‘Gay Conversion Therapist’ Comes Out: Exclusive Interview

He was a leader of the controversial 'gay conversion therapy' movement in the United States - so it came as a shock when David Matheson publicly came out as gay.

For decades, Mr Matheson - a Mormon - ran retreats offering therapy to suppress or manage sexuality, - claiming to help people live as straight men rather than gay.

In an exclusive interview with this programme he's now conceded that the practice, which almost 700,000 Americans have undergone, is not only built on a harmful philosophy but should be banned.

We are also joined from New York by Chaim Levin, who twice attended retreats co-founded by David Matheson.

Von der Leyen gegen Orbán: „Dieses ungarische Gesetz ist eine Schande“

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die EU-Kommissionspräsidentin reagiert blitzschnell auf das umstrittene Gesetz. Sie wirft Ungarn Diskriminierung und einen Verstoß gegen die Grundwerte der EU vor. Faktisch hat sie damit ein Vertragsverletzungsverfahren eröffnet.

EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen hat ein neues ungarisches Gesetz, das Kinder vorgeblich vor nicht-heterosexuellen Orientierungen schützen soll, eine „Schande“ genannt. „Das Gesetz diskriminiert Menschen aufgrund ihrer sexuellen Orientierung. Es verstößt gegen fundamentale Werte der Europäischen Union: Menschenwürde, Gleichheit und der Respekt für Menschenrechte“, sagte von der Leyen am Mittwochmorgen in Brüssel. Sie glaube an eine Europäische Union, „wo wir alle sein können, wer wir sind“ und „in der wir lieben können, wen wir wollen“. Wie von der Leyen weiter sagte, hat sie die verantwortlichen Kommissare gebeten, einen Brief zu senden, der diesen rechtlichen Bedenken Ausdruck verleiht, noch bevor das Gesetz in Kraft tritt. » | Von Thomas Gutschker, Brüssel | Mittwoch, 23. Juni 2021

Brexit : cinq ans après le référendum, le Royaume-Uni est divisé

LE POINT : Le Brexit continue de faire débat au Royaume-Uni, où les divisions restent vives concernant ses effets, cinq ans après le vote du 23 juin 2016.

Cinq ans après le coup de tonnerre du référendum du Brexit, le divorce est plus que jamais consommé. Mais les divisions restent vives et les changements profonds induits commencent seulement à se faire sentir dans un contexte brouillé par la pandémie. Cinquante-deux pour cent des Britanniques en faveur de la sortie du Royaume-Uni, 48 % pour le maintien dans le bloc européen : le résultat du référendum du 23 juin 2016 avait provoqué une onde de choc, au sein du pays comme auprès de ses alliés en Europe et au-delà. » | Source AFP | mercredi 23 juin 2021

Mahler Symphony No 5 Adagietto – Herbert von Karajan

Greek Islands: Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes

Ursula von der Leyen qualifie de « honte » la loi hongroise interdisant la « promotion » de l’homosexualité

LE MONDE: Bruxelles enverra une lettre à Budapest pour exprimer ses « préoccupations » sur le plan légal avant l’entrée en vigueur d’une loi qui « discrimine les personnes sur la base de leur orientation sexuelle », a déclaré la chef de l’exécutif européen.

« Une honte. » C’est ainsi que la présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, a qualifié, mercredi 23 juin, la loi hongroise interdisant la « promotion » de l’homosexualité auprès des mineurs. Bruxelles enverra une lettre à Budapest pour exprimer ses « préoccupations » sur le plan légal avant l’entrée en vigueur de cette loi qui « discrimine les personnes sur la base de leur orientation sexuelle », a précisé devant la presse la chef de l’exécutif européen.

Une déclaration, soutenue à l’heure actuelle par quinze Etats membres, a appelé la Commission à agir après l’adoption de ce texte, le 15 juin, à Budapest.

La loi, à l’initiative du parti souverainiste du premier ministre, Viktor Orban, prévoit que « la pornographie et les contenus qui représentent la sexualité ou promeuvent la déviation de l’identité de genre, le changement de sexe et l’homosexualité ne doivent pas être accessibles aux moins de 18 ans ». » | Le Monde avec AFP | mercredi 23 juin 2021

Gove Rules Out ‘Foolish’ Scottish Independence Vote before Election

THE GUARDIAN: Minister says prime minister’s focus is recovery from pandemic ‘for lifetime of this parliament’

Michael Gove has said he “can’t see” Boris Johnson granting a new referendum on Scottish independence before the next general election.

The Cabinet Office minister – who is responsible for countering the push for independence – said the prime minister’s focus was completely focused on recovery from the pandemic “for the lifetime of this parliament”.

His comments – which are likely to infuriate the SNP – appear to go further than other ministers who have said this is the wrong time for another referendum.

Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, the next general election is not due until May 2024 – although Johnson is committed to repealing the act, which could allow him to go to the country before then. » | PA Media | Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Hong Kong’s Apple Daily, Symbol of Pro-democracy Movement, to Close

THE GUARDIAN: Tabloid founded by Jimmy Lai and targeted by police raid last week will print final edition on Thursday

Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily will shut down online at midnight on Wednesday and print its final edition on Thursday, in a move observers fear signals the death-knell for press freedom in the territory.

The paper and its activist founder, Jimmy Lai, had become symbols of the pro-democracy movement and a thorn in the side of Hong Kong’s government and police, making it a prime target in the government’s efforts to stifle Hong Kong’s media.

National security police raided its offices last week as part of a crackdown that also included the freezing of its assets and accounts, crippling the company and guaranteeing its demise. » | Helen Davidson | Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Australia Plans to Shelve AstraZeneca Covid Vaccine by October

THE GUARDIAN: Controversial vaccine to be given only by request later this year when Moderna and Pfizer will dominate

The federal government has announced it will shelve the controversial AstraZeneca vaccine by October, suggesting it will have enough supplies of other vaccines to meet “allocation horizons” for vaccinating the population by the end of the year.

The government released a revised planning document on Wednesday outlining how it intended to direct supplies over the rest of the year.

At the same time, the chief health officer, Prof Paul Kelly, said he was “worried” about the growing Bondi cluster and declared seven local government areas in Sydney would be recognised as national hotspots.

The vaccination document, titled National vaccination allocation horizons, suggests in July and August AstraZeneca will continue to dominate the vaccination program, with up to 2.6m doses being administered each week, predominantly to those over the age of 60, through state and territory clinics and the primary care network.

But as the vaccination of this age group nears completion, it is anticipated AstraZeneca will be used only “subject to request” from October.

The commonwealth last week announced changed health advice for the AztraZeneca shot restricting it to over-60s because it has been linked to an extremely rare blood clotting condition. » | Sarah Martin, Chief political correspondent | Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Hitting Rock Bottom, Gay Man Adopts Dog. “I Have a Great Life with an Amazing, Little, Bitchy Dog.”

In the midst of addiction and in the aftermath of a violent attack and HIV diagnosis, Rob Garofalo decided to adopt a dog - despite never having even had a pet. And while this adorable little Yorkie didn’t solve all his problems, he did help Rob get his life back on track.

Monaco: Princess Stephanie Vows to End AIDS by 2030

MONACO TRIBUNE: Princess Stephanie has once again shown her support, and Monaco’s determination, in the fight to end this disease.

End inequalities, end AIDS. An ambitious goal, but one the United Nations aim to meet by 2030, as discussed in the high level meeting held by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) this week.

Taking place from the 8 to 10 June, Isabelle Picco, the permanent representative of Monaco at the United Nations in New York, chaired the meeting, whilst Princess Stephanie addressed the group. During the two-day long discussions, Princess Stéphanie shared a video message with the participants. In her speech, she claimed that the HIV and Covid-19 epidemics are very real examples of the need for stronger healthcare systems.

She also took a moment to praise the new global strategy devised by UNAIDS, which focuses on prevention and reducing inequalities, particularly amongst key populations. » | Alexis Gertaldi | Wednesday, June 16, 2021

La Princesse Stéphanie veut mettre fin au sida d’ici 2030 »

They Might Have Got More Brexit Sense Out of Frosty the Snowman

THE GUARDIAN: The UK’s chief negotiator with the EU did his best to prove why he isn’t really up to the job

You win some, you lose some. We’re still nowhere near finding out if the government has a coherent plan for tackling social care – only late on Monday the prime minister cancelled a meeting with Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock due to take place on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the issue. So we can probably assume not. But we are a little better informed as to why the negotiations with the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol have started to unravel badly. And that’s because every time he speaks, the UK’s lead Brexit negotiator, David Frost, doesn’t seem to be quite as bright as he would like us all to believe.

Tuesday’s appearance before the foreign affairs select committee was a case in point. Having established his credentials as being rather more important than a minister for Europe, Lord Frost then did his best to prove why he wasn’t really up to the job. He got off to a bad start by saying that the decision not to fully accredit the EU ambassador to the UK had been “over-interpreted” and that petty point scoring had been the last thing on the government’s mind. For some reason, the EU had seen it differently and taken offence. » | John Crace | Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Moving On: Why the EU Is Not Missing Britain That Much

THE GUARDIAN: On the 5th anniversary of Brexit, commentators reflect on the EU’s success at rallying together after Britain’s exit

On the night of 23 June 2016 a storm broke out over Brussels. Rain poured, thunder rolled and lightning flashed over the headquarters of the European Union’s institutions.

Then in the small hours came a political thunderbolt almost no one had forecast: the UK had voted to leave the union. Five years on, the Brexit tempest has subsided – in Brussels, if not in London.

“Not only did the EU survive the storm, but it also moved on,” said Georg Riekeles, of the European Policy Centre thinktank, and formerly an adviser to the EU’s Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier

Referring to the agenda of Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and other leaders of far-right anti-EU parties, Riekeles said that ahead of the Brexit vote “there was very clearly a populist, disintegrationist drive, let’s break it up”.

“Now,” said Bernd Lange, a German social democrat MEP, “even the rightwing populists aren’t discussing leaving the European Union, the Frexit [threat of French exit] is gone. They are saying we need to change the European Union.” » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Interview: Brexit Has Weakened and Isolated the UK, Says EU Vaccine Chief

THE GUARDIAN: Thierry Breton, who is also single market commissioner, believes downsides of leaving bloc are exposed by pandemic

Brexit has proved an “aberration that has weakened and isolated the UK”, the EU’s single market commissioner, Thierry Breton, has said, with any concrete benefits for Britain “hard to see” and multiple downsides cruelly exposed by the pandemic.

Breton, a former French finance minister in charge of the bloc’s Covid vaccination programme, now outpacing Britain’s, said that five years after the referendum, Brexit’s promised outcomes were “far from reality”.

Brexit was “supposed to ‘take back control’ and protect UK citizens, to offer the country more economic and commercial room for manoeuvre, and to boost Britain’s global standing,” he said. “What we see is pretty much the opposite.”

British calls for more “pragmatism” on the implementation of the withdrawal agreement – particularly the Northern Ireland protocol – were odd, he said: “Pragmatism was for the negotiations. Now the deal has to be applied, in full, just as agreed. I’m sure the British made sure they could implement it before they signed it. » | Jon Henley | Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Ryan Oldroyd (I'm From Glenwood, UT) - True Gay Stories

A young Mormon is excommunicated then outed to his parents after he comes out to his Mission President.

Who Sounds Gay? | Op-Docs | The New York Times

This short documentary explores the reasons that some men sound stereotypically gay, whether they are or not.

Stereotypes surround all of us. In the LGBTQ community people expect some to fit into certain stereotypes. The one we explore in this video is sounding gay.

Death in Venice – Gustav Mahler – Adagietto (from Symphony N°5)

Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 -- 18 May 1911 ) / Luchino Visconti (2 November 1906 - 17 March 1976)

A Gay Mormon Love Story: Elder | Op-Docs | The New York Times

This short documentary tells the story of a gay Mormon’s love affair while he served on a mission in Italy. Produced by: Genéa Gaudet

Read the story HERE »

Brexit Frustration – Five Years after the Brexit Referendum | DW Documentary

Trade with Great Britain has been severely disrupted since the Brexit agreement came into force. Fish traders and clothing sellers are struggling to cope with new customs and health regulations. Companies often bear the burden of the extra costs.

Nerys Edwards is a shellfish wholesaler from Wales. Her family has been in the business for generations, but since the start of the year, trading has become more complicated than ever before. Her company buys shellfish such as shrimps and lobster from local fishermen and exports them to the EU, chiefly to Spain. Requirements for new health certificates have delayed deliveries to the extent that some sea creatures, which are transported live, have perished en route. Each truckload is worth 50,000 pounds (about 58,400 euros). The financial losses for her family and the fishermen are considerable. Tensions are running high and Nerys Edwards worries about every shipment.

There are problems in continental Europe, too. German-British truck driver Colin Francis has been struggling with his schedule since Brexit. He transports goods through the Eurotunnel, in both directions, for a German logistics company. Like many other drivers, he has been held up for long periods at the new customs checkpoints in the UK. When Colin Francis sets off in the morning, he hopes to make it home to his family in the evening, instead of having to sleep in his truck. Now, he can’t be sure where he will spend the night. The logistics firm and their customers now often need to plan three times as long for trips that used to take a day.

Brexit has also forced entrepreneurs like Edzard van der Wyck from London to rethink their business strategy. His company produces clothing from New Zealand wool. Since January, it’s become more expensive to export to the EU than to the United States. Like many other British exporters, he now wants to set up a new distribution center and move parts of his business to continental Europe.

Petition Urges Jeff Bezos to Blast into Space – and Stay There

THE GUARDIAN: Change.org effort has gathered tens of thousands of signatures / Bezos to go into space in July on first human Blue Origin flight

A growing group of earthlings is banding together in an effort to keep Jeff Bezos off the planet, after he leaves it in late July.

By Monday morning, more than 77,000 had signed a petition on Change.org demanding the Amazon founder be kept from returning to Earth after participating in the first human space flight launched by his company Blue Origin.

“Billionaire’s [sic] should not exist … on earth, or in space, but should they decide the latter they should stay there,” read the description accompanying the petition, which was addressed “to the proletariat”.

In May, Bezos was named the second-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $186bn. » | Sarah Betancourt | Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Sign the petition

Sold! Bidder pays $28m for spare seat on space flight with Jeff Bezos »