The Scottish Parliament is set to debate lifting the one year ban on men who have sex with men (MSM) giving blood.

The move would make Scotland the first place in the UK to lift the ban, which was only recently changed from a permanent ban on MSM blood donations to one year’s abstinence by the UK government.

The debate, tabled for November 29, has won cross-party support.

There won’t be a vote on the issue, however, with the Scottish Government expected to respond following the MSPs debate.

Victory in Romania as government delays public vote on whether to ban gay marriage.

The referendum is unlikely to be held on 11 December, as previously planned.

The Romanian government will not debate a referendum banning same-sex marriage for now.

On Monday (7 October), Parliament was supposed to debate a potential referendum which would see citizens vote on whether the constitution should define marriage as between a man and a woman.

It was introduced by the anti-gay Coalition for Family.

Gay love:  10 Things gay boyfriend Pretends to Hate but Actually Loves

Sometimes boyfriends love to test their man’s patience, right? But be honest, we kinda love it. Though he’s rolling his eyes, we can’t help but see that smile on his face. In all the moments that make him laugh, here are some things that he secretly loves (perhaps more than you think he does):

1. Being honest about his friends you don’t like.

Your man never wants you to lie to him. If you have real issues with certain friends of his, trust me, he respects the fact that you’re unafraid to talk about it. If his friend is a bad egg, chances are he’s heard it before so it’s not exactly surprising.

2. When you kiss your dog on the mouth.

No matter how many times he says it’s disgusting, it probably tickles him a little inside. Seeing a man with a dog is always going to be a little hot-it shows companionship, father qualities, and always beings out the laughs, i.e. the best part of one’s self.

3. When you get sassy.

I’ve heard that being too sassy for your own good is a bad thing, but trust me, when it appears once in a blue moon your man actually secretly loves it. Being a bitch is one thing; but when the claws come out for good reason it’s a sight to see (and hear).

4. How much you talk about health and fitness.

If you’re one of those health freaks that talk of nothing else but calories, carbs and cleanliness, your boyfriend might pretend to get annoyed when in actuality he’s either taking note for himself or grateful for the fact that you take your health seriously. Let’s face it, we all want our men to look good.

5. When you call someone out for being an asshole.

It’s a bit of a turn on seeing your man tell someone off with brutal honesty (but only those who deserve it). Though he might hold you back and tell you to stop, chances are he secretly enjoys it because it’s rugged, masculine and downright sexy. He feels protected simply by being next to you.

I'm not a disposable hook-up profile, I'm a book to be read with great care

I may not be for you, but a lot of time, effort and care has gone into my creation.

I am a paperback book. I may not be for you, but a lot of time, effort and care has gone into my creation.

I may not be for you; a very personal story lives here. For you, I might be boring, or written for someone else entirely. I might be off-topic. My font might offend.

Even if my cover picture and title appeals to you.

Does my cover appeal to you?

Then I invite you to read.

This one is for all my straight guys. I love you. I really, really do, but we need to discuss some heavy myths you have with my people. It’s kind of weird how often these myths come up in conversations, movies, TV shows, and books – perhaps that’s why you think they’re real. But hear it from the horse’s mouth… most, if not all, are total bullsh*t. Let’s start with these:

1. We all flirt with you.

Again, flirting is always going to be judged on the eyes of the man being flirted with. I can easily smile at someone in line at Starbucks no problem, but it’s they who decide to interpret it as flirting or friendly. Maybe you want gay guys to flirt with you, maybe you want to be able to say that all homos flirt with you (giving you a reason to be “uncomfortable” around us). Trust me when I say you’re not that hot.

2. We jerk off to you at night.

There have been plenty of times I’ve jerked it a few with my fellow straight guys in mind, but I’ve also seen some straight men nearly wet themselves after seeing a really nice car on the street – does that mean they want to f*ck it? Probably not.

As a dating coach, I speak with amazing women over 50 daily about their dating lives. They communicate the desperation they are feeling about ever finding a good man to share their lives with.

Online dating has become a tremendous source of frustration and failure for them. Many become despondent at the very thought of having to go back online after a relationship ends. In fact, quite a few have completely stopped dating because the constant rejection or disinterest from men over 50 has become too painful for them.

After asking a couple of questions about their dating lives, I’ve consistently found most women really don’t understand who these over-50 men are or what they are looking for in the women they’d like to date.

I’d like to share with you eight tips about men that you can start using right away. I’ve had clients use this advice and go from zero dates on their calendars to men falling over themselves to get to know these ladies better.

Tip 1. Appreciate a man for who he is.

Men are wonderful but they aren’t women. They don’t think like a woman, nor do they communicate like a woman. This means don’t expect a man to act like a woman or you’re guaranteed to be disappointed.

Tip 2. Men over 50 love when you bring their masculinity out in them.

They have no interest in competing with you. To them, that’s like dating a man. The key is learning to come into your true feminine power that compliments their masculine power.

Tip 3. Men show you love with their actions.

Hollywood has messed with our heads on this one. On the big screen, they show us men like Tom Cruise’s character in the movie, Jerry McGuire, professing his love with romantic speeches that end in the famous words, “You complete me.” Real men show you their love by cutting your grass and giving you their coat when you’re cold. If you expect love to come in words, you could be waiting a very long time.

Tip 4. Men want to give to you.

Let them open the door for you or change that light bulb you can’t reach. It makes them happy to please you. All they want in return is to be appreciated and thanked. If you do this, they’ll do anything you want, which leads us to Tip 5.

After three debates, including the one vice-presidential debate, there had not been a single question about LGBT people. Even with notoriously homophobic Indiana Gov. Mike Pence onstage, the topic never came up.

Then it happened again Wednesday. Or, more precisely, it didn’t happen again.

And we’re left to wonder what this all means. Maybe LGBT Americans ought to move on, as if truly nothing took place. Or maybe with that unasked question, the nation silently crossed a threshold into the future, one in which LGBT people are no longer considered so contentious that we’re a topic of debate at the highest levels of politics. The next presidential debate won’t happen until 2020. My better half imagines how vastly the world could evolve by then.

The realist in me says, mockingly, that maybe in 2020 the Republican Party (or whatever party replaces it) won’t nominate a candidate like Donald Trump who opposes marriage equality, who is considering barring transgender people from the military, who is OK letting states ban transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity, who wants to let business owners turn away LGBT customers by citing their religion. The official Republican Party platform of 2016 condones reparative therapy and a litany of other LGBT civil rights abuses.

The German government has announced that it will make reparations to the men imprisoned under Paragraph 175, a provision in the country’s criminal code that outlawed sodomy until 1994.

Authorities also plan to expunge the records of the 50,000 jailed under the law.

Although 140,000 people were arrested in total, the country’s justice minister, Heiko Maas, has estimated that around 5,000 individuals - meaning those who are still living - stand to claim the reported payout of 30 million Euros. Mass stated that the amount of financial restitution will be based upon personal assessments of those incarcerated. Factors will include the length of time the individual spent behind bars.

“We will never be able to remove these outrages committed by this country but we want to rehabilitate the victims,” Mass said in a statement. “The convicted homosexual men should no longer have to live with the black mark of a criminal conviction.”

How many people in the UK are gay, lesbian or bisexual? The Office for National Statistics reckons it's 1.5% while the Kinsey report says it's 10%. Who's right?

For every 100 people in Britain, just 1 will identify themselves as gay or lesbian according to the latest government statistics. The numbers (which include gender, location and age) may come as a surprise - but why?

1.5% of the UK?

In its 'Integrated Household Survey', the Office for National Statistics asks 178,197 people about their sexual identity - and the vast majority of them choose to answer.

93.5% of people said they were 'heterosexual' or 'straight', just 1.1% said they were 'gay' or 'lesbian' and 0.4% said they were bisexual. The small fraction that was left either refused to answer or said they didn't know. Altogether, amounts to about 545,000 homosexual and 220,000 bisexual adults in the UK.

Netflix was first to the market with their streaming service, but its programming is not exactly comprehensive. LGBT audiences are stuck with a limited and aging selection of films that don’t really represent the true range of the queer experience.

That’s why Amazon and Here TV partnered up with a new service where you’ll find a breadth of gay, lesbian and transgender-oriented films, series, docs and shorts that run the great gamut of our experience. Trust us — there’s a lot to watch. So, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the best flicks you won’t find anywhere else to get you started. (Psst. Amazon Prime members can watch all they want for free for the first 7 days. Let the binge-watching begin!)

Remarkable Shades of Gay

An anthology of nine short films directed by William Branden Blinn, this is like a tasting menu of the gay experience, from hilariously awkward threesomes, to the struggles of gay parenting, to erotically charged locker room brawls.

Proceeds go to the Rainbow Fund and the Pride Social Impact fund

Brighton Pride has exceeded its fundraising target for 2016 – just like last year.

In fact, this year’s LGBTI festival raised £100,000 [$131,808, €117,192 ] for local causes. What’s more, this equates to a total of £300k over the last three years, say organizers.

In a statement, Brighton Pride director Paul Kemp said he’s thrilled with the result. Additionally, he said:

In this technological age, cyber relationships have become a normal thing to hear about. With most of the world being connected on social media, gay guys especially have developed their own online personalities. Everything we are and everything we do becomes data. It was just a matter of time before guys around the globe found each other, but can online boyfriends truly last?

As someone who finds it hard to be in a long distance relationship, I can’t imagine what it’s like being separated by cyber space with only pictures and instant messaging to connect us. But this generation is used to having everything digital, even love. You’d be surprised how many gay guys I’ve spoken with who claim to have fallen in love with a man through his profile alone.

There have been countless stories of “catfishing,” a term used when a person sets up a fake profile and starts a romantic relationship with someone. But despite these numbers, I’ve also known many people who have had successful cyber relationships.
One of them happens to be a good friend of mine who met her Polish fiance on Instagram. Are we entering a new age of cyber love or have we become desperate love-seekers eager to find love anywhere we can?

I have to admit… online boyfriends do seem practical. They offer us something most physical boyfriends don’t by making emotional bonding more important than sex. In most of the relationships I’ve been in, sex was one of the top priorities. When two men are in a relationship it’s obvious that our bodies become a major source of bonding. This is impossible to achieve when you’re separated by a state or country.

BlueSystem claims an estimated 100,000 page views a day. Now it’s banned throughout the country.

Russia’s gay-banning frenzy continues. It’s putting pressure on LGBT people all across the country, stopping them from marching, and even pushing some back toward the closet.

Russian hardliners like to claim that homosexuality is an “evil” sent to Russia from the West to reduce the already declining population. But until recently, the internet remained a safe space for Russian homosexuals, and online dating services grew increasingly popular, even in the most provincial towns.

Earlier this year, a court in the little town of Parabel in Siberia, without any warning or explanation, decided to ban BlueSystem, one of Russia’s most popular LGBT websites.

Grindr, Blued and BoyAhoy are among the many apps to be blocked in the country

Indonesia has decided to ban Grindr, Blued, BoyAhoy and dozens other LGBT websites and apps.

As reported previously, the Indonesian government started looking into banning gay dating appsin the country after exposing an alleged ‘gay prostitution ring.’

The decision for the ban was made clear last week during a closed-door meeting among government officials, according to BuzzFeed.

Dating can be complicated, but only because we overthink everything. For decades, we’ve been training ourselves on how to be attractive physically, yet fail to teach ourselves how to be attractivepsychologically.
I’ve done some research into the matter (you’re welcome) and have uncovered some interesting studies – both scientific and psychological – that may help you in your dating ventures. It certainly helped me! Take a peek and test them out. You might surprise yourself.

1. Ask outside the box questions.

It’s a bit difficult when on a date not to go into rehearsed dialogue – “What’s your job?” “How many brothers and sisters do you have?” “Where are you from originally?” These are typical questions we’ve become used to asking, but trust me when I say DON’T; at least not just yet. One study has shown that rehearsed lines had a negative effect on a date – so this theory is backed up by science, ya’ll!

It’s important to pull him out of his comfort zone, and the best way to do that is by making him think. Make a deal with yourself to only ask about things you’re genuinely and authentically interested in – make it about him. While you might wonder if he’s an only child or not, you’ll always find that out in due time. During the whole get to know him process, ask him things like, “Have you ever wanted a sibling?” Find common interests and grow from there: “I’ve never been to Italy either! Which city would you rather visit: Venice or Rome?” “You like to cook? I’m actually awful. What was the best dish you’ve ever made?”

2. Watch where you’re staring.

I’ve been on dates where guys have been a bit too creepy with the eyes. I catch them gazing at my arms or my crotch, or, alternatively, one of my insecure spots like my receding hair line or weird birth mark on my neck. Be aware of where your eyes are going – your date isn’t stupid. He also has eyes, which means he saw you looking at whatever it is you thought he missed. Eye contact is important, but, according to studies, no longer than seven seconds. Anything longer than that is a bit creepy. Your eyes are important, make sure they’re pointing at what truly matters.

3. Have a healthy dose of narcissism.

One psychology study reinforced previous research showing that narcissists are more popular than others, literally at first site. The initial appeal is hard to resist for the most part. Physical attractiveness is often automatically associated with a host of other positive traits – a phenomenon known as the “halo effect.” People with exploitive personalities are more effective at creating confidence and humor, but it always tends to decline over time once the observer starts putting two and two together – usually after several weeks. That’s when they start to get avoided. When on a date, let your heart be as big as Texas, but allow yourself to be mysterious and alluring as a vampire or villain. Trust me, it’s only temporary but it’s magical.

U.K-Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, has come out as gay, making him the first member of the British royal family to do so.

Mountbatten came out in an interview with the U.K.'s Mail on Sunday,introducing his partner, airline cabin services director James Coyle. He offered an interview to the paper because various media outlets were looking into his personal life.

Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, says he has found love with airline executive James Coyle.

You are made of LOVE

I used to think I was only worth what society told me I was. When I felt judged I instantly made it personal, dissecting the reasons why and ultimately burying myself in a cave of self-pity. But then something happened.

I realized the world read my value by observing my self-worth. When I felt worthless, the world took it at face value-that’s what they saw and it’s how they associated me. As humans we take a lot of our value from what people think of us, so as a result of their association, we assume their opinion is the truth when in actuality it began with us all along.

Raise our self-worth -> Raise our value.
Sometimes we have to do the work ourselves. We need to define who we are and know how valuable we truly are without needing to look at society. From then on, everything falls into place. It’s a never-ending circle that starts and ends with our own views of ourselves. Here’s how we can start raising our worth:

Remind yourself what it is they (the world) are dealing with. You’re not just anyone. You’re You. Stop comparing yourself to other people who might look different, sound different, feel different; the fact that you are original and unique is always going to work in your favor. You aren’t an every day run-of-the-mill kind of guy-you’re special. You got IT.

Give yourself something to accomplish so you’ll feel accomplished once it’s complete. In other words make projects, think of ideas, predict the future for yourself, come up with goals and actually try to achieve them. The simple act of working towards something makes you feel fulfilled, ultimately turning insecurity into pride.

U.S. Rep. Steve King, one of the most antigay members of Congress, can’t be bothered with the facts when it comes to LGBT parents.
King, an Iowa Republican, today voiced support for the plan for assistance with child care put forth by his party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump, because it will encourage more people to have children. But King made clear who he thinks should be having kids.

Congressman Steve King

When Chris Cuomo asked on CNN’s New Day if King would be comfortable with the aid going to all families, including those with LGBT parents, the congressman responded, “I want to respect all people, but I want to promote the natural family, Chris, and I think that’s the most wholesome thing that we can do.” Cuomo then pressed him to define the “natural family,” and King said, “The natural family is a man and woman joined together hopefully in holy matrimony blessed by God with children.”

Surprises on reality television are so cheap and common these days that most new twists and turns generate little more than a cynical chuckle from seasoned viewers. So when word leaked out in May that the Bravo cable network was producing a new dating-themed reality series about a gay bachelor choosing the perfect boyfriend from among 15 eligible men, it sounded like simply a queer take on a preexisting idea.
But in a move worthy of Joe Millionaire, Boy Meets Boy takes the surprise factor one step further, because neither the "leading man" nor his best gal pal nor all of the 15 potential boyfriends - called "mates" - know that sprinkled among them are some heterosexual contestants. Initial reaction has been polarized, with one overriding question: Will this be a groundbreaking potrayal of gay romance on television or a sordid example of setting up gays as the butt of one big, degrading prank?

"In some ways, [Boy Meets Boy] has the potential to kind of subvert the whole notion of how people conceive of lesbians and gay men," observed Stephen Tropiano, author of The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV, who sees the show as a natural outgrowth of gays' presence in television."

A new study has explored how gay men change their behavior and clothing to avoid negative reactions from co-workers.

A sociologist at the University of Cincinnati has spoken about the results of study into gay men and body language at work.

Travis Dean Speice wanted to find out if gay men modify their body language or clothing in the workplace to avoid being seen as ‘too gay’. He interviewed 30 men – primarily based in the Midwest – to talk about notions of masculinity, gayness and their job roles.

‘Although there is no hard, fast rule for general masculinity, there are lots of anxieties related to identity management and self presentation for gay men in many professional settings,’ he said in a press statement about the findings.

‘From the initial interview to moving up the ladder at work, if a gay man feels his supervisors don’t agree with a gay population, he may not want to reveal his sexuality to them.

‘Instead he may test the waters with a variety of strategies, including managing the way he dresses, the way he talks and whether or not he decides to disclose his sexuality to the people at work.’

He said that some gay men present what they feel is a more masculine version of themselves at work.

‘This happens when they don’t feel safe being themselves around certain supervisors or co-workers.

‘While many gay men have careers where they are respected and accepted for being themselves, several others feel that they have to hide, modify or conceal their behavioral characteristics and speak, act and dress more “professionally”.’

However, he says ‘professionally’ in this sense translates as ‘more masculine.’

‘Many of my participants discussed not wanting to be inauthentic, but not wanting their sexuality to affect their job status’

He says that some gay men avoided wearing certain bright colors from a fear of being labeled flamboyant.

Speice highlighted one respondent who typically used ‘wild hand gestures’, but who concluded that toning down his gestures was equivalent to ‘butching up’.

‘He felt it was less of a masculine/feminine thing and more of an intimidation issue where he doesn’t always get to be relaxed in his personality at work.’

Speice told GSN that although he didn’t specifically ask the respondents if their behaviour at work caused them anxiety, ‘some men did tell me about the discomfort they experience while at work – especially if they are closeted at work, but not in other areas of their life.

Handsome boyfriends Karl and Daan, known for their fun blog karlisworld, in 12 adorable pics.

They describe it as love at first sight.

And three-and-a-half years after meeting at a Berlin nightclub, German-born Karl and ginger-haired Dutchman Daan are still going strong.

What’s more, together, they’re achieving one of their mutual dreams: seeing the world. 

Now living in their dream home in Amsterdam, the boyfriends are known for their popular gay travel blog karlisworld.com.

As single men it’s easy getting guys to look at our bodies, but to get a guy hooked on us is a whole other equation. It requires more than showing a bit of skin. We need to get under his skin to tickle his fancy in ways he might never have imagined before. And trust me, it’s easier than you think…

Before we get started, you need to know the difference between eye-candy and sex appeal:

Eye Candy grabs focus visually, but sex appeal gets a man hypnotized. Eye candy only lasts until someone of equal or greater hotness enters the room.
SEX APPEAL is felt, it’s intuitive, and it exists long after you leave a man’s periphery. It creates a trail.

While both eye candy and sex appeal are powerful, you never want to have too much of both. If all you offer is eye candy you’re going to have an unconscious “look but don’t touch” policy. Guys who are too good looking fail to be accessible, and are often intimidating to approach–don’t be that guy.

Alternatively, if all you offer is appeal without any kind of visual stimulation, it will instantly send you to the “friend zone” without your permission. The trick is to have a balance of eye candy and appeal, and the doses may vary from man to man.

So how do we do it?

Know what you’re offering

Know the person you are without muscles, hair product or teeth whiteners. There is a soul there (many times we forget it). We spend most of our lives trying to sell our bodies that we fail to forget how valuable our hearts, minds and souls are. Sell that!

Connect soul-to-soul.

It’s important to trigger your intuition when meeting people. If your only tool to get a man’s attention is a low cut shirt and an overused smolder, you don’t have a lot much going on upstairs (no offense).

Don’t forget that we’re human beings. We have sex for fun, but require connection to feel valuable. It’s impossible to have a joyous life without having others see us for who we really are. Let go of trying to pretend, and just be…

England-Fourteen Church of England clergy in same-sex marriages have called on bishops to do more to include gay people in the life of the Church.
In a letter to the Sunday Times, they said they wanted to eventually see gay couples allowed to marry in Church.
Some of the clergy signing the letter were revealing they were gay and married for the first time publicly.
Their letter comes after Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain said on Friday he was gayand in a relationship.
Publication comes in the run-up to a College of Bishops meeting from 12 to 15 September which will discuss issues of episcopal ministry and mission.

The clergy said bishops should be bold, and allow gay people to "celebrate without fear and in openness", though they said that now is not yet the time to change the church's official understanding of marriage.

New York State may pride itself on being in the forefront of progress on many social issues - it was an early adopter of marriage equality, for instance - but it’s just now catching up to most other states in expanding the definition of parenthood.

The New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, ruled Tuesday that “a caretaker who is not related to, or the adoptive guardian of, a child could still be permitted to ask for custody and visitation rights,” The New York Times reports.

The ruling, which involved a same-sex couple, is important to all types of families and brings New York in line with most of the states in the nation, including some very conservative ones, which allow these “de facto parents,” as the Times puts it, to seek custody and visitation rights.

California-LGBTI youth four times more likely to attempt suicide than peers.

Lawmakers in California have passed a bill they hope will save the lives of LGBTI youth who are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.

The bill, AB 2246, requires schools in the state to have comprehensive suicide prevention plans for students in grades 7-12.

(Democratic lawmaker Patrick O'Donnell says AB 2246 can save lives.)

Gay London - London is groovy man, and not just because of the mod ‘70s! London abides even after more than two millennia, maintaining its international importance as a commercial and cultural center. Gay London has also quietly developed a robust and visible LGBT community centered around the busy SoHo District. At one time the center of queer partying and clubbing, this London locality has bloomed into a gentler, more balanced alternative to the overindulgences of other hardcore gay party areas like the Vauxhall Gay Village. The historical perviness of Soho has also been toned down in recent times with the closing of the Soho Revue bar, making it the end of night terminus of Central London pets after a difficult day on the job.

You can’t get any more international than London. Over 300 languages are spoken locally, and more visitors pop through London than any other city in the world, visiting Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and all the royal in-betweens. There are more theaters than New York, and many of the world-class museums – such as the wonderful Tate Modern – are free.

You can’t help who you fall in love with. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way, but now that I’m getting older I’m starting to find love in unexpected avenues.

As gay guys get older we tend to never give up our obsession with youth and beauty. Why should we? It’s everywhere we turn. And for the most part, when we’re young and beautiful we know we’re young and beautiful. So we spread our wings as far as we can while we still can… and everyone notices. We want that power back.

Whether you’re an older man dating a younger guy or a younger guy dating an older man, many of us start questioning ourselves: is it smart to date someone half my age? But trust me when I say if you really love him, you wouldn’t be asking yourself this question - at all.

I’ve been in love with countless of straight guys in my life-they all broke my heart, obviously. I was young and new to the experience. Now that I’m older I often wonder how many straight guys have been in love with me.

When I say love I don’t mean sexual attraction. I mean real love-the kind we see in movies: emotional, head over heels, romantic, sensually stimulating kind of love. Can this type of emotion exist among straight and gay males?

Personally I think it can, but too often society doesn’t know what to call it. Falling in love with a person has nothing to do with sexual feelings. It’s a heart-to-heart, soulful experience, but as guys we associate the two. We don’t know how to describe it otherwise.

Men don’t have the same contact rules as women do. We’re often afraid to show any kind of close connection with another guy-even gay guys. In my experience it’s because we always assume the other will think we fancy them, so instead of risking it we’d rather keep a safe distance.

I see male friendships everywhere and they’re amazing. There is a brotherhood that seems to be tighter than family sometimes, but for whatever reason our culture made it into something else. So when a straight guy starts to have a close bond with a gay man, his first instinct is to shut it off: “Does this mean I’m gay?” he’ll ask himself.

Australia - It is now over a year since then prime minister Tony Abbott emerged from a marathon six hour joint party room meeting to thrash out a political solution to the “marriage equality issue”.
That meeting decided that a plebiscite would be conducted some time in the future. Senator Cory Bernardi announced: “I expect my colleagues will abide by the party policy and we can go forward and focus on the things that are truly important to the people of Australia”. This comment alone is enough to tell us that Bernardi and people who share his anti-equality views either fail to understand how offensive their views are, or just don’t care who they hurt.

To say that the totemic civil rights issue of our times for Australia’s LGBT community is not “truly important” just makes me shake my head with incredulity.

Spain-A monumental 34km bike ride across this vibrant Spanish region throws up several surprises.

We all know that Ibiza, Gran Canaria and Sitges are the holy trinity of Spain’s LGBTI holiday destinations.

Look at what most gay tour operators offer and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was all Spain consisted of. Bustling beaches, a club on every corner and mornings spent nursing a hangover. And then there’s Barcelona…

We’ve all been there…and loved every minute. But what if you want a break from the bars – a real getaway? Is there an alternative? We packed our bags and cycled across Spain to find out. 

If there’s one thing you can’t blame a man for, it’s staring at another man’s body. Whether it’s sexual or for sizing up, we find it fascinating. That’s the truth.
This is evident throughout human history and since the beginning of visual arts. Human beings have always loved each other’s bodies. It stimulates our appetite and arouses an urge that ignites creativity. Skin-to-skin contact releases hormones that make us feel secure and balanced, so it’s no wonder we fantasize about it constantly.

All that being said, why do straight guys get in a tizzy when another man checks them out? No one is grabbing their junk or forcing him to grab theirs (though we dream of it). The bottom line is pure old-fashioned homophobia.

But here’s the thing, fellas: if you weren’t something to idolize, we wouldn’t be staring in the first place. Don’t you want your endless hours at the gym to mean something? Think about it, gay mens are the best judges when it comes to beauty.

We basically invented pop culture. You should be flattered!

There is a double standard. Straight guys look at women all the time and expect them to be smitten. They’ll say that by wearing revealing clothing, women are asking to be hit on. But what about guys who run around with their shirts off, or wear tank tops in the summer?

At the end of the day, it’s not about sex. It’s about admiration. If admiring someone’s beauty causes the beautiful to get pissed off, he (or she) ought to reexamine what it means to be human.

Look at statues from the Greek and Roman periods. Most were half-naked men, distinguished by physique and strength-drawn by men! Guys idolize each other because at one point in our evolutionary history, strength and aggression stood a better chance of survival.

Australia - Andrew Shaw looks at issues around adoption in Australia, and specifically how proposed new laws in Queensland could benefit gay and lesbian carers...
At the start of August, when the Queensland government announced that the state’s laws would be amended to allow same-sex couples and singles to adopt, the response on social media was ecstatic – and bemused.

If gays and lesbians were trusted to take on responsibilities for children and adoption laws could be passed without a plebiscite, what was the problem with marriage equality? In many people’s minds the two issues are linked. But marriage has nothing to do with children in the eyes of the law, says Rodney Chiang-Cruise from Gay Dads Australia.

Lord Michael Cashman is to briefly reprise his famous role as Colin Russell in EastEnders, 30 years after he first arrived in Walford.

The 65-year-old appeared on the soap for three years from 1986 and generated headlines when his character had the first gay kiss in a British soap opera with boyfriend Barry Clark, played by Gary Hailes.

Show bosses are keeping details of Colin's return tightly under wraps but his visit is set to raise a big question for Dot Branning (June Brown) when he appears in two episodes next month.

Get the scoop on this essential macronutrient for optimal muscle gains and training performance.

1. Are all proteins the same?

Not by a long shot.

“If you had a list of biological values of how protein is broken down, whey would be at the top. And then dairy, and the rest fall underneath,” Lynn explains. “The pea and potato proteins aren’t terrible - let’s call them C-grade protein - but they’re not A-list.

New York - The modern gay rights movement got its start in Manhattan's West Village in 1969, at the mafia-owned dive the Stonewall Inn. Today, the Stonewall is still standing (and wasrecently made an NYC landmark) and is just one of many LGBT watering holes still dotting the historic neighborhood. (In fact, Stonewall isn't even the neighborhood's oldest gay haunt; that honor goes to Julius's.) Gay bars here tend to veer toward the divey side, and that's just fine by us. There's a timeless and thoroughly accessible vibe here that just can't be replicated at the sleek drinkeries uptown in Hell's Kitchen.

Gay married couple LaVell Lewis-Christian and his husband Eric Christian share their story with GSN.

LaVell’s childhood

I grew up in a religious family where they felt church was the cure for everything and would talk at the child rather than with their child.

I was the eldest of three boys in the projects of Fort Pierce, Florida. My mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1990 and wheelchair bound by 1992 so for me it was tough. I had to help out around the house and take care of my mom and two brothers.

I really didn’t know what it was to be a kid and play with the other kids in the neighborhood. I would go to school, come home, clean and help my mom while my brothers enjoy childhood.

A new study has found that a surprising number of same-sex couples employ traditional gender stereotypes when dividing up household chores.
The study, titled “Making Money, Doing Gender, or Being Essentialist? Partner Characteristics and Americans’ Attitudes Toward Housework,” was conducted by Indiana University and surveyed over 1,000 people. Researchers learned that gender stereotypes play a large part in how same-sex couples determine who does what around the house.

Respondents were given information about either a heterosexual or same-sex couple, including each person’s occupation and income level, as well as their hobbies and interests. They were then asked to assign tasks between each of the same-sex partners.

Several gay ministers will write to church leaders to say they are already in same-sex marriage and want official position reconsidered.
A group of gay Church of England clergy are set to reveal that they have married their partners, defying the official line taken by church leaders on same-sex marriage.
A dozen gay ministers are to sign an open letter that also urges the church to allow clergy to carry out blessings for parishioners entering into same-sex marriages.

Half the signatories have already declared themselves to be in a gay marriage, including Andrew Foreshew-Cain, who was one of the first priests to openly defy the ruling.

Germany - a country that is welcoming for all, and also has something for everyone to enjoy too. Germany’s gay scene is of course legendary - some may say second-to-none - with a huge variety of events, venues, prides, parties, festivals and communities in cities and towns the length and breadth of the country.
Gay life can be experienced in every region of our country. Gay communities all over Germany are well integrated into the societies that they are part of - and gay celebrations will often attract the widespread support and participation of everybody - regardless of their age, gender or sexuality - but that’s just the start of the adventure for LGBT visitors.

A rich history and colorful traditions mix with a contemporary culture and truly progressive thinking, to make Germany one of the most dynamic and exciting countries to visit in the world. These pages show just some of the highlights - but there’s much, much more. Our cuisine, art, architecture, society, values and technology all push the boundaries - and re-define the norm. In Germany, we like to believe that anything is possible - and we aren’t afraid to think big.

We hope you enjoy what you see and read here, and that you’ll be inspired to come and see for yourself. The invitation is open - and you’ll also be very, very welcome.

Gay Culture

Germany is a collection of 16 regions or Länder, which each has its own distinctive and unique character. Together they collectively offer a diverse range of cultural attractions - with everything from classic to contemporary.

Germany has been called Das Land der Dichter und Denker "the country of poets and philosophers", and has been central to the development of Western thinking and culture for many centuries. This progressive tradition continues to this day - and Germany is proud of the pivotal role that we play globally in shaping the modern world. Great pride is taken in how Germans are early adopters of new technology, and champions of liberal attitudes including social justice issues.

The arts, culture and science are highly-prized in Germany too. Cultural institutions enjoy significant support from the government, and participation, interest, attendance and engagement by the general public remains consistently high. You will also find that modern technology is embraced in Germany too. Sustainability and innovative thinking are a way of life here - just as they have always been.

We are sure that you will enjoy the diversity of our cultural heritage - and be inspired, stimulated and maybe more than a little surprised too at what you find when you next visit.

GERMANY'S GAY AND LESBIAN CULTURE

Germany’s LGBT culture and communities are thriving, and are now an intrinsic part of the lively and friendly atmosphere you can find in many of Germany’s towns and cities. Thanks to progressive legislation and an atmosphere of mutual respect for everyone, Germany is now one of the most progressive countries in Europe for LGBT people to live, work and of course visit too.

There are active gay communities in all of the major cities, and LGBT organisations and groups have also sprung up in smaller towns all across the country.

This of course means that there is a great wealth of activities for LGBT people to enjoy when they come to visit. The variety on offer has something to suit everyone - a wide range of cultural attractions, breathtaking scenic beauty, and the highly organised gay communities enable you to feel right at home, and experience a truly memorable trip - or the most relaxing vacation!

GAY GERMANY - FROM PAST TO PRESENT

The road to equality for German LGBT people is a long one, that started as far back as the end of the 19th century. As early as 1895, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (the first-known gay activist) supported homosexual rights in his speech on Lawyer's Day in Munich. Magnus Hirschfeld established the first Scientific Institute for Research on Homosexuality in Berlin in 1897; furthermore, the city of Berlin also lays claim to the world's first Gay Museum, which opened in 1985.

In the 1960s huge strides forward were also achieved for the rights of gay and lesbian people in Germany. Homosexuality became no longer punishable by law in East Germany in 1968 and in West Germany in 1969.

More recently, in 2001, a "Life Partnership Law" was introduced by the Federal Government allowing 'registered partnerships' for same-sex couples and giving LGBT people rights and obligations in areas such as inheritance, alimony, health insurance, immigration and name change. Since January 2005 registered same-sex couples are allowed to adopt (stepchild adoption only), and procedures with regard to division of property and alimony have been improved. The debate about same-sex marriage is still on the agenda in the German parliament.

In May 2008, the Memorial to Gays persecuted by the Nazis was opened in Berlin. A concrete slab reminds of the prosecuted gays and lesbians in the Third Reich with a film projection of a never ending scene of a same-sex couple kissing - every two years it will change from men to women or vice versa.

How to get there?

Germany's transport infrastructure is among the best in Europe. As well as the extent of the network, the excellent links between different modes of transport enable everyone to travel between places quickly and easily.

The country is criss-crossed by 12,700 kilometres of autobahn and a rail network of nearly 35,000 kilometres with around 5,400 stations, while air passengers have more than 40 airports to choose from. If you prefer to explore at a more relaxed pace, make for a minor road – one of the country's 150 or so scenic routes perhaps – or why not take a branch line train into the countryside?

Whether you're dashing to a business meeting or taking a laid-back tour, Germany has the means of transport to suit.

Hotels

Germany’s hotel industry offers something for every style, taste and budget - from large top-end luxury hotels to small design-lead boutique properties, quirky and arty urban bolt-holes, or a quiet traditional retreat tucked away in the country. No matter where you decide to stay, the choice is practically endless - and we hope that you will be inspired by the choice and variety of accommodation that is looking to welcome you on your next visit to Germany.

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