HEADLINES

GAYS PROTEST AND ‘ANNOY’ POPE: Gays and lesbians protested against the pope's anti-gay position on Saturday during his high profile visit to Australia.

GAY AUSSIE DIVER SLAMS PRIME MINISTER: Openly gay Olympic diver, Matthew Mitcham, has slammed the Australian Prime Minister's stance on same-sex marriage.

REALITY TV COP SUSPENDED OVER ADULT FILM CLAIMS: A US police officer, who appeared in a design reality series, has been suspended following claims that he starred in a gay adult film.

WORLD CELEBRATES MADIBA’S 90TH: The world is today celebrating the birthday of Nelson Mandela, one of the world's most lauded promoters of human rights.

SCIENTISTS MAY HAVE FOUND HIV ACHILLES HEEL: HIV researchers believe they have uncovered the Achilles heel in the armour of the virus that continues to kill millions.

DUBAI: 40 CROSS-DRESSERS ARRESTED: Dubai police have announced that they have arrested between 17 and 40 foreign men for being gay and wearing women's clothing.

CONTROVERSIAL PRIDE AD BILL TO GET PAID: An ad campaign promoting South Carolina to gay tourists, which was canned by that State's governor, will be paid for by the South Carolina Pride Movement.

MOVE TO REPEAL US AIDS TRAVEL BAN: The US Senate has approved a bill that could repeal the ban on HIV positive people from travelling to the US.

CALL FOR EU TO BACK ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW: EU governments have been urged to support new legislation which would provide protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

MORMON EXCOMMUNICATED FOR HUNKY CALENDAR: The creator of a calendar that features hunky male Mormon missionaries has been excommunicated by his church.

RIGHTS ABUSES FUEL HIV EPIDEMIC: Human rights abuses are fuelling the spread of HIV say 400 AIDS and human rights organisations ahead of a major International AIDS Conference.

MCCAIN’S ANTI-GAY ADOPTION STANCE SLATED: Activists have slated US Presidential candidate John McCain's comments that he is opposed to adoption by same-sex couples.

UGANDAN PRESIDENT LAUDS ANTI-GAY STANCE: Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has lauded his country-men and women for rejecting homosexuality.

ITALIAN BARRED FROM DRIVING FOR BEING GAY: An Italian man has won a lawsuit after he was banned from driving by Italy’s transport ministry because he is gay.

TUTU CALLS FOR UNITY ON GAY BISHOP: Openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson has been heckled during a sermon in London, while Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for Anglican tolerance for gay clergy.

DRAG STARS ON 3TALK WITH NOELEEN: A gaggle of drag artists made an appearance on a special 'drag episode' of national television talk show 3Talk with Noeleen on Friday.

RELIGION TRUMPS GAY RIGHTS IN RULING: A UK tribunal has ruled in favour of a Christian registrar who refused to carry out same-sex civil partnerships because of her religious views.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT CAN’T BE SUED: A Moscow court has ruled that the organisers of Moscow Gay Pride cannot sue the Russian President, Dmitriy Medvedev.

STRAIGHT PRIDE SLAMMED AS HOMOPHOBIC: A number of reggae artists plan to hold a "straight pride parade" in New York to take a stand against recent bans on homophobic singers.

LESBIAN COUPLE REFUSED MARRIAGE VENUE: An East London lesbian couple planning to get married have been turned away by a local wedding venue for "religious reasons."