Fyne Times

The European Parliament has adopted a new version of the European Union law on asylum procedures. The text contains notable improvements for LGBT asylum-seekers. The new Directive now foresees that some asylum-seekers “may be in need of special procedural guarantees due [...] to their age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity [...]“. When receiving an asylum application, Member [...]

Russia’s Parliament has passed a federal law which banns ‘gay propaganda’. The law states that ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations’ should be banned for minors. This in effect means it is no longer legal to tell children same-sex relationships are equal to heterosexual ones in schools. The distribution of gay rights material will also now [...]

Opponents of equal marriage have seen their attempt to wreck the proposed amendments to the marriage act put to an end in a strong show of support from the House of Lords. Two in every three peers chose to support the changes, which will finally see marriage extended to all combinations of genders. The bill [...]

Supporters of marriage equality will rally outside the House of Lords from 6pm tonight, as peers debate the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. They will gather by the statue of George V in Old Palace Yard, London SW1, diagonally opposite the main entrance to the House of Commons. . Several MPs and Lords are expected [...]

The fight against homophobia in football has hit the headlines again after it was revealed at least eight professional players are gay but won’t come out due to fear of a backlash from fans. The headlines come after the first ever current professional in a major US sporting team came out last week. Gay campaigners [...]

President Obama has praised the courage of Jason Collins, the first openly gay current professional sportsman in the USA who came out earlier this week. Collins, who plays for the Washington Wizards, came out in the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated in an article which he wrote himself. He is the first professional sportsman [...]

Lawmakers in New Zealand have passed legislation that legalises full same-sex marriage, making it the first country in the Asia-Pacific to do so. The bill makes the necessary amendments to the marriage act of 1955 and was passed with a majority of 77 votes in favour and 44 against. When the result was announced there [...]

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away yesterday at the Ritz hotel, having suffered a stroke. Her final demise came after many years of degenerative dementia which saw her retire from public life in 2003.  Her legacy among the gay community is somewhat that of a homophobe due to Section 28 being passed under her [...]