Blog Archive
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2011
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March
(92)
- Schoolboy, 15, jumped to his death after rumours h...
- Schoolboy, 15, jumped to his death after rumours h...
- UK civil partnerships consultation opens
- Louis Theroux returns to anti-gay Westboro Baptist...
- REMINDER: Tony Perkins Is A Racist
- Quote Of The Day - Randy Thomasson
- HomoQuotable - Dan Savage
- Shadow health minister Diane Abbott attacks cuts t...
- Gay footballer Anton Hysen: ‘Players in the closet...
- Study says gays and lesbians are still stereotyped...
- US schools warned to stop censoring gay websites
- US gay and lesbian military group launches magazine
- Teacher accused of seducing pupils denies being a ...
- Maltese trans man wins right to be recognised as male
- Gay rights group wants military gay ban to end imm...
- Red Muscle Tank
- Big Muscles
- The Rock
- Matthew Paetz
- Wet Shirt and speedos
- Black Tank
- NEW YORK CITY: Gay Man Brutally Attacked On West V...
- Quote Of The Day - Donald Trump
- The Night Of 1000 Gowns
- HomoQuotable - Bruce Bawer
- Elton John to meet David Cameron over gay HIV rates
- Thousands leave Finnish Lutheran church over anti-...
- Breast massage woman files charges after learning ...
- Suffolk Pride cancelled
- Australian gay man pleads guilty to erotic asphyxi...
- Northern Ireland school is first to form gay-strai...
- Gandhi biography claims he was bisexual and racist
- UK equality watchdog recommends that children as y...
- Harrison Ford
- Haley Barbour: Amorous Gay Soldiers Are Going To S...
- On Broadway's The Book Of Mormon
- PhoboQuotable - Victoria Jackson
- Bryan Fischer: Muslims Have No Rights
- Anthony Weiner Hints Run For NYC Mayor
- Playwright Lanford Wilson Dies At 73
- Gay Scottish MP David Cairns admitted to intensive...
- Vigil for New York teen killed in anti-gay attack
- Video: Jake Gyllenhaal on all those gay rumours
- Lady Gaga urges Malaysian people to protest censor...
- Reports say Ugandan anti-gay bill has been killed
- Chemical influences sexual behaviour in mice
- Elizabeth Taylor ‘fashionably late’ for own funeral
- Rugby fans warned over anti-gay chants at Gareth T...
- US retailer Target sues gay rights group
- Feature: Is Botox poison or pleasure?
- Man takes ‘gay sex addict’ drug case to court
- HomoQuotable - Tom Ford
- Elizabeth Taylor's Funeral Is Today
- NOM Denounces Catholic Marriage Poll
- Rep. Trent Franks: Obama May Bring Nuclear Terrori...
- Leonard Pitts On Majority Rule
- Wife Of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Join...
- COLORADO: Civil Unions Passes Senate
- Quote Of The Day - Camille Paglia
- IOWA: Crazy Eyes Praises Anti-Gay Haters
- MONTANA: Anti-Gay Rights Bill Fails
- Derby council defends foster ban on Christian couple
- Census campaign calls for people to list their rel...
- Government scraps dual discrimination protection
- Review: Proud2 launches at London’s O2
- Court blocks attempt to lift California gay marria...
- Coronation Street gets first gay parents
- Ricky Martin performs for Target staff despite Lad...
- Gay and bisexual HIV infections rise 70% in ten years
- Apple removes ‘gay cure’ iPhone app
- Christian publisher forced to cancel launch of ‘ga...
- Review: Teeth, tits and tease at the Hurly Burly Show
- California to create new rules for condoms in adul...
- Parents of gay suicide student don’t want roommate...
- Judge overturns ban on homophobic church ad
- Teenager charged with stabbing gay man in north Lo...
- Stonewall FC player Aslie Pitter joins the Justin ...
- Iowa Pastor: I Helped Those Boys Go "Ex-Gay" By Ha...
- Walmart Blocks "Gay" From Book Reviews
- Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Obama's Attack On Libya Is A...
- Activists To Target Bloomberg On Marriage
- IKEA unveils gay ad in Italy
- KILLER CONFESSES: I Stoned That Homo To Death Just...
- "In God We Trust" Bill Advances
- Gay Police Association loses funding
- Poll says 53% of Americans back gay marriage equality
- US House committee approves measure for aid cut to...
- Son of anti-gay pastor Fred Phelps claims he abuse...
- Preview: Doctor Who star Matt Smith goes gay in Ch...
- Military gay ban protesters in federal court
- SWEDEN: Soccer Star Comes Out
- UGANDA: Kill Gays Bill Back On Table
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March
(92)
Judge overturns ban on homophobic church ad
A judge has overturned an Advertising Standards Authority ban on a church advert which railed against gay sex.
The ad, by the Sandown Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast, was published in 2008 in the Belfast News Letter ahead of Belfast Pride and was called ‘The word of God against sodomy’.
It contained verses from the Bible describing gay sex as an “abomination”, referred to “sodomy” and called gay people perverts.
After seven people complained, the ASA ruled that the ad was in breach of its code of practice. The church then won the right to a judicial review.
Today, a judge ruled that the ASA’s decision violated the church’s rights to freedom of expression.
According to the BBC, Mr Justice Treacy said: “The applicant’s religious views and the biblical scripture which underpins those views no doubt cause offence, even serious offence, to those of a certain sexual orientation.
“Likewise, the practice of homosexuality may have a similar effect on those of a particular religious faith.
“But Article 10 (of the European Convention on Human Rights) protects expressive rights which offend, shock or disturb.
“Moreover, Article 10 protects not only the content and substance of information but also the means of dissemination since any restriction on the means necessarily interferes with the right to receive and impart information.”
He added that it did not condone violence and was not likely to provoke it.
Rev David McIlveen, of the Sandown Free Presbyterian Church, said he was delighted at the “landmark” verdict.
Speaking outside the court with the Rev Ian Paisley, he said: “We want to make it clear we had nothing against the seven people who objected to the advertisement.
“This is a landmark now for future decisions. People can quote the Bible and that’s a freedom that we have sought.”