Mark Singer
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Openly gay teen in Rome commits suicide because of anti-gay bullying
ROME, Italy — A 15-year-old openly gay teen has committed suicide after allegedly suffering repeated anti-gay bullying at school and online, according to Rome’s chief deputy prosecutor, Pierfilippo Laviani.
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Malawi official backtracks on possible suspension of anti-gay laws
LILILONGWE, Malawi — Malawian Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara on Thursday backtracked on statements regarding possible suspension of arrests of LGBT persons in this small landlocked country in southeastern Africa.
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France approves draft law to legalize same-sex marriage, gay adoptions
PARIS — The Socialist majority French government on Wednesday approved a draft law to that would legalize same-sex marriage and gay adoption, despite fierce opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and its right wing supporters in the Senate and the National Assembly.
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Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament claims notorious ‘Kill The Gays’ bill will be passed
ENTEBBE, Uganda — The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament has said that she would stand firm against homosexuality, and that she will push for that country’s notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill to be passed as soon as possible by Parliament.
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Serbia announces ban on upcoming gay pride parade
BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia’s Interior Ministry announced Wednesday that it has ordered banned a gay pride march in Belgrade that was scheduled for this weekend, citing security concerns.
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Authorities in Serbia consider banning this weekend’s gay pride parade
BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Monday that his government is considering banning a gay rights parade along with all other types of public events in Belgrade this next weekend, fearing a repeat of the violence that erupted two years ago.
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Two years after Tyler Clementi’s death, Rutgers now shines as example of diversity, inclusiveness
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.. — Two years ago, following the death of Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old freshman at Rutgers University who jumped to his death from the George Washington bridge after a sexual encounter he had with another man was streamed online by his roommate, Rutgers quickly found itself being associated with homophobia and cruelty.
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British school sends transgender girl home to change into boys uniform
BOSTON, Lincolnshire, U.K. — A 16-year-old British transgender girl was told that she couldn’t take her GCSE exam (equivalent to high school finals) and was sent home by teachers to change into the boys’ school uniform.
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Russian religious group threatens Facebook: Stop ‘flirting with sodomites’
SARATOV, Russia — A Russian Orthodox religious community in the southern Russia city of Saratov has issued an ultimatum to social media giant Facebook, demanding that the company stop “flirting with sodomites” and immediately remove all content “promoting homosexuality.”
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Uganda judge: Government should ‘infiltrate’ gay groups to prevent recruiting of children
KAMPALA, Uganda — A Ugandan judge this week said that the country’s security and interior ministries should “infiltrate” gay rights groups to ascertain if children are being “recruited into homosexuality.”
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Dutch military participates in its first Amsterdam pride flotilla
Uniformed Members of the Dutch defense forces participated in Amsterdam’s annual Gay Pride flotilla parade Saturday, on the city’s historic Prinsengracht canal, for the first time since openly gay service in the Dutch forces was legalized in 1974.
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Duncan to Educators: Gay-Straight Alliances are protected under federal law
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan this week warned school administrators nationwide that gay-straight alliance groups must be recognized as having the the same legal rights and protections as other student clubs at public secondary schools.
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Virginia lawmaker says flying gay pride flag at Federal Reserve is a felony
The decision of the Federal Reserve Bank of Virginia on Wednesday to fly a gay pride flag in honor of LGBT pride month, has drawn criticism from conservative groups, and at least one state lawmaker who said flying the flag is a crime.
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LGBT legal groups consider breaking ties with DC law firm over DOMA defense
At least two prominent LGBT legal and advocacy groups are re-considering their association with the Washington D.C. law firm that has been retained by the U.S. House GOP leadership to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal court.
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ACLU warns Virginia school district to stop blocking pro-LGBT rights websites
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia on Monday sent a warning to Prince William County Schools in suburban Washington D.C., advising the school district to stop censoring websites that advocate LGBT rights.
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U.S. Navy panel: Gay sailor will not be discharged
A three member panel of U.S. Navy Officers voted 3-0 on Thursday in favor of retaining Petty Officer Derek Morado, who had been facing a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” disciplinary discharge hearing, more than a year after being told he would be discharged.
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Colorado House approves bill to reduce bullying in Colorado public schools
The Colorado House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a measure designed to reduce incidents of bullying in Colorado public schools.
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U.S. Supreme Court in favor of anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church
The Westboro Baptist Church won a significant victory Wednesday when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of its right to promote what its church members call a “broad-based message” on public matters such as wars.
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Wyoming anti-gay marriage bill dies in state legislature
A proposed amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that would have banned recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states, expired Friday when it missed a procedural deadline set in the state House.
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Iowa GOP proposes measure to halt issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples
GOP lawmakers in Iowa’s House are putting forward a bill that would prohibit the state’s county recorders from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples until a public vote on a constitutional amendment is passed.
