Malaysian Police Ban Gay Arts Festival

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Claiming that a gay arts festival was a threat to public order, Malaysian authorities have shut down this year’s Sexual Independence gay arts festival. The festival, which started in 2008 and had been mostly a low-key event, had grown this year to a five-day event causing the police and government officials to take notice in the mostly Muslim nation.

This year’s festival was to start on November 9 and was themed “Queer without Fear.” The festival was to be held at a private arts center.

Eight Arrested for Manila Cemetery Pageant

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Eight people were arrested Monday night for staging an impromptu gay beauty pageant inside the Manila North Cemetery. More than 100 people gathered to watch the scantily-clad transvestites dance on top of tombs, prompting security volunteers to disperse the group. Many of the pageant’s participants escaped arrest.

Police said the arrested suspects desecrated the dead and disturbed other visitors at the cemetery. Some of those who were arrested defended what they did by saying they have been holding the event every All Saints Day.

Indonesia Opens First Gay Medical Clinic

BALI, INDONESIA – Indonesia’s first gay medical clinic opened in Bali to serve that county’s LGBT community. Gays and lesbian are often denied admission to public medical facilities due to discrimination in the mostly Muslim country.

The center has been accepting patients since September 27 but had its official opening last week. The Gaya Dewata Foundation, which provides counseling and promotes safe sex practices among Bali’s gay community, says the clinic will be welcomed by a community scared to find help in a society that shuns them.

The new Bali Medika clinic will provide general medical check-ups as well as screening for sexually transmitted
diseases, hormone therapy and psychological support.

Gay Couples Allowed to Hold Civil Ceremonies in Church

LONDON, ENGLAND – Same-sex couples will be allowed to hold civil partnership ceremonies in churches and other places of worship in England and Wales. The United Kingdom’s Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said no  religious group would be forced to host them, but those who wished to could apply by the end of the year.

According to the BBC, marriage between people of the same gender is not legal in the UK but civil partnerships were introduced in 2005 to give couples the same legal protection as if they were married.

A Church of England spokesperson said it had no intention of allowing civil partnerships to be registered in its churches.

“’The House of Bishops’ statement of July 2005 made it clear that the Church of England should not provide services of blessing for those who register civil partnerships and that remains the position,” he said.

However, the spokesperson said the Church would study the draft regulations to check that ministers had delivered “genuine religious freedom” by way of denominational opt-in and, if so, there would be no reason to oppose the regulations.

Teachers Tell Bullied Kids Not to Be So Gay

ESSEX, ENGLAND – Teachers allegedly told bullied children to act “less gay” if they want to end their torment. In a report by Essex County Council, students revealed they had been accused of making themselves a target for bullies by choosing to behave or look differently.

As well as criticizing their supposed sexuality, teachers reportedly told youngsters to “wear their hair differently” if they wanted to avoid trouble.

The comments have been met with outrage by anti-bullying campaigners and gay and lesbian support groups across the county.