Openly gay Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham is unafraid to speak out on queer issues

SX/ Peter Hackney writes:
In August, diver Matthew Mitcham will become the first openly-gay Australian to compete in an Olympic Games. Not only is he an elite member of Australia’s Olympic diving team, but last month he became headline news around the world. The reason? For being gay.

Speaking to SX during a break from training at the Sydney Aquatic Centre in Homebush, Matthew Mitcham is nonplussed by all the fuss. “It’s not really a big deal,” he says. “It’s not like I’m a different person. It’s not like I was straight before. So nothing really has changed.”

While Mitcham, who came out to friends and family at age fourteen (Mum’s reaction: “Well, duh!”), doesn’t see his sexuality a big deal, he’s not naïve about his position as Australia’s highest-profile out gay sportsman.

He’s aware that other people do see it as “a big deal” and he’s happy to wear the mantle of ‘role model’ for young gay guys. “Being in my position, it’s inevitable,” he concedes. “There’s not really much choice. If someone looks up to you, then you’re a role model. And I’m happy with that. I just hope I do a good job – I’m not perfect!”

He certainly bears the markings of a good gay role model: he’s successful, attractive and he’s not shy about speaking up on queer issues. When asked for his view on same-sex marriage, for instance, he has no compunction slamming Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

“I’m not happy with Kevin Rudd,” he says, bluntly. “Kevin Rudd’s opinion of marriage as something that’s only between a man and a woman is quite narrow-minded. During the election campaign he was all about appearing young and cool, but his views on gay marriage make him look quite old-fashioned.” READ MORE

H/T: UK Pink News

Gay Pride in Hungary turns violent

AFP reports:
(Budapest, Hungary) Forty-five people were taken into custody and 10 others were injured in clashes between police and homophobes during a gay rights march in the Hungarian capital Saturday, reports said.

About 450 people took part in the march in central Budapest when extremists began throwing explosive devices, eggs, cobblestones and bottles at police and the marchers. Police seized chemicals and Molotov cocktails from a six-member group waiting for the demonstrators in an uninhabited flat along the route of the march.

Liberal member of Parliament Gabor Horn was hit and a police car carrying former undersecretary Gabor Szetey -- the first openly gay Hungarian politician -- and member of the European Parliament Katalin Levai was also attacked, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. Three media trucks were damaged by protesters. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the extremists gathering around the fenced-off marchers in Heroes' Square.

Last weekend, Gay Pride marches in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria were also disrupted. A report by the European Union's rights watchdog found Tuesday that a third of EU states are still failing to ensure equal rights for gays and lesbians. READ MORE

British Prime Minister invites gay rights group, Stonewall, to 10 Downing St.

Tony Grew writes:
Prime Minister Gordon Brown (pictured), has asked gay equality organisation Stonewall to meet with him at Downing St. tomorrow to mark Pride.

They will discuss the Education for All campaign, which aims to eliminate homophobic bullying in schools. The meeting will take place before tomorrow's Pride London celebrations, where Stonewall will be marching. "We are delighted," said Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall. "It its a good opportunity to talk about some of the things the government can be doing to promote equality and one of those issues is homophobic bullying. READ MORE

Happy 400th, Quebec City!

CBC reports:
(Quebec, Canada) Quebec City is Canada's most beautiful city, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Thursday, as he and a slew of other dignitaries celebrated the historic centre's 400th birthday. To mark the historic occasion, Quebec is throwing what organizers are calling the biggest party on the continent.

READ MORE: ABOUT THE HISTORIC CELEBRATION

Gunman robs then hugs his victim!

Associated Press reports:
(Poplar Bluff, Missouri) Police in the southeast Missouri town of Poplar Bluff are looking for the gunman who robbed a man on Monday night, then gave him a hug before fleeing. The victim, Heath Chandler, 31, of Naylor, told police he was in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store when a man approached and put a semiautomatic gun to his stomach. The assailant demanded money, so Chandler gave him the $25 he had. The man then took Chandler to a Jeep Cherokee driven by a woman. There, he gave the victim a hug before fleeing in the Cherokee. Detectives are studying Wal-Mart videotape as part of the search for the suspect.

Body-builder sues gay newspaper and bar

Chicago Sun Times reports:
An amateur body-builder is suing the Chicago Free Press and a North Side gay bar after the paper ran an ad featuring him clad in leather and chains, allegedly without his consent. Joel Rabb, who works as a personal trainer and a “national level amateur body-builder” claims his photo was used in an advertisement for Bobby Love’s bar, 3729 N. Halsted St., in the paper without his consent, according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court Wednesday.

The ad, which pictures a muscular man wearing chains and leather chaps, reads, “Bobby Loves, tallest cock tail on Halsted” scrolled across the man’s face.

Rabb wants a minimum of $1,000 per violation of the publicity act, all profits derived from the “unauthorized” use of his image and more than $200,000 in damages.

Who would you vote for? Someone gay? Someone older? What about gay and grey?

The Age.com reports:
European Union citizens would prefer to elect a gay leader than have one they consider too old, a study released in Brussels has revealed. According to the Eurobarometer study of 27,000 European Union citizens:

Just 17 per cent of Europeans would be totally comfortable with someone over the age of 75 in their country's highest elected post.

That is less than half than the 36 per cent who would be at ease with a homosexual leader, and
Well below the support for a leader drawn from:

an ethnic minority (26 per cent totally comfortable) or a

different religion (30 per cent totally at ease).

Christina Applegate's ex-boyfriend found dead

TMZ reports:
Lee Grivas, the 26-year-old boyfriend of Christina Applegate, was found dead in his apartment. His body was discovered on July 1 by a neighbor who found him in the living room of his Hollywood apartment. Grivas was pronounced dead at 5:25 PM.


Although the autopsy has not been completed, we're told there were no visible signs of trauma.

UPDATE ( 7:00 PM)

People reports:
Christina Applegate's ex-boyfriend Lee Grivas, 26, was found dead from an apparent drug overdose in his Hollywood apartment on Tuesday. "Grivas did have a history of drug abuse, and our investigator found a syringe at the scene," said Lt. Fred Corral of the L.A. Department of Coroner. "But we're not making any preliminary conclusions until a toxicology report is completed."

On Thursday, Applegate, 36, released the following statement:

"I am profoundly saddened. Lee was an incredible human being who was an extremely important and beautiful part of my life. He is missed beyond words. He touched so many and I feel much sadness for his mother, brother and all of his family and friends."

Remember that smalltown that refused to fly the rainbow flag as part of the gay Pride celebrations?

Town of Truro and gay group reach agreement

Xtra.ca's Ralph Higgins writes:
(Nova Scotia, Canada) The Town of Truro and the local gay Pride group recently reached an agreement to move forward following last year's rainbow flag incident. Last summer, Truro, Nova Scotia made national headlines when the mayor and town council refused the request of the local Pride committee, headed by Charles Thompson, to fly the rainbow flag as part of the gay Pride celebrations.

In June this year, a joint statement was issued by the Town of Truro and Charles Thompson of Rainbow Proud (formerly Truro Pride) in which the town apologized for the confusion regarding its flag policy — which, however, remains unchanged.

READ: Joint Statement HERE

Advertising Standards Authority will NOT investigate Heinz gay kiss advert complaints

Tony Grew writes:
(UK) The body tasked with policing the rules laid down in the advertising codes has said it will not be investigating an advert that featured a gay kiss. The Advertising Standards Authority received 215 complaints about the Heinz Deli Mayo ad, featuring two men kissing. Heinz decided to pull the TV advert on Friday June 20th after receiving complaints.

An ASA spokesman told PinkNews.co.uk:

"The complaints were put to the ASA Council to take a decision about whether the complaints should be formally investigated. Council decided that the advertisement should not be formally investigated. Council considered that whilst some viewers may have personal objections to any portrayal of same-sex kissing, there was nothing in the content of the advertisement that would constitute a breach of the TV Advertising Code." READ MORE

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Photographer appeals fine for refusing to take pictures of a commitment ceremony

365gay.com reports:
(Albuquerque, New Mexico) An appeal was filed Wednesday by an Albuquerque photographer who was fined over $6,000 for refusing to take pictures of a lesbian couple's commitment ceremony. In April the state Human Rights Commission ruled that Elaine Huguenin, owner of Elaine Photography, violated the Human Rights Act by discriminating against Vanessa Willock and her partner on the basis of sexual orientation. Willock filed the complaint after Huguenin said she would only photograph traditional marriages. READ MORE

I'm happy ALL the time because I'm gay!

CNN reports:
Denmark is the world's most content nation, according to a new study on global wellbeing, but the good news is, despite the credit crunch and rising fuel and food prices, all of us are getting happier.

Researchers at the University of Michigan said Denmark's prosperity, stability and democratic government placed the country at the top of the rankings, with Colombia, Canada, Puerto Rico and Iceland all in the top 10. The United States -- the world's richest nation -- ranked 16th among 97 countries, while Britain was placed 16th. Zimbabwe, with its soaring inflation and continuing political crisis, unsurprisingly ranked 97th. READ MORE

10 MOST MISERABLE COUNTRIES
Zimbabwe, Armenia, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Albania, Iraq, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia

TOP 10 HAPPIEST COUNTRIES
Denmark , Puerto Rico, Colombia, Iceland, N. Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, Austria

Arab Sheik is convicted of beating an American man who rejected his advances

365gay.com reports:
(Geneva) The brother of the ruler of the United Arab Emirates was convicted Tuesday of using a belt to beat an American man who rebuffed his sexual advances in a Geneva hotel in 2003. Sheikh Falah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was ordered to pay a fine of $9,820. If he fails or refuses to pay he will be sentenced to 100-days in prison term, the court said. Additionally, the ruling said, if he gets in trouble again in Switzerland over the next three years he would face a penalty of $530,000. READ MORE

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom takes his first step toward California governor's race

Lisa Leff writes:
(San Francisco, CA.) Mayor Gavin Newsom took his first public step toward seeking higher office Tuesday, filing papers to form an exploratory committee for a potential gubernatorial bid in 2010. Newsom, a Democrat best known for challenging California's ban on same-sex marriage in 2004, is six months into his second and final term, which expires in 2011. Speculation over whether he would run to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pursued him since before his re-election, but the mayor always deflected it by saying his attention remained fixed on the city. READ MORE

Missouri outlaws cyberbullying after tragic MySpace suicide of teenager Megan Meier

Associated Press reports:
(O'Fallon, Missouri) Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt signed a bill Monday outlawing cyberbullying, just miles from where a 13-year-old girl committed suicide nearly two years ago after being harassed on the Internet. Megan Meier killed herself in October 2006, shortly after receiving mean-spirited messages over the Internet. Her suicide prompted the bill.

The teenager's mother, wearing a picture of her daughter in a pin on her dress, stood over the governor's shoulder as he signed the bill at a St. Charles County library. Tina Meier said she was grateful but said much more needs to be done to make sure children are kept safe. "This is certainly not the end," she said. "Bullying and cyberbullying is something that takes place every day. This is not just one case with Megan." READ MORE

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Spurned man castrates gay lover!

365gay.com reports:
(Manila) A man who discovered his boyfriend had an affair with a woman is accused of castrating his lover in a jealous rage. Jose Feliciano Valderama, 35, is charged with attempted murder. Police allege that Valderama and Marvic Manquera, 21, sought a room at a Quezon City hotel after a night of heavy drinking. While they were having sex Manquera allegedly told Valderama that he had previously had an affair with a women. While Valderama slept and angry Manquera reportedly severed his lover's penis. READ MORE

Two 'great' men stand up for marriage

Via Patriot Boy comes a pair of mock ads, slamming these two pathetic hypocrites, who are sponsoring a marriage protection amendment. You know, to keep gay people from ruining 'holy' matrimony... what a joke.

H/T: Kenneth in the 212

Heinz Controversy UPDATE: Silence from Heinz as MPs object to gay kiss ban

Tony Grew writes:
(UK) A group of MPs have signed an early day motion condemning food manufacturer Heinz for withdrawing a TV advert featuring a same-sex kiss. Meanwhile a petition demanding that the company reinstate the ad has been signed by more than 11,690 people.

So far nine MPs, all Labour, have backed the EDM by Diane Abbott.

It reads: "Millions of children watch depictions of same-sex relationships in soap operas every day … the advertisement was not intended to be a realistic depiction of a same-sex relationship … the advertisement was intended to be humorous." The MPs said that Heinz's decision was ill-considered and likely to offend millions of gay, lesbian and transgender people and called on the company to reconsider its decision. READ MORE

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Eenie, meenie, minie, moe?

United Press International reports:
A New York drug counselor says he is trying to get his job back after being fired for reciting a children's rhyme an African-American colleague found offensive. Donald Cross, 65, said he is dumbfounded by the town of Babylon's move to dismiss him for alleged racial harassment, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.

Donald Cross said he has lodged a complaint with the state Division of Human Rights in an attempt to return to the job he worked at for 15 years. He also initiated a $10 million federal lawsuit, claiming his civil rights were infringed. Cross said he was saying the rhyme in his mind when he had an interaction with Kathleen Wood, 71, last January. How did you learn 'Eenie, meenie, minie, moe?' Cross asked her. Wood was reminded of the version of the rhyme that says, catch a n----r by the toe, court documents indicate. I know the rhyme and I just didn't want to hear it, Wood said in court.

ANOTHER New Study: Homo and Heterosexual behavior largely shaped by genetics and random environmental factors

Science Daily reports:
Homosexual behaviour is largely shaped by genetics and random environmental factors, according to findings from the world's largest study of twins. Dr Qazi Rahman, study co-author and a leading scientist on human sexual orientation, explains: "This study puts cold water on any concerns that we are looking for a single 'gay gene' or a single environmental variable which could be used to 'select out' homosexuality - the factors which influence sexual orientation are complex. And we are not simply talking about homosexuality here - heterosexual behaviour is also influenced by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. READ MORE