Ukraine: New law may censor gay information
Human Rights Watch has called on the Ukrainian Parliament to reject a bill that would reportedly censor information about homosexuality. According to HRC, the private members bill would prohibit sharing information about homosexuality to anyone living in Ukraine. Boris Dittrich is one of the representatives of the human rights organisation that have contacted Ukrainian parliamentary officials concerned that the bill would violate freedoms of expression. Dittrich, the LGBT Rights Program director for HRC, said the bill condemned Ukrainians to ignorance, danger and fear. ‘The bill would deprive everyone in Ukraine of access to essential information to decide about their lives and protect their health,’ he said. No date has been set to debate the bill in the Ukrainian parliament yet.
Iran: LGBT rights reviewed for the first time in 18 years
For the first time in 18 years, the Iranian Government has reviewed its standards of human rights, including LGBT rights, for the United Nations. A shadow report from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Iranian Queer Organisation found widespread and systemic human rights abuses of LGBT people in Iran. Since Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the country is obliged to ensure its citizens have the ‘right to liberty and security of person’ (Article 9). International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission spokesperson Jessica Stern said the review was an ‘historic opportunity’ to review the country’s poor standards towards LGBT people.
US: Pastor compares homosexuality and masturbation
Masturbating is an expression of homosexuality, according to American Pastor Mark Driscoll. ‘Masturbation can be a form of homosexuality because it is a sexual act that does not involve a woman,’ he said in his pamphlet, Porn-Again Christian: A frank discussion on pornography & masturbation for God’s men. According to DangerousMinds.net, the Mars Hill Church minister continued: ‘If a man were to masturbate while engaged in other forms of sexual intimacy with his wife then he would not be doing so in a homosexual way. However, any man who does so without his wife in the room is bordering on homosexuality activity, particularly if he’s watching himself in a mirror and being turned on by his own male body.’
UK: Gay footballer Gareth Thomas Retires
Openly gay rugby player Gareth Thomas announced his retirement last month, dropping out of international and club football. According to Pink News a spokesperson for Thomas confirmed October 25 as his last day as a player. The spokesperson said: ‘This marks the end of what has been a remarkable career for a remarkable person. Gareth hopes that through his achievements both on and off the field has left a lasting legacy within the game.’ On his retirement, the 37 year-old said: ‘If you can’t give 100 per cent to rugby then you can’t do it justice. This is a sad day, but I know that my time has come to an end as a player. My passion for the amazing game will never end or leave me however.’
Denmark: Leading gay marriage reformer died
Danish gay activist Axel Axgil died last month, age 96. In October 1989 Axel and his late partner, Eigil were the first gay couple in the world to enter into registered partnership. The couple changed their surname to Axgil following Denmark’s landmark decision to allow gay couples official recognition. The couple had been together for 40 years before Eigil died in 1995. The Danish Parliament also announced plans to introduce same-sex marriage to the country last month. According to reports, the legislation may be introduced as early as mid 2012. Church minister Manu Sareen told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper: ‘I look forward to the moment the first homosexual couple steps out of the church. I’ll be standing out there throwing rice.’
Zimbabwe: President u-turns on gay rights
In a surprise twist last month, Zimbabwean President Morgan Tsvangirai reversed his opposition to gay rights and told the BBC that gay rights were a ‘human right’.
He said: ‘It’s a very controversial subject in my part of the world; my attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation. As long as it does not interfere with anybody, who I am to define what individual opinion will be as far as their sexual preferences are concerned’. Last year, Tsvangirai opposed homosexuality along with Former President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe notoriously sparked outrage from LGBT groups world wide after he called gay people ‘worse than pigs and dogs’.
Benn Dorrington
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