Campaigns & Politics

Religious gay communities welcomed at London Pride

Gay Pride Flag July 5th, 2010

Despite a small number of Christian protesters, there was a strong faith group presence at London Pride this year. (more…)

Are you ‘Queer of the Year’?

Montreal's gay pride July 5th, 2010

The city of Montreal in Canada has launched a competition to find the worldwide ‘queer of the year’. The winner will take part in Montreal’s Pride Parade and enjoy a VIP treatment package worth $4,000 CAD. (more…)

TUC says coalition must do more for LGBT community

TUC logo July 2nd, 2010

The UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the coalition government to show true commitment to the LGBT community. (more…)

Australian PM against gay marriage

Australian flag July 1st, 2010

Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female Prime Minister, has stated that “marriage is between a man and a woman” and that she does not plan to alter her country’s laws. (more…)

PM weds as gay marriage legalised in Iceland

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir June 30th, 2010

After being elected Iceland’s first openly gay Prime Minister in January, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir celebrated the legalisation of same-sex marriage by by converting her civil union into a state-recognised marriage. (more…)

Lesbian ex-partner does not have to pay child maintenance, rules judge

High court June 18th, 2010

A lesbian parent who was not in a civil partnership with her ex-partner does not have to pay child maintenance, a High Court judge has ruled.

Mr Justice Moylan said that the woman - identified as “B” - could not be considered the child’s parent because she was not its biological parent, and the law differentiates between a “natural” parent and a legal one.

He said that B was instead a “social and psychological” parent of the child, who was born in 2000.

B and the child’s biological mother, “T”, began a relationship in 1994 and jointly decided that T would have a child using an anonymous sperm donor.

They lived together until 2007, and in January 2009, B won a court order which granted her shared residence with the child.

T’s lawyers argued that because both women continue to take on the role of parents, B must be forced to pay child maintenance.

However, B’s lawyers said that the law did not recognise B as a parent and thus the court had no power to make a maintenance order.

Mr Justice Moylan concluded: “In some respects the outcome in this case may seem objectively surprising.

“However, in my view it is for the legislature to determine who should be financially responsible for children if it is to extend beyond those who are legal parents.

“If I were to extend the definition to include anyone who has acted as a parent, I do not see how I could properly define the limits of such an extended definition in a way which would provide sufficient legal certainty.”

Lesbian parents better, say scientists

lesbian parents June 14th, 2010

Children with lesbian parents perform better in school and have fewer behavioural problems than children of the same age of the general population, according to a new study. (more…)

Zooey kisses a girl and likes it

Zooey Deschanel June 14th, 2010

In a move bound to please her legions of lesbian fans, indie favourite and Katy Perry-lookalike Zooey Deschanel is set to lock lips with another woman in an upcoming Hollywood film. (more…)

First gay marriage in Portugal

Portugal flag June 11th, 2010

A lesbian couple have become to first same-sex couple to get married in Portugal, a month after a law allowing gay marriage came into effect. (more…)

Lady Gaga wins GLAAD award

Lady Gaga June 10th, 2010

Lady Gaga has won Outstanding Music Artist at the GLAAD awards in San Francisco.

The annual awards, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, celebrate equality campaigning for LGBT rights. (more…)

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