“An attempted Murder of a Meti in Kathmandu”

I am writing to express deep concern about attempted murder of a Meti (cross dressing male) by some men in Kathmandu today early morning.

 Suraj, a Meti with his other Meti friends, was waiting for a cup of tea after night disco in Jamal at the footpath shop. Suraj saw a big crowd nearby and approached out of curiosity. What he saw was shocking. JayaRam (another Meti) crying for help to get him to Hospital near by, Jayaram was trying to stop the intense bleeding from his throat and his left hand’s thumb was nearly completely severed. Suraj asked Jaya Ram “what happened?” Jayaram couldn’t speak, he was telling suraj by the sign language that his throat has been cut with a knife. Suraj crossed the crowd and celled other Metis (Bhumika and Rajesh) and rushed Jayaram by the taxi to Bir hospital, a government hospital in the center of Katmandu.  The bleeding was intense; he was taken to the emergency unit at the Bir hospital. It was about 3:15am early morning today.


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Gays in the pink over trust move
Homosexual and gay couples have welcomed a decision by heritage chiefs to give their blessing to gay weddings in some of their properties.
BBC

Bosses of the National Trust for Scotland will work on the plans with a Surrey-based firm, Pink Weddings.

Legislation giving civil union rights and responsibilities to same-sex couples is expected to come into force later this year.

The Civil Partnerships Bill was unveiled in March.

The term "gay marriage" is not used in the Commons bill, but the Civil Partnership Registration Scheme appears to have been designed to be as close to a marriage contract as possible.


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More dioceses blessing same-sex union
By By Rachell Zoll - Associated Press Religion Writer



A vote last year that seemed like a defeat for gays in the Episcopal Church has, in a twist, led to an increasing number of dioceses developing just what advocates wanted -- official services for same-sex unions.

At the tumultuous Episcopal national convention a year ago this week, bishops gutted a measure that would have authorized drafting a liturgy blessing gay partnerships.

But at least six dioceses have interpreted even the watered-down legislation that eventually passed as a go-ahead to develop services or policies for blessing same-gender couples, saying language in the resolution encouraged formalizing the ceremonies in local parishes.

Several bishops had argued the measure was simply an acknowledgment that some parishes were already conducting the ceremonies, even though the church hadn't settled the question of whether the Bible bans gay sex.


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Gays and lesbians want recognition
Massey University survey shows gay and lesbian people want government recognition of same sex relationships (NZ)

Most gay and lesbian people want government recognition of same sex relationships.
Massey University has surveyed more than 2,000 of them over issues of concern.
It says preliminary results show the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities are robust, politically involved, hold traditional values about relationships and are highly educated.
Research leader Mark Henrickson says they were divided on the merits of marriage versus civil union, with 38 percent wanting marriage and 36 percent wanting civil unions. He says the survey should clarify views on controversial issues..


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Asia's biggest gay and lesbian party to kick off in Singapore


A gay and lesbian festival billed by organisers as the largest in Asia will kick off late Saturday in Singapore, where homosexual acts are illegal.

"We will have a very spectacular laser and light show tonight... The whole production cost half a million Singapore dollars (294,000 US), most of it going to production for lights and sounds," said Fridae.com chief executive Stuart Koe.

"Participants can expect a really spectacular party experience."

Party-goers were warned that the unauthorised wearing of any official or military Singapore uniforms, insignia, badges, medals and decorations was against the law.


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SAN FRANCISCO
Asians to rally in favor of same-sex marriage
Rona Marech, Chronicle Staff Writer


When a largely Asian American and overwhelmingly Christian crowd of more than 7,000 people gathered to rally for traditional marriage at the end of April, advocates of same-sex marriage took it as a call to action.

Saying that Asian Americans are often misrepresented as uniformly socially conservative, a coalition of Asian and gay and lesbian organizations is setting out to correct the record with a rally this weekend in Carl Larsen Park, a heavily Asian area near the border of the Parkside and Sunset districts in San Francisco, the same spot where the April protest took place.

"It's important that the community at large understand that there are many fair-minded Asian Americans who support marriage equality," said Andy Wong, of the organization Asian Equality. Several of the leaders in the fight for same-sex marriage are Asian American, he pointed out, including city Assessor Mabel Teng -- who will speak at the rally -- and plaintiffs in the case before the California Supreme Court.

But the Rev. Luke Poon, chairman of an association of Bay Area Chinese churches, said, "Many Chinese, even if they are not Christian, support traditional marriage." Poon doesn't think the rally will attract many people, so he plans to simply ignore it.


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European police to support homosexual officers

Police delegations from nine countries have decided to set up a special European homosexual police network. The decision was made at a special conference in Amsterdam for homosexual police officers.

The European network will support homosexual and lesbian officers at a regional and national level.

The so-called Gaycop network will also offer legal help to police officers who suffer discrimination in the workplace. Although homosexuals are welcome in most European forces, discrimination is still common. The participants in the conference will also be on board the police boat in Amsterdam's annual Gay Pride parade on Saturday.



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Gay Thai Masseur Murder: Man in Court
By Anna Farley, PA News


A 27-year-old man will appear in court today accused of murdering a gay Thai masseur who was found strangled and stabbed at his flat.

Bangkok-born Niphan Trikhana, known locally as Nikki, was found dead in his basement bedsit in Chelsea, west London by his landlord on July 23.

A post-mortem examination showed he died of strangulation.

Darren Marcus Johnson, from south west London, will appear before West London magistrates in Hammersmith