Below are some great news updates from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute and GayPolitics.com

Bronx gay youth remain on the "down low" Fearing they will be targeted because of their sexual orientation, many LGBT youth in the Bronx choose not to come out. "It is a hidden demographic here," said Zachariah Hennessey, a program director at the Bronx Community Pride Center. "[Homosexuality] is very much on the down low." New York Daily News (8/21)

No movement on rights, despite Uganda group's plea Uganda is refusing a call to make homosexuality legal and offer equal rights to gays and lesbians from the group Sexual Minorities Groups in Uganda, whose members wore masks at their first press conference to protect their identities. Saying homosexuality was "unnatural," Ethics Minister James Nsaba Buturo said the group's charges of police brutality and rights violations were untrue. BBC (8/17)

Calif. Senate has marriage on its agenda A measure to extend civil marriage rights to same-sex couples in California is on the state Senate's agenda, but may not get a full vote in the current session due to a larger dispute over the budget, according to this article. If the bill, which cleared the state Assembly in June, does gain Senate approval, it is likely to be vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. 365Gay.com (8/20)

South Africa, away from home, turns back on gay rights South Africa apparently has prioritized its link with antiwestern Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in votes against two gay organizations receiving United Nations accreditation over its gay-friendly constitution and laws, according to columnist James Kirchick. The Guardian (London) (8/21)

Gays and lesbians now covered by Charleston, W. Va. anti-discrimination regs Charleston Gazette (W.Va.) (8/21)