NBC apologises for ignoring Matthew Mitcham's partner after win

The Daily Telegraph, Australia

UNITED States network NBC has apologised for its "homophobic" coverage of Australian gold medal winning diver Matthew Mitcham.

NBC Olympics president Gary Zenkel issued a statement apologising for the network's "unintentional" failure to mention Mitcham is homosexual and has a long-term partner after gay groups complained commentators discussed the partners of other gold medallists after their win.

"We regret that we missed the opportunity to tell Matthew Mitcham’s story. We apologise for this unintentional omission,” Mr Zenkel is quoted as saying in Outsport.com.

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Diver says homosexuality in elite sport should not be an issue

by Patrick Horan
The Herald Sun, Australia

DIVING gold medal hope Matthew Mitcham says he just wants to be known as a
successful Australian diver, and his homosexuality should not be an issue.

“It’s everybody else who thinks it’s special when homosexuality and elite sport go together.”

Mitcham denied his revelation has made it awkward around fellow divers, admitting that diving is one of the easier sports to come out in.

"They don’t seem to mind that I’m a big homo,” he said.

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Australian same-sex partner registry a reality

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Same sex couples in the ACT say they are delighted they can now legally register
as partners.

Laws permitting same sex couples to formalise their relationship in the ACT were passed earlier this month, and came into force today.

Gay lobby groups say several people have already fronted up to the Registrar General's office.

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Sydney authorities form crime partnership

Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore says she hopes the new initiative will stop homophobic violence in Oxford Street.

Assistant Commissioner Catherine Burn says officers from the City Central, Kings Cross and Surry Hills local area commands will form a partnership with government agencies to plan strategies to prevent trouble associated with drunken behaviour.

Police Minister David Campbell says recent problems with violence around licensed venues in the city has prompted the changes.

"There is new legislation, both in the liquor laws and policing laws, that will assist police having those who drink alcohol take responsibility for their own actions," he said.

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Australian gay rights

Another small victory for LGBT equality in Australia has been won with the announcement that same-sex partners in the state of New South Wales will have the right to decline to give evidence against their partner in court.

The change from "de facto spouse" to "de facto partner" is intended to be gender neutral, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

"(Attorney General) Philip Ruddock is refusing to incorporate this definition into the Commonwealth version of the Uniform Evidence Act," said spokesman Justin Kelly.

The change to the law will come into effect in NSW in early 2008.

Mr Ruddock and Prime Minister John Howard are facing re-election later this year. Their government has proved hostile to recognition for same-sex couples and passed federal legislation in 2004 banning same-sex marriage.

Aussie former "ex-gay" leaders denounce conversion therapy

Five former leaders of "ex-gay" ministries Down Under have publicly condemned converstion/reparative therapy, according to the Sydney Star Observer.

The Aussie leaders said they were inspired to make their comments by the recent apologies of three former "ex-gay" leaders at an "ex-gay" survivors conference in Los Angeles.

"There was not one person that I met or worked with who, in any genuine way, achieved the fundamental transformation from homosexual to heterosexual," Paul Martin, former leader of Exodus in Melbourne, told the Observer.

According to some of the former "ex-gay" leaders, conversion therapy teachers in Australia believe men become gay because they had emotionally distant fathers. Their therapy included "minders," who would follow the enrollees to make sure they were behaving themselves.

"Some people have suicided," Anthony Venn Brown, who spent 22 years trying to be straight, told the newspaper. "But most people have now come to terms with their sexuality. There is no success rate [with conversion therapy]." (The Advocate)