| MN Soul Essence celebrates African American GLBT pride
The 2006 Minnesota Soul Essence celebration of the African American gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community was held August 11-14.
The opening ceremony was held on Friday, August 11, at the Hyatt in downtown Minneapolis on Nicollet Mall. It was an upscale, elegant affair featuring live entertainment and soul food. T. Mychael Rambo emceed, and the entertainment included various local musical talents Kevin Jackson and Margeaux Davis.
Throughout the night along with the sound of the music could be heard the occasional clink of dinnerware and the constant murmur of old friends coming together; however, within a few moments of spoken word artist Kevin Moore taking the stage, all conversation came to a halt. His thought-provoking words and eloquent presentation demanded and received the audiences undivided attention.
Cleric wades into gay pride row
The Catholic Archbishop of Glagow has controversially defended the nine firemen who have been disciplined for refusing to distribute fire safety leaflets at a gay pride event. One officer was demoted, eight others were given warnings, and all were required to attend diversity training after they disobeyed orders to attend the Pride Scotia event in Glasgow. But Mario Conti, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow, issued a statement today saying that the disciplinary action was 'dismaying'. Archbishop Conti said that 'the duty to obey one's conscience is a higher duty than that of obeying orders.' While some of the firemen had said that they were refusing to give fire prevention advice at the event in June because they had religious objections, other refused to do so simply because they said it would be embarrassing.
Moscow court affirms gay pride parade ban
[JURIST] A Russian court has affirmed the right of the city of Moscow to reject an application by organizers of a gay pride parade, ruling that there was a legitimate safety concern in banning the parade, though lawyers for the parade organizers said the ban infringes on gay rights. A separate court upheld the ban [JURIST report] in May but organizers held the parade anyway. Two hundred people were arrested during the May 27 parade [Washington Post report], where participants were assaulted by onlookers. The organizers intend to appeal Tuesday's court decision. The parade marked the 13th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Russia. In 1997, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia implemented a new Criminal Code [text] that excluded Article 121, which criminalized consensual homosexuality [gay.ru backgrounder].
Boycott of gay march may cost firefighters jobs
Nine firefighters could be sacked for refusing to distribute fire safety leaflets at a gay pride march, their employer said yesterday. The male firefighters will be told the outcome of a disciplinary hearing into accusations that they refused to obey orders to hand out leaflets this week. The officers could be sacked, demoted or receive a disciplinary warning for allegedly failing to carry out duties at a Pride Scotia gay parade in Glasgow in June, and disciplinary proceedings have been backed by the gay rights campaign group Stonewall. .
| 
