by Rex Wockner - SGN Contributing Writer

Brazilian Gay leader wins National Human Rights Prize
The head of the Brazilian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans Association was honored December 13 with the National Human Rights Prize.

Toni Reis received the bronze statuette from Culture Minister Juca Ferreira at a ceremony in Brasilia, the nation's capital. He also received personal congratulations from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Human Rights Secretary Paulo Vannuchi.

The prize is the nation's highest decoration for individuals and organizations working in the human rights field.

Moscow blocks Gay rally
Moscow City Hall banned a Gay rally that was planned for December 17.

Members of the Russian LGBT Network wanted to gather in front of the headquarters of the former KGB to demand that Russia legally pardon people who were convicted under the former Soviet Union's law that banned Gay sex.

The old law, Criminal Code Article 121, was enacted in 1933 and repealed in 1993.

Earlier this year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Moscow's yearly bans on public Gay-pride events.

In a group of cases brought by Moscow Pride founder Nikolai Alekseev, the court determined that the city's pride bans violate guarantees of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the areas of freedom of assembly and association, right to an effective remedy and prohibition of discrimination.

Russia was ordered to pay Alekseev 12,000 euros ($15,930) in damages and 17,510 euros ($23,245)in costs and expenses.

The ruling has not yet come into final force.

British House of Commons deputy speaker comes out
A deputy speaker of Britain's House of Commons, Conservative Nigel Evans, came out December 19.

He said he was 'tired of living a lie' and was worried about threats from a Labour MP to out him.

A day later, Evans, 53, attended the launch of a new group for Gay MPs called ParliaOut.

Evans represents the Lancashire constituency of Ribble Valley and becomes the 22nd openly Gay member of the current House of Commons.

Euro Parliament again denounces Ugandan anti-Gay bill
The European Parliament on December 16 again denounced the pending 'Anti-Homosexuality Bill' poised to pass Uganda's Parliament.

The legislation would imprison for life anyone convicted of 'the offense of homosexuality,' punish 'aggravated homosexuality' (repeat offenses or having Gay sex while being HIV-positive) with the death penalty, forbid 'promotion of homosexuality' and incarcerate Gay-rights defenders, and jail individuals in positions of authority for up to three years if they fail to report within 24 hours the existence of all LGBT people or sympathizers known to them.

'The European Parliament is united against this draconian piece of legislation: left, right, center, everyone agrees that LGBT people must not be criminalized,' said Raül Romeva i Rueda, co-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

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