IN THE NEWS

VIDEO: Bucharest crowd boo Madonna's defence of gays and Roma

Romanian fans of singer Madonna showed their displeasure during a concert yesterday when she condemned discrimination against Roma people and gays.

The 51-year-old American performer is currently on tour.

During her concert in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, she said:

"We don't believe in discrimination against anyone.

"We believe in freedom and equal rights for everyone…right?

"Gypsies, homosexuals, people who are different — everyone is equal and should be treated with respect, OK?

"Let's not forget that."

There were loud boos from the crowd as well as some cheering.

Romania joined the EU in 2007, but it remains socially conservative.

A poll conducted last year found 68% of Romanians in the poll thought homosexuality is a 'bad choice' and 36% think punitive measures should be taken against gays, from fines to jail.

Nearly half of the 1,200 respondents said they would not want contact with someone living with HIV or AIDS. Two thirds said they would be uncomfortable with a gay neighbour.

30% think children with AIDS should be segregated in school.

Romania was one of the last European countries to decriminalise homosexuality, in 1996, and a further law banning "manifestations of homosexuality" was finally repealed in 2001.

In 2002 the age of consent was equalised at 15.

Roma people, sometimes called Gypsies, suffer violence and discrimination across Europe, including incidents in Italy.

A EU Fundamental Rights Agency report on the Roma revealed a bleak picture for the estimated 12 million Roma in the EU.

"Roma reported the highest overall levels of discrimination across all areas surveyed. 66-92% of Roma (depending on the country) did not report their most recent experience of discrimination to any competent authority.

"65-100% of the Roma respondents reported lack of confidence in law enforcement and justice structures."

Britain among countries backing Budapest Pride

The Budapest embassies of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, France and Germany have expressed their support for Pride events in the city.

Budapest Pride was the target of violent fascist attacks last year.

An estimated 1,500 people participated in an LGBT solidarity demonstration and Hungarian police were forced to use tear gas and a water cannon to clear the route for marchers to leave.

There were also violent scenes at Pride in 2007.

Today a joint press release was issued by the Embassies of Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"On the occasion of the 2009 Budapest Pride Festival, we express our support for, and solidarity with, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Hungary," they said.

"We support the right of these communities to use this traditional occasion to march together peacefully and lawfully, in order to express their desire to end the silence surrounding the specific issues that affect them.

"Human rights — including justice, equality, humanity, respect and freedom of expression — and the rule of law are the foundations upon which democratic states are built.

"Indeed, international human rights law is grounded on the premise that all individuals are entitled to the same rights and freedoms, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"It is this respect for fundamental human values that obliges governments to protect all citizens from violence and to ensure that all people enjoy equal opportunities.

"Today, many individuals face discrimination, both systemic and overt, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

"Our governments seek to combat such discrimination by promoting the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"We urge all governments to ensure that neither sexual orientation nor gender identity form the basis for criminal penalties."

Budapest Pride begins on Sunday and includes events such as parties and a film festival alongside seminars and self-defence classes.

The promotion of gay rights by UK diplomats is not without controversy.

Last month the British ambassador to Poland was told by the country's civil rights ombudsman he is "exceeding his authority" by promoting a gay Pride march in Warsaw.

Ric Todd was accused by Catholic groups of "representing the 'homosexual lobby" after he gave Polish gay rights leaders a UK Guide To Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender People And Their Rights, translated into Polish.

Whoopi Goldberg records message of support for Budapest Pride

Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg has recorded a special message of support for a Pride event marred by violent attacks in recent years.

The Oscar-winning actor's message will be played publicly on Sunday, the first day of Pride in Budapest.

"Whoopi has filmed and traveled in Hungary, and has spoken publicly of her love for Hungary," Pride orgainisers said.

"Now hear what she has to say about the situation of Gay Pride in Hungary."

Pride week includes events such as parties and a film festival alongside seminars and self-defence classes.

Budapest Pride was the target of violent fascist attacks last year.

An estimated 1,500 people participated in an LGBT solidarity demonstration.

SWAT officers called in from all over Hungary followed the march and intervened when necessary.

The march was supposed to end in a cordoned-off area where a concert was going to take place.

It was cancelled as a neo-Nazi mob had beaten up the performer and police were forced to use tear gas and a water cannon to clear the route for marchers to leave.

The marchers were then escorted by police to nearby metro stations as the mob was dispersed.

Pride in Budapest in 2007 was plagued by skinheads and fascists shouting abuse and throwing items such as beer bombs, smoke bombs and petrol bombs at the peaceful marchers.

In the week leading up to last year's Pride two gay businesses in Budapest were attacked with petrol bombs.

22 police forces to march at Manchester Pride

Police officers and staff from all over the UK will be in Manchester this weekend for Pride.

Representatives of 22 UK forces will be joined on the parade by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Chief Constable Peter Fahy and Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney and Merseyside Assistant Chief Constable Helen King.

This Saturday more than 270 officers and staff from forces across the country will lead the parade as Manchester Pride celebrates its 19th year.

PC Darren Haslam, coordinator of GMP's Lesbian and Gay Staff Affiliation (LAGSA), said:

"Its another fantastic response that we’ve had this year, there has been an increase in the numbers taking part and also the number of police forces represented.

"For me it shows that confidence is slowly increasing amongst our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) staff and walk through the streets of Manchester proudly as a police officer or member of police staff.“

"By taking part in Pride will hopefully send out a strong and clear message to give confidence to the LGBT communities, that you can be gay or trans and work for the police."

For the second year running, GMP is one of the main sponsors of Manchester Pride.

Officers will be providing information about how to report hate crime throughout Pride.

"Hate crime is not something that LGB&T individuals should just have to put up with," said PC Haslam.

"GMP is committed to erasing hate crime from our communities.

"Anyone who has been targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity should report it to police.

"We will take you seriously."

Manchester Pride Big Weekend is a four-day extravaganza including headline performances from 1980s hit makers Human League and Bananarama, new acts Little Boots and Frankmusik and tabloid favourite Peter Andre.

Ted Kennedy Remembered as LGBT Hero

When Sen. Ted Kennedy's death was reported, the leader of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese, said we mourned the loss of the nation's "greatest champion and strongest voice for justice, fairness, and compassion."

"There was no greater hero for advocates of LGBT equality than Sen. Ted Kennedy," Solmonese reflected. "From the early days of the AIDS epidemic to our current struggle for marriage equality, he has been our protector, our leader, our friend. He has been the core of the unfinished quest for civil rights in this country, and there is now a very painful void."

Senator Kennedy hailed from a famously influential family. Two of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and onetime attorney-general and presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy, were tragically assassinated, in 1963 in and 1968, respectively. Years earlier he lost his oldest brother, Joe, who was killed in action during World War II.

The senator from Massachusetts was a strong proponent of LGBT rights and opposed the ban on gays in the military. Initially elected to the Senate in 1962, during his tenure he fought to strengthen and expand hate-crimes laws to cover victims who were targeted specifically for their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. In the 1980s, while conservatives dismissed AIDS as a "gay plague," Kennedy called for action and fought for the funding of AIDS research. He was a tireless warrior for liberal causes in his 40-plus years of public service.
A champion of women, minorities, and LGBT people, Senator Kennedy believed “the controversy about the Moral Majority arises not only from its views, but from its name -- which, in the minds of many, seems to imply that only one set of public policies is moral and only one majority can possibly be right.”
He supported Barack Obama's successful campaign for president in 2008 and told voters, "With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion. With Barack Obama, we will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay."