If you are born with a sense of aesthetics which makes you predisposed to being attracted to people of the same sex, i.e. you are homo — Shh! — and further, you are born in a country such as Iran which is governed and ruled by the benighted, by old farts who continue even to this day to believe in the omnipotence of the old man in the sky, the old man who is so vain and insecure that he demands to be worshipped constantly and thought about during your every waking minute, and praised! — oh how much he wants and needs to be praised! — you know, the old dude with a long, long, white beard who is watching over your every move, even when you’re in the crapper!, and who is omnipotent to punish you for acting on the predispositions with which he created you, and for satisfying your desires, maybe with a tender kiss on your lover’s lips, yet he is totally and utterly impotent to stop natural disasters, such natural disasters as earthquakes, inundations, and wildfires. If you are born in such a country, this might be your fate. You might be asked, nay ordered, to change the sex with which the old man in the sky endowed you! – © Mark Alexander
Showing posts with label homosexuals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homosexuals. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
BBC World: Iran's "Sex-Change" Solution | Long Version | Reupload
If you are born with a sense of aesthetics which makes you predisposed to being attracted to people of the same sex, i.e. you are homo — Shh! — and further, you are born in a country such as Iran which is governed and ruled by the benighted, by old farts who continue even to this day to believe in the omnipotence of the old man in the sky, the old man who is so vain and insecure that he demands to be worshipped constantly and thought about during your every waking minute, and praised! — oh how much he wants and needs to be praised! — you know, the old dude with a long, long, white beard who is watching over your every move, even when you’re in the crapper!, and who is omnipotent to punish you for acting on the predispositions with which he created you, and for satisfying your desires, maybe with a tender kiss on your lover’s lips, yet he is totally and utterly impotent to stop natural disasters, such natural disasters as earthquakes, inundations, and wildfires. If you are born in such a country, this might be your fate. You might be asked, nay ordered, to change the sex with which the old man in the sky endowed you! – © Mark Alexander
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
A Comprehensive Guide to Boris Johnson’s Infamous Use of ‘Tank-topped Bum Boys’
PINK NEWS: Boris Johnson has, time and again, refused to apologise for using homophobic slurs such as “tank-topped bum boys”.
Johnson’s history of making homophobic remarks is under the microscope once more after Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called the prime minister “scum”.
Asked if she would retract her words, she told the BBC Sunday (26 September) that Johnson was a “racist, homophobic misogynist”.
“I will apologise when Boris apologises for saying the comments he has made, I will retract that he is scum.”
Speaking during a BBC Question Time leaders’ special three weeks before the 2019 general election, Johnson suggested that any offence around his past comments was manufactured.
“If you go through all my articles with a fine-tooth comb and take out individual phrases, there is no doubt that you can find things that can be made to seem offensive and of course I understand that.”
So we thought we’d do just that, in an attempt to end the debate on whether or not his words were offensive once and for all. » | Reiss Smith | Monday, September 27, 2021
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Chechnya Opens World's First Concentration Camp for Homosexuals since Hitler's in the 1930s Where Campaigners Say Gay Men Are Being Tortured with Electric Shocks and Beaten to Death
Chechyna has opened the first concentration camp for homosexuals since Hitler, where campaigners say gay men are being tortured with electric shocks and beaten to death.
It comes after it was claimed 100 gay men had been detained and three killed in Chechnya last week.
A report by Novoya Gazeta said authorities had set up several camps where homosexuals are killed or forced to promise to leave the republic.
One of the camps is reportedly at the former military headquarters in the town of Argun.
Svetlana Zakharova, from the Russian LGBT Network, told MailOnline: 'Gay people have been detained and rounded up and we are working to evacuate people from the camps and some have now left the region.
'Those who have escaped said they are detained in the same room and people are kept altogether, around 30 or 40. They are tortured with electric currents and heavily beaten, sometimes to death.' Read on and comment » | Thomas Burrows for MailOnline | Monday, April 10, 2017
Monday, June 29, 2015
Islamic State Marks Gay Marriage Ruling by Throwing 4 Gay Men Off a Roof
Apparently the Islamic State was not moved to repentance by photos of gay marriage supporters — which will come as a surprise to the editors of Foreign Policy.
“Horrific moment ISIS kill four gay men by throwing them from a roof,” by Jamie Lewis, Mirror, June 27, 2015: » Robert Spencer | Sunday, June 28, 2015
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Latvian Politician 'Praised Nazi Shooting of Gays'
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| Ms Priede represents the Kandava district in western Latvia |
Latvia's ruling party has been forced to distance itself from comments by one of its members which appeared to praise the Nazi extermination of homosexuals.
Inga Priede, a member of the Unity party, has resigned after making the comments in a Twitter discussion on Monday night about same-sex marriage legislation.
“Thank God! The Germans shot them in their time. Birth rate was going up," wrote Ms Priede.
She wrote that Latvian citizens in rural areas were "in shock" about the possibility of same-sex marriage legislation being introduced, and that homosexuals living in these regions were "not proud" of their sexuality because "there are basic values". » | Andrew Marszal | Wednesday, Decembrer 03, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
Oklahoma Tea Party Candidate Claims: ‘Stoning Gays Was a Law That Came Direct from God’
A Tea Party candidate running for office in Oklahoma has appeared to endorse the practice of stoning gay people to death.
Last year, Scott Esk, who is in the race to represent the 91st district in the State House, responded to a friend’s Facebook post about the Pope’s stance on gay people by copying and pasting Bible verses including Leviticus 20:13, which describes homosexuality as “detestable” and demands gay people be “put to death”.
When asked by another Facebook user whether he supported executing homosexuals by stoning, Mr Esk replied: “That goes against some parts of libertarianism, I realise, and I’m largely libertarian, but ignoring as a nation things that are worthy of death is very remiss.” » | Tim Walker | Los Angeles | Thursday, June 12, 2014
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Russia's self-proclaimed morality police have discovered a new danger to the people's health and values, and it is to be found in the country's supermarkets -- in the form of dairy products from the American company PepsiCo. Activists from the Orthodox group called the People's Council have even gotten Russia prosecutors involved.
"The packaging of these dairy products with the label 'Vesyoly Molochnik' have long been a thorn in my side," says Anatoly Artyuch, of the People's Council. The brand means "happy milkman" in English.
Pepsi uses the brand to sell all manner of dairy products, including milk, yoghurt and kefir. Packages portray a smiling, slightly rotund milkman wearing a chef's hat. Behind him is a green meadow with a rainbow stretching across the sky. Artyuch believes that the rainbow isn't quite as innocent as it might seem. He thinks it is "the global symbol of the sodomite movement." Russia's judiciary is currently looking into the claims. » | Benjamin Bidder in Moscow | Monday, October 22, 2012
Saturday, January 08, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Leading Right-wing organisations in the United States have pulled out of a major conservative conference because of the participation of a gay Republican group, exposing a schism among conservatives over the direction of the movement.
At least half a dozen groups have announced they will not attend the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac) next month, which will attract thousands of activists to Washington and feature most of the Republican hopefuls for the party's 2012 presidential nomination.
They have objected to the status of GOProud as a co-sponsor of the event, though the group does not advocate actively for gay marriage, believing it is an issue that should be resolved by states and not the federal government. GOProud, whose name is derived from the Republican Party's nickname Grand Old Party, did however strongly support the recent repeal of the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy on military recruitment of gay people.
"The baseline reason is that homosexuality is not a conservative value," said Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association. "It's the conservative Pac, not the libertarian Pac."
Brent Bozell, head of the Media Research Centre, which tracks liberal bias in the mainstream media, said: "We've been there 25 years, since our inception. To bring in a 'gay' group is a direct attack on social conservatives, and I can't participate in that."
The Family Research Council, which has participated in the conference for several years, said in a statement: "Organizations whose whole reason for existence is to promote the forced public affirmation of homosexual conduct should not be welcomed at Cpac, because that is not by any stretch of the imagination a 'conservative' agenda." >>> Alex Spillius, Washington | Friday, January 07, 2011
Monday, April 12, 2010
ADVOCATE.COM: On Sunday, which marked the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day, a program of events in Gainesville, Fla. honored gay victims of Nazi persecution.
Coordinators at B'nai Israel Jewish Center honored gay Holocaust victims as a reminder of the sinister forces that underlie all hate, including recent crimes in the community, according to The Gainesville Sun.
"Recent homophobic events in the city and the efforts to introduce bigotry and intolerance into the mayor's race showed us that this was a poignant time for us to introduce this topic," Holocaust Memorial Program committee member Phillip Schwartz told the Sun. Read on and comment >>> Julie Bolcer | Monday, April 12, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH – BLOG: If anyone missed Channel 4’s Dispatches the other night, can I very much recommend it? “Britain’s Islamic Republic” is available here and is vital viewing. Andrew Gilligan’s programme will be shocking even for those of you who, like me, thought they couldn’t be shocked by this sort of thing any more.
One interesting addition, if I may, which Brett at Harry’s Place also points out here. Though there has been a lot of press coverage of the documentary, there has been far too little outrage about the opening sequences showing the East London Mosque (yes, that one, favoured by Boris Johnson and Prince Charles) as the venue for events at which the most virulent anti-gay and anti-women perverts preach. I know that’s no surprise, but stay with me a moment.
One preacher, an evidently lunatic semi-literate called Abdul Karim Hattin, is shown playing what he calls “a game” called “spot the fag”. For this tittersome “game” he uses a slide to show a picture of Elton John beside one of the dead rapper “2-pac” (Tupac Shakur).
This confuses me a lot. I think the point this unfunny bigot is trying to make is that you can somehow recognise Elton John as gay because of the way he looks. But surely there is some mistake.
In the photo Elton John is wearing a respectable casual red top. Tupac on the other hand is topless, rather conspicuously ripped, and his naked torso glistening with sweat. Now I don’t want to spoil this “game”, but to my, not untrained, eyes I’d have identified “2-pac” as gay in this gay identity-parade.
But as it turns out, Mr Hattin also thinks (though for baffling reasons) that Tupac’s image was somehow gay. I’m not sure I go along with this. In any case, Mad-as-a-Hattin is saying all this whilst wearing what looks to me distinctly like an elderly lady’s nightdress. >>>
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Saturday, March 06, 2010
NRC HANDELSBLAD INTERNATIONAL: Homosexuals can now attend communion in all parishes in the diocese of Den Bosch.
This is the outcome of a meeting between the church council of the main Roman Catholic church in the Netherlands, St. John’s Cathedral in Den Bosch, priest Geertjan Van Rossum, Vera Bergkamp of the gay organisation COC and editor-in-chief of the gay peridocial Gaykrant.
"People should decide for themselves whether or not to attend communion whatever their sexuality and should do so with a clean conscience," said a spokesperson for the diocese.
The openly gay Prince of the Carnival who was recently refused communion in the provincial town of Reusel therefore should have received it. The church's refusal to give him communion sparked protests at Roman Catholic church services up and down the Netherlands on Sunday.
During the protest, gay rights demonstrators dressed in pink and wearing wigs of the same colour walked out of the service at St. John’s after priest Geertjan van Rossum said "the correct experience of sexuality is part of the ten commandments". >>> RNW | Friday, March 05, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH: Conservative clergy have warned of a mass exodus from the Church of England and a sharp drop in its income unless divisive plans for the introduction of women bishops are changed.
On the first day of the gathering of the Church’s governing body, the General Synod, Anglo-Catholics claimed that “large numbers” would leave for Rome if their demands for concessions are not met.
Meanwhile 50 serving priests belonging to Reform, the evangelical group, signed an open letter saying that the situation could force them to cut off funding for dioceses and spend their money on training new vicars outside the Church instead.
The established church, which introduced women to the priesthood in 1994, is committed to ordaining female bishops as well but the process has been held up by the entrenched positions of both supporters and opponents of the historic move.
Liberals argue that women should be introduced to the episcopate on the same basis and with the same powers as men, otherwise an unfair two-tier system will develop.
However conservatives claim they were assured back when women priests were introduced that provisions would be made for them, similar to the “flying bishops” that currently cater for parishes that cannot accept the oversight of female vicars, when the next step was taken.
They want either an entirely new “men-only” province that could cover the whole of England, or extra junior bishops in dioceses who had not ordained women bishops and who would be answerable only to an Archbishop. >>> Martin Beckford | Tuesday, February 09, 2010
TIMES ONLINE: The Archbishop of Canterbury issued a “profound apology” to the lesbian and gay Christian community today.
In a powerful address to the General Synod, Dr Rowan Williams warned that any schism within the Church would represent a betrayal of God’s mission.
But he made clear that he regretted recent rhetoric in which he has sought to mollify the fears of the traditionalist wing of the church.
The Archbishop is from the Church’s liberal wing and a man who once espoused equal rights for gays within the Church. More recently he has adopted a conservative line for the sake of Church unity.
Today he said: “There are ways of speaking about the question that seem to ignore these human realities or to undervalue them.
“I have been criticised for doing just this and I am profoundly sorry for the carelessness that could give such an impression.”
Addressing the even more contentious debate over gay ordinations — something which threatens to split the Church farther [sic] with the expected consecration in May of Canon Mary Glasspool, a lesbian, as a bishop in Los Angeles — Dr Williams said it had not been helped by those who ignored the fact that many worshippers were gay, as well as many “sacrificial and exemplary priests”.
He made it clear that there was blame on all sides of the argument that has brought the Church to the brink of splitting. He pleaded for Anglicans angry over gays and women bishops to cease fighting, admitting that he and other bishops might have to settle for a two-tier communion. >>> Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Prize Comment of the Day:
Why is 'God' so concerned with what men do with their willies? There must be hundreds of issues more deserving of attention in the world today than this. Too many men in dresses getting hot under the collar.
Surely a religion where you are encouraged to worship a naked man (and his dad) should be a haven for the gay community. I can't believe the church doesn't need the bodies on a Sunday either.
I think I might get burnt at the stake now. – Gaberdine Dog, [Source: TimesOnline/Page 3 of comments]
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH: America has moved towards ending the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which prohibits openly homosexual men and women from serving in the US military.
Admiral Michael Mullen, the most senior officer in the United States military, said that ending the law was now "the right thing to do".
He added: “For me, personally, it comes down to integrity - theirs as individuals, and ours as institutions.”
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the US Senate that he could no longer back a policy that "forces young men and women to lie about what they are in order to defend their fellow citizens".
He added: “For me, personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals, and ours as institutions.”
He was speaking just after Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, said that he "fully" supported President Barack Obama's decision to end the policy, which was implemented in 1993 as a compromise after bitter resistance to then President Bill Clinton's pledge to allow open homosexuals to serve.
"We received our orders from the commander-in-chief and we are moving out accordingly." He said that he had ordered a high-level committee, chaired by Jeh (CORR) Johnson, the Pentagon's chief counsel, and Gen Carter Ham, commander of US forces in Europe, to draw up an implementation plan.
Mr Obama directed in last week's State of the Union address that the 1993 law be repealed. This would fulfil a campaign pledge and was also seen as a move to placate the Left, which has long campaigned against the policy. >>> Toby Harnden in Washington | Tuesday, February 02, 2010
VIEWPOINT: Let Gays Defend Their Country >>> Mark | Tuesday, February 02, 2010
NZZ ONLINE: Der amerikanische Verteidigungsminister Gates hat eine hochrangige Kommission eingesetzt, die bis Ende Jahr einen Plan entwerfen soll, wie die Diskriminierung von Schwulen im Militär beendet werden kann.
Präsident Obama will die Diskriminierung von Homosexuellen in den amerikanischen Streitkräften beenden. Er hatte dies im Wahlkampf versprochen, in seinem ersten Amtsjahr aber nichts unternommen. In seiner Rede zur Lage der Nation am vergangenen Mittwoch kam er auf das Thema zurück und sagte, er wolle das bestehende Gesetz noch in diesem Jahr beseitigt sehen. Zwar könnte Obama auf administrativem Weg Erleichterungen verfügen, doch ist er für die Abschaffung des Gesetzes auf einen Beschluss des Kongresses angewiesen.
Gegenseitiges Stillschweigen
Präsident Clinton hatte seinerzeit versucht, das Militär für Homosexuelle zu öffnen. Die Dienstordnungen definierten Homosexualität damals als Grund für einen Ausschluss aus den Streitkräften. Clinton drang mit seinem Anliegen nicht durch. Er erreichte aber insofern einen Kompromiss, als das Militär nicht länger von sich aus nachfragen durfte, ob jemand homosexuell sei. So entstand 1994 das gegenwärtige, als «Don't ask, don't tell» bekannte Gesetz. Demnach darf das Militär nicht nach der sexuellen Orientierung fragen, und Schwule dürfen sich nicht outen.
Laut Senator McCain, dem einstigen Präsidentschaftskandidaten, funktioniert «Don't ask, don't tell» gut. Als Kriegsheld hat seine Stimme in Militärfragen grosses Gewicht. Jene gut 13 000 Schwule und Lesben, die seit 1994 wegen Homosexualität aus dem Militär ausgeschlossen wurden, teilen McCains Einschätzung der Qualitäten des Gesetzes wohl kaum. Sie vermochten zwar anzuheuern – Amerika hat eine reine Freiwilligenarmee –, doch wurden sie entlassen, nachdem ihre sexuelle Orientierung offenkundig geworden war. Viele outen sich irgendwann doch, andere fallen gegen ihren Willen auf. >>> Beat Ammann, Washington | Dienstag, 02. Februar 2010
DIE PRESSE: Bekennenden Homosexuellen ist es derzeit offiziell verboten Soldatin oder Soldat zu werden. US-Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates will das nun ändern und hat eine Studie zur Abschaffung beauftragt.
Die US-Regierung will den Ausschluss praktizierender Homosexueller aus den Streitkräften beenden. Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates wolle eine Studie zur Abschaffung des Verbots in Auftrag geben, verlautete am Dienstag aus Regierungskreisen in Washington. Dabei gehe es nicht mehr um die Frage, ob, sondern wie schnell und in welcher Form die bisherige Politik geändert werden könne. Gates wollte seine Pläne am Abend vor dem zuständigen Ausschuss des Senats bekanntgeben. Obama will Verbot abschaffen >>> APA | Dienstag, 02. Februar 2010
LE POINT: Le plus haut gradé américain, l'amiral Michael Mullen, a estimé mardi devant des parlementaires que lever l'interdiction faite aux militaires homosexuels d'évoquer leur orientation sexuelle serait "la bonne chose à faire".
C'est la première fois qu'un haut gradé américain apporte son soutien clair à la levée de l'interdiction.
"Mon opinion est qu'autoriser les gays et lesbiennes à servir ouvertement (dans l'armée) serait la bonne chose à faire", a déclaré devant la commission de Défense du Sénat l'amiral Mullen, chef d'état-major interarmées, précisant qu'il exprimait un "avis personnel".
"Je ne peux m'empêcher d'être troublé du fait que nous avons actuellement une loi qui force les jeunes hommes et les jeunes femmes à mentir (...) pour pouvoir défendre leurs compatriotes", a-t-il ajouté.
L'amiral Mullen a déclaré qu'il pensait que les soldats américains "étaient capables de s'accomoder d'un tel changement", soulignant qu'il avait appris à ne jamais "sous-estimer leur capacité à s'adapter". >>> AFP | Mardi 02 Février 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
This is a clear example of the BBC taking leave of its senses! Shame on the BBC for asking such a ridiculous, cruel question! This subject is not worthy of debate. Period! – © Mark
THE GUARDIAN: Talkboard post seeks readers' views ahead of interactive World Service programme Africa Have Your Say
The BBC today asked users of its news website "Should homosexuals face execution?" on a talkboard discussion for a World Service programme for African listeners.
Posted on a BBC News premoderated talkboard, the thread was designed to provoke discussion ahead of the latest edition of interactive World Service programme Africa Have Your Say.
"Yes, we accept it is a stark and disturbing question, but this is the reality behind an anti-homosexuality bill being debated on Friday by the Ugandan parliament which would see some homosexual offences punishable by death," the post said.
The talkboard post asked users to send in their views to the programme, which goes out on the World Service and is also available online.
"Has Uganda gone too far? Should there be any level of legislation against homosexuality? Should homosexuals be protected by legislation as they are in South Africa? What would be the consequences of this bill to you? How will homosexual 'offences' be monitored?," the post added.
Premoderated posts included one from Chris, Guildford, posted at 8.59am, which attracted 51 recommendations of support. He wrote: "Totally agree. Ought to be imposed in the UK too, asap. Bring back some respectable family values. Why do we have to suffer 'gay pride' festivals? Would I be allowed to organise a 'straight pride' festival? No, thought as much!! If homosexuality is natural, as we are forced to believe, how can they sustain the species? I suggest all gays are put on a remote island somewhere and left for a generation - after which, theoretically there should be none left!"
Another, from Aaron in Freetown, said: "Bravo to the Ugandans for this wise decision, a bright step in eliminating this menace from your society. We hope other African nations will also follow your bold step." >>> Stephen Brook | Wednesday, December 16, 2009
PINK NEWS: BBC editors have defended allowing online readers to debate whether gays in Uganda should be executed, saying they accepted it was a "challenging question".
The discussion, on the broadcaster's Have Your Say feature, asked: "Should homosexuals face execution?"
The debate centres on Uganda, where an anti-gay bill is passing through parliament. It would impose execution or life imprisonment on gays, its sponsor David Bahati MP says.
Some commentators on the site, from both the UK and Africa, had agreed with the country's proposed law.
It was closed at around 4pm this afternoon after provoking a storm of anger on Twitter.
A number of readers emailed PinkNews.co.uk to complain that the question was offensive, arguing that readers would not be asked to debate the extermination of Jews in World War II. >>> Staff Writer, Pink News | Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ADVOCATE.COM: COMMENTARY: Kim Stolz wonders why certain U.S. senators refuse to comment on Uganda's "kill the gays" bill — a bill the White House, international human rights organizations, and even some typically conservative Christian groups have condemned.
In his State of the Union Address in January 2003, President George W. Bush gave one of his more eloquent and moving speeches about his upcoming HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention program, and included specific praise for the African country of Uganda in paving the way to lower AIDS population rates on the continent. This fall, the international community, feeling helpless and stunned, watched as severe antigay legislation was introduced in Uganda on Oct. 14, which called for a life imprisonment sentence for homosexual acts and the death sentence for those engaging in homosexual activity repeatedly and for any HIV-positive person doing so.
The current law in Uganda states that anyone who identifies as a homosexual, bisexual, or transgender should be sentenced to a minimum of 14 years imprisonment. While 14 years is the stated term, being convicted as an LGBT person commonly results in a life sentence. While it has never been safe to identifying as a gay person in Uganda, the bill introduced October 14, if passed, would make a nonstraight lifestyle impossible in the African country. The new legislation calls for a life sentence as a minimum punishment for any LGBT person and further states that anyone who fails to report a homosexual to the government within 24 hours will be sentenced to three years in prison. The final part of the bill is perhaps the most shocking, given Uganda’s history of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. It states that death by hanging is the punishment for “aggravated homosexuality,” which is defined as any of the following: a repeat offender of the homosexuality law, having homosexual sex when any intoxicating substance is involved (for instance, if two men meet at a bar, buy each other a drink and then have sex, both of these men would be sentenced to death,) if one engages in homosexual activity as an authority figure, and finally, having sex if you’re HIV-positive.
After hearing about the new “kill the gays” legislation in Uganda, President Obama, international human rights groups (specifically Human Rights Watch), and various public figures around the world made statements against the proposed law. In fact, Christian groups, which have remained divided on issues like civil unions and gay marriage, came together to oppose the flagrant human rights violation. Still, though, among the authority figures who strictly opposed the potential law, there were a few famous and prominent faces in the crowd — familiar faces to the Ugandan government — who connect through a wide “family” network and are now hiding from the accusations that they may actually be connected to this disgusting and murderous legislation. >>> Kim Stolz | Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
MAIL ONLINE: Controversial plans were unveiled yesterday to force political parties to make Parliament less white, male, middle-class and heterosexual.
Under proposals backed by Commons Speaker John Bercow, but labelled as 'insulting' by former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, parties will be made to declare publicly how many women, ethnic minority, gay and disabled applicants they reject as potential Parliamentary candidates.
Parties also face demands to ensure at least half the MPs leaving Parliament at the next election - in what is expected to be the biggest exodus since 1945 - are replaced by women.
The proposals have emerged from a crossparty review set up by former Commons Speaker Michael Martin - and taken forward by his successor, Mr Bercow - on how to make the chamber more representative.
In an interim report published yesterday, the panel said parties must be made to be more transparent about the people putting themselves forward as would-be MPs.
The report said: 'The fact remains that, at present, the House of Commons continues to be largely white, male, middle-aged and middle-class: people from under-represented groups who are putting themselves forward for selection are still proportionately less likely to be selected.' >>> | Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Sunday, July 05, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: A senior Church of England bishop has called on homosexuals to repent and "be changed" in comments that have infuriated equality campaigners.
The Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, has defended traditional biblical teachings on homosexuality and said the Church should not be "rolled over by culture".
Dr Nazir-Ali spoke as tens of thousands of people, including Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister’s wife, joined the annual Pride London march to celebrate homosexual culture. A war of words broke out between Labour and the Conservatives over the issue of homosexuality last week after a minister accused the Tories of having a "deep strain of homophobia" running through the party.
The bishop’s controversial comments will reignite the battle over homosexuality in the Church of England ahead of what promises to be a divisive week for Anglicanism.
Tomorrow, a new coalition of evangelical and Anglo-Catholic parishes, backed by Dr Nazir-Ali, will get under way, which critics have claimed is an attempt to create a "church within the church".
The organisers said The Queen, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, had sent a message to the leaders of the movement saying she understood their concerns about the future of the Anglican Communion. Next weekend the General Synod of the Church of England is meeting at York University. The following week, the Episcopal Church in America is expected to endorse liturgies for single sex marriage and allow more homosexuals to be made bishops.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Dr Nazir-Ali said: "We want to uphold the traditional teaching of the Bible. We believe that God has revealed his purpose about how we are made.
"People who depart from this don’t share the same faith. They are acting in a way that is not normative according to what God has revealed in the Bible.
"The Bible’s teaching shows that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is the way to express our sexual nature.
"We welcome homosexuals, we don’t want to exclude people, but we want them to repent and be changed." >>> Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent | Saturday, July 04, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
MAIL Online: Dozens of police stations lowered the Union Flag and replaced it with a gay rights banner to mark a day of action against homophobia.
One police chief said the rainbow flag demonstrated his force's support for homosexuals who felt they were victims of prejudice.
But critics warned that it was dangerous for forces to show support for particular campaigns.
Earlier this year, Britain's most senior policeman ordered his force not to fly any flags in support of individual groups.
Sir Paul Stephenson, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, instructed officers to remove a rainbow flag which had replaced a Union Flag at Limehouse police station, in East London, to mark Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender history month.
But elsewhere, four forces flew the gay rights flag at the weekend to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia - the prejudice against transsexuals. >>> By James Tozer and Arthur Martin | Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: Iraq's leaders have been accused of ignoring a wave of violence against homosexual men.
In recent weeks, 25 young men and boys have been killed in the country and gay rights groups claim the government has given tacit support to the death squads by staying silent on the crimes.
The lack of action by the authorities has prompted Amnesty International to the Iraqi President, Nouri al-Maliki, demanding "urgent and concerted action" by his government to stop the killings, according to the Independent.
The majority of the deadly attacks have taken place in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City, controlled by ultra-conservative Shia militia.
The bodies of four gay men, each bearing a sign with the Arabic word for "pervert" on their chests, were discovered in Sadr City three weeks ago. No arrests have been made.
Amnesty said the murders appeared to have been committed by militiamen and relatives of the victims, who had been incited by religious leaders who condemned 'deviancy'. >>> | Monday, April 13, 2009
THE INDEPENDENT: Iraqi Leaders Attacked over Spate of Homophobic Murders
Dozens of young men and boys killed by death squads in Baghdad
Iraqi leaders are accused of turning a blind eye to a spate of murders of homosexuals after 25 young men and boys were killed in recent weeks.
Gay groups claim the Iraqi government is giving tacit support to the death squads targeting young homosexuals who venture outdoors.
In an unusual move, Amnesty International will today write to the Iraqi President, Nouri al-Maliki, demanding "urgent and concerted action" by his government to stop the killings. Amnesty said the murders appear to have been carried out by militiamen and relatives of the victims, after being incited by religious leaders. Homosexuality has always been taboo in the country, but a surge of killings followed religious leaders' sermons condemning "deviancy".
The violence came after the improved security situation briefly encouraged some gay men to start meeting discreetly in public. This led to furious condemnation from clerics who have called for homosexuality – which can lead to a prison sentence of seven years – to be eradicated from Iraqi society.
Most of the killings have taken place in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City, controlled by ultra-conservative Shi'ite militia. Murders have also been reported in Basra, Najaf and Karbala.
The bodies of four gay men, each bearing a sign with the Arabic word for "pervert" on their chests, were discovered in Sadr City three weeks ago. Following the discovery of another two corpses six days later, an unnamed official in the city told Reuters: "They were sexual deviants. Their tribes killed them to restore their family honour." >>> By Nigel Morris, Deputy Political Editor | Monday, April 13, 2009
YOUTUBE: Gay Life, Gay Death in Iraq
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