Honduran Congress votes
to ban gay marriage
Honduras' National Congress voted unanimously Oct. 28 to amend the constitution to ban same-sex marriage and gay adoption.
The amendment must be approved again by a future congress before taking effect.
In response, gay-rights groups threatened to out prominent homosexuals in government, business and journalism.
About 5,000 Hondurans belong to the nation's eight gay organizations.
Honduras has a population of 6.8 million.
Colombia OKs
partner immigration
Colombia's Constitutional Court ruled Oct. 28 that a gay man's foreign partner has the right to immigrate to the nation.
In a case from the island of San Andrés, the court declared that gay people cannot be denied due process or the right to freely develop their personalities.
The island's refusal to grant a residency permit to the foreign partner "created an obstacle to the intent of maintaining a stable relationship as a gay couple," the court said.
Legislative action is required to extend the ruling to cover other binational same-sex couples.
Bermuda to protect gays
Bermuda's government plans to amend the Human Rights Act to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, The Royal Gazette reported Nov. 1.
The measure, which will cover housing and employment, will be introduced in the House of Assembly next summer.
"The changes will take us out of the dark ages and create an awareness about living openly rather than hiding these things in the closet," said Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler.
Jamaican singer
denied entry to UK
Jamaican dancehall singer Sizzla was denied entry to the United Kingdom in early November because his lyrics encourage murder of homosexuals.
The Home Office cited public safety reasons and lyrics such as "Shot battybwoy, my big gun boom," which translates as "Shot a queer, my big gun went boom."
The London gay group OutRage! and other activists have conducted an extensive campaign against several Jamaican dancehall artists whose music supports killing gays.
They include Elephant Man ( "Queers must be killed" ) , Vybz Kartel ( "Kartel puts one [ a bullet ] in a queer's spine" ) , Beenie Man ( "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the queers" ) , Buju Banton, T.O.K., Bounty Killer and Capleton.
— Rex Wockner
