Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

World News
Special to the Online Edition of Windy City Times
by Rex Wockner
2010-09-08

This article shared 2817 times since Wed Sep 8, 2010
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


Castro: I'm responsible for past anti-gay persecution

In an Aug. 31 interview with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Fidel Castro accepted responsibility for Cuba's persecution of homosexuals decades ago.

From 1959, when the previous government was overthrown in an armed rebellion, until the 1970s, gays were branded counterrevolutionaries and forced into labor camps.

"Those were moments of great injustice," Castro told La Jornada. "A great injustice! ... If anyone is responsible, I am.

"It's a given that at that time, I couldn't occupy myself with this matter. I found myself immersed primarily in the October Crisis ( Cuban missile crisis ) , the war, political questions ( but ) I'm not going to toss the blame on others."

These days, Cuba stages official public LGBT events.

On May 15, hundreds of LGBT people marched in Havana's Vedado nightlife district in advance of the May 17 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. They were led by President Raúl Castro's daughter Mariela, who heads CENESEX, the National Sex Education Center.

Other IDAHO events included workshops on LGBT issues and a huge, officially sanctioned outdoor drag show May 17 in the city of Santa Clara, 160 miles ( 258 km ) east of Havana.

Conservative British MP comes out

Foreign Minister denies being gay

Conservative British Member of Parliament Crispin Blunt, the government's minister for prisons and probation, announced Aug. 28 that he has separated from his wife of 20 years so he can embrace being gay.

A statement issued by his office said: "Crispin Blunt wishes to make it

known that he has separated from his wife Victoria. He decided to come to terms with his homosexuality and explained the position to his family. The consequence is this separation. There is no third party involvement, but this is difficult for his immediate and wider family and he hopes for understanding and support for them. The family do not wish to make any further public comment and hope that their privacy will be respected as they deal with these difficult private issues."

Blunt, 50, is a former Army officer. He has been an MP since 1997.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister William Hague released a statement Sept. 1 denying that he's been having an affair with a 25-year-old male

assistant, who nonetheless resigned because of what Hague called "untrue and malicious allegations" that the two are involved.

Hague, 49, acknowledged that he and the adviser, Christopher Myers, had "occasionally" shared a hotel room during the election campaign.

"In hindsight I should have given greater consideration to what might have

been made of that, but this is in itself no justification for allegations

of this kind, which are untrue and deeply distressing to me, to ( my wife ) Ffion and to Christopher," Hague said.

"Any suggestion that his appointment was due to an improper relationship between us is utterly false, as is any suggestion that I have ever been

involved in a relationship with any man," he said.

California Senate condemns Ugandan bill and U.S. religious groups

The California Senate passed a resolution Aug. 30 condemning the pending bill in Uganda that would jail gays for life and punish some with the death penalty. The vote was 21-14.

Introduced by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California, the resolution also "calls upon the United States Department of State to increase efforts to encourage the decriminalization of homosexuality in every country" and "encourages a more careful review of all United States funding and resources given to faith-based organizations in foreign countries" to ensure that U.S. money does not go to groups that disrespect human rights.

The resolution says that "some United States-based religious leaders have been fomenting fear and discrimination against the ... LGBT community in Uganda" and that "the links between some United States-based religious groups and the antigay bill ... have been well-documented."

"There is a growing movement, supported and funded by some United States-based religious groups, to further criminalize homosexuality

globally," the resolution states. " ( T ) he Senate calls upon the United States Department of State to censure American citizens and organizations who contravene American foreign policy by demonstrated exportation of fear and misinformation to other countries. ..."

EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors commented: "The U.S. government must do everything in its power to stop the bill before the Uganda ( parliament ) that would lead to the criminalization and even death of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ugandans. The California Senate has taken an important step in passing this resolution, which will help raise awareness of the crisis in Uganda and will put the state on record in support of the U.S. government strengthening its efforts to end the criminalization of LGBT people worldwide."

Leno added: "It is egregious that radical religious leaders from our nation are working to spread fears about and discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Uganda. These deplorable actions have encouraged violence and even death against Ugandans. This resolution is a simple human rights appeal urging President Obama and our federal leaders to call for the decriminalization of LGBT people, not only in Uganda, but across the globe."

Uganda's "Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009" would imprison for life anyone

convicted of "the offense of homosexuality," punish "aggravated

homosexuality" ( repeat offenses or having gay sex while being

HIV-positive ) with the death penalty, forbid "promotion of homosexuality" and incarcerate gay-rights defenders, and jail individuals in positions of authority for up to three years if they fail to report within 24 hours the existence of all LGBT people or sympathizers known to them.

Tasmanian Parliament moves to recognize foreign gay unions

The Australian state of Tasmania's lower house of Parliament, the House of Assembly, voted Sept. 1 to recognize official same-sex unions and marriages that take place elsewhere in the nation or world.

The measure now moves to the upper house, the Legislative Council.

Australia does not allow same-sex marriage but three states and the

Australian Capital Territory have same-sex partner registration schemes.

Those partnerships also are recognized by the federal government for

purposes of all spousal entitlements associated with marriage.

The Tasmanian bill will recognize overseas same-sex marriages only as

state civil partnerships, not marriages, because Australian federal law

explicitly bans recognition of foreign same-sex marriages.

New South Wales passes gay adoption bill

The Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, passed a bill to legalize adoption by same-sex couples Sept. 2. The vote was 46-42, following two days of debate.

The measure permits church-affiliated adoption agencies to continue to

discriminate against gay couples without fear of prosecution.

One other state, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territoryallow gay couples to adopt together. The bill now moves to the upper house, the Legislative Council.

Derry sees first pride parade

Some 5,000 people took part in the first gay pride parade in Derry,

Northern Ireland, on Aug. 28. The procession traveled from Waterside

Railway Station to Guildhall Square. About 20 people gathered around Duke Street to protest the march.

Assistance: Bill Kelley


This article shared 2817 times since Wed Sep 8, 2010
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

SHOWBIZ Dionne Warwick, OUTshine, Ariana DeBose, 'Showgirls,' 'Harlem'
2024-03-29
Video below - Iconic singer Dionne Warwick was honored for her decades-long advocacy work for people living with HIV/AIDS at a star-studded amfAR fundraising gala in Palm Beach, per the Palm Beach Daily News. Warwick received the "Award of ...


Gay News

The Jeff Awards announces the 50th anniversary awards for non-equity theater
2024-03-26
--From a press release - A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org. (March 25, 2024 - Chicago) — Celebrating its 50th anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the ...


Gay News

'Rumors' performers create alternative drag playground
2024-03-24
At first glance, Dorian's Through The Record Shop (1939 W. North Ave.) looks like a brightly-lit shop with a handful of records on the wall, but there's a secret world behind those unassuming shelves. Visitors are ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Altercation, mpox research, Univ. of Fla., George Santos, tech battle
2024-03-08
Video footage uploaded to Facebook showed an altercation between a state trooper and two prominent Philadelphia LGBTQ+ leaders, the Washington Blade reported, republishing an article from Philadelphia Gay News. Celena ...


Gay News

Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez is set to slay at The Big Gay Cabaret
2024-03-05
Out and proud performer Jai Rodriguez is set to play at The Big Gay Cabaret this March for three days. Presented by RuPaul Drag Racer Ginger Minj, this monthly series highlights the wide world of cabaret ...


Gay News

NATIONAL School items, HIV/AIDS activist dies, Nex Benedict, inclusive parade
2024-03-01
In a new survey, the Pew Research Center asked public K-12 teachers, teens and the U.S. public about the ongoing scrutiny placed on classroom curricula, mainly regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities, ABC News noted. Among other ...


Gay News

Appeals court allows Ind. ban on gender-affirming care for minors
2024-03-01
On Feb. 27, a federal appeals court in Chicago allowed Indiana's ban on gender-affirming care to go into effect, removing a temporary injunction that U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon issued last year, ABC News ...


Gay News

Oklahoma non-binary student dies after being assaulted
2024-02-21
Officials acknowledged there are unresolved questions about a 16-year-old non-binary Oklahoma student who died one day after a fight in a high school bathroom, NBC News noted. Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, ...


Gay News

GLAAD releases report on LGBTQ+ inclusion in video games
2024-02-19
LGBTQ+ media-advocacy organization GLAAD has released a report on queer inclusion in the world of video games. Among the key findings in "Gaming: The State of LGBTQ Inclusion in Video Games" is that 17%—nearly one in ...


Gay News

Democrat flips seat once held by George Santos
2024-02-14
On Feb. 13 in New York, Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election to succeed the U.S. congressional seat formerly held by openly gay Republican George Santos, who was recently ousted. According to NBC News, Suozzi's ...


Gay News

$200,000+ raised at AIDS Foundation Chicago's World of Chocolate Fundraiser to fight HIV/AIDS
2024-02-13
--From a press release - (Chicago, IL) More than 950 guests gathered at Chicago's famed Union Station (500 W. Jackson) for Chicago's Sweetest Fundraiser, AIDS Foundation Chicago's (AFC), World of Chocolate on Friday, February 9. ...


Gay News

Carisa Hendrix mesmerizes as Lucy Darling in Teatro ZinZanni
2024-02-12
Since 2019, Teatro ZinZanni has gathered together amazing performers from all over the world to create an experience in Chicago under the Spiegeltent in the Cambria Hotel building, 32 W. Randolph St. Over the years, ticket ...


Gay News

Chicagoans indulge in a World of Chocolate
2024-02-11
AIDS Foundation of Chicago hosted its 2024 World of Chocolate celebration the evening of Feb. 9 at Union Station. Top chocolatiers from across the city allowed guests to sample numerous confections, hors d'oevres and libations for ...


Gay News

GLAAD remembers Cecilia Gentili, transgender Latina, actress, activist, health care activist, journalist
2024-02-06
--From a press release - (New York, NY - February 6, 2024) GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, is responding to the death of transgender actress and advocate Cecilia Gentili and elevating voices of transgender and political leaders honoring ...


Gay News

Comcast NBCUniversal partners with News is Out, Word In Black on fellowship program highlighting Black, LGBTQ+ issues
2024-02-06
--From a press release - Digital Equity Local Voices Lab Fellows to be placed at 16 local publications to receive training and create content Philadelphia (Feb. 6, 2024) — News is Out [ https://newsisout.com ] , a queer media collaborative of ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.