Fridae

3 LGBT groups get UN consultative status
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Monday granted consultative status to three gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organisations: to ILGA-Europe, the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association, to the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians (Landsforeningen for Bosser og Lesbiske or LBL) and the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (Lesben und Schwulenverband in Deutschland or LSVD).

The consultative status will allow these LGBT NGOs to work directly on human rights and other issues of importance to the LGBT community by allowing access to UN meetings, delivery of oral and written reports, contact with country representatives, and organising events to facilitate understanding of the abuse and discrimination that LGBT people face around the world.

No other LGBT groups till this day enjoyed this right, apart from COAL, the Coalition of Activist Lesbians (Australia) and International Wages Due Lesbian (U.S.A.). ILGA, a world-wide federation of LGBT groups, succeeded in its effort to gain entry to the UN in the early nineties only to be stripped of the status at the urging of former United States Senator Jesse Helms, a long-time opponent of the LGBT community.

Adrian Coman, IGLHRC's Program Manager, congratulated the UN's newest consultants and stated, "Their addition to the UN NGO family gives more credibility to the United Nations itself. This decision paves the way for LGBT groups from Africa, Asia, and Latin America whom we hope, in the future, will be granted consultative status so that a more global representation of LGBT voices at the UN is ensured."

Currently, there are about 2,800 NGOs with consultative status with the UN. After nearly a year of delays and procedural votes, the ECOSOC vote this week overturns the prior decision of its NGO Committee which rejected the applications of the three groups.

ECOSOC consists of 54 member states of the United Nations. Nearly half of the members voted in favor of the LGBT groups, with 24 supporting the German group and 23 voting for ILGA-Europe and the Danish organisation. The 10 to 11 abstaining states gave the groups the majority needed for official status to the UN. The supporting votes came mainly from European countries, as well as Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Australia, Canada and the United States. Costa Rica also voted in favor of the German group. South Africa, with the first constitution in the world supporting LGBT rights, chose to abstain.

On hand on Monday at the United Nations to lend last minute support for the resolutions granting official status to the three groups were Adrian Coman from the New York-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), John Fisher from the Canadian ARC International, and Kurt Krickler who represented the three applicant NGOs.

Prior to the vote, Finland's representative spoke on behalf of the European Union to support the LGBT groups' accreditation, saying that LGBT groups' presence at the UN adds diversity to the voices expressed there and is in line with the ECOSOC's focus on issues such as health, gender, development, human rights, and HIV/AIDS. Another public statement from the Canadian delegation praised the proposal as part of an effort to create an "inclusive United Nations." Germany, Norway, and New Zealand also voiced their support.

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High-profile gay blogger Perez Hilton faces US$7.6 million lawsuit
Perez Hilton, a high-profile gay blogger, has been sued by paparazzi after using their photos on his celebratory gossip website PerezHilton.com where he recently outed former N Sync member Lance Bass and his boyfriend at the time Reichen Lehmkuhl.

Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, posts tabloid photos of celebrities alongside up-to-date entertainment news.

According to the Associated Press, X17 Inc, a Los Angeles photo agency that "known for its images of stars in personal or embarrassing moments" has filed a US$7.6 million copyright infringement lawsuit for using 51 photographs without permission, payment or credit.

X17 co-owner Brandy Navarre told the Los Angeles Times: "We've had trouble with a lot of bloggers, but he's the biggest, and the most arrogant and pigheaded about it, frankly.

"He is stealing our images and costing us money every day."

While Lavandeira's lawyer claims that his client has a legal right to make comical use of newsworthy pictures, X17's lawyer John Tehranian argued that Lavandeira "is basically free-riding on the labor and efforts of X17 and its photographers who stay up all night and roam the city."

Lavandeira has insisted he has done nothing illegal, "I am going to vigorously defend myself, I am willing to step up to the plate and fight for my rights and fight for the rights of all bloggers," he said.

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Christian organisations can challenge gay rights legislation: UK High Court
The British High Court has allowed a coalition of Christian groups to seek a judicial review regarding new gay equality laws and laws that would ban discrimination in the provision of goods and services to gays and lesbians in Northern Ireland.

The Christian Institute, along with six other religious groups, has challenged Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to withdraw the new gay equality laws as it believes the law interferes with religious freedom.

BBC News reported that the the groups, which launched the legal action, have claimed the consultation process into it was flawed. Lawyer David Scoffield, representing the organisations, said the eight-week consultation process was too short.

Scoffield argued it was improper for the office of the first minister and deputy first minister to make legislation which 'discriminates on the grounds of religious belief'. He added that that similar regulations were proposed in England and Wales earlier this year had the consultation process extended the for a further six months as "further time was needed to consider complex issues."

Colin Hart, Director of the Christian Institute, said: "(The Regulations) almost appear to establish a right for homosexuals not to be disagreed with. They would cover a conversation in a Christian bookshop or a pastoral conversation with a church minister.

"The homosexual harassment provision is so broadly drafted that it nullifies what partial exemptions churches are given. A minister can say to a practising homosexual (as he would an adulterer), 'I'm sorry, you can't be a member of my church until you repent and turn to Christ,' but his explanation could be the subject of a harassment claim if the individual is offended. A teacher who says that sex is only for marriage could be accused of harassment by a pupil sympathetic to gay rights - and this would also apply to denominational schools."

Justice Deeny granted leave to apply for a judicial review. The case will come before him later this week.