Hundreds of thousands flocked to Madrid World Pride, which has been called the largest LGBTQ pride event in the world, for more than a week of events, LGBTQ Nation noted. Madrid World Pride coincided with the 40th anniversary of the first LGBT pride protest in Spain, taking place in Barcelona. The July 1 parade doubled as a protest march, led by all of Spain's major political parties, carrying a banner reading, "For LGBTI Rights All Over The World."
A teenager has been jailed for life after plotting a nail-bomb attack on an Elton John concert, PinkNews reported. Haroon Syed, 19, admitted plotting an attack, which was set to take place last year on the anniversary of 9/11. Syed plotted to attack a target in central London using a homemade bomb with a remote timer, following instructions published by Jihadis online. However, the plot was thwarted when Syed was caught online chatting to undercover security agents.
A gay man in central China has won an apology and compensation from a mental hospital over forced conversion therapy, BBC News reported. The man, identified only by his surname Yu, had been admitted by his wife and relatives to the hospital in the town of Zhumadian in Henan province in 2015. He was forced to take medicine and have injections for almost three weeks. However, the court found that forcing him into a mental institution if he did not pose a danger infringed his rights.
To celebrate LGBT Pride Month and commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Nestpick recognized 100 cities with active LGBT communities, a press release noted. The top 10 ( in order ) are Madrid, Amsterdam, Toronto, Tel Aviv, London, Berlin, Brighton, Barcelona, New York City and San Francisco. ( Chicago ranks #45. ) Nestpick conducted polls in 80 countries among the LGBT community using social media and other polling tools, asking more than 2,500 participants from each city to give three lifestyle factors a rating out of five stars: the strength of their city's gay dating scene, the quality of its LGBT nightlife and the openness of their fellow citizens. ( Safety and the LGBT rights of citizens were also considered. ) The full results can be found here: www.nestpick.com/best-lgbt-cities/ ,
The vice president of the German Bundestag has called for a Constitutional court ruling to "clarify" same-sex marriage, PinkNews noted. After years of delays, the lower house of the German Parliament gave the green light to same-sex marriage last week in a landslide vote, although Chancellor Angela Merkel voted against it. The VP of the national parliament the Bundestag—Johannes Singhammer, of the Bavarian Christian Social Union, the sister of the ruling Christian Democratic Union—said that the Constitional Court should rule on the issue.
Northern Ireland's ban on same-sex marriage is as unjust and un-Christian as the historical sectarian taboo over Catholics and Protestants marrying, an Anglican minister has told an equality rally in Belfast attended by thousands, according to The Guardian. Canon Charles Kenny, a Church of Ireland priest for almost 50 years, compared the opposition to same-sex marriage in the region to the historical hostility to mixed religious unions on the island of Ireland. Kenny was joined by Methodist and Presbyterian ministers in calling for gay marriage to be legalized.
A married same-sex couple in Australia is taking the unusual step of advertising in the newspaper for a Maori woman to help them realize their dream of becoming parents, Stuff reported. Nelson and Baden Marino-Hall, who reside in the southern Queensland city of Toowoomba, have placed an ad in The Dominion Post for a Maori egg donor to come forward so both men can each father a child with the same Maori genetic links. While Nelson is Australian, Baden is of Maori descent.
At least two conservative African archbishops have expressed intention to boycott a summit of Anglican leaders in October due to Archbishop Justin Welby's liberal approach regarding same-sex marriage, The Christian Post reported. The archbishop of Canterbury is also facing pressure to lift the ban on same-sex marriage. Sources say that four or five traditionalist archbishops from Africa and Asia are expected not to attend the Canterbury summit among leaders of the 70 million-strong Anglican Communion that Welby will chair. The snub is seen as a blow to his efforts to prevent a schism in global Anglicanism.
Cardinal George Pell said he is looking forward to his day in court after being charged with historical sexual-assault offenses, ABC.com .au reported. Australia's most senior Catholic cleric has been ordered to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 18, after Victoria Police served charges on his legal representatives. As head of the Vatican's finances, Pell is considered number three in the Catholic hierarchy behind the pope.
The prominent leader of a 30 million-strong Muslim group has called for a boycott of global coffee brand Starbucks because of its support for gay marriage, News.com .au reported. Anwar Abbas of Muhammadiyah, the second-largest Islamic group in Indonesia, says the brand's pro-gay stance is ruining southeast Asia's "religious and cultured" core. "If Starbucks only does business, then fine. But don't bring ideology here," Abbas told Reuters.
Also in Australia, Argenton resident Paul Taufaao has been ordered to pay $10,000 for yelling "I'm going to kill you faggot" while punching a man in a gay nightclub for allegedly making a move on a woman, The Newcastle Herald reported. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Taufaao committed "unlawful homosexual vilification" during the 2014 assault. Taufaao has until July 21 to pay the $10,000 compensation.
Adele canceled the remaining two dates of her massive world tour—a pair of shows at London's Wembley Stadium—after damaging her vocal cords, Rolling Stone noted. "To say I'm heartbroken would be a complete understatement," Adele tweeted. The "Hello" singer, who previously underwent vocal-cord surgery in October 2011, added that she hopes to reschedule the two shows in the future, but if she can't, refunds will be available. The cancelled Wembley dates come just a day after Adele hinted that she may not tour again following the 25 jaunt.
