The 13 most popular PinkNews stories of 2015
This year has had many ups, downs, zig zags, stumbles and triumphs.
Over the last 12 months PinkNews has reported on everything in the LGBT world from the downright bizarre (looking at you Tyson Fury) to the incredibly heart-warming (looking at you Johnny Depp).
Here is the run down of the some of the most popular stories we have covered this year.
Restaurant owner responds to homophobic review with epic put-down
Australian food bloggers ‘Burger Bun Day’ visited The Beaufort restaurant in Melbourne, especially enjoying the “softer than a baby’s bum” burger buns they received.
However, they were not impressed with the other patrons, remarking “Whilst waiting for two girls to finish using the pool table, one of the BBD members pointed out that they were probably ‘bean eating rug-munchers’ to which another member responded with genuine shock ‘I honestly thought that was a bloke’.”
Upon stumbling upon the review on the bloggers Instagram, the owner of the restaurant Dave Kerr unleashed an epic foul mouthed rant putting the bloggers in their place.
Johnny Depp ‘very proud’ of daughter Lily-Rose for coming out
Lily-Rose Depp surprised her thousands of followers on social media when it was revealed she took part in Photographer iO Tillet Wright’s ‘Self Evident’ campaign – revealing that she falls somewhere on the LGBT spectrum.
But the one person who was not surprised was her famous father Johnny Depp, who couldn’t wait to express how proud he was of his daughter.
“She’s got thousands of followers on social media, and they were all taken completely by surprise,” he told the Daily Mail.
“But not me. I already knew because she tells me everything – she’s not afraid to say anything to me.”
“We’re super-tight and I’m very proud of our relationship.”
Jennifer Lawrence: ‘Don’t say Kim Davis in my house!’
Everyone knows who Kim Davis is, the infamous Kentucky clerk has been global news this year after repeatedly refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Jennifer Lawrence also knows who Kim Davis is. And she has strong words for you if you ever dare to bring her up.
“[That] lady who makes me embarrassed to be from Kentucky” the Hunger Games star said.
“Don’t even say her name in this house!”
She went on to slam supporters of Davis, and the Republican party in general.
Anna Richardson and Sue Perkins reveal they are together
When ‘Secret Eaters’ presenter Anna Richardson announced that she was in a relationship with Sue Perkins of Great British Bake Off fame you could hear the internet creaking under the weight of the news.
“I was with my boyfriend for nearly 20 years and I’ve known Sue on the circuit,” Richardson said at the time.
“But about a year and a half ago we met at a party and I was recently single and we just… all I can say, there was an understanding between us and for me the planets aligned and I just thought, ‘This person’ – it’s not even about a woman – ‘this person is absolutely extraordinary’.”
This proud dad defended his son’s brilliant choice of Halloween costume
A nine-year-old boy chose to dress up as famous Dalmatian botherer Cruella De Vil for Halloween, and his father posted pictures on his Facebook of his son enjoying the hell out of his costume.
The response? Predictably, many expressed concern, with one friend posting “I must say completely inappropriate, and I can’t believe a parent would ever do that to their child!
“Sorry if I offend you or your friends but I think it’s wrong!!!”
His father had some very calm, and amazing words for the nay-sayers as he leapt to the defence of his son, replying “We deal with this type of small minded person on a daily basis. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I will always support and encourage my kids creativity happily and without apology.”
Ellen DeGeneres ‘can’t understand’ Caitlyn Jenner opposing equal marriage
You would expect to hear a better reason to support same-sex marriage than “If the word ‘marriage’ is really, really that important to you, I can go with it.”
Especially from the worlds most famous trans woman.
But when Caitlyn Jenner admitted to Ellen DeGeneres that she had previously opposed same-sex marriage, the ruler of TV chat show land was completely flummoxed.
“Caitlyn Jenner is on the show today, and she really still has a judgement about gay marriage.” Degeneres told Howard Stern on his SiriusXM radio show.
“I said to her: ‘You’re wanting people to understand and accept you – this is like really confusing to people – but you still have a judgement about gay people and marriage’.
Read this gay man’s emotional letter to the parents who refused to attend his wedding
When Patrick Bradley married his long-term partner back in 2013, he did so knowing that his parents would rather never see him again than attend his wedding.
Before the wedding, he went to meet them and explained that if they did not attend his wedding, he could not involve them in his life from that point. His parent’s response was not exactly ideal.
“We know that! I talked to your dad last night and we already accept it! We said that we give you back to God!”
Two years later, Patrick decided to write an open letter to his family, to tell his side of the story.
Babies with two biological same-sex parents could become a reality in just two years
Back in February, researchers from Cambridge University found that it is possible to make a baby using cells from two same-sex parents.
You can see why this news caused a lot of excitement.
In just two years, same-sex couples could be able to produce their own biological children from both parents. How amazing does the future look?!
Fun new comic strip asks why gay men REALLY go to hell…
So why do gay men go straight to hell? Well, in October a humble web comic came up with the most convincing argument that would explain why many in the Christian faith have been arguing about this for the last 2000 years.
The comic tells the story of a man who is facing Satan himself, who interrogates the poor chap about why he has been sent to hell.
When he tells the devil himself that the only reason he is there is because he is gay, the truth of the situation is revealed…
SHOCKING images show Islamic State throwing gay men to death
This year was the year of Daesh (previously known as ISIS).
Amongst the terrible atrocities committed across the world, including the horrific attacks in Paris as well as continued terror in Syria and Iraq, Daesh made it clear that members of the LGBT community were also in their firing line.
The group released images earlier this year of their members seemingly throwing gay men to their deaths.
Please be aware, the content included in the main article is deeply disturbing.
Read the full absolutely horrifying article here.
While Caitlyn Jenner is a woman, she is also a Republican, says Bette Midler
Caitlyn Jenner received a very warm welcome to the LGBT community when she first came out at the beginning of the year.
But her political views and repeated gaffs resulted in something of a backlash, resulting in musical legend Bette Midler calling Jenner out on her intentions to still vote republican in the next US election.
Even though almost all of the current republican candidates have come out against transgender rights.
David Cameron appoints anti-gay marriage MP to be minister for equalities
When Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage was appointed as a minister for women and equalities at the Department for Education by Prime Minister David Cameron, many couldn’t help but notice Ms Dinenage’s record on LGBT issues.
Namely, how she claimed that the “state has no right” to redefine its meaning of marriage and that “preventing same-sex couples from being allowed to marry takes nothing away from their relationship.”
However, the minister insists she has since changed her mind on LGBT rights – urging PinkNews to “move on” from criticising her voting record. Sorry for bringing it up again.
This student let a man with learning difficulties cuddle up to him on the bus
A 21-year-old student was snapped on a bus in Ontario, Canada, comforting a distressed man with cerebral palsy and allowing him to cuddle him.
The photo was shared thousands of times on social media, and eventually the student was identified as Godfrey Cuotto, who explained that he comforted the distressed man because “What am I going to do? Sometimes you just have to be selfless and put someone else’s needs above yours.”
