GenQ

GLBT

UNITED STATES – Same-sex couples marry in California
Hundreds of same-sex couples have married on the first day of legally recognized gay marriages across the US state of California. Records were broken across many districts, with counties requiring as many as four times more employees to issue marriage licenses.
The new laws have been introduced at the same time as polling data which shows that more people in California are supporting gay marriage instead of opposing it; this is the first time polls have shown such support for same-sex marriages in the state polling’s thirty year history.

UNITED STATES – Brain of gay man same as straight woman
The Los Angeles Times has reported that a recent research study shows that the brains of a gay man are similar to those of a straight woman.
The study, which was designed to provide further evidence to show that biology played a part in a person’s sexual orientation, said that there were similarities in brain circuits that deal with language between gay men and heterosexual women.
After a number of studies have been conducted over the past decade, scientists are now wondering how much, not if biology determines a person’s sexual orientation.

World

UNITED STATES – Obama holds five point lead over McCain
In one of the first polls released since Senator Hillary Clinton withdrew from the Democrat candidacy race, Barack Obama holds a five point lead over Republican candidate John McCain ahead of the November election.
Although Obama’s five point lead has shrunk from what was eight points, the Democratic nominee has a resounding lead over McCain in key demographics; a twenty-two point lead for independents and a fifteen point lead for women. Both demographics are likely to play a vital role in the choosing of the next US president.

CHINA – Floods see 1.5 million people evacuated
Close to 1.7 million people have been evacuated from various parts of China over the past 11 days due to severe flooding across a number of areas in the country.
The floods, which have already taken the lives of 171 people with more than 50 others missing, has also resulted in the toppling of over 130,000 homes, severe damaged or destruction of over 2.3 million hectares of crops, and has caused an estimated US$4 billion in economic damage.
Areas which have eased in severity of damage are likely to be hit by further heavy rain, worsening existing damage and will subsequently increase the likelihood of fatalities and further economic losses.

Entertainment

UNITED KINGDOM – Joan Rivers kicked from talk show after swearing
75 year old Joan Rivers was requested to leave a British talk show today after swearing live on air.
While making a guest appearance on talk show Loose Women, Rivers was talking about Russell Crowe when using the words “f***ing shit” shortly after warning that she would swear.
Rivers was then asked to leave the show during the commercial break directly after the interview.
In a statement released after the incident took place, Rivers said “In England you can’t swear on TV before 9 p.m... Like it’s my fault — I’m still on New York time”.

SPAIN – Coldplay says new album “sexier” than previous

After selling more than 10 million copies of their previous album X&Y, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin has joked with press in Spain about their latest release Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends being more sexier than the last.
During a press conference, Martin said “I think we are definitely more handsome now than we were three years ago. I think that's reflected in our music, it's much more sexy.”
Record label EMI will be hoping for high sales with Coldplay’s latest record, with the label losing Paul McCartney and Radiohead as signed acts last year, along with speculation that the Rolling Stones will also leave before the year is out.

And that is your News in 5 Minutes for today. Stop the clock!  

Tags: gay marriage, glbt usa, News in 5 Minutes, US Election