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Gay Marriage Could Lead to 'Lesbian Queen' Says Ex Tory Leader

2013-05-21T13:25:06Z

Former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit has solved the grand mystery on the effects of legalizing same sex marriage in England. The world won't end, but the future queen could share the thrown with another woman, according to Tebbit. Although a queer monarch would make for an interesting drama series, Tebbit's comments are no fiction, especially as he warns the public that legalizing gay marriage could lead to a lesbian queen and allow him to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.bigissue.com/mix/news/2385/norman-tebbit-maybe-id-be-allowed-marry-my-son">marry his son to avoid inheritance tax</a>. Tebbit, the former Conservative party leader, is dismayed at Prime Minister David Cameron's movement toward legalizing gay marriage in England. The issue is highly controversial and Tebbit warns that ministers have "f***ed up" by pressing for the bill and alienating Tory grassroots traditions. Lord Tebbit made his comments in an interview with Big Issue magazine. "It's like one of my colleagues said: we've got to make these same sex marriages available to all. It would lift my worries about inheritance tax because maybe I'd be allowed to marry my son. Why not? Why shouldn't a mother marry her daughter? Why shouldn't two elderly sisters living together marry each other?" Tebbit joked.

Gay Marriage Could Lead to 'Lesbian Queen' Says Ex Tory Leader originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 13:25:06.

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Church of Scotland Could Soon Allow Gay Clergy

2013-05-21T13:13:50Z

Some congregations of the Church of Scotland will be allowed to confirm gay ministers, if a vote passed Monday by senior officials moved forward successfully. The faith is traditionally conservative, yet the General Assembly backed a referendum affirming gay clergy members at more progressive congregations. Before the motion can become law, however, it must pass a General Assembly vote next year as well as a regional vote by the church's presbyteries. It's reported that the process could take up to two years. Allowing congregations to confirm gay clergy if they want is a compromise of a long running debate on the issue that has split the church. Two congregations have left the church over the issue. "This was a major brakthrough for the church but we are conscious that some people remain pained, anxious, worried and hurt," the assembly's moderator, Lorna Hood, told ABC News.

Church of Scotland Could Soon Allow Gay Clergy originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 13:13:50.

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What Happened to the Village?

2013-05-21T12:53:44Z

The brutal killing of a gay man in New York's Greenwich Village has many wondering if New York is no longer a safe place for gays. Police say on Monday, May 20, suspect Elliot Morales yelled an anti-gay slur at 32-year-old Mark Carson before firing a single bullet point blank to Carson's face, killing him instantly. Greenwich Village is long known as one of the most vibrant areas for LGBTQ people in New York. It has a long gay rights history and remained a hub for gay politics in America. In 1969, what became known as the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://gaylife.about.com/od/stonewall/a/stonewallhistory.htm">Stonewall Riots</a> began there and since annual pride parades have been held in cities around the globe. Recent years and financial mobility in New York have resulted in a dynamic mix of communities in the area. Long evolving gentrification has given way to a mingling of gay and straight young professionals, older gays in long residence there, and urban youth from both New York and nearby New Jersey who see the Village as a vibrant hang out spot. What was once a gay underground turn center for political action is now residence for the trendy and home to those who found shelter and safety among the many gay businesses, bars and pedestrians. It's difficult to say whether this shift is a contributor to the heinous act of violence, but the events of the crime do signal a criminal brazenness that have some wondering if New York is reverting to a pre-Stonewall sentiment toward LGBT people. I don't want to imply that since the Stonewall Riots, New York gained an immunity to homophobia or hate crimes. In fact, Stonewall merely highlighted an existing attitude that lingers among some New Yorkers, despite the city's progressive reputation. The murder of Mark Carson is the latest of many hate crimes at the hands of those that continue to see LGBT people as a threat. Since Monday, thousands of people have gathered at the scene of the crime to give their respects and honored Carson's life with a new, yet familiar cry: "We're here! We're queer! Homophobia's got to go!"

What Happened to the Village? originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 12:53:44.

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Soderbergh Speaks on New Liberace Film

2013-05-21T12:28:19Z

Director Steven Soderbergh opened up about his new film based on the love life of Liberace. Soderbergh says timing of the release of "Behind the Candelabra" is a coincidence and that he did not predict that the film would enter the Cannes Film Festival at the pinacle of the global push for same sex marriage. In fact, Soderbergh told a news conference that it took five years to raise the 25 million to make the film. "In making the film, the socio-political aspect of it was not really in my mind but I was focused on ... trying to make this relationship as believable and realistic as we could," Soderbergh told a news conference," Soderbergh said. "Behind the Candelabra" is based on the biopic by 18-year-old Scott Thorson (played by Matt Damon) and his life with flamboyant super celebrity and then 58-year-old Liberace (Michael Douglas). The story unfolds through Thorson's drug habit, financed by hocking jewelry given to him by his lover and Liberace's continuous sexual interests in other young men. The film is one of 20 up for the top Palme d'Or prize for best picture.

Soderbergh Speaks on New Liberace Film originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 12:28:19.

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Was Nintendo Gay Couple Video Game a 'Bug'?

2013-05-15T04:55:23Z

While I was excited to hear that Nintendo's new life simulation game allowed men to marry other men, it was a temporary glitch according to officials. News circulated online after players discovered that Nintendo's popular new game Tomodachi Collection: New Life allowed men to date, marry and have children with other male players. The female characters, however, could not do the same. When the question was raised to Nintendo customer support, they were told it was a bug and would be fixed. "One claims to have contacted Nintendo's customer support, which supposedly said this is a bug and that the game needs to be patched," <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/14/183902153/reports-bug-allows-gay-marriage-in-video-game-fix-likely">NPR reports</a> Brian Ashcraft of gaming blog Kotaku as writing. Tomodachi Collection is a Japan-only release for Nintendo 3DS that is already a best-seller a month after release. An update was released on Monday that included several fixes that are said to include patching the same-sex couple option.

Was Nintendo Gay Couple Video Game a 'Bug'? originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 at 04:55:23.

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Get Ready for a New Gay HBO Drama

2013-05-14T17:02:14Z

Premium network HBO has given the green light to a new gay comedy drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The series is unnamed as of now, but is the project of Lorimer executive producer Andrew Haigh. Bored to Death's Sarah Condon and Brothers and Sisters' David Marshall Grant will join Haigh in the credits. Although the title isn't known, details have leaked that the show will be about three friends (Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez and Murray Bartlett) in San Francisco determined to explore every inch of the queer capital. The comedy is set for an initial 8 episode run to premiere in 2014.

Get Ready for a New Gay HBO Drama originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 17:02:14.

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Gay E-Zine, A First for Singapore

2013-05-14T16:42:15Z

Homosexuality remains unwelcome in Singapore and most of South East Asia, but a new online magazine for gay men is testing the boundaries of a changing culture. Today, sex between two men could cost each two years jail time in Singapore. The ban on homosexuality extends to media. Special licensing requirements must be met before approved media can be distributed. Knowing of its likelihood to fail as a print version, the publishers of a new magazine targeting gay men have launched apps for iPhone and Android. The digital distribution allows the team to circumvent existing restrictions. The bi-monthly e-zine, Element, covers culture, fashion, entertainment, and fitness. Co-founder Noel Ng, 31, says he hopes Element will "restore the dignity and worth of every gay man" taken away by the poor treatment of gay Singaporeans. Element will cost you $1.99 per issue or $9.99 for six issues. According to The Atlantic, 6,500 subscriptions have been sold since launch.

Gay E-Zine, A First for Singapore originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 16:42:15.

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Minnesota Gives Equal Access To Marriage

2013-05-14T16:22:50Z

Minnesota became the 12th state, and the 3rd this month, to grant equal rights of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill into law Monday soon after the majority Democrat Senate approved the measure 37-30. The law was approved by the House last week. The gay rights victory comes less than a week after <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://gaylife.about.com/b/2013/05/08/delaware-couples-prepare-to-marry-as-soon-as-july.htm">Delaware approved same sex marriage</a>. Coupes there can marry as soon as July 1, but Minnesota hopefuls will have to wait an additional month to August. Approved same sex marriage in Minnesota is a clear message that equality is the way of the future. Six months ago, state voters thwarted a proposed ban on gay marriage. "Voters in Minnesota brought anti-equality efforts to a screeching halt on Election Day, and today state leaders in St. Paul made it clear that all Minnesota families are equal in the eyes of the law," says Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin.

Minnesota Gives Equal Access To Marriage originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 16:22:50.

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Charles Barkley: Everyone in the NBA has Played With a Gay Player

2013-05-08T10:35:40Z

If you've played in the NBA, former player and commentator Charles Barkley says, you've played with a gay player. The comment may sound obvious to us gay folks, but the perception of professional sports is widely heterocentric. In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, former NBA great Barkley talked about his experiences with gay players in the locker room and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://gaylife.about.com/od/gaysportstravel/a/Jason-Collins-Breaks-The-Habit-Comes-Out.htm">Jason Collins's coming out</a>. Dan Patrick broke the story about Collins on April 29th, making history for Collins and changing the face of professional sports. Collins is the first active player to come out in professional sports. The response has been overwhelmingly positive inside and out of the pro sport community.

Charles Barkley: Everyone in the NBA has Played With a Gay Player originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 at 10:35:40.

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Relatives Turn on Zambian Lovers, Couple Rearrested

2013-05-08T10:20:23Z

Blood may be thicker than water, but homophobia is thicker than both. A Zambian couple is rearrested after relatives turn them into the police for being gay. Two men from Kapiri Mposhi were detained for "having sex against the order of nature" after one of their relatives tipped off police. James Mwape, 20, and 21-year-old Philip Mubiana had been living together. Standwell Lungu, police chief in Zambia's central province, stated that it was a family member who had informed police. The men were arrested and denied bail after being "caught in the act". Because of this police say more counts have been added to their charge. They are due in court today. According to polls, majority of Zambia's population, 98 percent, oppose homosexuality. Zambia's president has expressed public opposition to gay rights and open displays of homosexuality. Zambia's youth and sports minister Chishimba Kambwili says the already stringent laws against homosexuality will be made more strict as time passes. Zambia is one of 37 African nations that prohibit homosexuality.

Relatives Turn on Zambian Lovers, Couple Rearrested originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 at 10:20:23.

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