Hungary's Self-Regulatory Advertising Board banned a billboard condom campaign last week charging it targeted only homosexuals.

The gay group Lambda Budapest, which produced the ads with a $5,000 government grant, contested the finding, pointing out that the posters depict a condom-wrapped middle finger pointing at the word 'AIDS'.

"These ads don't say something homosexual, what they say affects everyone," said Lambda's Laszlo Laner.

Lambda plans to sue the outdoor-advertising company that refused to erect the ads and then brought them to the attention of the regulatory board. In addition, Lambda said its right to freedom of speech has been abridged.

FRENCH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT COMES OUT

French Member of Parliament Andre Labarrere came out as gay during a December 17 interview on Radio-Television Luxembourg, reports correspondent Olivier Razemon of the gay publication Ex AEquo.

Labarrere has written a book (Le Baron Rouge) about a fictional gay politician and was asked by interviewer Thierry Demaiziere about his own sexual orientation during the live broadcast.

"Yes, I am [gay]," he responded.

Labarrere, a Socialist who is also mayor of the southwestern city of Pau, also told radio listeners that "there are plenty of other gay men" in French politics.

GAY GROUPS PROTEST CHIAPAS MASSACRE

Gay and lesbian groups joined with 60,000 demonstrators in Mexico City January 12 to protest the December 22 massacre of 45 Tzotzil Indian refugees in Acteal, Chiapas, by pro-government paramilitary forces.

The protesters flooded Reforma Avenue, Mexico City's main street, shouting that President Ernesto Zedillo has blood on his hands.

The Chiapas slayings were in retaliation for the Indians' support of the Zapatista rebels, according to news reports.