Hasty gay parade dwarfs homophobic preachers
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK


A parade celebrating diversity in Bournemouth that was hastily arranged in response to a right wing Christian event dwarfed its anti-gay rivals this weekend, with high numbers turning out to show support.

The event, organised by local LGBT group Bourne Free, followed the planning of a day to support the recently deceased Harry Hammond. Hammond died earlier this year, just before he was due to challenge a fine he received for homophobic preaching in the town.

The Christian Voice organisation wanted to use his name to build a campaign against the "immorality" of Bournemouth, which they say has become a "gay mecca".

However, Hammond's granddaughter had pleaded with the group not to use his name, saying he was mentally unwell when he began his preaching. She told the local press that she was unhappy his illness was being used to support bigotry.


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Report reveals extent of homophobic bullying
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK


A new report looking into homophobic bullying in Northamptonshire schools has revealed that around a quarter of pupils have been the victim of abuse, while a large number of teachers were increasingly witnessing attacks.

Commissioned by the local county council, the study says that two thirds of children had witnessed abuse based on a fellow pupil's sexuality or perceived sexuality, while three quarters of teachers had also seen attacks.

The report also found that although the majority of the local school children thought that such bullying was unacceptable, few knew of any policies regarding anti-gay attacks.

While 65% said the behaviour should be stopped, just 13% were aware of their school's strategy of dealing with such problems.


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Irish Lawmakers to Review Rights for Gays
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK
Associated Press Writer


DUBLIN, Ireland -- Ireland, a mostly Roman Catholic country where divorce was legalized just seven years ago, is contemplating another leap away from its conservative past -- and toward greater rights for homosexual couples.

An all-party committee of lawmakers plans to meet next week to discuss the need to modernize Ireland's family law -- including, its members confirm, the possibility of granting gay couples rights similar to those enjoyed by married heterosexual couples.


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U.S Anglicans told to apologise in gay bishop row


LONDON (Reuters) - The Anglican hierarchy has urged U.S. church leaders to apologise for consecrating a gay bishop and called for a moratorium on same-sex marriages.

In a report designed to pull the 70-million-strong Anglican Communion out of its biggest crisis for a decade, Irish Anglican leader Robin Eames concluded: "There remains a very real danger that we will not choose to walk together."

The crisis erupted last year when Canadian Anglicans voted to approve same-sex marriages and U.S. Anglicans, known as Episcopalians, consecrated Gene Robinson, a homosexual divorced father of two, as a bishop.

Both moves flouted official church policy and drew strong protest from conservatives both in North America and in Africa, Latin America and Asia, where Anglican worshippers are more numerous and tend to be more traditional than in the West.