Hong Kong gov't to survey on gays
The government of Hong Kong will survey the population to gauge its support for a host of gay-rights measures, the South China Morning Post reported July 27.
On the agenda are an antidiscrimination law, recognition of same-sex relationships, and matters related to taxation, education and health, the paper said.
'I don't think the Hong Kong SAR [special administrative region of China] government will try to impose something like this on the community without at least 50 percent support,' said Stephen Fisher, deputy secretary of the Home Affairs Bureau.
Gay activists said they are confident that at least half of the population supports gay equality.
In an editorial, the Morning Post endorsed the proposed changes.
'The absence of laws protecting the gay community from discrimination sits uneasily with Hong Kong's claim to be a world city,' it said. 'It undermines our community's claim to be fair-minded, tolerant and diverse.'
Broadcaster slapped for 'gay slap' remark
The British Broadcasting Corporation July 28 upheld a complaint against one of its rugby commentators who called an altercation between two players a 'gay slap.'
Ten viewers complained about announcer Brian Moore's remark made during February's Scotland vs. England match.
The BBC said the phrase violated guidelines concerned with 'hurtful or inaccurate stereotypes.'
5,000 participate
in EuroGames
A record 5,000 people participated in the gay and lesbian EuroGames July 29 to Aug. 1 in Munich.
There were more than 200 competitive events in 26 sports, including, for the first time, 'wheelchair dancing.' More traditional competitions included swimming, wresting, soccer, fencing and rowing.
The venue for the games was the 1972 Summer Olympics site.
Athletes came from 17 countries, mostly in Western Europe. There also were participants from Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey.
Some 20,000 spectators attended the games, which are staged by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation. Germany's minister of justice, Brigitte Zypries, spoke at the opening ceremonies.
Japanese transsexual allowed to change registered gender
In a first, a Japanese postoperative transsexual was allowed to change her gender in the government's 'family register' July 30.
The Naha Family Court in Okinawa Prefecture approved the alteration after legislation permitting such changes took effect on July 16.
Under the law, people diagnosed by two doctors as having a psychological makeup that is at odds with their biological sex can revise their registration if they are at least 20 years old, unmarried and childless, and no longer have working reproductive organs.
Around 8,000 Japanese have 'gender identity disorder,' said a spokesperson for the organization gid.jp, which broke the news of the Naha case.
Euro Parliament
committee chairwoman under fire
The newly elected chairwoman of the European Parliament's women's committee, Slovakian MEP Anna Záborská, is under fire for comments she reportedly made about abortion and gays, Eupolitix.com reported July 29.
Several members of the Parliament (MEPs) refused to take part in the election in protest against Záborská's candidacy.
But Záborská told the Web site, 'It is not true to say that I am against women who have had an abortion or against men or women who are homosexuals.'
She blamed the brouhaha on 'one article from a newspaper.'
'I know that women who have abortions do so because they feel they have no other option,' Záborská told the site. 'It's a difficult decision taken in extreme situations. I don't want to judge these women; I want to help them.'
As for gays, Záborská reportedly told a newspaper last year that people who behave exhibitionistically in pride parades should not be allowed to work with children.
Now, Záborská says: 'I was referring to a situation where images of people dancing naked in love parades in places like Berlin or Rome are broadcast on TV and watched by children. I was questioning myself if these people should be teachers of my kids. [But] I think any discrimination against human beings is unacceptable—any discrimination at all.'
German party
leader comes out
The leader of Germany's Free Democrats political party came out July 24 in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine.
Guido Westerwelle also told the magazine that gay couples should have full adoption rights and the same tax breaks as married couples.
The government is planning to extend additional marriage rights this year to same-sex couples who register under the nation's three-year-old partnership law. At present, the statute withholds rights in areas such as adoption, pensions, inheritance, taxation, financial support, court testimony and social-welfare benefits.
'I cannot change whether my life pleases the people or not— whether my life [as a gay man] brings [vote] increases in large cities or whether it possibly causes rejection in rural regions,' Westerwelle told Der Spiegel.
On July 28, the government reported that 6,000 same-sex couples have made use of the partnership law since it was enacted in 2001.
Norway moves
toward gay adoption
A majority of members of Norway's Parliament now favors allowing gay couples to adopt children.
The adoption ban is the last distinction between marriage and gay registered partnership in Norway.
The law could be changed within a few months.