Equal Marriage Now

Ban on ‘gay’ book exposes Dubai’s liberal pretensions, Pink News.

Activists say registration of new LGBT group in Russia is ‘historic’, Pink News.

[Conservative party leader] David Cameron says Tory party ‘has work to do’ on gay rights, Pink News, Tony Grew.

Straight couples in France are choosing civil unions meant for gays, Citizen Crain, Andoni.

We’ve no gay or lesbian group in Nigeria, says Cheif Ojo Madueke, Vanguard, Chioma Gabriel. File this one under “Are you kidding me? Seriously.”

One guilty, three to go, in South African murder trial, The Bilerico Project, Patricia Nell Warren.

Valentine’s Day turns pink in Nepal, The Times of India.

Lesbians and gay men step out in China, TVNZ.

Jamaican MP apologizes, calls for LGBT groups to be outlawed, GayPolitics.com.

Gay pride on Valentine’s day in Beijing, The Wall Street Journal. Via Towleroad.

Ban on ‘gay’ book exposes Dubai’s liberal pretensions

A Gulf nation that has tried to cultivate an image as a welcoming destination for Westerners has banned a book because it has a gay character.

Novelist Geraldine Bedell was invited to Dubai’s first International Festival of Literature.

Despite its claims that it is the most modern and “Westernised” state in the region, homosexual relations are still considered a crime and punishments range from jail to deportation and the death penalty.

Organisers of the book festival were initially enthusiastic about Ms Bedell’s novel The Gulf Between Us, which is set in the region.

However, when they actually read it, they discovered one of the minor characters is a gay sheikh with an English boyfriend.

They wrote to Ms Bedell telling her not to come to the festival and said her novel was “controversial” and could cause “political fallout.”

Activists say registration of new LGBT group in Russia is ‘historic’

Russian gays have for the first time registered an LGBT advocacy group with the government without the need for court intervention.

Coming Out of St Petersburg was formed in April 2008 and is part of the Russian LGBT Network.

“This is a truly historic moment,” said Igor Petrov, chair of the Network.

[Conservative party leader] David Cameron says Tory party ‘has work to do’ on gay rights

The leader of the Conservatives has said his support for civil partnerships is proof the party backs gay rights.

In an interview in the March issue of Total Politics magazine which will be published on Wednesday, David Cameron discussed a range of issues with journalist and Tory blogger Iain Dale, who entered into a civil partnership last year.

Mr Cameron referred to his speech at the annual meeting of party activists in 2006 when he gave his backing to gay and lesbian partrnerships.

Straight couples in France are choosing civil unions meant for gays

Arnaud, 27, loves Aurélie. Aurélie, 25, loves Arnaud. After several years of sharing an apartment, they have decided they want to spend the rest of their lives together.

So the happy young couple, who did not want their last names used, spent 15 minutes in front of a court clerk Friday morning and got PACSed.

The brief procedure of the Civil Solidarity Pact, or PACS in its French-language abbreviation, put Arnaud and Aurélie among the growing number of French men and women who are choosing a novel legal and social status, halfway between living together and marriage, that is helping change the way France organizes its families.

We’ve no gay or lesbian group in Nigeria, says Cheif Ojo Madueke

NIGERIA appeared at the United Nations in Geneva before the UN Human Rights Council to defend its human rights record.during the week.

Under its Universal periodic review mechanism proceedure in a session lasting three hours Cheif Ojo Madueke presented an overview of Nigeriaa human rights situation adressing issues raised by members of the Council on the Rights of Women, Death penalty and Nigerias Criminal Justice system, The Niger Delta, extra judicial killing and the state of prisons in Nigeria.

His presentation caused a stir when he informed members of the council that the government of Nigeria had been unable to locate persons of gay and sexual orientation,despite concerted efforts by his ministry to include this category of persons in the consultations on the human rights situation in Nigeria.

He further informed the audience that his ministry located only one woman of lesbian orientation and when invited to participate in a discussion on the rights of gay
and lesbian persons, the lady informed his Ministry that she was pregnant.

One guilty, three to go, in South African murder trial

In a packed courtroom yesterday, Thato Mphithi, 24, one of the three men accused of murdering lesbian soccer player Eudy Simelane, was sentenced to 31 years in prison. He had plead guilty. The other three men are pleading not guilty, so the judge postponed their trials till July. In the street outside, the singing and clapping of a crowd of demonstrating activists went on and on throughout the proceedings.

Valentine’s Day turns pink in Nepal

Those used to associating Valentine’s Day with red roses and red hearts had to do some readjusting Saturday when the heart of Kathmandu turned pink to celebrate a day that has more to it than romance.

Dozens of homosexual couples, lesbians and transgenders gathered at the Basantapur Durbar Square in Nepal, one of the republic’s most prominent public places where the old palace of the deposed Shah kings and the mansion of Kumari, Nepal’s living goddess, are located, to celebrate Pink Triangle Day.

Sushma, who was born Susham, wore a hot pink strapless dress and high-heeled sandals while her female partner Asha, dressed in jeans and T-shirt, had a pink rose pinned to the chest. They were part of the gay community present all of whom sported an item of clothing or accessory in pink.

Lesbians and gay men step out in China

Chinese gays and lesbians took to the streets on Saturday hoping Saint Valentine’s Day would help them attract support for same-sex marriage in the conservative society.

Thirty people gathered on a street in the Chinese capital, close to Tiananmen Square and its stern portrait of Mao Zedong, to hold mock wedding photo sessions. They drew gasps, smiles and an occasional scowl from passers-by. Organisers said similar events took place in three other cities.

Their goal was to win more acceptance in a nation that has long frowned upon open displays of sexuality. Campaigners gave out roses and a slip of pink paper urging support for same-sex marriage.

Police did not interfere.

Jamaican MP apologizes, calls for LGBT groups to be outlawed

A week after saying that homosexuals were an abusive and violent threat that had overrun law enforcement in Jamaica, MP Ernest Smith has apologized for his comments under pressure from the Jamaican Labour Party. Despite this, Smith has continued his call for outlawing all LGBT groups in Jamaica including the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals, and Gays (J-FLAG). Jamaica still operates under Colonial Era Law that criminalizes homosexual acts with punishments of up to ten years in prison.

Gay pride on Valentine’s day in Beijing

A small group of protesters advocating the legalization of gay marriage in China turned heads on Qianmen Avenue, a shopping street in Beijing, on Valentine’s Day. Two men and two women walked together as gay couples and posed for wedding photos along the main drag, drawing crowds who gathered to ask questions.

Reactions to the protest were divided; while many onlookers expressed support, saying they were aware there are many openly gay men and women in China now, others were not sympathetic to the cause.

Thanks to Daily Queer News.