Reuters: Portugal parliament overturns veto on adoption by gay couples

http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN0VJ1Z0?irpc=932
(Reporting by Andrei Khalip; editing by Katharine Houreld)
Wed, Feb 10 17:00 PM GMT

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's parliament on Wednesday overturned the presidential veto on a bill legalising adoption by same-sex couples, which means conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva will have to sign it into law before his term ends in March.

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.

Telegraph: ‘This is what it’s really like to live with HIV’

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/health/this-is-what-its-really-like-to-live-with-hiv/
Theo Merz 17 NOVEMBER 2015 • 10:32AM

CRISTIAN SANDULESCU, CENTRE: "BEING ON THE RIGHT MEDICATION, MY CHANCES OF TRANSMITTING THE VIRUS ARE NEGLIGIBLE"

Charlie Sheen is expected to make a "revealing personal" announcement today, following reports in the US that he is HIV positive. If correct, the anticipated disclosure will confirm that the actor is one of 35 million people worldwide who live with the virus.

Charlie Sheen pictured in 2013 CREDIT: AP

HIV is rarely out of the news, and yet, because of continuing developments in treatment, few of us understand what life with the condition is like now.

Times: The concealed faces of HIV...

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151005/local/the-concealed-faces-of-hiv.586816
Monday, October 5, 2015, 11:25

In 1986, every haemophiliac in Malta was asked to undergo a blood test. There were no explanations, simply a devastating result – all 28 patients had been infected with two life-threatening viruses, hepatitis C and HIV. Just seven remain alive today. Ariadne Massa speaks with a survivor.

Clyde* walks with a slight limp and his eyes are bloodshot, but there are no other visible indicators of the ravages that three serious diseases have had on his body.

Times: A boy and his pet called HIV: one man’s story

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151005/local/a-boy-and-his-pet-called-hiv-one-mans-story.586817

Monday, October 5, 2015, 11:28 by Ariadne Massa



Leonard*: “Today I’m open about my orientation but I forever struggle with issues of self-esteem and self-worth.”

Growing up, Leonard* was weighed down under shame and sadness as he struggled to come out. He yearned for acceptance and love, but he contracted more than he had bargained for.

"At first I didn’t want to write to you, not because of the fear of being exposed but because I didn’t want you to turn me, or my story, into a piece of news. Just another over-glamorised, sensational piece of media.

Our Wedding: You had me at Hello: Christian & Clayton

Hot on the heels of their recent Civil Union, Christian Vella and Clayton Mercieca share memories from their special day with OurWedding, as well as what it means to them to be recognised as a couple by the State following the introduction of the Civil Unions Act.

http://www.ourwedding.com.mt/en/you-had-me-at-hello-christian-clayton

November 2015

A one-time virtual chat between Christian, a research and programme officer at the International Institute on Ageing, and Clayton, a manager in investment promotion at Malta Enterprise, quickly revealed that the two had lots in common. It wasn’t until a year later, however, when Christian returned to Malta after a year-long internship in the UK, that they bumped into each other at a party.