Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams remains "hopeful" the International Communion can survive their protracted culture wars, he says in Time's new issue, which hits streets on Friday.

As we all know, the Anglicans have been duking it out over the ever-contentious place of the queer. Tensions have become increasingly thick since the 2004 ascension of New Hampshire Bishop and professed gay, Gene Robinson's. Robinson's religious rise led Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola and his conservative comrades to take on the American Anglican branch, The Episcopal Church.

Akinola's gone so far as to defy Anglican laws to lure a number of American churches to the dark side. The holy war's led some people to wonder if the Anglicans can survive. While Williams acknowledges these are difficult times, he's confident they'll survive:

I don't think schism is inevitable. The task I've got is to try and maintain as long as possible the space in which people can have constructive disagreements, learn from each other, and try and hold that within an agreed framework of discipline and practice… I'm hopeful.

He went on to describe "hopeful" as a "safer" word than "optimistic". Safer, huh? How about "desperate"?

CONTINUED »

Another one bites the dust. Or, rather, another one deals with the devil.

Trinity Episcopal Church of Bristol, Connecticut has aligned itself with Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola and his homo-hating Anglican offshoot, Convocation of Anglicans in North America.

Akinola founded the movement to counteract the Episcopal Church's increasingly inclusive - and thus "alarmingly" progressive - stance on gays, especially openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson's 2003 ascension in New Hampshire.

In a statement following the split, Trinity's rector, Rev. Donald Helmandollar, echoed Akinola's conservative views:

We have remained with the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church has demonstrated, continues to demonstrate, that they are walking apart from the communion.

Helmandollar's church now joins a number of Virginia churches who have gone over to the dark side, exasperating the Anglican schism.

CONTINUED »

The ongoing Anglican Communion's queer internal struggle took a decidedly high school direction this week. Two of the most controversial American bishops have not been invited to next year's international Anglican Communion conference, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury's office.

Neither openly gay Gene Robinson, nor Bishop Martyn Minns - who leads a breakaway Virginia church aligned with anti-gay Bishop Peter Akinola. Secretary general of the communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon told reporters that while Robinson may get a last minute invite, Minns definitely off the list. Washington Post reports:

Robinson may be invited to attend the Lambeth Conference as a guest, but Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is not contemplating inviting Minns, Kearon said.

"The question of Gene Robinson … I think has exercised the archbishop of Canterbury's mind for quite some time… However, for the archbishop to simply give full recognition at this conference would be to ignore the very substantial and very widespread objections in many parts of the communion to his consecration and to his ministry.

We can understand excluding Minns (he broke with church policy by joining the Nigeria-based movement), but it seems to us that Robinson's repeated efforts to unify the church make him an essential part of any Anglican talks.

If Nigeria can't play fair, they may not be able to play at all. The African nation, which has been mulling comprehensive homophobic laws, has applied to host The Commonwealth, also known as the Olympics for Britain and their 52-former colonies.

Glasgow, Scotland and Abuja, Nigeria lead the hosting competition, but some claim Nigeria's unjust laws violate the Games' philosophy. The Guardian's sportsman, Nicky Campbell, writes

I might best explain by adducing Article 2 of the Commonwealth Games Federation constitution, which earnestly promotes "gender equality and tolerance"; or Article 7, which says "there shall be no discrimination against any country or person on any grounds whatsoever including race, colour, gender, religion or politics". That is clear enough, then, and that is Abuja scuppered, then.

One would hope so…

CONTINUED »

Nigeria Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola's tightening his grip on America's soul. The virulent homophobe will pay Woodbridge, Virginia a little visit to appoint former Episcopal clergyman Martyn Minns as the leader of Akinola's Convocation of Anglicans in North America.

Born from the never-ending gay debate, Akinola's Nigeria-based Convocation aims to recruit conservative Americans into his Bible-thumping fold. American Episcopal leader Katharine Jefferts Schori has pleaded with Akinola to back off her territory, but it seems Akinola's hellbent on a bit of religious colonization. Akinola replied by saying that the CANA will:

provide a safe place for those who wish to remain faithful Anglicans but can no longer do so within the Episcopal Church as it is currently being led.

Holy bitchiness!

CONTINUED »

Aunty Maiduguri has mad skills. The forty-five year-old Nigerian lesbian managed to snag and marry four - four! - lovely ladies. Two thousand guests gathered earlier this week to participate in the two-day festivities, but things turned ugly when neighbors tipped off the police.

Nigeria's national law forbids homosexuality - politicians have been mulling a comprehensive, equally controversial law outlawing anything remotely queer, including befriending a fag. In addition to the secular prohibitions, Maiduguri's state - Kano - enforces Sharia law, putting her in double legal trouble.

Deputy commander of the Islamic police, Rabo Abdulkarim told reporters:

As defenders of Sharia law, we shall not allow this unhealthy development to take place. We are investigating the matter with a view to find the culprits and punish them.

Maiduguri and her brides better run, because something tells us a honeymoon in prison isn't very romantic.

Nigerian lesbian eludes arrest after wedding 4 women [CNN]

• There's a scourge wreaking sartorial havoc on gay communities - men who refuse to age gracefully. Pretty scary, right? Don't worry, Patrick Huguenin can help. First, you have to decide where you're coming from and where you want to go. We're leaning toward a rake (pictured). Pretty sexy for a sketch, no? [Genre]

• Outrage! outraged over Ghana's anti-gay laws. They best be careful, lest they have another Nigeria controversy. [UK Gay News]

• Arkansas advanced a bill to ban gay adoptions. Fuckers. [Arkansas News]

• Mr. Show on reparative therapy. [QueerSighted]

• Where's The Simpsons Movie premiering? Springfield, of course. Which Springfield? That depends on which one's got the most Simpsons love. [Houston Chronicle]

• Lesbians love Amy Winehouse and her drunken ways. But, really, who doesn't? [AfterEllen]

• Matt Sanchez had a little chat with Michelangelo Signorile. Joe from Joe.My.God's totally got the audio. Best if taken with a grain of salt and a whole lotta disbelief. [Joe.My.God]

• Gay veteran and Don't Ask activist, Eric Alva to General Peter Pace: "Judging gay men and women in the military for factors unrelated to their fitness to serve undermines our military's effectiveness." [Pink News UK]

• HRC said something, too. [HRC]

• General Peter Pace to world: "I admit I shouldn't have said anything, but I'm still not apologizing to a bunch of immoral butt fuckers. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go fuck Ann Coulter up the ass." [HuffPo]

• Finally, a friend sent us the video for a German toilet commercial. Let's just say it makes us reconsider how, where and when we do our next line of blow. See for yourself, after the jump…

CONTINUED »

Some Nigerian activists may be busy battling Outrage!, but pro-gay peer and director of Changing Attitude Nigeria, Davis Mac-Iyalla has been busy running from death threats.

Mac-Iyalla's made quite a few enemies in recent weeks, particularly after he traveled to Tanzania to plead with homophobic Archbishop Peter Akinola to include gays in the Anglican Communion.

Now a few shady seeming individuals showed up at his work looking to have some words, while another called his unlisted number to offer a little telephonic threat. The intimidation, Mac-Iyalla and others claim, comes straight from anti-gay rivals and Akinola-supporters, the Church of Nigeria. Fearing for his life, Mac-Iyalla's gone into hiding.

This isn't the first time Mac-Iyalla's garnered such warnings: he got a batch back in January. While certainly a shame that Mac-Iyalla's living in fear, at least he knows he's got the homophobe's attention.

A little over a month after issuing a call against British gay activist Peter Tatchell, a group of African gay do-gooders maintain that Tatchell and his group, Outrage!, are still meddling in their business.

They claim that their British counterparts inadvertently brought Nigeria's anti-gay bill back from the dead, thus leading to more oppression. Dorothy Aken'Ova of Nigeria's International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights insists:

Press attention to the bill, even if it is as mild as reporting that it is presumed dead as a result of political tension will be dangerous. Right now, we want silence.

If Aken'Ova truly feels that way, then why did she even speak to the press?

CONTINUED »

• Anderson Cooper made himself available to the highest bidder for an AIDS auction charity. The winning bid? $21,000. The winner? Brit bachelor Oliver Hicks. [Page Six]

• Brad Pitt. Shirtless. Smoking. On a motorcycle. Pics. [MollyGood]

• You care immensely about Britney Shears, right? [Dlisted]

• Leader of Iraqi GLBT advocacy group met with open arms – and applause – at London conference [UKGN]

• Anglican Church tries to get its shit together. [AP]

• Always lovely to see black press supporting homophobia. [Black News Weekly]

• Nigerians speak up for GLBT rights. [GCN]

• Doctor Who's John Barrowman's biggest complaint: being too well endowed. [Sky]

All right, enough of that lovey dovey bullshit. There are bigger things going on in the world, like Nigeria's public hearings on faggotry's legalities. People are coming forward to the House of Representatives to voice their opinions on the place of homosexuality in Nigerian society.

As happens, religious institutions have come to support the bill. The Christian Association of Nigeria and The National Muslim Center have both condemned homosexuality as being antithetical to Nigerian society at large, a sentiment echoed by some politicians.

CONTINUED »

Anglican leaders will gather in Tanzania later this week to duke it out on the international churches most divisive issues, particularly the institution's stance on the homos. It will certainly be an eventful weekend, as more conservative leaders take a stand against Presiding Episcopal Bishop Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson. Of those leaders, Nigerian archbishop and virulent homophobe Peter Akinola's voice will undoubtedly be the loudest. Before Akinola wears out his vocal cords, however, a number of Nigerian activists are asking him to raise his fist against the African nation's proposed ban on homosexuality.

You may recall the long-dormant bill got a breath of fresh air a few months back, a resurrection Nigerian activists blame on the British-based Outrage! and other international gay rights organizations. Regardless of who's to blame, the discriminatory documents will effectively outlaw same-sex relations. In a list ditch effort, pro-gay Christian non-profit, Changing Attitude Nigeria has penned a desperate letter to Akinola and his allies.

CONTINUED »

There's a bit of a post-colonial scuffle happening over in merry old England. British activist group Outrage! made headlines last month when they called on world powers to raise their voices against some proposed homophobic Nigerian laws.

In a statement, the even outspoken Peter Tatchell railed:

We appeal to gay and human rights groups worldwide to take urgent action to press the Nigerian government to uphold international human rights law and to drop this draconian legislation.

In response to Tatchell's battle cry, LGBT activists from ten African nations have issued a cry of their own: shut the fuck up.

The concerned citizens - including South Africa's Thuli Madi (pictured) - insist Tatchell and his friends of playing a little neo-colonial politics by stoking the coals of a dying controversy through misquotes and false information:

Stay out of African LGBTI issues. You have proven that you have no respect for conveying the truth with regards to Africa or consulting African LGBTI leaders before carrying out campaigns that have severe consequences in our countries. You have betrayed our trust over and over again.

The leaders insist they want nothing to do with Outrage! or Tatchell.

CONTINUED »

The Nigerian government may not have yet approved their broad anti-gay laws, but that didn't stop Abuja magistrate Ajoke Adepoju from sentencing a one Francis Chima for trying to get busy with another man.

Asking for leniency, Chima insisted he had no control over the situation, that, in fact, he had been tempted by that dastardly bastard, Satan:

The time I met him on the road, I saw him as a friend and when we entered his house, we discussed and as I was about to go, I put my head on the chest of the man and I wanted to be his friend… It is the work of Satan but I promise that I will not do it again.

Adepoju didn't buy it and sentenced Chima to either six weeks in prison of N1000 fine, which amounts to about $8.15.

Chima's certainly not the first Nigerian to go to jail (or worse) for gay-related crimes. Homophobia runs deep in the primarily Christian nation. It's even infiltrated the press. Consider how the report opens:

A self-acclaimed homosexual, Mr. Francis Chima, was yesterday sentenced to six weeks in prison by an Abuja magistrate court for demanding sex from a man.

Self-acclaimed? Demanding sex? Maybe they didn't include his entire testimony, but neither of those claims seem to be true. Sure, Chima may be gay, but he would never say that to the court, hence the devil's work defense. Also, putting your head on a man's chest is not a demand for sex. It's certainly gay - you know, in that cuddly way - but seems pretty innocuous to us…

Some disturbing news out of Africa this morning. Okay, well, just South Africa and Nigeria…

First, South Africa's first legally married gay couple, Vernon Gibbs and Tony Halls, have received "countless" death threats since making headlines for their homo-nups. They've reported the incidents to police, but apparently the coppers aren't that intrigued.

Though the couple ushered in a new era for the progressive country, 365 Gay reports that the backlash has had a detrimental effect on the number of South African gay marriages:

The Department of Home Affairs said only 84 same-sex couples had tied the knot since it became legal, compared to an estimated 5,000 opposite-sex couples.

Certainly not the turn-out one would expect after such a bitter battle.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Davis Mac-Iyalla - a man who's made it his mission to spread homo-loving Christianity in the legendarily homo-phobic country - got his own death threat the other day. Of this specific letter, Mac-Iylla commented:

On reading the letter, I felt immediately that my life was in great danger and the person threatening me knows who I am and where I can be found. I have felt very unsafe since the emails started to arrive, and now fear for my life.

Yes, well, we suppose that's the point…

CONTINUED »