Gay Massacre in Tel Aviv
A 26-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl have been shot dead and eleven others injured after a masked gunman opened fire in a Tel Aviv club for gay youth. Police have launched a city-wide security lockdown in an attempt to find the killer, while the city’s mayor, politicians and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have all condemned the attack. ‘We’ll bring him to justice and exercise the full extent of the law against him,’ Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet’s weekly meeting.
Bill Clinton Comes Out…for Equal Marriage
Former US President, Bill Clinton has come out in support of same-sex marriage equality after giving the keynote address at the Campus Progress National Conference in Washington, D.C. in July. Clinton was responsible for signing the Defence of Marriage Act in 1996, which restricts marriage to ‘one man and one woman’ and the implementation of the controversial ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, which prevents openly gay and lesbian soldiers from serving in the armed forces. When asked by amateur journalist, Michael Tracey if he personally supports same-sex marriage, he answered, ‘Yeah. I personally support people doing what they want to do… I think it’s wrong for someone to stop someone else from doing that. That’s what I think.’
Violence Mars Copenhagen Gay Games
Two violent incidents marred celebrations at last month’s World Outgames in Copenhagen. Three homosexual men from England, Sweden and Norway were attacked as they returned from the opening ceremony and were treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital before being released. Two men, aged 28 and 33 were taken into custody after the incident and were remanded for the remaining nine days of the games. Two days later, runner Dean Koga was taken to hospital to have shrapnel removed from his hand after a 31 year old man threw explosives onto the track during a race. Koga’s injuries were minor and he returned to competition the next day. Organisers are said to be shocked by the incidents as Denmark is renowned for its openness and diversity.
Albania Considers Gay Marriage
The government of Albania is considering a proposal to legalise same-sex marriage after a report last year by the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Thomas Hammarberg detailed how GLBTI people in Albania were ‘routinely subject to intolerance, physical and psychological violence and seen by many as persons suffering from an illness.’ The predominantly Muslim country is hoping to join the European Union and prime minister, Sali Berisha told a cabinet meeting late last month that while it may be controversial, the law to legalise same-sex marriage would be an important move toward ending discrimination against GLBTI people.
Gay Penguins Split
After seven years together, Harry and Pepper, San Francisco Zoo’s famous gay penguin couple has sadly gone their separate ways. The pair of Magellan penguins, who hatched a surrogate egg last year, have been torn apart by a widowed female penguin, Linda. According to the Daily Telegraph, when Linda started courting Harry, Pepper became jealous and violent and keepers were forced to separate the three. Since then, Harry has moved into Linda’s nest, leaving Pepper to wander the pen mournfully.
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