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Uganda bill calling for death penalty for ‘homosexual acts’ condemned by activists

Axel Hotels — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:53:27 +0000

David Bahati, the MP behind the bill, formally reintroduced the legislation after MPs voted last year to pass it over to the new session after failing to debate it.

Frank Mugisha, the director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, voiced disappointment over the revival of the bill.

“We thought it would come back, but with all the condemnation from local and international human rights groups, we had hoped that Bahati would reconsider it, or that parliament would move to strike it down immediately,” Mr Mugisha said.

“It is just bringing everything bad up again, but we remain committed to fighting it and challenging it in all ways possible,” he added.

Originally tabled in 2009, the bill calls for “serial offender(s)” to face the death penalty, and proposes jail sentences for family members and landlords who fail to report homosexuals to the authorities.

Parliament spokeswoman Helen Kawesa said the bill was reintroduced in its original form, with the death penalty clause still included.

“It is the same as before,” Ms Kawesa said.

The speaker urged parliament to deal with the bill quickly, but Kawesa could not say when it would be debated as it had to be first discussed by a committee.

“It now has to go to the legal committee … as the parliament is new, so the committee is new and needs to consider it,” Ms Kawesa said.

Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the proposed bill has previously attracted heavy criticism for the draconian penalties it proposed.

It would introduce the death sentence for anyone caught engaging in homosexual acts for the second time, as well as for gay sex where one partner is a minor or has HIV.

It also proposes to criminalise public discussion of homosexuality – including by rights groups – with a sentence of up to seven years in prison.

At an African Union summit last month, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in an unusually outspoken declaration, told African leaders to respect gay rights, a controversial matter in many African states.

Michelle Kagari, Deputy Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International, urged parliament to “reject this bill in its entirety” as it “must not legislate hate”.

“If passed, it would represent a grave assault on the human rights of all Ugandans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Ms Kagari said in a statement late on Tuesday.

The bill now must pass the legal affairs committee for public hearings and discussion before debate in parliament can proceed, a process expected potentially to take at least several months.

While it went through this process in the last parliamentary session, the bill must be reconsidered as it is a new parliament with new members of the legal committee.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

ES Collection – Spring 2012

Axel Hotels — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:02:21 +0000

ES Collection boys delight us with a preview from Spring 2012 … just see them and forget about cold!

What do you think of the result?

Book Recommendation: 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men

Axel Hotels — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:02:13 +0000

Alonso Duralde’s fresh trade paperback 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men (Advocate Books, $14.95) is a must-have book, a curated A-Z list of must-see films every gay man should watch before considering his cultural education complete. Alonso Duralde, former arts and entertainment editor of The Advocate is the responsible of presenting this book.

Duralde brings a quick wit, a gift for analysis, and a lifelong love affair with each film recommendation.

This list for film buffs covers all the bases, from Hollywood hits to spectacular disasters, from classics to cult favorites and independent hits.

The usual titles in the gay canon, films like Funny Girl, All About Eve and The Women, share space with new gay classics like Beautiful Thing, All About My Mother, Big Eden, and Far From Heaven.

“So-bad-they’re-good” favorites like Showgirls, Glitter, Can’t Stop the Music and Xanadu.

Must see independent titles like Chuck and Buck, The Living End, Hedwing and the Angry Inch receive equal billing with movies such as Fight Club, Jackass, Scary Movie, Casablanca or South Park.

This is the definitive guide to movies for gay film buffs, as well as a must for planning the perfect movie night!

Madonna reveals new cover art for ‘MDNA’

Axel Hotels — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:48 +0000

Madonna is gearing up for her Super Bowl halftime show performance on Sunday and her next official video “Give Me All Your Lovin’” with MIA and Nicki Minaj on “American Idol” on Thursday. We can’t wait for ‘MDNA’ release on March 26th!

Tonight, Madonna has revealed her new album art on Facebook. What do you think? Don’t you think MDNA’s mirrored disco-meets-”Express Yourself”-era look?

Today we wanted to go over some of the Pop Diva’s album covers…unforgettable!

Madonna’s Studio Albums

The first Album – 1983

Like a Virgin – 1984

True Blue – 1986

Like a Prayer – 1989

Erotica – 1992

Bestime Stories – 1994

Ray of light – 1998

Music – 2000

American Life – 2003

Confessions on a dance floor – 2005

Hard candy – 2008

Best Street Style of the week

Axel Hotels — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:54:39 +0000

One more week, we want to show you the most stylish outfits on the street. Knit sweaters, cardigans and duffel coats remain the stars of winter. The more colorful … the better!

New men’s hair trends for 2012

Axel Hotels — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:16:13 +0000

Every year, the Amercan Crew held the famous Face Off competition in which many Australian salons and stylists show the most innovative men’s hair.
This year there were more than 700 candidates but only the top 20 have been chosen to be promoted throughout the year in beauty salons as the cool hairstyles of the moment.
If we were to sum up this contest to the style star of 2012, would certainly be the toupee.

Are you thinking about changing your look? Take note of the new proposals!

Cynthia Nixon (Sex and The City): I’m gay by choice

Axel Hotels — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:31:14 +0000

Gay by choice: Cynthia Nixon has revealed she chose her partner Christine Marinoni over a man of her own free.

It has long been a bone of contention whether being gay is a choice or a compulsion.And Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon is sticking to her guns after she admitted for her it was the former, despite having to endure a homosexual backlash.

She has been lambasted by the LGBT community for making her feelings known as a public speaker, but has now spoke out in the New York Times to underline her feelings on the matter.

The 45-year-old who is engaged to her long-term partner Christine Marinoni, said: ‘I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line “I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.”‘And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. ’And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me.

‘A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it’s a choice, then we could opt out.’I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not.’

NY Times

Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka’s Out Magazine Cover

Axel Hotels — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:58:20 +0000

The new issue of Out magazine has left us speechless. It is played by the pair of actors Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, showing their love and with an interview in which they give us details that we had not ever known.

Neil tells they mett through a mutual friend who had invited him to see American Idol. “I just stammered around him. I couldn’t take my eyes off him” But at that time David had a relationship and Neil didn’t want to be that guy who was creating some sort of romantic interference. “So I was always around, hoping that the stars are aligned ”

And so it was ”I found him adorable with his beautiful blue eyes that hypnotized me. I broke for my boyfriend and a week later Neil and I were having our first date. We begin to see us every night and three months later, it was a non-stop. We talked on the phone at least three times a day and text us about 25. He is my life in an amazing way. Without him I can not breathe. “

Neil and David are now happily married and are parents of twins. Both had clear that they wanted to have children. ”If he had not wanted children I do not think we could be together. The family has always seemed the most important thing in life and no matter what I do, whether if I am a chef, dancer or actor, being a father is what I do best. ” Neil says.

In addition to the Neil and David’s interview, Out includes other love stories of 26 LGBT couples.

Download the new Manhunt Calendar 2012

Axel Hotels — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:58:13 +0000

Once again, Manhunt brings us 12 unforgettable months by the prestigious Spanis photographer JP Santamaria. According to JP ”The selection of the boys was quite complicated because there were hundreds of candidates willing to appear in the pages of our calendar. All them so beautiful and hot “

Finally the 15 selected models posed for JP leaving us all breathless with these photographs, playful and sensual representing each season of the year.

“It was a very hard work of many months to organize and get a perfect shot and these perfect boys. But the result has been worth it. We’ve had a great time and we hope thate veryone enjoys the 2012 Calendar and their boys “

You can download the Calendar in a premium quality HERE

Madonna suggests that ‘Born this Way’ is a copy of ‘Express Yourself’

Axel Hotels — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:58:59 +0000

“When I heard Born This Way on the radio … I said, ‘that sounds very familiar’ these are the lasts tatements of Madonna in a recent interview for ABC Nightline, referring to her hit of 1989 Express Yourself.

Madonna also mentioned how many times Gaga has been inspired by her. ”I think she makes much reference to me at work. And sometimes it’s fun and flattering, and is well done. However, she did not wanted to add fuel to the fire and added: ” She is a very talented artist. ”
Gaga, meanwhile, has alreadysaid that her album Born this way was born under the influence of Madonna. ”I love her. She is amazing and could never be replaced, she said referring to her idol.

Already in 2010 Gaga and Madonna wanted to quiet down appearing on Saturday Night Live with a funny performance where they both ended pulling their hair . But after this interview, the controversy is served again …
Do you think Born This Way is a copy of Express Yourself? Will Gaga becom the Real Queen of Pop?