Maleforce

Gay rights campaigners have welcomed a new charter that aims to stamp out homophobia and transphobia within U.K. sports. The Charter for Action was signed this week by major sporting bodies including The Football Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union.

They join the Lawn Tennis Association and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) in being the first major sports to sign up to the initiative. Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone has urged more associations, groups and individuals to add their signatures.

"Sport should be about what you can do, not who you are. But too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people feel that the sports field is not somewhere they can be themselves, and that prejudice and discrimination will mean their sexuality is always talked about more than their ability with a ball, bat or racket..." she said.

"Homophobia and transphobia has no place in sport and I'm delighted that so many sporting bodies are backing our campaign to stamp it out at all levels, from local parks to Olympic stadiums."

Published this week, the charter is one part of a new action plan that sets out the government's initiatives for supporting LGBT equality in the coming year.

Alex Horne, General Secretary of the Football Association, said "The FA and its stakeholders have worked hard over the years in providing football for all and ensuring that football stadia are open to everyone and are both family and LGTB friendly.

"We've seen real progress over the last 20 years when it comes to tackling racism and that's something football should be proud of. We remain committed to our long-term goal of removing all forms of discrimination, such as homophobia, out of the game."

We are all massive sports fans here in the gay chat team and have an appreciation for football, rugby, tennis etc that goes far beyond sitting on the sidelines! We've shown our support for the charter by visiting and liking the Charter for Action Facebook page. Why not sign up too and join us in supporting our out sports men and women? Game on!

Gary C. from The Gay Chat Team

It's not all Gaga and Kylie on heavy rotation here at gay chat Mecca, Maleforce. We love our rock bands too, especially if they are as fabulous as the mighty R.E.M.. Singer Michael Stipe & Co. have been delivering top-notch tuneage since way back in 1980, eventually hitting pay dirt with their fifth album "Document" and hit single "The One I Love".

Since that time R.E.M have gone on to become one of the world's biggest bands, notching up several top 10 albums and releasing over 60 (yes, sixty!) singles, including mega-hits "Losing My Religion, "Shiny Happy People", and the amazing "Everybody Hurts".

But it hasn't always been a shiny or happy ride for Stipe; rumours regarding his sexuality started circulating in the early 90's along with unfounded reports that he was suffering from HIV. In 1994, with questions mounting over whether the gay rumours were true, Stipe outed himself as "an equal opportunity lech" saying he was attracted to both men and women.

It may seem a total non-story these days, but back in the eighties coming out wasn't a walk in the park for a celebrity (or anyone for that matter). Elton John, Boy George, George Michael, to name but three, all remained schtum in regards to their sexual preferences at that time.

Stipe eventually declared himself a "queer artist" in Time magazine in 2001 announcing that he had been in a relationship with "an amazing man" for three years. He currently lives with his partner, artist Tom Dozel in New York.

In an interview with The Observer this week Stipe revealed how his sexuality led him to feelings of alienation at the height of his success: "I wasn't troubled or confused, but I just felt there wasn't a place for me."

"For a time I was conflicted by how I was represented, and then AIDS came, and that's an era that has still to be spoken about in depth by people of my age. It was a very difficult time to be honest and frank about one's sexuality. And a very scary time for people like myself, who were not able to be tested anonymously without some concern."

The new R.E.M album 'Collapse Into Now' is out now.

Gary C. from the Gay Chat Team

What's in this version:

~ Manage your photo albums - choose your main profile pic or delete pics

~ Record your audio greeting within the app

~ Improved location services features

~ Easier way to retrieve forgotten password

~ Improved Settings page layout

Lady Gaga has scored yet another hit for gay rights by persuading retail giant Target to reconsider its funding of anti-gay causes. In return for the rights to sell an exclusive edition of the singer's new album Born This Way, Target has also agreed to increase its donations to gay charities.

In a meeting that Gaga describes as being "intense" the Poker Face singer took Target to task over its continual funding of causes that advocate discrimination against gay people.

Target has previously come under fire for a $150,000 donation it made to U.S. political action group MN Forward who supported high profile Republican nominee Tom Emmer in his bid for governor, Minnesota in 2010.

Emmer is on record as supporting a state constitutional amendment banning civil recognition of same-sex marriages or its legal equivalent. It has been reported that Emmer's bid campaign included funding to fiercely anti-gay Christian youth ministry You Can Run But You Can't Hide International.

Despite publicly apologising for the donation Target has continued to support causes branded questionable by gay rights activists. The company does however pay benefits to partners of gay employees and staff members have praised the firm as a gay-friendly employer.

Gaga's deal with Target includes a special edition of her forthcoming CD release Born This Way, which includes extra tracks and remixes exclusively available from the discount retailer. In return Target has agreed to discontinue funding causes with anti-gay links and instead fund more gay charities.

In an interview with Billboard, the 24-year-old superstar said: "That discussion was one of the most intense conversations I've ever had in a business meeting... Part of my deal with target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past... Our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those [antigay] groups."

Here at the Haus of Gay Chat we already think Gaga is God, and the Target deal yet another example of her continued commitment to gay rights. We highly recommend rushing out and buying her new album when it's released worldwide in May. Go gays! Go Gaga!

Story Update March 9, 2011 The partnership between Lady Gaga and Target has dissolved. No official statement has been made, however it has been reported that the deal was ended by mutual agreement.

Gary C. from The Gay Chat Team

Worldwide TV hit Glee has a new gay kid on the block: Blaine, played by swoonsome 24-year-old actor Darren Criss. Since his debut performance, Criss has become an overnight gay sensation. Not hard to see why! His amazing photo shoot and cover interview in the March edition of OUT magazine has got the gay chat team in a flap...

Ok, we adore Glee's fierce gay diva Kurt; as far as gay characters on the box go he's one gay we're proud to have flying the flag. But it's the dreamy Blaine that gays from Hackney to Hollywood are falling head over heels for. In an interview with OUT Darren Criss and Glee creator, Ryan Murphy talk about Glee and the importance of having gay characters like Blaine on TV.

Being straight and playing such a high profile gay role, Criss says he feels it's important to show he's absolutely at ease playing a gay character: "I think it's more empowering to everybody, including myself, if I'm articulate about identifying myself as a straight male playing a gay character. Ultimately, that's more powerful for both communities."

Being raised in San Francisco and involved in musical theatre from an early age, Criss says he grew up surrounded by gay men, and feels the cool part about being involved in Glee is that he was "inadvertently raised by the gay community" - enhancing his role as America's newest out and proud gay character.

The question on every gay Glee fan's lips though is: will Blaine and Kurt get it on? They have to, don't they?

Murphy teasingly remains tight lipped: "It's my job as showrunner to keep them apart as long as possible. When that moment comes - if it comes - I want to treat that relationship like we treat all the other relationships on the show. I want it to be flawed and as exposed as everyone else's."

Read the full interview at OUT.com. The March 2011 print edition of OUT is out now.

Gary C. from The Gay Chat Team