Clash over Christian "anti-gay" march
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK


Bournemouth could see a conflict between the gay community and local Christians next month, with religious groups planning a protest in the city.

Local gay groups believe that a march planned next month in memory of an anti-gay protestor is intended to inflame relations between the two groups, as well as stir up resentment in the city.

The march is to mark the death of Harry Hammond, a man who was criticised by local courts for his homophobic street preaching. He was fined £300 for his preaching, which the Christian group claims was a result of lobbying by gay groups.


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Pro-gay blacks a ‘disgrace’ to civil rights movement?
Comparing two movements draws ire of some
By DYANA BAGBY and RYAN LEE


Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson remembers going to a movie theater in Alabama as a child and being forced to sit upstairs in the “colored” section.

“I was so hurt by that, I never went back,” said Peterson, founder of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, a Los Angeles-based religious non-profit that focuses on personal development for urban males.

To be judged by the color of his skin shook Peterson to his core, prompting him to join protests in front of city halls throughout Alabama, raising his voice to demand equal rights.

But today Peterson, 55, considers some former leaders of the civil rights movement — including Congressman John Lewis of Atlanta and Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s widow — “a disgrace to blacks, whites and Jews who died [during that time].”


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Why homophobic lyrics in reggae music are a health issue for black gay men


The issue of homophobic lyrics by certain reggae artists is being hotly debated in the media in the run-up to the MOBO awards in late September. Many in the black gay community support the MOBOs and the principles which underpin them, but are concerned that the debate around homophobic lyrics is ignoring some of the wider issues faced by black gay people.

Simon Nelson, Sector Development Officer for BME communities at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Whilst homophobia is by no means exclusive to black communities, there is evidence to suggest that homophobic lyrics used by certain artists which incite violence towards gay people have a detrimental effect on the physical and mental wellbeing of black lesbian, gay and bisexual people, particularly gay men.


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Discount chains don’t target gays
Wal-Mart says it’s not opposed to selling gay magazines one day
By DYANA BAGBY


Retail giant Wal-Mart pitches “family-friendly” shopping with low prices on toys, electronics, clothes, books and magazines at its thousands of stores across the globe.

Typically located in suburban settings, Wal-Mart stores claim to reflect the communities they serve, which means no music with what it deems offensive lyrics and no racy men’s magazines with provocative covers, such as Maxim.