Jewish Students Condemn Antisemitic Tweets about French PM Gabriel Attal

THE GUARDIAN: Students’ union calls for sanctions over posts on social network that have also contained homophobic abuse

Attal (centre) is France’s youngest prime minister and the first out gay politician in the role.Photograph: Eric Tschaen/Sipa/Rex/Shutterstock
The French Union of Jewish Students has called for sanctions against people who have written antisemitic and homophobic comments about France’s new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, on the social network X.

Attal, 34, who was appointed by the president, Emmanuel Macron, this week, is France’s youngest prime minister and also the first out gay politician in the job.

His father, a lawyer and film producer who died in 2015, was Jewish and his mother is Orthodox Christian. He was baptised as Christian but Attal has said his father told him he would feel Jewish all his life and would always face antisemitism because he had a Jewish name. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Friday, January 12, 2024

Who is Gabriel Attal, the French PM who climbed the ranks in record time?: France’s youngest prime minister, son of privilege, is known for his ability to think on his feet »

The Struggle of Being Gay in Albania | 2015

Dec 8, 2015 | Up until the mid-90s if you were openly gay in Albania, you would be sent to prison. Many homosexuals stil face bigotry and violence, even in their own homes. …

There is so much anger in this world. It is so sad. Tragic, in fact. The world is full of people who think, believe – nay! are convinced – that they know exactly how people should be and live. In fact, so arrogant are they that they behave as though they had a hotline to the ‘Papa in the Sky’, the Creator, the Power behind all things. The Power that is said to be omnipotent yet appears more and more impotent with each passing day, as so many natural catastrophes this year attest to.

Naturally, the answer to this is clear and simple: Live and let live! As long as people don’t trouble you, refrain from troubling them! Let them seek their pleasures in a way that suits them. Therefore, let them live in a way that suits them. Let them seek their own happiness; and then you seek yours. Life is far, far too short for all this hatred and strife.

Death comes to us all. Often far more quickly than one could ever imagine. One minute you are here; the next, you are not. I have personally witnessed someone dying right in front of me. Believe you me, a person’s last breath is drawn in the twinkling of an eye. That could be yours or mine. Then, to state the obvious, it's over.

It therefore behoves us all to be as tolerant as we can be. And if someone behaves in a way that displeases you, look the other way! If you happen to be a religious person and believe that the person in question is behaving in a way that is displeasing to your God, then God will have a way of dealing with that person in the next life. That is what the Day of Judgement is all about.

So, cultivate tolerance for the sake of social harmony. For as Jesus told us: He who is without sin, cast the first stone!

Homophobia is a sickness. – © Mark Alexander

How Life Is Changing for Italy's Gay Families – BBC News

Sep 23, 2023 | Italy’s government is planning to criminalise people who travel abroad to have children via surrogacy, which is already banned in the country.

While the majority of Italians who seek surrogacy abroad are believed to be heterosexual, many same-sex parents fear the new law is targeting LGBT families by making it harder for them to have children.

A recent Ipsos poll shows that 45% of Italians oppose the idea of surrogacy, but 45% were also in favour of granting legal recognition for children born via surrogacy.

Gates of Hell - Homophobia in Russia | Documentary

Jun 7, 2022 | After years of slow but steady progress, the rights of homosexuals in Russia took a giant step backwards with the passing of the Anti-Propaganda law – effectively forcing the gay population of Russia to live in the shadows and in shame. Lacking the basic right of living openly, as well as facing legal discrimination in work and study, Russia’s LGBT are also now facing a growing wave of violence.

When will people come to understand that if you believe in God, then we all are God’s children. Our natures, in that case, are as God intended them to be. For a believer, God is the inerrant Creator; so how can these homophobes profess Christianity and at the same time criticise gays for being the way that God intended them to be?

These eminent academics in the USA who have specialised in theology over very many years state clearly that the Bible DOES NOT condemn homosexuality. Period.

Furthermore, Jesus preached love, not division and hatred. All of God’s children should therefore be given the chance to live in peace, harmony, dignity, and safety. Gays in Russia should be able to live free from fear. More enlightened attitudes need to overcome the prevailing benightedness in the country. For Heaven’s sake, give gays a chance! – © Mark Alexander

The Stomach-churning Things Nazis Did to Gay Men

Feb 28, 2023 | Nazi Terror, Gay Men In Nazi Germany …

UK Government Told to Give LGBTQ+ Ugandans Safe Asylum Route as Anti-Homosexuality Bill Looms

PINK NEWS: Politicians and charities are calling on the UK government to create a safe and legal route for LGBTQ+ people fleeing Uganda over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. (Getty)
Uganda’s parliament passed the anti-LGBTQ+ bill for a second time on Tuesday (2 May), removing a provision that would have made it illegal to simply identify as LGBTQ+.

It remains a deeply troubling piece of legislation designed to persecute the community. Within its clauses is the introduction of the death penalty for the crime of “aggravated homosexuality” – ostensibly said to mean having sex with a minor, having sex while HIV positive or engaging in incest.

With the bill now awaiting president Yoweri Museveni’s signature, the lack of safe asylum routes for LGBTQ+ Ugandans is an urgent issue.

“The Anti-Homosexuality Bill will mean that Uganda has among the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world, and violent attacks on LGBTQ+ Ugandans are likely to increase in its wake,” Labour MP Nadia Whittome told PinkNews.

“The UK government must urge Uganda’s president to veto the bill and create safe routes for LGBTQ+ refugees fleeing persecution to rebuild their lives in the UK.” » | Patrick Kelleher | Friday, May 5, 2023

Beyond the Wall: Part 1 - The Rise of Germany's Far Right; Part 2: From Germany to Bulgaria, What Happened to Hope? | People & Power

Confronting Homophobia | Stephen Fry - Out There | LGBTQIA+ | Pride Central | Reupload

Dec 3, 2022 | Episode 1 sees Stephen reflecting back on how much has improved for gay people in his lifetime and he meets Elton John and David Furnish who’ve inspired many, including Stephen, to be open about their sexuality. He also travels to Uganda where the government is proposing a new law that would put gay people to death and sees up close the impact this is having on the lives of gay men and women there. Stephen also travels to the USA to explore the workings of Reparative Therapy, a therapy that claims to cure people of a gay sexuality. And he also has time to see how Hollywood deals with the gay issue these days by meeting Neil Patrick Harris who continues to land leading man roles even though he’s openly gay.

Response to the Jehovah's Witness Anti-gay Indoctrination Video | Lesson 22: One Man, One Woman

The language used in this video is rather raw at times; however, the video is rather funny. But because of the language used, it is not suitable for children. – Mark

Gay Priest: Roman Catholic Church 'Violently Homophobic' - BBC News | 2015

Oct 29, 2015 | A senior Vatican priest, Krzysztof Charamsa, stripped of his post after admitting being in a gay relationship, tells BBC News why he wrote to the Pope criticising the Church over its hypocrisy in banning gay priests.

Russian Parliament Mulls Expansion of 'Gay Propaganda' Law to Further Restrict Gay Rights | DW News

Oct 27, 2022 | The Russian parliament is discussing amendmentss to its restrictive law on LGBTQ+ communities. If passed it will prohibit what it calls the promotion of 'non-traditional sexual orientations'. This has been banned for under 18s since 2013 but the changes would make this illegal for all ages.

Margaret Thatcher—'The Iron Lady' or 'The Benighted Lady'?—Warns of 'Extremist' Anti-racist, Pro-gay Teachers

Margaret Thatcher, Conservative Party Conference 1987

Gay rights: Life under Section 28 - BBC Newsnight

30 years ago Section 28 was introduced. It was - the now repealed - clause of a local government act, to stop a council promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship. That's a quote.

The prominent gay writer and journalist Matthew Todd - he was editor at Attitude magazine for many years - was in school in those days, and looks back now, at the effect it had.

«Die Mehrheit der Priester im Vatikan ist schwul» | Sternstunde Religion | SRF Kultur | Reupload

Mit seiner These, wonach die Mehrheit der Prälaten, Bischöfe und Kardinäle des Vatikans schwul seien, generierte der französische Soziologe und Journalist Frédéric Martel im Frühling 2019 viel Aufmerksamkeit, aber auch Unverständnis.

Sein Buch «Sodom» erschien zeitgleich in acht Sprachen und Martel wurde in unzählige Talkshows eingeladen, doch der Vatikan hüllte sich in Schweigen. Wer sich in den 30er-, 40er- und 50er-Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts als junger Mann irgendwie anders – eben homosexuell – fühlte, fand in der römisch-katholischen Kirche eine Oase, so Martel in seinem Buch «Sodom»: Männer, die unter Männern leben, andere Kleidung tragen und singen, das wäre für viele die Rettung gewesen, die zudem noch von der Gesellschaft akzeptiert war.

Gegen aussen seien diese in der Regel sehr alten Männer nun homophob, gegen innen aber homophil. Dies führe zu einer gefährlichen Doppelmoral, einer Kultur des Schweigens, die die Skandale rund um die katholische Kirche sehr unglücklich begünstigt hätten.

Sternstunde Religion vom 29.3.2020


Frédéric Martel’s book, SODOMA is available in many languages. The book is a bestseller. I have bought it in French – the original language it was written in. I took delivery of it yesterday from Amazon.fr . I have already started reading it. It promises to be a very good and interesting read, too. Actually, it’s a long book; there are nearly a thousand pages. It is very well-researched. By all accounts, even Pope Francis has read it! – Mark

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.fr .

Here is a link to the same programme in English.

Pink Triangles

Apr 4, 2020 | A study of prejudice against lesbians and gay men, "Pink Triangles" was one of the very first films to confront the growth of homophobia in American life and served to alert audiences to the danger of scapegoating and violence that can occur in any society. Best Documentary, San Francisco Int'l Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Ignorance abounds! Is there really any hope for humankind? – © Mark Alexander

Homophobic Abuse Allegedly Used at Tory Party LGBT Event in Birmingham

THE GUARDIAN: Several people had to be removed for allegedly using vitriolic language at party celebrating LGBT diversity

Conservative party members have been accused of using homophobic insults at a party celebrating LGBT diversity at the party conference in Birmingham.

Several people had to be removed for allegedly using vitriolic language at an event at Reflex nightclub, it is claimed.

Two sources told ITV News that one person had to be escorted from the venue for calling a gay man a “f**”, while another man was ejected for calling two women a “dirty l*****”. » | Nadeem Badshah | Wednesday, October 5, 2022

After Homophobic Assault, Gay Middle Eastern Man Refuses to Hide. “Yes, I Identify as a Gay Man.” | Reupload

The last summer before moving from Saudi Arabia to the United States, Jawad Bandar came out to his close friends. They all seemed to take it well - or so he thought. On one of his last nights in Saudi Arabia, Jawad was threatened by a group of men wielding bats. Though he escaped harm’s way, he later found out that his would-be attackers were tipped off by some people he thought were his friends. Rather than hide or retreat to the closet, Jawad took a different approach - upon relocating to Dearborn, Michigan, Jawad began living life as an open and unapologetically gay man.

Yes, gay Saudis. Imagine that! There are plenty of them, I can assure you. I saw and met more gay men when I worked there many years ago than I have ever met or seen in the West! Unfortunately, I wasn’t out in those days, and punishments for being gay were (and still are) brutal, harsh and cruel, otherwise I could have had a ball! – © Mark Alexander

After Homophobic Assault, Gay Middle Eastern Man Refuses to Hide. “Yes, I Identify as a Gay Man.”

Nov 10, 2021 The last summer before moving from Saudi Arabia to the United States, Jawad Bandar came out to his close friends. They all seemed to take it well - or so he thought. On one of his last nights in Saudi Arabia, Jawad was threatened by a group of men wielding bats. Though he escaped harm’s way, he later found out that his would-be attackers were tipped off by some people he thought were his friends. Rather than hide or retreat to the closet, Jawad took a different approach - upon relocating to Dearborn, Michigan, Jawad began living life as an open and unapologetically gay man.

Tom Daley Condemns Homophobia across Commonwealth ahead of Games

THE GUARDIAN: Gold-medallist’s comment comes ahead of opening ceremony in Birmingham on Friday

Tom Daley will not compete in the Commonwealth Games this year to spend more time with his family. Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for The National Lottery
The Olympic diver Tom Daley has condemned homophobia across Commonwealth nations ahead of the start of competition in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Friday.

Daley, who won gold at the event in 2018, said: “Thirty-five out of the 56 Commonwealth member states criminalise same-sex relations. That’s half the countries in the world that outlaw homosexuality.

“Every single person should be free to live their true authentic self, no matter where they are born or who they are. We must all keep working until everyone is free and equal.” » | Jessica Murray, Midlands correspondent | Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Met Says Its Officers Will Not March in Uniform at London Pride Event

THE GUARDIAN: Move comes after Peter Tatchell and other LGBTQ+ campaigners raise concerns about homophobia

The Metropolitan police have said its officers will not march in uniform at Pride in London after LGBTQ+ campaigners voiced concern about “institutional homophobia” within the force.

Scotland Yard said on Friday that officers who wish to join the celebrations should do so in civilian clothes rather than police uniform after listening to the “legitimate concerns” of activists.

Uniformed officers will still police the annual parade, which celebrates its 50th anniversary on Saturday with performances by the American singer-songwriter Ava Max and the British star Emeli Sandé.

The decision comes after the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell raised concern about the Met’s “homophobic” handling of the investigation into the serial killer Stephen Port. Tatchell said the case showed that “institutional homophobia is alive and kicking in the Metropolitan police” and that it would not be right for uniformed officers to march in the parade.

The official organisers of Pride in London later said the police uniform “undermines” the balance between listening to the concerns of members and being as welcoming as possible. » | Josh Halliday and David Batty | Friday, July 1, 2022