Gay Today: World

Toronto City Councillor Blasts the Pope

Gay Korean Actor Makes Comeback

Australia's New Gay Papers Launched

By Rex Wockner
International News Report

Toronto City Councillor Blasts the Pope

Gay Toronto City Councillor Kyle Rae says Pope John Paul II better keep his "hateful" homophobia to himself when he visits the city in 2002 for World Youth Day.

"[It's] not permissible in our society," Rae said. "I don't think religion should be used as a shield against hate."

Gay Toronto City Councillor Kyle Rae

Gay Korean Actor Makes Comeback

Hong Suk-chon, the South Korean actor who was fired from his roles on several television programs after he came out of the closet in September, has been invited to appear on the All Star Show, a New Year's Day TV special, reports the Korea Herald.

The paper said the invitation signals that the broadcast TV networks have come around and accepted Hong's sexuality.

The firings were protested by other celebrities and gay activists who formed a Hong support group.

Since coming out, Hong has appeared on some cable TV shows and released an album of Christmas music, but he had been blacklisted by the over-the-air networks.

Crossley also blamed boredom with condoms, the perception that being HIV-positive is less serious now because of improved treatments, and the feeling that unprotected sex is more romantic.

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For the immediate future, Hong will host a cable TV program called Sex and Health and write his memoir, entitled I Still Get Thrilled About Illicit Love.

Australia's New Gay Papers Launched

At least three new gay newspapers have been launched in Australia following the collapse of Satellite Media, which owned six of the nation's gay newspapers and the 17-year-old national gay glossy magazine Outrage.

When Satellite crashed and burned, it took with it Outrage, the Melbourne Star Observer, Melbourne's Brother Sister, Brisbane's Brother Sister, Sydney's Capital Q, Perth's Westside Observer and the Adelaide Gay Times.

The new paper in Sydney, published by former Satellite employees, is called G. Melbourne has Melbourne Community Voice and BnewsS, produced by separate groups of former Satellite employees.