We bring you another installment of our regular brew, with headlines from the past few days. What do you think? More importantly, what’ve we missed? To the comments!

Ireland

Out for the Weekend launched in Kilkenny this weekend!

The annual Pride event on the banks of the River Nore takes place from 24-26th August next, and there is plenty to look forward to. Now in its third year, the festival is offering up an even more diverse line up of performance, art, theatre, music and symposiums to cater to everyone of all ages, genders and persuasions.

Festival organiser Alan Slattery told the Kilkenny People:

I felt there were no gay events happening in Kilkenny that sustained any kind of momentum. Instead of standing by, I decided I wanted to organise an event that might become a focal point of Kilkennyʼs cultural calendar.

Sneak peek!

The Irish Times ran a feature this weekend on issues affecting trans people in Ireland – especially the total lack of any recognition of gender identity.

It’s over a year now since the official release of the Report from the Gender Recognition Advisory Group (GRAG), which was launched by Social Protection Minister, Joan Burton. Orla Tinsley reported on what progress has been made since then, and how are Irish trans people are coping in the absence of legal recognition.

Earlier in the week, TENI headed to Waterford for the launch of Touching the Surface: Trans Voices in Ireland. Take a look at some pics here.

In September, Ireland will have the honour of hosting the European Transgender Forum at Dublin City University.

The ever fabulous BeLonG To published their Impact Review 2011 last week.

The publication looks at the number of young people availing of BeLonG To’s services, the development of LGBT youth groups across the country, the campaigns and projects rolled out over the last 12 months and the impact BeLonG To is having beyond our shores.

You can browse the Impact Review here!

It was a sad day on Friday for the Irish queer internets, when the ever-idiosyncratic angryPotato.net forum went offline at 6pm.

The work of our very own Mistress of the Code, angryPotato has been a fixture for over seven years. The Spud shall be missed!

Is the Tánaiste ruling out legislating for marriage equality?

Deaglán de Bréadún writes in The Irish Times:

The Tánaiste reiterates his view that gay marriage is “the civil rights issue of this generation” and adds: “I actually don’t think there is any big deal about this – that is where Irish society is. People do have a sense of live and let live.”

‘So if the issue is that important, why not deal with it through the Dáil rather than long-fingering it at the convention? “This isn’t long-fingering it, the intention is that the convention will have the list of items that it has been asked to address . . . within a year,” he replies.

Perhaps Eamon Gilmore is simply waiting to be able to say that marriage equality is deemed important by the Constitutional Convention? Yet, does – or should – equality require approval?

What do you think?

World

Speaking of equality, progress seems to be under way in no less than three countries around the world.

Scotland is due to introduce marriage equality – by 2015?

Elsewhere, the government of Viet Nam is considering marriage equality, among other forms of recognition for same-sex couples.

While in New Zealand – where civil unions are available to same-sex couples – the parliament there is expected to vote on a private member’s bill to introduce marriage equality. Since it was introduced, the country’s prime minister, John Key, has expressed his support for the measure:

You go through all the merits of the argument and look at what people put up; but my view is that if two gay people want to get married I can’t see why it would undermine my marriage with Bronagh.

In less enlightend parts of the world, things aren’t looking so optimistic.

Ukraine has seen an anti-gay bill re-introduced to the parliament there.

Meanwhile, France24 reports that across the border in Russia, 73 people have been prosecuted to date under St Petersburg’s anti-gay law.

Fluff

Kylie goes gay – albeit fake gay – but we knew that already.

In other not-really-gay news – but for realsies – Gillian Anderson says she isn’t 100% gay. She doesn’t tell us what she is – but then should she? Is it really necessary to pidgeon hold anyone into a neat category? Even “queer“?

Sport

Did you see, did you see?!

One of the athletes at London 2012 has actually commented on Gaelick!

Team GB’s sitting volleyball captain, Claire Harvey, popped by to say hello (and put us in our place a little bit!):

Great to be included on here… Such a dodgy photo though : ) single though, just not sure mainstream articles deal with that well : ))) sprouts will of course always be my dirty little secret!

Knock me over with a feather and colour me star-struck.

And more in “Did you see?” news: Did you see the lesbian kiss during the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday?

During a love story montage, Ceremony director, Danny Boyle, chose to include a split-second clip of the famous kiss between Beth Jordache and Margaret in Channel 4′s Brookside.

Unsurprisingly – or perhaps suprisingly – the nano-second of sapphic action has generated high praise and criticism from various quarters.

How are the out athletes faring in London? SB Nation is keeping track.

And what about Ireland’s women?

In badminton last night, there was good news, when Donegal’s Chloe Magee defeated Hadia Hosny of Egypt in two straight sets. Magee faces Pi Hongyan tomorrow in the second and last of her group stage matches, to see who will be among the 16 players to go through to the next round.

Sycerika McMahon came third in her 200m medley heat this morning, setting a personal best of just over 2 minutes 14.76 seconds in the process. Apparently setting personal bests in the Olympics is very rare – so kudos to McMahon! Sadly, however, her time wasn’t fast enough to finish in the top 16 swimmers to go through to tonight’s semi-finals. Keep building!

Annalise Murphy is currently leader in her sailing event (laser radial) with a time of 49 minutes 11 seconds. Get in! Watch that space to see if she can hold her lead.

Meanwhile, Hannah Craig is in third place in her canoeing event (kayak K1 slalom) with a score of 117.07. This is also an ongoing event, so we’ll have to wait until later today to know the final standings.

There was disappointment for Ireland’s swimmers yesterday, too, with Gráinne Murphy and Melanie Nocher unable to progress to the next stages in their respective events. Murphy, who is struggling with glandular fever, pulled out of this morning’s 200m freestyle heat to concentrate on Thursday’s 800m freestyle event.

It was also a difficult day on Saturday for Lisa Kearney, when luck was with her opponent in the -48k judo event. Kearney, who is a world silver medallist, won a bye through to the second round of elimination bouts. There, she and NAME ended their fight on level points, to go through to a sudden death round.

Also, it’s Hope Solo’s birthday today!

Why not send your Happy Birthday wishes by gazing at hundreds of photos of the US goalie? Or just this one: