Amendment Delays Tennessee’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, Orange County Florida Leaders Agree To Author Law Expanding Orlando’s Domestic Partnership Registry, Former Solider Sentenced To Life For The Torture And Murder Of Five Gay Men Dies In Jail, British Prime Minister Cameron Accused Of “Cultural Vandalism” By Coalition Of Religious Leaders Over His Support Of Same Sex Marriage, Derek Hough, Adele Flips The Middle Finger At Brit Awards

In Tennessee, action on the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill was delayed Tuesday as its sponsors worked on an amendment meant to make it easier for teachers and guidance counsellors to answer questions posed by students about sexuality. The Tennessean reports that the House Education Committee put off discussion of a measure meant to curb discussions about homosexuality in elementary and middle school for a week so new language can be added specifically protecting some talks between students and their teachers, school nurses and guidance counsellors. The amendment has not yet been filed, but the bill’s sponsor, state Representative Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), said it is meant to ensure that students’ questions can still be answered.

In Florida, Orange County leaders agreed Tuesday to write a law broadening Orlando's domestic partner registry that gives certain visitation and end-of life rights for all unmarried couples at hospitals, jails and funeral homes countywide. The breakthrough emerged after weeks of tense debate between Mayor Teresa Jacobs and gay-rights activists over what protections should be adopted. Several times, activists feared Jacobs would oppose a registry. But Jacobs affirmed Tuesday she would back a registry, while seeking to expand similar protections to couples who do not live together. According to The Orlando Sentinel, several issues still need work before a final ordinance can be voted on, Jacobs said, but both sides were hopeful they would be resolved and a final law approved by late spring or early summer. Teresa Jacobs "We have the same goal in mind," Jacobs said. "There should not be any problem." Still, many gay rights advocates urged Jacobs to adopt an "undiluted" version of the law with the same protections Orlando has with its registry. They also lobbied for the county to play a greater role in running the system, both to make it more accessible and less confusing. "We've got to do everything we can to fill the gaps in protections for unmarried gay and straight families," said Joseph Saunders, state field director for Equality Florida. "It's got to be strong." Five of six commissioners voiced similar support: Scott Boyd, Ted Edwards, John Martinez, Tiffany Moore Russell and Jennifer Thompson. Commissioner Fred Brummer did not weigh in, but he has opposed a registry in the past. "We've had no one come and speak in opposition," Edwards said of Tuesday's debate, contrasting it with past gay-right fights and noting it signalled this was "an inclusive community.'' A February 20 e-mail to Jacobs from Frank Santos, Rosen Hotels & Resorts chief financial officer, argued that a registry "will give us a critical competitive advantage over regions and employers who have yet to acknowledge the serious gaps in protections for unmarried gay and straight families." Advocates say a registry is needed because Florida bans marriage between same sex couples. They often face more hassles if a loved one is in a medical emergency because state law doesn't recognize them as family. Similar hurdles surface in jails, schools and at funeral homes. But registry advocates have never been certain Jacobs shared that view. During her 2010 campaign, Jacobs said she opposed gay marriage and adoption, but backed civil unions and an expansion of a county anti-discrimination ordinance. Jacobs voiced initial scepticism about extending benefits to same sex county workers, citing cost concerns. But she later steered that expansion to a 6-0 favourable vote soon after taking office. During that benefit debate, Jacobs chose not to pass a domestic-partner registry at the same time. The mayor also declined to take it up later in 2011, citing an overloaded schedule and limited staff time. After Orlando leaders passed a domestic-partner-registry ordinance in December, Jacobs only pledged to hold a hearing on the issue, saying she needed to do more research. Since several cities and counties, including Miami-Dade and Palm beach counties already had registries, advocates worried that Jacobs was taking time to look for reasons to oppose it. After months of internal deliberations and seeking feedback from hospitals, schools and funeral directors, Jacobs laid out her goal to commissioners for the first time Tuesday. Jacobs envisions a system in which any county resident could sign up for the existing registry at Orlando City Hall. The county ordinance would give residents the right to sue to enforce the registry. If adopted, the county ordinance would apply registry rights to businesses and institutions in the other cities within the county, unless they choose to opt out. Jacobs said she still has concerns about whether the registry would apply to funeral homes for cremations and to private and religious schools. The mayor also said work is needed to get police to use the registry in their emergency notification policies. But gay advocates agreed the issues are resolvable, and they said the commissioners' and Jacobs' public declaration in support of a domestic partner registry was a significant turning point. "That's a huge advance," said Mary Meeks. "The rest of it is, making sure it's the best, most effective, efficient and enforceable ordnance it can be. And there are still some question marks there."

In the United Kingdom, a former soldier jailed for life for torturing five gay men to death has died at Wakefield jail, the Prison Service has said. Colin Ireland, 57, was given a whole-life tariff in 1993 for the murders. Ireland was told he would never be released after admitting the murders of the men he met in London pubs. According to the BBC, a Prison Service spokesperson said it was presumed he had died from natural causes in the healthcare centre of the prison on Tuesday morning. Known as the "gay slayer", Ireland reportedly posed as a homosexual to be taken to each of his victims' homes, where he tortured and murdered them after making a New Year's resolution in 1993 to become a serial killer. Ireland, who terrorised London's gay community, was caught later the same year when CCTV footage showed him with his last victim. The Prison Service spokeswoman said the death would be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. The spokeswoman said, "Colin Ireland died in HMP Wakefield's healthcare centre today at 9:20 am. He is presumed to have died from natural causes; a post-mortem will follow. As with all deaths in custody, the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation." In May 2007, a report by the independent Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Advisory Group found that the Metropolitan Police inquiry into the murders was "hampered by a lack of knowledge of the gay scene in London and the special culture of S&M bondage".

British Prime Minister David Cameron was accused of planning an “Orwellian” act of “cultural vandalism” by an alliance of bishops, Tory MPs and legal figures Sunday over his plans to allow homosexual couples to marry. The Telegraph reports Cameron, who has publicly pledged his support for gay marriage, is facing a growing backlash from within his own party over the proposal to redefine the legal definition of marriage to include same sex couples. He is now facing the prospect of an open breach with prominent religious figures – just a week after leading Conservatives voiced their support for Christianity following a series of court rulings which reinforced the secularisation of Britain. Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, yesterday joined Lord Brennan, the barrister and peer, to launch the “Coalition For Marriage”, a new cross-party campaign designed to derail the plans for homosexual marriage. A clutch of Church of England bishops and other Christian groups have already pledged their support for the alliance which is seeking hundreds of thousands of signatures on a petition to maintain the current definition of marriage. Crucially, the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church yesterday threw its support behind the campaign, raising the prospect of support from the more than a million devout Catholics in England and Wales. It is understood that leading bishops are considering issuing a pastoral letter to parishes across urging them to support the campaign. Next month Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, is due to publish a formal consultation document on how to legalize same sex marriage by 2015. Opponents hope to force the Government to redraw the plans to include a question about whether marriage is to be redefined at all. The group is already contacting 175,000 potential supporters by e-mail and printing 500,000 petition papers and hopes to trigger a debate in Parliament on the subject. Its petition expresses support for marriage defined as a “voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.” But Peter Tatchell, the homosexual rights campaigner, condemned the new coalition as "intolerant and out of touch,” adding, "The ban on same sex marriage is discrimination. It violates the democratic principle that everyone should be equal before the law.” Lord Carey said the campaign aimed to affirm a centuries-old understanding of marriage against a “hostile strike” led by single pressure groups not to discriminate against same sex couples. "The Government has no mandate from the people to redefine marriage and that is why we are gathered here today,” he said. “We hope that they will think again. This matter is so serious and so important for our nation – we cannot allow this act of cultural and theological vandalism to happen." Lord Brennan added: “This is a matter of national significance. Many times in our public lives Lord Carey and I have heard the phrase let the people speak, this is a classic case of let the people speak. We cannot allow social engineering to take place with such Orwellian results that we say ‘parent one’ and parent two’ instead of mother and father.” The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, has also signalled his support. Speaking on behalf of the Roman Catholic church, the Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, said: "Marriage is a fundamental institution and neither the state nor the church has the right to redefine its meaning.”Together with the Church of England and the new Coalition For Marriage we will be encouraging people to sign the petition registering opposition to a change in the law on marriage." Among those attending the launch was the former Tory leadership candidate David Davies and the Conservative MPs David Burrowes and Fiona Bruce. Burrowes said that he had received a barrage of abusive messages and even a death threat after he publicly voiced his opposition to same sex marriage. But the Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone reaffirmed the Government's commitment to introducing same sex marriage. "This Government is promoting a fair society where people respect each other," she said. “I believe that if a couple love each other and want to commit to a life together, they should have the option of a civil marriage, irrespective of whether they are gay or straight. We are absolutely not changing religious marriage, or requiring religious groups to go against their traditions. We will be working closely with all those who have an interest in the area to understand their views ahead of the formal consultation in March."

The deeply delicious Derek Hough spotted shirtless on the beach in Hawaii.

Adele won best British female and best British album at the Brit Awards Tuesday night. However, her achievements were marred by controversy. Winning best album – the key award of the night – Adele told the screaming audience she was "so proud to be British". But despite taking the major honours of the evening the singer was cut off in her moment of glory and looked peeved as host Corden interrupted her to make way for Blur because the televised show was running out of time. Adele then gave the finger. A visibly upset Corden told ITV2 afterwards he wished he had not cut off Adele on her big night. "I don't quite understand why I was made to,” he said, adding, "I just feel bad about having to cut Adele off. I don't understand what happened but I'm upset about it. Blur get to play for 11 minutes and she gets to say thank you once." Backstage Adele explained that, "I flipped the finger but it wasn't to my fans. I'm sorry if I offended anyone but it was the suits that offended me. Thank you all very much and thanks to my fans. I don't want them to think I was swearing at them." ITV offered Adele its apologies after her speech was curtailed. A spokesperson for the network said: "The Brits is a live event. Unfortunately the programme was over-running and we had to move on. We would like to apologise to Adele for the interruption."