Pinksixty News WEDNESDAY 07 DECEMBER 2011
Channel: Colin Fallesen
Date: 2011-12-07

The Belgian King swore in Europe's second openly gay Head of State  yesterday. The country has been without an administration for 541 days and Elio di Rupo leads a coalition government speaking both French and Dutch.

Following the UK's declaration that it will use aid to persuade foreign governments to support gay rights, the US government has now backed a similar proposal. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said: "Gay rights are human rights".

In 2012, the New Zealand Defence Force launches it's internal LGBT support network. The military ban on gay personnel serving in the New Zealand armed forces was lifted in 1993 following the passing of the Human Rights Act.

A second online petition has been set up to secure a pardon for the gay man attributed with creating the modern computing age. Alan Turing was accused of gross indecency and chemically castrated in 1952, killing himself  two years later.

And finally, queer indie film, Weekend has won 2 British Independent Film Awards, for Achievement In Production and Most Promising Newcomer. The film has already done well in theatres, grossing around $750,000 USD.