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Finland on the road to introducing gay marriage

by Editorial Staff

The Finnish ministry of Justice will research this fall how to introduce new gender-neutral marriage legislation in order to make it possible also for gay people to get married. The new legislation would then take effect in 2012. Gender-neutral marriage legislation will lend all couples equal rights – also concerning adoption. At this moment same sex Finnish couples can only adopt children from their own families. The new legislation would also offer same sex couples to take on each other’s family name.

Strong rise in discrimination complaints

by Editorial Staff

In Holland the number of complaints of discrimination has shown a significant increase compared to 2008 – including those based on sexual orientation. The anti-discrimination agencies and hotlines registered 5931 complaints over 2009. That’s 1123 more than a year earlier. This comes from Key Figures, the national overview of complaints of discrimination. The increase is largely due to the campaign the Ministry of Interior held together with Art.1 in 2009 to promote reporting discrimination.

Thirty Percent Of Professions Appreciates Gay Family Less Than Straight Family

by Editorial Staff

Can you have kids when you’re gay or lesbian? Most certainly, there are at least 25,000 children being raised in gay families in Holland. Although their upbringing is not very different from kids in a straight family, Movisie, an organization aimed at knowledge and advice for social developments, published on the 4th of June in Dutch the “Handreiking homo-emancipatie: roze ouderschap” (Assistant Gay Emancipation: Gay Parenting), compiled by Hanneke Felten and Josee Rothuizen.

Gay KLM cabin crew refuse to fly to Iran

by Editorial Staff

A number of gay stewards at KLM has announced they don't want to stay in Teheran anymore. They feel unsafe because of the persecution of gays in that country, the union of cabin crews, the VNC, has announced.

KLM flies five times a week to the Iranian capital Teheran, but refuses to respond to the steward's issue. Union spokesperson (FNV Bondgenoten) Annette Groeneveld says that KLM is working since 2000 with a list of people that don't want to be rostered in for flights to Iran. This list would mainly contain women with 'unpleasant experiences in the country'.

The Gay Games

by Editorial Staff

The biggest sports and cultural festival in the world will take place in Cologne from July 31 to August 7, 2010. Some 12,000 participants from more than 70 countries will converge for the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 and celebrate the principles of participation, inclusion and personal best.

The motto is “Be part of it!” And the invitation is open to everyone – regardless whether you are heterosexual or homosexual, male, female, transgender or transsexual, and regardless of religion, nationality, ethnic heritage, political convictions, athletic skills, physical capabilities, age or physical condition.

Expo News - Beauty Without Borders

by Editorial Staff

On May 16 the Groningen gallery Mooi Man celebrated the opening of the exhibition “Beauty Without Borders” in the presence of artist Nebojsa Zdravkovic. “Beauty Without Borders” shows paintings, gouaches, watercolors and pastels by Zdravkovic and Cornelius McCarthy and lasts until August 8

Celebrate Your Summer at Barcelona’s Circuit Festival 2010

by Editorial Staff

From July 31 to August 8, the greatest European gay & lesbian festival will come back to rock Barcelona by offering fifteen astonishing parties, plenty of daytime activities and, best of it all, the third edition of the – almost legendary - largest gay & lesbian day at a water park. It will be a full week of pure summer gay fun. Definitely, Circuit’s third edition is a real must that you don’t want to miss!

First gay rights activist' Antony Grey dies aged 82

by Editorial Staff

Mr Grey, born Anthony Edgar Gartside Wright, had been ill for several years with leukaemia and died at King Edward VII Hospital in London on Friday April 30th. He is regarded as Britain's first gay rights activist and was instrumental in forcing the government to push through the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which paved the way for modern law reform. He began campaigning for gay equality in 1958, when he joined the Homosexual Law Reform Society, which campaigned to change laws which criminalised gay men.

Hiv-epidemic in Eastern Europe

by Editorial Staff

A lack of attention for 'harm reduction' measures - clean needles for drug addicts for example - is causing hiv and tuberculosis epidemics in Eastern Europe and Russia, says Gerry Stimson, director of the IHRA and Professor emeritus at the Imperial College in London. At the moment barely 2 eurocents per drug user is invested in harm reduction, measures aimed at tackling the negative effects of drug using for the users themselves, as well as their environment and the society.

Another gay bashing in Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

Wednesday night a 38-year old gay man was beaten up near the Homomonument at the Westermarkt so badly he had to spend the night in hospital.

'It happened,' he said, 'shortly after the Liberation Day party, at half past twelve. 'Together with a friend and girlfriend I crossed the Niek Engelschman bridge in the direction of Dam Square. Two Moroccan boys called out a provocation but we were in a happy mood and thought: whatever, let's keep going.

Short News

by Editorial Staff

New Amsterdam Gay Map is out!

Before the flood of 2010 tourists will wash over Amsterdam, the new up-to-date Amsterdam Gay Map has been distributed all over the city. This completely updated 15th edition of the Amsterdam Gay Map – 100.000 of them are printed and distributed every year – lists all Amsterdam gay venues and contains handy tips for visitors.

Ricky Martin Says ‘I Am A Fortunate Homosexual Man’ At Last

by Editorial Staff

When in the first months of 2007 the at the time 23-year-old Mexican star Christian Chavez no longer denied his homosexuality, this produced many reactions, both positive and negative. The coming out of this popular singer-actor was seen as very important, especially since homosexuality is generally rather taboo in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Porn News - ‘Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita’ Vindicated in Court

by Editorial Staff

Early April Lucas Entertainment was thrilled to announce that it had won a court battle started by the purported owner of Federico Fellini’s film “La Dolce Vita.” In February 2007, International Media Films (IMF) filed a lawsuit against Lucas Entertainment, Inc., alleging that Lucas Entertainment’s pornographic film “Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita” violated IMF’s claimed copyright in Fellini’s movie and associated trademarks.

The Gay Games

Kooistra loses court-cases, April and Exit need to close

by Editorial Staff

Tycoon Kooistra is also forced to close cafés Dante, Three Sisters and Luxembourg in Amsterdam. On top of that Kooistra and a few associated businesses, like the Gouden Kooi BV, Kropa Exploitatie BV and umbrella company Plassania are ordered to pay back logged rent to Heineken by Amsterdam court order. Per café he owes Heineken up to hundreds of thousands of euros in rent. If he doesn’t cough up Heineken can close and claim the businesses one by one. Company Gouden Kooi BV was also sentenced to pay for all court costs.

Extended opening hours for bars in city centre possible

by Editorial Staff

Cafés and bars in the centre of Amsterdam can extend their opening hours if an agreement is possible with the people who live in the vicinity. The probable coalition of GroenLinks (Greens), D66 (Liberal Democrats) and PvdA (Social Democrats) in the centre aims to give the businesses as well as the residents in the area more responsibilities when it comes to deciding on opening hours of bars and cafés, says Jeanine van Pinxteren, (GroenLinks) who will most likely become the inner-city mayor. “Instead of deciding for the people, we think that businesses an people living in the immediate vicinity can work out what’s possible.”

Breakthrough in hiv research at the AMC

by Editorial Staff

Hiv, the virus that causes aids, uses an immune response of the first cells it encounters in the body to multiply itself. This immune response, which usually prevents infection in a person, helps hiv to spread out. Researchers of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam published their discovery in the scientific magazine Nature Immunology today. The team, under management of professor Teuynis Geijtenbeek, labels the discovery as unexpected. It was a known fact that the aids virus first encounters so-called dendrite cells.

Is A Blow-Job Just As Bad As Smoking?

by Editorial Staff

In France at the end of February, there was much to do about the presentation of a plan for a provocative campaign to prevent smoking by youngsters. Even though the posters in question were not out on the street yet and hadn’t appeared in any magazine or newspaper, French Minister of Family Affaires, Nadine Morano, was already considering a possible campaign ban. “There are other ways to warn youngsters about cigarette addiction,” the minister declared.

Circumcision against HIV does not help

by Editorial Staff

It was thought that the circumcision of men could possibly reduce the number of HIV infections. A new study, however, shows that the effect of circumcision of homosexual men is almost non-existent.

Earlier studies in Africa
Studies that were carried out in Africa supposedly have proven that circumcised men have 60% less chance of catching the HIV virus compared to non-circumcised men. They presumed that the foreskin would be extremely sensitive to the virus.

Major Robert Mapplethorpe Retrospective In Düsseldorf

by Editorial Staff

Robert Mapplethorpe, who was born in 1946 and passed away in 1989, is one of the few artists who truly deserve to be known far beyond the borders of the art world. Mapplethorpe dominated photography in the late twentieth century and paved the way for the recognition of photography as an art form in its own right; he firmly anchored the subject of homosexuality in mass culture and created a classic photographic image, mostly of male bodies, which found its way into commercial photography.

European Court sentences Poland for discrimination of gay couple.

by Editorial Staff

The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Poland for discrimination of a gay couple on grounds they were not treated unequally to a married straight couple. Piotr Kozak lived with his partner for nine years when he died in 1989. The rental agreement of the home of the couple was registered to his partner and, after his death, Kozak wanted to transfer the agreement, so that he could continue living there. Despite of the fact that Poland gives some rights to cohabitating partners, Kozak’s request was denied by the authorities.

Christian printer is allowed to refuse Gay Sport

by Editorial Staff

The refusal to print towels with text that refers to a gay sports tournament is not discriminatory on grounds of homosexual judgement. The Dutch Equal Treatment Commission, the Commissie Gelijke Behandeling (CGB) made this decision in a court case between the foundation Stichting Gay Sport Nijmegen and textile printer Konavo from Nieuwe Tonge.

Introducing... Shia LaBeouf

by Editorial Staff

With always a roving eye for handsome hunks, we couldn’t help but notice Harrison Ford’s sidekick, actually his son, in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” played by Shia LaBeouf. Shia Saide LaBeouf was born on June 11, 1986 in Los Angeles, an only child. His mother, Shayna, is a dancer and ballerina turned visual artist and clothing/jewelry designer; before she met LaBeouf’s father, she ran a head shop in Brooklyn.

Short Story - In the Night Sauna

by Editorial Staff

Recently AristoScorpio published Louis de Blot’s “Verdwenen brieven” (Vanished Letters). The main character of this 318-page novel is called Orlandino, who undertakes a discovery tour from his hometown The Hague through a varied spectrum of gay relations and activities. Most of these together with Muslim Mediterranean guys, for whom he feels a natural attraction but who are also elusive because of their connection to their families, their group loyalties and the demands of their religion.

Teachers Struggle With Lessons On Homosexuality

by Editorial Staff

Teachers find it difficult to talk about homosexuality in tumultuous classrooms. It would be useful if the teacher-training colleges pay more attention to how these issues can be addressed. This is one of the findings of a recently published report “Een kwestie van persoonlijkheid? Aandacht voor homoseksualiteit in het voortgezet onderwijs” (A Matter Of Personality? Attention For Homosexuality In Secondary Education).

Blue - New Weekly Jeans Dance Party in Church

by Editorial Staff

Church is yet again launching a new theme party - this time a theme that pretty much everyone can stick to: jeans. Blue will become a new weekly event, to be held every Thursday night from 9 p.m. onwards. According to Church: “We want to have a party that is accessible to everyone, it’s really not difficult to comply with this theme. Torn, bleached, skinny, buttoned, zipped, tight, wide, small, or XXXL - they’re all welcome.

Exhibitions About Gerard Reve’s Years In Greonterp And Weert

by Editorial Staff

On March 7, Teigetje & Woelrat (Willem Bruno van Albada and Hendrik Lambertus van Manen), former lovers of Dutch author Gerard (Kornelis van het) Reve, opened a photo exhibition about their Greonterp years in Tresoar, the Frisian Historical and Literary Center.

On Wednesday night November 12, 1969, Reve and Teigetje, in Amsterdam to celebrate Teigetje’s birthday, met the boy who would be nicknamed Woelrat.

City council of Amsterdam supports COC protest against ‘gay healings’

by Editorial Staff

The municipality of Amsterdam is backing the COC in its protests against the so-called ‘gay healings’ several religious organizations have on offer in the city. The mayor and the aldermen have attributed 50.000 euro to organize gatherings with the three large religious groups in Amsterdam South-East: evangelists, Hindu and Muslim communities.

Dusty Springfield - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

by Editorial Staff

- Show about the legendary singer in the theater -

This spring the show Dusty Springfield - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me will tour the country. A moving musical show by Harry Kies Theaterprodukties about the legendary British singer. Director Dick van den Heuvel wrote the script. Main actors will be Audrey Bolder, Janke Dekker and Casper Gimbrere. The opening night is on Tuesday the 9th of March in the Leidse Schouwburg. She is the idol of Duffy, Adele and Amy Winehouse.

Popular Representations of Homosexuality in Contemporary Indonesia

by Editorial Staff

On Wednesday April 21, Bram Hendrawan will give a Mosse lecture titled “The Spectacle of ‘Deviant Sexuality’: Popular Representations of Homosexuality in Post-Suharto Indonesia.” In the last decade, following the fall of President Suharto’s authoritarian New Order regime in 1998, Indonesia has been witnessing the emergence of new public discourses on homosexuality.

Groningen invests 100.000 euro in gay emancipation

by Editorial Staff

Groningen is investing 100.000 euro to promote social acceptance of homosexuality in the city. The municipality aims to spend the money on the development of educational material and brochures, setting up exhibitions and information activities, as well as events. The funds will go to the Groningen Platform for Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders in Groningen (LGBT) that’s going to execute the plans.

Military Film Star Moonlights in Gay Porn

by Editorial Staff

At the end of last year “The Advocate” reported that a top military magazine had unwittingly shone the spotlight on a young corporal who supposedly moonlighted as a gay-porn actor. “Leatherneck,” the “magazine of the Marines,” covered the production of a movie set to premiere in December at the National Museum of the Marines. The film is a military production, and the actors are military too. “For most of them,” the article says, “this is the first time they have ever acted.”

Top US military wants end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy

by Editorial Staff

The highest ranking US military admiral Mike Mullen wants to abolish the policy that prohibits gays to be openly gay in the army. This was announced on several American news broadcasters.

‘To speak for myself, and myself only, it is my personal conviction that allowing openly gay and lesbian people into the army is the right decision,’ said Mullen, the chairman of chiefs of staff of the US military.

First gay marriage in Latin America

by Editorial Staff

In the Argentinean city of Ushuaia two men got married. This is the first same-sex marriage in Latin America

Alex Freyre (39) and his partner Jose Maria Bello (41) wanted to get married in Buenos Aires on the 1st of December already but a court order blocked the ceremony at the last moment. The Argentinean high court will still have to rule on the matter of same-sex marriages.

Introducing... Taylor Lautner

by Editorial Staff

Early January rumors started circulation on the internet that Taylor Lautner had died. Taylor who? Taylor Lautner, born February 11, 1992 and a popular actor in the series “The Twilight Sage: New Moon,” which hasn’t made it to the Dutch television, yet. Lautner began acting in 2001, appearing in the made-for-television film “Shadow Fury.” He subsequently had roles on several series and also appeared in a number of other television shows and movies.

Paata Sabelashvili, has been released

by Editorial Staff

Paata Sabelashvili, board member of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board and a leader of the Inclusive Foundation in Georgia, has been released and is now recovering after nearly two weeks detention. Nevertheless ILGA-Europe is concerned with the continuous surveillance of the Inclusive Foundation office by Georgian police, including tapping the telephone conversations of the Inclusive Foundations staff. On December 15 2009 the office of the Inclusive Foundation, a well known Georgian LGBT organisation, was raided by the police.

Roze Filmdagen (Gay and Lesbian Film Festival)

by Editorial Staff

The festival is based around a diverse selection of high quality films (motion pictures, documentaries and many short films. With over 100 titles from 30 countries in 80 sessions the festival offers a great overview of what’s happening in gay cinema all over the world. The Roze Filmdagen presents many premiers of the best recent gay productions; popular as well as small-scale alternative work. The program is as divers as our community, every taste will be catered to.
www.rozefilmdagen.nl

Advice for people with hiv traveling to the US

by Editorial Staff

From the fourth of January the travel restrictions to the US have been lifted. This means that you can travel to the country without any problems from the 7th of January.

The Aids Fonds and the HIV Vereniging advise you to bring along a phone number just in case problems occur. Contact Immigration Equality via +1.212.714.2904. Or via email amorris@immigrationequality.org. They have said to offer assistance when necessary.

Information campaign condom use for boys

by Editorial Staff

Young boys that have just come out of the closet as gay or bisexual often have unsafe sex. Information campaigns on hiv and condom use should be especially targeted to this group at risk. This is what psychologist Dirk Franssens advises. Over the past years he has conducted an internet based research on sexual behavior of young gay and bisexual boys who have experienced their coming-out less than a year ago.

Introducing DJ Danny Verde

by Editorial Staff

On the 5th of December the weekly Billy Underwear Party in Milan spotlighted Danny Verde as Special DJ. The poster was adorned by such a charming, handsome guy that we were interested who this Mr. Verde is. And so, meet... a musical prodigy who has worked in all aspects of music, including house, dance-pop production, DJ, song-writing and as vocalist. He lives just outside Milan in Northern Italy, where his recording studio “Holab Studio” has been home to many collaborations with international labels, artists, and producers.

UNESCO Intends To Cooperate With Gay Emancipation Organization

by Editorial Staff

On the 2nd of October the General Director of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, approved a request of GALE, the Worldwide Alliance for Education on Homosexuality, which was founded in The Netherlands, to join in an official cooperation with UNESCO. GALA had requested an operational partnership. With this status GALE will be asked to contribute to four UNESCO key targets. The procedure to acquire this coveted status took up more than a year.

Protocol to tackle gay discrimination presented in The Hague

by Editorial Staff

On Monday the 23rd of November Bert van Alphen, alderman for Wellbeing, Public Health and Emancipation accepted the ‘Protocol aanpak homodiscriminatie’ (Protocol to tackle gay discrimination), presented to him by director Gert-Jan Ankoné of the Bureau Discriminatiezaken (Bureau for Cases of Discrimination). COC Haaglanden, Bureau Discriminatiezaken, the police and the municipality developed the protocol.

Gay-Pride 2010 not just in the Centre of Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

During the budget discussions for 2010 the Amsterdam-Centre council adopted a proposal of GroenLinks (Greens) and PvdA (Social Democrats) to ask the local board to start cooperation with the organizers of Gay Pride 2010 to find ways to increase the social impact of Gay Pride and its events on other areas than jus the city centre.

Suspect of assault on chatting gays caught

by Editorial Staff

The police arrested a man in Amsterdam suspected to have robbed some other men after contacting them on a gay chat site. The suspect approached men on internet with the nickname Mark, Christiaan or Christiano. In one case he made a date with a guy in Amsterdam-Oost. He showed up with a mate and forced their way into the house.

Gay Business claims damages from city

by Editorial Staff

The Gay Business Amsterdam foundation (GBA), which organized the Gay Pride in Amsterdam for years, is claiming 140.000 euro in damages of the city council.

Treasurer Peter Kramer of the GBA confirmed the report in the Volkskrant. This came after a ruling of the Raad van State (High Judicial Council) that mayor Job Cohen was predisposed in his choice for licensing the events for Gay Pride in 2007.

Aids News

by Editorial Staff

Parliament ought to prevent the cuts on aids policies

The Ministry for Third World Aid is planning to cut aids budgets to accomplish half of their projected cuts. Dutch aids organizations think this is completely irresponsible and incomprehensible. Preceding the debate in parliament they’ve sent a public letter calling to halt this move. The cuts will mean over 100.000 people will not get the necessary medication in order to stay alive. Government is also not planning to invest in vaccine research.

US lifts ban on travelers with hiv

by Editorial Staff

After 22 years the US is finally lifting the ban it had installed for travelers suffering from hiv or aids. In 2010 a new law will come into effect the American president Barack Obama stated at the end of October.

For over twenty years visitors with an hiv infection or aids were treated as a threat to American society, Obama said. But if the US wants to be the world leader in the battle against hiv and aids, we have to act accordingly, the president added.

Cleveland Named Host of 2014 Gay Games

by Editorial Staff

On September 29, Cleveland, Ohio was named by the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) as the host of the 2014 Gay Games - the world’s largest sporting and cultural event for the LGBT community - which is anticipated to generate a local economic impact of more than $60 million. The FGG’s announcement concludes a year-long site selection process that culminated in formal presentations by bidding cities to the FGG Membership Assembly meeting in Cologne, Germany, site of the 2010 Gay Games. Boston and Washington, D.C. were also finalists.

Obama signs hate crime prevention law

by Editorial Staff

After almost a decade of lobbying by the American gltb movement and fierce debates in Congress the American president Barack Obama has activated the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act with his signature. This legislature enables federal authorities to prosecute violent crimes inspired by hatred of the victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity or handicap, especially when local authorities fail to do so.

Holebi Chatbox for people in similar situations contact and questions

by Editorial Staff

Jerry-Haime.nl, the website for black and migrant gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders is launching a new chatbox for people in similar circumstances and questions. The chatbox is aimed at youngsters experiencing trouble caused by or related to their homosexuality at home, at school or in another direct environment. There’s also an especially protected spot for people with hiv so that people can chat in complete anonymity. From the fifth of October you are more than welcome.

Frédéric Mitterrand admitted to paying for sex

by Editorial Staff

Frédéric Mitterrand, France’s culture minister, was under pressure to resign after it emerged that he had admitted to paying “young boys” for sexual acts while on holiday in Thailand. Frédéric Mitterrand admitted to paying for sex with 'young boys? in Thailand Mitterrand wrote about paying "young boys" for sex during trips abroad.

Many darkrooms in Amsterdam are dirty

by Editorial Staff

Many darkrooms in Amsterdam are dirty. A new GGD (Public Health Bureau) inspection showed that hygiene is seriously slipping. They visited nine locations where gay men have sex. The construction and design of the places are often of no help to keep thing clean. At six locations this was the case. Seven locations had poor ventilation.

Pulp Fiction - A Serial Killer In Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

This summer the pulp novella “Het Beest van Amsterdam” (The Beast of Amsterdam) was published. It’s a story about a serial killer strangling his way through the Amsterdam gay scene while potential victims happily keep screwing around.

Author GJ Wielinga: “I’ve been fascinated by serial killers for a while and by Jeffrey Dahmer in particular, who killed seventeen men in the eighties.

‘Pink German’ Rolf A. Döhrn Passed Away In Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

On the 17th of August Rolf Alois Döhrn passed away. He was born on the 14th of February 1927 in Germany, and moved in 1934 as a seven-year old boy with his mother to Holland. His mother had found a husband here. His time in Germany had not been easy, but things deteriorated even more here in The Netherlands, especially when anti-German sentiments rose just before and of course during the Second World War.

Church Celebrates Its First Year

by Editorial Staff

It seems like it has been part of the gay establishment for so long that it’s hard to believe that Church, the gay club on the Kerkstraat in Amsterdam, has only just celebrated its first birthday.

Defying all attempts to categorize it, Church is a unique mix of cruise club and dance venue that literally has something for everyone - its famed theme nights span from naked evenings to kinky SM parties, to drag events and sportswear nights.

Henk van Ulsen passed away

by Editorial Staff

On Friday the 28th of August actor Henk van Ulsen (1927 – 2009) died unexpectedly in his Bussum home from a cardiac arrest. Van Ulsen was considered one of the last great classic Dutch actors. Multi-talented but always very recognizable he mainly known for his solo-performances, of which his interpretation of Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol was the most successful.

Hot Pink

by Editorial Staff

Missed Amsterdam Gay Pride? Don’t worry, “Hot Pink” has just been released!

“Hot Pink” – an intensely colorful photo book about Amsterdam’s annual Gay Parade (the only one in the world that is held on canals) – has just been published by American expatriate and photojournalist Shirley Agudo, a long-time resident of the Netherlands.

Gays in Iraq are being tortured and murdered

by Editorial Staff

Hundreds of gays have been assaulted and murdered in Iraq. Many of these assaults and killings are executed by the national security forces, says the human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a new report that was published today.

Circumcision is no protection against hiv with anal sex

by Editorial Staff

Circumcision might protect heterosexual men in Africa from contracting hiv, for gay men unfortunately, it offers no protection. This is the conclusion of a research in the US on the effects of circumcision of gay men, which was presented at the annual hiv convention in Atlanta. Dr. Peter Klimarx of the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) said that ‘circumcision has no effect in preventing hiv to spread through anal sex.’

Gays not positive about the future

by Editorial Staff

Gay men, lesbian women, bisexuals and transgender people are not very positive about the future and fear they’re going to be confronted with discrimination more often. This was the result of a research by anti-discrimination bureau RADAR.

Leatherpride Amsterdam: Get-Ruff (28 oktober – 1 november)

by Editorial Staff

Welcome to Amsterdam where from 28 October to 1 November Leatherpride returns for the 14th time. After years of only having the big parties at the weekend, this year sees lots of exciting changes with a 5 day program full of Leather, Rubber, Army, Sportswear, Breeches and other fetishes: Get Ruff in Amsterdam! Amsterdam’s fetish bars, clubs, shops, restaurants and hotels are pulling out all the stops to offer you more than 30 kinky events under the banner of Get Ruff!

Sentenced for insulting gay Pole

by Editorial Staff

In Poland a 44-year old woman was sentenced to pay a fine of 3.645 euro for offending her homosexual neighbor. Ryszard Giersza (25) was pummeled with bricks and tomatoes after the woman had called him a faggot in public.

In his ruling the judge said that ‘everybody has the right to a protected private life’, which is seen as an important breakthrough by Polish gay organizations. It’s the first time a gay person has fought back after being insulted like that.

Travel ban hiv-positive people to US lifted

by Editorial Staff

The restrictions for hiv-positive people wanting to travel to the US will probably be lifted at the end of the year. The administration of Obama has taken further measures to abolish the ban. Last summer Congress already passed a law, which president Bush signed. It was too late however, to have it come into effect before the end of his term.

Travel ban hiv-positive people to US lifted

Albania wants gay marriage

by Editorial Staff

The government of Albania is going to propose to legalize gay marriage. Prime Minister Sali Berisha stated in parliament that this is an important signal in the struggle against discrimination. Albania is a secular country but also one of the very few as such with a generally Muslim community. In 1967 Albania was claimed an atheist state, until 1990 all mosques and churches were closed.

Gloria Wekker’s Mosse Lecture On Homosexuality And Post-Colonialism

by Editorial Staff

On Wednesday the 16th of September Gloria Wekker will deliver (in Dutch!) the annual Mosse Lecture in the Theater of the Word in the Public Library of Amsterdam. In her lecture with the title “Van Homo Nostalgie en Betere Tijden: Homoseksualiteit en Postkolonialiteit” (About Gay Nostalgia and Better Times: Homosexuality and Post-colonialism, she takes on a trip along a few relevant issues in the Dutch multi-cultural society, to offer an overview of the ways homosexuality and post-colonialism relate in these troubled times.

Distress and Despair in the Streets of Iran

by Editorial Staff

Open Letter By the Network of Homosexual University Students of Iran

To The International Community

The insurrection which started after the Iranian elections seems to have been roughly stamped down by the Islamic leaders, and has almost completely disappeared from the headlines as Gay News goes to press.

Belgian lesbian icon Yasmine passed away

by Editorial Staff

The singer and television host Yasmine died at 37. She was going through an emotionally rough period because of her pending divorce from her wife Marianne Dupont. This is possibly also the reason for her suicide. Yasmine, whose real name was Hilde Rens, had a two-year old daughter Ella Louise with Marianne Dupont, who was publicly known as the winner of a television program.

De Baarsjes launches Pink Manifest

by Editorial Staff

Local council de Baarsjes (Amsterdam) has unanimously adopted a motion to develop a manifest on social acceptance. The PvdA (Social Democrats) had taken the initiative for the motion to improve social acceptance and fight homophobia.

COC Amsterdam chair Dennis Boutkan addressed the local council to underline the necessity of the initiative. “The position of gay citizens of Amsterdam is under pressure, so we have to act now to improve visibility and send out a strong signal.”

Court in India scraps colonial sodomy laws

by Editorial Staff

A judicial court in the Indian capital Delhi has ruled that homosexual acts between adults are no criminal acts. With this historic ruling the court overturned the one-and-a-half century old colonial sodomy legislation. The gay community in India says this is India’s Stonewall but the ruling will most probably be challenged.

Court in California, referendum gay marriage is legitimate

by Editorial Staff

The Californian High Court has ruled at the end of May that the result of the referendum of November last year, which made an end to the possibility for gay people to get married, is indeed legitimate. The 18.000 gay marriages that were already performed will also remain legitimate however. Six judges of the High Court found only judge Moreno opposing their view.

Falcon and Cobra porn stars charged with murder

by Editorial Staff

In Denver the former porn actor Marcus Allen, who’s real name in Timothy Boham, is charged with murder. According to the prosecution the 28-year old Boham tried to rob his former superior J. P. Kelso in his home in November 2006. When Kelso refused to open his safe Boham shot him through the head after a short struggle. When he opened the safe afterwards it turned out to be empty and “everything had happened for nothing,” he declared in court. He expected the businessman to have 100.000 to 400.000 dollars in his safe.

Signing principle is allowed, firing is not

by Editorial Staff

Orthodox-Christian schools can ask their employees to sign a document with the principles of the school, even if it rejects homosexual relationships. But the freedom of education cannot be a basis to ban or fire someone because of their homosexuality, or when they are in a gay relationship or live together. Plasterk wrote this in a letter to parliament answering questions from members of the SGP (Reformed party), Christian Union and the CDA (Christian Democrats).

Short News

by Editorial Staff

Sex field for gays from Leeuwarden

Gays in Leeuwarden are to get a marked off meeting (cruising) spot. Gay interest organisation COC Friesland director Ceees van Baalen thinks it would be good to mark such a spot with boards. “Put a picture on it of two men holding hands.” In nature reserve De Groene Ster a lot of gay men come to cruise. The police leaves them alone and “some think that should change.

Gay Photo Exhibition ‘Outside’ Opens At The Homomonument

by Editorial Staff

On June 27, a unique photo exhibition opens at the Homomonument - “Outside.” Twelve gay and lesbian photographers, ranging from young talent to renown artists, with backgrounds as diverse as documentary, advertising, art and fashion photography, will each display two photographs at the Westermarkt. As art in the public space, “Outside” aims to make the connection between the public arena, individual expression and sexual diversity.

Drag Queen Olympics Return To Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

Oslo Dropped At Last Minute - Games To Be Held Again In Holland

In a moment of high diplomatic drama, Amsterdam has at the last minute yet again managed to push out competing cities to claim the rights to host the 2009 Drag Queen Summer Olympics.

Hiv-‘healings’ continue

by Editorial Staff

The Amsterdam alderman Freek Ossel cannot understand why minister Ab Klink (Public Health) keeps refusing to intervene with the religious groups that claim to ‘heal’ hiv-infections as well as homosexuality altogether. “Public Health is put in danger by these healings,” Ossel says referring to an article in Het Parool. This article is about a visit to a migrant church in Diemen during which the reporter was cured from his faked hiv-infection.

Greek gay marriages declared not valid

by Editorial Staff

A court has ruled Monday night that the only two gay marriages performed in Greece are invalid. The two couples were wed in June last year, making use of the fact that the old legislation didn’t define the sexes of the partners. The ceremonies were conducted by the mayor of the island Tilos in the Aegean Sea. The very influential Greek-orthodox church responded furiously. A conservative bishop described the newlyweds as ‘human-like’.

New York wants more gay tourists

by Editorial Staff

NYC & Company has recently launched a new marketing and communication campaign to attract gay visitors. The new campaign called Rainbow Pilgrimage, is the first of its kind. The city has never before had a campaign completely aimed at this group. Rainbow Pilgrimage is going to focus on the lively and bubbly character of New York City and its gay-friendly reputation.

Advice on equal treatment in schools

by Editorial Staff

The official committee on equal treatment (CGB) has published its advice ‘Towards a school free of discrimination’ to minister Plasterk. This advice brought the minister to send a letter to all schools, which caused quite an uproar. The advice is largely the same as what Plasterk communicated with the schools already, but the CGB also again recommends to adapt the General Equal Treatment legislation according to the European anti-discrimination regulations.

Oil Wrestlers - Nicolaas Biegman

by Editorial Staff

Oil wrestling, performed by ‘Pehlivans’, originated in Iran. It spread to Northern India, Pakistan, Turkey, and in the Balkans especially to Macedonia and adjoining areas. In Iran and Turkey it is a national sport. In the Balkan the tournaments mostly happen in remote villages at irregular times.

‘The Pehlivans’, who wear heavy leather breeches gathered in at the knee, smear themselves with oil. The champions are models of male virtues like strength, stamina and honour within their communities. Their ideal diet is four kilos of meat and half a kilo of honey a day.

Marcouch: kick-off Gay Pride in Slotervaart

by Editorial Staff

Amsterdam neighborhood Slotervaart should have a gay café. Why not start the Pride Canal Parade there as well and we need soccer competition events between gays and Moroccan youth. These are only a few of the ideas local mayor Marcouch launched to further the emancipation of gays in his part of Amsterdam. “I support every gay person who wants to be who he is, who’s not afraid of his own identity,” says the politician.

Montagnier hopes to have therapeutic vaccination for aids within five years

by Editorial Staff

In 2008 French professor Luc Montagnier received the Nobel Prize for medical science, together with Françoise Barré-Sinoussi for the discovery of the hiv-virus in 1983. He attended a conference on the future of biomedical research in the 21st century. We asked him a few questions.

Fewer and fewer youngsters are interested in exact sciences. What can we do to make it more attractive again?

Job Cohen conducts marriage ceremonies between Americans and Dutch

by Editorial Staff

Five gay couples from New York, in which one of the partners has a Dutch and the other an American nationality, are invited to get married during Gay Pride Amsterdam.
Mayor Job Cohen will perform the ceremony; the municipality is forking out 37.000 euro for this Pink Exchange Project.

Gay marriage is slowly gaining ground in US

by Editorial Staff

Parliamentarians in Vermont USA have introduced gay marriage. A proposal fetched enough votes to overrule the Republican Governor Jim Douglas’ veto. He stated that the registered partnership (Vermont was the first state to introduce this in the US) offered gays and lesbians sufficient judicial protection.

The World’s Oldest Gay Bookstore Closes

by Editorial Staff

The Oscar Wilde Bookshop in New York’s Greenwich Village, the oldest gay bookstore in the United States and probably in the world, closed on March 29. Its current owner, Kim Brinster (51), announced this early February in an e-mail message to customers. She wrote: “It is with a sorrowful heart that after 41 years in business the Oscar Wilde Bookshop will close its doors for the final time on March 29, 2009. We want to thank all of our customers for their love and loyalty to the store over the years.

Sexual orientation not included in passenger info

by Editorial Staff

When collecting personal information on passengers flying to and from the European Union sexual orientation will not be included. But in some cases this could be derived from the data that will be collected, however. Authorities should treat this with restraint. This is what Minister of Justice Hirsch Ballin said during a meeting with parliament. Various parties wanted to know whether registering someone’s sexual orientation was the idea. The minister has denied this is the case.

Hair predicts effect of HIV medication

by Editorial Staff

The hair on the head of HIV patients can show how much medication has been used and how effective this was. Researchers from the university of California published this in the Aids magazine last month. The new detection technique makes it much easier to determine the right dose of medication

Pill regime

The hiv virus causes aids and there is nothing yet that can cure it but there is medication that slows the reproduction and spread of the virus down. Treatment usually consists of a combination of different drugs so that people sometimes have to take several pills per day.

Presentation first LESBIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA

by Editorial Staff

The first lesbian encyclopedia was presented on the 6th of March - just before International Women’s Day. The so-called Lesbo-Encyclopedie is the first in its kind, mapping lesbian life in Holland. Did you know that the word pot (dyke in Dutch) comes from lollepot, which was a little stove with glowing embers women put under their skirts to warm their feet and legs in the 16th, 17th and 18th century? Did you know that the only female collaborator, who was executed after the second world war, was a dyke?

Albayrak improves regulations for gay asylum seekers

by Editorial Staff

Homosexual asylum seekers will no longer be required to have notified the police in their country of origin of the threats they were under before they fled to The Netherlands. COC Holland urged the vice-Minister of Immigration to adapt this element of the Dutch immigration procedure.

Roze Wester Festival 2009

by Editorial Staff

Party At The Homomonument

On Queen’s Day 30th April and on 4th and 5th May, the Homomonument will again be the center of gay Amsterdam with a series of outdoor events and parties at the Westermarkt, the Roze Wester Festival. But this year for the first time since the re-introduction of Queen’s Day Eve, there will be no Drag Queen Olympics.

George Quaintance’s Photos In Paris’ Exhibition

by Editorial Staff

Paris gallery Au Bonheur du Jour exhibits photos by the American artist George Quaintance (1902-1957) until the 2nd of May. Quaintance, born on the June 2, 1902 in the countryside of Page County, Virginia, is nowadays mainly known for his almost sixty homoerotic paintings, but he also worked as a photographer. To be honest, he had more careers than a cat has lives.

Obama requests US army to review DADT policy

by Editorial Staff

President Barack Obama has asked the combined U.S. Army to thoroughly review the consequences of abolishing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy. This is the first step of the new American president to allow gays in the army to come out of the closet. President Obama hopes to create support by moving very carefully on the subject. He tries to avoid the mistake his democratic predecessor Clinton made in the late nineties.

Gay Mayor taking his own city to court

by Editorial Staff

Wolfgang Erichson, mayor of the German Heidelberg, has taken his own municipality to court for sexual discrimination. He says it’s unfair that he doesn’t receive spouse allowance just because he’s married to a man and not to a woman. The municipality of Heidelberg is paying married civil servants a partner allowance of 108,14 euro per month... but only if it is a union between a man and a woman. The 53-year old Erichson, who got married this summer, thinks it’s ridiculous he doesn’t get the allowance just because he’s married to a man.

Larger involvement of Mormons with proposition 8

by Editorial Staff

The Mormon Church has spent almost 190.000 dollar on the campaign against gay marriage in California in November 2008. During the last elections Californians could also vote on Proposition 8 recalling the state’s new regulation for gay marriages. The enormous contribution of the Church has been revealed now that the state of California is researching the campaign funds for the acceptance of Proposition 8. The poor transparency of the Church is especially criticized and put under scrutiny.

Victims HIV drama in Groningen claim damages

by Editorial Staff

Fourteen victims of the hiv drama in Groningen claim a million euros in damages from the three men convicted for willfully infecting them during sex parties with the hiv-virus. Their lawyer Fred Kappelhof has made this public last Tuesday. The victims are starting a civil court case next Wednesday. The three were found guilty last November and sentenced to respectively nine, five and one and a half year of imprisonment. The judges were convinced two of them had injected several others with contaminated blood, even though it could not be proven that that is exactly how the victims contracted the virus.

COC building in Amsterdam sold

by Editorial Staff

The COC building on the Rozenstraat in Amsterdam has been sold to housing corporation Ymere. The Albrecht foundation (owner of the COC buildings) and the corporation have reached an agreement this week. The monumental building fetches 3.5 million euros. Halfway through 2008 COC Nederland announced its plans to sell their building on the Rozenstraat. For many years the large building, partly from 1892, partly from 1912, had an important function for the Amsterdam gay community, but it had been mostly vacant in recent years.

Robert Stern’s Conversations With Philip Johnson

by Editorial Staff

Many know him by his trademark round glasses with the heavy dark frame, or by the portrait Robert Mapplethorpe made of him in 1978: Philip Johnson (1906-2005), the most influential American architect of the twentieth century. His career as not only an architect but also curator, collector and much more, covers the long period from the from the early 1920s to his death in 2005.

Minister Plasterk Withdraws Subsidy Onze Weg

by Editorial Staff

Minister Plasterk has decided to withdraw the subsidy of €50.000 to the orthodox Christian gay organization Onze Weg (Our Path) after all. The minister states this in a short letter to parliament. The subsidy of another group RefoAnders is still subject of discussion. Earlier Plasterk had said there was no reason to come back upon subsidy decisions for these groups but evidently he changed his mind.

VVD Amsterdam Presents Large-Scale Action Against Anti-Gay Violence

by Editorial Staff

The VVD (liberals) in Amsterdam have recently presented their plan of action against anti-gay violence, with the title: ‘Hands off our gays’. They have ten measures to curb the increasing intolerance. The reason is of course that a recent research of the University of Amsterdam shows that homophobe violence is of a serious and structural nature, in spite of enormous efforts of police. The researchers say the main cause for anti-gay violence lie in how males relate to their own masculinity and sexuality.

Minister Verhagen Calls Nuncio To Explain Pope’s Statements

by Editorial Staff

Minister Maxime Verhagen of Foreign Affairs has asked the papal nuncio to The Netherlands Mgr. François Bacqué to explain the resistance of the Vatican against the plea for human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity. Verhagen has told the nuncio that Holland was not amused. He also expressed his worries about some statements the pope made in his Xmas address.

Tough Times For COC

by Editorial Staff

At the general assembly of members of Saturday 29th of November it became clear that the Amsterdam office of COC has dropped all demands around the sell-off of the building on the Rozenstraat. It’s expected that the Amsterdam branch will get a maximum of half a million euros of the 3.4 million the national COC thinks the building will fetch; last week they still claimed about one million.

NOS Stigmatizing Gays?

by Editorial Staff

The NOS ombudsman Tom van Brussel had received complaints and has conducted a study whether the NOS is stigmatizing gays on radio, television, teletext and internet.
His conclusion: not so much in reporting but in image the NOS stigmatizes.

On the 12th of November the NOS released the following statement on radio, television, teletext and internet: More and more young gay and bisexual men with casual sex partners have unprotected sex. Drug use and internet dating appear to play a large role in this development, a survey of Schorer shows

VVD Amsterdam In Favor Of Heated Terraces In Winter

by Editorial Staff

At the commission meeting for General Affairs the liberals called upon the mayor and his aldermen to make heating of outside tables possible this winter in the entire city. The liberals claim that the bars and restaurants in the city have had enough bad news with the recession news and the ban on smoking. It’s time to cut them some slack. The same goes for their customers, they deserve a warm spot in winter to smoke a cigarette or a cigar while sipping on hot chocolate.

Gay teacher leaves job after homophobia in Nuenen

by Editorial Staff

Waloy van Gelderen, teacher of German at the Pleincollege Nuenen near Eindhoven, was forced to leave his job because of an incident concerning his homosexuality. He filed an official complaint with the Education Inspection and also told the police he felt threatened by a student.

The 45-year old teacher from Helmond feels deserted by the school board of directors. He’s called in sick. The board doesn’t want to respond ‘for reasons of privacy.’ The Education Inspection simply confirms it received the complaint and that it’s reviewing the need for investigation. A spokesperson of police says they will contact Van Gelderen soon again to obtain additional information.

Calendars 2009

by Editorial Staff

Real Men Or Sissies On The Wall?

A friend of mine who works in a gay shop told me recently that an elderly Spanish gay couple had asked for a calendar with work of “that famous Dutch graphic artist.” The shop assistant assumed that they were after Fritz of Holland (whose work was featured on a calendar a few years ago), but after a bit of confusion the gentlemen appeared to be looking for Anton Pieck!

Media: Dolly Bellefleur Hosts Television Program

by Editorial Staff

Since September well-known queer drag personality Dolly Bellefleur hosts a television show on Amsterdam’s local channel AT5. Every Thursday she presents from 4 p.m. till 6 p.m. “Kort Amsterdams Live,” together with, amongst others, Suzanne Blonk and showbiz reporter Frank Awick. In Amsterdam and a large part of the province of North Holland this varied show can be received by cable.

COC Questions Subsidy To RefoAnders

by Editorial Staff

Minister Plasterk has given subsidy to the “Coming True” project of RefoAnders to promote acceptance of homosexuality amongst the orthodox Christians. “We question this project because it seems to be contradicting the Minister’s own principle that it’s necessary to promote acceptance through dialogue and public debate,” says Wouter Neerings, chairman of COC Nederland. Minister Plasterk himself stated in his paper “Gewoon Homo Zijn” (Just Being Gay) that it was very necessary to have dialogue and public debate as most “orthodox religions reject homosexuality and homosexual behavior.”

Government Want Gay Games Back In Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

The government is prepared to support a bid for another Amsterdam edition of the Gay Games. Minister Verhoeven of Economy stated this together with the Minister of Education Plasterk and Foreign Affairs Verhagen as well as vice-Minister of Sports Bussemaker and Economy Heemskerk in answer to questions posed by Democrat Boris van der Ham.

Germany has its own gay station

by Editorial Staff

TiMM, the first German TV station for gay men has started its broadcasts on Saturday the first of November. The station offers entertainment, documentaries, films, talkshows and news with a gay touch. TiMM wants to satisfy needs other stations leave untouched, says initiator and chief editor Frank Lucas in the German media. They present an episode of Noah’s Arc, which is about 4 gay black men in LA, as the opening show.

Bob van Schijndel says goodbye to politics

by Editorial Staff

Amsterdam local centre council member Bob van Schijndel has announced his political farewell. Van Schijndel was member of the Amsterdam City Council in the eighties en Senator in the nineties. He resigned from the Groen Links (Green) faction for the Local centre council as from the first of November.

Bob van Schijndel started his long political career in the seventies as boardmember of the student association Comenius. In 1980 he was elected into the Amsterdam City Council for the Pacifist Socialist Party. In the nineties he was Senator for GroenLinks.

Pentacostalists ‘cure’ gays and hiv-positive people

by Editorial Staff

COC Holland was shocked to hear members of the Pentacostalists claim in newspaper Trouw that they were ‘curing’ homosexuality as well as hiv infections through prayer. ‘Homosexuality is not an ailment and you should treat hiv with a real doctor,” COC chairman Wouter Neerings says. Yvette Lont claims without hesitation that there have been cases of recovery and dissappearance of the vrirus at her ‘healing conferences’. “During our conferences we pray for our physical ailments to be healed, hiv can be cured by God, just like homosexuality,” says Lont. “I challenge her to prove that,” says Wouter Neerings.

VVD: ‘Address problems with Muslim countries’

by Editorial Staff

Muslims are like all other religious groups free to believe or practice as they like as long they keep within the law. Discrimination of women or gays is illegal. Governments of Islamic countries that don’t honor human rights should be reprimanded. These are a few statements from a paper by the Liberal parliamentarian Henk Kamp. He thinks the Islam should be acknowledged as a main religion and that it’s important to know that the Islam is more than a religious faith; it’s also an identity and a loyalty that surpasses everything else

Chinese hiv-virus increasingly resistent

by Editorial Staff

According to Chen Zhiwei, director of the Aids Institute Hong Kong, there are more and more hiv infected Chinese find that their type of virus is already resistent to the available drugs. There are currently seven different types of cocktails available in China while there are over twenty existing ones worldwide. Researchers are trying to find out whether the resistent viruses are indeed spreading and how fast. If this is the case These patients can no longer get effective treatment in China.

Christian Democrats refrain from formal protest, for now

by Editorial Staff

Christian Democrat parliamentarian Jan Jacob van Dijk sees no reason to undertake action against Minister of Education Plasterk. He does think the minister should keep his hands off the legislation granting schools freedom in their personnel policies. There should be no adaptation for homosexuals, in favor or otherwise. Van Dijk says this in response to a call in Nederlands Dagblad from Harry van der Molen and Geert Meijering, chair and vice-chair of the Christian democrat youth organization CDJA in protest to a letter of the minister in which he says religious schools are not allowed to refuse gay teachers.

1Minister Plasterk Criticizes Schools’ Gay Policy

by Editorial Staff

Minister Plasterk of Education criticizes the way reformational schools treat gay teachers and pupils. The minister responds to a publicized vision of the Association of Reformed Education (VGS) which confirms practice that schools fire teachers who engage in a homosexual relationship. The VGS points out that the teacher’s behavior then would go against the founding principle of the school.

Dorothy L. (Del) Martin passed away

by Editorial Staff

In the company of her wife Phyllis Lyon and her children and grandchildren, the 87-year old gay rights activist Dorothy (Del) Martin passed away in the UCSF Hospital in San Francisco on Wednesday the 27th of August. Del Martin (5 May 1921 - 27 August 2008) was a fervent civil, human and gay rights activist. She was of huge importance to the formation and the support of the modern LGTB movement, as well as the women’s movement. She was a brave and intelligent woman with unrelenting energy.

Violence against Gay group in Delft

by Editorial Staff

During the night of Saturday the 30th of August the front door window as well as the shopwindow of DWH (Delft Workgroup Homosexuality) were smashed with bricks. Nobody was present at the time so luckily nobody got hurt. This is not an isolated incident unfortunately. Two weeks ago a couple of members were pummeled by softdrink cans thrown out of a passing car, and graffiti smeared onto the building along Lange Geer. Visitors of the centre are regularly verbally abused, and not long ago some people were even thrown into the nearby canal one night.

Expo News - Sailors, Legionnaires, Workmen

by Editorial Staff

From September 17 until October 31 the Parisian gallery Au Bonheur du Jour has organized the exhibition “Marins, Légionnaires, Ouvriers” (Sailors, Legionnaires, Workmen), which shows drawings, paintings, photographs and curiosities about these icons of queer fantasy. Au Bonheur de Jour specializes in gay erotic art. The previous exposition, “Jeux d’Hommes,” was dedicated to gay pornographic photographs from the period 1895 to 1940, because also in those days there existed a market for pictures which left nothing to the imagination.

Lots of Praise for New Church

by Editorial Staff

The paint was hardly dry when the brand new “cruise club” Church threw open its doors just in time for Gay Pride at the beginning of August. After years of seeing one club close after another (think iT, Roxy, Mazzo) finally Amsterdam could boast a new venue, and what’s more, on the Kerkstraat, the original gay street of Amsterdam. Behind the new club is the GALA foundation, more than fifteen years active in promoting gay Amsterdam and well known for, amongst others, its non-profit parties on the Homomonument.

Who Wants The Statue Of Albert Mol?

by Editorial Staff

Holland At Its Most Ludicrous

It exists but the million dollar question is, who wants it and where is it going to go? Albert Mol in bronze has five possible locations but there are also quite a few problems here and there. The village of Laren first didn’t want it but perhaps now wants it after all; Giethoorn would love to have the statue, Arnhem was asked but didn’t respond; the TV Toys Museum in Dieren also wanted it and there was also a suggestion to put it somewhere in the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Where, oh where should Albert Mol go?

HIV News

by Editorial Staff

French Investigation Service Collects Data About HIV Status

The start-up of a new database ‘EDVIGE’ has caused uproar in France. This new database will be used by the French secret service and the police force when they have to collect intelligence about an individual person, a group or organization they think could pose a threat to security. EDVIGE was created on the 27th of June 2008 by a fusion between two French intelligence systems: RG and DST.

Short News

by Editorial Staff

Java serial killer Verry Henyanksyah suspected of 11 murders

The death toll of a suspected Indonesian serial killer today rose to 11, as police dug up six more bodies from his back garden. Verry Henyanksyah, 30, was arrested after confessing to murdering his lover and leaving the mutilated corpse in a suitcase in Jakarta, police spokesman Abu Bakar Nataprawira said. Four bodies were found behind Henyanksyah’s home in Jombang, a town in East Java province.

Tourism - Homosexual, not Homogenous

by Editorial Staff

An Exploration of How to Effectively Target Gay Travel Markets

Lesbian and gay travelers have the same wide demographic segments as the straight traveling population. A retired lesbian couple will have very different expectations about their ideal vacation to a 21-year-old gay backpacker, yet the traditional view about these travelers within the travel industry has been that there is a single “gay market.”

Club Church Opens In Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

New Gay Club Redefines Cruise Scene Amsterdam has a new Church. End of July the new gay cruise club Church opens its doors, just in time for Gay Pride. Situated on the Kerkstraat, almost next door to Thermos night sauna and across from the Bronx, Church is a completely new concept in gay Amsterdam. There are two floors of dance and play space catering to the cruise crowd, with changing theme nights four times a week. And in the basement is a shower block as well as douche area.

Amersfoort Pink City in 2010

by Editorial Staff

The city of Amersfoort will host Roze Zaterdag (Pink Saturday) in 2010 and also put on a variety of other gay events during that year. The board of Roze Zaterdagen Nederland publicized their decision on the eve Roze Zaterdag 2007, which took place in Tiel on Friday the 27th of June. Amersfoort won the competition because it just presented itself very well. The bid book looked very attractive and the proposals were well worked out. It was obvious that the board members of the new organizing team Keiroze knew what they wanted and how to present it. They’ve won through their enthusiasm.

HIV NIEUWS

by Editorial Staff

Gay saunas in Oslo closed because of HIV

Gay saunas in the Norwegian capital of Oslo will have to close. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has ordered this the Norwegian Press reported. Estimations say that about 20 Norwegian men are infected in the sauna every year. The authorities claim the saunas allow unsafe sex practices. The proposal is criticized by the Sanitary Commission for Improved Health for HIV and Aids patients. They think closing saunas will not help because the gays will simply go elsewhere for sex. They appeal for better information and education.

Roze Zaterdag in Tiel: very successful

by Editorial Staff

Roze Zaterdag had a very successful 33rd edition on the 28th of June. The theme: “You are also welcome! was expressed well. The centre of Tiel was host to some 45.000 visitors, gay and straight. So we can say it was a good day for the integration and acceptance of gays and lesbians. The day had many highlights, really too many to list. Everyone could be who he or she wanted to be, exactly as the organizers had wanted. There was a service in the Sint Maarten church to kick off the day. This is a tradition of Roze Zaterdag.

More hassle when traveling to US

by Editorial Staff

From this autumn travelers to the US will have to fill out a form via internet, three days prior to their departure. Until now Dutch people - as well as most other EU citizens - didn’t need a visa for the States; they only needed to fill out a green customs’ form on the plane. From now on the United States’ government wants to know in advance who’s flying in. If you fail to submit your form three days in advance, you risk being denied entrance at the airport of your destination.

Club "Strass" in The Hague closes its doors

by Editorial Staff

The only gay club left in The Hague ‘Strass’ is now gone as well. ‘Gay’ The Hague came to the mixed and relaxed nightclub in the Archipel neighborhood but now it’s all over. The Hague will be the Pink City 2009 but there will be nowhere to go for a boogie. The other dancing Frenz closed earlier as well and the Trashchique parties have also gone.

Jan (father) van Kilsdonk passed away

by Editorial Staff

Father Jan van Kilsdonk passed away in his sleep in the night of Monday 30th of June. Father Gregory Brenninkmeijer, head of the Jezuite Order in Amsterdam announced the tideng. Van Kilsdonk was 91.

His Life

His family, from a miller tradition, was of standing in the East Brabant village of Peeldorp in Zeeland. When he was seventeen the very studious Van Kilsdonk went to the Jezuites. At 28, rather young, he was officially accepted and ordinated as a priest on the 22nd of August 1945.

Lesbos Islanders Try To Prohibit Gay Use Of ‘Lesbian’

by Editorial Staff

Campaigners on the Greek island of Lesbos are to go to court in an attempt to stop the gay rights organization “Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece” from using the term “lesbian.” The islanders say that if they are successful they may then start to fight the word lesbian internationally. The issue boils down to who has the right to call themselves Lesbians. Is it women loving women, or the 100,000 people living on Greece’s third biggest island - plus another 250,000 expatriates who originate from Lesbos?

Safe Sex Is Important, But You Have To Pay For Condoms...

by Editorial Staff

Gay men are more likely to use condoms if they are distributed for free, than if they have to bring them along themselves. This is one of the conclusions of a research of sex locations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam by GGD Amsterdam at the request of Schorer. Of all the respondents that said not to use condoms if they had to take care of it themselves, one out of five claimed they would use them if they were freely available. Sex On Premises businesses in Amsterdam offer free condoms on site.

COC Haaglanden reports homophobe ambulance nurse to the police

by Editorial Staff

In 2005 the homophobe ambulance nurse refused to provide medical assistance to a visitor of the Ceasar Sport Sauna in The Hague. The man later died in hospital. GroenLinks has also asked formal questions in parliament about the matter. COC is pressing charges on basis of insult and discrimination. Why the man was only brought before public law at the time is still being investigated. The question is whether the Public Prosecution has considered pressing criminal charges as well, for failing to do his duty with fatal result: manslaughter.

Treatments for HIV are developing, but slowly

by Editorial Staff

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the hiv /aids and children’s program of the United Nations (UNAIDS / UNICEF) have published a new report on aids that shows that there are 33 million infected people worldwide. Two-thirds of the patients live in sub-Sahara Africa. ‘Incredible effort’

Last year a million people in relatively poor countries with combination therapies (the treatment that suppresses the virus’ activity. The number of treatments increased with 42 % compared to 2006. The largest increase took place in sub-Sahara Africa.

2008 Pride Calendar

by Editorial Staff

The LGBT community of a city will typically present an annual parade, sometimes in the context of a longer celebration including performances, dances, street parties, and the like. Most LGBT pride parades, take place in the middle of the year, particularly in June, to commemorate the Stonewall riots.

New gay radio and tv stations in the air

by Editorial Staff

Holland now has a new gay tv station: OUT-TV. The digital service is mainly aimed at gay men’s lifestyles. OUT-TV will present its own talk shows, as well as news programs, art-house cinema and new tv-series. On the 11th of April the station will go online in Holland. To watch the programs you have to pay 10 euros per month. What do you get for it? Films like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Mambo Italiano and others we’ve seen years ago. The other programs on lifestyle and entertainment consist of spin-offs of well-known formats and productions of sister stations in America and Canada

Lots of plans for Gay Pride 2008

by Editorial Staff

A bit later than we’re used to.... but here they are, the first plans for Gay Pride 2008. But we’re confused already. A few years ago GBA was the only organizer, now there are several. Pro Gay, Hugo Braakhuis’ organization that took over from GBA, is now chaired by Frank van Dalen. He states in a press release that he’s going to stage the Canal Parade and claims to go for “content and broadening of the scope of the event. The Parade itself will be organized by bureau O=4.

Sooreh Hera finally in a museum

by Editorial Staff

MuseumgoudA will show the work of the Iranian artist Sooreh Hera including the controversial photo’s that caused such a commotion over the past months. The work will be shown during a manisfestation in October 2008 organized by MuseumgoudA and the Verzetsmuseum Zuid Holland (Resistance Museum).

Hera caused uproar when Wim van Krimpen, director of the municipal museum in The Hague refused to take up a few photos of gay Iranian men with the masks of the prophet Mohammed and his son Ali.

Stop AIDS vaccine research

by Editorial Staff

In light of over 20 years of failed AIDS vaccine research on which billions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer money have been spent, we believe it is simply unconscionable for the U.S. government to continue such wasteful funding while millions worldwide die for want of access to the AIDS research breakthrough that occurred more than 10 years ago -- life-saving antiretroviral treatment. There are not just two or three AIDS vaccine candidates that have failed. Every AIDS vaccine candidate to date has failed. Leading scientists, including Nobel Prize winner Dr. David Baltimore, have even gone so far as noting that we are no closer to the discovery of an AIDS vaccine today than we were 20 years ago.

Violence at gay fashion show on Queen's Day.

by Editorial Staff

All locals heaved a sigh of relief when the ‘partying’ mob finally left the city. Nothing left but memories of binging, barfing and pissing hicks and 400 tons of trash. Police states it was quiet one but the media know better. Over a hundred arrests for violence and vandalism etc. The organization of the Tolerance Fashion Show doesn’t think it was quiet at all either. The gay fashion show that was held on the Rembrandtplein was interrupted by an assault of so-called allochtonen, youth of immigrant descent.

New mayor of Rome against Gay Pride

by Editorial Staff

The recently elected mayor of Rome, the former neo fascist Gianni Alemanno, thinks Gay Pride in his city is ‘showing off your sexuality’. The city council should come up with a formula to make gay pride less controversial, he thinks. The new mayor of the Italian capital says he respects gays. “I know a few and I don’t discriminate but I’m afraid Gay Pride is too much about showing off your sexuality and I am against exhibitionism whether it concerns heterosexuality or homosexuality.” Rome has had a left-wing mayor for about 15 years.

Young Socialists demand Yman Mahrach to be thrown out of the Pvda fraction

by Editorial Staff

The debate on the quotes of PvdA council member Yman Mahrach is still rampant on the PvdA website. Now the Young Socialists also call in. They think the flat response of the PvdA fraction is not sufficient. Fraction Chair Manon van der Garde should set the norm and expell Yman Mahrach. Mahrach has made one mistake too many: she went to a inegration debate and just ‘wanted to listen’, she also thought Soorah Hera’s art ‘went too far’.

Europeans get drunk to have sex

by Editorial Staff

European youngsters purposely drink alcohol in order to improve their sex-life. A large-scale research over nine different countries has shown this. The study also reveals that lots of adolescents drink, or take drugs strategically. One third of the men between 16 and 35, and 23% of the women said they drink alcohol to increase their chances on sex. Over a quarter of the cocaine users amongst the respondents said they used it to lengthen their sex sessions. Drug use could also be strongly linked to promiscuity.

Youngsters hardly have any social awareness

by Editorial Staff

A survey amongst 1750 youngsters between 12 and 24 years old, shown on Een Vandaag on TV, shows that they have no interest in the problems of the world. Live without luxury to quench starvation elsewhere? Almost half of the respondents said: “I don’t think so!” They’re willing to part with a small percentage of their allowance or wage for this problem but that’s about it. When posed with the statement that war is sometimes necessary, like in Afghanistan, youngsters show to be divided: 47 % agrees, 45% disagrees.

Fifteen Years GALA

by Editorial Staff

GALA (Gay and Lesbian Amsterdam), one of Amsterdam’s most unique gay groups, celebrates its fifteenth anniversary this year. This non-profit volunteer group has been working hard in front of and behind the scenes for many years and has played a crucial role in developing the local gay scene.

GALA was founded in the early 1990s to strengthen bonds between different gay and lesbian organizations and groups and thus to anchor the visibility and emancipation of gay life in Amsterdam.

Homo-erotic Jesus causes artistic row

by Editorial Staff

An exhibition of the 80-year old artist Alfred Hrdlicka of homoerotic paintings of Jesus and the apostles in Vienna has upset religious people in Austria and the rest of the world. The artist is exhibiting his work in the museum of the Roman Catholic Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna, of all places, and with the approval of Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn.

New Travel Guides and Photo books

by Editorial Staff

SPARTACUS INTERNATIONAL GAY GUIDE 2008
37th edition the gay travellers bible offers rapid orientation to all the most important locations for the gay tourist addresses, tips and information for more than 160 countries worldwide. With over 22 000 addresses the Spartacus covers all the highlights for the gay man. Whether you are looking for an extraordinary hotel, the hottest clubs the most exciting gay beaches or the most populair bars, you will find all this and much more.

Netherlands wants US to drop their travel ban because of hiv

by Editorial Staff

The Netherlands are lobbying so that Europeans with hiv or aids can travel to the United States. In 1986 the Americans started to ban these people as a threat to public health. D66 (Democrats) wants to address this so Alexander Pechtold asked questions in parliament. The answer he got showed the support from Minister Verhagen (Foreign Affairs). The MP thinks the time is right to raise the issue as Europe and the United States are negotiating a new visa-policy.

Openly and Safely Gay

by Editorial Staff

In The Hague it should be possible to be openly and safely gay. Alderman Bert van Alphen (Welfare, Public Health and Emancipation) makes this statement in his paper Gewoon Anders (Just Different). He describes how the municipality will promote the emancipation of gays, lesbians and bisexuals. Many youngsters of immigrant descent have trouble coming out of the closet. They often get in serious trouble with their families.

Mehdi Kazemi possibly safe in England after all

by Editorial Staff

The Iranian Mehdi Kazemi, who was refused asylum before, can probably stay in Great Britain. Vice-minister Nebahat Albayrak said this during a debate in parliament on the 4th of April. Albayrak has spoken to her British colleague on the matter. A majority of D66 (democrats), GroenLinks (green), SP (socialists), PvdA (social democrats), CU (Christian union), VVD (liberal) as well as the PVV (ultra right) demanded the 19-year old Kazemi not be sent back to Iran. The Christian democrats were not home as usual.

EU scraps gays from directive

by Editorial Staff

The European Commission scraps discrimination on the basis on homosexuality, age or religion from the new anti-discrimination directive. The European Commission will present watered-down legislation in June to address resistance from a number of EU countries. The directive of today is aimed at discrimination in work situations; the new directive is mainly about goods and services but only mentions discrimination of handicapped people. The spokesperson of the Czech commissioner Vladimir Spidla (Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities) confirmed this today.

Easier to file an anonymous report of a Hate Crime to the police

by Editorial Staff

From the 20th of March victims of homophobic or racist violence in Nijmegen and Amsterdam, who wish to remain anonymous, will be met with more understanding while filing their report to the police. The departements of Amsterdam-Amstelland and Gelderland will distribute leaflets and forms to bars, saunas, libraries and other public places. From the 20th of March it’s also possible to log in online via http://www.hatecrimes.nl

“It’s full steam ahead with social acceptance of homosexuality in Amsterdam...”

by Editorial Staff

At the assembly of four front-running cities with Minister Plasterk (Emancipation) the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima was evidence of the largest symbolic move towards the beginning of the third phase of gay emancipation: social acceptance of homosexuality. After taking it out of criminal jurisdiction and eradicating discrimination in legislation - introducing gay marriage being the most recent and most symbolic move - it is now time to work on total social acceptance. The four front-running big cities promised to persevere in their action towards gay emancipation by signing this new declaration.

Queens Day - Drag Queen Olympics Again Awarded to Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

At a meeting lasting into the early hours of this morning, The International Drag Queen Olympics Committee finally decided by a margin of 5 to 4 to again award the Drag Olympics to the City of Amsterdam. After last minute personal lobbying by Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen and local drag celebrity Ms Jennifer Hopelezz, the Russian delegation decided to change its vote from Bangkok to Amsterdam, enough to clinch victory for Holland.

Favoriete International Destination

by Editorial Staff

Gold: Amsterdam

A proposed ban on munching magic mushrooms might stop Amsterdam's psychedelic swirl of rainbows, but aside from some pointed press about conservatives' narrowing policies toward immigration and religion (i.e., Muslims), the Netherlands still maintains an inclusive love affair with all flavors of minorities, sexual or otherwise. Meanwhile, a new Museum of Bags and Purses -- the world's first -- ups the city's already fashionable and cutting-edge ante.

Benno Premsela - Gay Advocate

by Editorial Staff

Dutch Gay Activist, Benno Premsela, Honored With Expositions And Biography

Eleven years after his death, Dutch gay activist, Benno Premsela, will be spotlighted with several exhibitions and a biography. On February 15 the exposition “Show Yourself; Benno Premsela 1920-1997" was opened in Amsterdam’s City Archives, 32 Vijzelstraat, where it can be visited until April 27.

D66 wants to adapt non-discrimination legislation

by Editorial Staff

D66 (Democrats) wants to adapt the non-discrimination legislation to sharpen the ban on discrimination of gays. At this moment discrimination of gays is possible under certain circumstances. Member of parliament Boris van der Ham presents a proposal to ban this loophole. Under the current legislation it is possible to discriminate gays in the education system. Although discrimination on the basis of homosexuality itself is illegal, specific circumstances make it possible for religious schools to refuse gays from teaching positions. Van der Ham: “This means that personnel in these schools are allowed to be gay as long as they keep this fact a secret, which is of course ridiculous; a very twisted construction.”

Parliament wants measures against refusal of gays

by Editorial Staff

The parliament has asked the Dutch government to take measures so that gays can’t be refused at or sent away from schools or institutes with a religious background. PvdA (Social Democrats), SP (Socialists), VVD (Liberals), GroenLinks (Greens) and D66 (Democrats) have responded to the threat of the European Commission to take The Netherlands to the Judicial Court of Luxembourg if it refuses to sharpen the non-discrimination legislation. GroenLinks member Dibi asked for an explanation from the responsible ministers Plasterk (Education, Culture and Science) and Ter Horst (Internal Affairs) on the request of the Commission.

CES 2008

by Editorial Staff

The largest electronics fair of the world was held in Las Vegas in January. What are the trends of CES 2008, what’s new and what will disappear?

One general conclusion is that there were no big revolutionary announcements. It’s more a matter of evolution at the moment, and of refining of existing technologies and products. The Consumer Electronics Show is still also mainly about consumer electronics, although IT is getting more and more present.

Horeca News

by Editorial Staff

Stablemaster shut down

The Stablemaster on the Warmoesstraat 23 lost its alcohol license as from the 1st of January. The City Centre told Tony Starr, who ran the bar, that his establishment was not suitable for sex parties. The Stablemaster has been famous for its gay ‘jack off parties’ and safe sex parties for years. The last one of these has come and gone already, it was a busy one according to the owner. The café also had a little hotel with eight rooms. The Stablemaster worked with a closed door.

Top sportsmen come out of the closet

by Editorial Staff

Homosexuality is still a big taboo in sports, let alone at the top. COC Netherlands and the John Blankenstein Foundation will present a book written by Huub ter Haar next autumn containing interviews with retired as well as still active top sports people that are gay. The aim is to make homosexuality in the sports world more visible and something one can talk about because it’s clear that that could improve acceptance and integration in society as a whole.

Short hiv news

by Editorial Staff

Queen was against Diana’s support for aids patients

The British Queen Elizabeth is said to have been against Diana’s support for aids patients. “Can’t you pick something happier?” she would have said to her daughter in law at the time. Former bodyguard to the princess Ken Wharfe said this in a statement in London High Court during the investigation of Diana’s death. Princess Di, who died in the summer of 1997 in a car crash in Paris, moved the world when she hugged and embraced aids patients in front of the cameras. At the time many people still thought the virus could be picked up just by touching someone.

Germany - Evangelical Youth week bans gay workshop

by Editorial Staff

A planned workshop on homosexuality was taken off the program of Christival, a large evangelical youth festival in Germany in May. The Green’s member of parliament Volker Beck discovered the workshop with the title ‘Understanding Homosexuality - chances to change’ in the program of Christival. He asked the Christian Democrat minister of family matters, Ursula von der Leyen, who’s also the festival’s patron for an explanation.

Qboy to DJ at (Z)onderbroek (8 maart)

by Editorial Staff

Sexy gay rap artist Qboy will return to Amsterdam to DJ at the hottest new party in town - underwear party (Z)onderbroek. The London-based hip-hop singer, described by BBC as “confident, cocky, cute, clever, witty, unique and entertaining,” will be playing along with DJ TDM (Cockring, Joystick) at the March 8th party in Club La on the Kerkstraat. Coming from the somewhat homophobic world of rap, Qboy has become one of the leading faces emerging from a new wave in British music, “providing the younger generation with a much-needed positive role model and breaking down stereotypes of hip-hop in the gay media.”

Brussels' verdict on Dutch Christian political parties

by Editorial Staff

Excluding gays and women from political functions is not in accordance with European laws. This was the answer of the European Commission to questions of D66 member of European Parliament Sophie in ’t Veld about the row on the position of women in the Dutch Calvinist Party (SGP) and gays in the Christian Union Party (ChristenUnie). The European Commissioner for Social Affairs, Vladimir Spidla, says it’s illegal to discriminate on sex or sexual orientation when it comes to work, education or work conditions.

Toyota claims Greek name Lexus for car brand

by Editorial Staff

The Japanese carmaker Toyota doesn’t want a porn star to use the name Lexus and even sent a threatening letter to Eboy’s Studios in Switzerland. Porn actors almost always take on a fake name and one Eboy actor had chosen the name Lexus, from Greek mythology. Eboy’s director points out that this name is of a Greek god and does not refer to a car because that would be ridiculous.

Museum Gouda will exhibit photos of Iranian artist Sooreh Hera

by Editorial Staff

The Gouda Museum has held talks with the artist during the past few day; the talks led to a positive result, according to director Ranti Tjan on Thursday. Hera’s project ‘Adam and Ewald’ led to controversy when the Museum of The Hague refused a number of works for an exhibition. “Some groups in society find these images offensive,” said director Van Krimpen.

Report reveals regulations for HIV+ travellers

by Editorial Staff

The European AIDS Treatment Group has published the 2007 Quick reference: travel and residence regulations for people living with HIV and AIDS. The publication, at its sixth edition, updates the information about all the requirements and regulations in every country for travellers living with AIDS. It is designed to help people working in AIDS organisations and contains some of the most recent requirements adopted in several countries.

The inner city government tackles atmosphere. Turn off that light.

by Editorial Staff

At the suggestion of Groen Links (Greens) the inner city council has passed a motion to focus on the lighting of the city centre. The greens think that lighting public buildings at night, and commercial lights slurps up too much energy and produces too much greenhouse gasses. So they’re going to research whether lights can be turned off from midnight till 6am during weekdays, and 2am till 6am in the weekends. It should not affect security and safety, or tourist attraction value.

JIP VAN LEEUWEN RECEIVES TIJGERTJE AWARD

by Editorial Staff

The Tijgertje Foundation supports projects that answer to its aims: improving the position of gays and lesbians by improving their physical condition. Even after 25 years we keep fighting for the same ideals. So Tijgertje also awards annually a person or organization that has been instrumental for the emancipation of gays and lesbians in sports. John Blankenstein received the first award in 2002. Now that Tijgertje is celebrating its 25th anniversary we thought it was the right occasion to issue another one.

Iran Keeps on Murdering

by Editorial Staff

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has learned today that despite an order by the Iranian Chief Justice to nullify his death sentence, Mr. Makvan Mouloodzadeh was executed in Kermanshah Central Prison at 5 a.m. this morning, Iranian time. Neither Mr. Mouloodzadeh's family or his lawyer were told about the execution until after it occurred. IGLHRC is still investigating the facts in this case. "This is a shameful and outrageous travesty of justice and international human rights law," said Paula Ettelbrick, IGLHRC's executive director.

Tijgertje is 25 years old

by Editorial Staff

Tijgertje started with self-defense courses after Pink Saturday (Roze Zaterdag) celebrations in Amersfoort in 1982 where gays and lesbians were beaten by gay bashers. Since then Tijgertje has grown into a multi discipline sports club offering a wide variety of sports. One of the most often asked questions during talks and interviews is where the name Tijgertje comes from.

AIDS brought to America by one man

by Editorial Staff

According to American scientists, the AIDS virus was brought to America around 1969 from Haiti, and was most probably carried by a single immigrant. The evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey from the University of Arizona said at a press conference that the date is much earlier than previously thought. According to him, the illness propagated for twelve years before scientists grasped what it was. In the meantime many people had died.

Fag group Bearforce1 found a new member

by Editorial Staff

The Dutch queer band Bearforce 1 - famous through YouTube - was looking for an extra band member. This spare bear is needed to fill in because they can’t cope with the number of bookings. Italian Eddi will strengthen the ranks. He was thrown in at the deep end during a short tour through America. The five bears do clubs in New York, New Orleans and Philadelphia. They get a lot of requests for performances in the States.

Gay Bar King Kooistra

by Editorial Staff

Disappointed punters fear even more of the same.

Bar and restaurant giant Sjoerd Kooistra has bought Bar Arc in the Reguliersdwarsstraat. Kooistra offered such a nice sum of money owners Rob de Jong and Angelique Schippers just couldn’t say no. “He made such a spectacular offer we decided to sell our baby,” says De Jong. He doesn’t want to say how much it was.

VVD stays in the board of the city centre government.

by Editorial Staff

Anne Lize van der Stoel is out but the VVD will stay on in the coalition of the city centre municipality.

PvdA, VVD and GroenLinks have talked about the situation since Anne Lize van der Stoel resigned from the board after negotiations got stuck. They have restored confidence in each other to execute the plans they made for 2006-2010. The VVD will present a successor as soon as possible.

Christian Union praises lesbian council member after her resignation...to death

by Editorial Staff

In Wageningen the only Christian Union representative in the municipal council has stepped down. Monique Heger decided to resign after she started a lesbian relationship. Part of the party thought this was unacceptable. She decided to ask party members what they thought of her relationship and whether she could combine that with her position.

Prosecutor demands 8 and 4 months detention for Canadian gay bashers.

by Editorial Staff

The Public Attorney stated that in the court case in Amsterdam against two 22-year old Canadian military, who beat up a gay man in the city centre. The soldiers first asked if their victim was gay, the prosecution claims. Something the two deny. Eric W. could get 8 months because he admitted to have beaten the victim in his face. His mate Brian D. said he couldn’t remember what had happened at all. Prosecution demands community service of 100 hours on top of the time he already served in jail.

Jamal Turkmani is allowed to stay, for now

by Editorial Staff

The Lebanese asylum seeker Jamal Turkmani will not be deported, for the time being. He’s released today from the detention facility in Soesterberg and is allowed to stay in the country at least until the definitive decision of the court on the 27th of November. His lawyer had initiated the case to prevent the Immigration and Naturalization Authority to directly deport the boy.

LoveDance 2007

by Editorial Staff

Fifth Edition Of World Aids Day Spectacle For AIDS Fonds On Saturday the first of December Paradiso’s roof will come off with the fifth anniversary of LoveDance. The World Aids Day spectacle will celebrate in a grand style with even more performers, and more music than you’ve already come accustomed to. Three stages, four separate dance floors, over sixty-five shows with over one-hundred performers, and about fifteen-hundred of your friends, it’s all about love, baby!

Brussels

by Editorial Staff

The report from La Demence mentions the fact that the trip back especially can be quite a downer after a night of partying. But there are good solutions to that problem. Turn a night of dancing into a nice trip of two to three days. No rushing around but a laid back stroll through town and after the party within half an hour in a comfortable hotel room with or without a newfound lover. Parties ought to be relaxing, not hard work. So let’s look at the possibilities of Brussels. Brussels has about a million inhabitants so there ought to be quite a few gays, lesbians and bisexuals around.

America wants to know sexual preferences of passengers

by Editorial Staff

The government has kept the fact secret that the United States also wants to have the possibility to claim information on the sexual preference of passengers. Socialist Party member Jan de Wit claims this in the Gay Krant. The Americans would have their own discretion whether they think it relevant or not. The United States and the European Union have signed an exchange of passengers’ information treaty on July 31st. In special cases the Americans can also access information like political views, ethnic heritage and religion.

Restraining order for gay bashers

by Editorial Staff

The cabinet has accepted a proposal of Minister of the Interior Guusje ter Horst (Social Democrats) and Minister of Justice Ernst Hirsch Ballin (Christian Democrats) to give mayors the authority to issue area restraining orders for three months. Justice can ask to ban someone up to a year from a certain area, said Ter Horst after the meeting. When caught trespassing one can be jailed or fined. The legislation is mainly aimed at soccer hooligans but it can also be used against gay bashers.

LeatherPride 2007

by Editorial Staff

On Thursday night, the 1st of November, the kick-off starts with a GUMMI pride Rubber Only Party organised by Leatherpride Nederland in Club Lexion. After a reconstruction there we were able to make full-fledged, exciting Wetroom, which makes it into a perfect location for rubber parties. Entrance fees are 15.00 presale and 20.00 at the door. There is a shuttle-service that departs every 30 minutes from the Central Station.

A lot of homophobe violence during Gay Pride Weekend

by Editorial Staff

At a gay meeting spot at the Haarlemse Staten Bolwerk a 45-year old man was beaten and robbed last Friday night. The police think the man from Haarlem was assaulted because he is gay. He sustained injuries in his face, his back and one knee. The man was cruising at the city park Staten Bolwerk, said the police. He met a young man who asked him what he was doing in the park. Even before he could answer the guy hit him in the face. He kept punching and the victim lost consciousness for a short while.

Gay street opens in Rome

by Editorial Staff

Rome marked the opening of its first "Gay Street" with flags, banners and protests amid a row over a gay couple who claimed they were detained by police for kissing near the Colosseum. Campaigners welcomed a 325-yard zone in the center of the city — filled with shops and bars — as an area where gays can "feel at ease," after days of heated debate in predominantly Roman Catholic Italy over the kissing incident.

Aruba registers first gay marriage

by Editorial Staff

The Aruba Registration office has registered the first gay marriage. The couple said the registration only took ten minutes and had been very pleasant. In April this year the Supreme Court ruled that all marriages from Holland should be valid in the entire Kingdom. During a meeting with COC Nederland chairman Frank van Dalen in June, premier Oduber of Aruba had already promised this. The COC is very happy that he kept his promise. The couple, a man from Aruba and his Dutch husband declared they wanted to register their marriage in Aruba on Tuesday; they are very happy with the whole procedure.

Homophobe violence most structural in Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

The assaults on gays are most structural in Amsterdam, when you compare it to the rest of the world. The news will keep gay tourists away from our capital. This is going to cost the Amsterdam economy a lot of money. “Amsterdam has ruined its reputation as gay capital,” Boris Dittrich states. The former Liberal Democrat’s leader is now director of Gay issues of Human Right Watch, the most important human rights organization after Amnesty International in the world. In an interview with De Telegraaf he voices his concern on the wave of anti-gay incidents in the Dutch capital, like during last Pride weekend.

Visiting gays over estimate freedom in Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

“Visiting gays still regard Amsterdam as Gay Capital, a place where anything goes. Last weekend showed that their enthusiasm was also answered with violence,” says Dennis Boutkan, chairman of COC-Amsterdam in Het Parool. Dutch gays are already more alert; they know that anti gay violence is on the rise. Walking through the streets hand-in-hand seems to be something from the past for gays and lesbians in Amsterdam. Boutkan: “They don’t want to cause any trouble so they hide the fact that they’re gay."

Gay youth shun gay bars

by Editorial Staff

Young gays mainly frequent straight or regular bars and clubs. Almost half (45%) claims only to go to regular nightspots. These are the finds of a research by magazine Expreszo. A mere 17% say they regularly visit gay bars, 12% say they don’t go out at all. 25% go to both gay and regular businesses. Almost half (48%) visits one to two special gay and lesbian events per year; like the Roze Zaterdag or Gay Pride. 36% of the youngsters say they never go to a gay event.

Cleaning Darkroom not suitable as punitive community service

by Editorial Staff

Minister of Justice Hirsch Ballin doesn’t think work in darkrooms is suitable for punitive community service for gay bashers of Moroccan heritage. Members of parliament Geert Wilders and Hero Brinkman (Extreme Right) had suggested this after an assault of a gay man in Amsterdam. The media reported he had been thrown in the canal by three Moroccan / Dutch boys. He was reportedly forced to swim around for hours while the boys threw sticks and branches at him.

Bisdom

by Editorial Staff

Archdiocese seeks a settlement as 500 sex abuse cases head for trial The payout could go as high as half a billion dollars, the largest in the country. 'The day of reckoning is near,' says a lawyer for plaintiffs.After more than four years of negotiation, pressure is mounting fast to settle some 500 claims that the Los Angeles Archdiocese failed to protect children from clergy abuse, before the first trial begins this month. "We know it's soon. We know it's inevitable.

Judicial position of lesbian co-mother arranged

by Editorial Staff

Both partners of a lesbian couple with children will soon have equal rights. Parliament accepted a proposal on the third of July that strengthens the position of the co-mother. Gay and lesbian couples will also attain the right to adopt a foreign child. The COC is very happy that the issue of co-parents has been resolved after four long years of lobby work. “The blind spot for equal rights within a gay family has been finally repaired, which will also improve the judicial position of their children.”

Scene Spotlight - NL Hotel

by Editorial Staff

NL Hotel Amsterdam is a brand new design hotel in Amsterdam. Dutch award winning designer Edward van Vliet, personally took care of the design and together with the owners of the selection of materials, colours and decorations. This in combination with the hospitality of the proprietors will make your stay at NL Hotel an unforgettable one. NL hotel is located in the heart of Amsterdam, on the Singel Gracht. It’s surrounded by museums, shops, café’s, restaurants, galleries and all the unique things Amsterdam has to offer.

Homophobe violence on the rise in Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

Another gay man in Amsterdam fell prey to homophobe violence. We only recently heard that two Canadian soldiers beat up a 28-year old man, just because he’s gay. Since the Canadians have been in custody and have been charged with criminal assault. Saturday morning COC-Amsterdam called a special press conference attended by several victims of hate crimes. The COC-Amsterdam wants mayor Cohen to condemn violence against gays more clearly. Tackling homophobe violence ought to also be included in the Security and Safety policy 2007-2010.

Teletubbie Gay?

by Editorial Staff

The Polish Government will investigate the Teletubbies - especially Tinky Winky - to determine if the kids' show characters are gay. Poland's conservative government has taken its drive to curb what it sees as homosexual propaganda to the small screen, taking aim at Tinky Winky and the other Teletubbies. Ewa Sowinska, government-appointed children rights watchdog, told a local magazine published today she was concerned the popular BBC children's show promoted homosexuality. She said she would ask psychologists to advise if this was the case. In comments reminiscent of criticism by the late US evangelist Jerry Falwell, she was quoted as saying: "I noticed (Tinky Winky) has a lady's purse, but I didn't realise he's a boy."

The Death of Gert Jan Dröge

by Editorial Staff

Most Dutch people will know him by the closing phrase: “Gaat het weer een beetje, meneer Dröge?” (Are you feeling a bit better, Mr. Dröge?) He was born as Gerardus Johannes Henri Dröge on the 23rd of April 1943 in Enschede. His father, Gerard Dröge, was a dentist. His mother died when he was only seven. As a child he wanted to become a circus director and he played with his miniature circus on the attic every day. After primary school he went to the Grundel Lyceum in Hengelo and in 1958 he moved to the boarding school of the Carmelites in Oldenzaal. After his military draft he chooses to go to the Toneelschuur in Arnhem, not so much because he wanted to become an actor, but because he just likes to be in the theatre.

Gaypride 2007

by Editorial Staff

Gay Pride is not just a pink Queen’s Day. Gay Pride is about the possibility to be who you are. In Poland, the Baltic States, in Moscow, the Balkan and in many other countries Gay Pride means violence, riot police, mass arrests, repression and exclusion. In Amsterdam Gay Pride is about visibility. An important event for The Netherlands as tolerance and social acceptance of gay men and women, bisexuals and transgenders seems to be under pressure. Visibility is an important tool to gain this social acceptance and tolerance.

Sao Paulo hosts world's largest gay pride parade

by Editorial Staff

Millions of people packed the streets of Sao Paulo for what organizers said was the world's largest gay pride parade, dancing and waving rainbow flags in a carnival-like atmosphere to condemn homophobia, racism and sexism. At least 3 million people filled the canyonlike Paulista Avenue on Sunday, organizers said, surpassing last year's count of 2.5 million. The larger count was confirmed by a police spokesman who is not authorized to be quoted by name under department rules. "This is the biggest parade on the planet," Tourism Minister Marta Suplicy said. "Our city is showing, once again, its respect for diversity."

Queen’s day eve spectacle - Drag Queen Olympics ’07

by Editorial Staff

The 4th International Drag Queen Olympics, held on Queen’s Day Eve, was again an enormous success. Ms Jennifer Hopelezz brought the Olympic flame to the Homomonument to kick off the games, hosted by Coco Coquette and Zsa Zsa Gaybar.

Porn DVD Review - Bananas from Brazil 2

by Editorial Staff

Two South American hot young studs walk around the streets of Brazil looking for a place to have sex. Rafael leads them to an unoccupied courtyard that he knows of, and they dont waste any time. When Gaspar whips out his eager cock, we are treated to another gigantic cock. It would seem from this entire video that all Brazilian boys are extremely well-endowed and have no problem sharing their sexual energy with other boys. The dick sucking continues until Rafael turns around so that his eager hole could be filled with Gaspars dark, uncut man-shaft. His innocent face moans with pleasure as he takes it harder and harder.

Coming up: The EuroGames

by Editorial Staff

The EuroGames, a sports competition with ten different sports like badminton, running, dancing and swimming, aims to increase the emancipation and integration of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders in our community. The eleventh edition in Antwerp chose the motto: ‘More than Playing Sports’. On Thursday the 12th of July the Games will kick off with a parade with over 3000 athletes from over 40 different countries. On Sunday the 15 of July the event closes with a huge party with several performers.

Darkrooms no longer endangered

by Editorial Staff

The Building & Construction Department of the local government for the centre of Amsterdam has unanimously decided yesterday to recognize darkrooms as meeting places in a bar or sauna for voluntary non-commercial sexual acts. Darkrooms as such are not included anymore in the much more restricted category of sex businesses. The definition of these sex businesses has been reformulated so that darkrooms will not be in danger of association with sex businesses and so that these businesses can’t abuse the exception made for darkrooms.

Hundreds of thousands of people protested in Rome against gay rights

by Editorial Staff

Hundreds of thousands of people protested in Rome on the 12th of May against the government’s proposal to give unmarried couples, gays included, more equal rights.

According to the organizers almost one million people came to the ‘Family Day’ held on a square in the centre of the Italian capital. The demonstrators, often entire families, were transported from the countryside to Rome in over 3000 buses and several trains.

Minister Plasterk tackles homophobia

by Editorial Staff

Minister Plasterk wants to tackle homophobia in schools more effectively. The coordinating minister for Gay and Lesbian policy made this commitment at the second Roze Landdag (Pink Conference) in Utrecht. Over a hundreds gay organizations discussed sexual diversity policies for the near future at the initiative of COC-Nederland and Movisie. “Gay emancipation is something I take very seriously indeed,” Plasterk said at the opening.

Edward van de Vendel: Ons derde lichaam (Our Third Body)

by Editorial Staff

This book is sort of a sequel to Edward’s first childhood novel De Dagen van de Bleugrassliefde (The Days of the Bluegrass Love) but it is definitely worth reading even if you’re not aware of that. Tycho (19-years old now) and Vonda are living in small rooms in Rotterdam. After a while Moritz, a dance student, moves in with them. Via Vonda Tycho is introduced into a new world: music. The story of Ons Derde Lichaam contains Tycho’s viewpoint (about his experiences with Vonda and Moritz) as well as mails and song texts.

Appeal Filed In Moscow Gay Pride Battle

by Editorial Staff

Organizers of Moscow’s gay pride march have asked the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling upholding the city’s decision last year to ban the march. The appeal is the latest in a lengthy battle between gay rights groups and the administration of conservative mayor Juri Lushkov. Last year Lushkov banned the parade, citing security concerns.

Short News

by Editorial Staff

Matthew Shepard’s Mom Opens OutGames

As we go to press, the North America OutGames 2007 are in full swing in Calgary, the largest city in the province of Alberta, Canada. The mother of Matthew Shepard, the young gay man whose brutal murder in Wyoming in 1998 made international headlines, helped open the OutGames on Tuesday, April 3, with a plea for respect and understanding.

Chair Of Parliament Will Receive First Copy Of Biography J.A. Schorer

by Editorial Staff

Theo van der Meer’s book on Esquire Jacob Anton Schorer LL.M. (1866-1957) will appear on the 30th of March. Schorer was Holland’s prewar pioneer and personification of gay liberation. In 1917 parliament followed chairman Dirck Fock’s decision to return a shipment of books from Schorer, which had been sent to the parliamentary library. The books were all about homosexuality and they thought them unfit to include in such a prestigious collection.

Fashion - Style 2007 - Paris

by Editorial Staff

“Menswear is thriving under a new generation of designers like Raf Simons and Hedi Slimane at Dior Homme. Men in general are much more interested in fashion than they were ten years ago. There is suddenly a new impertinence in menswear that did not previously exist,” says Didier Grumbach, head of French fashion’s governing body. That men’s fashion is booming is apparent from the many fashion labels which are bringing out complete men’s collections.

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Complicates Military Gay Rape Case

by Editorial Staff

Recently an American military jury ignored an Air Force captain’s plea for leniency, sentencing him to fifty years in prison for raping four men and attempting to rape two others. The sentence was delivered a day after nine Air Force officers serving on Capt. Devery L. Taylor’s court-martial jury found him guilty of all charges against him for drugging and kidnapping servicemen he met in bars.

Gay Arabs Begin To Organize In Israel

by Editorial Staff

A rare gathering of openly gay Arab activists will be held in Israel shortly, drawing the ire of religious conservatives. Headlined “Home and Exile,” the March 28 meeting is meant to spark discussion of homosexuality among Israel’s one million Arab citizens. The conference is being organized by Aswat, an Arab lesbian group based in Haifa. Around 100 to 150 people are expected to show up. With homosexuality a taboo topic in much of the Arab world, the meeting is important simply because it is taking place.

Mexican Military To Reinstate HIV-Positive Soldiers

by Editorial Staff

The Mexican National Defense Department said early March it will reinstate four HIV-positive soldiers after Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that their expulsion from the armed forces was discriminatory and unconstitutional. In a news release, the department said the soldiers would be allowed to continue their duties as long as they do not further endanger their health and that they will also be allowed medical attention.

Art- Tate Modern Presents Gilbert & George: Major Exhibition

by Editorial Staff

On February 15 a major retrospective exhibition of works by Gilbert & George was opened at London’s Tate Modern. This long-awaited show is the largest ever to explore the remarkable art of Gilbert & George. Gilbert Proesch (San Marino, Italy, 1943) en George Passmore (Plymouth, 1942) both come from working-class families and have created art together since meeting at St Martin’s School of Art in 1967. They share a home, called Art for All, in Fournier Street in London’s East End.

Roze Wester Festival At The Homomonument

by Editorial Staff

Queen’s Day Eve – Queen’s Day

“And the Winner is... Amsterdam!” Miss Jennifer Hopelezz is proud to announce that the fourth international Drag Queen Olympics have been awarded, yet again, to the City of Amsterdam. Amsterdam edged out other competing cities such as London, Berlin and Barcelona to secure the Games once more.

Exhibition - Sixties! Art, Fashion, Design, Film And Photography

by Editorial Staff

The Sixties, for thinkers of the New Right and ditto politicians it’s a obloquy that denotes the birth of everything that’s wrong in Holland and the rest of the world. On the other hand, for many others the Sixties are a period in which the yoke of frugality, which had made the post-war reconstruction possible, was slowly thrown off and the windows to the world were opened. During the Sixties the first generation reached adulthood which hadn’t experienced the deprivations of the Second World War personally.

Short News

by Editorial Staff

Alan Cumming And Boyfriend Make It Official

Early January actor Alan Cumming entered into a civil partnership with illustrator Grant Shaffer in a ceremony outside London. “Not only are we so happy to be able to celebrate our love for each other, but also to be able to do it in a country that properly recognizes the rights of same sex couples,” Cumming, 41, said in a statement released by the actor’s spokeswoman, Bianca Bianconi.

Russian Soldiers Forced To Work As Prostitutes

by Editorial Staff

Young Russian conscripts reportedly are being routinely forced by senior officers to work as male prostitutes and turn over the cash to their superiors. The “Gazeta” newspaper, quoting some of the soldiers and the human rights group Union of the Committees of Soldiers’ Mothers of Russia, reported that the soldiers were from the army base in St. Petersburg. The rights group told the paper that clients would arrive at base late at night and the soldiers would be forced by officers to get into the cars.

Russian Soldiers Forced To Work As Prostitutes

Vatican Protest Denounces Papal Stand On Gay Marriage

by Editorial Staff

Gay rights protestors took the fight for same-sex marriage to the Pope’s front door on Saturday, January 13. About 150 members of the Italian LGBT civil rights group Arcigay held the demonstration on the ninth anniversary of the suicide of a gay man in St Peter’s Square. Some members of the group carried Rainbow flags while other held placards condemning the stand taken by Pope Benedict on same-sex marriage. Other Arcigay protestors carried signs calling for the legalization of gay marriage in Italy.

Feminist Protest Against The Design Of Berlin Gay Monument

by Editorial Staff

Now that the last survivors of the generation which marched freshly and happily for Hitler are clutching their rollators and most of them have bitten the dust, the victims of the Nazi regime finally get the respect they deserve in Germany. A few years ago they finished a large monument for all the deaths of the Holocaust. Additionally the Bundestag decided in December 2003 that there should also be a monument for homosexuals. A design competition was held and in January 2006 a jury picked the design of the artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset.

Short News

by Editorial Staff

Karl Lagerfeld’s ‘One Man Show’ At Postfuhramt Berlin

On the 25th of November Karl Lagerfeld opened the “One Man Show” at the Postfuhramt in Berlin with his photographic work. The title of the show doesn’t so much refer to the photographer but more to his subject: the model Brad Kroenig. Brad, born on the 23rd of April 1979, nickname Darlin’, also appears in the new Joop! campaign and is by now the world’s best paid male model.

Former Gay Porn Actor Arrested For Shooting Businessman

by Editorial Staff

A former gay porn actor appeared in a Denver courtroom at the end of November on allegations that he gunned down a prominent businessman less than three weeks earlier. The judge set a January 17 date for his preliminary hearing to begin. Timothy Boham, 25, was arrested November 16 at a U.S.-Mexico border checkpoint in Lukeville, Arizona, three days after police discovered that his boss, John Kelso, had been shot to death in his upscale suburban Denver home.

World AIDS Day Marked Throughout The World

by Editorial Staff

Church services in Moscow and London, a provocative artist’s action in front of a cathedral, and warnings about the spread of HIV on Europe’s eastern fringe marked commemorations of World AIDS Day across Europe. In Thailand, AIDS activists planned to create the world’s largest “condom chain.” In Papua New Guinea, officials took blood tests to encourage voluntary HIV/AIDS testing. And in Indonesia, activists walked through the streets of the capital with their faces wrapped in white sheets. World AIDS Day was marked throughout the world.

BUTT Magazine Celebrates Fifth Anniversary With BUTT Book

by Editorial Staff

In the August issue of Gay News we published an article by Michiel Bollinger about BUTT magazine. Although this undiluted love declaration was mainly inspired by the author’s enthusiasm for the magazine, it came at an excellent time since BUTT celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, which is also celebrated with the publication of the “BUTT Book” (Taschen). The editors of BUTT intend with their magazine to put the sex back into homosexuality and they have certainly succeeded.

Short News

by Editorial Staff

Michael Jackson, Drag Queen of Pop?

He hasn’t done anything musically for a while but Michael Jackson still makes the news. He was recently spotted in St Tropez wearing a blouse, tight jeans and stiletto heels while trying to hide his face with a big blue hat. His eight-year old daughter Paris was with him. The reporter first thought it was a woman but then realized she was looking at the King of Pop.

Ted Haggard, Christian Pillar For Bush, Resigns After Sex Scandal

by Editorial Staff

The fifty-year-old Ted Haggard, Christian pillar for Bush and virulently anti anything gay, is found out to have had a long-term sexual relationship with a man. Haggard’s vast network of 45.000 churches has been of great help for Bush in his resistance to gay marriage as well as with his re-election. Haggard was very close to the White House. The prostitute who went to the press says he decided to tell all to expose the hypocrisy of the prominent Christian leader.

Gay & City - Sauna, Sweet Sauna

by Editorial Staff

We love the sauna... Ah, the nocturnal hunting sprees in the dimly lit alleys, mechanically walking round and round to the point of utter dizziness, the tiny square cubicles and the deploring look in the eyes of their residents, the way you register somebody’s private parts while sitting at the bar through the film of alcohol before your eyes, the overpowering eucalyptus aroma in the steam room and the way the white cloud enshrouds your eyes upon entering, unraveling little by little intertwined legs, erected genitalia or rhythmically snoring old men.

Elections - The Disastrous Policy Of Prime Minister Balkenende

by Editorial Staff

You can’t have missed it: there’ll be elections for the second time this year in Holland. The limping Balkenende government is busying itself sprinkling money around that miraculously appears to be available right before the elections. Did you manage to catch some yet? All these figures flying around don’t make things clearer, the question is whether there’s any money left in your wallet at the end of the month. We’re not going to worry ourselves over the election promises of all the parties, as they will never be kept anyway.

This Year’s Folsom Street Fair Was Biggest And Best

by Editorial Staff

Hundreds of thousands of Folsom Street Fair-goers, adorned in leather, rubber, uniforms, drag, or very little at all, enjoyed a memorable day of kinky play in the warm summer sun on Sunday, September 24th. Record numbers of people came to the South of Market district to enjoy top alternative acts, sexy vendor booths, cold beer and hot food, and more than just a little fun and flirtation – all in superb leather style. According to one community leader “I’ve been to every Folsom Street Fair for twenty years, and this was the best!”

Four Arrested During Military Gay Protests In Florida

by Editorial Staff

A national campaign opposing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the ban on gays serving openly in the United States military, saw four of its members arrested Friday, the 7th of October in a small community east of Tampa. As demonstrators marched in front of a military recruiting office at a mall in Brandon four members of the group entered the building an attempted to enlist in the Navy. They were told that gays and lesbians cannot serve under the Clinton-era law and asked to leave.

Governments Committed To HIV Airline Tax

by Editorial Staff

Nineteen governments are committed to levying a tax on airline tickets as part of a new way to treat people in poor countries for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, France's foreign minister said Monday. "We need to be and can be even more," said Philippe Douste-Blazy, who heads the program called UNITAID which brings together countries, U.N. agencies, international organizations and others to tackle some of the world's worst diseases. France started imposing the tax in July, but 18 others have signaled they will join in, he said.

China Gays Rebuff Websites

by Editorial Staff

The idea “if you build it they will come” has been resoundingly debunked by China's immense gay population. The government created two "official" posting forums Web sites to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS and allow Chinese gays to communicate with one another in a society where homosexuality is largely shunned. The sites were developed and are maintained by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control. But after two months in service there were only 37 postings.

LoveDance 2006 in Paradiso

by Editorial Staff

World Aids Night – Friday 1 Dec - 8 till late - Paradiso

Friday December 1st, World Aids Day 2006: The day that we all pay special attention to the state of affairs around HIV and AIDS, here and now but also elsewhere and in the future. All over the world people focus on the few hopeful developments and the still ever-expanding epidemic. The evening and night of the 1st of December, Amsterdam knows as World Aids Night with LoveDance at the Paradiso.

DVD News - Four More Queer Classics In A Box

by Editorial Staff

A-Film recently surprised us with the DVD-box “Modern Gay Classics” and now there’s even a second box “More Gay Classics” with again four feature movies. What a fantastic initiative. Let’s hope that many more boxes will follow.

Hedwich and the Angry Inch - Hedwich, born in East Berlin as “Hansel,” was once in love with an American soldier. In order to be able to marry him and flee to the free West, he underwent a sex change operation. The operation failed and she was left with an “angry inch.”

Dildos And Butt Plugs Contain Harmful Softening Chemicals

by Editorial Staff

Early September Greenpeace Holland released the results of a research conducted by TNO on sex toys such as dildos and butt plugs. These showed very high concentrations of harmful softening chemicals. These chemicals are the same as were found in children’s toys and which have been banned by the European Union in 2005. The research organization TNO examined eight different sex toys and in seven of them they found the chemicals in concentrations varying from 24 to 51 percent. These chemicals are hard to break down in the eco-system and even small amounts can be harmful.

Acceptance Of Homosexuality In Dutch Society And In The Army

by Editorial Staff

On the 8th of September “Gewoon doen. Acceptatie van homoseksualiteit in Nederland” (Act Normal: Acceptance of Homosexuality in The Netherlands) appeared at the Social Cultural Plan Bureau (SCP). This report tries to answer the following questions: How does Dutch society think of gay men and women? Are the Dutch still progressive when it comes to homosexuality? Or do we have a problem and need to intensify gay emancipation policies?

April Celebrates Twenty-fifth Anniversary!

by Editorial Staff

Café April opened its doors in 1981 for the first time, and they’ve been open every day since, except during the extensive renovation in 1996. The novelty at the time was that April not only opened its doors but also its windows, because it wasn’t all that easy for gays to be open and “out” in the late seventies and early eighties. Everything was hidden behind closed doors, until April changed all that. They hung out flags like mega decorations whenever they had something on, which was often: Easter, Christmas and New Year’s Eve were celebrated enthusiastically.

‘Voguing’ Dancer Willi Ninja Dead At 45

by Editorial Staff

Dancer Willi Ninja, whose skill in the gender-bending art of “voguing” influenced Madonna and was immortalized in the documentary film “Paris Is Burning,” has died on September 2. Ninja died of AIDS-related illnesses at New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens. He was 45. Inspired by Fred Astaire, “Great Performances” on PBS, Asian culture and Olympic gymnasts, Ninja was a self-taught performer who stitched together a patchwork of a career that extended into the worlds of dance, fashion and music.

Exciting Possibilities At The Playgrounds Party 2006

by Editorial Staff

After searching for months, the organization of Leather Pride has found an excellent location for Leather Pride 2006. It has always been difficult but this year it was nearly impossible to find a suitable venue. These have became very rare in Amsterdam lately, especially if you want to organize something more than just a dance party. This new location feels a lot like the very successful venue Force, many of us have such good memories of...

Author And Activist Eric Rofes Dies At 51

by Editorial Staff

Eric Rofes died Monday, June 27, in Provincetown, Mass. The cause of death was a heart attack. Rofes, 51, is survived by his longtime partner, Crispin Hollings. An educator by profession, Rofes became involved in the emerging gay movement in the 1970s, first as editor of “Gay Community News” in Boston, the only gay newsweekly at the time. A friend thinks these journalistic years “were formative for him, because from that time he always thought of himself as an activist, whether he was writing or teaching, even at a time when school teachers wore bags over their heads in gay parades.”

DVD News - Modern Gay Classics Box

by Editorial Staff

Four highlights from the history of cinema and gay culture together in one box: Fassbinder’s erotic final aria “Querelle,” Almodóvar’s masterpiece “La Mala Educación,” as well as icons Stephen Fry in “Wilde” and Harvey Fierstein in “Torch Song Trilogy.”

Royal Indian Family Disowns Son For Being Openly Gay

by Editorial Staff

An openly gay prince in India, Manvendra Singh Gohil of Rajpipla, who comes from one of the richest families in India, has been stripped of his title and inheritance rights by relatives who accuse him of disobedience and bringing dishonor on them. These actions were made public through an announcement his mother placed in a local newspaper. This statement said: “Hence, he ceases to have rights as a son over the family property and the power of attorney issued to him also stands canceled. Henceforth, no one must refer to my name as mother of Manvendra. If any individual or organization dares to do so, it will invite contempt proceedings against him.”

Fun, Frolic and Fetish Ignite San Francisco’s Up Your Alley Fair

by Editorial Staff

At the end of September San Francisco, or at least Folsom Street in the South of Market district, will brim again during Leather Pride Week. This is an eight day abundance of intense activity. Many bars, clubs and organizations have parties and events alle during Leather Pride Week, with the Folsom Street Fair being the crowning finale to a festive time.

‘Bounty’ For Killing Gays At World Pride

by Editorial Staff

Hundreds of leaflets distributed to homes in Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox area and other parts of the city overnight offer 20,000 Israeli new shekels or about $4,500 US to anyone who kills gays marching in next month's World Pride in Jerusalem. The flyers bore the name Red Arm for Salvation and said the money would go to “anyone who will cause the death of one of the Sodom and Gomorrah people.” The leaflets also said: “During this parade, 300,000 corrupt animals are anticipated to march through the holy city of Jerusalem, waiting avidly for the chance to put themselves on display before our children and our sacred Torah.

Michael Jackson Upset By Gay Porn Connection

by Editorial Staff

Michael Jackson tried to fire the man he hired to produce a benefit recording for victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks after learning the associate once directed gay porn movies, according to the entertainer’s former lawyer. Zia Modabber testified early July that he broke the news to Jackson about F. Marc Schaffel’s background, showing him a video of Schaffel at an adult film shoot. “I think he didn’t want to believe it was real or true,” said Modabber. “He appeared angry, upset.”

Frits Bernard, Dutch Pioneer Of Boy Love Emancipation, Dies At 86

by Editorial Staff

On May 23, Dr. Frits Bernard passed away at Rotterdam’s Academic Hospital. Together with Edward Brongersma, who died in 1998, Frits Bernard was one of the well-known pioneers of the boy love emancipation movement in the Netherlands. Initially he waged this struggle within the Dutch gay emancipation organization COC, but he was sidelined in the early 1960s. Frits Bernard was born in 1920 in Rotterdam, but when he was six his family moved to Spain. He attended the German international school in Barcelona. After his return to Holland he began studying psychology at the University of Amsterdam in 1939.

Hundreds Protest Rejection Of Bermuda Gay Rights Bill

by Editorial Staff

On the 4th of June, hundreds of people have demonstrated on the grounds of Bermuda’s House of Assembly, protesting against a wall of silence by legislators on a bill that would have added sexuality to the Human Rights Act. The bill was introduced by MP Renee Webb and sent to committee where Webb made an impassioned speech: “We in Bermuda need to ensure that we join the democratic countries of the world and fight for freedom for all of its people,” she told committee members.

SummerCamp: Four Days Of Pride At The Homomonument

by Editorial Staff

The dust of The Roze Wester Festival has barely settled down and the Homomonument is bracing itself for the next event already. The organization of Pride may look slightly fragile at the moment but GALA, however, has a granite foundation; so from Thursday till Sunday you can lounge and party, admire and be admired at the Homomonument.

Violent Extremists Disturb Moscow Pride Manifestation

by Editorial Staff

The political fall of communism and the knocking down of the Iron Curtain, made many European governments eager to give the former Eastern bloc countries a hearty welcome into the bosom of democracy and capitalism. It’s true that most of these countries adapted rather quickly to the joys of Western materialism. The acceptation of the non-materialist values, which are also part of Western culture, such as personal freedom regarding sexual matters, is less successful however.

Short News

by Editorial Staff

Reduced Entrance Fee For Young Men On Thursdays At Sauna Blue River

Sauna Blue River at The Hague is one of the most complete and luxurious gay sauna’s in the Netherlands, where a personal touch and hygiene are very important. Apart from the sauna facilities, Blue River also has some additional features which can make a sauna visit even more varied and enjoyable. For example, during the resting periods visitors can sit down in a lounge decorated in oriental style, or enjoy a meal prepared by the cook.

Homodok Finds Home In New Public Library Amsterdam

by Editorial Staff

After considering many different options the International Gay and Lesbian Information Center and Archive (IHLIA) and the Public Library of Amsterdam have come to an agreement early March. They’ve agreed that the Amsterdam branch of IHLIA will move into the to be built Central Public Library on the Oosterdokseiland next to Central Station. This is where the books, the grey literature, magazines, audiovisual material, images and cutouts of the Amsterdam division will go.

Alarming Increase Of STDs Again

by Editorial Staff

Early April the State Health Institute (RIVM) presented the preliminary STD figures over 2005. The findings show chlamydia and HIV infections on an alarming rise. Which in turn points to an increase of unsafe sex practices. Soa Aids Nederland aims, partly in response to these reports, to increase the number of STD tests with 25% by 2009. The center also calls for more effective campaigns aimed at youngsters, gay men and people of immigrant descent. The increase of STDs and HIV is very alarming. Soa Aids Nederland thinks a combination of actions is needed.

Gay Americans Beaten In St. Maarten

by Editorial Staff

Two CBS News employees were attacked and severely beaten by a group of men on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten where they were vacationing in what is described at as homophobic attack. A television station in Miami reported that Richard Jefferson, a senior producer for the “CBS Nightly News” and his friend Ryan Smith a producer-researcher for “48 Hours” were attacked as they left a popular bar after an altercation with the men earlier in the night inside the club. The attackers allegedly hurled homophobic insults at the two and they were beaten with a tire iron.

Dutch Gay Swimming Competition Celebrates First Lustrum

by Editorial Staff

NKGay 2006 takes place in The Hague on Thursday the 25th of May (Ascension Day). This swimming competition for gays and lesbians is organized once every two years. Together with the annual Eurogames and the Gay Games (every four years), NKGay is one of the most important events for Dutch gay swimmers. The event in The Hague is expecting some 250 participants. The organization of NKGay circulates amongst several different clubs. Plons (www.hhzvplons.nl) and Gay Swim Amsterdam are responsible for putting together this fifth anniversary.

Gay Americans Beaten In St. Maarten

Erotic Art Heist From Barracks Bar In Palm Springs

by Editorial Staff

In a daring daylight raid, thieves got away with a major piece of art from The Barracks Bar in Palm Springs on Friday, December 2. The piece of erotic art, interpreted by local artist William “Taurus" Webster from an original by Stephan, was secured by screws to the outside wall of the bar inside a locked patio area. The thieves removed part of the patio's wooden fencing to gain access to the area.

Roscoe Relief Poster To Benefit New Orleans

by Editorial Staff

In the past we’ve paid attention to two comic books about Timmy, the well-built and sex hungry farm boy who becomes a popular porn star. The adventures of Timmy are created by Roscoe, a New Orleans artist. As we all know his native town suffered severe damage from hurricane Katrina. And now, more than four months later, the rebuilding has hardly begun.

Survey Of Social Exclusion Of Gay Youth

by Editorial Staff

A survey of the social exclusion of lesbian, gay or bisexual youth in Europe has started last December. The researcher is asking for cooperation i.e. personal experiences of exclusion of gay youth. The research is done in assignment of ILGA Europe (the European branch of the Gay Youth Association). It is meant to put the position of gay youth on the agenda of European institutes. It is the aim to present the report this year during a hearing of the European Parliament.

Tennyson’s Gay Great-Grandson Stabbed To Death

by Editorial Staff

A few days before Christmas, 85-year-old Hallam Tennyson was found stabbed to death in his bed. Scotland Yard didn’t release many details about Mr Tennyson or the murder, but police said Tennyson, who was openly homosexual, lived a “colorful” life and had “an open relationship, bringing back up to three men a week.”

Chinese Police Shuts Down Gay Culture Festival

by Editorial Staff

Elsewhere in this issue we review a recently published gay guide to China. It’s the first time a guide of this kind has been published and therefore it might seem that homosexuality isn’t a taboo subject in China anymore. However, the release of a gay guide to China doesn’t mean that gay life is an accepted part of Chinese society. This is quite clear from the fact that Chinese police shut down the opening of a gay and lesbian culture festival on Friday, December 16. Participants said this action highlighted deep-rooted intolerance toward homosexuality.

The Twenty-One Kisses Of Val Kilmer And Robert Downey Junior

by Editorial Staff

In American culture private eyes have always been paragons of manfulness. Since they are usually not married, no attractive woman is safe for their come-ons. But generally these private investigators are also men’s men, who need a sexual affair from time to time, but like to spend quality time with other men, drinking or fighting. It’s this side of their personality, which makes them susceptible to a homo-erotic adaptation. And the nucleus for this is already present in the early history of detective fiction.

South African Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Permissible

by Editorial Staff

The liberation from an authoritarian regime can have very different consequences. The disappearance op communism in Poland seems only to have strengthened the influence of the Catholic Church, with all the obvious drawbacks for gay people. In South Africa on the other hand, the demise of the right-wing Apartheid regime has resulted in a lot of positive developments. If there’s one country in the world where gay emancipation has made a giant leap forward during the last decade, it’s South Africa.

US Condemns United Arab Emirates Arrest of Homosexual Couples

by Editorial Staff

Although gay marriage is still a hotly debated issue in the United States itself, on November 28 the American State Department condemned the recent arrest of a dozen same-sex couples in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) at what is described as a group wedding ceremony. The police also took into custody an Indian disc jockey and the man who was to perform the ceremony.

Gay Prisoners In Argentina Win Conjugal Visits

by Editorial Staff

A judge in Argentina has ordered prison authorities in central Argentine province of Córdoba to allow conjugal visits between gay prisoners and their partners. The ruling came in a case involving a gay prisoner who was sent to solitary confinement for an unspecified period of time after being caught on two occasions having sex with his partner who was visiting him.

Pierre Seel Dies at Age 82

by Editorial Staff

Pierre Seel, A Key Figure in the Public Recognition of the Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals, Dies at Age 82

The Mémorial de la Déportation Homosexuelle (MDH), the French national association that works to commemorate the homosexual victims of the Nazi regime, has announced the death of Pierre Seel on November 25, 2005, at age 82 in Toulouse, France. Of some two hundred men from the annexed French region of Alsace-Lorraine deported to Nazi concentration camps as homosexuals, Mr. Seel was the sole survivor who had spoken out publicly about his experience.

Sport - Smash Volleyball

by Editorial Staff

Amsterdam has a new gay volleyball association: Smash. The association aims at all levels and has mainly young male members, amongst which a couple of students. With fifteen players Smash is still relatively small but if you count all 32 members, it already is the second largest gay volleyball association of Amsterdam. And of course they aspire to become the largest and nicest of the capital!

A Same-Sex Marriage In Pakistan?

by Editorial Staff

It’s common knowledge that at present the Islam regards homosexuality with disfavor. It’s therefore striking when a report surfaces that seems to evoke the Golden Age of Islamic culture, when poets sang the praise of boy love. Early October such a report appeared. It mentioned that in the remote Tirah valley in Pakistan the 42-year-old Liaquat Ali, an Afghan refugee, had fallen in love with 16-year-old Markeen Afridi and married his beloved.

Volunteer Efforts Boost Annual Charity Windfall

by Editorial Staff

Outsiders often perceive the leather scene as a hedonistic subculture, interested in sex only. This is a very biased and therefore inaccurate view, as the record amount shows that’s allocated to charities after the latest Folsom Street Fair. The Folsom Street Fair is the largest leather, alternative and fetish street fair in the world with over 400,000 attendees annually. This year marked the 22nd year of Folsom Street Fair.

Life in out-er space: Mr. Sulu comes out

by Editorial Staff

Some years ago the German cinemas showed the movie “Traumschiff Surprise: Episode 1" (now available on DVD). This is a corny queer parody of the original “Star Trek” series, and Captain Kirk and Mister Spock - who have a very special bond anyway, according to many viewers - are represented as flamboyant sissies. Therefore it’s curious that neither William Shatner nor Leonard Nimoy recently came out, but actor George Takei, better known as Mr. Sulu on the original “Star Trek” series and six subsequent movies.

Rules That Could Threaten Photos On Personals Sites Subject Of Court Battle

by Editorial Staff

Another extension was made recently delaying enforcement of expanded federal regulations that some gay male cruising web sites say threaten the use of nude photos, a staple of their popularity. The temporary reprieve of enforcement of newly revised 18 U.S. Code 2257 was extended to members of the Free Speech Coalition, an adult industry trade group, until November 30. A similar month-long agreement expired October 31. Attorneys with the Free Speech Coalition filed a motion for the extension in the U.S. District Court of Colorado on October 31.

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