Gay Australian Olympian Ji Wallace has publicly revealed his HIV status in a letter sent to the Star Observer, the publication reported. Wallacea trampolinist who won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Gamessaid an interview U.S. diver Greg Louganis gave about being a gay Olympian and his battle with HIV inspired him. Wallace was in London to view the men's trampoline event and as the guest of honor at several functions with the Olympic Pride House for LGBTI athletes.
Canadian authorities have arrested Kris Allen Gowdya 42-year-old HIV-positive youth pastor in Courtice, Ontarioafter he allegedly tried to arrange a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old boy, the Huffington Post reported. Gowdy befriended an undercover investigator online with the username "collegetoy2033" on a social-media website, allegedly for the purpose of having sex. When he showed up at the presumed 15-year-old's house Aug. 9, he was arrested and charged with luring a child via computer as well as attempted aggravated sexual assault.
In Canada, hundreds of locals participated in an anti-homophobia march at the University of Alberta two weeks after a student was attacked, according to Pink News. Three men assaulted native-studies/anthropology student Chevi Rabbit, 26; he lost his iPhone and suffered bruises and cuts. A Canadian survey recently found hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were more likely than other crimes of that kind to result in physical injury to the victim.
In South Africa, a delegation of the African National Congress (ANC) led by the Secretary General Comrade Gwede Mantashe met representatives of the LGBTI community Aug. 8 at the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg, according to a press release. LGBTI people had requested the meeting in the wake of a number of anti-gay attacks and murders, but they also said the ANC's gender policy does not go far enough to address the issue of gender preference. A joint committee between the ANC and the LGBTI community has been established, aiming to launch a campaign to educate people about the rights of gays and lesbians as fellow South Africans.
Taiwan has had its first same-sex Buddhist wedding ceremony, as lesbians Fish Huang and You Ya-ting, both 30, wore white gowns and exchanged prayer beads in a monastery in Taoyuan, the Huffington Post reported. Female Buddish master Shih Chao-hui presided over the symbolic ceremony, saying, "We are witnessing history." However, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Taiwan has been pending since 2003.
Transgender contestant Luke Anderson won the 13th season of Big Brother UK, according to MTV.com . Anderson, 31, began treatment to change from female to male four years ago; upon winning, he said, "It's great to feel accepted." Anderson's wife, Becky, joined him on stage at the end of the show to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary.
Saudi Arabia's government has expressed its opposition to having domain names that end in .gay, according to Advocate.com . Members of the Communications and Information Technology Commission said .gay would offend certain societies and cultures. Saudi Arabia has also condemned .sex, .baby and .tattoo, among other generic top-level domains.