HEADLINES

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE HEARINGS CHAOS: The first hearing on the Civil Unions Bill took place in Soweto yesterday, but the government says that same-sex unions - in some form - are not negotiable.

SEXUAL IDENTITY CONFUSION SURVEY: A survey conducted in New York has revealed that a significant number of men who identify as straight have sex with other men.

CIVIL UNIONS BILL HEARINGS ANNOUNCED: The schedule of public hearings on the Civil Unions Bill has been released with less than 24 hours notice, angering Gauteng activists.

CIVIL UNIONS BILL CHAOS: Concerns have been raised about the process of passing the new Civil Unions Bill through parliament in time for the December 1 deadline.

ANGLICAN CHURCH WON’T FIGHT CIVIL UNIONS: Archbishop of Cape Town Njongonkulu Ndungane - who heads 24 Anglican bishops in the country - has said that he supports the proposed controversial Civil Unions Bill.

ACTIVISTS DISMISS ANTI-GAY PROTESTS: Cape Town's Triangle Project has decided not to counter the protest action by a group of right-wing, fundamentalist Christians on 16 September.

CAPE TOWN PRIDE EXTENDED: Cape Town Pride’s 2007 organisers have decided to extend next year's festival by an extra day, making it an 11-day celebration.

UGANDAN TABLOID OUTS LESBIANS: Following its recent controversial outing of gay men, Uganda's Red Pepper tabloid has now also exposed 13 lesbians.

ACDP ANTI SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL: The ACDP has tabled a bill in the South African parliament with the aim of blocking same-sex marriages from being legalised.

UGANDA WITCH HUNT: MORE OUTRAGE: Following Amnesty International’s recent condemnation of the intimidation of LGBT people in Uganda, more groups have slammed the outing of 45 gay men by a tabloid.

ACTION TO OPPOSE CIVIL UNION BILL: The LGBTI community has been called on to begin a letter writing campaign and circulating petitions to oppose the Civil Unions Bill. Find out here how you can play a role.

MCQP LAUNCHES THEME FOR 2006: Great excitement greeted the announcement of MCQP’s theme for 2006 last night in Cape Town.

COMIC BOOK FOR GAY DEAF COMMUNITY: A new comic book, produced by GALA, is reaching out to the deaf community with messages about HIV and AIDS, sexual violence and sexual rights.

CIVIL UNION BILL PROCESS TO BEGIN: Parliament's Home Affairs Committee meets on Wednesday to start the process of making the controversial same-sex civil union bill law.

GAY CONVERSION GROUPS SLATED FOR: UK gay pressure groups have accused an "ex-gay" organisation of "inviting child abuse" after claiming children with gender identity issues should be exposed to bullying.

UK GAY POLICE AD FURORE: An advert placed by the UK's Gay Police Association highlighting homophobia has caused a fuss among religious groups.

UGANDAN GAYS TARGETED: Amnesty International has condemned what it calls, “the ongoing targeting and intimidation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Uganda.”

MUSLIMS SLATE FREDDIE MERCURY PARTY: Conservative Muslims in Zanzibar have demanded that a party planned to celebrate the late Zanzibar-born Freddie Mercury's birthday be banned.

FOOTBALL CLUB FIGHTS HOMOPHOBIA: A high-profile British Premiership football club, Manchester City, has become the first football club to officially be recognised as "gay friendly”.

CHANGE FOR GAY BLOOD DONORS: While the deferral period for gay men wishing to donate blood has been reduced, some organizations say that this is not enough.