Denying same sex couples the right to marry deprives gays and lesbians of a fundamental human right. That is unfair and unjust, writes 19-year-old Sharlene Sturk from Australia. One of the most controversial problems currently facing our society and government is the question of same sex marriage. In Australia, marriage is defined as a union …

“Same-sex marriage is a human right” Read More »

Denying same sex couples the right to marry deprives gays and lesbians of a fundamental human right. That is unfair and unjust, writes 19-year-old Sharlene Sturk from Australia. One of the most controversial problems currently facing our society and government is the question of same sex marriage. In Australia, marriage is defined as a union …

"Same-sex marriage is a human right" Read More »

Australians supposedly pride themselves on a society built on the egalitarian notion of a “fair go” and are supportive of the “underdog”. Yet social attitudes toward gay marriage are still worryingly conservative, writes Neil Thomas, a 20-year-old from Perth, Western Australia. March 5 saw Australia’s annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a massive and …

Correspondence: Camp festivities with a serious message Read More »

Australians supposedly pride themselves on a society built on the egalitarian notion of a “fair go” and are supportive of the “underdog”. Yet social attitudes toward gay marriage are still worryingly conservative, writes Neil Thomas, a 20-year-old from Perth, Western Australia. March 5 saw Australia’s annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a massive and …

"Camp festivities with a serious message" Read More »

The award-winning film Black Swan featuring Natalie Portman fell foul of censors in Barbados earlier this year. Though a ban on the film which features a lesbian relationship was eventually lifted, the incident highlights the issue of social acceptability, reports Shako Gibson, a 25-year-old Barbadian. Lately there has been quite a lot of talk surrounding …

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Recent suicides of gay American teens have struck a chord with millions of people around the world, forcing a re-evaluation of issues surrounding high-school bullying, writes Alisha Lewis, 19, a Commonwealth Correspondent from New Zealand. Jamey Rodemeyer was a normal, American teenage boy. He had brown hair, liked camping and loved music. The only thing that …

“Gay bullying and homophobia in schools is devastating” Read More »

Recent suicides of gay American teens have struck a chord with millions of people around the world, forcing a re-evaluation of issues surrounding high-school bullying, writes Alisha Lewis, 19, a Commonwealth Correspondent from New Zealand. Jamey Rodemeyer was a normal, American teenage boy. He had brown hair, liked camping and loved music. The only thing that …

"Gay bullying and homophobia in schools is devastating" Read More »

While Jamaica’s politicians debate laws related to homosexuality, the county’s culture of homophobia is taking a devastating toll on children and youth of all orientations, writes Craig Dixon, aka Juleus Ghunta, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Jamaica. Jamaicans’ revulsion for the ‘homosexual lifestyle’ has long achieved worldwide infamy. The recent constitutional clashes surrounding the buggery …

"Terrifying ‘side-effects’ of homophobia in Jamaica" Read More »