Statistics Show One In Three Newly Reported HIV Infections In China Is Among Men Who Have Sex With Men, Transgender Women Told To Use Disabled Washroom, Westboro Baptist To Picket Florida Funeral Of 24 U.S. Army Specialist Killed Tuesday In Afghanistan, Denver Post Calls On President Obama To “Commit” To Same-Sex Marriage, Adam Levin, Edward Norton

An estimated one out of three new HIV infections in China is among men who have sex with men, latest figures released by the Ministry of Health showed, China Daily reporting that in some south-western cities on the mainland, HIV prevalence among local men having sex with men (MSM) reached almost 20-percent. Nationwide, approximately 5-percent of MSM are living with HIV—88 times higher than the national HIV prevalence of 0.057-percent, official statistics showed. Also, the prevalence is particularly higher in cities and urban areas. However, according to government figures, less than half of the MSM population has access to HIV testing services and less than 15-percent of HIV-positive MSM who need treatment are receiving it. "Cities are at the heart of China's development and progress, and must remain at the forefront of its HIV response," Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) addressed the workshop here Saturday to address a rapidly-growing HIV epidemic among MSM, adding that "Through bold action to address HIV among men who have sex with men, cities can lead the way to achieving the UNAIDS vision of Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths. We hope that over the next year, many more Chinese cities will implement city-based MSM strategies," he added.

A transgender woman was humiliated after staff at Sainsbury's in Walton, England told her to use the disabled toilet, The Surrey Herald reporting that 55 year old Stephanie Collins feels she has been discriminated against after visiting the store at The Heart. She needed to use the toilet facilities but as she came out of the ladies she was blocked by a member of staff who told her she should use the disabled toilet. Collins said that "I told the lady I was not disabled and suggested it would be inappropriate. She said 'I can see that' but told me to use the disabled toilet. She became defensive. I was left feeling quite embarrassed and rather awkward, but I'm not angry. I feel sorry for Sainsbury's if they cannot train up its staff to deal tactfully with people." Collins changed her name from Stephen in 2008 but believes she knew she was born into the wrong body from the age of three, when he then asked his older sister when it would be his turn to change. Since the incident she has written to the store manager. Under the United Kingdom Gender Recognition Act 2004 transgendered people have the legal right to be recognized in their acquired agenda. Collins, who has been living as a woman for the last two years (the length of time you need to qualify) is currently awaiting a change to her birth certificate and a gender recognition certificate, both are due in a couple of weeks. A Sainsbury's spokesman said that "We would like to apologise unreservedly for any offence caused. We pride ourselves on our high standards in customer service, something that clearly has not been met in this instance. Our store manager will be writing to Miss Collins to apologise in person. We hope this will not prevent her from shopping with us in the future."

The Westboro Baptist Church said Saturday that it plans to picket the memorial service of a Port St. Lucie, Florida man who died while serving in Afghanistan, according to The Palm Beach Post. United States Army Specialist Jordan Christopher Schumann, 24, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday when his Humvee ran over a mine. Schumann's parents live in suburban Port St. Lucie. While funeral arrangements for Schumann are not final, Pastor Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church said a half-dozen members of his organization plan to travel from Kansas to picket. "We are particularly focused on Florida just now because the legislature in that state is presently considering passing an unconstitutional law against WBC's lawful and constitutional preaching activities, in amazing defiance of the Supreme Court of the United States," Phelps wrote in an e-mail to the Palm Beach Post. "We anticipate filing suit if such a law is passed, as we have successfully done in other parts of the country. When a state, through its elected officials, lifts its middle finger against God's pronouncements and judgments, WBC gives such a state special attention." Phelps' pickets have outraged the families of fallen soldiers, but the U.S. Supreme Court in March ruled that Phelps has the right to protest outside funerals. In response to that ruling, which appears to threaten a Florida law making it illegal to disturb military funerals, state Rep. Pat Rooney (R-West Palm Beach) has proposed a bill that would create a 500-foot buffer around military funerals. The Schumanns' pastor, the Rev. Dale K. Ingersoll of Westside Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, said Saturday that he had not heard of Westboro Baptist Church's plans to picket, and that he did not expect to take any steps to keep Phelps and his followers from the service. "Apart from my disdain for the group, there's nothing I can do," Ingersoll said. "To me, they're a black eye on churches."

An editorial in The Denver Post, imploring President Obama to stop evolving and “commit” to same-sex marriage, writing that the “Obama's Justice Department recently announced it will no longer defend DOMA in court, saying in a brief that ‘Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act . . . unconstitutionally discriminates.’ It goes on to say that marriage discrimination is no different from any discrimination based on sexual orientation. Now the president must makes his views clear. There can be no change without Obama's leadership. The time for half-way steps is over. It's time for Obama to lead the charge.”

Adam Levine wanders around Los Angeles shirtless.

Edward Norton wanders around southern Italy, sans shirt.