France is to end its ban on blood donations by gay men, its health minister said, calling the move the end “of a taboo and discrimination”.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU governments may ban gay men from ever donating blood, but only under strict conditions.

Rugby pundit Neil Francis has denied he was stereotyping or generalising when he claimed that up to 90% of gay men had no interest or involvement in sport.

When you set out to make a point, it’s all too easy for people to miss it if you’re not physically present. It is difficult to make a strong emotional argument by being absent from a colourful parade that involves a million people and goes worldwide through mainstream nd social media.