"[An Australian] Red Cross donor rule rejecting sexually active gay men is being challenged before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, which was told yesterday it amounted to textbook discrimination. The organization replied that the proposed change would be an experiment with the blood supply that made humans the guinea pigs, at real risk of HIV infection." [The Age]

"A former 911 dispatcher has filed a lawsuit against the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority, claiming he was fired in retaliation for complaining of remarks about his sexual orientation… [Rodrigo] Mora alleges he was fired last April, a week after he filed a complaint for sexual discrimination… He claims he was subjected to disparaging remarks about his sexuality almost immediately after being hired [in July of 2006] and in front of his co-workers." [Las Cruces Sun-News]

Mediation efforts between the Democratic National Committee and former employee Donald Hitchcock failed today, which means Hitchcock's wrongful termination and discrimination suit will go to trial. Pretrial has been set for October 20 - fifteen days before the presidential election. More details as they become available…

With marriage and other rights settled, Canadian queers have won most of their big battles, said Ontario-based Judge David Corbett. There are, however, still battles to be won: "And there’s a tension between organized religion — and the right to freedom of religion — and the right for people to be free from discrimination… But I think there’ll still be cases that have to iron out where the boundaries are going to be around those issues." And there's also the messy issue of divorces. [Chronicle Herald]

So, you know how the US Census Bureau isn't going to count married homos in their national tally, essentially telling millions that they don't matter? Well, the People for the American way have launched a petition calling on the bureau "to put politics aside and carry out the mission of the Bureau, which is to compile complete and accurate information about the American population." [The Hill]

"A Dallas gay strip joint has caused a ruckus by banning drag queens and transgendered women from its busy Tuesday nights." [Joe.My.God]

The Dubai police force's new anti-gay crack down plan seems to be working: "Police in the Gulf tourist hub of Dubai say they've detained 17 foreigners for allegedly displaying homosexual behavior in malls and other public places. Police spokesman Zuhair Horoun says all the suspects are men who were either visiting or working in Dubai… Dubai's Gulf News reported Thursday that police detained '40 cross-dressing tourists.' The paper quotes Dubai's police chief as saying the arrests are part of a campaign against 'transvestites.'" [AP]

"[Economics] is not the only obstacle to seeking help for HIV-Aids in Zimbabwe. Despite an estimated 1.8 million people in the country living with HIV-Aids, stigma remains not only a significant obstacle to accessing treatment, but also a powerful force for dividing families and propagating conflict within communities." The government's sexual repression isn't helping matters, either. [Guardian]

"A driving school boss called a worker 'gay boy' and said he was lucky to have a job, a tribunal has heard. John MacDonald allegedly described Mark Rowan, 29, as "one of the girls" on the firm's website and told him: 'Not many companies employ gays.'" [BBC]

"A gay man who suffered "grotesquely discriminatory conduct" from the Presbyterian Church in Wales has been awarded £37,000. Stephen Price, 25, of Clydach near Abergavenny, was bullied out of his job at Coleg Trefeca in Brecon by his manager Mair Jones, aged 40." [BBC]

Three words we don't like to see together: homosexual, problem, counseling. That said, you can imagine our worry over an article describing how Malaysia's Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has pledged to "counsel" gays to help curb the "homosexual program." Deputy Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon later described gays as a "social problem." The move comes three months after police raided an allegedly gay sauna. [Bernama]

Italian Danilo Giuffrida found his driver's license revoked after disclosing his homosexuality during a military health examine. Upon passing the test for a second time, the 26-year old was told he would have to renew it in a year, rather than in the standard ten. Officials told Giuffrida that his "sexual identity disturbance" was the root of the problem. Now, after Giuffrida filed a lawsuit, the transit authority has been ordered to pay him 100,000 Euros, about $157,700. [Reuters]