The first Pagan same-sex wedding, and 6 other stories you might have missed
PinkNews brings you a roundup of news from the past seven days.
The PinkNews roundup recaps some of the most widely read and notable news stories from the past week, which you may have missed.
1. The UK’s first legal Pagan same-sex wedding took place
Edinburgh couple Tom Lanting and Iain Robertson literally tied the knot, in becoming first same-sex couple to legally marry in a Pagan ceremony.
The pair – who are both Hedge Witches – married in a ceremony that involved invoking the elements of earth, air, water, fire and spirit, casting a circle, exchanging rings and binding the couple’s hands.
Pagans are not able to conduct their own legal wedding ceremonies in England and Wales – but Scotland’s marriage laws allow them to do so.
2. James Blunt called Labour MP Chris Bryant a ‘classist gimp’
The singer penned a foul-mouthed letter, after the gay parliamentarian criticised the domination of private schools in the arts.
He ranted: “You come along, looking for votes, telling working class people that posh people like me don’t deserve it, and that we must redress the balance. But it is your populist, envy-based, vote-hunting ideas which make our country crap, far more than me and my s**t songs, and my plummy accent.”
3. Ireland set the question for its same-sex marriage referendum
The Irish cabinet agreed on the final wording, ahead of May’s referendum on civil same-sex marriage.
It will propose: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex”.
4. Richard Dawkins read homophobic hate mail and it was oddly hilarious
Controversial evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins revealed some of the homophobic abuse he gets – despite being married to former Doctor Who actress Lalla Ward.
He read: “Hahaha bitch. No you are not an atheist, you are a gay-theist. LOLOL.
“They should call you Richard Dick-kins because you’re so busy sucking off Bill Maher and those Labour Party dipshits.”
5.Former Tory MP Louise Mensch told the Queen and David Cameron to f**k off
The former MP for Corby tweeted her anger after leaders paid tribute to Saudi Arabia’s late King Abdullah, who had a terrible record on women’ rights and LGBT rights.
She tweeted “FUCK YOU” at a message from Mr Cameron, and “FUCK HER” to the Queen, after it was directed that flags be flown at half mast in honour of the monarch.
6. Stonewall CEO Ruth Hunt answered PinkNews readers’ questions
The charity boss answered a tough range of questions from readers, on trans issues, religion, and Stonewall’s track record on equality.
She said of Stonewall’s initial failure to join a boycott of anti-gay Brunei “We didn’t talk enough to people in the UK. We realised that very quickly and changed our position.
7. UKIP’s General Secretary attacked NHS care for ‘shemales’
Recordings emerged of UKIP’s Matthew Richardson using a slur to refer to transgender women.
He told an American right-wing group: “Socialists think that if somebody wants to reassign their gender the state should pay, they think that’s how the world works. So if you love she-males come to the United Kingdom, if you love freedom – stay here [in the US].”