How to prevent the spread of AIDS in places like China will be a major focus of researchers and policymakers at the 16th International AIDS Conference, which opens on Sunday in Toronto. Homosexuality is no longer officially considered a mental disorder in China, but the taboo surrounding the topic often extends to discussions about AIDS and condom use for men who have sex with men. "Lots of gay Chinese think it’s great that you don’t have to worry about pregnancy but have no idea about sexually transmitted diseases," one gay Chinese man said.
Gay sports officials aren’t planning to mend the rift that separated this year’s Gay Games and OutGames. Officials on both sides said the recent success of both events — Gay Games in Chicago and OutGames in Montreal — indicates there’s enough interest to sustain two major gay sports competitions. Gay Games VII, which drew 12,000 athletes, concluded July 22. The First World OutGames had about 10,000 athletes and ended Aug. 5. Organizers said they expect both events to post a profit, but financial results have not yet been released. The Federation of Gay Games is already planning its next event, Gay Games VIII, for 2010 in Germany. [Photo by Cyd Zeigler/Outsports.com]
Despite winning a federal lawsuit mandating a gay-straight alliance be allowed to meet on the campus of White County High School in north Georgia this year, students wanting to join the club now face another hurdle: They must first get their parent’s permission, according to the school district’s superintendent. “Any new club [such as the gay-straight alliance] that is started this year requires a parent’s signature for a student to join this one year,” the school’s superintendent said.
Three men and a 15-year-old boy in Sacramento, California, will be have a preliminary hearing next month relating to charges of attempted murder and hate crime allegations, stemming from attacks on six men leaving a gay pride celebration. The men armed themselves with a baseball bat and knife before the attacks on a large crowd leaving the daylong San Diego Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Festival. The most seriously injured victim, Oscar Foster, was hit in the head and upper body 10 to 12 times, police said. Investigators are looking into whether the attacks may have been gang-related. Police said the suspects apparently are members of a “wannabe” street gang called the “Low Lifes.”
