Pink News: Greek Parliament passes same-sex civil unions law

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/12/23/greek-parliament-passes-same-sex-civil-unions-law/
23rd December 2015, 9:22 AM by Nick Duffy


(Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Greece has become the latest country to recognise same-sex unions, after passing a civil partnership law.

Members of the Greek parliament voted last night on re-drafting a civil partnerships law from 2008, which explicitly banned same-sex couples.

Pink News: Malta could become first country in Europe to ban ‘gay cure’ therapy

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/12/16/malta-could-become-first-country-in-europe-to-ban-gay-cure-therapy/
16th December 2015, 8:07 PM by Nick Duffy


Minister Helena Dalli presented the bill for its first reading this week

Malta could become the first EU country to outlaw ‘gay cure’ therapy, under a government bill submitted this week.

The country’s government yesterday unveiled a ‘Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression’ bill – which would outlaw so-called ‘conversion’ therapy.

Times: Unprotected sex behind record rise in HIV cases

World AIDS Day has come and gone with barely a whisper, yet Malta is this year facing a record surge in new HIV cases.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151213/local/unprotected-sex-behind-record-rise-in-hiv-cases.595477
Sunday, December 13, 2015, 10:47 by Ariadne Massa

A record high of 60 people became infected with the HIV virus, according to the latest figures.

Fourteen new cases of HIV have surfaced in just two months – shooting up the total for this year to a record high of 60 people who became infected with the virus, according to the latest figures.

Casual unprotected sex is behind this record surge – 17 more cases than all of 2014 – and medics are concerned that this coupled with the fact that the fear factor associated with HIV is no longer present could lead to more people becoming infected.

Times: ‘Church must reach out. It is how we need to convert’

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech tells Keith Micallef that the recent bishops’ synod could usher in a new era for the Church.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151206/interview/church-must-reach-out-it-is-how-we-need-to-convert.594656
Sunday, December 6, 2015, 11:19 by Keith Micallef

[Relevant questions are highlighted in yellow.]



The recent bishops’ synod conveyed mixed messages, amid reports of a split between conservative and progressive factions. Has the Church come out of the synod stronger or more divided?

This was a very useful exercise as the Church tried to read the signs of the times. It also tried to respond to fundamental needs of the people – the need for God. Considering the contrasting realities between secular Western society and the highly religious African communities, we managed to find ways of responding to the challenges being faced by humanity.

Guardian: Chicago's first LGBT retirement center: 'Here, people would come to my aid'

A former police station is providing one of the few places for the country’s estimated 1.5 million LGBT seniors to spend their later years together

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/01/chicago-first-lgbt-retirement-center-here-people-would-come-to-my-aid

Tuesday 1 December 2015 14.00 GMT 

Last modified on Tuesday 1 December 201514.23 GMT by Zach Stafford in Chicago

Eva Skye poses for a portrait in her living room at the Town Hall apartments in Chicago. Photograph: Alyssa Schukar for the Guardian

A soft morning light dances through the windows of one of the country’s only LGBT senior centers as George Garcia, 64, smiles and stares off, briefly letting a sweet memory rush forward.