Victim Ian Baynham

Police arrested two boys and a girl in last month’s fatal beating of a gay man in London, according to Pink News.

Ian Baynham, 62, died following an attack by three teens shouting anti-gay slurs in Trafalgar Square Sept. 25.

According to Boston’s Edge:

The three teens were acting rudely and shouting profanity. When Baynham confronted the teens about their behavior, the beating commenced.

Baynham had just been hired as a civil servant with the U.K. Border Agency after a long job hunt, the media reported. He was out with a friend to celebrate when the encounter took place.

Baynham suffered brain damage in the attack and was on a respirator; the machines were turned off after two weeks, and Baynham died on Oct. 13.

The female suspects, both 17, and the male suspect, 18, were subsequently apprehended at a London home.

Sipping cocktails and swapping gossip on a roof terrace decorated with pink balloons and rainbow flags at a gay-oriented disco, leading figures of Britain’s once-hidebound Conservative Party mingle happily with those many in its ranks once derided.

Once described – by a senior Conservative official, no less – as the “nasty party,” the traditional home of Britain’s sometimes intolerant upper classes has undergone something of a transformation as it bids to win power for the first time since 1997.

But critics ask: is the makeover real or cosmetic?

Activists gathered in the northern England city of Manchester for an annual conference certainly showed off the newly inclusive spirit this week – dancing at the party’s first official gay reception, promoting aspiring lawmakers from Britain’s minority communities and cheering a newfound commitment to tackling poverty.

The loudest praise was reserved for the architect of the party’s niceness transfusion – David Cameron, the slick 43-year-old ex-public relations executive who’s overhauled his organization’s image and now seeks to oust Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

“You only have to look around the conference and see the different types of people who are here,” said Stuart Andrew, a gay Conservative candidate for a House of Commons seat. “They just wouldn’t have been here 15 years ago.”

But Tory suspicion runs deep in much of Britain – largely because of a reputation for heartlessness toward the poor.

The Conservatives swept to power under Margaret Thatcher in 1979 on a promise to modernize Britain’s economy, sweep away bureaucracy and tame powerful trade unions. They were reelected in 1983, 1987 and 1992, but without ever shaking off their image as the party of the white, affluent and sometimes intolerant.

Thatcher once shut down school programs for milk distribution, earning the nickname “Thatcher the milk snatcher.” In the 1980s, the party imposed laws banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools and shuttered coal mines – ruthlessly crushing strikes and putting generations of men in mining communities out of work.

By 1997, Tony Blair’s Labour Party was able to paint itself as the party of progress and an inclusive, modern Britain – and the Tories knew they had a problem.

Theresa May, the Conservative chairwoman, admitted as much in a speech to the party conference in Bournemouth, England on Oct. 7, 2002.

“There’s a lot we need to do in this party of ours,” she said. “Our base is too narrow and so, occasionally, are our sympathies. You know what some people call us – the nasty party.”

The notion stuck – even though many still view Thatcher as a savior of Britain’s economy reversing the country’s steep decline, breaking its dependence on unions and industrial behemoths – giving the country needed a dose of nasty medicine.

But Cameron’s skeptical stance toward the European Union has angered leaders in France and Germany, who warn relations with London could sour if he takes power.

Many hear echoes of Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan, in Cameron’s attacks on big government and welfare dependency.

Some conference delegates – and outsiders – were angered by convention invitations extended to Latvian and Polish lawmakers from parties accused by human rights activists of being homophobic or anti-Semitic.

It has led to questions about Cameron’s drive to end his party’s former hostility toward minority groups – a sentiment traced back to Thatcher’s era, when a contentious law, known as Section 28, barred teachers from promoting homosexuality in school lessons.

Other skeptics also question Cameron’s commitment to reducing poverty, pointing to his plans to freeze the pay of millions of government workers while helping the wealthy by cutting taxes on inherited mansions.

Nonetheless, Cameron, elected leader in 2005 with a mandate to drag his traditionalist followers into the modern era, has worked doggedly to shed the party’s image as a haven for the rich and expensively educated.

He rides a bicycle to work, rather than a chauffeured limousine. He’s quashed borderline racist rhetoric on immigration to focus on the environment and health care, and has demanded that his party promote more women and ethnic minorities to key positions.

In intimate Web videos, Cameron shows off his domestic life – washing dishes in the sink of a chaotic kitchen while patting the heads of playful young children.

His wife Samantha – a successful businesswoman who updated the tired image of stationery brand Smythson – is in tune with the party’s mood, eschewing haute couture for a relatively inexpensive dress from mainstream department store Marks & Spencer on the day of her husband’s keynote convention speech.

It’s a makeover designed to combat the party’s corrosive image as Tory “toffs,” and summed up in their slogan: “We’re all in this together.”

Yet opinion polls show many Britons aren’t persuaded that Cameron has transformed his party, or convinced his political rebranding is genuine. Pollsters say voters often recall how Cameron was photographed cycling to Parliament – as a car and driver followed close behind with his suit and briefcase. They also note the leader’s privileged education at Eton and Oxford.

Though Cameron is overwhelmingly favored to win Britain’s next national election, some detractors suggest his victory would be a rejection of Brown’s flagging government, rather than enthusiasm for the Conservatives.

Britain has thus far not embraced the Tory chief as it did Labour’s Tony Blair before his landslide election 1997 win – when millions were swept along by ‘Cool Britannia’ rhetoric, and promise of sweeping social reform.

“It’s not the groundswell of support that Blair received before 1997,” said Julia Clark, head of political research at Ipsos MORI. “Cameron has successfully detoxified his party and is seen as a credible leader – but that’s the problem, it’s all about Cameron. People aren’t so sure about the rest.”

Cameron won praise after he formally apologized for the anti-gay Section 28 in July at an event ahead of London’s Gay Pride rally.

He was also applauded for a 2006 speech in which – pledging tax incentives for marriage – he said a union was just as valid “whether you’re a man and a woman, a woman and a woman or a man and another man,” a key break with party tradition.

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall, insists Cameron’s attempt to change attitudes has been a success.

“There has been a transformation,” he said. “I think it is inconceivable – not just 10 years ago, but five years ago – that we would have had the leader apologizing for the damage and offense caused by Section 28.”

Archbishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper that the Bible defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman. He said the church welcomed gay people, “but we want them to repent and be changed.”

Nazir-Ali is a leading member of the conservative wing of the global Anglican Communion, which is riven by divisions over homosexuality and the ordination of women.

Gay groups condemned the bishop’s remarks. Campaigner Peter Tatchell said Nazir-Ali’s view “goes against Christ’s gospel of love and compassion.”

And Derek Munn of gay-rights group Stonewall accused the bishop of promoting inequality and intolerance.

The 77 million-member Anglican Communion has been splintering since 2003, when the Episcopal Church – the Anglican body in the U.S. – consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has tried to hold the fragile communion together by getting churches to observe a voluntary moratorium on consecrating another openly gay bishop and developing prayers for same-sex unions. But many fear a split is inevitable.

Nazir-Ali’s remarks appeared a day before the launch in Britain of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a coalition of conservative parishes from around the world, which Nazir-Ali supports.

He was quoted as saying that people who depart from traditional Biblical teaching “don’t share the same faith.”

“We want to hold on to the traditional teaching of the church,” he told the newspaper. “We don’t want to be rolled over by culture and trends in the church.”

The British comedian came in character as Bruno in a towering bearskin hat, a red military waistcoat and tight black shorts. He was accompanied by a group of similarly attired men whose waistcoats showed off their midriffs.

“I just wanted to do something that was flattering for the royal family. Something that the queen – I’m not talking about Elton John – would really appreciate,” said Baron Cohen as Bruno, a gay Austrian fashionista. “You know the British royal family and the Austrians have got a lot in common. We’re still the only people who are proud to wear a swastika.”

Baron Cohen’s flashy appearance at the premiere follows his stunt May 31 at the MTV Awards. As Bruno, Baron Cohen descended into the audience on a wire, ending up with his bare behind in the face of rapper Eminem, who stormed off in a show of anger. Eminem later said he was in on the gag.

“Bruno” begins hitting theaters worldwide early next month, including July 10 debuts in Britain and the United States. The movie is Baron Cohen’s follow-up to his 2006 hit “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” in which he played a clueless journalist on a U.S. tour.

Jamie Durrant, 38, claims in his complaint to the labor tribunal that the company failed to take action despite numerous complaints he was being harassed by fellow workers.

Durrant, who earned about $100,000 a year designing video games for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console, claims emails were circulated among employees with headings including “I’m Jim and I’m Gay,” “Me and My Favorite Men” and “Ladies Are Bad.”

One, in which he was described as “Fag Boy Jim,” was posted on the wall in the lunchroom at the Reading operation.

In his complaint, Durrant said that he is being treated for depression and has not been able to work for seven months because of the harassment.

He said that when he brought the situation to the attention of Microsoft Human Resources in the UK, he was not taken seriously. The complaint to the tribunal said that he was told by the HR department that all staff would be sent an email staff reminding them of “how to behave responsibly in a diverse office.”

Months later, when he asked why the email was never sent, he was told Microsoft UK would have to create a diversity policy first. Durrant claims that has never happened.

“This was not the first time there was homophobic content in the office,” he said. “Previously, I had tried to deal with it myself. This time, I did not feel that I could.”

The complaint seeks about $90,000 in damages.

“I feel I should be compensated for the stress that this whole complaint procedure has placed on me, the amount of effort and time I have put into trying to get this resolved and acknowledgment that they have done nothing whilst the homophobic harassment continued, making my workplace uncomfortable and unpleasant,” he told The Telegraph newspaper.

Microsoft denies discriminating on the ground of sexual orientation and said it will vigorously contest Durrant’s claims.

The UK observes gay history month in February each year and schools are encouraged to mark it with special classes as a way to teach tolerance.

More than 30 students were pulled out of classes at the George Tomlinson School in East London. The area is made up mainly of immigrant families, many of them Muslim.

Among the parents objecting to the classes was Pervez Latif, who kept his 9- and 10-year-old sons from going to school throughout the week.

“I didn’t want my children to be learning about this,” Latif said.

He said that he wrote a letter to the school explaining his objections and was told the children would be listed as truants if they were not in class.

The law allows for 19 excused days a year – additional days a student is not in class are viewed as truancy. But the school regards the removal of the students as an unexcused absence.

The penalties range from a fine to criminal charges.

“If I am faced with court action, then I will just explain that these are my views,” said Latif.

Special gay history lessons at the school ranged from references to famous gays and gay events in history classes to reading age appropriate books in literature classes.

Two gay-themed books were read in primary classes – ” King and King,” about a prince who falls in love with another prince, and “Tango Makes Three,” about two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who fall in love and adopt a baby penguin at a New York zoo.

Sarah Saeed was another of the parents who removed their child from the school for the week.

“It is not an appropriate age for the children to be learning such matters. We have our own way of explaining things to them and they should not be subjected to this,” she said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the school said no decision had been made on seeking charges against the parents.

“As part of the borough’s policy of promoting tolerance in our schools, children are taught that everyone in our society is of equal value,” the statement said.

The former Culture Club singer is being tried under his real name, George O’Dowd.

The prosecutor told the court on Monday that O’Dowd, 47, met 29-year-old Audun Carlsen on a gay internet site and agreed to meet at the singer’s home where Carlsen was to pose for a naked photo shoot.

Prosecutor Heather Norton said that the two men then agreed to a second photo shoot in April last year.

After O’Dowd had taken several photos of Carlsen, the performer invited the younger man into his bedroom.

When Carlsen entered the room he realized a second man had joined O’Dowd.  O’Dowd has refused to name the other man, Norton told the court.

“The two men grabbed Mr Carlsen and forced him, we say, to the floor,” Norton said.

“Mr O’Dowd produced a set of handcuffs. They placed one end on Mr Carlsen’s right wrist and the other end was placed through a hook that was screwed to a fixture near the bed.”

She told the jury that Carlsen, “was frightened, shaking and crying. His fear increased when Mr O’Dowd returned into the room carrying with him a box.”

The box, said Norton, contained chains and leather straps.

Carlsen managed to free himself by pulling a hook the handcuffs were attached to from the wall.  He escaped through a window clad in only his underwear and called police from a local news vendor’s stand.

O’Dowd has pleaded not guilty.  It is the latest brush he has had with the law.

In 2006, a judge in New York City sentenced him to five days of community service after being convicted of filing a false police report.

The singer had called police in October 2005 with a bogus report of a burglary by a male prostitute at his lower Manhattan apartment. When police went to investigate they found cocaine inside.

He was originally charged with drug offenses but under an agreement with prosecutors he pleaded guilty to the lesser charges and worked off his sentence picking garbage.

The Colliers B say it’s because one of their players is transgendered.  The league says it’s because the women were using “unladylike language” during matches.

The team accuses the league of blatant discrimination and says its members were no more vocal than those on opposing teams.

The Sun newspaper reports that the dispute centers around Melanie Partlow, who joined the team two years ago after undergoing sex reassignment surgery in Thailand.

“They said there had been a vote by 10 of the 12 teams in the league and they didn’t want us in it,” team captain Leanne Gardiner told The Sun.

“Melanie is feeling awful, as it’s pretty clear that it’s down to her. The other plays often ignored her, but nothing was said to her face,” she told the paper.

“We’re all behind Melanie – it’s disgusting what’s happened.”

Since joining the team two years ago, Partlow, 57, has become the Colliers B’s star player and is credited with helping the team win several championships.

“They all know about me and I answer every question they ask, including the one most people are scared to ask,” she told The Sun.

“Most women are OK with me, but some refuse to shake my hand and won’t touch me. It’s daft because I feel as much of a woman as they are.”

The league is defending its decision.

“Some women do find her a bit off-putting, but it is the team’s language that was the problem,” a spokesperson told the paper.

Partlow is disabled, having lost a leg several years ago. Formerly married to a woman, she began to transition while still wed. She completed the surgery with a half-million dollar prize she and her former wife won in a lottery.   The two are reportedly still friends.

In passing sentence the judge branded Kylie McGrath, 20, a “danger to professional women” for her violent obsession over attorney Emma Eardley.

The court heard that over a two year period McGrath flooded Eardley with phone calls and text messages and had constantly stalked her. One one day alone McGrath sent nearly 50 messages to Eardley.

At one point McGrath’s psychiatrist warned the attorney that she should be vigilant and that McGrath could be dangerous.

The campaign of terror ended when McGrath broke into Eardley’s home armed with a knife and rope.

Claiming she ” ‘could not live without her”, McGrath broke into Eardley’s house and hid behind the curtains.

When Eardley returned home with her boyfriend, McGrath jumped out from behind the curtains and attempted to slash the attorney.

Eardley and her boyfriend tackled McGrath to the floor and held her until police arrived.

The terror campaign began two years earlier when McGrath sought legal advice from the firm in which Eardley was a partner.

(Columbia, South Carolina) A South Carolina LGBT civil rights group has begun raising funds to pay the state’s debt for the South Carolina is so gay ad campaign that South Carolina’s tourism board has reneged on.

The $5,000 campaign was approved by a state employee to run in London’s subway system during gay pride to attract British gay tourists to South Carolina.

When conservative state politicians heard of the ads they demanded the campaign be halted.

It was too late. The posters had already gone up in London.

State Sen. David Thomas (R) called for an audit of the department and a spokesperson for Gov. Mark Sanford said that using tax money “to support a social or political agenda” wais inappropriate.

The civil servant who gave the OK for the campaign resigned and Parks, Recreation and Tourism director Chad Prosser said the state would not pay the ad agency, ARMO Worldwide.

Thursday, South Carolina Pride Movement stepped in, placing its own version of the ad on its website and inviting people to contribute to pay the state debt.

The rejigged ad now says South Carolina Will Be So Gay.

“We feel it is our duty to keep the word that the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recs, and Tourism gave through their contract with ARMO Worldwide and we intend to raise the necessary funds since they have refused to pay their bill,” said Ryan Wilson, President of SC Pride.

“Someone needs to rise above and do the right thing, and the GLBT community of South Carolina should be the ones to do it, and the SC Pride Movement is going to take the lead,” Wilson said.

“South Carolina may not be “so gay” currently but we are going to show the world that we can be and we WILL BE so gay, and gay friendly some day!”

Wilson said that if it raises more than the $5,000 necessary to pay ARMO it will benefit the SC Pride Festival and Parade.

Atlanta, Boston and New Orleans also were part of the ad campaign. None of those cities backed out.