In Denmark, a same-sex penguin couple at the Odense Zoo are the proud new adoptive parents of fledging following a successful hatching experiment, according to the Copenhagen Post. The two male penguins—who were so eager to be parents to the point that they sat on dead herrings due to a lack of an egg—assumed the egg-caring duties after the biological mother discarded her egg. The fledging appears to be growing normally so far.
Also in Denmark, a gay bar that prohibited "straight kisses" in Copenhagen is still splitting the LGBT community, Gay Star News reported. The case involving the Never Mind Bar made the news a couple of months ago, when LGBT guide Homotropolis reported the story of a bouncer banning a "straight" kiss—and the guide confirmed that owner Christian Carlsen's ban "is still going on." However, Internet forums seem to be split over the ban.
South African rap duo Die Antwoord (Afrikaans for "the answer") released a music video for the song "Fatty Boom Boom"—and the video features a Lady Gaga look-alike being shot at, giving birth to a locust and being eaten alive by a lion, Out.com noted. Gaga had reportedly invited the band (made up of Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er, with occasional third member DJ Hi-Tek) to open for her; however, the act refused, calling her music "weak, superficial shit." Gaga responded on Twitter, "i fink [sic] u freaky but you don't have a hit. hundred thousand tIckets sold in SA. #thatmyshit," according to the Daily Mail.
In Britain, far-right British National Party leader Nick Griffin stands by tweets that threaten a gay couple who won a discrimination case againt a B&B, according to Gay Star News. In 2010, Swiss Bed and Breakfast owner Susanne Wilkinson refused couple Michael Black, 64, and John Morgan, 69, a room, citing her religious beliefs; the couple sued and won. Griffin recenly threatened to send a "justice" team to the couple's home; police are now investigating after receiving several complaints. Black and Morgan have since called Griffin an "incoherent idiot."
Also in Britain, gay X Factor finalist Rylan Clark said he kissed world-famous soccer player David Beckham, Gay Star News reported. However, the kiss was on the cheek—although Clark admitted he wished things had gone further. He told the Metro, "I wish it was more but unfortunately it wasn't. I mean, I'm no Rebecca Loos [a woman who claimed she had an affair with Beckham]." Clark, 23, reportedly has at least one famous fan after he exchanged numbers with out actor Sir Ian McKellan (Lord of the Rings).
Italian Catholic priest Don Mario Bonfanti came out as gay on Facebook, according to the Huffington Post. On National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), Bonfanti declared, "I am gay. Or, better, I am a happily gay priest." He added, "Truth makes us free, so Jesus said. But, strangely, the Church denies this sentence. Catholic LGBT people must come out. They have to accept the truth."
In Brazil, Sao Paulo mayoral candidate Jose Serra has been criticized for slamming opponent Fernando Haddad because Haddad introduced an educational program to combat homophobia, Gay Star News reported. Serra stated last week: 'Fernando Hadad did a tremendous mess with the "kit gay," adding that the program was "absurd" and "inappropriate for children." Toni Reis, president of the Brazilian LGBT Association, wrote an open letter to Serra asking him to reconsider his criticism, while former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso criticized Serra's use of the term "kit gay."
British boxer Tyson Fury has apologized for sending a series of anti-gay tweets to rival boxer David Price; however, Fury claims that a tweet that said all gay people should be killed was sent by someone else, Gay Star News noted. Fury admitted seding a tweet that referenced Price and "gay lover Tony Bellew." (Price is the current Commonwealth heavyweight champion while Bellew is the reigning champion in the Commonwealth's light heavyweight division.) However, Fury said he had nothing to do with a tweet from his account that read, "dont like gays shoul all b shot dead."
In Saudi Arabia, the religious police shut down a health club after arresting five gay individuals in a raid triggered by a tip about the venue's "suspicious activities," according to Gay Star News. Members of the religious police—known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Viceraided a health club located in the north of Riyadh, the country's capital. The police encourage reporting any "deviant" behavior.
In Russia, an attorney for the two jailed Pussy Riot band members says they have been transferred to prison colonies hundreds of miles from Moscow to serve their sentences, according to a Newser.com item. Mark Feygin said that Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were transferred from the Moscow prison where they were kept since March. Alekhina, Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred in August for protesting against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral in February, and given two-year sentences. Samutsevich was released on appeal.
Giles Muhame, the Ugandan newspaper editor who waged a campaign of hate against LGBT people two years ago, recently told students he "regrets" how his Rolling Stone newspaper reported the story, according to Gay Star News. Muhame told students at Kampala's University of Victoria that an article sparking demands for the killing of gay people (with the headline "Hang Them") cost the now-defunct newspaper its future. Gay-rights activists sued Muhame and the tabloid, who lost and had to pay a substantial amount.
Former Miss Universe Canada competitor Jenna Talackova is part of the World Health Organization's (WHO's) attempt to stop classifying people with transgender identities as having a mental disorders, Advocate.com reported. The effort is linked to a group of Change.org petitions asking WHO to remove transsexuality from its list of mental illnesses. "I'm not sick—I'm fantastic," Talackova says in a video.
Anton Hysen—the world's only openly gay male pro soccer player—said his life has changed for the better since coming out in 2011, Pink News reported. Hysen, a 21-year-old who plays for the Swedish Utsiktens BK team, added, "I think there will be gay [soccer players] who come out, possibly in the next five to 10 years. If you are sure about yourself it won't be a problem. You have to believe nothing can stop you."
