Pope’s homophobic speech cut short by rain!

 Gay Rights, Religion  No Responses »
Aug 222011
 

Pope Benedict XVI is protected from the rain with umbrellas during a summer storm in Madrid, Spain. (Getty Images)

(BlogMensGo, 22 August 2011) The Pope has been in Madrid peddling his homophobic beliefs again.  Unfortunately (for him) he had to cut his speech short when a thunderstorm hit Madrid on Saturday night.

PinkPaper and Agence France-Presse report that strong winds and sheets of rain hit the air base Cuantro Vientos where Pope Benedict XVI was speaking, blowing off his skullcap and shaking the stage.

It is reported that 1,5 million people gathered to listen to his speech where he proclaimed marriage to be a union between a man and a woman only.  He managed to squeeze in ‘The Lord calls many people to marriage, in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh, find fulfillment in a profound life of communion’.  This was the final speech of his 4 day tour.

Hundreds of gays and lesbians had planned a kiss-in protest against the pope and his speech but were foiled by police, although, its believed that one couple managed to kiss in front of the pope’s vehicle.

In 2005, marriage between same sex parties was legalised but the catholic church has called for the government to outlaw this again as the Pope said last year that such marriage is a confusion to society’s values.

They say the lord works in mysterious ways….I am sure the Pope will not take the hint!

Via PinkNews

Matt / MensGo

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Gay Pride calm in Zagreb, but a lasting impression left in Split!

 Gay Rights, Pride  No Responses »
Jun 202011
 

A bogoss is the best medicine against homophobia! ... © Photoxpress.com / MaxFX.

(BlogMensGo 20th June 2011) About 4,000 people, took part in a peaceful, June 18, 2011, at the 10th Gay Pride in Zagreb. This year’s event had the slogan “The future is ours too.”

The procession moved freely through Zagreb, before stopping in a place downtown, when finished the crowds moved on to attend an outdoor concert. The police were able to prevent any homophobic overflow. Onlookers and the curious showed no particular hostility, and demonstrators were even able to stop and greet them.

It is far from the violence that had marred the previous week’s Pride of Split, where a pack of 10,000 homophobic revelers threw themselves at the 400 participants in the Gay Pride, hospitalising 12 people. “Split, next year there will be a test of catching up,” announced one banner in Zagreb.

The Pride of Split was marked by the reading of a letter from the President of Croatia Ivo Josipović Welcoming the participants for their courage and their struggle for the right to be different.

Note also that the next weekend, specifically June 25, 2011, it will be Gay Pride in Paris (or Marche des fiertés according to the local jargon). With a generic slogan very political for presidential election: “For equality, in 2011 I walk, I vote in 2012.”

Croatian Priders attendend a concert by artists known to them; whereas the Europride gatherers enjoyed a world-class performance from the star (Lady Gaga) who symbolises the future of LGBT (see our article June 20, 2011); whereas the French Pride chose Arielle Dombasle, who is almost unknown outside of France (except in Mexico) and is not exactly an up and coming star but a blast from the past.  France seems to be taking a backwards turn with LGBT relations as seen in the following article.

This article is a translation and adaptation of an article written on our French Blog.  Please click here to visit the original version.

Philca & Matt / MensGo

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UN resolution establishes the equality of all, regardless of sexual orientation

 Gay Rights  No Responses »
Jun 202011
 

No, it's not reality TV! © UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré.

(BlogMensGo 20th June 2011) The Council of Human Rights of the United Nations (UN) on June 17, 2011, by 23 votes to 19 against and 3 abstentions, a resolution (text in PDF) stating the equality of people regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. This text was presented in a plenary session by South Africa, with the support of Brazil and 39 other countries. The resolution passed has no legal binding.

The group of Islamic states and that of Africa, represented respectively by Pakistan and Nigeria, were strongly opposed to the text during the preliminary discussion. In contrast, countries like the United States and Argentina have officially welcomed the vote of the resolution (which has been passed in countries like Belgium, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, and also sponsored, among others, Luxembourg and Italy), as has Amnesty International and LGBT organizations.

The resolution requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to complete the study by December 2011 on discriminatory laws and violence against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and he organized a debate for the resulting report. According to Amnesty International, homosexuality is currently illegal in 76 countries.

This is the first time a UN body adopts such a resolution in plenary session.

In contrast on the 16th of June 2011, the NGO Committee refused to recommend to the Economic and Social Council consultative status with the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), a status it has, however, advocated for the benefit of 146 NGOs.

Via the World Press in particular DW World of June 17th, Keen News of June 19th and ILGA Breaking News of June 17th.

This is a translation and slight adaptation of an article written on the French version of our blog, you can view the original here.

Philca & Matt / MensGo

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