The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has apologized for an anti-gay joke about "curing" a lesbian anchor that was broadcast on the network's Radio 5 Live program, Fighting Talk, according to SheWired.com . On the show, comedian Bob Mills joked that he could easily convert lesbian sports anchor Clare Balding. In addition, Mills called Balding a "horse woman" who "appreciates power between her thighs." In apologizing, the BBC said, "Fighting Talk is a live program and on this occasion we got it wrong. ... We would again like to apologize to anyone who was offended by the program."
It turns out England's Prince Harry defended one of his soldiers from an anti-gay attack in 2008, according to US Weekly. Lance Corporal James Wharton reveals in his new memoir, Out in the Army, that the young prince was quick to deal with the bullies after they reportedly threatened Wharton's life. Wharton—who served under Harry during a four-month training period in Canada—describes how he bragged about how he had "scored the night before" with another officer to several other members of the infantry, leading six soldiers to approach him angrily. After talking with Harry, the prince confronted the group.
Germany's top court has told Chancellor Angela Merkel that same-sex partners in civil unions have the right to the same tax benefits as marred heterosexual couples, according to Gay Star News. Also, the Federal Constitutional Court said its judgment would apply retroactively to Aug. 1, 2001, meaning that possibly millions of dollars could go to gay and lesbian couples in civil partnerships who have overpaid in tax.
In Denmark, a transgender woman was attacked with a hammer in broad daylight, Gay Star News reported. In the unprovoked attack, the victim had been walking past City Hall when an assailant attacked her, hitting her on the head. The woman suffered serious head trauma, but was last listed in stable condition at a hospital.
A new campaign—"You're having a lesbian"—to promote gay marriage is being launched in Australia and New Zealand, according to Gay Star News. The campaign's YouTube video, "What R U having?," shows a straight couple having an ultrasound scan. The doctor eventually tells the proud parents, "You're having a lesbian;" the couple looks lovingly at each other and breaks into smiles. New Zealand MPs passed the Marriage Amendment Bill, which allows same-sex and transgender couples to marry, in April.
Gay Australian journalist Christopher Pearson died at his home in Adelaide at age 61, according to gaynewsnetwork.com .au . Pearson worked as a speechwriter for former Prime Minister John Howard, and served on the board of the Special Broadcasting Service, the National Museum of Australia and The Australia Council. In a column for The Australian in 2009, Pearson wrote about reconciling his homosexuality with his Catholic faith, according to Gay Star News.
In Bangladesh, transgender women are calling for an allocated seat in parliament, Gay Star News reported. The demand was made at the launch of a new organization called Bangladesh Transgender Welfare Foundation at Dhaka National Press Club. As well as political representation in the national parliament and local government (Union Parishads), the foundation's eight-point manifesto included ensuring inheritance rights, access to education, employment, housing and healthcare.
In Berlin, the Schwules Museum ( www.schwulesmuseum.de)—the world's first gay museum, which opened in 1985—has reopened, according to About.com . It reopened in its new premises in a former printing house, covering more than 1,600 square meters on three floors. Besides its permanent exhibition ("Self-Awareness and Endurance: 200 Years of Gay History"), there will also be special events.
In what is believed to be a first in Canada, a rainbow pride flag was raised at an Alberta military base during a ceremony attended by senior officers and civilian members of the LGBT community, CBC.ca noted. Master Warrant Officer John McDougall made the request for the flag-raising a few weeks ago through the military chain of command at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton. McDougall, a company sergeant-major in a field medical unit, said he was surprised when his request was quickly granted. The flag was up for one week to coincide with Edmonton's pride festival.
The French Open men's tennis final between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer was held up by a flare-carrying protestor who was demonstrating against France's same-sex marriage law, according to Dawn.com . The match was in the second set when a shirtless spectator, wearing a white mask, leaped from the stands and onto the court brandishing a flare before security officials wrestled him away. In addition, two other protestors, sitting high in the stands, were ejected after delaying play with a banner protesting the same law. Nadal won 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
In Israel, three people have appeared in court in Tel Aviv, suspected of involvement in a fatal shooting at a gay youth center there in 2009, according to the BBC. They were the first arrests over the attack, which killed a 26-year-old counsellor and a 17-year-old girl, and wounded 15 others. A fourth person, reportedly a gay-rights activist, has been arrested on suspicion of obstructing the police investigation into the attack. Advocate.com reported that authorities are saying that a personal feud, not anti-gay hatred, motivated the shootings.
Also in Tel Aviv, a record-breaking 100,000 people from Israel and abroad took part in the annual Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade June 7, according to JPost.com . Thousands of people crammed into Gan Meir Park to hear musical performances and witness speeches from such figures as Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, among others—although Lapid did not initially receive a warm welcome. U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro also appeared, wearing a Pride T-shirt for the occasion and telling the crowd that President Obama sends his "warm greetings."
Three men have disappeared from Toronto's Gay Village area since December 2010, according to TheStar.com . Skandaraj (Skanda) Navaratnam, 40, is the most recent person to vanish, joining Abdulbasir (Basir) Faizi, 44, who was last seen Dec. 29, 2010, and Majeed (Hamid) Kayhan, 59, last seen Oct. 14, 2012. Det. Debbie Harris of Toronto Police has said that there is no evidence the three men knew each other.
The UK Parliament has asked Queen Elizabeth II to allow same-sex couples to marry in a royal chapel, Gay Star News reported. Members of parliament are hoping the St. Stephen's Chapel—the main place of Christian worship in the Palace of Westminster—could become a multi-faith venue that would allow same-sex couples to get married once it is legalized in England and Wales. St Stephen's Chapel is a "royal peculiar," meaning it is under direct authority of the queen.
A French extremist gay hate group is being ordered to dissolve after the death of a gay-rights activist and student in Paris, according to Gay Star News. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has asked the interior minister to take steps to "immediately" ban the Revolutionary Nationalist Youth (JNR), the militant wing of far-right group Third Way, which is populated by skinheads, homophobes and racists. The order follows the death of Clement Meric, an 18-year-old marriage-equality activist who was left brain-dead after an attack by skinheads.
Tasmania's government is continuing its LGBTI grants program that offers $50,000 each year to associated projects, according to the Gay News Network. The Minister for Community Development, Cassy O'Connor, has said that the funding in the 2013-14 budget allocated to the program is part of the government's continued commitment to the LGBT community. In 2013 the successful applications included the University of Tasmania, Relationships Australia Tasmania and TasPride.
Transgender soccer player Kirsti Miller, playing for the Australian Football League (AFL), was allegedly called "it" and told she has AIDS by opposition players during a game, according to Gay Star News. Miller took to social media to speak out about the insults; however, her club, South Broken Hill women's team, reprimanded her for publicizing it. AFL has criticized South Broken Hill's handling of Miller's complaint and ordered a mediation between the player and the club.
Finland's tiny Communist Party has elected a new chair: openly gay artist Juha-Pekka Vaisanen, according to yle.fi. Vaisanen, a 46-year-old member of the Helsinki City Council, previously served as party secretary. Vaisanen, who succeeds Yrjo Hakanen, is also chair of the Finnish chapter of PAND, an international artists' peace group.
The lower house of Russia's parliament has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans the distribution of information about homosexuality to children, according to the Miami Herald. The State Duma voted 436-0, with one abstention, to approve the Kremlin-backed measure, which imposes large fines for holding gay-pride rallies or providing information about the LGBT community to minors. The bill still needs to be approved by the appointed upper house and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, but both are expected to happen. In addition, the Duma passed another bill that makes offending religious feelings a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.
