Gay Sci-Fi Nerds (GSFN) Podcast Show

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has married her long-time partner, actress Portia de Rossi, according to the Associated Press news agency.

DeGeneres’ publicist confirmed reports that the couple tied the knot at their Beverly Hills home on Saturday.

The presenter, 50, and De Rossi, 35, exchanged handwritten vows in a private ceremony attended by 19 guests, reported People and US magazine.

The couple have been dating since December 2004.

Editors Note: Everyone here at the Gay Sci-Fi Nerds Podcast Show wish the pair of lezzas the very best for their future and happiness and pray Portia don’t go straight like the last girlfriend!

BBC News

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Actress Lindsay Lohan has hit out at the Los Angeles police chief after he said the star had “gone gay”.

“Police chiefs shouldn’t get involved in everyone else’s business when it comes to their personal life. It’s inappropriate,” Lohan said.

Chief William Bratton made the remark while explaining why he did not support a crackdown on the paparazzi.

Lohan, the star of Mean Girls and Freaky Friday, has been linked with DJ Mark Ronson’s sister Samantha.

The police chief was discussing problems with the paparazzi on LA news channel KNBC.

He said: “If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving, Paris is out of town not bothering anybody, thank God, and evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don’t seem to have much of an issue.”

Chief Bratton had earlier refused to attend a Los Angeles city task force meeting to discuss ways to combat the paparazzi.

Lohan gave her response in a video filmed by paparazzi and posted on celebrity website TMZ.

Her publicist Leslie Sloane has previously denied that the actress is in a relationship with Samantha Ronson, but said they were “close friends”.

BBC News

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The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of “betrayal” over the issue of gay bishops.

Writing in the Times, the Archbishop of Uganda criticised Dr Rowan Williams for inviting American Church leaders to the current Lambeth Conference.

The Most Rev Henry Orombi said there was an “unrelenting commitment” of the US Church “to bless sinful behaviour”.

The Anglican Church has been divided since the ordination of the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in the US in 2003.

‘Deep betrayal’

Archbishop Orombi wrote: “In every case, homosexual practice is considered sinful, something that breaks our relationship with God and harms our wellbeing.

“It is something for which one should repent and seek forgiveness and healing, which God is ever ready to do.”

He said the ordination of Bishop Robinson was a “deep betrayal”.

Archbishop Orombi added: “When the Archbishop of Canterbury invited these American bishops to participate in the Lambeth Conference… in the face of the unrelenting commitment of the American Church to bless sinful behaviour, we were stunned. Further betrayal.”

‘British colonialism’

He also said in his article that it was “peculiar” that the Archbishop of Canterbury was not elected by his peers.

“Even the Pope is elected by his peers, but what Anglicans have is a man appointed by a secular government,” said the archbishop.

“Over the past five years, we have come to see this as a remnant of British colonialism, and it is not serving us well.”

Archbishop Orombi is one of the 250 clergy boycotting the conference over the issue of gay bishops.

Anglican bishops have been discussing Bible teachings on homosexuality at the 10-yearly conference in Canterbury.

However, traditionalists in the Church were frustrated that there was no formal resolution on the issue.

BBC News

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Anglican bishops have been discussing Bible teachings on homosexuality at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury.

The debate took place among a group of about 40 bishops, but there was no formal resolution on an issue which has frustrated Church traditionalists.

The subject has driven the Communion to the brink of a permanent split.

Members of the Lesbian and Gay Christian movement held a protest and unfurled a banner outside a sports hall where the delegates were meeting.

Anglican officials hope the discussion at the conference will help restore some of the trust lost in five years of church conflict over homosexuality.

A spokesman for the bishops would not reveal specific details of what was said but expressed regret that the issue had overshadowed other topics at the conference including world poverty and the environment.

Their views will be represented to a larger committee, which in turn will reflect the collective attitude of the conference.

Divisive issue

Traditionalist Anglicans say several passages in the Bible clearly outlaw active homosexuality.

But liberals say the Bible’s general message is that all people should be included in the Church.

Since the ordination of the openly gay, and non-celibate, Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson, in the US five years ago, divisions have become increasingly entrenched.

Traditionalists claim that the conference is missing a rare opportunity to deal with the crisis.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, argues that formal resolutions about sexuality have not produced unity in the past.

However, he wants bishops to adopt a general statement of shared belief and then agree to stick to it, as the only way of avoiding further disintegration.

BBC News religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott in Canterbury says no issue has come as close to splitting worldwide Anglicanism as homosexuality.

The protesters, led by human rights activist Peter Tatchell, accused the Archbishop of Canterbury of facilitating the views of “homophobes” at the conference.

But their demo was said to have gone largely unnoticed by bishops, who left by a different exit after the discussion.

BBC News

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What follows is a first-hand account from a transwoman who had to deal with Transphobia at London

Pride this year.

WTF! LGBT Pride is worse than the other kind
For the first time in thirty-some years of going to Pride, I have come away seriously questioning whether I will ever go again. Official stewards who were running the toilets at Trafalgar Square announced that I, and any other transgender or transsexual woman, had to use the disabled toilets and was not allowed to use the regular women’s toilets. I pointed out to the stewards that I transitioned and had surgery before they were born; I was more polite than a polite thing. No dice.

I went and fetched a posse of transwomen and transmen and we made a collective fuss. Their response - and remember these were official stewards AT PRIDE - was to radio in ‘we’re being attacked by a mob of trannies! send backup’. They were joined by a policeman, who was a LGBT liaison officer, who claimed that we had to be able to show our Gender Recognition Certificates if we wanted to use the women’s loos and got quite upset when I explained to him that I had been involved in drafting the Act and that it did not take away rights that existed before it. At one point he threatened to arrest us for demonstrating on private property - those loos belong to Westminster Council, so you are not allowed to make a fuss there.

At one point it was claimed that they had instituted this policy a few minutes earlier because a man had attacked a woman; at another they said it was official Health and Safety policy. I don’t think it was particularly to do with how much I do or don’t pass - I think I got read in part because I am so tall and turned up in the queue among a particularly short group of lesbians.

It was one of the most wretched experiences I have had in thirty years, only made positive by the love and solidarity of my community - including various transmen who proposed that, since they had no GRCs, they should be made to use the women’s loos. Beards and all.

What with the other trans-related mess I am currently dealing with, of which more anon, I feel that destiny is recalling me to the activist standard…

So, tomorrow, there will be letters and phone calls. More generally, there will be serious kicking of Pride’s butt. Pride screwed up in all sorts of ways this year and it will be requited.

Basically, no one gets to shit in my face and call it chocolate fudge. That young cop in particular is going to undergo an educative experience.

Silence Exile and Crumpets

Here was the response from the organisers of Pride.

We at Pride deeply regret this incident happened and are doing everything within our power to remedy the situation. As the Appointed Director to handle this issue I am concerned that a lot of misinformation has been circulating with regard to this.

So let me clear some of this up:

Firstly SFM workers are not volunteers for Pride London, they are handled by SFM directly. The incident that took place in the women’s toilet did not involve one of Pride’s stewards as been reported as we at Pride do not adhere to any discrimination issues. We have a clear policy with regard to toilets and usage by Trans people, that is a Trans woman is clearly allowed to use the women’s toilet and a Trans male clearly able to use a male toilet. We would never say to any Trans person to use the disable loo as this is clearly illegal.

SFM have adhered to Pride’s policies for their three years of providing additional stewarding at our events, and this is the first complaint we have had over their handling of such an issue in all that time against all the hundreds of staff that they provide. SFM have assured us that this incident was not how they would normally handle such an issue, and was a genuine mistake. We are working with them to ensure that there is no repetition.

Secondly we at Pride cannot speak on behalf of the Metropolitan Police with regard to this incident. It has been alleged that one of their LGBT liaison officers requested a Gender Recognition Certificate: this is a breach of all legislation in relation to Trans, as very few individuals can request this, and a GRC is never to be used as an ID document. I am sure that the Metropolitan Police will be looking into this.

Thirdly we have very clear policies regarding equality and expect that all sub-contractors adhere to this - this is going to be looked into as a matter of urgency.

*Making this Public statement I must also say that we deeply regret that Roz Kaveney had to endure such an experience at our event, this is deeply regrettable and should never have happened, and so I publicly apologise on behalf of Pride London to her with regard to this, and we will endeavour to ensure that it never happens in the future with respect to any groups that are a part of our Stakeholders forum, or indeed any one attending Pride London’s events.*

When things like this happen it leaves a very distasteful feeling with any person or community who feel that they are being singled out or picked on and this is not what we are about at Pride London. We hold very dearly our commitment to equality. We accept that in some cases training is important and we are happy to work with any of our contractors with the training of their volunteers in this respect, and we will also include any individual or groups that have an interest with this as well, where appropriate. This can involve Trans members being called upon to be a part of a training package.

Pride London has an excellent track record or working with all members of our community, and has in particular a strong record on Trans issues. This incident has marred a very successful event and lessons have to be and must be learnt from it.

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From businesspeople to authors, the famous (and infamous) to the unknown, these people have influenced our lives over the past 12 months.

1 (49) Evan Davis; Journalist

Once described as a cross between Gollum and a needy vicar, Evan Davis has shot to become everyone’s favourite BBC journalist since joining Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme earlier this year. News that he was stepping down as the BBC’s economics editor in March drew cries of dismay from all quarters, not least fans of his ‘Evanomics’ blog. But his reincarnation as one of the ‘Today’ anchors has exposed him to a wider audience and beefed up his reputation. Intelligent, with a less adversarial style than John Humphrys, Davis is considered the perfect complement to the existing roster of heavyweights. He once told an interviewer that “it would have been a dereliction of her journalistic duty” if she hadn’t asked whether it was true that he wears genital jewellery.

Editors Note: We have it on strong authority that he has a very large penis too

2 (1) Russell T Davies; TV dramatist

Davies is groaning under the laurels for his revival of ‘Dr Who’ – and for the seamless, subtle introduction of homosexual characters into Saturday prime-time telly he certainly should be proud of his OBE. The 45-year-old has proved he can command huge audiences with sparky, witty writing – surely the most powerful figure in British TV drama.

3 (16) Cameron Mackintosh; Impresario

Topped ‘The Stage’ 100, the industry list of the most powerful figures in UK theatre, for the fourth time. Producer of ‘Les Misérables’ – seen by more than 55 million people worldwide. Sir Cameron moved into the limelight himself on the BBC’s ‘I’d Do Anything’, to cast the roles of Nancy and Oliver for his revival of Lionel Bart’s musical.

4 (5) Ian McKellen; Actor and activist

Is there a more famous politicised gay man? When not voicing the giant bear in ‘The Golden Compass’, Sir Ian McKellen continued as a peerlessly influential spokesperson on sexuality in countless interviews accompanying his year-long RSC world tour of ‘King Lear’ and ‘The Seagull’. Will doubtless continue that in ‘The Prisoner’ remake.

5 (88) Dawn Airey; Television executive

Airey, 46, shocked the TV world this year when she quit as head of global content at ITV after seven months. ‘Scary Airey’, as she has been dubbed, is to join European broadcaster RTL, becoming chairman and CEO of Channel Five, a position she first held eight years ago. She has a daughter with partner Jacquie Lawrence, who is a film-maker.

6 (3) Elton John; Musician

Sixty-one he may be, but the world’s most famous gay man shows no signs of slowing down: Sir Elton’s Las Vegas extravaganza, the Red Piano show, comes to the UK soon, and he and partner David Furnish campaign and donate tirelessly via the Elton John Aids Foundation. But the $2.5m he raised for Hillary Clinton’s campaign came to nought…

7 (12) Michael Bishop; Chairman, BMI

The former baggage-handler has turned BMI into the second-biggest full-service airline after BA. Sir Michael prefers, in interviews, to talk about his business rather than his personal life – but it can only be good for modernising the City to have a high-profile, openly gay man. Times aren’t easy, though; BMI’s pre-tax profits nearly halved to £15.5m in 2007.

8 (10) Alan Bennett; Playwright and author

Leeds-born national treasure who moves effortlessly from memoir to plays, monologues, historical dramas and screenplays. Reticent in person, expansive in diaries. His latest best seller, ‘The Uncommon Reader’, out in paperback next month, displays his mastery of voice – and his gentle sympathy for the older woman (it’s about the Queen).

9 (32) Alan Carr; Comedian

There are reports of a TV bidding war as the self-styled Tooth Fairy nears the end of his Channel 4 contract. As well as hosting ‘The Friday Night Project’, and its Sunday incarnation, Carr has a second series of ‘Alan Carr’s Celebrity Ding Dong’ due in August. He’s also the first male spokesmodel for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign.

10 (11) Graham Norton; TV personality

The BBC’s Saturday-night superstar is unstoppable, easily riding out the recent brouhaha about star salaries. He’s a ratings giant, capturing a cross-generational fan base while maintaining a visibly gay – not just camp – sensibility. And thanks to BBC America, his reputation for exuberant iconoclasm has spread beyond these shores.

For the full list of 101 influential gay people in Britain, click here.

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Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen says he has received death threats in the past because of his sexuality.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the actor, who came out in 1988, said the number of threats had “declined considerably” in recent years.

“I think I’ve become rather boring to the public at large on this particular issue,” he said.

Sir Ian is supporting gay US bishop Gene Robinson, who has been excluded from an Anglican Church convention.

The American preacher has not been invited to the Lambeth Conference, held every 10 years, but has said he will be in Canterbury, where it is taking place, at the same time.

Sir Ian told the BBC that, like Bishop Robinson, he had received death threats - and argued that Britain was still intolerant of homosexuality.

“There are deaths in public places on the grounds that the victim is gay,” he said.

“There is violence of language which can be related to violence in action.”

BBC News

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TLC popularised the term “scrub”, meaning a worthless man in their hit single No Scrub.

Now Bristol is saying “No Scrub”, specifically saying no to the gay community who cruise for sex on Bristol Downs.

Scrub clearance work on Bristol Downs has raised concerns among some gay men who use the area for sex, the city council has said.

The authority’s lesbian, gay and bisexual advisory group said the action was “potentially discriminating”.

Work on the Circular Road above Avon Gorge would open up the area to wildlife and visitors, the council said.

The Terrence Higgins Trust said it was in talks with the police and council.

Plans to clear the overgrown landscape follow consultations three years ago, when some Downs users complained about “inappropriate sexual activity”.

Equality policies

A meeting of the Bristol Downs Committee on Monday was told: “Concerns were expressed by the city council’s lesbian, gay and bisexual group that this action was potentially discriminating against gay and bisexual men whose activities on this part of the Downs were objected to by other members of the local community and Downs users.”

Head of parks Peter Wilkinson said the council had strong equality policies to protect the interests of all groups, irrespective of their sexuality.

“The general public are unhappy about people taking part in lewd behaviour in public spaces, whether it’s between men and women or people of the same sex,” he said.

“We are working together with the Terrence Higgins Trust to make sure any work we will do is sensitive.

“We’re making sure people know what we are doing so we are not seen to be discriminating.”

BBC News

Is it just me who doesn’t get the need to go to outdoors for sex? I much prefer it in the comfort of my own dungeon, with all the various accutrements and sling (which is portable, but takes ages to put up and take down).

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Former Village People lead singer Victor Willis is recovering in hospital following vocal cord surgery.

Willis, the band’s original policeman, had surgery at a San Diego, California, hospital on Monday to remove nodules from his vocal cords.

His spokeswoman said the 57-year-old would be postponing his tour, but was expected to reschedule the dates.

The singer, who co-wrote the lyrics to hits YMCA and Macho Man, left the group in 1980.

After his departure, he refused record deals and requests to perform any of the Village People’s hits until recently.

He returned to the stage in 2007 after an absence of 27 years with his Victor Willis Dance Tour, but developed hoarseness after several performances forcing him to cancel European and Canadian concert dates this year.

BBC News

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The Bishop of Durham has attacked the Anglican traditionalists behind a new movement against what they consider liberal views on homosexuality.

Dr Tom Wright, a traditionalist himself, said Gafcon’s plans to let parishes break from liberal bishops were ridiculous and “deeply offensive”.

“The idea they have a monopoly on Biblical truth won’t do,” he said.

It comes as the Church of England’s ruling body, the General Synod, gathers for a five-day meeting.

“The idea that they have a monopoly on Biblical truth simply won’t do and we must stand up to this, it’s a kind of bullying. ‘We’re the true gospel people, therefore you must listen to us’.”

Good to see a traditionalist see common sense on this issue, especially as more and more scientific evidence shows that sexuality is not a “lifestyle choice” but down to genetics.

BBC News

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