Cameron unveils his best policy of the 2010 General Election so far.

We have had many great policies from the Conservative team over this last week, but for me the one announced today about quashing Gay convictions is a clear winner. This policy just makes so much sense - why hasn't this been done already?

From Pink News:

Exclusive: Conservatives to quash convictions for historic gay sex offenses

David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party, writing for PinkNews.co.uk has announced that if elected, his party will quash the historic convictions of all those found guilty of consensual gay sex. It was the answer to one of a series of questions submitted by PinkNews.co.uk readers.

In 1994, the age of consent for gay men was reduced from 21 to 18, and in 2000, it was reduced further to 16, equalising with the age of consent for straight people.

However, the change in the law was not retrospective, so there are a considerable number of people who are required to disclose that they have a criminal record for a sexual offence, despite the action that they took part in being completely legal now.

These convictions need to be disclosed when applying for certain jobs and even for volunteering in hospitals or with children as they will be listed on a person's Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) certificate.

The announcement follows a question submitted by a PinkNews.co.uk reader in a Questions and Answer session with the Conservative leader published today. Mr Cameron wrote on PinkNews.co.uk "We will change the law so that any past convictions for consensual homosexual sexual activities, which have since become lawful, will be treated as spent, and will not be disclosed on a criminal record check when applying for a job. This is a question of justice – and it’s right that we should change the law and wipe the slate clean."

Although a rule passed in 2003 does mean that people convicted of now legal consensual sex are no longer listed on the Sex Offenders Register, the conviction remained on any individual's criminal record. Mr Cameron proposes that an amendment to the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act means these convictions will no longer show up on a CRB check by classing them as 'spent convictions.'

In an article for PinkNews.co.uk, Mr Cameron wrote:

"I believe heart and soul in equality: the whole idea of prejudice towards people on the basis of their sexuality is quite wrong and that’s why I back civil partnerships, why I told the Tory conference that commitment through marriage was equally valid whether between a man and a woman, a man and a man or a woman and a woman – and it’s why a Conservative government will put new rules in place to tackle homophobia and support gay couples.

"Despite this, I am aware that there will remain some doubters. But have no fear: the Party has changed, the changes we have made are supported by those serving in my team and those changes are lasting. So far as I am concerned, it is one of the touchstone issues that define the modern Conservative Party."

Brian Paddick is the Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor.

Former deputy assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan police Brian Paddick, was the United Kingdom's most senior openly gay police officer. Today Brian has been named as the Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor. Born on 24 April 1958 in Balham in London, Brian was educated at Tooting Bec Grammar School and Queen's College Oxford (to name a few). In December 2003 the Mail on Sunday apologised and paid damages to Brian after they published a story by his former partner, James Renolleau, that Commander Paddick had used cannabis.

On being selected for the Libdem Mayoral candidate Brian said: "less crime, better transport, cleaner air and fewer Londoners living in poverty" was crucial for London. In a interview with Pink News Brian set out some of his priorities if elected mayor. He said that illegal drugs were "dangerous and harmful and it is better if people live without them", but he would not be afraid of adopting a "radical solution if it's fully thought through, if it's workable, affordable and gets the right result". In a leaflet released on his campaign website on 10 September, he pledged to "put more police officers, fully trained, equipped and with the necessary powers out on the street, dealing with violent gun and knife crime".

I wish him luck, obviously I still want Boris to win, but it does look like the Libdems have put up a very capable candidate.

Koala News - They are at it like Rabbits on Viagra.

Scientists from the University of Queensland studied 130 koalas in captivity. They found that female koalas indulge in lesbian "sex sessions", rejecting male suitors and attempting to mate with each other, sometimes up to five at a time, according to researchers. The furry, eucalyptus-eating creatures appear to develop this tendency for same-sex liaisons when they are in captivity. In the wild, they remain heterosexual.

Meanwhile in Austria, A SEX-MAD koala recruited from Scotland to teach his counterpart in an Austrian zoo about the birds and the bees is finding himself very much in demand.When romantic music, erotic movies and aphrodisiac food failed to entice their male koala, Bilyarra, to mate with female Mirali, staff at Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo sought the help of Edinburgh Zoo's resident stud, Chumbee.

"Chumbee hasn't stopped since he got here," said Schoenbrunn Zoo manager Helmut Pechlaner. "It has been almost non-stop sex in the koala enclosure ever since, and now even our own male is joining in." Zoo vet Hanna Vielgrader said Chumbee could not restrain himself. "The only break is to eat or sleep, other than that there's no stopping them," she said. Several other zoos have been in touch in the hope Chumbee might be able to invigorate their koala colonies.

Gay couple are fined one euro for Mock Wedding

A FRENCH gay group has been ordered to pay one euro in damages to Notre Dame cathedral in Paris for staging a mock "gay wedding" to protest against what it called the Catholic Church's homophobia.

Full Story HERE

Duncan's same sex problems.

I'm sure IDS was misquoted, or at least his comment was taken out of context when he said same-sex partnerships: "don't even register on the Richter scale of how to bring up children". I believe most people today would prefer a child to be raised by loving same sex parents, rather than some of the lazy, brain dead single girls we see paraded across our screens on daytime TV. Though same sex families do not conform to what some consider to be the norm, surely it's a hell of a lot better than being brought up by some moron drifting from one idiot to the next, knocking out offspring at the taxpayers expense. I do not believe all single parents fall into the moron category, but their numbers do seem to be increasing.

http://dailyreferendum.co.uk/

Handbags at five paces?

Ruth Kelly, the Cabinet minister responsible for equality, is said to be at odds with Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland Secretary.
The rift is due to Mr Hain pushing through regulations in the province outlawing discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
The regulations which take effect in Northern Ireland on 1 January, are tougher than Ms Kelly’s plans for England, Wales and Scotland.
Mr Hain has defied a call by Ms Kelly to hold fire until a common approach has been agreed.
Gay rights campaigners are urging Ms Kelly to extend the Northern Ireland rules to the rest of the UK, but church leaders are urging ministers not to put the rights of gays above the rights of Christians.
Colin Hart, director of the Christian Institute said: "Peter Hain talks about equality. But he should read his own regulations, which elevate gay rights above all other rights for religious people, and rights on the grounds of age, sex and disability. It is a preferential status which will drive a coach and horses through religious liberty."
The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will have the power to intervene without receiving a complaint of discrimination.
Anglican and Catholic churches could be sued if their bookshops refuse to stock gay literature and hotel owners with strong religious beliefs could be fined if they do not allow gay couples to share a room.

Q. Should England, Wales and Scotland adopt the same tough regulations outlawing discrimination as those set to be implemented in Northern Ireland?

To view the results go to:

http://dailyreferendum.co.uk/