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Amaechi Awarded "Officer of the British Empire" in Queen's Honours

This is absolutely brilliant. NBA basketball player-turned-social activist and entrepreneur John Amaechi has been awarded the Officer of Order of the British Empire for his services to sport and charity. Amaechi told R20 on Thursday. The official announcement was today in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2011 list, reports The Independent.

The now retired England international – who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and the Utah Jazz – as well as leading European clubs, was also honoured for his work with troubled kids on both sides of the Atlantic. Amaechi set up a basketball centre in Manchester, worked with the Big Brothers mentoring scheme and devoted much of his time to political activities surrounding social inclusion and gay rights.

"I was once an overweight bookworm who hid in the corner of my school library and wished I was invisible," he said. "My mother told me that I could do better and I hope to use this platform to convince other young people just how true this can be for them too."

The 40-year-old Manchester native was at one point "the highest paid British athlete in the world." Amaechi captained England's basketball team and led the squad to its first-ever international medal in basketball at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.

In 2007, Amaechi published an autobiography, Man in the Middle, which became a New York Times bestseller. In the memoir, the former NBA player came out of the closet and became a media sensation—as well as the target for ugly homophobic rants and jokes.

The distinguished awards are published twice a year, at the beginning of the New yYear and on the Queen's official birthday. The Queen’s New Year's Honours List 2011 awarded an MBE to another Black gay man. Fifty-year-old Aslie Pitter founded Britain's first gay football club and was recognized for his 20-year-fight against homophobia.

Black Gay Footballer in Queen Elizabeth's New Year Honours List

The founder of Britain's first gay football club has been appointed an MBE in the Queen’s New Year's Honours List 2011.

Fifty-year-old  Aslie Pitter was recognized for his 20-year-fight against homophobia. The founder of Stonewall FC tells the BBC that he is still "pinching himself" after after being appointed an MBE.

[Pitter said] it was nerve-racking being one of the first openly gay teams to "put our heads on the block" and start playing Sunday football. But he said the team had barely received any abuse over the decades.

Mr Pitter now manages Stonewall FC's second team. He said: "Being black and being gay I thought I might come in for a lot of stick. In our first game we were sharing a communal shower with seven other teams and I was pretty nervous. But it has never really been a problem."

Unfortunately Mr Pitter's father died only days before the announcement. He said: "It is a shame neither of my parents were around to see it."

Only one professional footballer has come out publicly. England international star Justin Fashanu was the first black player to command a £1m transfer fee but suffered vile homophobic abuse from fans and players after coming out in 1990. Fashanu tragically took his own life in 1998 at the age of 37.

Entertainer Annie Lennox was named an OBE—Order of the British Empire— for her activism on AIDS and poverty. Lennox was recently named Goodwill Ambassador by UNAIDS and was quite active at AIDS 2010 in Vienna. Lennox also spoke with R20 in Vienna and was very gracious. Congratulations and bravo to Lennox, Pitter and all those honored.

British Diplomat Strangled to Death in Anti-Gay Killing in Jamaica

The naked body of John Terry, honorary consul to British High Commission in Jamaica, was found strangled to death in his Montego Bay home on Wednesday. Authorities found bloodstains, a cord around his neck, evidence he had been beaten, and, believe the murder was a homophobic attack.

The Times Online: "Police believe that Mr Terry, who was married but separated from his wife, knew his attacker. There were no signs of forced entry at the property. However, it is believed that the killer stole his wallet and mobile telephone in an attempt to make it appear as though a robbery had gone wrong. Police would not say whether Mr Terry’s murder was thought to be linked to his work as a Justice of the Peace but they were investigating the possibility that the attack might have been homophobic after a handwritten note on his body described him as a 'batty man', local slang for a homosexual. The note also said: 'This is what will happen to ALL gays.' It was signed: 'Gay-Man'. The former hotel manager had worked in the island’s tourism trade for more than 30 years. At the time of his death he was working at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay, a resort popular with British and American tourists."

Terry was appointed a Member of the British Empire in 1992. It is believed he escorted Queen Elizabeth around Jamaica on several state trips.

With more than 1,600 killings last year, Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Gay men are singled out for especially cruel treatment and the culprits are rarely punished.

Did Michelle Obama Break Royal Protocol by Hugging the Queen?

The British tabloid press is in an uproar over a "touching" moment described as a "breach of royal protocol" between First Lady Michelle Obama and Queen Elizabeth II. Her Royal Highness put her arm around Michelle Obama. Then outrage when the unthinkable happens: The First Lady actually ... put her arm ... around the queen.

The Daily Mail reports the "extraordinary" exchange occurred in the Throne Room following the official group picture with the national leaders for the G20 Summit.

"One said: 'There was a bit of a bottleneck as all of the leaders filed out so the Queen started chatting to Michelle Obama. She appeared to look up at her and make a comment about how tall she was.

'As she did, she put her arm around Mrs Obama and rested her gloved hand on the small of her back.' Almost simultaneously, Mrs Obama put her arm around the Queen's shoulders rather more firmly.

'The pair then looked at their feet and appeared to be discussing their shoes.

'The Queen then dropped her arm and, a few seconds later, Michelle did the same. The entire exchange lasted around eight to ten seconds but was absolutely extraordinary.' "

Royal protocol dictates you cannot begin eating before the Queen, must not eat when she is done, you must never show your back to her, and are never allowed to attempt to hug or kiss her.

While some royal watchers are in a tizzy, many others say the Queen's "spontaneous display of affection", as Buckingham Palace calls it, shows how even the royals are enamored with the Obamas and are embracing "change." The Times dismisses Mrs. Obama's critics: "They missed the real story. What was far more interesting was that the Queen put her arm round the First Lady.... Now the Queen is not just putting up with physical gestures of affection from a woman she has only just met, but is reciprocating with one of her own."

The Obamas Meet Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace

History in the making this evening as President Barack Obama arrives at Buckingham Palace for a private reception with Queen Elizabeth. The Huffington Post reports: "Several thousand well-wishers crowded the traffic circle in front of the gated palace on Wednesday to cheer and wave as the limousine carrying Obama and first lady Michelle Obama rolled past."

What do you give one of the richest women in the world? Reportedly the President presented Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II with an engraved iPod touch "loaded with video and photos of her 2007 trip to the United States, as well as other songs and accessories, and a rare songbook signed by Richard Rodgers, of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame."

Reportedly, the Queen became an iPod owner several years ago and is quite fond of the device. The gifts sound appropriate for a 21st century president. Practical, geeky, proud of our technology and a rare gift of Americana. Maybe we'll see the QEII in one of those black silhouetted iPod adverts, preferably wearing her crown, dancing and rocking out?