US senators targeted in 'outing' campaign
By Frances Dickenson and Caz Gorman


Michael Rogers lives on the top floor of a block of flats in Washington DC, with a balcony and a fine view of the city whose secrets he is systematically giving up. Mr Rogers, who is gay, is waging a controversial "outing" campaign against gay Senators, members of Congress and Capitol Hill staffers who support the presidentially sponsored campaign to ban same-sex marriages.

The headquarters for his campaign is a workstation in the corner of his sitting room. From here he sifts tips-offs, updates his blog site (www.blogactive.com) and above all makes the phone calls that gays on the Hill have come to dread.

"It's about exposing hypocrisy, about ending a conspiracy of deceit and silence," Mr Rogers says. "These people work for politicians who are working to discriminate against gays. Then they seek protection from the very people their bosses are trying to hurt. It's surreal."

Mr Rogers's first target was Jonathan Tolman, a senior aide for a senate committee chaired by Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, one of the most conservative Senators. A couple of years earlier Mr Tolman had posed for a risqué photo-spread in a Washington gay magazine. Mr Rogers posted this information on his websit


~

Fake website attacks 'gay pride' parade
By Jonathan McCambridge
belfast telegraph.co.uk


A CONTROVERSIAL "Christian coalition" has been condemned for setting up a fake 'Belfast Pride' website to coincide with today's city centre march.

The site - branded "sick" and "homophobic" by gay rights campaigners - features links to the official websites of three main political parties in Northern Ireland.

Up to 1,500 gay and heterosexual people were taking to the streets to support the Belfast Pride march.

But the Stop the Parade Organisation, describing itself as a coalition of Christian groups, was formed in a bid to oppose it.


~

Hundreds attend gay pride parade
Activists said the annual event was vital for young gay people


Hundreds of people have taken part in the annual gay pride parade in Belfast.

Although a number of protesters turned up, the parade passed off peacefully.

A small number of protesters gathered outside the City Hall a short time before Saturday's parade began.

Not only did they want their objections heard - but they wanted the parade stopped.

Jonathan Larner, from the group, said they wanted to see the procession banned from taking place in future.