MEXICAN MARRIAGE WIN
Mexico City has become the first Latin American city to legally recognise gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children. The law was enacted last month and will take effect in March. City officials hope to rival the United States for gay tourism, which is estimated to be worth $70 billion. ‘Mexico City will become a center, where (gay) people from all over the world will be able to come and have their wedding,’ Alejandro Rojas, the city’s tourism secretary, told the Associated Press. ‘We are already in talks with some travel agencies that are planning to offer package tours.’
ADMISSION ROCKS RUGBY
British rugby legend Gareth Thomas, 35, rocked the sporting world late last month when he came out as gay in an interview with UK’s Daily Mail newspaper. The former Wales captain is the most-capped player in Wales rugby history. Thomas told the Daily Mail that keeping his sexuality a secret left him feeling like a ‘ticking time bomb’ and suicidal. ‘I became a master of disguise and could play the straight man down to a tee, sometimes over-compensating by getting into fights or being overly aggressive because I didn’t want the real me to be found out,’ he said.
WESTBORO’S LATEST GRIPE
The zealous anti-gay organisation, the Westboro Baptist Church attempted to picket Lady Gaga’s concert in Missouri, US, this month. The Kansas-based church earlier labeled the singer a ‘proud whore’ who is ‘going to hell’ in a press release. The openly bi-sexual Pop star has become the church’s latest target after advocating for gay rights at the National Equality March and saying ‘bless God and bless the gays’ during the MTV awards. ‘Does the simple slut truly think she can change God’s standards by seducing a generation of rebels into joining her in fist-raised, stiff-necked, hard-hearted rebellion against Him? Get real!’ the church release said.
GAY COUPLE ARRESTED IN MALAWI
Amnesty International is lobbying for the release of African gay couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalange from a Malawi prison. Homosexuality is illegal in Malawi and the couple face 14 years prison if found guilty when they go on trial on January 15. The couple was arrested on December 28 after holding an engagement ceremony in Blantyre, Malawi, and prison officials are reported to have attempted to examine whether the pair had had sex. Amnesty’s UK director Kate Allen told Pink News: ‘The Malawian authorities’ attempt to subject them to forcible anal examinations is appalling. Such practices and the criminalisation of homosexuality in Malawi should be ended without delay.’
JOHNSON HEIRESS’ MYSTERIOUS DEATH
Mystery continues to surround the death of lesbian British socialite and Johnson and Johnson heiress Casey Johnson. Johnson died on January 4 from what appeared to be natural causes – although toxicology results have yet to be revealed. British model Jasmine Lennard accused Johnson’s fiancée, reality TV star Tila Tequila, 28, of exploiting the 30-year-old heiress and preventing her from getting drug rehabilitation, according to Nine MSN. Johnson suffered childhood diabetes – however it has not been confirmed as the cause of death. ‘For her to die with this reputation, it’s just not her… Tila is a sick, sick girl,’ Lennard told Nine MSN.
***
