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Delay in allowing same-sex civil unions draws protests in Greece
ATHENS, Greece — Gay rights protesters have gathered outside Greece’s parliament after the government said it would delay legislation allowing civil unions for same-sex couples, despite a recent European court ruling against the country on the issue. About 500 people joined the peaceful protest in central Athens Friday, held while lawmakers prepared to vote on an anti-racism bill.
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Mugabe says China aid doesn’t require Zimbabwe to ’embrace homosexuality’
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe told a Chinese TV interviewer that he resents Western international aid because it always depends on conditions such as accepting homosexuality. The Telegraph reports that Mugabe praised Beijing for being “very constructive” in its assistance towards Zimbabwe, remarking that aid from Europe and America “always attach conditions” …
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Berlin’s first openly gay mayor to resign by end of year
BERLIN — Charismatic Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit, whose reputation has taken a beating over struggles in the construction of the German capital’s new international airport, said Tuesday he will step down by the end of the year. Wowereit told reporters he would resign Dec. 11 after more than 13 years in office.
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Lawmaker blames Spain’s trillion dollar debt on ‘subsidies to homosexuals’
A Spanish lawmaker is facing calls to resign after blaming Spain’s $1 trillion deficit on “subsidies offered to homosexuals” by the previous socialist government. The Local reports that Popular Party senator Luz Elena Sanín told journalists that Spain’s ruling conservative party had increased its public spending due to “the debts” caused by “subsidies for…
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Russian anti-gay extremist sentenced to five years in penal colony
MOSCOW — The leader of the Russian anti-gay vigilante group “Occupy Pedophilia,” who is alleged to have lured LGBT youth to abusive encounters through fake social media profiles, was sentenced Friday to five years in a Russian penal colony. Maxim Sergeyevich Martsinkevich was convicted of inciting and fomenting cases of extremism by posting videos on the “Vkontakte” (VK.com) …
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Ugandan gays who fled persecution still feel danger in neighboring Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya — When a Ugandan court overturned the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act this month, rights activists worldwide claimed a victory. But not gay Ugandans who fled persecution to live in a refugee camp in neighboring Kenya. “The reaction shocked me. I went there. I thought it would be a celebration, but … nothing,” said Brizan Ogollan, founder of an aid organization…
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27 men arrested in Lebanon for alleged ‘unnatural sex’ and ‘public indecency’
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Police in Beirut have arrested 27 men for allegedly engaging in “gay sex” during a raid on a Beirut bathhouse on Saturday. According to Colonel Tony Haddad of Hbeish police station, the 27 unnamed men, including the owner and employees, have been in police custody since police raided Agha Hammam in the area of Hamra-Concord, Beirut.
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Israel OK’s gay Jews to immigrate with non-Jewish same-sex spouses
JERUSALEM — Israel says it will now allow Jews to immigrate to Israel with their non-Jewish same-sex spouses. In a directive publicized Tuesday, Israeli Interior Minister Gideon Saar told immigration authorities not to differentiate between married gay and straight couples. Israeli law grants citizenship to Jews and close non-Jewish relatives who move to Israel.
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Uganda president not keen on rushing anti-gay law
KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is urging parliamentarians not to rush to reintroduce a controversial anti-gay law that was invalidated earlier this month, saying the measure is not a priority and could hurt the country’s economic development. Museveni, who held a meeting Monday with lawmakers from his party, urged parliamentarians …
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Kenya considers harsh penalties against gays, including death by stoning
NAIROBI, Kanya — Lawmakers in Kenya are considering a new draft bill that proposes harsh penalties against gays, including death by stoning or life in prison. The Republican Liberty Party in Kenya’s National Assembly introduced the bill, prohibiting any form of sexual relations between people of the same sex.