May 2006

May 31:  Eastern Europe:    Bludgeon Gays at Warsaw Pride, Says Polish Politician. A senior Member of the European Parliament has denounced the Polish right wing coalition government for the latest outburst of intolerance against minorities made by the vice chairman of the one of the governing parties who has urged that gays attending Warsaw Pride on June 10 “be bludgeoned”.
May 31:  Russia:    Moscow Police and Fascists Wreck Gay Pride.  Peter Tatchell's Final Thoughts on Moscow.  Russian gays have won an important moral and political victory. Yuri Luzhkov said a gay pride parade would never happen while he was Mayor of Moscow. But Moscow Pride did happen, on 27 May, despite the Mayor’s ban, police arrests, and violence from neo-fascists, right-wing nationalists and Orthodox Christian fundamentalists.
May 27:  Russia:  Moscow's Gay Pride Violently Suppressed.  By Peter Tatchell.  The Mayor of Moscow said gay Pride would never happen while he was alive.  He mobilised a quarter of the Moscow police, over 1,000 officers, to prevent the gay parade. 
May 27:  Russia:    Luzhkov Leaving  Field Open for People of Violence and Prophets of Murder — Volker Beck.  This is the full text of he speech by openly gay Green Party member of the German Bundestages Volker Beck to the International Day Against Homophobia conference today in Moscow.  The conference was part of Moscow Pride.
May 27:  Russia:  Moscow Gay Pride Under Siege.  Organisers of the banned Moscow Gay Pride are adamant.  There will be some form of public demonstration in the Russian capital this afternoon.
May 26:  Europe:    Council of Europe Chief Condemns Homophobia.  Terry Davis, the secretary general of the Council of Europe, has sent a message of support, titled ‘Tolerance is not Enough’, to participants of the International Day Against Homophobia which is being held as part of Moscow Gay Pride.
May 26:  Poland:    Polish Gays Win Legal Battle for Freedom of Gathering in Public.  By Marcin Sobczyk.  Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) has upheld an earlier administrative court ruling, effectively supporting the right of homosexuals and other minority groups to organize public rallies and marches.
May 26:  Russia:    Niet" to Moscow Gay Pride Parade - Court  A judge in a Moscow district court has ruled this morning that the Mayor of Moscow’s refusal to permit the planned Gay Pride Parade in Moscow tomorrow should stand.
May 26:  Russia:   Nationalists Disrupt Lecture at Gay Pride.  Russian “nationalists’ managed to draw first blood at Moscow Gay Pride last night when they disrupted a lecture on Oscar Wilde given by the author and playwright’s grandson Merlin Holland. 
May 25:  Russia:  Moscow Gay Pride: Where Are the Skinheads?  The skinheads had publicly announced that it was their intention to disrupt the Moscow Gay Pride and its associated conferences.  But as the first day of Pride began, there was not a sign of a skinhead anywhere near the Swissôtel.
May 25:  Russia:      Tatchell Defies Moscow Gay Ban.  Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will join Russian gay activists and defy a ban on this Saturday’s Gay Pride march in Moscow.
May 25:  Latvia:    First Party of Latvia Does Not Want Gay Pride March in Central Riga.  An application for the Riga Gay Pride March on July 2 has been submitted to the Riga City Council by homosexual support organisations and reacting to this application the First Party of Latvia stated it asks the Riga City Council leadership not to allow the Pride march in the centre of Riga.
May 21:  Russia:  Moscow Authorities Deliver Another Bombshell to Gay Pride:  European Parliament, ILGA and French Deputy React.  As Europe this weekend slammed the decision of the Moscow city authorities to ban Moscow Pride parade on May 27, the city’s chief of security fired another broadside – this time aimed at the Pride’ accompanying festival and conferences. 
May 18:  United Nations:  UN Agency Denies Consultative Status to ILGA-Europe.  The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) in Europe expressed disappointment today that it’s bid for observer status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) had been rejected. 
May 18:  Russia:  Russian Gays Call for Sacking of Moscow Mayor.  Gays in Moscow have this evening called on President Putin to sack the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, in the wake of his decision not to permit the Moscow “Gay Pride” Parade on May 27.
May 18:  Russia:  Luzhkov Refuses Permit for Moscow Gay Pride Parade.  The Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, has vetoed an application to stage a gay Pride parade in the Russian capital on Saturday May 27. 
May 18:  The World:  ‘Hall of Shame’ Shows Reach of Homophobia.  As people in more than 50 countries today mark the International Day against Homophobia, Human Rights Watch named to a “hall of shame” five public officials who have actively promoted prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in their countries. 
May 18:  The World:  IDAHO Events Around the World, Including Iran.  As thousands across the world took part in the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), one of the countries in most minds during the day, Iran, staged their own small, but effective, commemoration. 
May 17:  UK:  Gay Employee Receives £5000 in Sexual Orientation Settlement.  An unnamed gay warehouse worker who claimed he was discriminated against and harassed because he was gay, has received a £5,000 settlement from the fashion chain Next Plc. 
May 17:  UK:  Simon Hughes Joins IDAHO Asylum Protest Outside Home Office.  Liberal Democrat President and Shadow Attorney General, Simon Hughes MP, joined today’s protest outside the Home Office in London in support of gay asylum seekers who have fled homophobic persecution in countries like Pakistan, Uganda, Sudan, Cameroon, Jamaica, Iran, Belarus, Algeria, Iraq, Nigeria and Egypt. 
May 17:  Latvia:  Latvian Foreign Minister Calls for Tolerance Towards Gays.  The Latvian Foreign Minister, Artis Pabriks, has today appealed to the people of Latvia to be tolerant towards each other.  His appeal comes on International Day Against Homophobia, , and is seen as encouraging by the country's gay community. 
May 17:  Nepal:  Discrimination Against Gays, Lesbians and TGs Unacceptable – UN Official.  The continuing discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgendered people in Nepal, and other countries throughout the world, was described as “unacceptable” today by a United Nations representative. 
May 17:  Russia:  Euro Pride Group Appeals to Moscow to Allow Gay Pride Parade.  On the occasion of today’s International Day against Homophobia (IDAHO), the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) has faxed a letter to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov demanding that he give permission to the pride parade of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people which is planned to take place in the Russian capital on May 27 as part of the “Moscow Pride 06” festival. 
May 17:  Nepal:  HIV Hospice for Gay and Transgender Men Offers Hope.  There’s no signboard outside the simple white-washed building at the end of the road – and neighbours have little idea of who its occupants are. 
May 16:  Poland:  Gay Rights in Poland Cause New Political Storm:  Wierzejski in Another Homophobic Outburst.  By Marcin Sobczyk.  The issue of gay rights returned to the front pages of the Polish media today after a front bench parliamentarian of a government coalition party suggested that homosexuals are paedophiles and have ties with drug dealers. 
May 16:  UK:  Greens to Provide High Court Evidence in Lesbian Marriage Case.  The Green Party has been invited to submit evidence to the High Court in support of a lesbian couple’s bid to get their Canadian marriage recognised in the UK 
May 16:  New Zealand:  Rainbow Labour to Mark International Day Against Homophobia.  Rainbow Labour, the LGBT group of the ruling New Zealand Labour party, is asking New Zealanders to join with them in supporting International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) tomorrow. 
May 15:  Russia:  Gays Ask Moscow Authorities to Permit Pride Parade.  Representatives of Russian gay and lesbian groups have filed the official request to stage a “Pride” parade in Moscow on Saturday May 27.
May 15:  USA:  Gay Veterans Announce Appeal of District Court Ruling on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Challenge.  The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has announced that it intends to appeal a court decision dismissing its constitutional challenge to the military’s "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. 
May 15:  Iraq:  Sistani Removes ‘Death to Gays’ Fatwa from Website.  Iraqi gays are claiming success following the decision of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to remove from his website a fatwa calling for the killing of homosexuals in the “worst, most severe way possible”.  
May 14:  UK:  UK Government Is Failing Gays in 11 Areas, Says Tatchell.  There is still an ongoing battle for freedom for gay mean and women, Peter Tatchell of Outrage! said in Oxford today as he attacked “New Labour” and the Blair administration for not going far enough in introducing legislation that gives both equality to the LGBT community and reduces homophobia.
May 12:  UK:  Brian Dowling and Alexis Strum Set for Student Pride Appearances in Oxford.  Brian Dowling, the 2001 winner of Big Brother, will be appearing at National Student Pride tomorrow (May 13) at Oxford Brookes University.  Also on the ‘bill’ for the afternoon free event will be singer-songwriter Alexis Strum ... 
May 12:  France/Germany/Poland:  Gay Groups in France, Germany and Poland Unite to Combat Discrimination.  Gay groups from France, Germany and Poland have formed a “Gay Weimar Triangle” in a bid to  build a society in Europe that is free from discrimination.  
May 11:  Poland:  Gays Are Cowards – Polish MP.  In an extraordinary outburst in the press, a Polish politician has hit out at next month’s Warsaw Equality March (Warsaw Gay Pride) and gays in general. 
May 11:  UK:  Liberal Democrats Launch Campaign Against Homophobic Bullying.  The Liberal Democrats have launched a parliamentary campaign against homophobic bullying.  Yesterday, Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrat MP for Bristol West, MP organised the first ever session of the Education Select Committee to discuss bullying.
May 11:  UK:  Terrence Higgins Trust Receives BBC Children in Need Funding for Youth Counsellor.  Terrence Higgins Trust has received a BBC Children in Need grant of over £38,000 to fund a specialist young people’s counsellor over the next three years.
May 10:  UK:  As Clarke Is Sacked, Lesbian And Gay Asylum Seekers Speak Out.  Meeting the day before Charles Clarke was sacked as Home Secretary last week, lesbian and gay asylum seekers spoke of their traumatic experiences and fears for their safety if deported.
May 10:  Sweden:  Fund Set Up to Aid Gays in Eastern Europe.  A special fund has been launched by the International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network (ILGCN) to send LGBT cultural workers to Eastern Europe in a bid to help fight the tide of homophobic violence and condemnation of homosexuality by politicians, religious leaders and the mass media. 
May 10:  UK:  Home Office Protest Spearheads UK IDAHO Events.  To mark the second International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on Wednesday May 17, LGBT people will protest outside the Home Office to highlight the plight of LGBT asylum seekers who have fled homophobic persecution in countries like Pakistan, Uganda, Sudan, Jamaica, Iran, Belarus, Algeria, Iraq, Nigeria and Egypt.
May 10:  UK:  Gay MEP Defends Ruth Kelly Appointment.  Labour MEP for the West Midlands Michael Cashman has today defended the UK government’s achievements for gays and lesbians following press attacks today on the appointment of Ruth Kelly as Secretary of State. 
May 9:  Russia/USA:  End Anti-Gay Violence and Permit Moscow Gay Pride Parade, HRW Insists.  The Moscow authorities must investigate two incidents where protestors threatened and attacked people entering and leaving gay-friendly bars, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. 
May 8:  UK:  Gay Muslim Appeals Against Conviction.  By Peter Tatchell.  A 28 year old gay Muslim prisoner, Mohamed S, has launched an appeal against conviction.  His case has been accepted for consideration by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the top body for examining allegations of wrongful convictions.  Mohamed appears to have been subjected to a vicious homophobic hate attack by five Asian men who had been previously threatening to kill him and his male partner, Junda. 
May 8:  Russia:  French Singer Keeps a Promise to Moscow Gay Pride.  Last year, French popular singer Desireless made a promise that she would write and record a song especially for Moscow Gay Pride.  And the 53-years-old former fashion designer turned singer has kept her promise.
May 8:  USA:  Gay Website Announces EXP Magazine Acquisition.  The Out in America Cities Network announced today the acquisition of EXP Magazine, a merger which will allow the company to expand its global reach through the addition of a multi-regional print publication to its 750,000-member strong network of websites. 
May 6:  Russia:  Russian Mufti Will Not Be Prosecuted for Anti-Gay Remarks.  Russia Mufti, Talgat Tadjuddin, will not face prosecution for anti-gay remarks made to a Russian news agency earlier this year, the Tverskaya District Prosecutor’s Office in Moscow has ruled. 
May 4:  Poland:  Michał Wisniewski in Berlin Fundraiser for Warsaw Pride.  Famous Polish singer Michał Wisniewski, along with his band “Ich Troje”, is set to lend support to Warsaw Pride with a concert in Berlin on Sunday.  : 
May 4:  Iraq:  Iraqi Police Execute “Gay” Child in Baghdad.  Gay human rights group Outrage! has today accused Iraqi police of executing a 14 year old boy in the al-Dura district of Baghdad in early April.
May 4:  Iraq:  Ahmed’s Story – A Cruel, Barbaric Death.  By Ali Hili.  Ahmed Khalil was a likeable, playful 14 year old boy, born in the southern Iraqi town of al-Ammara.  The eldest child, he came from an uneducated family who lived in great poverty.
May 3:  Cameroon:  Release of Nine Men Acquitted of 'Gay' Charges Is Refused.  The Cameroonian government is refusing to release from jail the nine men who were acquitted last month on homosexuality charges, it emerged today. 
May 2:  Russia:  Moscow Gay Club Blockades:  The Face of Russian Orthodox Christianity.  Father Kirill, priest of the Russian Orthodox Church in Bersenevke, blesses a skinhead during Sunday night’s blockade of Renaissance Event Club, a club where a first gay party 'open party' was scheduled to take place.  Bottles and stones were hurled at gays trying to enter the club for a May Day holiday party.