On the Gaydar: Canada, African antigay laws, and the Bachelor

Here's a roundup of LGBT news about Canada, African countries, and the Bachelor.

Canadian national team volleyball player comes out  Canadian national men's volleyball team player 23-year-old Chris Voth has become Canada's first openly gay national-team athlete. In an interview, he revealed his struggles with his sexual identity and his desire to become a role model.

Homophobes among Harper's delegation visiting Israel  Among the members of a delegation accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a state visit to Israel is a homophobic pastor from Ottawa. Rev. Shawn Ketcheson has conducted sermons against homosexuality. Two other members of Harper's party are also linked to organizations with homophobic connections. Don Simmonds is the chairman of Crossroads Christian Communications, which refers to being gay as a sin, and Rabbi Bulka is a former member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, which offers therapy that purportedly helps to change the sexual orientation of clients.

Canadian visit by Nigerian president cancelled  A visit to Canada by Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, scheduled for February, has been cancelled. Nigerian media are reporting that Canada cancelled the visit due to Jonathan signing an antigay law on January 13. The conservative government has not explained the reason for the cancellation. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird had previously been vocal about his concerns about the Nigerian law.

Kenyan author comes out  Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina published a short story, "I am a Homosexual, Mum", and publicly came out as gay to protest antigay legislation in Africa, such as Uganda and Nigeria.

B.C. researchers find antihomophobia initiatives help all students  A new study by UBC researchers have found that schools with gay-straight alliances or antihomophobia policies have a reduced level of suicide and homophobic bullying among all students, regardless of sexual orientation.

Bachelor apologizes for homophobic comments  After facing a backlash, Bachelor star Juan Pablo Galavis has issued two apologies for an interview in which he stated that he didn't think a gay Bachelor would be good for kids to watch because gay people are "more pervert in a sense". He claims his words were taken out of context and blamed his limited English.

Sports magazine apologizes for outing transgender inventor  ESPN-owned sports website Grantland has published an apology for outing the inventor of a revolutionary golf club as transgender.