Tag Archives: UK

After years of denials, a British member of the European Parliament, Nikki Sinclaire, today revealed that she is a transgender woman. Sinclaire says that she believes she is the first trans parliamentarian in British history. MEP Nikki Sinclaire said she made the decision to undergo surgery over 20 years ago because if she hadn’t she ‘would have led a lonely, …

The Guardian reports: “While Glasgow held its annual Gay Pride parade on Saturday, Edinburgh’s redheads stood up to prejudice against people with ginger hair by marching along the Royal Mile led by Canadian comedian Shawn Hitchins who is performing at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.”  Slideshow at the link.

The Guardian reports: The bill to legalise same sex marriages in Scotland has now been published, and while it has arrived later than hoped and expected, Holyrood will introduce a more open, flexible regime than the new equal marriage laws in England and Wales. The Scottish Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) bill, released on Thursday morning, will not introduce the …

The House Of Lords today approved its version of the marriage equality bill on its third reading. The upper, unelected chamber approved the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill without a vote in London today. Some members of the house wore pink carnations to mark the occasion. The legislation has already been passed by the Commons amid opposition from more than …

Scotland’s marriage equality bill was introduced yesterday. The BBC reports: A proposed bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland has been published at Holyrood. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill aims to revise the law, while protecting rights of religious groups not to carry out ceremonies. Now that the proposal has been lodged it will undergo scrutiny before committee …

JMG reader Calum says this clip from LGBT Scotland features “a whole host of famous faces, celebs, politicians, etc.”

Yesterday afternoon the London Gay Men’s Chorus performed Erasure’s A Little Respect outside of the House of Lords.

Via the Telegraph: The legalisation of gay marriage is poised to be approved by MPs today after surviving a Tory backbench bid to derail it. The Coalition avoided embarrassment after a last-minute deal with Labour to save the bill. Some 56 Conservative backbenchers – half the number predicted – backed a backbencher’s amendment the Government warned could fatally delay the …

The BBC has the story: The Church of Scotland’s ruling General Assembly has voted to allow actively gay men and women to become ministers. Assembly commissioners in Edinburgh voted in favour of a proposal that allows liberal parishes to opt out of the church’s policy on homosexuality. The decision will have to be endorsed by the church’s regional presbyteries and …

The House Of Commons has begun debate of the Report Stage of its marriage equality bill. The official website of Parliament provides the above chart of how the bill is due to progress. The BBC reports: Proposals to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales are being debated, with ministers pledging to press on despite opposition from some MPs. MPs …

The Northern Ireland Assembly today rejected a marriage equality bill by a vote of 53-42. Via the Belfast Telegraph: Today’s petition of concern at the Assembly tabled by the largest unionist party, the Democratic Unionists, ensured Sinn Fein’s motion would be defeated after a majority of unionists failed to back the change. John O’Doherty, director of the Rainbow Project health …

Details. (Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

Actually President Obama did send two former US secretaries of state that served during Thatcher’s reign. President Obama’s delegation to the funeral of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher is drawing some flak in London. Two former Republican secretaries of State — James Baker and George Shultz — will lead the U.S. delegation to the Thatcher funeral on Wednesday. Some …

The Scottish journalist who broke the story believes there will be more revelations to come.

The Scotsman reports an interesting claim today. The Vatican knew of allegations against Cardinal Keith O’Brien five months ago, it was claimed today. Reports said a priest lodged a complaint in October about “inappropriate behaviour” by the former Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2001. The priest is said to have written directly to Rome because he did not …

Here’s a fascinating expose by the Guardian: Few passing London tourists would ever guess that the premises of Bulgari, the upmarket jewellers in New Bond Street, had anything to do with the pope. Nor indeed the nearby headquarters of the wealthy investment bank Altium Capital, on the corner of St James’s Square and Pall Mall. But these office blocks in …

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

British Labor MP Paul Flynn is preparing an interesting bill. Via Pink News: Parliament is due to pass legislation shortly to allow for the first child of Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge to rule as monarch regardless of whether they are a boy or a girl. Now Labour MP Paul Flynn is gathering …