Styx bassist talks about secret gay life in memoir

"I'm performing with world class musicians, shoulder to shoulder," Panozzo smiles. "I try to represent my own community and (so) any kid who wants to be in popular music doesn't have to hide anymore. Maybe they can think, Hey, if Chuck did it, why can't I do it?'

"I want young kids who are different to understand it's OK. Don't let that power - that 'You're no good' - bother you because you'll overcome that."

Gay rights activist Nicolas Alexeyev told a live TV audience yesterday that a member of the Russian State Duma is gay. Speaking on the talk show K baryeru Mr Alexeyev, who was convicted of a minor offence last month for his role in the banned Mosow Pride march, outed the conservative MP Alexander Chuev.

Mr Chuev is one of the most outspoken opponents of gay rights, and has introduced proposals to the Duma to outlaw the “promotion” of homosexuality and ban “gay propaganda.” Mr Alexeyev claimed that Mr Chuev’s gay relationships were well-known in the 1990s before he became a politician, and called him a coward and a liar.

Mr Chuev said that he would sue, and later wrote on his blog that he wanted to punch Mr Alexeyev

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Mr Alexeyev told GayRussia... "I am ready to prove at any court or prosecution office that deputy Chuev is gay and to produce corresponding proofs.”

This is the first time a politician has been outed in Russia.

On a soccer debate yesterday live on Record networks, a journalist asked Palmeiras director if the much talked about gay soccer player belonged to the team. The director replied "No, Rycharlyson had signed a contract with Palmeiras, but ended up playing for São Paulo soccer club the very next day". Ooops! Apparently it wasn't done on purpose.

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Today Mix Brasil decided to get on the case and called São Paulo soccer club asking if Rycharlyson is indeed the gay soccer player about to come out. The club denied it, meaning I have to wait until this Sunday to find out about it on national TV.

Russian State Duma Deputy Alexander Chuev has told journalists he sent his complaint to the prosecution authorities in connection with the statements made by Moscow Pride organiser Nicolas Alexeyev about his homosexuality.

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The MP gave no details of his complaint to the prosecution authorities but said in his blog: ??"Let the investigators now to find out which crime there is in his actions." ??"The essence of provocation was that I really hit Alexeyev in the face and then they start procedure to deprive me of my deputy immunity. The aim is to take me out of elections."??By applying to the prosecution department, Mr. Chuev admitted the word "gay" as an insult, though he did not say which article of the law violates saying it.

"My name is Gábor Szetey. I am the personnel state secretary of the government of the Republic of Hungary. I believe in God, love, freedom and equality. I am Hungarian and European. I am an economist and a personnel leader. I am a partner, a friend, sometimes an opponent. And I am gay."

Tell me, why do you call it a 'confession' in your headline, rather than an 'announcement', and why, in your first paragraph do you say that Mr. Szetey ' admitted he was homosexual' rather than 'declared he is gay'? It's not like he committed a *crime* or anything, and he certainly is not displaying any shame. Rather, he is demonstrating his Pride, and I am proud of him. Good on you, Mr. Szetey -- your life begins today!

A cursory examination of Pamela Martin & Associates (PMA) phone lists from 1994, 1995, and 2000 is beginning to show that so-called "Washington Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey's contention, in her defense, that a number of influential public and private officials were clients of her escort agency is being borne out by matching phone records with Haines Crosscross Directories from the years 1994, 1995, and 2000.

Perhaps explaining why the major media decided to ignore the escort story after ABC News spiked it, the phone number for a senior executive for CNN's parent company, AOL Time Warner, appears on PMA records from 1995.

Hungary's Secretary of State for Human Resources risked hostility because he wanted to highlight persistent intolerance, not just of gay people, but also of other minorities, in eastern Europe.

After decades under communist rule when homosexuality was banned or simply out of sight, most east Europeans still find it hard to accept. The lack of tolerance has been coupled with a surge in nationalism in some parts of the region.

"I think my coming out took so long partly because I was 22 in 1990," Szetey told Reuters. He blamed the communist regime -- which collapsed in 1989 in Hungary -- for the fact many still keep their homosexuality secret.

"Until I turned 22, I thought I was an alien."

Only the Czech Republic and Slovenia have legalised registered same-sex partnerships, none of the former communist states allow same-sex marriages, and some have no laws protecting sexual minorities from discrimination.

"This is a very serious issue for this region," said Szetey, who lived in New York and Buenos Aires before coming home and taking the government post last year. "Dealing with all minorities, be it ethnic minorities ... or the whole Jewish issue, or the gay issue."

Well, I for one am NOT gay. You may alert CNN.

The leader of one of Russia's largest LGBT rights groups has been arrested and charged with slander.

Nikolay Alexeyev said he was released after being formally charged with slandering a member of the State Duma, Russia's Parliament.

During a debate between Alexeyev and Duma Deputy Alexander Chuyev broadcast by Russian television in June Alexeyev alleged that Chuyev, who opposes LGBT civil rights in Russia, is actually a closet gay.

Chuev, a member of the conservative Fair Russia Party is closely linked to the Kremlin.

"Russian authorities were caught in their own trap by opening this criminal file," said Alexayev in a statement.

"On the one hand they are saying all the time that no one is discriminating gays in Russia and that there is no problem being gay and on the other hand they are investigating whether the word gay can be insulting."

An Australian popstar who was accidentally outed by a radio host has spoken of the stress of life in the closet.

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After his outing he gave an interview confirming he is gay, and said that while making the TV show he felt pressure not to come out - he did not want to be the "gay" contestant.

In today's interview with Australia's Daily Telegraph, Mr Callea said that he felt more relaxed being honest.

"I used to have this barrier up, part of me was scared. Releasing that weight off my shoulders has made me feel comfortable with myself; comfortable with anyone around me too. It's a lot easier for me to walk into a room. There are no secrets any more."

One of the most prominent gay men in Australia, Justice Michael Kirby, praised Mr Callea's bravery in a speech in April.

"Frankly I'd trade 10 judges for one pop star. I think it's a wonderful thing that he's expressed the truth and he's getting on with his life," he said.

The judge urged all Australians to "face up to the scientific fact that a small proportion of every society are gay, and that's just part of reality."