Michael

Watch: Michael Sam accepts Arthur Ashe Courage Award at ESPYs

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Email 17th July 2014, 12:25 PM Ashley Chhibber, PinkNews.co.uk Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments

The NFL’s first openly-gay player, Michael Sam, was met with two standing ovations as he accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award on Wednesday night.

Sam made history when he was drafted by the St Louis Rams in May, a few months after publicly coming out.

Sam received the award from Dwayne

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Michael Cashman: It is ‘deeply worrying’ that Nicky Morgan has been appointed as equalities minister

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Michael Cashman said Nicky Morgan’s appointment was ‘deeply worrying’ Share on WhatsApp 13 reader comments

Former Labour MEP Michael Cashman has slammed the appointment of Nicky Morgan as minister for women and equalities and education secretary, saying it is “deeply worrying”.

On Tuesday, David Cameron appointed Nicky Morgan as the new Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities.

She is now responsible for schools and the government’s overall strategy on equality. The MP voted against same-sex marriage last year.

Stonewall founder Mr Cashman, who retired as an MEP earlier this month, tweeted to question the appointment: “Nicky Morgan in charge of education and equalities is deeply worrying. The true nature of the Tory party is unchanged and reverting to type.”

Nicky Morgan in charge of education & equalities is deeply worrying. The true nature of the Tory party is unchanged & reverting to type.

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Michael Sam: When I first met my boyfriend, he was dressed as a rabbit and throwing up

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Michael Sam has opened up about his relationship with swimmer Vito Cammisano Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Share on WhatsApp 1 reader comment

Openly gay NFL star has opened up about his relationship, revealing he did not get on with his boyfriend when they first met.

In May, the football player shared a kiss on live TV with boyfriend Vito Cammisano after making history with his draft to the St Louis Rams, causing outrage among anti-gay groups.

According to a poll, 47 percent of Americans thought it was

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Labour leaders pay tribute to Stonewall founder and Labour politician Michael Cashman

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Tony and Cherie Blair with Michael Cashman Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments

Tony Blair was among several Labour figures to pay tribute to Michael Cashman at a party marking his contribution to politics and LGBT rights.

Mr Cashman officially retired from the European Parliament yesterday. An LGBT Labour reception was held in honour of his 15 years of service on Wednesday evening.

Tony and Cherie Blair were the surprise guests at the central London event.

Also present were Labour politicians Yvette Cooper, Gloria De Piero, Ben Bradshaw, Chris Bryant, Sharon Hodgson and Baroness Royall.

Earlier, a video tribute from all four surviving Labour leaders, Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Neil Kinnock, was played out in front of Mr Cashman.

The video featured messages from Paul O’Grady, Sir Ian McKellen, Michelle Collins, and Glenys Kinnock.

Visibly moved and overwhelmed, Mr Cashman expressed his gratitude and said that he simply “did not deserve this”.

He gave special thanks to his partner of over twenty years, Paul Cottingham, who he described as “my hero”.

Mr Cashman said his retirement as an MEP did not mean he would be retiring from public life and LGBT campaigning.

Recently enacted anti-gay laws in several countries meant the fight for LGBT rights “would continue for another generation”.

He vowed to continue to “make mischief” and recalled the words of his father who said: “If you still have a brain

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Tony Blair pays tribute to former MEP Michael Cashman by saying #ThanksMichael

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Tony Blair (Photo: Twitter) 7 reader comments

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has paid tribute to Michael Cashman, one of Britain’s leading gay politicians, following his retirement as an MEP.

An LGBT Labour reception to mark Mr Cashman’s 15 years of service in the European Parliament is taking place on Wednesday evening in central London.

Mr Blair, Prime Minister from 1997-2007, became the most senior Labour politician to tweet his support for the event on Monday.

Let’s say #ThanksMichael at

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R.E.M singer Michael Stipe: I was afraid to get tested for HIV in the 80s

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R.E.M Michael Stipe praised the ‘tolerance’ towards HIV 0 reader comments

R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe has said that he was reluctant to get tested for HIV in the 1980s.

The singer, who has previously described himself as “80% gay”, said on Logo’s TV special Trailblazers that he is proud of the progress made towards gay rights.

He said: “In the early Eighties, as a 22-year-old queer man living during the Reagan-Bush administration, I was afraid to get tested for HIV for fear of quarantine, the threat of internment camps and having my basic civil rights stripped away.

“I waited five years to get my first anonymous test.

“I am happy that attitudes have matured and changed, and I feel lucky that I live in a country where acceptance, tolerance and policy toward HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ issues have advanced as far as they have.”

Stipe was the lead singer of band R.E.M until their split in 2011.

The special aired to mark the one-year anniversary of the repeal of the Defence of Marriage Act.

Actress Demi Lovato also revealed at the event that her grandfather was gay, and came out in the 1960s.

Former US President Bill Clinton also spoke out in favour of gay rights for the special, saying he was

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