Anti-Gay Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James Remains Dangerous And Defiant, Australian Gay Pub Can Longer Ask The Sexual Orientation Of Prospective Patrons, Deceased At Age 20 Secret Sperm Donor Fathered Lesbian Aunt’s Children At Age 15, Chris Brown Apologises For Homophobic Racist Twitter Rant, Reggie Bush Asks Whether “No Homo” Is Offensive

The Charlotte Observer reports that the vehemently anti-gay Mecklenburg County, North Carolina commissioner Bill James says he will not apologise for comments he made earlier this week categorising homosexuals as “sexual predators.” James said Thursday that “People are entitled to their opinion, and that includes me. I don’t expect people to (always) agree with me. It’s a political discussion and I wouldn’t have raised it on my own, but Jennifer (Roberts) decided to wade in on it.” His remarks came in an e-mail exchange among commissioners regarding the recent repeal on the United States military policy prohibiting openly gay service personal, Roberts, the chair of Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, having announced she wanted to send a letter thanking four local members of Congress for voting in favour of the repeal. In an e-mail criticising the gesture, James wrote “"Homosexuals are sexual predators. Allowing homosexuals to serve in the US military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining US military readiness and effectiveness not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to."James’ comments have been roundly condemned and an online petition asking that country commissioners censure James continues to gather signatures.

From Australia and news.com a report on a gay men’s pub that has lost its unique right to ask people their sexuality prior to allowing them admittance, the Peel Hotel’s three-year-old exemption to anti-discrimination laws revoked to comply with Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights’ privacy protection provisions. In 2007, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal granted the Collingwood bar the right to refuse entry to “people who do not identify as homosexual males” if the staff believed that their presence would adversely affect the pub’s nature as a gay bar. A new exemption, granted earlier this month, allows Peel staff “to explain the nature of the venue to prospective patrons ... and to permit them choose whether to enter or not to enter.” The Peel pub can still prevent entry by those it believes may threaten the comfort of safety of patrons of the pub’s nature as a gay bar. The Peel chose not to oppose the changes.

The Daily Telegraph reports on the parents of Charlie Lowden, who died last year at the age of 20 following a routine hernia operation, Charles and Lynn now coming to terms with the fact the two children they thought to be their nephew and niece are actually their biological grandchildren, as years earlier, at the age of 15, Charlie offered to donate sperm to his aunt Sarah Ashman, who is now 40, and is Charlie’s mother’s younger sister, and her partner, Claire, who is now 30. Ashman first gave birth to Charlton, who is 5, then Sarah, who is 2. The sperm donation was unofficial – United Kingdom law stipulates sperm donors must be between the ages of 18 and 45. Mrs. Lowden says that now knowing Charlton is her grandson is “just like having our Charlie back. We’ve got the next best thing to him and it’s not a secret anymore. I’m absolutely delighted. He did it for a reason and he has left a legacy.” Charlie, a scaffolder, died in December, 2009 after being discharged from Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland following surgery for a hernia. His parents are arguing that the hospital failed to give their son proper protection from blood clots and have begun legal proceedings. A pre-inquest is scheduled for January 20th.

Chris Brown, whose homophobic, racist rant via Twitter I posted about previously,offered an awkward apology to TMZ.com Thursday, reading in part “Yesterday was an unfortunate lack in judgement sparked by public Twitter attacks from Raz B, who was bent on getting attention. Words cannot begin to express how sorry and frustrated I am over what transpired publicly on Twitter,” adding “I love all of my fans, gay and straight. I have friends from all walks of life and am committed, with God’s help, to continue becoming a better person.”

Reggie Bush – USC Trojans’ running back who was asked to return his Heisman Trophy, currently playing for the New Orleans Saints – asks via Twitter (which seriously must stop) “If someone says ‘no homo,’ is that offensive towards gay people?”