Survivors UK—which aims to raise awareness about sexual violence against men—has launched a campaign around London with the line "Real Men Get Raped," according to Advocate.com . The ads, which feature a punctured rugby ball and the words "Real men get raped—and talking about it takes real strength," were placed in Tube stations Feb. 20 during the Six Nations rugby tournament. The National Center for Victims of Crime reports that about 3 percent of men in the United States have been raped.
Colin Ireland, who was one of England's worst serial killers, died in a West Yorkshire prison, apparently of natural causes, Queerty.com reported. Ireland killed at least five gay men before being caught in 1993; his modus operandi was to pick up victims at gay pubs, take them back to his home and kill them. Among Ireland's victims was U.S. resident Perry Bradley III, the son of a top Democratic Party fundraiser in Texas. Ireland tld police he targeted gay men because they were easier targets and that they "keep their mouths shut and don't tell the police things."
The Canadian government is moving to close a legal loophole that could have undermined the marriages of thousands of gay couples from around the world who have wed in Canada. According to CBC.ca, the federal government introduced a measure Feb. 17 that declares same-sex marriages "valid for the purposes of Canadian law" and unveils rules for same-sex divorce for non-residents. Among other things, the bill "allows a Canadian court to grant a divorce to non-resident spouses who reside in a state where a divorce cannot be granted to them because that state does not recognize the validity of their marriage."
My Destination Wellness, a customized fitness vacation provider affiliated with Funjet Vacations, announced its first gay wellness retreat, according to a press release. The event will take place Oct. 6-11 at El Dorado Royale by Karisma, a resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Services include beachside exercise classes, personal training sessions and healthy meals prepared with organic produce grown on property—all guided by "wellness concierges." See www.funjet.com/GayRetreat.
India's home ministry has distanced itself from calls made by Solicitor General P.P. Malhotra to reinstate a gay-sex ban, according to the China Post. Malhotra said he was representing the ministry when he asked the Supreme Court to overturn a groundbreaking 2009 ruling that legalized gay sex. However, the ministry released a statement saying it "has not taken any position on homosexuality."
In Ireland, marriage-equality supporters are welcoming a poll that says 73 percent of the public back same-sex marriage, according to Pink News. The poll, conducted by Red C, showed almost three-quarters of respondents agreed with the statement "Same sex marriage should be allowed in the Constitution." Kieran Rose, chair of Ireland's Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, said, "The poll confirms the openness of Irish people and their support for further critically important progress to achieving equality for lesbian and gay people."
In Canada, the scientist who discovered hepatitis C in 1989 now says he has developed a vaccine against the liver-destroying virus, the Daily Mail reported. Michael Houghton, from the University of Alberta, said the vaccine was developed from a single strain but is effective against all known varieties of the disease. Left untreated, the disease can cause scarring of the liver and lead to life-threatening cirrhosis.
