Culture

Feature: The weirdest and most unexpected LGBT stories of 2012

Dec 25 2012
Written by Joseph McCormick

As 2012 draws to a close, PinkNews.co.uk takes a look back at the most important stories of the last twelve months.

While we have looked at the top fifteen stories that have changed LGBT life the UK this year, this category is dedicated to the strangest stories of the year: the news in 2012 which took us completely by surprise.

15 – Catholic priest accidentally projects gay porn to a room full of primary school parents

An investigation was launched after Father Martin McVeigh accidentally projected gay porn to a group of primary school parents, in place of a presentation on Holy Communion. The laptop later mysteriously disappeared.

An investigation into how a Catholic priest managed to project pornographic gay images to a room of primary school parents instead of a presentation on Holy Communion has been hindered by the theft of the laptop from his home.

A close second for this spot was Jazz FM, the radio station which accidentally played the sounds of gay porn alongside a music track for several minutes.

14 – Research finds that dolphins engage in “extensive bisexuality”

While it may be a myth that dophins are one of few species to have sex for pleasure, scientists at the University of Massachusetts concluded that male dolphins conducted intense social relationships, and they were found to engage in bisexuality.

The researchers studied more than 120 bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia, and discovered relationships of a considerably more complex nature than previously thought. Co-author of the study, Richard Connor, told Discovery News that the dolphins engaged in extensive bisexuality, combined with periods of exclusive homosexuality.

13 – Video: Fred Karger’s ‘Sexy Frisbee’ campaign video

The campaign video from openly gay, Jewish, former Republican presidential nominee hopeful, Fred Karger, was dubbed “sexy frisbee”, as it featured gay topless men kissing, and women doing sit-ups on a beach with a frisbee. The video briefly disappeared from Youtube, but was reinstated with an added warning of “explicit content”.

This one was almost as weird as Russell Brand being nice to members of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for the ‘God Hates Fags’ campaign, when they appeared on his US chat-show, and branded him a “fag pimp”.

12 – A man standing trial for handing out “homophobic” leaflets warned of “a tsunami”, as the result of gay rights

28-year-old Kabir Ahmed, was one of five men on trial at Derby Crown Court, who had given out leaflets deemed homophobic. He said that homosexuality needed to be stopped, or society would face “something like a tsunami.”

11 – A Builder was fined for leaving cement penises on a wall outside a Bristol man’s house

A builder has been fined after subjecting a Bristol man to homophobic abuse and leaving cement penises on a wall outside his house.

Michael Parkes, a 34-year-old builder, lodged a guilty plea at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, and admitted using threatening words and behaviour towards the victim, Richard Ives, last spring.

10 – Paris Hilton was caught making homophobic remarks to a gay friend in the back of a cab

US reality star Paris Hilton was caught making a series of homophobic remarks to a gay friend in the back of a taxi, during which her friend was looking at dating app, Grindr. She said:

“Ewwww…gay guys are the horniest people in the world…they’re disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS…I would be so scared if I was a gay guy…you’ll like, die of AIDS.”

We thought you were our friend, Paris. (She did later apologise for the remarks).

9 – Trans teenager gets restraining order for impersonating Katie Price and withdrawing thousands of pounds of her money.

Kerry marshall, 18, a transgender teenager who impersonated Katie Price on two separate occasions at a local branch of HSBC and stole £2,500 of her money was been given a restraining order against the former glamour model.

Ms Price’s new boyfriend was dubbed a “gay icon” by the Sun this week, as he appeared on gay porn websites.

She also purchased a Mazda MX5 sports car and jewellery under the celebrity’s name.

8 – Russian activists sue Madonna for $10 million for “causing moral suffering”

A group of nine “desperate” homophobic Russian activists tried to sue Madonna for $10 million after they claimed she insulted their feelings when she spoke out in favour of gay equality during last week’s concert in St Petersburg.

Thankfully, the Material Girl was later acquitted of all charges brought against her, but had a tough 2012, as Sir Elton John, continuing a long-running feud with her, called her a “fucking fairground stripper”, and said her career was over.

7 – Australia launches a range of “gay teas”

The range of gay teas was launched in Australia to benefit LGBT health charities for the coming month and coincide with Australian Mardis Gras celebrations.

The DiversiTEA range featured eight blends: B!tch Please, Disco Ball, D.R.A.M.A Queen, F@g H@g, French Tickler, Pearl Necklace, Pinkies Up and Pride.

B!tch Please includes chilli for a fiery drinking experience, D.R.A.M.A. Queen is blended with lime, lemon peel, and daisies in order to relax the het-up drinker.

6 – Young tennis star, Laura Robson accidentally protested for marriage equality.

Rising British tennis star Laura Robson, 17, inadvertently found herself party to controversy surrounding a flag-waving protest against homophobic ex-tennis player, Margaret Court, at the Australian Open, when she wore a rainbow scrunchie.

Harry Potter star, Emma Watson, said she faced questions about her sexuality, after journalists assumed her short hairstyle meant she was coming out as a lesbian.

5 – The Mormon Church launches a new website which encourages members to be nice to gays

Following 150 Mormons quitting the church in a mass resignation, leaders of the Mormon Church launched a new website which, despite saying the church is still opposed to same-sex marriage, encouraged churchgoers to be more compassionate in discussions over homosexuality.

The website also encouraged gay and lesbian Mormons to stay in the church. It is titled “Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction,” and it claims to reflect the views of the higest authorities of the Mormon Church.

4 – Susan Boyle accidentally invited fans to an ‘anal bum party’, on Twitter.

Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle, and her PR team have sparked widespread amusement on Twitter by inviting fans to an ‘anal bum party’ by using the hashtag, #susanalbumparty, intending it to be read as ‘Susan album party’ on her official profile.

The slip up led to much hilarity on Twitter where the hashtag was trending.

Ed Harris ‏(@Ed__Harris) tweeted: “Just been invited to #susanalbumparty. Do you bring your ownlube? Or is it provided?”

Andy Parsons ‏(@andypars) tweeted: “Some anal bum fun with SusanBoyle is not something I would like to consider…”

3 – A Church of England blogger wrote in a letter to her MP that legalising equal marriage could lead to children being taught to “eat human faeces” in schools.

Writing in her letter to her MP, Dr Lisa Nolland, lay minister and blogger for Anglican Mainstream, claimed that legalising same-sex marriage would lead to children being taught risky sexual practises in school, including “eating human faeces”.

“We teach our children to wash their hands after going to the toilet; THT’s site resource, “The Bottom Line” (p. 16) describes individuals who gain sexual stimulation by eating human faeces as part of their sex “play”. What madness is happening here?”

A spokesperson for the Terrence Higgins Trust, described Dr Nolland’s proclamation as “silly”.

2 – A satirical article about Mike Tyson having gender reassignment surgery, was mistaken for reality by news websites

Several African online newspapers picked up a spoof story about Mike Tyson undergoing gender reassignment surgery, which was published on a satirical UK website at the end of November. Headlines included ”Mike Tyson sex change operation ‘a complete success’, say surgeons”.

The original article read: “Referee Mitch Halpern stopped the bout in the 11th round saying Tyson looked flushed, was sweating profusely and appeared to be lactating heavily from his left breast.”

1 – Linda Harvey, a US radio host, said that gays were not ‘people’, and so were not protected by the US constitution