So So Gay
James Moore gives us a rundown of the biggest LGBT news stories from this week.
It’s been fairly quiet on the LGBT news front this week, but nevertheless, here’s our rundown of what’s been going on this week.
Wednesday 29 August 2012 – Forced marriage: the right to choose.
The statistics regarding gay men and women being forced into heterosexual marriage are truly startling. The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) has received hundreds of enquiries made by those facing enforced marriage in the last six months alone. Those figures rose by over a quarter in May of this year, highlighting the fact that this is a very real and increasing threat. Lynne Featherstone, Home Office Minister, explained: ‘Forcing someone into marriage is completely unacceptable, that is why the government is making it a crime. Everyone should have the right to make their own choices about their relationships and their future…the Right to Choose campaign is another vital part of this and will help raise awareness of the damage being forced into marriage can do.’
Thursday 30 August 2012 – US preventative health panel to recommend routine HIV testing
The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) is expected to recommend that patients be regularly screened for HIV, reports GlobalData. Frequent tests would likely help to decrease the spread of the disease by making more people aware that they have been infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are over one million HIV-positive people living in the US, 20% of which are unaware that they have the disease. The HIV preventative drug Truvada was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last month.
Review: Paralympic Games 2012 Opening Ceremony
This week we were treated to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games. Dubbed ‘Enlightenment’, the audio-visual extravaganza was an artistically rich, fantastical yet palpably gritty affair. There was music, there was Shakespeare, there was the usual pomp and ceremony associated with such ceremonials. However, there was also a huge slice of social commentary, which hammered a crucial message home without ever seeming condescending or militant. Read our full review by clicking on the title link.
Saturday 1 September 2012 – International aid for gay rights?
Here at So So Gay we’ve started a new column aimed at giving you the opportunity to express your view on a given topic. This time, we asked you to tell us whether you think it would be justifiable to take into account a country’s record on LGBT rights when allocating international aid. You took to Twitter to tell us what you think. Click the story title link to read the full article and see your verdict.
