Fridae

Stephen Gately "weds" boyfriend
Former Boyzone singer Stephen Gately and his partner Andy Cowles, an Internet entrepreneur, had a private civil partnership commitment ceremony in London.

The UK's Civil Partnership Act, which affords same-sex couples almost all the same benefits as heterosexual married couples, came into effect last December.

The 30-year-old singer is said to have made an official commitment to Cowles in Las Vegas three years ago.

The ceremony, which was attended by family and fellow Boyzone stars Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch, took place at the exclusive Goring Hotel located near Buckingham Palace.

Sir Elton John, who was also expected to be among the guests, did not attend, according to a hotel spokesman. Sir Elton celebrated his own civil union with partner David Furnish last December.

The singer-actor same out publicly in 1999 after he discovered someone was trying to sell a story to the papers about his being gay. He was commonly featured together with his boyfriend at the time, Eloy de Jong of Caught in the Act.

One of the most successful boybands in UK history, the 5-member Boyzone split up when lead singer Ronan Keating left in 1999 to begin his solo career. Gately pursued his own solo career and released several singles but was dropped by his record label in 2001. He is currently working as an actor and is due to play the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury next month.

Under the civil partnership legislation, couples will have all the rights afforded to a married couple such as next of kin rights, inheritance rights and pension rights.

Gately had expressed a desire to have an Irish wedding but no civil partnership legislation has been introduced in Ireland so far although a working group is currently examining the issue.

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Anglican Archbishop: stop teaching creationism
The archbishop of Canterbury and the leader of the world's Anglicans, says he is opposed to teaching creationism - the Bible-based account of the origins of the world - in schools.

Archbishop Rowan Williams said in an interview published on Tuesday in The Guardian newspaper, "I think creationism is... a kind of category mistake, as if the Bible were a theory like other theories... if creationism is presented as a stark alternative theory alongside other theories I think there's just been a jarring of categories... My worry is creationism can end up reducing the doctrine of creation rather than enhancing it."

According to UK's Department for Education, creationism was not taught as a subject and are not specified in the science curriculum.

The issue is currently also widely debated in the United States as religious fundamentalists argue for it to be taught in state-funded schools. Some US states are considering giving "intelligent design" (ID) - which holds that creation is so complex that an intelligent (religious) force must have directed it - equal prominence to Darwinism, the generally scientifically accepted account of the evolution of species.

Most scientists believe that ID is little more than an attempt to smuggle fundamentalist Christianity into science teaching.

US President George Bush told reporters last August that "both sides ought to be properly taught ... so people can understand what the debate is about."

In the wide-ranging interview, Dr Williams spoke of his determination to hold the third-largest Christian denomination together in its row over the place of gay clergy.

"I can only say that I think I have got to try... For us to break apart in an atmosphere of deep mistrust, fierce recrimination and mutual misunderstanding is really not going to be in anybody's good in the long run."

He also acknowledged that there might come a moment where the Anglican Communion will have to admit that they "can't continue with this," referring to the gay debate which threatens to split the church.

In related news, the issue has divided churches in the US and sparked talk of schism from more conservative regions, including Africa and Asis, after the ordination of the first openly gay Anglican bishop, Gene Robinson (New Hampshire) in 2003.

Last month, the Diocese of California included a gay man and a lesbian in a five-strong shortlist to become its next bishop. The election is set for May 6. If either is elected, observers say it would trigger the most explosive crisis in Anglican history.

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Czech Republic to enact same-sex partnerships
The Czech Republic has become the second post-communist country after Slovenia to enact same-sex partnerships. Slovenia adopted a same-sex partnership law in June last year.

The Chamber of Deputies (the Lower Chamber of the Czech Parliament) last Wednesday outvoted the presidential veto and enacted the Registered partnership Bill. The original bill was passed last December.

In a press release issued by the Gay and Lesbian League, spokeswoman Tereza Kodickova said: "It was very dramatic� This commendable decision will strengthen the stability of families of lesbians and gays."

According to the Civil Code, registered couples (one of whom must have Czech citizenship) will be accorded inheritance rights and the partnership can be dissolved by court decision only. The Bill however does not cover joint taxation, financial compensation in case of partner's death, or have any impact on citizenship, residence or work permit acquisition.

The Gay and Lesbian League says it will now strive to inform the public, namely the Act's potential users, of its content, rights and obligations. The League will also monitor the Act's implementation in practice and will endeavour to rectify any potential problematic situations or faults. It says it will not however campaign for the legalisation of the adoption of children who are not biological descendants of any of the partners.

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Chennai gets first gay-club of India
Gay men in the Indian city of Chennai (formerly Madras) have formed the first ever publicly known gay-club, a step which is considered bold as gay sex is still a criminal offence despite numerous attempts by activists to challenge it legally.

According to The Hindu newspaper, the Men Community Development Society (MCDS) was initiated with technical support from the Indian Community Welfare Organisation, a NGO which was formed in 1992 and has been working with homosexuals for the last six years in its efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. The

The 300-strong society aims to educate its members about sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and will also address the issues concerning violation of the rights of homosexual men. It also hopes to provide vocational training including management skills, administration, implementation and financial disbursements, to make them self-sufficient.

While larger cities such as Mumbai and Bangalore are more accepting of gays, same-sex relationships and behaviour are frowned upon in largely traditional India where consensual gay sex can be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.