Gay rights campaigners have been detained near Russia's parliament during a protest against planned anti-gay legislation.

Russia's Parliament is to consider a federal law that makes public events and dissemination of information on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, community to minors punishable by fines of up to $16,000.

Many, including Russia's dominant Orthodox church, have hailed the law saying it will boost Russia's dwindling birth rates.

This is an outrageous attack on the rights of the LGBT community.

Bigot Jim Wells who claimed last week that people who attended gay pride were ‘repugnant’ pulled out of a scheduled event at the West Belfast Feile not wanting to face protesters angry at his comments
Every year the festival has a ‘West Belfast Talks’ back event where politicians from all the main parties are invited on a platform to discuss current issues.

David Norris has been driven out of the Presidential election by the political establishment.

DUP MLA and future Stormont Health minister Jim Wells continued the tradition of homophobia at the heart of his party by this week by claiming that he found people who take part in gay pride as ‘repugnant ‘-this was his stated belief in a text message he sent to one of the organisers of the Gay Pride festival in Belfast.
The DUP have a recent history of public homophobic attacks-Ian Paisley Junior claimed he was ‘repulsed’ by gay people. Iris Robinson off course claimed she had a ‘psychiatric cure’ for homosexuals who she claimed where guilty of an ‘abomination’.

A poll carried out recently by the Irish Times showed that more than two thirds of Irish people support the right of gay couples to marry. 67% of over 1,000 people surveyed agreed that gay couples should be allowed to marry with 25% against. Support rises to 80% in the 18-24 age group.

Derry's first ever Gay pride parade passes with lots of colour and entertainment.

Sunday 22nd August - Assemble at City Hall, Dame Street at 2pm. More info - http://lgbtnoise.ie/?p=1563

Alan Early has kindly made this video. Thanks Alan!

Rainbow flags flew over Galway city for the day as AMACH! LGBT Galway was launched on Monday 5th July. AMACH! LGBT will serve as an umberella group for the LGBT community in Galway. It aims to support the development of an accessible and safe resource centre for the community; to influence and bring about change in key issues such as marraige and adoption rights for gay people; and to work for the provision of services for the lgbt community in Galway city and County.

One of the most sexually liberated societies in history developed after the 1917 revolution in Russia. Colin Wilson marks LGBT history month by looking at its impact on gay liberation

Following the recent death, from natural causes, of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir wrote a homophobic column which provoked a flood of complaints to the British Press Commission. Richard Seymour's biting comment on the affair comes from his excellent blog Lenins Tomb