Feb 13, 2004   | COMMENTS     

SEREMBAN, Malaysia — A top Malaysian official said the United Nations errs when it threatens to punish nations that ban gay activities, the New Straits Times reported this week. A cabinet-level minister, Dr. Rais Yatim, said the U.N. should not use a new human rights resolution to deprive developing and Islamic nations of basic laws and rights, the Times reported. “The municipal or domestic laws of a nation should not be dictated by the U.N.’s mechanism of laws, unless the former wants to comply,” he told reporters. According to Rais, the resolution, if approved, could be interpreted as the international body’s attempt to intervene in a nation’s sovereignty, the Times reported. “We will have to see first how the contents of the resolution are written,” Rais said, according to media reports. “There are countries, including Malaysia, that do not recognize sexual relations between males and such a law is sovereign and basic to us.” The U.N. measure would cover all forms of human rights, including sexual orientation, the Times reported.

Canadian lawmaker denies anti-gay charge despite comments
REGINA, Canada — A Saskatchewan lawmaker said last week he is not anti-gay and blamed the media and his own political party for flak following his anti-gay remarks, the Canadian Press reported. “I have nothing to fear from people who claim to be gay or lesbian,” Spencer told a news conference, the Press reported. “I don’t have a problem with the people.” His comments came a day after the Conservative Party of Canada decided not to allow him to run for the new party in this spring’s federal election, the Press reported. Spencer came under fire after telling a reporter in December that homosexuality should be outlawed, according to the Press. He said a well-orchestrated conspiracy is behind successes in the gay rights movement, the news outlet reported. Following the remarks, Spencer was suspended from the Canadian Alliance caucus and dropped as the party’s family issues critic, the Press reported.

British program matches gays with foster children
BELFAST — A gay foster parenting plan that has drawn fire from conservatives now will recruit potential foster parents in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph reported. The Britain-based charity, the Albert Kennedy Trust, will work to enlist gay adults as foster parents, the Telegraph reported. Under the effort, homeless and abused gay youth (16 and older) will be placed with gay men and lesbians as mentors, according to the Telegraph. Richard Brooklyn, director of the trust, said the organization will move forward with the program despite criticism from church leaders and others who allege the plan will expose young people to abuse, the Telegraph reported. “Because of other issues in Northern Ireland, this is an area that has never really been dealt with or acknowledged,” Brooklyn told the Telegraph. “If you are young and gay in Northern Ireland you can’t really win. Homophobic bullying seems to be on the increase and people are very quick to abuse others for their sexuality.”

South Korea to ease laws on gay sexual activity
SEOUL (AP) — In a largely symbolic move, South Korea said last week it plans to remove homosexuality from a list of “socially unacceptable sexual acts” that are harmful to youth. The government decision, which is subject to public debate before becoming official, marks a victory for gay rights groups that have called on the government to revise regulations deemed biased against gays. Currently, homosexuality is on a list of sexual acts that the government deems “socially unacceptable,” along with group sex, incest, bestiality, prostitution and sadism. The government limits the distribution of books, movies and Internet sites containing these acts. On Feb. 4, the government’s Commission on Youth Protection said it planned to remove homosexuality from the list. Advocates for gay rights have argued that the regulation should be revised, saying it promotes prejudice among young people. The commission said it plans to revise the regulation by April after hosting public hearings on the issue.

Swede alleges bouncer thought he wasn’t gay
STOCKHOLM — A man has reported a Swedish club for discrimination after he allegedly was denied access to the gay lounge because the establishment’s bouncer did not think he was gay, news site Ananova.com reported. This is a first case of its kind, according to George Svede, spokesperson for HomO, a Swedish acronym for Ombudsman against Discrimination on grounds of Sexual Orientation, Ananova reported. The man, 27, whose name has not been released, visited the nightclub with a friend but allegedly was not allowed to enter the special Gay-VIP Wonderbar, Ananova reported. ...