyed by straight married couples - starting December 5, when the historic Civil Partnership Act becomes law.

Gay Community in Derry celebrate new Civil Partnership legislation (25 November 2005)

The Gay Community in Derry will celebrate the introduction of the new Civil Partnership legislation with a major party for all. The party will take place at Pepes, 64 Strand Road, Derry on December 4th were the community and supporters will gather for a countdown to 12 midnight when the legislation becomes law. The party is open to members of the Gay Community, family, friends and all those supporters we have in Derry. It will be a night of music, cabaret and celebration. Sean Morrin from the Rainbow Project said "The legislation becoming law will be the biggest day in the history of the Gay Community when after years of campaigning; our relationships will be recognised in law. This now affords us many rights that heterosexual married couples are given. I think it is proper that we celebrate with family, friends and supporters and considering the very first registration will take place in Derry we have lots to celebrate about".

A gay rights campaigner is planning to picket a meeting of Ballymena council in protest at controversial remarks made by a DUP councillor who said God sent Hurricane Katrina to punish homosexuals in New Orleans. PA Mag Lochlainn, president of the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association, could come face-to-face with Councillor Maurice Mills at the monthly meeting next month. Mr Mag Lochlainn said: "God willing, I will be there and I hope to have a few with me to protest at what Maurice Mills said." Meanwhile, Mr Mag Lochlainn said a gay pride parade in Ballymena is a long way off and expects one to take place in 10 to 15 years. But added: "These horrible nasty words of his (Mr Mills) may have simply brought the day forward in Ballymena when it might have otherwise have taken years before we had a parade. Speaking about his remarks, Mr Mills said: "We all deserve to be punished. The only answer to the avoidance of punishment is if they are interested in coming to a personal knowledge of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And once that happens, sodomy goes." Mr Mills said he would not welcome a gay pride parade.

Leading gay rights group, The Rainbow Project has reacted with fury to remarks by a DUP councillor that Hurricane Katrina was an act of God against homosexuals. Ballymena councillor Maurice Mills also branded homosexuality a "filthy practice" responsible for the devastating scourge of Aids across Africa. The Rainbow Project has challenged the DUP to give an unqualified response to the councillor's comments. "It would appear that the politics of the DUP is contaminated with a particular brand of religious fundamentalism, which is used by its adherents as a cloak to justify vile homophobia. We demand the DUP clarify its position on both racism and homophobia, as its public representatives are often to be found delivering barely articulate, pseudo-religious diatribes which run contrary to one of their election pledges, which states that the party is committed to 'Equality for all'. We also want to know if disciplinary action will be taken against Mills and if the DUP is aware of how his comments may be challenged through the utilisation of hate crime legislation." Mr Mills said the recent natural disaster to hit the US - which claimed 1,300 lives and left tens of thousands homeless - was sent by God as a warning to the world, two days before a "gay mardi gras" in the city. "The abominable and filthy practice of sodomy has resulted in Africa being riddled with Aids." he said. In July, DUP MLA Paul Berry was suspended from the party following newspaper claims he had met a male masseur in a Belfast hotel who alleged a sexual encounter took place. Mr Berry denied the allegations and is facing a party disciplinary hearing. In the 1980s the DUP leader, Ian Paisley, campaigned to "save Ulster from sodomy." Earlier this year, Ian Paisley Jnr claimed that the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland view same-sex relationships as "obnoxious and deeply offensive". Former DUP councillor for Newtownabbey, Arthur Templeton, was thrown out of the party after he was convicted of anti-gay harassment against a fellow election candidate. While Fermanagh DUP councillor Bert Johnston said last February that gays were "perverts with reprobate minds".

Lisburn City Council has reversed its decision to ban same-sex couples from holding civil registration ceremonies on council property. Gay activists had threatened legal action against the unionist-dominated council when it introduced the ban last July. The move to prohibit same-sex ceremonies from the council's wedding room (which is known as the Cherry Room) was approved ahead of a new law allowing gay couples to enter into civil partnerships. Sinn Féin and the SDLP both opposed the ban, but were opposed by the DUP and Alliance Councillor Seamus Close.

UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union with over 1.3 million members is holding its annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender National Conference at the Europa Hotel in Belfast today. Over 300 delegates from all parts of the UK will attend. Patricia McKeown, Regional Secretary, who will welcome the delegates to Northern Ireland, said “The UNISON Conference is being hosted against a backdrop of spiralling numbers of Homophobic Hate crimes in Northern Ireland and a warning by the NI Affairs Committee that this type of crime is in danger of getting out of control. However there is also a spirit of change in the way homophobia is viewed and dealt with here. This conference promises to be powerful in the context of challenging prejudice. We salute our union for bring the conference to Belfast in an act of solidarity with our members. Tim Roberts Co-Chair of the National LGBT Committee said “This conference is bringing LGBT UNISON members to Belfast from all parts of our union to debate issues of workplace equality, celebrate our role in public life and challenge discrimination at work and in society” Dave Prentis, General Secretary, who publicly challenged homophobia in Northern Ireland earlier this year, said “UNISON has been in the vanguard of promoting positive change and this will be apparent in the event which is timely considering the climate of homophobia that still prevails”. Motions from Northern Ireland include ‘Homophobia in the Education Sector’ a motion on ‘Civil Partnerships’ which condemns the recent actions of Lisburn Council, and a motion supporting capacity building in the LGBT community. Fringe events include an Evening of Music and Craic and a debate with leading campaigners such as Nell McCafferty and Jeff Dudgeon on Saturday (19th) evening, both organised by the UNISON NI group.

Councils across Northern Ireland are still undecided as to whether to offer ceremonies to lesbian and gay couples looking to become civil partnerships, according to a new survey. The survey, conducted by the Belfast Telegraph, revealed that two thirds of councils in the province were still not sure about whether to offer ceremonies. According to the newspaper, just 8 of the 26 councils have outlined how much of the registration scheme will be on offer. Although all councils must offer civil partnerships to same-sex couples by law, whether or not they allow ceremonies is up to them. The poll comes as councils in Northern Ireland faced criticism for planning to bar ceremonies. Lisburn councillors tabled motions that would not only bar ceremonies from taking place but also ban the use of any room used for heterosexual marriage for civil partnerships. The proposal was slammed by campaigners and supporters of the new civil partnership legislation. In the rest of the UK, a similar proposal was dropped in the London borough of Bromley after threats of legal action from the capital's Mayor Ken Livingstone as well as protests from local LGBT people. In a bid to avoid any more criticism, Lisburn Borough Council has undertake an Equality Impact Assessment which it will use before it makes a formal decision on civil partnerships.

A row has broken out in Newtownabbey Borough Council, after councillors pushed for a private meeting on gay relationships. The motion, suggested by the DUP party, called for discussions on whether to allow civil partnership ceremonies to be held in council buildings, to be held in private. It comes after Lisburn City Council was criticised for attempting to block same-sex ceremonies from taking place in its council buildings. Opponents of the new civil partnership laws, which come into force in December, said that by allowing ceremonies to take place, councils would be undermining marriage. In Newtownabbey, the DUP says plans to hold talks on ceremonies away from the public gaze was a bid to debate the issues associated with the new laws "in an adult fashion". According to the NewsLetter newspaper, he said he wanted talks to take place without councillors "playing to the press or the gallery". However, his opponents have questioned why he feels the need to take the issue away from the public. "It should have been discussed in the open because people should hear what the people representing them think, either they are for or against it," Ulster Unionist Barbara Gilliland told the newspaper. Other councillors said, because the issue had already been passed by government, there was no need to discuss civil partnerships once again. But Hamilton said many people were concerned about the new laws and were keen to see action. "Some believe it could be the thin edge of the wedge and once it is slipped in it will be quietly expanded upon with great ease," he said.

Lisburn City Council faces legal action if it does not overturn a ban on the use of its wedding room for same-sex civil partnership registrations. The Gay Rights Association said it was "blatant discrimination" and plan to mount a court challenge to reverse it. A law allowing same-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership comes into effect in December. Lisburn councillors encountered protesters as they arrived for their monthly meeting on Wednesday night. A motion proposing that same-sex civil partnership registration should "be not afforded the same recognition" as a civil marriage ceremony was tabled by Alliance councillor Seamus Close and passed in July. It also proposed that the council's wedding room, the Cherry Room, should not be used for such registrations. Patricia Lewsley from the SDLP said it amounted to discrimination. But Ulster Unionist councillors said they were legally entitled to withhold the use of the room. Robert Toner from the Gay Rights Association said it was discrimination against the gay and lesbian community in Lisburn. "A male and a male getting married is a gay marriage and a lesbian and a lesbian getting married is a gay marriage. "Equality in Lisburn? It's totally wrong, it's discrimination, the council needs to admit to that. "I will be taking a case against Lisburn on discrimination. I'm confident I will win this case and make Lisburn a city for all." However, Mr Close said the council had made a distinction with civil partnership and civil marriage ceremonies. "I want to clearly demonstrate that there is a distinction between a civil marriage, which is a union between a man and a woman, and a civil partnership which may be lots of things but is not the latter," he said. "The distinction between a civil partnership and a marriage is not being made by Seamus Close, it is a fact of life. "There is this confusion and there are those who would appear to me, and to others, who want to build on this confusion. You cannot have a gay marriage." The Civil Partnership Act creates a new legal relationship, which two people of the same-sex can form by signing a document. It provides same-sex couples with parity of treatment in a wide range of legal matters with those opposite-sex couples who enter into a civil marriage.

Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames has hit back at another leading Anglican Primate Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria who has accused him of making "uncharitable" accusations about those who oppose the appointment of homosexual clergy. Earlier this month Archbishop Eames delivered a series of lectures in the USA about the future of the Anglican Communion in light of the controversy following the appointment of the homosexual Bishop Gene Robinson in New Hampshire, USA. He claimed during a lecture at the Yale Divinity School that the implications of recent actions by the Church of Nigeria, which had removed all references to being in communion with the See of Canterbury, were "most serious". He claimed that this was in contrast to the Windsor Report which had sought a "corporate striving to find the will of God in contentious and divisive issues". Archbishop Eames himself chaired the Lambeth Commission which produced the report. In a separate meeting in Washington, he was reported in the Anglican Communion News Service to have expressed concern over the role that some conservative wealthy US donors were taking in the current controversy. He was also reported as claiming that a number of Church figures in the developing world had been offered financial inducements to distance themselves from the Anglican churches of the USA and Canada, which have approved of same-sex relationships. Conservative leaders have claimed, however, that they were simply trying to help poor Anglican provinces, which could not accept financial aid from those which "differ from them on the issue of homosexuality". Earlier this week, the Nigerian archbishop, Dr Akinola, a leading opponent of same-sex relationships, issued a strongly-worded open letter to Archbishop Eames on the Anglican website. He said that if Archbishop Eames had evidence of such financial inducements he should reveal them or "make a public apology to your brother primates". In a statement, Archbishop Eames underlined that the current debate was "theological" and that he found himself "very disturbed by any speculation around the role that money may play in determining outcomes". "I feel that when money or assistance is raised in any part of the Anglican Communion and offered for use where it might extend Christ's kingdom, it should be offered and accepted in those terms alone," he said. Dr Eames said that he in no way questioned the "sincerity and integrity" of the leaders in the developing world, known as the Global South. He added that he had endeavoured at all times to "maintain and understand" the integrity of their argument. He also emphasised: "I categorically state I have never believed that any financial offer was accepted by any of those who represent the Global South on any other than terms of Christian outreach. I have communicated this to Archbishop Akinola this morning."

A transsexual woman is facing a prison sentence in an all male jail, after a court refused to recognise her new identity. Denis Martin could be sent to a male prison in Belfast after refusing to pay a fine for a "breach of the peace" offence that occurred last year. She says she believes she is innocent and has no intention of paying the fine. She says she is willing to go to prison over the issue, but only if it's an all female jail. However, the Larne court that tried her have only referred to her as Mr Martin, according to the Observer. She says that if her potential sentence is doled out to her as a man, she will fight the decision in the European Court of Human Rights. "I haven't been Douglas for over 20 years," she told the newspaper. "On my British passport it states that I'm Denise, and that's who I have been for all these years. But if the next court appearance in Ballymena treats me like a man, then I'm in danger of going to an all-male prison." Martin had gender realignment surgery 22 years ago. On her passport she is listed as a woman, although her birth certificate still has her listed as Douglas. "I didn't go through years of psychiatric counselling, a painful operation and the entire trauma through my life to let the courts deny who I am today. I don't care if they fine me £30 or £3,000, I won't pay and I won't rest until they recognise me as Denise." The newspaper reports that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be monitoring the case when it returns to the courts on November 7th.

Homophobic attacks: "increasingly vicious" says Derry gay group (14 October 2005)

A support group for gay people in Londonderry has warned that it is only a matter of time before someone is killed in a homophobic attack. Sean Morrin from the Rainbow Project said homophobic attacks in Derry were becoming increasingly vicious. He was speaking after a gay man was attacked and bitten in the face outside a chip shop in the Waterside area on Sunday evening. He was taken to hospital where he received five stitches to his face. A 25-year-old man was later arrested and released, pending police reports. "The attacks have become much more ferocious," Mr Morrin said. "There are no boundaries whatsoever. My fear is that it will not be long until someone is murdered in these situations." In a period of seven weeks in April/May 2004, there were eight homophobic attacks in the Foyle area. There have been 17 homophobic incidents in the Foyle area this year. A police spokesman said that figure equalled the total number of attacks for the previous year. In March, Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde said the PSNI would crack down on rising levels of racial and homophobic attacks. It was announced by the Policing Board that such incidents were to be tackled as part of a £774m strategy for running the PSNI over 12 months.

Lesbian and gay couples confused about the upcoming civil partnerships will have a new resource to turn to from today, thanks to gay charity Stonewall. The Get Hitched guide, which will be available in libraries and citizen advice bureaus, as well as online, is an attempt to reach out to same-sex couples who are keen to take advantage of the new laws when they come into force in December. Those behind the guide say they hope the pamphlet sized document will distil the information regarding civil partnerships into a single source for couples. Previously, the only official information available has been through the government, although this has been criticised by some campaigners for failing to drop its formal and confusing language. In response, the Equality Minister Meg Munn MP announced the government's own resource booklet earlier this month, which will be distributed in the gay press. Stonewall's Chief Executive Ben Summerskill says he hopes the charity's booklet will offer practical answers to the questions being raised by same-sex couples across the country. "Civil partnership is one of the biggest steps forward for gay people in a generation," Summerskill said today. "But most lesbians and gay men have never needed to know the benefits, and pitfalls, of getting hitched." The guide is being supported by Barclays, which will distribute it in its branches. "We recognise that there are around 2.5 million lesbian and gay adults in Britain, most of whom have bank accounts," says Jim Hytner, UK Marketing Director of Barclays. "We want all of them to know they can be comfortable banking with Barclays and if any gay couples want to open joint accounts, we're delighted to do that for them too." The 12-page guide will be published in both English and Welsh. Online, it will also be available in Bengali, Gujurati, Urdu, Punjabi, French, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Spanish and Italian. Summerskill says there is still a demand for more information on the new laws, which will give lesbian and gay couples the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual married couples. "We want to provide couples with answers to all their practical questions as they prepare for the future," he said.

WESTLIFE'S Mark Feehily is tying the knot and getting married to his ex pornstar and boyband lover Kevin McDaid just months after meeting the boy band singer. Mark, says they will marry at the end of the year with a special ceremony to bless their relationship. The Westlifer announced he was gay last month and revealed how he was in a serious relationship with Kevin, who sings with the boy band V. Kevin plans to ditch his short pop career to concentrate on supporting Mark. Mark is following in the footsteps of Boyzone's Stephen Gately who married his lover Andrew after coming out. The Westlife star said coming out was "the best thing I ever did, like a massive weight off my shoulders. My family and friends always knew who I was but now I don't have to hide my identity any more," said Mark. He says Kevin and himself are "really happy together and everyone was been amazing to us in the last month".Legal gay marriages are only available in a handful of countries around the world. Holland was the first country to offer a full civil marriage rights to gay couples in 2001. Belgium followed in 2003. In June, Spanish MPs voted in favour of allowing gay couples to marry and adopt children. The bill became law in July. In America, may states have passed laws defining marriage as "the union between a man and a woman". Actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California, said he would veto a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the state "out of respect for the will of the people". His comment has drawn heated criticism from gay rights supporters but he is the toast of conservative groups.

Northern Ireland's police force is attempting to help support gay officers better, by offering facilities used to help foster better diversity. The facilities - at present a room in Belfast's Garnerville Training College - will be the first time gay officers have been offered a place to discuss issues affecting their work. It will also be available to members of the Ethnic Minority Police Association, according to press reports. Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton said the facilities were long overdue. "Northern Ireland does not do a great deal to support the gay community," he said in a Press Association quote. "It's very difficult for gay people to come out and make a statement, and it's the same for police officers." The move comes as Northern Ireland's officers are pushed to be more aware of the importance of diversity. Following on from an increase in reported anti-gay and racially motivated attacks, the force is facing renewed pressure to tackle hate crimes and present itself as a modern and inclusive institution. "Diversity to me is not just about being correct, it's about making a difference," Leighton said.

Westlife star Mark Feehily has announced he is gay, and that he is in a relationship with Kevin McDaid a former pornstar at www.ladstrip.co.uk and boyband member of V. Feehily, who is one of the Irish chart topping act’s founding members, made the announcement today in the Sun newspaper, saying he is happy with his sexuality. He added that he is not looking to act as a role model for other gay men. "I am gay and I'm very proud of who I am. I'm not asking for any sympathy or to be a role model to anyone else." he said The Westlife star says his friends and family are supportive of his sexuality and that he is in a long-term relationship. He has been seeing Kevin McDaid and is in a long-term relationship with the singer, according to the press report. "My close friends and family, the people I love, have been incredibly supportive to me and that's what really matters." Westlife are currently the biggest boyband in Europe, repeatedly hitting the top spot of both single and album charts.

A Belfast man who claimed he endured discrimination because he is gay has been awarded £6,000 in compensation. Fannin Healthcare settled the case brought by salesman Paul Hindley, 30. He claimed he suffered severe verbal harassment when he worked for the company in Belfast and that it failed to deal effectively with his complaint. It was the first settlement of a sexual orientation case in Northern Ireland. It was brought with the assistance of the Equality Commission. In a statement, Fannin Healthcare said the company had been working with the commission to ensure its policies comply with legislation. "We do not condone any form of harassment or discrimination," the company said.

The Gay Pride march due to take place in Belfast on 6th August will take place as planned, the Parades Commission has ruled.
Amnesty International offers support to Belfast Pride (28 July 2005). The Parades Commission is due to decide today on whether or not the Gay Pride march due to take place should be banned or limited. The march, scheduled for 6 August, has been held in the city centre for the past 14 years. The police passed the matter on to the commission for consideration after some Christian groups called for the parade to be banned. However, Amnesty International has said the march should be given the go-ahead. "Prejudice against people based on their sexuality is, sadly, all too common in Northern Ireland and around the world," said Amnesty International's NI Programme Director Patrick Corrigan. "Politicians, church leaders and ordinary people all have an obligation to stand up against such prejudice and stand in solidarity with gay people here and worldwide who face persecution and violence."

Organisers of Belfast Pride are meeting with the Parades Commission today to discuss how best to move forward with the controversial event. The meeting follows a complaint about the lesbian and gay event from religious groups, who have called on the commission to block the parade from taking place on August 6th. They say the march is offensive to local people and religious beliefs and hope the commission will be forced to barring it from taking place. The commission was originally established to focus on unionist and loyalist parades through the region, some of which ended in violence in the past. Despite the controversy, the Pride parade has now seen support from local officials, including the Alliance party. The political group's deputy leader Eileen Bell said the parade was "flourishing" and part of the local calendar. "The gay and lesbian section of the community is drawn from all walks of life. They are an integral part of this society," she told the Belfast Telegraph. "I do not believe that there is any case for either banning or restricting this parade." The Stop the Parade coalition, which is behind the latest campaign against Belfast Pride, organised a counter-demonstration last year. However, following the group's high profile objections to the Pride parade, the number of supporters for the lesbian and gay celebration reportedly trebled. The pride events take place between July 30th and August 6th.

A gay woman has been forced to leave her home, after coming under relentless attacks because of her sexuality. Ashley Stinson has had her window smashed and her rubbish bin set on fire by local thugs. Additionally, cars belonging to her friends have been vandalised while outside her home in Portrush. She says that she can no longer take the level of abuse, which she believes is sparked by homophobia. She told the BBC that the attitudes that led to the attackers are archaic and "disgraceful". "Ignorance, I would say, is a big part of it. If anybody is slightly different, people are afraid of them," she said. "I thought: 'That's enough I'm going to get out of here now'." The details of the attack come as Northern Ireland continue to be the focus of attention because of its apparent rise in homophobia. Earlier this month, a gay man in Derry said he lived in fear after he received death threats from local people. In the past 12 months, attacks have ranged from verbal abuse, to stabbings and beatings. Police have admitted the number of attacks are increasing. Local campaigners are calling for more community-led action from across the region to stamp out homophobia.

Two gay teenagers were publicly executed in Iran on 19 July 2005 for the 'crime' of homosexuality. The youths were hanged in Edalat (Justice) Square in the city of Mashhad, in north east Iran. They were sentenced to death by Court No. 19.Iran enforces Islamic Sharia law, which dictates the death penalty for gay sex. Shocking photos of the execution are at the links below http://www.outrage.org.uk/imagezoom.asp?file=37 http://www.outrage.org.uk/imagezoom.asp?file=38 http://www.outrage.org.uk/imagezoom.asp?file=39 One youth was aged 18 and the other was a minor under the age of 18. They were only identified by their initials, M.A. and A.M. They admitted to having gay sex (probably under torture) but claimed in their defence that most young boys had sex with each other and that they were not aware that homosexuality was punishable by death. Prior to their execution, the teenagers were held in prison for 14 months and severely beaten with 228 lashes. Their length of detention suggests that they committed the so-called offences more than a year earlier, when they were possibly around the age of 16. Ruhollah Rezazadeh, the lawyer of the youngest boy (under 18), had appealed that he was too young to be executed and that the court should take into account his tender age (believed to be 16 or 17). But the Supreme Court in Tehran ordered him to be hanged. Under the Iranian penal code, girls as young as nine and boys as young as 15 can be hanged. Three other young gay Iranians are being hunted by the police, but they have gone into hiding and cannot be found. If caught, they will also face execution. News of the two executions was reported by ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) on 19 July. A later news story by Iran In Focus, allegedly based on this original ISNA report, claimed the youths were executed for sexually assaulting a 13 year old boy. But the ISNA report does not mention any sexual assault. A report of the executions on the website of the respected democratic opposition movement, The National Council of Resistance Of Iran, also makes no reference to a sexual assault. The allegation of sexual assault may either be a trumped up charge to undermine public sympathy for the youths (a frequent tactic by the Islamist regime in Iran). Or it may be that the 13 year old was a willing participant but that Iranian law (like UK law) deems that no person of that age is capable of sexual consent and that therefore any sexual contact is automatically deemed in law to be a sex assault. If the 13 year old was sexually assaulted, why was he not identified and also put on trial (under Iranian law both the victims and perpetrators of sexual crimes are punished)? Full story in Farsi from ISNA, with three photographs: http://isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-556874 "This is just the latest barbarity by the Islamo-fascists in Iran,” said Peter Tatchell of the London-based gay human rights group OutRage! "The entire country is a gigantic prison, with Islamic rule sustained by detention without trial, torture and state-sanctioned murder. "According to Iranian human rights campaigners, over 4,000 lesbians and gay men have been executed since the Ayatollahs seized power in 1979. "Altogether, an estimated 100,000 Iranians have been put to death over the last 26 years of clerical rule. The victims include women who have sex outside of marriage and political opponents of the Islamist government. "Last August, a 16 year old girl, Atefeh Rajabi, was hanged for 'acts incompatible with chasity.' "Britain’s Labour government is pursuing friendly relations with this murderous regime, including aid and trade. We urge the international community to treat Iran as a pariah state, break off diplomatic relations, impose trade sanctions and give practical support to the democratic and left opposition inside Iran," said Mr Tatchell. Urgent action: Protest to the Iranian Ambassador: info@iran-embassy.org.uk Tel: 020 7225 3000 ~ Fax: 020 7589 4440 ~ Iranian Ambassador, Embassy of Iran, 16 Prince’s Gate, London SW7 1PT. If you live outside the UK, protest to the Iranian Embassy in your country, and press your government to break off diplomatic relations and impose trade sanctions against Iran.

Anti gay protestors in Northern Ireland are increasing the pressure on local authorities to ban Belfast's upcoming Pride parade and celebrations, arguing the festivities will be offensive to local people. Members of the Free Presbyterian Church are continuing to write to authorities about the 6th August events, calling for the celebrations to be barred. They started their campaign last month, urging police to block the event. The issue has since been passed to the Parades Commission, an independent body established to settle rows over the religious parades that take place in the troubled province. Now, Reverend David McIlveen, the man behind the complaints, has said he would like to see a "compromise" from the organisers of the Pride event. He told the BBC that the parade needed to be stopped because it was "more offensive each year, they could change the time of the parade; they could also insist that the code of dress should be adhered to in a manner that is decent and inoffensive." Belfast Gay Pride organisers have rejected the calls, maintaining that their march is important in raising awareness of lesbian and gay people in Northern Ireland. Additionally, they link it to increased tourism to the city. They also say last year's event demonstrated the level of support form local people; after ongoing high-profile protests the number of people attending the event soared.

The Alliance Party has called for its members to back civil partnership ceremonies, after a councillor pushed for a ban on the ceremonies taking place in Lisburn. Senior figures in the party have distributed a message "reminding" members of the party of their "equality duties", in what is being read as a subtle increase in pressure over the issue. Lisburn Alliance councillor Seamus Close has called for a bar on the ceremonies, claiming that by allowing them to take place he would be supporting gay marriage. He said last week that the partnership of lesbian and gay couples should not take place in the same rooms as civil marriages because of this. However, the Belfast Telegraph reports that the Alliance party is keen to show its support for the Civil Partnership Act and lesbian and gay rights through the issue. In a message send across the party, it calls for members to remember "their duties both under the civil partnership legislation, but also the wider equality duties". The newspaper reports that senior figures will also meet local councillors in a bid to stamp out the problem. But Close has indicated he will not move on the issue. "I certainly don't concede that there is any issue needing to be resolved. Would it be discriminatory if we stopped footballers playing on a cricket pitch, or painters painting in a music room?" The Civil Partnership Act comes into force in December, with councils across the country being required to offer legal registration for same-sex couples for the first time. However, those opposed to the new system have already indicated they may refuse to hold ceremonies for lesbian and gay couples.

London woke today to the aftermath of yesterday's terrorism nightmare, with transport networks and the central area of the capital opening up slowly. The four attacks, which took place on the underground system and a bus, have resulted in a confirmed death toll of 37 so far. This number is expected to increase sharply as families of victims are contacted and bodies are identified. Yesterday afternoon, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick confirmed to the media that there had been 4 bomb blasts, the first taking place in between Aldgate and Liverpool Street tube stations at 8.51am. The second blast took place between Russell Square and King's Cross tube stations at 8.56am, followed at 9.17am by a blast at Edgware Road tube station, to the west of the city. Finally, a No 30 double-decker bus was destroyed in Tavistock Place. As well as the dead, nearly 700 people were injured by the blasts, making it the hardest hitting attack on London since World War II. Today, the city is slowly coming back to life, after police drew a ring of steel around its heart yesterday. Amazingly, the majority of tube lines are offering some sort of service, although the exact crash sites are obviously likely to take longer. Police confirmed this morning that they were still removing bodies from the King's Cross blast, while forensic teams are studying the other sites in an attempt to determine what exactly happened - and who was responsible. Despite being shut down in the central zone yesterday, the red double-decker buses - a long-cherished symbol of London - were ferrying people home as early as last night. Today, they are thought to be on a full operational service. Soho and the central area of London, usually packed on a sunny Friday afternoon with office workers and tourists - are now open but eerily quiet. Despite assurances that the city was safe, some reports suggest as many as 50% of commuters chose to stay away today. While the UK's Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Police Chiefs spoke of the city's resilience, it was perhaps Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London who moved people the most. Clearly shocked by the attacks, and close to tears, he said the bombs were a "cowardly attack" and that London would not be divided by them. "[The attack] was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion or whatever," he told reporters. "That isn't an ideology, it isn't even a perverted faith. It is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other." "Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and this is why I'm proud to be the Mayor of that city." Article by Ben Townley, Gay.com UK.

Paul Berry, the DUP Assemblyman under fire over allegations about his private life was last night suspended from his party. A party investigation is now under way after allegations about Berry's private life first appeared in the Sunday World newspaper on the eve of the Westminster election in May. He has consistently denied all the allegations. A DUP spokesman said: "Mr Paul Berry is suspended from the DUP pending an investigation that is currently ongoing." Berry has threatened legal action against several media organisations over the allegations but there are no reports of any such writs being issued as yet. Berry was unavailable for comment but denied reports of the suspension to the BBC, saying that if he is meant to attend a disciplinary panel he has not been given any date for it. He also explained his absence from a DUP meeting with Secretary of State Peter Hain by saying he was at a funeral. Mr Berry was regarded as one of the rising stars of the DUP when he was elected as the youngest Northern Ireland MLA in 1998 at the age of 22. A textile worker by trade, he came to prominence as a gospel singer. Despite the allegations, Mr Berry retained his seat on Armagh Council in the local election in May. More on Paul Berry allegations ...

The Parades Commission is to decide whether Belfast's Gay Pride parade will go ahead as planned. The march, due to take place on 6 August, has been held in the city centre for the past 14 years. However, following concerns raised by some homophobic Christian groups, the police have passed the matter on to the commission for consideration. Andy Thomson from Belfast Gay Pride said the parade has always been peaceful and brought trade and tourism to the city. "It's open to everybody, it is a colourful and wonderful day out, It is one of the few parades in Northern Ireland that really I can't see any bone of contention about." However, Jonathan Larner of the London based homophobic protest group "Stop the Parade" said it was "offensive". "Our outlook on this parade is a wholly peaceful one, we find the whole parade morally offensive, as evangelical Christians we believe what the bible says regarding sodomy - that it is a sin - and for that reason we want to oppose a parade that we see is promoting a sinful lifestyle." The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether or not restrictions should be imposed on controversial parades during Northern Ireland's marching season.

A leading bishop in Northern Ireland is set to anger members of the lesbian and gay community after he slammed the introduction of Civil Partnerships later this year. Church of Ireland's Bishop Harold Miller said he was against the introduction of the new legislation in Northern Ireland, claiming it goes against the advice given by churches in the region. The Civil Partnership Act will come into force in December across the UK, allowing lesbian and gay couples to have their relationship recognised by law. Although not marriage, it will afford some of the rights and responsibilities currently only on offer to heterosexual couples. However, Dr Miller told an Anglican meeting that he is against the laws because they "mimic" marriage. He said the CPA was part of the Anglican debate on sexual diversity currently taking place. "These issues will continue to run, not only in the church, but in the province, as the Government seems determined to introduce a form of civil partnerships into Northern Ireland, beginning, so far as I can see, in December," the Press Association quotes him as saying. "These will mimic marriage for same-sex couples," he added. He also claimed that the consultation period on the issue had allowed churches from across Northern Ireland to voice their concern on the introduction of the proposals, but that these issues were ignored by the government. "[These proposals] are not the way forward desired by the churches in Northern Ireland in their responses to the consultation document," he said. The issue of Civil Partnerships in Northern Ireland has been raised before, with some religious leaders campaigning for the province to be exempt from the laws. However, gay campaigners said the region had no reason to be left out of the CPA when introduced. Civil Partnerships will be available from December 5th, with the first ceremonies taking place on December 21st after an initial "cooling off" period.

A newspaper and magazine columnist has written about how he became the object of an Ulster politician's homosexual desires. Leo McKinstry stated that he rejected "anguished" attempts at "intimacy" from Jim Kilfedder, who was the MP for North Down from 1970 to his death in 1995. Mr McKinstry also recalled one "embarrassing" incident when Mr Kilfedder voiced his affections after drinking too much wine at dinner in the House of Commons. The columnist's experiences are mentioned in an article for the current issue of The Spectator, an influential right-wing London-based magazine. Mr McKinstry, who also writes for a number of newspapers, described Mr Kilfedder as a "surprisingly flamboyant, cosmopolitan figure for the hard world of Ulster politics". He also stated: "Unfortunately, the searchlight of his flamboyance settled in my direction and for several years he was an awkward presence in my youth." The articles said the MP was "a decent and in many ways honourable man" who died of a heart attack "when gay rights activists threatened to expose him as a homosexual". It added: "I was never under any illusions about the nature of his interest in me, especially after one embarrassing evening when he took me to dinner at the House of Commons. "Having imbibed rather too much claret, he cried out in a loud voice, 'I can't bear to have this table between us any longer,' a statement which rather shook the Northern Labour MP at the table next to ours. "Through a cowardly unwillingness to avoid a confrontation, I allowed him to remain a friend, though I rejected all his anguished attempts at greater intimacy." The main theme of Mr McKinstry's article was that generations of boys have been the "subject of the attentions of enthusiastic but essentially harmless older men". Referring to this week's not guilty verdict in the Michael Jackson trial, the columnist stated: "The sort of behaviour Michael Jackson was charged with would until recently scarcely have raised an eyebrow if it came from the Latin master in many an English prep school." Calling for more tolerance of such behaviour if no abuse or exploitation occurs, Mr McKinstry argued that "hysteria" now surrounds the issue. "All this does no service in the battle against real child abuse. By making the definition of abuse so wide, by seeing danger at every turn, by putting the most sinister gloss on every act of affection, all rationality has been lost. "A sense of proportion has been replaced by one of panic and vindictiveness," he added. Jim Kilfedder was originally an Ulster Unionist MP. He split from the UUP in the 1970s to form the small Popular Unionist Party. He became Sir James Kilfedder in the latter stages of his long political career.

A student from Belfast was locked in a police cell overnight and fined £80 after calling a police horse 'gay'. Police claimed Sam Brown caused alarm or distress with his comments while celebrating the end of his university English exams. Now the 21-year-old plans to challenge his treatment. His outburst followed a night out drinking with friends in Oxford last month. Brown said: "I don't know why but I saw these two gigantic police horses and said that one of them was gay - at no stage did I swear. "One of the officers warned me not to say that But when the horses were about 70 yards up the road, I shouted it again, at which point these horses started trotting back up the road. "I said, This is ridiculous, you can't arrest me". "They said I was being belligerent and got patrol cars and six police officers, banged on the handcuffs and took me to the station." Brown, denied his comments were homophobic, adding: 2As far as I know, calling a horse gay is not offensive." Police confirmed he was arrested and issued with a fixed penalty notice. A spokesman said: "Although he thought calling a police horse 'gay' was funny, it could cause offence to people walking past".

The KREMLIN entertainment complex will tonight host a Get Well Kylie Night for the Australian pop princess. All money raised from the event, which is being held at the Kremlin nightclub in Belfast, will go towards the lifesaving research of leading cancer charity, the Ulster Cancer Foundation. Kylie Minogue was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently in Melbourne where she is being supported by her family and boyfriend Olivier Martinez as she fights the illness. Organisers of the event said that due to the popularity of the diminutive diva, who is a gay icon across the globe, it was decided to offer her huge fanbase in Northern Ireland an opportunity to send their get well wishes, while raising much-needed funds for a worthy cause. Aidie McClay, who is promoting the event, hopes up to 500 people will pack out the Belfast nightspot and said that the club will match pound for pound what is raised from customer donations. "The people who come to the Kremlin are normally very generous so we are very optimistic that we will raise a substantial amount of money." During the course of the evening, fans will be able to sign a huge get well card which will then be forwarded to Kylie's record company. And a Kylie lookalike, former Alternative Miss Ireland, Miss Tina Leggs Tantrum, will be performing her tribute on stage. Representatives from the Ulster Cancer Foundation will also be on hand to offer advice on breast cancer awareness.

The number of reported homophobic crimes in Northern Ireland has soared in the past twelve months, according to official figures released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The figures, released yesterday, point to an increase of 124 cases in the 2004/2005 period, with 196 cases compared to 71 in the preceding period. There were just 35 in the period 2002/2003. Racially motivated crimes also increased, with 813 cases reported in the last twelve months, compared to 453 the year before. Police say the rise may not reflect growing homophobic sentiment in Northern Ireland, but a renewed focus on the issue of gay hate crime in recent years. Additionally, it says it is working to thaw the traditionally frosty relationship between police officers and the gay community, in a bid to gain the trust of local lesbian and gay people and see more crimes reported. The statistics are unlikely to surprise campaigning groups, who have been anecdotally reporting rise in attacks over the last two years. Recent homophobic incidents have included physical and verbal assaults, as well as more violent attacks, including death threats. Organisations are now launching initiatives that they hope will help the PSNI engage more directly with the gay community. Additionally, they hope to bring all local community members together to ensure 'cross-stakeholder' support for anti-hate crime projects.

The country's largest greeting cards retailer Clinton Cards is to launch its first range of cards aimed directly at the lesbian and gay consumer. The company, a mainstay on high streets across Northern Ireland, will trial the range in the coming weeks at around 30 shops including the Belfast Branch. Speaking to Gay.com, Clinton Cards MD Mike Bugler said the cards would be transferred to all stores should the trial prove popular with card buyers. He said the "tasteful" cards were the company's first foray into the pink pound market. "If there's enough demand and people like what's being done, we will roll it out," he said. The cards are in black and white and are intended to be used in commitment ceremonies and civil partnerships, as well as more generic occasions including birthdays and celebrations. Mr Bugler said the cards were "quite subtle". On one he described, two champagne flutes are pictured with bow ties on each of them. "The whole point of this operation is we test the reaction to these cards," he said. "I wouldn't put the cards in in the first place, if I didn't think something was there," he added. "Initial signs are encouraging". The cards have been designed by card company Pink Pendulum Ltd, who approached Clinton with the idea. Other cards show images of men or women, while the champagne theme is also considered in candelabras and top hats.

Northern Ireland's newest Minister Shaun Woodward yesterday said he is ready for the tough job of helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland. His portfolio as Minister of State in the Northern Ireland office will include security, prisons and the police force, as well as health and education. His first challenge is to restart inter-party talks and restore devolved government and dismantle the paramilitary organisations that are still prominent. The triumph the Anti-Gay DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) - which took nine out of the province's 18 seats - is widely thought to have made that task more difficult. But Mr Woodward said: "There are still huge opportunities for the peace process - we need to get back to where we were in implementing the Good Friday agreement by building up trust." During his days as a That's Life producer, he regularly joined presenter Esther Rantzen as she canvassed opinion on the streets of the province. Mr Woodward decided to cross the floor of the Commons after his sacking for supporting the scrapping of anti-gay legislation Clause 28.

DUP vote drops in Newry and Armagh Election after Berry allegations (07 May 2005)

Paul Berry the DUP candidate under fire over allegations over his private life saw his vote drop in Newry and Armagh from the 2001 general election. He finished third in the constituency, behind new MP Conor Murphy of Sinn Fein and the SDLP's Dominic Bradley. Berry received 9,311 votes in this weeks election and 10,795 in 2001. Berry is threatening legal action against the Sunday World, the Irish News and the BBC over allegations over his private life originally made in the Sunday newspaper six days ago. There are no reports of writs being issued against the media outlets.

Paul Berry, the DUP’s Newry and Armagh candidate in Thursday’s Westminster elections, appeared to be keeping a low profile on Monday following an allegation in a Sunday newspaper that he took part in a gay sex act in a Belfast hotel. Mr Berry, who is married and an MLA for the area, failed to answer his phone when The Democrat attempted to ring him on several occasions on Monday, although it is understood that he strongly refutes the allegations which appeared in The Sunday World. A DUP source said that the matter raised a number of serious legal issues which lawyers are now pursuing on Mr Berry’s behalf. However, the same source was unwilling to comment on whether Mr Berry will still stand in this week’s elections or on whether the party’s leadership has discussed the issue with him. Sunday’s story alleged that Mr Berry met a gay man called Gary in the Ramada Hotel on Thursday for what the politician said was a massage to help his recovery from a sports injury. While Mr Berry admitted meeting Gary, he has denied that any sex act took place, although he is quoted in the newspaper as saying that the other man attempted to remove his (Mr Berry’s) boxer shorts. According to Gary, he first made contact with Mr Berry through an internet chat room and then received more than 120 text messages during a six day period before the meeting was arranged. Gary then alleges that he massaged the top of Mr Berry’s leg after being told that he had been injured playing football and then his side after the politician said that he had hurt himself when he fell over a fence. It was during this massage that Gary alleges that a sex act took place. In the Sunday World article, Mr Berry is quoted as saying that he is the victim of what he described as a ‘rig-up’ by his political opponents, specifically the Ulster Unionist Party. For his part, Gary insisted that his actions were not politically inspired, but were instead motivated by his anger at the attitude of the DUP and the Free Presbyterian Church towards gay people.

OK we have won web awards in the past (View our other awards) but imagine our suprise when Vancouver based website www.gayvancouver.net emailed Gay Belfast with the good news that we had won their website of the week. Check out what they say about us at www.gayvancouver.net "Who knew that gay life was so vibrant in Belfast!? We didn't until we came across Gay Belfast. Part political, part tour guide, this site has it all for visitors to and residents of Belfast! Well worth a visit if you're planning a trip to the Emerald Isle!"

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the man who ensured the Catholic church adhered to the Vatican's conservative and anti-gay doctrine, has been elected as the new Pope to the dismay of LGBT Catholics across the globe. Ratzinger will formally become the spiritual leader of the Catholic church on Sunday, after the decision was announced by white smoke from Rome's Sistine Chapel yesterday afternoon. The decision has shocked some Catholics in the western world, despite Ratzinger being tipped for the post earlier this week. They fear that his pontificate will be marked by the same right-wing ideology of Pope John Paul II on issues such as sexual diversity, women priests, abortion and contraception. As head of doctrine under the former pontiff, Ratzinger had called lesbian and gay people "intrinsically evil", had urged Catholic politicians to block or repeal legislation giving same-sex couples legal rights in the name of their religion and spoke out against lesbian and gay people being given rights in "the consignment of children to adoption or foster care, in employment of teachers or coaches, and in military recruitment". He advised lesbian and gay people to seek psychological help for their "illness" and tried to block attempts to publicise the child sex abuse scandals in the US branch of the Catholic church. He also called for Catholic pro-choice politicians - who support a woman's right to abortion - to be refused communion during the US presidential election last year. Many fear that he will follow Pope John Paul II's political interventions, but will lack the warmth that had endeared him to many. At 78 and the oldest pope to be elected in more than 100 years, he is also unlikely to make many journeys overseas in a bid to reach new Catholics. A spokesperson for the UK branch of We Are Church, reformists within the Catholic church, said Ratzinger's appointment will provoke "vigorous debate". "The choice of Joseph Ratzinger to be the new Bishop of Rome, and servant of the servants of God, will of course provoke controversy, vigorous debate and be seen as potentially divisive by many people within and beyond the Church," the group said in a statement. Although it pointed to Ratzinger's former support of liberal reform - as a younger man, he had been integral to the churches made by the second Vatican Council - they said his later transformation would cause "anxiety to many Catholics today". Ratzinger had switched to a more conservative stance during the period of social unrest during the 1960s. Since then he has been linked to a concerted effort to stamp out more left-wing ideas from the Church, helping him gain the nickname God's Rottweiler. A spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) says the election was "extremely bad news for the lesbian and gay community worldwide". "Ratzinger, who is renowned for his zeal in enforcing doctrinal orthodoxy, will prove to be even more homophobic than his predecessor," GALHA Secretary George Broadhead said. "The Vatican’s defamatory statements about homosexuality and its endless agitation against the rights of gay people, including civil partnership legislation, will be renewed and toughened under this new pope.” UK gay activist group Outrage said the appointment would disappoint lesbian and gay people both within and external to the church. "Our hope was that Pope John Paul II's successor would move the Catholic Church towards more enlightened and humane doctrines," the group's Brett Lock said. "This now seems extremely unlikely, since Ratzinger was the chief mover-and-shaker behind John Paul's rightwing regime." However, the We Are Church group says it does hold some hope for the next pontiff, namely through his choice of papal name: Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict XV was famed for helping push towards peace in the First World War, during his 1914-1922 reign. "His choice of the name, Benedict XVI, causes us to hope that, like Benedict XV, he will be a peace-maker, a reconciler. It must be remembered that Benedict XV brought an end to a theological 'reign of terror' which had existed within the Church at that time." "We Are Church UK earnestly hopes that Pope Benedict XVI will be encouraged and strengthened by all the people of God to regain his earlier theological courage and creativity," it said. Pope Benedict XVI will not officially take his place at the head of the church until his formal consecration, but he has already spoken of his objectives, as well as his perceived image. Speaking before entering the conclave just two days ago, he acknowledged that the "little boat of the thought of many Christians has been thrown from one extreme to another".

CoSO has today called for all political parties within Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom to sign up to ten pledges for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in Northern Ireland. “For far too long we have allowed politicians in Northern Ireland to negate their obligations, duties and responsibilities as our elected representatives. This ends with this election,” said James Knox, Convenor of the Coalition. CoSO has asked that all political parties sign up to the following election pledges:

1. To actively pursue a society that is free of discrimination for people of differing sexual orientation.

2. To publicly challenge and condemn all forms of discrimination, harassment, violence, homophobia etc towards members of the LGBT community.

3. To ensure that the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is fully supported in relation to its ‘duties’ for sexual orientation.

4. To actively support an inclusive Single Equality Act for Northern Ireland which ends discrimination for LGBT’s in relation to goods, facilities and services and other forms of discrimination acted out towards members of the LGBT community.

5. To enter into an on-going dialogue with organisations and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in order to take account of their developing needs and issues.

6. To support an inclusive, comprehensive and strong Bill of Rights that will benefit everyone in Northern Ireland including LGBT’s.

7. To strengthen the powers of and aim to support the work of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

8. To strengthen the powers of and aim to support the work of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

9. To help underpin the work of the LGBT community by developing government based funding initiatives which include LGBT’s and which can be accessed by LGBT organisations and individuals.

10. To lead in fostering a society for all in Northern Ireland where there is zero tolerance of homophobia and other forms of ‘hate’ such as racism, sectarianism, and discrimination towards people with a disability.

CoSO’s hopes are that the 2005 elections move the political parties, politicians and LGBT community into a new phase of renewed partnership working. There are so many existing and new avenues of inequality which need to be explored over the next few years as the LGBT community in Northern Ireland develops its voice and flexes its muscle. Politicians have the power and we will apply pressure and to get them to use it for the benefit of all. CoSO has also offered its services to the political parties to assist them in renewing their existing LGBT policies or in supporting them to develop a new policy over the next few months if they do not already have one. Knox continued by stating that, “In a democracy politicians are elected to represent us, we need to make sure that they do and in an equal way.”

The Irish government has decided to fight a legal claim for equality made by a same-sex couple, sparking accusations of acting "shamefully" by political opponents. The government announced late last week that it would challenge a legal case brought to the courts by a lesbian couple married in Canada. Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan say the legally binding marriage should be recognised by the Irish state, and that they should receive the accompanying financial benefits. They believe they are being discriminated against by both the Irish constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. They were given the go-ahead by a court ruling last November, in which the judge ruled that the case would break new ground for same-sex couples in Ireland and would have "far reaching issues". However, the government has said it will fight the case in the courts, despite announcing its support for civil unions last year. The stance has been attacked by the country's Fine Gael, Labour and Green parties. The Green Party's justice spokesperson told the Irish press that the legal action was "shameful", adding that the case is a "human rights issue". Both Ms Zappone and Ms Gilligan are expected to continue with the case, which they said was vital to recognising their "love and faithfulness". "Twenty-three years ago we made a commitment of life partnership to each other. We have been exceptionally blessed with our unconditional love for and our fidelity to one another. This case is about equality, fairness and human rights."

The Green Party is set to launch its LGBT manifesto for this year's election today, promising more protection against hate crime, improved sex education and more support for gay asylum seekers. The party, which is the third to launch a gay specific manifesto for May's vote, will also give civil marriage rights to same-sex couples, replacing the government's planned Civil Partnership laws, and will increase funding for sexual health clinics in a bid to crack down on the spread of STIs and HIV. Green's spokesperson Nigel Tart says the new manifesto shows the party's commitment to 'social justice'. "What separates the Greens from the opposition is the way our policies remain a reflection of our principles," Mr Tart said, "not some compromise acceptable to Middle England."

Other promises in the manifesto are:
Ensure the Proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights address homophobia and transphobia on a par with all other discrimination
Extend employment protection laws to close the current 'religious exemption' loopholes
Withdraw charitable status from organisations refusing to abandon discrimination policies
Require police forces to adopt and implement action plans on homophobia and transphobia hate crimes

The manifesto has been backed by activist Peter Tatchell, who switched from Labour to become a full member of the Green Party last year. “Greens want the harmonisation of European laws to guarantee gay equality and outlaw homophobic discrimination across the entire continent, from Dublin to Moscow and from Oslo to Athens," he said in a statement today. “I am voting Green and I urge everyone who supports gay human rights to vote for their local Green candidate. A big pink vote for the Greens will encourage the grey parties to adopt more gay-friendly policies. He also praised the choice of gay London Assembly member Darren Johnson as the party's leader.

New figures released by local police suggest homophobic attacks have trebled in the Northern Ireland city of Derry, with gay groups warning of increases across the whole province. The statistics, which reveal 49 incidents were reported to officers between April 2004 and March 2005, come as the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee warned the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to do more for minority communities. During the same period last year, just 17 incidents were reported. The figures reflect a growing awareness of the homophobia problem in Northern Ireland on the whole. Recent reports have suggested an increase in both frequency and ferocity against gay people in the province, with attacks ranging from verbal abuse to excrement smeared on houses and death threats. The report from the House of Commons Committee came last week, and criticised the PSNI for not doing enough to protect LGBT and ethnic communities in Northern Ireland. It said the PSNI was relying on a "sluggish and disjointed" approach that was resulting in an increase in attacks. The police said it was working hard to improve both its efficiency and image amongst minority communities. In a statement released in response, Northern Ireland gay group Rainbow Project said the Committee was right to question the PSNI. "In light of this enquiry and the most recent figures from police it is a matter of particular concern that practical strategies aimed at challenging homophobia are virtually non-existent in Northern Ireland," project coordinator David McCartney said. However, it questioned the suggestion that only 7% of cases continue through the prosecution process. "The Rainbow Project fears that the clear up rate for homophobic hate crimes is far lower as we are only aware of one successful prosecution last year," McCartney said. "There are tens of thousands of gay people living here whose needs are not being addressed despite positive words from political leader’s and the authorities," he said, noting that initiatives had been introduced in the city recently. He also called on victims of homophobia to not shy away from reporting their attacks. "The Rainbow Project further feels that the numbers of reported incidents will continue to rise as we get a more accurate reflection of the full extent of homophobia in society." "We urge people who have experienced homophobia to contact us; we are here to support you in any way that you feel is most appropriate including involving police, community restorative justice, housing authorities or other victim support agencies," he added.

The Irish Big Brother star Brian Dowling was the inspiration for Daffyd, 'the only gay in the village' character in the Little Britain comedy series, it has emerged. Matt Lucas, the star of the series, says he got the idea for the character when a second gay contestant was sent in to join Dowling in the Big Brother house. "He seemed quite comfortable being the only gay in the house but the arrival of the more mature gay man Josh put him out," Lucas told Channel 4. The Little Britain character lives in a small Welsh town, where he tries to offend villagers with his sexuality. Much to his annoyance, a lot of them are gay or bisexual too. Dowling, from Kildare, won Big Brother in 2001 and has since become a successful television presenter.

The police clearance rate for racial and homophobic incidents in Northern Ireland is disturbingly low, a new report claimed last night. And even though the level of hate crime is increasing, the approach by authorities is disjointed, sluggish and lacking in vision, according to an all-party committee of MPs. Until recently, the police service had no formal definition of sectarian hate crime which was alarming given the country's troubled history, the Northern Ireland Affairs committee alleged. Less than 7% of incidents recorded as crimes by the police resulted in charges or summonses and the committee said it was greatly concerned about the very low level of confidence which most ethnic, as well as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities have in the police. The committee recognised the steps taken by the police to develop more effective relationships and to improve its training strategies, but said much more needed to be done to heighten confidence. They recommended the policing board secure higher levels of recruitment from the minority ethnic communities as a matter of priority. The report claimed: "It is deeply worrying that minority communities do not have full confidence in the police, particularly against the background of increased incidence of hate crime. This situation must be changed rapidly." The committee claimed the Northern Ireland Office and the criminal justice agencies had also shown a lack of firm and effective leadership. The agencies appeared to be aware of the problem and were taking some action but these were initial steps only. Without victims' reports, the police and the authorities could do nothing. Worse still, the impression may persist that there was simply no problem to address. The committee said it was concerned by the failure of the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister to produce strategies and agree timetables which had a direct bearing on hate crime.

A Northern Ireland TV company is looking for grown men, still living at home, to take part in an exciting new series. The entertaining series will take a group of young men away from the bosom of the family home and transform them into independent, self-sufficient men. The series which will be broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland later in the year and will be called Mummy's Boys. The producers of the programme are currently looking for one more candidate, who they say should be outgoing and have a good sense of humour. Candidates can either contact the television company directly or be nominated by a friend or family member. Assistant Producer Michelle O'Dowd said "we all know one. He's between 25 and 45 and should have left home long ago, but for one reason or another he just hasn't got round to it." She added "we also want to feature the mothers who have allowed their sons to stay at home for so long. It's bound to be a fascinating series and a lot of fun into the bargain." The Producers are not saying exactly how the boys will be transformed, but have hinted at a series of trials and tests supervised by a team of experts. The six part series is being made by Holywood based independent TV company Extreme Production and will be filmed later in the spring. Candidates, or anyone interested in nominating someone should contact Ronan or Michelle without delay at 028 90809050, mobile 07840 712203 or by email michelle@extremeproduction.com.

A lesbian has won a "breakthrough" legal battle over access to the two children of her former lover, who is the biological mother of the girls. Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Thorpe reversed a ruling made in November at Telford County Court, which denied a joint residence order to the woman, 46. She now shares responsibility for the girls, six and three, with the mother. This is the only way a same-sex partner who is not a biological parent can claim such responsibility. Lord Justice Thorpe, a specialist in family law, said "firm measures" needed to be taken to safeguard "a vital side" of the children's life. It was the first case of its kind to reach the Court of Appeal, which imposed reporting restrictions barring identification of any of the parties involved.

Attacks on the gay community have been commonplace among the Pope’s pronouncements in recent years. Many tributes to him in the past few days have concentrated on him taking on communism in Poland – few have had the balls to go into detail about his fights against homosexuality that have undoubtedly aided persecution of gays throughout the world. In recent years he has also issued papal bulls preventing raped women from taking the morning after pill or HIV positive men using condoms while having sex. The Pope and his Church are directly responsible for spreading disease, killing millions and promulgating misery throughout the world. But that’s all right, because he was absolved of all his sins on his death. Isn’t it nice to think of John Paul using that wonderful Catholic get-out clause so he can rest in peace. Whereas the rest of us just have a royal wedding and an election to look forward to. And no more Pope. Gay Belfast's choice of tie for the funeral on Friday is likely to be the lurid pink of our website rather than a sombre black. Happy days. Talking of pathetic old religious geezer's. Jerry Falwell the fundamentalist Christian who formed the Moral Majority movement in the States, lies critically ill. Mr Falwell, like the Pope, doesn’t like The Gays. In fact, in one of his outbursts he blamed us for the September 11 attacks. He said: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen’.” Hmmm. Anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-modernisation. And mad. Remind you of anyone else? Let's have your list.

David McCartney, Development Co-ordinator with the Rainbow Project said "Staff, volunteers and service users at the Rainbow Project are appalled at the latest in a series of homophobic articles perpetrated by so called ‘pro-life’ campaigner Jennifer Barber and are outraged by her misuse of the current education crises as a thin veil to stage this verbal assault on some of the most vulnerable people in society.
If anything the people of this city should be united in opposing the WELB cuts and not using them as an excuse to espouse personal prejudice against a minority. To infer that researching the severe conditions faced by gays in the education system over two years ago is somehow at the centre of a hidden agenda to undermine moral values is scaremongering at its absolute worst. Right now, young people are being grievously harmed by societal homophobia and such prejudicial comments only feeds into those engaging in hate crimes. The Shout Report which was launched by the Children’s Commissioner was a vital piece of research. This report for the first time highlighted the terrible impact of homophobia on young people in the education system. It highlighted that young gay people are traumatised by bullying and that they are five times more likely to be medicated for depression. This report was carried out against a backdrop of spiralling homophobic attacks and at a time when priests and ministers continued to officiate at the funerals of young people who have died by suicide as they felt they had nowhere to go for fear of moral judgement. Lives destroyed and families devastated because of twisted beliefs and taboos, little has been done since then to change that, those efforts which are taking place currently, whilst welcome, fail to even scratch the surface. The Rainbow Project in Derry has not received a single penny from the education coffers and is the only gay group operating outside the Belfast area. Foyle Friend closed two years ago due to lack of funding and as things stand The Rainbow Project is facing severe cuts in its services which are currently operating at full stretch in order to meet an ever increasing demand. Anti-gay campaigns should not be allowed to hide behind legitimate banners such as pro-life and pro family! To make this unbalanced article front page news is an affront. Such a thinly veiled attack on any other minority would not be tolerated; indeed it would be met with cries of shame by the media and politicians. This type of prejudice is not acceptable and only causes further hurt and pain. When highlighting inequality we have been accused of splitting hairs by some politicians, if people could only see the damage done by homophobia and the terrible price gay people have to pay for refusing to hide and pretend to be something they are not they might finally begin to understand what marginalisation can do to a community. In the meantime we will continue to help people pick up the pieces. To the many gay people out there and their families and friends we say don’t stand for this, name this for what it is bigotry and personal prejudice. Raise your voices and be heard".

The Housing Executive (the state housing authority in Northern Ireland) has announced it will introduce reforms next month, in a move that will offer lesbian and gay residents protection against discrimination for the first time. The Housing Executive says it will introduce the reforms from April, following criticisms by gay rights groups earlier this week. They were angry that a man was seemingly forced to flee from his home in Londonderry after being at the centre of verbal and physical abuse. Because the Housing Executive assesses complaints of abuse on a scale of intimidation that does not include sexuality, bosses refused to move the 20-year-old student.
He moved to England earlier this year, but told the Belfast Telegraph that he would have preferred to stay in his local area. "They (Housing Executive) said we can't give you the intimidation points because it was a homophobic attack and not sectarian, and that was the rules. It made me feel like they were against me too. They wouldn't help me out at all." Now the body says it will introduce abuse based on sexuality in its intimidation policy. Presently, the policy only allows for victims who are intimidated because of terrorism, sectarian or racist abuse. A spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph that the changes will "broaden" the definition of intimidation. Northern Ireland has been the focus of the media in recent months, with homophobic attacks seemingly on the rise in both frequency and ferocity. Victims have suffered from a range of abuse, both physical and verbal, with one victim having his house smeared in excrement. Last week, another victim revealed he was beaten by two men who claimed to be members of the IRA.

Gay Belfast Singer Brian Kennedy finding life couldn't be much better (16 March 2005)

St Patrick's Day on BBC 1 NI at 10.50pm a one-off special, Brian Kennedy in New York, finds him looking at the impact Irish music has made on the Big Apple. In the show, Brian Kennedy traces how musicians with Irish - and Northern Irish - roots have left their mark on Broadway, Madison Square Gardens and Carnegie Hall. "Do you know," he says, "that the song Give My Regards to Broadway was written by an Irishman - George M Cohan? He changed his name from Keoghen because he felt that no-one would know how to pronounce it. Kennedy performs some of his favourite songs, duetting with Michael Ball, Moya Brennan, Liam Clancy and Dolores Keane. And there are also reminiscences from the likes of Dana and Terry Wogan. The 37 year old singer from west Belfast, agrees that now is a good time for him. He's confident, happy and, in some ways, more self-sufficient than ever. "Life is extraordinary," he says. "This industry can be so peculiar. One minute you are riding the crest of a wave; the next, you're not. To be able to work full-time is a privilege beyond words. I love what I'm doing at the minute - it's a mix of so many different things. It's like crop rotation - sometimes I give the singing a rest and move on to writing, then it's back to singing. And I like being on the road, too. I cope with being on my own okay, although sometimes I've a tour manager with me. The truth is, I've always been independently-minded since I was a wee boy. Maybe that's a consequence of being one of a family of six and always feeling you had to carve out your own path." But Kennedy, who is about to sell his home in Killahoe and set up permanent home in Dublin, remains as cagey as ever over whether there is someone special in his life. He came out as gay a few years back but he's never been publicly photographed with a partner. "There are a few special people in my life," he says when the subject comes up in a interview with Gail Walker from the Belfast Telegraph. "But, hey, I'm passionate about so many things - watching movies, having dinner parties, collecting art. Life couldn't be much better at the moment."

A gay man who fled the Northern Ireland after being stabbed and beaten in a savage homophobic assault has spoken of his relief to the Belfast Telegrapgh as his attacker faced three years behind bars. Gerard McKinney was jailed after pleading guilty to wounding with intent Jim Maguire at his Londonderry home in last summer. Mr Maguire said he was "glad" McKinney had been jailed but added that he had hoped for a longer sentence. The attack took place after Mr Maguire let a female friend, two other girls and McKinney, whom he did not know, come to his house on June 5, 2004. Mr Maguire said that he had gone to his bedroom later in the evening and dozed off. He awoke in pain a short time later when McKinney began to hit him repeatedly on the head. "The next thing I knew I was on the floor and pieces of my two front teeth were lying beside me. I played dead," he said. Crown Counsel Stephen Fowler told a Belfast Court that the girls took McKinney to the kitchen to calm him down but he lifted a small kitchen knife, returned to the bedroom, and stabbed Mr Maguire in the chest. In a bizarre twist, McKinney then used his victim's mobile phone to call an ambulance and assisted Mr Maguire to the end of the road to await its arrival. But as they sat on a wall, the sadistic attack resumed. Mr Maguire said McKinney asked to see his wound. "I showed it to him and he stuck his finger in it and twisted his finger round. He said: 'If you tell the cops that was me, you are dead, you queer bastard." Speaking from his new home in England, Mr Maguire says he has no plans to ever return to Northern Ireland. "I don't really want to be in England but I am terrified over there," he said. "I hate the man who did this and I am glad he has gone down." Defence counsel Eilish McDermott, QC, told the court hearing that McKinney's behaviour resulted from "a combination of his propensity for violence, his abuse of alcohol and to a lesser extent, drugs". Sentencing McKinney to three years and 15 months probation, Judge Tom Burgess ordered him to undergo treatment for alcohol abuseand anger management.

Leaders of the 70 million-strong Anglican Communion have been meeting this week in Belfast to discuss an ongoing crisis that threatens to split the church. The 38 primates will consider the so-called Windsor Report, published after the consecration of gay bishop Gene Robinson in America and the blessing of same sex unions in Canada. African and Asian leaders have started a campaign to restore order and to discipline an American Church which, they say, has departed from the Bible and Anglican tradition.

Belfast born actress Geraldine Hughes is the toast of New York at the moment with her play 'Belfast Blues'. Set in Belfast in the 1970's and 1980's, Belfast Blues is one wee girl's story of family, war, Jesus, and Hollywood. Simultaneously funny and tragic, this touching piece allows Ms. Hughes to portray 24 different characters, from her parents and neighbors to, most importantly, her younger self. "It's drawn from my memories of growing up in war-torn Belfast. Maybe telling my story will not only give people an insight about kids in war, but will inspire others to tell their story as well," said Geraldine. Although the 34-year-old actress never intended to write a play, it was a friend that finally convinced her that her experiences growing up in Belfast needed to be told, and the result is a one-woman show that has won accolades, and the support of Hollywood veteran Angelica Huston. 'Belfast Blues' played in Belfast in November 2004 as part of the Belfast Festival.

The launch of a new Belfast bus network, which sees pink buses on the streets for the first time, has suffered some teething problems. Ian Paisley Junior will not be using them! "So called 'Bendy Buses' are bad enough but painting them pink is the last straw" complained Mr Paisley Junior in the Portadown News. Given the DUP's near pathological obsession with all things gay, the party surely has no choice but to organise a boycott of this mode of transport. Their colour, after all, has long been associated with gayness. So to save Ulster from sodomy (again) the DUPers and their allies in the Free Presbyterian Church ought to demand that a more macho gloss be painted over the vehicles; possibly royal blue or maybe lily-white, the latter being the same colour as the clear collective conscience of all those true-believing homo haters.

Anglican bishops to meet in Belfast to discuss the ordaination of Gene Robinson (08 February 2005)

Conservative Anglican bishops have demanded that the US branch of the church repent for ordaining an openly gay bishop and reverse the action ahead of a meeting of congregational leaders in Northern Ireland. Nigerian primate Peter Akinola, a spokesperson for Anglican bishops from Asia, Africa and Latin America who met here this week, said the US Episcopal Church must "repent" for ordaining a homosexual, Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire in November 2003. "America must repent, they must put a stop to that practice," Akinola told reporters here. "If God says (homosexuality) is an abomination, they should say it is an abomination... if God says it is wrong, then it is wrong." Anglican leaders from around the world will meet in Belfast from February 20 to 26 to discuss a report commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, after several conservative provinces threatened to split in the wake of Robinson's ordination. Asked whether they would permanently split if the US branch fails to reverse course, Akinola replied: "When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it."

A DUP Assembly member claimed today Christians are being persecuted by equality laws after Ian Paisley junior was officially censured for attacking the civic union / marriage of Ulster Unionist advisor Stephen King. The Policing Board passed a motion describing Mr Paisley as "homophobic" and saying his attack was "incompatible with the policies and practices" of the Board. The motion referred to comments Mr Paisley made on Monday, when he attacked Ulster Unionist advisor Stephen King, who is also a Belfast Telegraph columnist, for reportedly marrying his male partner in Canada. Mr Paisley had claimed gay marriage is "offensive" to most people in Northern Ireland. "I think these sorts of relationships are immoral, offensive and obnoxious," he said. George Dawson, leader of a Christian organisation, described the Policing Board's censure of Mr Paisley as "a further warning of the religious persecution which evangelical Christians will face as the distorted equality agenda gathers momentum". "If the remarks on Mr Paisley are incompatible with the standards of the PSNI, then it is those standards which need to change," he said. "Not only is gay marriage offensive and obnoxious, but it is also immoral and an attack on the basis of civilised society." Speaking as chairman of the Caleb foundation, Mr Dawson claimed equality legislation "requires public bodies and others to promote equality for deviant lifestyles". He said this made the law "discriminatory against those with strong religious convictions".

Democratic Unionist Party spokesman and homophobe Ian Paisley Junior worked himself into lather over a report in the Daily Mirror's Northern Ireland edition that Ulster Unionist Party Leader David Trimble's political adviser had married his boyfriend in Canada. Stephen King's civil union with his long-term partner across the Atlantic made the front page of the tabloid newspaper included a wedding day photograph of the happy couple. The picture was accompanied by a dose of moral outrage that climaxed with homo haters Ian Paisley Junior demanding David Trimble sack his adviser simply because King had pledged his life to the man he loves. By Thursday this conflated controversy had extended to the north's Policing Board with independent members such as Tom Kelly demanding that Paisley Junior (himself also a member of the board) be censured for homophobic remarks. Henry McDonald in the Guardian said "There is something deeply disturbing about the way DUP politicians are quick to make juvenile anti-gay remarks in council chambers or, in the case of Newtonabbey councillor Paul Girvan, on district police partnership boards. Perhaps then it's time for the gay activist Peter Tatchell to re-boot his outing campaign of the early 1990s when he threatened to expose homosexual MPs (in the main from the Tory party) who were active on the gay scene while voting for anti-gay legislation in parliament. A perfect place to start would be Northern Ireland where homophobic attitudes are more prevalent although not widespread compared to Britain. Given the size of the party and its growing support base, there must be gay DUP members out there living a double-life of backing blatant homophobic policies. They would make ideal candidates for a fresh bout of Tatchellite outing. Although Tatchell, like any right-minded person, should feel nothing but sympathy for the way Stephen King's private life was made a public issue, the former Labour candidate and courageous hounder of Robert Mugabe should not forget the record of King's own party on gay rights. In a disgraceful display of opportunism, the Ulster Unionists remain opposed to the Blair government's plan to legalise civil unions between gay men and lesbians even though the party has in its ranks many other gay members as well as King."

To celebrate LGBT History Month, The Rainbow Project is joining with the Irish Queer Archive to present 'Pride and Protest'. This exhibition traces the evolution of the lesbian and gay civil rights movement in Ireland and includes an array of information, documentation and memorabilia from LGBT college societies, the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) 'Save Ulster From Sodomy' campaign of the early 1980s, the Carpenter Club in Belfast, Jeff Dudgeon's legal challenges against the UK government and more. The exhibition will be hosted by Belfast Central Library and located in the first floor reading room. It will run from Monday 7 February until the end of the month.

HIV in Northern Ireland is on the rise according to the latest Department of Health statistics that show 31 new cases recorded from January to September of 2004 - the same number for the overall 2003 figure. And new cases for the first six months of 2003 were double the number for the same period in 2002.
Around 450 people (including five children) in Northern Ireland are now believed to have the virus which can cause Aids. To date, 142 people have died in Northern Ireland from Aids. The latest figures have sparked calls for services in the province to be better resourced. Currently waiting times for assessment can stretch to six weeks and up to 700 patients are on the Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital list. DUP MP Iris Robinson said "Controlling HIV requires easy access to provide rapid diagnosis, and good management to prevent onward transmission. The rise in HIV, alongside increasing rates of other sexually transmitted infections, indicate the need for genitourinary medicine services in the province to be better resourced. Factors that contribute to the increasing rate of HIV are increased sexual contacts from overseas and the fact that many in the current generation did not live through the initial HIV scare and have less awareness of its dangers. Government has estimated the cost of preventing each single onward transmission of HIV is between £0.5m and £1m."

Irish actor Colin Farrell has received two nominations in the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awards shortlist, for his roles in the films Alexander and A Home at the End of the World. The Irish stud's last two films were nominated in the Best Film categories in the US organisation's annual list, which recognises the positive representation of LGBT people in international media. Joining the short list in a relative bumper year for lesbian and gay film on wide release are Monster and high school satire Saved. Kinsey, which is yet to be released in the Northern Ireland, has also been recognised. Spanish Director, Pedro Almodóvar's Bad Education, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, has been nominated in the limited release category. Farrell's films have grabbed the headlines for their gay content, and A Home is being tipped to win the prize. It follows the interweaving relationships between three friends in the 1970s and 1980s, and was written by The Hours author Michael Cunningham. Despite the films indeed credentials, it has became the centre of a tabloid frenzy after it was rumoured that a full frontal scene featuring Farrell was cut because movie chiefs feared it was too "distracting" for the audience. The GLAAD Media awards will be handed out on 28th March in New York, 30th April in LA and June 11th in San Francisco. You can read review of Alexander in our Film section.

Gerard Steven McKinney appeared today at Bishop Street Court, Londonderry, to face charges of serious wounding with intent. The charges relate to an incident which resulted in the stabbing of a gay man in the waterside area of the city on the 5th June 20004. In addition to the stab injury the victim was subjected to a sustained and ‘terrifying’ assault including being kicked punched and struck on the head with a clothes iron. McKinney, who had previously been refused bail, pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded pending reports before sentencing. The victim, Mr Jim McGuire a Rainbow Project volunteer, told staff at the project that he was greatly relieved by this development, but he had found coming to court to face his attacker distressing. “The police, who have been very supportive, suggested that I may wish to leave the court as victims can often feel upset by coming face to face with their attacker in the same room. I had a friend and staff from Rainbow with me for support and decided that for the sake of closure I should stay”. “What I went through was horrific; it has scarred me physically and emotionally. The homophobic element of the attack has meant me moving to England as I no longer feel safe in Derry which I believe is an intolerant place. When I saw him today he was flanked by prison officers and brought up from the cells and I realised that he wasn’t such a hard man after all, just another bully who has got his comeuppance. “ The Rainbow Project believes that it is extremely important for our community that perpetrators of hate crimes are pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We are living in an area where hate crimes are commonplace and reports continue to rise at an alarming rate. This attack has seriously affected this young mans life, he no longer feels able to live in his home city, indeed he found returning to Derry to attend court a very distressing experience and cannot wait to leave again. As a community we cannot continue to tolerate an environment that drives young people from their homes, friends and family, this is something we must change.

Sean Morrin from The Rainbow Project will speak alongside others at The Holocaust Memorial Service which will be held in Derry this year. The event which will take place at The Waterside Museum at 3pm on Sunday January 23rd. The event will remember all people who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis. Sean Morrin said "It is a privelege and honour to be asked to speak at such an event. This is also an opportunity to remember among the millions murdered that tens of thousands of gay men and women were experimented on and murdered by the Nazis but above all it is a day to let the world know we can not forget the Holocaust and all who died and suffered."

A new TV guide targeting lesbian and gay viewers has been launched, aiming to cover the many films and programmes across the 150 channels available that it believes gay people would be interested in. Combining specifically gay programmes with features that would be of interest to gay viewers, LoveMyTv is looking to marry cult classics with gay movies, camp comedies and lesbian documentaries. Director Robert Hutchinson says the project is intended to help guide viewers through the shows available on their TV, and help focus their TV watching time. "TV has changed, but the way most viewers navigate around TV schedules means they are not getting the most out of the TV available," Hutchinson said today. "LoveMyTV offers a unique service by compiling listings from across dozens of channels, a task that would be impossible for viewers reading through traditional printed guides". He says the guide helps provide a "context" for viewers. It follows a growth of gay specific television in the past 12 months, with gay characters gradually appearing in mainstream soaps and other programmes. Despite complaints from a minority of its audience, Coronation Street introduced the first gay kiss in its 43-year history, while police drama The Bill recently staged the first fictional gay wedding on British TV. Additionally, make over and relationship shows are increasingly focusing on gay contestants, while brands such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy have helped solidify a gay presence on television. Hutchinson says the LoveMyTv website will offer a list of the most popular shows that they believe will be demanded most by gay viewers. However, he says the device is not just open to LGBT people. "Any viewers who appreciate a gay sensibility, a sexually diverse outlook or want to keep up with the viewing choices of this key trendsetting audience will benefit," he maintains. The guide is available at LoveMyTv.com

A new survey from Northern Ireland's leading gay rights and health group the Rainbow Project is aiming to reveal the true picture of being a young gay or bisexual man living in the province. Focusing on gay and bisexual men aged 25 and under who live or were brought up in the region, organisers behind the stuffy hope that by finding official statistics of the current situation, gay people will be better protected from attacks and bullying. The research has already garnered widespread approval and support, including from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) Nigel Williams, who believes it will be vital in protecting future generations of young gay people. "We are aware of the homophobic abuse suffered by young gay men in Northern Ireland and the consequent negative impact on young men," he said today, adding that his department were "very supportive" of the research. He said that the research heralded the first steps in promoting positive mental health amongst young gay men. "In order to achieve this however the whole of society will need to adopt positive attitudes, tolerance and acceptance of difference in Northern Ireland". The study comes in the wake of high profile attacks on gay men in the province. As well as verbal and violent attacks, other anti-gay incidents include graffiti and excrement smeared on a house. One gay couple were even given death threats and ordered to move out of the area. The research is part of the Boyz II Men initiative, which is funded by the Diana Princess of Wales memorial fund. It aims to address mental health issues; something the group's coordinator says is still absent in other projects. "Anecdotally we have always been aware of high levels of poor mental health among our young gay population in Northern Ireland and this research is vital to help us get a clearer picture of how to help these socially isolated young men," Boyz II Men forum coordinator David Hiles said today. The questionnaire is available on The Rainbow Project's website at www.rainbow-project.org/survey.html or a booklet format with freepost return envelopes can be obtained by contacting Helen McNamee at 028 9031 9030 or research@rainbow-project.org.

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