Philip Pullman a critic of religion that tells you who to love, Fadi Fawaz not welcome at George Michael’s funeral and Chelsea Manning’s letter to prison friends: the biggest international LGBT stories in today’s Cuppán Gay

• George Michael’s long term partner, Fadi Fawaz, is reportedly banned from the singer’s funeral because the Michael family “hate him”. George Michael’s cousin, Andros Georgiou, said that “Fadi has not been invited to the funeral.” However, Fawaz wrote on Twitter: “That someone who is saying all this rubbish about the funeral has not been part of George’s life for 19 years.” (Pink News)

• Philip Pullman reveals why he is a critic of religion. The British author said: “The points where I come critical is when politics comes into the question and religion attains political power.” He explained that religion “goes bad” when it gains the power to tell people who to love. “When religion gets the power to tell people how to dress, who to fall in love with, how to behave, what they must not read, what they must not wear, then religion goes bad.” (GSN)

• Chelsea Manning wrote an open letter in to those “who kept her alive” while she was in jail. “When I was afraid, you taught me how to keep going,” Manning wrote. “We were friends in a way few will ever understand. There was no room for superficial […] We could hide from our families and from the world outside, but we could never hide from each other.” (Out)

• Arkansas looks set to introduce its own bathroom bill, despite Governor’s warnings. The one sentence bill reads: “The purpose of this act concerns gender identity and bathroom privileges.” Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said he doesn’t believe there is a need for a bill like this. (Pink News)

• Gaga, Britney and Sia are part of a group of over 140 musicians and artists who signed a letter to Texas lawmakers asking to oppose any anti-LGBT legislation, such as the proposed ‘bathroom bill’ which would be similar to the North Carolina’s HB2. “It is up to you whether these bills become law, and we are watching” the letter proclaims. (GSN)

• LA Musical taps into Mean Girls’ queer spirit. A new LA production, The Unauthorised Musical Production of Mean Gurlz, augments the movie’s campness with several LGBT performers included in the cast. It also stars Corbin Reid (How to Get Away With Murder) as Regina George. (Advocate)

• Japanese public servants who discriminate against LGBT people will face penalties. The National Personnel Authority changed regulations to prevent harassment at government bodies. Saying something like ‘homosexuals are sickening’ or calling someone a ‘man-woman’ will now be classified as sexual harassment. (GSN)

That’s it for today’s Cuppán Gay.