Alan Cumming launches mock “celibacy challenge”
Scottish actor Alan Cumming has created a “celibacy challenge” to poke fun at the FDA’s one-year abstinence period for gay and bisexual men to give blood. Not up for a year without sex? You can always sign his petition asking the FDA to change the rules.
Who is the highest paid CEO of an LGBT organization?
The Washington Blade surveyed some of the largest American LGBT and HIV/AIDS activist groups to find out who gets paid the most. In first place was Craig Shniderman, the CEO of Food & Friends, an AIDS support organization, who received total compensation of $433,000.
Mexican same-sex marriage wave continues
Mexican gay couples in the states of Tabasco, Chihuahua and Jalisco have all received permission to marry from federal courts. In Mexico, judges can issue an “amparo,” which means an order allowing only one couple to marry. When a state is issued five amparos, however, the law is considered overturned.
New compound could work as HIV vaccine
Researchers in Florida say they have created a compound that blocks binding sites on the HIV virus, making it unable to infect new cells. The scientists have repeatedly tried without success to infect monkeys who were primed with the vaccine. If the approach works in human trials, they say it could be the most effective method yet of preventing HIV infection.
Read more at the New York Times.
UK murderers to marry behind bars
A man convicted of killing a gay man while roaming the streets with his homophobic gang will marry a convicted murderer and child abuser in the UK’s first gay wedding behind bars. Authorities stressed the marriage will cost taxpayers nothing, and the two men will not be able to share a cell.
Finnish president signs same-sex marriage into law
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has signed a law legalizing gay marriage. The law was passed by the Finnish parliament last year, but will not come into force until March of 2017. Finnish gay couples have been able to enter civil partnerships since 2002.
Read more at Sputnik International.
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