Latin superstar Ricky Martin said at a United Nations (UN) conference on homophobia that he wished he could come out again so he could tell people struggling with their identities that "it's just beautiful—you find love," the Huffington Post noted. Martin said that "for many years, I lived in fear ... because I was hating myself because I grew up listening to a very crooked concept: 'You're gay. You belong in hell.'" Martin praised UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who got a standing ovation after telling the conference that LGBT people "are entitled to the same rights as everyone else."
In Kosovo, thugs attacked the launch of a magazine's gay issue in the city of Pristina, according to SDGLN.com . The Dec. 14 event that celebrated Kosovo 2.0 magazine's latest issue exploring sex and sexuality was targeted twice by a group of people who eyewitnesses claim were Muslim. One guest said the thugs "started to hit and loudly offend people, to break lights, tables and projectors."
Uruguay has moved closer to legalizing gay marriage after the lower house of Congress approved a marriage-equality law, according to the BBC. The measure, which was passed by a wide margin, now goes to the Senate where it is expected to be approved. It would make Uruguay the second Latin American country after Argentina to allow same-sex marriages.
A BBC report shows that lesbians and bisexuals are still "invisible" in British media, according to Gay Star News. Although the research showed that LGB individuals are underrepresented, lesbians and bisexuals, in particular, have been neglected. Among the recommendations from gay groups was that the BBC should be more "creative and bolder" in its portrayal of lesbian, gay and bisexual people across all media.
Russian conservatives threatened to fine Lady Gaga $50,000 for spreading "pro-homosexual propaganda" in the country, the Huffington Post stated. The "Born This Way" singer championed gay rights while performing at the SKK Arena in St. Petersburg. However, before the show, she was reportedly threatened with arrest and a $50,000 fine if she did so. Madonna was sued for $10.5 million in August for "moral damage" after the singer spoke out against anti-LGBT legislation during a concert; however, that suit was later dismissed.
In Brazil, two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the murder of Lawrence Correa Biancao, a 20-year-old student, Gay Star News reported. The teens confessed to the crime, and stated that their motivations were theft and homophobia. "He wanted to kiss me and I wanted to kill him," said the boy who killed Biancao, According to anthropologist Luiz Mott, Brazil has the largest amount of anti-gay hate murders in the world.
The Church of England and the Church in Wales have expressed "complete shock" at the government's plan to ban them from offering same-sex marriages, according to Gay Star News. In the proposed bill the UK government recently announced, there will be a "quadruple lock" ensuring no religious institution will be forced to marry same-sex couples. Rev. Tim Stevens, the Church of England's lead spokesman in the Lords, told a closed meeting of bishops, Lords and MPs the government had not consulted the church on the proposal.
In Cameroon, a court has upheld a conviction against a man found guilty of "homosexual conduct" last year for sending a text message to another man saying, "I'm very much in love with you," according to Yahoo! News. The Court of Appeal ruled that Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, 32, must serve out his three-year jail term. He was provisionally released on bail in July after spending a year and a half behind bars.
South African President Jacob Zuma, despite his vocal homophobia, is cautiously supporting marriage equality, according to Gay Star News. Zuma, 70, said the constitution "does not necessarily require my view; it requires the views of South Africans. ... It has a view on that one, that gay marriage is a constitutionally accepted thing in South Africa—no matter what my views would be."
Saba, a tiny island in the Dutch Caribbean, is becoming a travel destination for same-sex couples looking to get hitched, according to Advocate.com . The island is under Dutch rule; the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001 and is now pushing its islands to do the same; Saba is the only Dutch island to allow such unions.
Out Canadian figure skater Jeff Buttle, who won an Olympic bronze medal in 2006, is back on skates—as a member of the Toronto Gay Hockey Association, according to Outsports. Buttle has said that he is comfortable playing hockey, and that playing it has helped his figure skating. Buttle retired from competitive figure skating in 2008, and now performs in exhibitions.
In France, supporters of marriage equality held rallies in various cities, according to RFI.fr. The demonstrations were a response to the thousands of people who rallied against same-sex marriage last month. The most recent actions were also meant to apply pressure on President Francois Hollande to keep his campaign promises to legalize same-sex marriage and open medically assisted reproduction to gay and lesbian couples.
In Russia, fans of two-time defending Russian soccer champion Zenit St. Petersburg are calling for non-white and gay players to be excluded from the team, according to ESPN.com . Landscrona, the largest Zenit fan club, released a manifesto saying, among other things, that gay players were "unworthy of our great city." The team quickly distanced itself from those fans; coach Luciano Spalletti said, "tolerance for me is most of all the ability to understand and accept differences."
Costa Rica's government is now advocating for the legalization of same-sex unions, according to Nacion.com . The presidency announced Dec. 17 that "it will advocate for the legal rights of the unions between people of the same sex." Civil-union activists have petitioned for the legal recognition of same-sex partners; they're hoping for a measure that would not only do that but would permit gays and lesbians to will items to their partners and have joint credit accounts, among other things.
Uruguay has moved closer to legalizing gay marriage after the lower house of Congress approved a marriage-equality law, according to the BBC. The measure now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved.
