NOVEMBER 2009

Nov 27:  The Commonwealth:  Equal Rights Trust Urges Commonwealth Heads of Government to Condemn Homophobic Laws. In advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad this weekend, the Equal Rights Trust (ERT) has called on the Heads of Government to condemn an Anti-Homosexuality Bill recently introduced in the Parliament of Uganda and to take urgent action to repeal existing homophobic laws across the Commonwealth.

Nov 27:  USA:  Gay Icon Harvey Milk to be Inducted into California Hall of Fame Next Week.   The late Harvey Bernard Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to significant public office in America, is to be inducted into The California Museum’s California Hall of Fame in a ceremony next week performed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the State’s ‘First Lady’, Maria Shriver.

Nov 26:  UK:  Salford University to Host Regional LGBT History Month 2010 Pre-Launch Next Week.   Salford University in Greater Manchester is set to host the first ever regional pre launch of LGBT History Month.  The event is next week, on Thursday December 3, and acts as a prelude to LGBT History Month throughout the UK in February next year when the main theme will be ‘education’.

Nov 25:  European Union:  European Parliament Takes Further Step Towards Equal Rights for Gay, Transgender People in the EU.  Same-sex couples who are either married or have regisetered a legal civil partnership/union in their home countries could well benefit from a decision made in the European Parliament today at the plenary session in Strasbourg.

Nov 23:  Uganda:  We Must Rally Against Uganda Anti-Gay Bill – Ugandan Activist.  Commentary by Michael Senyonjo.   Ugandans and the world must rally against the anti-gay bill [the Anti Homosexuality Bill (2009)], or ‘Bahati Bill’ as is known in Uganda, because the proposed legislation is illegal, drafted in bad faith, too radical and in any case not needed in Uganda.

Nov 23:  Serbia:  Combat Homophobia, Human Rights Watch Tells Serbian President.   Serbia’s government should quickly take visible steps to end a spate of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent November 16, 2009, to President Boris Tadic. Human Rights Watch called on the government to fully protect the rights of the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

Nov 21:  USA:  Irene Monroe: Pastor Donnie McClurkin’s Gay Church.  Commentary by Rev. Irene Monroe.   The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is the largest African American and largest Pentecostal church in the United States. And as the largest denominational black church in the country it is also the loudest in rebuking homosexuality.

Nov 4: USA:  Irene Monroe: Will Rev. Bernice King’s ‘Bully’ Pulpit at SCLC Bash Gays?  Commentary by Rev. Irene Monroe.   Rev. Bernice King has been bestowed the honor to be the eighth president and first women to head the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).