Telegraph.co.uk, Posted: 2/3/2010, 7:25 AM
Ministers had tried to include a new definition of a priest in the flagship anti-discrimination law, but church leaders complained that it was far too narrow. They said it would mean religious organisations could no longer opt out of equality rules, and so would face prosecution unless they went against their beliefs by employing homosexuals. Roman Catholics feared they would be forced to admit women to the priesthood for the first time. In an unprecedented intervention in British politics, on Monday the Pope declared that Britain’s equality laws are imposing “unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs”. The controversial clause was struck out of the legislation during committee stage in the House of Lords last week, but clergy feared Labour would try to put it back in before the law entered the statute book.

The Guardian (U.K.), Posted: 7/5/2009, 6:54 PM
The Foreign Office is to risk the wrath of homophobic regimes worldwide by encouraging British ambassadors to do more to support gay communities. Chris Bryant, the new Foreign Office minister, who is gay, has started writing personal letters of congratulations to British diplomats who show public support for gay rights. He is praising them for such support even if it draws anger from national governments or local homophobic groups. On the eve of today's Gay Pride March in London, Bryant sent handwritten letters of personal congratulations to three British ambassadors in eastern Europe after they were angrily accused by national governments of promoting gay rights. He has also decided to ask British high commissioners in the Commonwealth to promote the rights of gay people, even though this will run contrary to the teachings of some local churches and governments.

GCN Ireland, Posted: 6/9/2009, 9:34 AM
After Peter Mendelson named as business secretary in 2008, and Nick Brown as chief whip, Gordon Brown has named a third openly gay MP to his government. MP Ben Bradshaw has been appointed as the new culture secretary, replacing Andy Burnham, who is to take over his role as health secretary. Brown reshuffled his government after the expense scandal have damaged the party. In other moves, communities’ secretary Hazel Blears is to be replaced by the current universities secretary John Denham, while Yvette Cooper replaces James Purnell as work and pensions secretary. Liam Byrne will replace her as chief secretary to the treasury.

Times of London, Posted: 8/17/2008, 11:14 AM
British intelligence service MI5 has teamed up with Britain's leading gay lobby group to recruit more homosexuals and to encourage spies to be open about their sexuality. MI5, which targets homegrown terrorists and foreign spies, has hired British gay justice organisation Stonewall to advise on how it can attract a broader range of applicants. Until the early 1990s, gays were barred from sensitive government jobs because of fears they would be vulnerable to blackmail. The ban followed revelations about a Soviet spy ring made up of Cambridge graduates who worked in the intelligence service. The group, including double agents Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, who were both gay, delivered allied secrets to Russia before and during the Cold War. This year, MI5 will appear in Stonewall's graduate recruitment guide, which lists gay-friendly employers.

Times of London, Posted: 7/21/2008, 11:35 AM
The venue she has chosen could not be more of a contrast to the woman herself. With the exception of a lone dragon tree wilting over the air-conditioning unit, the room at the heart of Conservative party headquarters in Millbank, central London, is self-consciously colourless: white walls, white plastic chairs, white tables. The opposite is true of Margot James, the dazzling, millionaire vice-chairwoman of the party. She cuts a striking figure: almost 6ft tall, in skinny jeans and a pastel-pink designer jacket, a blonde bob framing a heartshaped face. Her only jewellery is a ring with two diamonds so huge that it is hard to take your eyes away from them. James is a lesbian and is fed up with everyone banging on about her being a glamorous gay.

Pink News (U.K.), Posted: 5/25/2008, 3:05 PM
The British government has adopted an official programme to support the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people in other countries. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued an 'LGBT Toolkit' to its 261 embassies, high commissions and other diplomatic posts. "The FCO fully supports equality in the enjoyment of human rights and the inadmissibility of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation," the document states. "This provides the focus of FCO work on this issue. Governments have an obligation to promote equality in the enjoyment of human rights, as well as not to discriminate in their application," the document states.

Pink News (U.K.), Posted: 4/28/2008, 12:03 AM
The British prime minister, Gordon Brown accused the former minister and European Commissioner Peter Mandelson of spreading rumours that he was gay, Lord Levy's autobiography claims. A Question of Honour, serialised in The Mail on Sunday describes between Lord Levy and Mr Brown over Mr Mandelson. Mr Brown and Mr Mandelson are believed to have fallen out over the his backing of Tony Blair to succeed as Labour leader following the death of John Smith. "'Make up with Peter?' he hissed in an angry whisper. Then, as his voice gradually rose from dispatch-box volume to a near shout, he exclaimed: 'Peter? He's been going around telling everyone that I'm gay! And I am NOT GAY!'"

This Is London, Posted: 1/8/2008, 11:15 AM
A coalition of British members of Parliament is hoping to halt a gay hate law which will stop Christians pronouncing their beliefs about marriage and family life. The Tory, Labor and Lib-Dem MPs are demanding an amendment be introduced to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill to make sure religious leaders are not prosecuted for criticising homosexual lifestyles. They are threatening to force a vote on an issue which has split Gordon Brown's Cabinet. If successful, they would embarrass the Premier and Justice Minister Jack Straw, who has attempted to drive through the provision despite opposition from ministers led by Attorney General Baroness Scotland.

Pink News (U.K.), Posted: 9/25/2007, 8:40 PM
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has attended a LGBT event. He partied at the Absolutely Equal fringe party being hosted by the gay rights charity Stonewall at the Labor party conference in Bournemouth minutes ago. Mr Brown was accompanied by the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (and Equality Secretary), Harriet Harman and the Minister for Equality Barbara Follet. The ministers addressed the audience.

Pink News (U.K.), Posted: 7/18/2007, 11:18 AM
In response to questions from readers of the gay website Pink News, new British Prime Minister promises to push better treatment of gays in other countries and promises to be more vocal than he has been in the past on gay issues as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Britain's cabinet minister for finance. "The fact is, when you are Chancellor, you tend to concentrate more on talking about the economy so there are quite a few areas of policy on which I have not said much," he said in written responses. "Now I am in my new job, this will change -- and I'm looking forward to it." On gay rights abuses abroad Brown said, "We have announced an international strategy to promote rights overseas, which includes Britain's commitment to the universal decriminalization of homosexuality. We are and will continue to work with foreign partners and domestic organisations to protect the human rights of gay and lesbian people throughout the world."