DECEMBER 2009

Dec 31:  Russia:  No New Year Party at Moscow’s Oldest Gay Dance Club - Body & Soul Club Shut Down Amid Political Corruption Allegations.   The closing of Moscow’s oldest gay dance club, Club Body & Soul, has been named the “main event” of 2009 by the website GayRussia.ru.  And the Moscow Prefect who initiated the closure has been named ‘Homophobe of the Year’.

Dec 25:  Belarus:  Gay Activists Fined for Taking Part in Human Rights Demo Near Iranian Embassy in Minsk.  The chairman of LGBT Human Rights project, GayBelarus, Sergey Androsenko, received a Christmas present earlier this week from the Belarus authorities.  He was fined the equivalent of a month’s pay – 875,000 Belarus Roubles when found guilty of organising a three-person demonstration against the execution of gays in Iran close to the Iranian Embassy in Minsk.

Dec 24:  Georgia:  Georgian Police Raids Office of Gay Group, Arrests, Detains ILGA-Europe Board Member.  Georgia police have raided an office of the country’s gay and lesbian group, Inclusive Foundation, and have arrested Paata Sabelashvili, the group’s leader.

Dec 21:  USA:  Irene Monroe: The Right’s Bogus War on Christmas.  Commentary by Rev. Irene Monroe.   What’s in a greeting?   I know all people - religious and non-religious, straight and queer, black and white – can be included to enjoy and to celebrate and to acknowledge this season with one simple greeting: Happy Holidays!

Dec 20:  UK:  Invited Press Not Welcomed by Bouncer at New Gay Night Spot.  Gloucester’s new “lifestyle” hotel and club, “Mystiques”, staged their first “gay night” last night. But despite being invited, and on the establishment’s “VIP list” for the evening, UK Gay News is unable to report on this new venture, which caused considerable controversy from outspoken “anti-gay” religious groups in September.

Dec 17:  Uganda:  European Parliament Firmly Denounces Ugandan ‘Anti-Gay’ Bill.  The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, today adopted a resolution strongly condemning the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009, a Private Members Bill, said to have the support of the Government, tabled by David Bahati MP in the Ugandan Parliament.
 
Dec 14:  USA:  Irene Monroe: Race and Queer Divide in Episcopal Church With Election of Gay Bishop.  Commentary by Rev. Irene Monroe.  On December 5, cheers reverberated across the country with the news that at the 114th annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles two women were elected as bishops – Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce of California, and Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool of Maryland.

Dec 11:  USA/Uganda:  Outraged US Senator Blasts Uganda Over Anti-Gay Bill - Vatican Tells UN it Condemns Violation of Gay Rights.   A leading United States Senator today expressed his “outrage” at the the Ugandan ‘private member’s bill, The Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009, which is due to be discussed in Parliament, while, in an unexpected statement at the United Nations in New York yesterday, the Vatican said itcondemned the violations of human rights of gays and trensgender people.

Dec 11:  UK/Uganda:  Protesters in London Urge Uganda to Drop the ‘Anti-Gay’ Bill. Nearly 100 protesters rallied outside the Ugandan High Commission yesterday – Human Rights Day– to support the Ugandan LBGTI community.   They called on the Ugandan government to drop its draconian Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009, which is about to be debated by the Ugandan parliament.

Dec 9:  Denmark:  Moscow Gay Pride Awarded the Europahøjskolen Prize.  Students at the Europahøjskolen (European School) in northern Denmark have recognised the struggle of the gay community in Moscow for the past four years to stage a Gay Pride in the Russian capital.

Dec 8:  USA:  Lesbian Priest Re-ignites Church Anti-Gay Storm.  Commentary by Rev. Irene Monroe.   Since the 2003 consecration of the Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the church’s first openly gay bishop, that set off a worldwide firestorm of reactions, both positive and negative, the recent election of an openly lesbian candidate, the Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool of Baltimore, as bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles will re-ignite the storm once again.

Dec 8:  USA:  McDonald’s Acts in Case Over Remarks Made to Transgender Teen Who Applied for Job.   The McDonald’s fast-food outlet in Salt Lake Road, Orlando, Florida, took swift action yesterday following allegations that a member of staff had made a homophobic remark to a transgender teenager who had applied for a job.

Dec 7:  USA:  “We Do Not Hire Faggots,” McDonald’s Tells Transgender Florida Teen.   A complaint has been filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations against a McDonald’s ‘restaurant’ in Orlando by the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund for refusing to hire 17-years-old Zikerria Bellamy because she is transgender.

Dec 7:  USA/The Netherlands:  New Gay-Friendly Children’s Book on Adoption by Two Daddies.   Today, a remarkable new children’s book has been published in English and Dutch: Arwen and her Daddies (Arwen en Haar Papa’s) by Dutch author and adoptive father Jarko De Witte van Leeuwen.

Dec 7:  Gibraltar:  Gay Rights Group Questions Proposed New Law in Gibraltar.   Equality Rights Group GGR Chairman Felix Alvarez has today questioned the publication of a proposed new Bill by Government granting exclusive powers to the Chief Minister or his designate to refer issues of constitutional compatibility to the courts.

Dec 6:  UK:  Gay Humanists Celebrate Close Link with Ethical Society and Opening of Conway Hall.   The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) will be holding a special theatrical event this week to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the opening of Conway Hall, a famous London landmark, which is owned by the South Place Ethical Society (SPES).

Dec 2:  UK:  Outrage!: Gays, Lesbians, Transgender Denied Protection in UK Equality Bill.  The Government was today accused by Outrage! of thwarting attempts to table amendments to the Equalities Bill.  The Bill, which is has its ‘report stage’ in the House of Commons today (December 2), has been allocated one day.

Dec 1:  Uganda:  The European Union Speaks Out Against the Ugandan Anti Homosexuality Bill.   The infamous Ugandan Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009 was vehemently denounced yesterday in Luanda, Angola, by EU representatives during the 18th session of the ACP (African-Caribbean-Pacific)/EU (European Union) Joint Parliamentary Assembly.