Homosexuals Deserve Equal Rights: Martin

Kathmandu, May 18: Chief of the UN human rights mission in Nepal, Ian Martin, has stressed the need of appropriate laws in Nepal to guarantee the rights of the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

He was addressing a program organised by Blue Diamond Society, a gay and gender minority rights organization based in Kathmandu, on the occasion of International Day against Homophobia in the capital on Wednesday.

Martin said, "Discrimination against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people, or metis, takes many forms and often results in violence against them."

***

fraternity at ASU opens doors to transgender members


Sigma Phi Beta has redefined what it is to be a man.

The Arizona State University fraternity is the country's first to allow members who identify themselves as male regardless of their birth or legally recognized gender.

Even those who decide later to become female may remain members, said Sam Holdren, the fraternity's national president and chairman. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2004 and helped establish Sigma Phi Beta as ASU's first gay fraternity in July.

***

Vt. governor vetoes trans protections


Vermont Gov. James Douglas on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have added "gender identity or expression" to the state's nondiscrimination law.

The anti-discrimination bill was first introduced four years ago by Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, and added gender-identity protections for employment, housing and public accommodations. Vermont's hate-crimes law already includes gender-identity language.

Vermont's House passed the bill March 1. The Senate passed it May 3; a final 88-47 vote of concurrence between both chambers took place two days later.

***

'Hall of Shame' Shows Reach of Homophobia


(New York, May 17, 2006) As people in more than 50 countries today mark the International Day against Homophobia, Human Rights Watch named to a "hall of shame" five public officials who have actively promoted prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in their countries. Human Rights Watch also pointed to five recent advances that give hope for a future free of hatred and homophobia. "This 'hall of shame' does not claim to include the worst offenders, but it highlights public officials who have failed in their basic duty to respect human rights for all," said Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. "The abuses these officials have caused or countenanced symbolize the daily, invidious forms of homophobia that countless people face around the world."

***

GENDERFUCK DAY


Genderfuck Day is this Thursday, the 18th of May. The purpose of Genderfuck Day is to promote awareness of Gender diversity in our community. This Thursday we will be having street Theatre and etc in Forrest Chase from 4:30pm, before we move to the Black Dove - for the Genderfuck Ball ...To Genderfuck is to deliberately send mixed messages about ones sex, usually through dress.

****

Moscow Mayor Bans Gay Parade in Russian Capital


Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has lived up to his reputation of a homophobic ruler, after he imposed a ban on a gay parade in the Russian capital, the Gazeta.Ru news website reported Thursday. 

A source in the Moscow city hall told the Interfax news agency that the organizers of the festival had been denied a permission for security reasons.