Open marriage, orthodoxy and Thatcher’s anal phobia

Your Daily Package of newsy and naughty bits from around the world


Celebrating a year of gay rights momentum

While much remains to be done, the editors of the Washington Post think there is reason to celebrate 2015 as a great year for gay rights. In a year marred by ISIS and Donald Trump, they say, the gathering momentum to accept same-sex relationships is a much-needed spot of light.

Gay marriage’s open secret

Research shows that half of American gay couples have some sort of open relationship, compared to only a few percent of straight couples. At The Daily Beast, Nico Lang asks if it’s time for gay marriage to admit that it works a little differently.

Thatcher was afraid of teenagers learning about anal sex

Records released by the UK’s National Archive show that Margaret Thatcher opposed AIDS education on the grounds that teenagers might learn about anal sex. In response to her health secretary’s plan for an educational ad campaign, she wrote back, “Do we have to have the section on risky sex? I should have thought it could do immense harm if young teenagers were to read it?”

Read more at the Independent.

Senegal arrests 11 at gay wedding

Eleven people were arrested on charges of homosexuality while attending a gay wedding in Senegal, according to reports by locals. Homosexual acts, not to mention weddings, are illegal in Senegal.

Read more from the Canadian Press.

Orthodox parties skip swearing in of Israel’s first openly gay parliamentarian

Members of both ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties in the Israeli Knesset (or parliament) decided not to show up to the swearing-in of the country’s first openly gay lawmaker. Amir Ohana, who was sworn in before his partner and two children, represents the centre-right Likud party.

Read more at Ynet.

 
Niko Bell

Niko Bell is a writer, editor and translator from Vancouver. He writes about sexual health, science, food and language.

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