Prom cancelled over lesbian couple
Mississippi student Constance McMillen, 18, has taken her school to court after it cancelled its prom because she wanted to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. Itawamba Agricultural High School representatives told a US district court they had already considered cancelling the April 2 event because of drug and alcohol fears. District Superintendent Teresa McNeece testified that Ms McMillen’s request caused disruption at the school, which was the final straw, LezGet Real reported. Ms McMillen’s lawyer, Kristy Bennett, argued: ‘Any disruption came after the actual cancellation of the prom.’ Ms McMillen told the Ellen Show that most of her school was angry because ‘they feel that I am the one that caused prom to get cancelled’ but she just wanted to attend like everyone else.
Vatican’s call-boy scandal
The Papacy has been caught up in a gay prostitute scandal involving one of the Pope’s elite ushers and a Vatican choir singer. Police intercepted intimate phone conversations between Angelo Balducci, a ‘Gentleman to his Holiness’, and Guilia choir singer Ghinedu Eheim as part of a corruption investigation. Eheim reportedly admitted to having sex with Balducci and soliciting male prostitutes for him. Both have been dismissed from their positions within the Vatican, while Balducci faces criminal charges for corruption.
HIV infection on the rise
New HIV infections are increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in countries where they are being criminalised, the head of the United Nations AIDS agency has warned. The increases were found in countries ranging from China to Kenya and Malawi, where about 33 percent of new HIV infections were in MSM. They were among 85 countries which criminalise homosexuality. UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe was fearful of laws currently being introduced that made it impossible for at risk groups to access HIV services, 365gay reported. ‘We must insist that the rights of the minorities are upheld,’ Sidibe warned. ‘If we don’t do that … I think the epidemic will grow again.’
Out soldiers blamed for massacre
A US military general caused international headlines when he claimed openly gay Dutch soldiers were partly responsible for a Bosnian massacre in 1995. Dutch forces were protecting Muslims in Srebrenica when Bosnian Serbs attacked, killing 8,000 people. Retired senior Marine General John Sheehan told a US senate inquiry that Dutch military leaders blamed low morale, caused by having gay soldiers, for being unable to stop the massacre. Dutch officials refuted the claims, calling them ‘complete nonsense’.
Life’s a Ball
Europe’s largest annual charity event for the fight against HIV and AIDS takes off in spectacular fashion in Vienna on July 17. In the style of the great Viennese Ball, Life Ball opens with a sparkling series of music and dance performances, followed by inspirational speeches by world leaders and finishes with a glamorous fashion show by a world famous designer. Last year it raised nearly 1.5 million Euros. Previous guest lists have included Bill Clinton, Elton John, Sharon Stone, Liza Minelli, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, Grace Jones and Cyndie Lauper. Australians are able to book tickets and accommodation packages through Hautes Vacances.
