[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/nycity.jpg[/img2]An annual US workplace survey has found that 79% of heterosexual adults think gay co-workers should be judged on how they do their job.

The 7th national Out & Equal Workplace Survey also found that 71% of heterosexuals agree that how an employee performs at their job should be the standard for judging them and not whether or not they are transgender.

Nine out of ten heterosexual adults said they would feel indifferent or feel positively upon learning that a co-worker was gay or lesbian, compared to one of ten who said that they would feel negatively.

It also found that 75% of heterosexuals feel that spouses of married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and lesbian employees both should receive leave when they lose a spouse/partner or close family members.

64% said that spouses of married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and lesbian employees both should receive untaxed health benefits under federal law.

The 2008 Out & Equal Workplace Survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive in conjunction with Out & Equal and Witeck-Combs Communications, among 2,637 US adults, of whom 343 self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

The survey is an annual barometer of attitudes surrounding LGBT issues in the workplace and is the longest-running survey of its kind.

"It’s encouraging that heterosexuals appear more and more committed to ending these forms of employment discrimination and to extending equal benefits to all employees," said Out & Equal Executive Director Selisse Berry.

"Despite these recent strides, however, there remain far too few companies and jurisdictions that provide meaningful protections to all employees, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. There is still much progress to be made in today’s workplace and in society itself."

LGBT respondents reported experiencing discrimination and many still feel the need to conceal their sexual orientation.

65% of gays and lesbians faced some sort of discrimination in the workplace and 47% heard anti-gay comments on the job.

36% of gays and lesbians say they remain closeted at work. 20% reported being harassed on the job by co-workers.

The survey also suggests that public education is needed on the lack of protections that exist today in the workplace for LGBT employees.

Despite their support for LGBT rights, 61% of heterosexuals are still unaware that under US federal law it is legal for an employer to fire someone because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Last week new research from a lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans civil rights group revealed that the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their employment nondiscrimination policies.

Equality Forum reported that 471 (94.2%) of the top 500 American corporations voluntarily include sexual orientation.

Attempts by the US Congress to pass a federal law protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans Americans from workplace discrimination fell apart last year amid acrimonious claims and counter-claims over trans rights.

In November the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was passed by the House by 235 to 184.

ENDA was originally designed to make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or promote a person based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The decision to remove trans people from the scope of the legislation caused anger among the LGBT community in the US, with many demanding an "all or nothing" stance.

Many of the House Democrats serving their first term did not want ENDA to include protections for trans people, fearful of a backlash from conservatives.

President Bush has already indicated he would veto ENDA.

The White House expressed constitutional concerns that the proposal could "trample" religious rights.

Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama favours including sexual orientation in federal workplace protection laws.

His Republican opponent, Senator John McCain, opposes the bill.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/katyperry.jpg[/img2]American singer Katy Perry has rejected criticism of her new single UR SO GAY.

She came to prominence this year with her worldwide hit, I Kissed A Girl, that angered some gay and lesbian rights activists.

The song, which includes the lyrics "I kissed a girl and I liked it, the taste of her cherry chapstick", was an instant number one hit.

Slant Magazine said the song: "isn't problematic because it promotes homosexuality, but because its appropriation of the gay identity exists for the sole purpose of garnering attention—both from Perry's boyfriend and her audience."

Now gay rights activist Peter Tatchell has spoken out.

UR SO GAY mocks a former 'metrosexual' boyfriend of Perry's with lyrics that one critic described as "schoolyard homophobia."

"I hope you hang yourself with your H&M scarf"

"While jacking off listening to Mozart"

"You bitch and moan about LA"

"You’re so gay and you don’t even like boys"

"No you don’t even like, no you don’t even like, no you don’t even like boys"

"You’re so gay and you don’t even like boys."

Perry's tune has infuriated outspoken activist Peter Tatchell, who said the song demeans gay people."

"I am sure Katy would get a critical reception if she expressed comparable sentiments in a song called 'UR so black, Jewish or disabled.'"

Perry defended her song's use of the word 'gay.'

"We live in a very metrosexual world," she said.

"You know, a girl might walk into a bar, meet a boy, and discover he's more manicured than she is. And they can't figure it out. Is he wearing foundation and a bit of bronzer? But he's buying me drinks at the same time!"

"I'm not saying you're so gay, you're so lame. I'm saying, you're so gay, but I don't understand it because you don't like boys!"

Perry started out as a Christian pop artist, listening to gospel music and strutting her siren’s voice at church.

Perry's parents, Evangelical preachers Mary and Keith Hudson, spoke out against her song.

Mrs Hudson said:

"We hate it. It promotes homosexuality, which the Bible clearly states is a sin, and it is shameful and disgusting."

"When it comes on I bow my head and pray."

"She is our daughter and we love her and can't cut her out of our lives."

"But we strongly disagree with how she is conducting herself and she knows how disappointed we are."

"Katy is not a homosexual and has just been led astray by Hollywood."

"She changed when she went to LA and is going through a period of rebellion."

"She's told me, 'Oh Mom, I'm not going to turn into Amy Winehouse,' but I pray all the time God will help her find salvation."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/matthewmitcham.jpg[/img2]TV boss apologises for coverage of gay Olympic hero
The head of Olympics at American television network NBC has apologised for the way in which they reported the story of Matthew Mitcham.

The 20-year-old Australian diver won gold at the Beijing Games last week.

However, NBC caused outrage by appearing to censor pictures of the athlete celebrating his win with his boyfriend Lachlan.

The only out gay contestant at the Games, NBC made no mention of his sexuality when discussing his triumph at the 10 metre platform diving event.

After the Australian national anthem was played Matthew went into the stands to embrace his mother and kiss Lachlan, an event missed out of the NBC coverage broadcast across the US.

After protests led by gay entertainment blog AfterElton.com, the network initially claimed they were unaware that there was an issue over their coverage.

"Anyone watching NBC’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics is aware how much time the network devoted to many athlete’s personal stories," said AfterElton.com.

"Michael Phelp’s record setting eight Olympic gold medals and his relationship with his mother, Usain Bolt’s gold medals and world records, and even Sanya Richard’s relationship with her fiancée who plays for the New York Giants.

"Was Mitcham's win simply not that noteworthy? Given that he single-handedly kept the Chinese from winning every men’s diving gold medal, that explanation is highly unlikely."

NBC responded: "It's not possible to cover the entire personal story of every athlete regarding their performance. It’s just not possible to single out coverage."

However, yesterday the network's head of Olympics conceded that NBC had been at fault.

"We regret that we missed the opportunity to tell Matthew Mitcham's story," Gary Zenkel told AfterElton.com

"We apologise for this unintentional omission."

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[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/condoms.jpg[/img2]A lubricant has become a popular acne cure among Cambodian women.

Number One Plus is a water-based lubricant produced by health organisation Population Services International (PSI).

It is distributed, along with condoms, among gay men and sex workers in the capital Phnom Penh as part of an AIDS prevention programme.

It is also an excellent cure for spots, 29-year-old vendor Tep Kemyoeurn told AFP.

"After I used it for three days, all of my acne dried up and went away," she said.

"Many people believe in it," she added.

Another woman told Khmer-language Kampuchea Thmey newspaper that she had used many kinds of medicine to treat acne but none had worked.

"After that my friends, who work at garment factories in Phnom Penh, advised me to apply the lubricant from Number One Plus condoms on my face every night," she told the paper.

"And just within three to four nights, the acne on my face gradually and then totally disappeared," she added.

A vendor near a factory in the coastal city of Sihanoukville told the newspaper that she sold packets of Number One Plus lubricant for 500 riels (6 pence) to women every day.

PSI is a US-based non-profit health organisation that works with low-income and vulnerable populations in more than 60 developing countries.

Its programme in Cambodia focuses on HIV/AIDS, malaria, reproductive health and child survival. It is partly funded by the British government through the Department for International Development.

If you were a movie character from an existing movie which one is closer to the person you are?mile:

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/lancebass.jpg[/img2]Dancing With the Stars was finally announced on ABC’s Good Morning America yesterday, and gay and lesbian fans are going to have a blast with this go-around.

The new season will include such well-known names as singer Toni Braxton, former ‘N Sync member Lance Bass, Olympic gold medallist Misty May-Treanor and Award-winning soap diva Susan Lucci.

Despite rumours, however, openly gay singer Lance Bass will be paired with Lacey Schwimmer, not a professional male dancer.

Rumours have been swirling around the new cast for season seven of Dancing With the Stars for months, including one pervasive rumor that former ‘N Sync boy band member Lance Bass might just be paired up with a male dancer, marking the first same-sex pairing to be featured on the show.

That particular rumour did not pan out.

Though Bass will be strutting his stuff on season seven, he will be paired with female professional dancer Lacey Schwimmer.

Along with Bass, the season seven cast includes a bevy of other hot performers sure to delight gay fans.

Lesbian lust-inspiring Olympic gold medallist Misty May-Treanor will show off her moves with pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Legendary singer Toni Braxton will take to the dance floor with dancer Alec Mazo. Television’s most fabulous soap opera diva, Susan Lucci, will groove to the beat with partner Tony Dovolani. Thirteen celebrities total will be vying to claim the top prize on Dancing With the Stars in the new season.

An earlier ‘leaked’ list of the new season’s competitors turned out to be almost entirely accurate, with one exception.

Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath was listed on the leaked list, but was not part of the officially announced cast. Instead, that slot ended up belonging to chef Rocco DiSpirito.

Twenty-seven year-old TV personality Kim Kardashian, also among the new season’s celebrity guest stars, injured her foot on Sunday night when she cut herself on a glass coffee table, according to People.com.

However, speaking to Ryan Seacrest during his KISS-FM radio show on Monday, Kardashian hopes the injury will not impair her ability to perform on Dancing With the Stars. "This is a challenge, and we’ll get through it, and we’re going to do whatever we can to make this heal as fast as possible," Kardasian said.

Season seven of Dancing With the Stars premieres at 8pm on September 22 on ABC. The full list of pairings for the show is below.

* Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer
* Rocco DiSpirito and Karina Smirnoff
* Misty May-Treanor and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
* Maurice Greene and Cheryl Burke
* Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo
* Kim Kardashian and Mark Ballasdancing
* Cody Linley and Julianne Hough
* Cloris Leachman and Corky Ballas
* Ted McGinley and Inna Brayer
* Brooke Burke and Derek Hough
* Jeffrey Ross and Edyta Sliwinska
* Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson
* Susan Lucci and Tony Dovolani

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/police3.jpg[/img2]The partners of gay and lesbian police officers who die in the line of duty will be eligible for benefits under new proposals.

The Home Office’s review of the police injury compensation scheme will also extend payments to unmarried heterosexual partners.

The proposal was included in a new consultation document on the scheme.

Other new measures include changing the current arrangement whereby survivor spouses stop receiving payments if they remarry or cohabit with a new partner.

"I am committed to ensuring we have an injury compensation system suitable for the challenges of modern day policing which recognises the demanding and sometimes dangerous roles that police officers carry out," said Home Office minister Tony McNulty.

"I hope the changes will provide peace of mind and assurances to police officers and their families, while ensuring the system is as effective as possible, administered consistently and targets help where it is needed most."

Under the proposals, officers who are injured on their way to or from work will no longer be eligible for benefits, while those who are completely disabled as a result of their injuries will receive five times their average pensionable salary.

My orientation is no longer gay, it is towards Julian McMahon!

He has placed a restraining order on me!! :eek:

He is just pure sex!

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/mi5.gif[/img2]
The British intelligence service MI5 is pushing to recruit more LGBT people to the organisation.

MI5 is being advised by Stonewall, the UK's leading gay equality organisation, on how to attract a more diverse range of applicants.
The intelligence service also wishes to encourage spies to be more open about their sexuality.

This year MI5 will appear in Stonewall's graduate recruitment guide, which lists gay-friendly employers.

Ben Summerskill, director of Stonewall, said:
"We are delighted that MI5 have decided to explore the pool of talent within the LGBT workforce."

"We will encourage graduate recruits to work in this area in the future."

"This is a sign that people in all sorts of public services are looking in a different way at how to recruit talented people."

"Previously, public services were delivered by the 'Man from the Ministery', who was white and heterosexual; that is now changing."

Mr Summerskill also told the Times on Sunday:

"I am optimistic that in 10 to 15 years their [MI5’s] employment profile will look very much like modern Britain."

"There is no reason why there shouldn’t be a lesbian or gay director-general."

Until the early 1990s gays and lesbians were prevented from taking sensitive government jobs as it was believed that they would be vulnerable to blackmail.

Since the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London, MI5 has expanded rapidly, with staff numbers predicted at 3,500 by the end of 2008.

MI5 are working towards diversifying their workforce by recruiting people from all backgrounds with a range of capabilities.

The MI5 recruitment website states: "An in-depth knowledge and understanding of a variety of communities, cultures and languages isn’t just an advantage, it can be absolutely critical.

"At present, we are very keen to speak to people who speak: Arabic (all dialects, and particularly North African), Sorani, Bengali, Urdu with or without Gujarati, Punjabi, Chinese (Mandarin), Somali, Pushto, Persian and Russian."

"We welcome all applications, but would be particularly interested to hear from women, individuals from ethnic minority groups and disabled people."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/testube.jpg[/img2]Academics at the University of Padua, Italy, claim that bisexual men may have inherited their attraction to men through "hyper-heterosexual" female family members.

Dr Andrea Camperio Ciani and colleagues showed that the female relatives of homosexual men tend to have more children, which they believe suggests that genes on the X chromosome are responsible.
The team now believes that the same is true for bisexuality.

The researchers carried out a survey of 239 men, asking about their families and sexual experiences.

The results showed that gay and bisexual men's female relatives on the maternal side had more children than those of straight men.

Dr Camperio Ciani stressed that this does not prove the existence of a "gay gene", but that an unidentified genetic factor promotes sexual attraction to men in both men and women.

This in turn would influence a woman's sexual attitude (but not increase her fertility), making her likely to have more children.

California Neuroscientist Dr Simon LeVay describes this genetic factor as "hyper-heterosexuality", and claims that it would help pass homosexuality on through the generations.

Dr Camperio Ciani and colleagues say that the genetic factor appearing in both bisexual and gay men supports the heory that sexuality is determined by a mixture of genes and experience.

Dr Camperio Ciani told The New Scientist: 'We understand that the genetic component has to interact with something to produce different phenotypes.

"Genetics is not determining the sexual orientation, it's only influencing it."

Dr Camperio Ciani studys sexual behaviour and sexual strategies in primates and humans, and victims of sexual crimes.