As if us here in the States haven't heard enough about the now infamous balloon boy and his family who captivated the nation with an elaborate hoax to garner media attention, more information surfaces about this troubling family. A video has surfaced on Youtube showing the balloon boy and his brothers rapping using numerous anti-gay slurs.

Here is the link to the story posted by The Advocate:
Balloon Boy, Brothers Rap Antigay Slurs   | News | Advocate.com

[SIZE="4"][COLOR="DarkRed"]A 49 year old gay man who was the victim of a Hate Crime last week in Queens, New York that was caught on tape speaks for the first time about the attack. His attackers have been arrested and charged with felony assault as a hate crime.

You can read the article here, what a brave man.[/COLOR][/SIZE]
: Gay man Jack Price, beaten in Queens, talks about attack

Be careful, folks, it is still happening :frown: Ian Baynham was assaulted and died from his injuries sustained in an attack in Trafalgar Square. Police have arrested two seventeen year old girls and an eighteen year old boy.

Condolences to his family and friends.

link

So Which Books Face Calls for a Ban or Restrictions?
As you might imagine, literature featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) themes is often the source of controversy.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Henry Cole is often one such book that is challenged. It is the story of two male penguins who raise a chick in the Central Park Zoo.

The book, aimed at children, is based on true events and, whilst not featuring any explicit affirmations of sexuality, it is often labeled as "indoctrination" and accused of "promoting a homosexual agenda". It is the ALA's most challenged book of 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Baby Be Bop by Francesca Lia Block was one of fifty-five books that were challenged by parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They formed a group called the Parents Protecting the Minds of Children who wanted the book removed from shelves for what they called its "graphic language" and for "promoting a homosexual agenda".

Baby Be Bop was also challenged in Wisconsin by group called the West Bend Citizens for Safe Libraries who wanted all LGBT interest books moved to the adult section, regardless of the nature of the book, claiming that such material filed anywhere else in the library could be harmful, and that restricting access to the books was necessary "to protect children from accessing them without their parents' knowledge and supervision".

Groups don't ask for books to be banned just for the sake of children either. The Christian Civil Liberties Union (CCLU) filed a legal suit against West Bend earlier this year claiming that elderly library goers were "damaged mentally and emotionally" by Baby Be Bops presence. They sort financial damages and the right to hold a public book burning.

Speaking on the lawsuit a spokesperson for the CCLU said, "We don't want it put in a section for adults. We're saying it's inappropriate to have it in the library, and we want it out or destroyed".

For a list of LGBT themed books that are frequently protested against or have received local bans, please click here.

It's not just LGBT themed books that are targeted. Often books that are considered classics by most are also challenged. The organization Focus on the Family and others like it have, in the past, wanted to restrict access to books they deem " too liberal", "satanic" (concern was raised that The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter promoted sorcery) and books that do not "represent traditional values". The traditional values they stand for include campaigning against abortion, and the perceived homosexual agenda.

"Every year, the ALA and other liberal groups use this trumped-up event to intimidate and basically silence concerned parents... the truth is, parents have every right and responsibility to object to their kids receiving sexually explicit and pro-gay literature without their permission, especially in a school setting." – Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family.

So what kind of books are often objected against? Here's just a small selection:

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
   
2. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
   
3. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling.
   
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
   
5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker.
   
6. Animal Farm by George Orwell.
   
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison.
   
8. Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
   
9. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
   
10. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. This is the ONLY book I have not (YET) read!!

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama delivered a rousing speech Saturday night to the nation's largest gay rights group, praising the gay community for making strides in equal rights and pledging to deliver on major campaign promises that some say he's left on the back burner.
President Obama speaks Saturday night at the Human Rights Campaign dinner in Washington.





"For nearly 30 years, you've advocated for those without a voice," Obama said during his address at the dinner for the Human Rights Campaign. "Despite the progress we've made, there are still laws to change and hearts to open."
Obama's speech came as gay rights activists continued to lose patience over the lack of change to key issues for the gay community -- including the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. It comes on the eve of a major gays-rights rally in Washington.
"This fight continues now and I'm here with the simple message: I'm here with you in that fight," Obama told the applauding crowd.
The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement praising the speech, saying it was a "historic night when we felt the full embrace and commitment of the president of the United States. It's simply unprecedented."
Obama called for the repeal of the ban on gays in the military -- the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country," he said. "I'm working with the Pentagon, its leadership and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy, legislation that has been introduced in the House to make this happen, I will end 'don't ask, don't tell.' That's my commitment to you."
The president said he backed the rights of gay couples, saying they should have the "same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country." He said he has urged Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefit and Obligations Act.
Don't Miss

• Gay rights advocates gather ahead of speech
  
• Military dismisses more gay women than men

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/nationalcomingoutday.jpg[/img2]Bisexual people should use National Coming Out Day as a way of coming out of the closet, a group has said.

The Bisexual Index, a network of activists, says that the 'B' in LGBT is too often silent and that bisexual people are often faced with prejudice.

It has created a badge that can be posted on web pages and is urging people to use them on blogs and social networking sites on October 12th, which is National Coming Out Day.

Marcus Morgan, co-ordinator of the Bisexual Index and chair of next year's International Conference on Bisexuality, told PinkNews.co.uk: "When I came out, I came out as a gay teenager – it was a huge shock to my parents and family, although most of my friends were struggling with the decision of whether or not to come out themselves. I got a lot of support from them, and the local gay community.

"Years later when I realised I was bisexual it was different. My gay friends accused me of being 'straight all along', despite the fact that at that point I'd had boyfriends but no girlfriends.

"When I rang the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard and asked if there were any bisexual groups I was told by the volunteer that before he'd give me details of such things he felt 'obliged' to ask me if I was sure that was what I wanted. We get a lot of calls from bisexuals, he said, and apparently he always asked them if it wouldn't be easier to come out as gay, "without all the pretence".

"When I explained that I had come out as gay to my parents and that I wasn't trying to ease myself out of that closet, his response was that I was presumably making the reverse journey – I was doing this as a precursor to becoming straight!"

Morgan added that these kind of myths can make coming out as bisexual harder than coming out as gay.

He said: "Coming out as bisexual is harder for many people – because of these sort of attitudes towards the validity of bisexuality, the lack of information for bisexuals and the assumptions that get made, it's like the closet door faces uphill."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/spiritbar.jpg[/img2]Spirit Bar in Canal Street was packed to its 650-person capacity on Tuesday night as the Tories held their first-ever official gay event.

The event was attended by many high-profile Conservative MPs and shadow cabinet ministers including shadow equalities minister Theresa May and party chairman Eric Pickles.

The event drew protests from Christian groups who held a protest along the entrance of Canal Street. Andrew Clarke, national campaign manager for Christian Watch, was among them:

"We are here this evening because we want the people to go back to biblical principles, we want to save peoples souls," he said.

"I’ve actually had a really enjoyable evening and we have had a lot of interesting conversations with people this evening.

"I don’t think that we are going to have any effect on the choices that gay people make, but our priority is to save people's souls, which is why we felt we had to come here today."

The event also drew lively protests from members of the gay community, fearful of what a Conservative government might mean for them.

Local resident Mathew Helbert told PinkNews.co.uk: "I find it offensive that the Tories are here today, we fought for so many years for equality which they tried to stop and now they’re here. I’m worried that if the Tories get back in to power then all of the good work that we have done will have been for nothing.

"The gay village wouldn’t have existed if they had their way."

Party chairman Eric Pickles told partygoers: "We’re very, very proud of this event tonight and I think that this has shown just how far the Conservatives have come.

"Next year I want to see another official gay pride night and I hope to see you all there!"

Openly gay shadow environment secretary Nick Herbert told the crowd he was "living proof" of the fact the party had changed.

He said: "I am lucky enough to be in David Cameron's shadow cabinet as an out gay man, I was elected as an out gay man, I have never experienced any prejudice or obstacle along the way."

Herbert added that the party was proof that "gay people are not the property of the left."

Party host and Conservative blogger Iain Dale told PinkNews.co.uk: "I’m really pleased that so many people have come and that people are having such a great time, I think that it is really important that we have events like this."

There was much speculation at the non-attendance of Ben Summerskill who was expected to speak at the event. Summerskill pulled out at the last minute, citing concerns over Tory allies in Europe.

"It’s a shame that he has made the decision not to come," Dale commented. "He’s behaved in a disgraceful way."

Also in attendance were Shailesh Vara, shadow deputy leader of the house, Margot James, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Stourbridge, Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate and shadow immigration minister Damian Green.

The £15-a-head party was held outside the conference secure zone, allowing non-party members to attend.

"The interest in the Conference Pride party has been phenomenal," said party organiser Scott Seaman-Digby. "It has become the event to be seen at."

The bar served a number of cocktails specially created for the evening including one called ‘The Cameron PM'.

"There has always be an unofficial gay event at Conservative Conference," one reveller said, "but I think that having an official event and having such a large amount of support from leading people in the party means a lot to us and should mean a lot to the Conservatives."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/georgemichaelkennygoss.jpg[/img2]Singer George Michael has said there is no truth in reports that he and long-term partner Kenny Goss have split up.

Reports claimed this week that Goss had become sick of Michael's brushes with the law for drug use.

It was said that he left in December after the star was arrested for drug possession in a public toilet on Hampstead Heath.

However, Michael is now claiming that Goss is away preparing for an exhibition in Dallas.

A spokesperson for the star said: "There is no truth in the matter at all. Kenny has been away in Dallas where he owns a gallery but is scheduled to return home this Friday. They are planning a lovely weekend together."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/gayparents.jpg[/img2]A study of adoptive parents has found "no significant difference" in emotional problems experienced by children brought up by gay adoptive parents.

The US research, published in this month's Adoption Quarterly, surveyed 1,384 couples, 155 of whom were gay.

All were asked about their family structures, the child's history before being adopted, his or her current emotional state and family interactions.

While sexual orientation of parents was not found to be a factor in emotional problems, age and pre-adoptive sexual abuse were found to be the most likely indicators of distress.

The research was authored by Scott Ryan, the new dean of the University of Texas School of Social Work, and Paige Averett and Blace Nalavany, assistant professors of social work at East Carolina University.

Ryan commented: "Our research shows that there is no difference in children raised by gay or lesbian parents and heterosexual parents. People are people."

He added that Florida has the only adoption system that specifically prohibits gay and lesbian persons from adopting children and asks all adoptive parents to sign an affidavit stating they are not gay. Yet gay and lesbian couples can be foster parents there, he said.

Texas allows gay and lesbian couples to adopt.

Averett said: "There are implications for social work educators, adoption professionals, and policy makers in this and other recent studies.

"We must pay attention to the data indicating that gay and lesbian parents are as fit as heterosexual parents to adopt, because at least 130,000 children are depending on us to act as informed advocates on their behalf."

The factors which were found to increase a child's happiness were a rise in annual income and parental satisfaction with the help received during the adoption process.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/terrencehigginstrust.jpg[/img2]Sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is now offering an HIV test which can be used four weeks after infection.

Usually, tests can only be carried out three months after the date of suspected transmission.

Those at highest risk of HIV infection are gay men and Africans.

The blood test, which involve a finger prick, will be used at THT’s Fastest clinics and results are normally available in approximately 20 minutes. If the test result is positive, staff will advise another test is taken to confirm the diagnosis.

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at THT, said "If you’re worried you’ve been exposed to HIV waiting three months for an accurate test result can be agonising. Technology has now moved on, so we’re able to offer reliable tests earlier. If you think you’ve been at risk or you’re in a high risk group you should consider getting a test. It’s quick, confidential and could put your mind at rest."

To find out if there is a Fastest clinic near you visit [SIZE=2]www.tht.org.uk/fastest[/SIZE] or call THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200