How to be the next Conchita Wurst, and 6 other stories you might have missed this week

PinkNews brings you a roundup of news from the past seven days.

Here are some of the most widely read, and notable news stories from the past week which you may have missed.

1. The US Supreme Court brought marriage equality to a huge number of new states

The highest court in the US set off a legal chain reaction on Monday when it declined to rule on a number of cases surrounding same-sex marriage bans.

The decision kick-started same-sex weddings in Colorado, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Indiana, Oklahoma, Nevada and Idaho, in hands-down the most successful week for marriage equality ever.

2. UKIP welcomed a former Christian leader who thinks same-sex marriage amounts to “child abuse”

Former Christian Peoples Alliance leader Alan Craig, who claims that “all gay marriages are a counterfeit”, announced he had defected to the United Kingdom Independence Party.

A UKIP party spokesperson said: “We’re not prejudiced against traditional, old-school Christians just as we’re not against homosexual people.”

3. Open auditions were unveiled for the UK’s Eurovision Song Contest entry

Good news for anyone hoping to succeed Austrian drag diva Conchita Wurst – the BBC are accepting open auditions for Eurovision entries for the first time in years.

Guy Freeman said: “We’re keen to provide as many routes into the selection process as possible”.

4. Benedict Cumberbatch claimed there was ‘no need’ for gay sex in Alan Turing documentary

The Sherlock star defended the lack of overt sexuality in upcoming biopic The Imitation Game, which focusses on the gay codebreaking hero’s brief engagement to Joan Clarke, played by Kiera Knightly.

He said: “If you need to see that to understand that he’s gay, then all is lost for any kind of subtle storytelling. It’s not something that needed to be made obvious.”

5. Gay flamingos adopted a chick after it was abandoned by its straight parents

A same-sex Chilean flamingo couple in Edinburgh Zoo were entrusted with the newborn, after it was rejected by its biological parents.

Zookeeper Colin Oulton said: “We’ve been able to utilise these male male bonds and it’s working out fairly well. Male male pairs are equally able to rear youngsters.”

6. The trailer was released for a gay rights documentary secretly filmed at Sochi Olympics

‘To Russia With Love’, which explores LGBT issues through the lens of athletes performing at the Olympics in Russia, was shot without permits.

It is fronted by gay figure skater Johnny Weir, narrated by Jane Lynch, and features Stephen Fry, gay basketball star Jason Collins, snowboarders Belle Brockhoff and Simona Meiler, speed skaters Anastasia Bucsis and Blake Skjellerup, tennis legend Billie Jean King, diver Greg Louganis, and ice hockey player Charline Labonté, among others.

7. Psychic Sally Morgan said she was ‘not aware’ that her husband hurled homophobic abuse at a skeptic

One of the UK’s best known psychics, who claims to have mystical powers, was seemingly caught offguard after a clip emerged of her husband and tour manager John Morgan threatening a “poof” for handing out leaflets at a show.

A statement said: “Sally was not aware of the comments made in this video. She is very upset by the events, does not condone any of the behaviour.”

• Nov 29 2023

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