Uganda bans 38 'gay rights' agencies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing heightened expectations from gay rights supporters, the Obama administration is considering urging the Supreme Court to overturn California's ban on gay marriage — a move that could have a far-reaching impact on same-sex couples across the country.

William Whatcott intends to continue his anti-gay activism and pamphleting, knowing the price may be high. “I’m certainly weighing this, because it’s going to be at great personal cost to me,” Mr. Whatcott said Wednesday, after the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the hate speech law under which he was charged, and found he violated it in two of four original cases, pamphlets that described homosexuals as a threat to children.

A Ugandan gay rights activist who late last year was pictured and named in a homophobic tabloid has been murdered at his home outside Kampala, his lawyer told AFP Thursday.David Kato was an activist with Sexual Minorities Uganda, who was pictured and named by the anti-gay tabloid Rolling Stone in a story that called on readers to "hang" gay rights advocates."This happened yesterday (Wednesday) at about 13:00," said lawyer John Francis Onyango, referring to Kato's killing.

Justice Antonin Scalia has a reputation for making politically incorrect comments about gay people — or as he refers to them, "those who engage in homosexual conduct." Scalia and the eight other justices sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court will hear two huge same-sex marriage cases in just a few days, and he'll probably offend and shock at least a few spectators.

When the moment came, it was joyous and loud. There were deafening cheers as the gay marriage bill passed its first parliamentary hurdle in the House of Commons last night from supporters squeezed into a committee room anxiously waiting the result. "As a boy I never thought this moment would happen in my lifetime," said Greg Leonard, 44. "It's really quite emotional".

If Uganda?s recently tabled Anti-Homosexuality Bill becomes law, Frank Mugisha and other individuals found campaigning for gay rights will face the choice of going to jail or leaving the country.Mugisha heads Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a leading sexual rights advocacy group that could soon be classed a criminal organization."I have never really considered moving out of Uganda. But if I cannot work within the country, then I will have to leave," said Mugisha.

The Supreme Court is gearing up to hear two huge gay marriage cases in 2013, and gay rights advocates fear Justice Antonin Scalia might be too anti-gay to rule fairly.

The European Parliament urged Uganda on Thursday to decriminalise homosexuality and protect gays and lesbians after a gay rights activist was murdered last month.