Anti-gay Catholics buy gay bar, and 6 other stories you might have missed
PinkNews brings you a roundup of news from the past seven days.
The PinkNews roundup recaps some of the most widely read and notable news stories from the past week, which you may have missed.
1. Anti-gay Catholics bought a gay bar
A hardline Catholic group in Toulon, France, snapped up a local gay bar that was inconveniently located next to their church, when it was put up for auction.
They said in a statement: “A diocesan priest from Toulon, a friend of the community, has made a donation of €15,000 for this acquisition.
“The importance of this place for the evangelisation of the neighbourhood is clear. The bar of Sodom will now become the pub of Mercy.”
2. Johann Hari opened up about his plagiarism scandal
The former Independent columnist – who was sacked in 2011 over allegations of plagirism – told PinkNews: “I made some terrible mistakes and errors of judgement that I really strongly regret, and I feel ashamed of.
“When you fuck up, you should pay a big price, and it’s totally right that I should and did pay a big price for fucking up.”
3. A UKIP candidate agreed that gay people are “fascist perverts” and “paedophiles”
Welsh UKIP PPC Donald Grewar was caught leaving comments on the BNP website, appearing to agree with the extreme anti-gay statements.
Mr Grewar, who is due to stand for UKIP in Newport East at the general election in May, is under investigation by the party.
4. Cabaret star Joel Grey came out as gay, aged 82
The actor – who picked up an Oscar and a Tony for his role as the Emcee on stage and screen – opened up about his sexuality after decades in the closet.
He said: “I don’t like labels, but if you have to put a label on it, I’m a gay man.
“All the people close to me have known for years who I am. [Yet] it took time to embrace that other part of who I always was.”
5. Germaine Greer said she doesn’t believe in transphobia
The feminist speaker faced protests this week when she spoke at the Cambridge University Students’ Union, after controversial comments about transgender people.
When asked abou the boycott, she said: “I didn’t know there was such a thing [as transphobia]. Arachnaphobia, yes. Transphobia, no.”
6. Boris Johnson said he ‘can’t see what the fuss is about’ with equal marriage
The Tory Mayor of London smacked down critics of same-sex marriage within his own party, saying simply: “I can’t see what the fuss is about”.
Mr Johnson is hotly-tipped to be the next Conservative leader – but he appeared to side with the David Cameron on the issue.
7. Jacob Rees-Mogg revealed what he actually thinks about same-sex marriage
PinkNews obtained recordings of the backbench Tory MP criticising the Tory leadership for “alienating” people over same-sex marriage.
The MP said: “I’m not proud that this government passed that into law and it alienated a lot of our traditional supporters. So I think the least said soonest mended.”
Perhaps he needs a word with Boris Johnson.
