LGBT organisations ask UN to revoke status of British rights watchdog
A group of 20 LGBT organisations have asked the UN to revoke the status of Britain’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). A 19-page submission to the UN – which the groups said was prompted by the EHRC’s stance on trans rights – asks for the independent status of the EHRC to be reviewed. “Their […]
We speak to Ohotuowo Ogbeche about the impact of Ghana’s new anti-LGBTQ law
The west African country of Ghana has passed some of the harshest anti-LGBT laws. The country imposes gaol terms for anyone identifying as LGBTQ, anyone who founds LGBTQ groups and members of the public who fail to report anyone who they think is LGBTQ. The only thing stopping these laws is the country’s president. This […]
Austin City Council passes transgender protections
Members of the Austin City Council voted Thursday afternoon to approve offering some protections to local transgender people seeking gender-affirming care, though it may lead to more pushback by Texas Republican lawmakers. By a vote of 10-1, the council passed a resolution introduced by Council Member Chito Vela, who represents District 4. The measure directs […]
Dangerous Instagram? Iraqi LGBTQ+ community loses safe space
Social media has always been one of the only places where members of the LGBTQ+ community in Iraq could meet and be more open about their sexual identity. “Before Instagram, members of the community created fake Facebook accounts and joined secret groups to get to know one another,” Khalid, a 22-year-old student in the central […]
ADVOCATING FOR OLDER LGBTI PERSONS: VISIT OF THE IE OLDER PERSONS TO PERU
From 11 to 22 March 2024, the United Nations (UN) Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Dr Claudia Mahler, conducted an official visit to Peru to assess the human rights situation of older persons in the country. During the visit, LGBTI groups engaged with the UN Independent Expert to […]
Russian publisher redacts book on gay Italian director amid LGBT crackdown
Roberto Carnero, an Italian literature professor at the University of Bologna, was shocked when he received a call from his Italian publisher in March about the Russian translation of his new book. The Russian publisher, AST, would agree to publish his critical essay on the openly gay Italian film director Pier Paolo Pasolini only with […]
Aetna agrees to settle lawsuit over fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ customers
Aetna has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in need of fertility treatment. Under the deal announced Friday, the insurer will make coverage of artificial insemination standard for all customers nationally and work to ensure that patients have equal access to more expensive in-vitro fertilization procedures, […]
How Queer Ugandans are Faring a Year After the Harsh Anti-LGBTQ Law Passed
“We’re all illegal now,” read a text to Musana (who is using an alias for protection) sent by one of her friends in May 2023, after Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni signed an incredibly harsh anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law. Musana was in Kenya, enjoying a beach holiday with her girlfriend when the news came out, turning […]
Moscow university student sentenced to 15 days in jail for ‘displaying LGBT symbols’
A Russian university student has been sentenced to 15 days in jail for “displaying LGBT symbols”, the Moscow court press service reported Friday. Danila Morozov, 22, was also fined 50,000 rubles (€500) for “discrediting the Russian army” in posts on his Telegram channel, which has since been deleted. Morozov is a student at the Higher School of […]
Passage of harsh anti-LGBTQ+ law in Iraq draws diplomatic backlash
BAGHDAD — Human rights groups and diplomats criticized a law that was quietly passed by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend that would impose heavy prison sentences on gay and transgender people. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the law passed Saturday “threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society” and “can be […]
Qatar targeted my brother on Grindr – I want him home’
The family of a gay British-Mexican man held in Qatar for alleged drug offences has given further details of what they say was a “honeytrap” operation using the gay dating app, Grindr. Manuel Guerrero Aviña was approached online by a man called “Gio” and they arranged to meet – but he was instead met by […]
Drag Race Brazil host shares horrific conversion therapy experience
Grag Queen, the host of Brazil’s Drag Race spin-off, has spoken about being forced to undergo conversion therapy. The drag queen shot to fame as the winner of the first season of the short-lived singing competition, Queen of the Universe, and later hosted the inaugural season of Drag Race Brazil. Speaking in support of short film The Cure, which was inspired […]
For Turkish performer, drag is a political act
ISTANBUL – Ilker Yazici – stage name Miss Putka – was in secondary school when he discovered he was gay. There he met LGBT advocacy groups and joined street protests in Turkey’s capital Ankara to defend LGBT rights, carrying rainbow flags. “At first I struggled with myself a lot,” he said. “You grow up in the Middle […]
For the first time, IBGE analyzed data on gay marriage in Brazil
Due to the 2013 resolution of the National Justice Council, which emphasizes that all registry offices must carry out civil unions between people of the same sex, it was possible for the IBGE to include such marriages for the first time. According to the survey, gay marriages represent 0,35% of the total number of straight […]
Threats, accusations and assault: the dangers of running an LGBTQ+ health clinic in Uganda
Driving to work one morning last summer, Brian Aliganyira was forced off the road and into a ditch by motorcycle riders surrounding his car on both sides. He was left bruised, and still suffers from shoulder pain. He later received a text message saying he had been targeted because of his work, running a health clinic […]
United Methodists in US repeal longstanding ban on LGBT clergy
United Methodist delegates in the US repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBT clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practising homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers. Delegates voted 692-51 at their General Conference — the first such legislative gathering in five years. That overwhelming margin contrasts sharply with the […]
New Queensland Anti-Discrimination Laws Help Protect LGBTQIA+ Community
In a significant stride towards fostering inclusivity and safeguarding human rights, Queensland has now implemented new amendments to its Anti-Discrimination Act that will help protect the LGBTQIA+ community. Effective as of April 29, these reforms not only bolster penalties for hate crimes but also extend crucial protections to marginalised communities, marking a profound shift towards […]
Britain sanctions three Ugandan officials under anti-corruption laws
Britain sanctioned the speaker of the Ugandan parliament, Anita Among, and two high profile Ugandan lawmakers on Tuesday, targeting corruption in the east African country for the first time with its sanctions regime. Among plus Mary Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, former ministers for the Karamoja region, will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes […]
Anti-LGBTQ+ Kenyans can no longer encourage others to kill queer people
Kenyan anti-LGBTQ activists are now prohibited from calling for the murder of the country’s LGBTQ+ community, the country’s High Court ruled in an order. The order is temporary while the court hears a case on whether city legal officials can allow anti-LGBTQ+ protests that encourage violence against queer Kenyans. The interim conservatory order was placed […]
Conservative states challenge federal rule on treatment of transgender students
Several Republican state attorneys general are challenging a federal regulation that seeks to protect the rights of transgender students in the nation’s schools by banning blanket policies that bar transgender students from school bathrooms aligning with their gender, among other provisions. The officials argue the new policies would hurt women and girls, trample free speech […]
How a digital archive is preserving Canada’s history of LGBTQ+ activism
LGBTQ+ organizations in Canada are gearing up for a “Rainbow Week of Action” that will feature rallies across the country calling on governments to do more to support LGBTQ+ communities. Such events are part of a long history of LGBTQ+ campaigning and protest. However, in a time when anti-LGBTQ+ movements are growing, recording that history […]
Hong Kong transgender activist gets ID card reflecting gender change after yearslong legal battle
A Hong Kong transgender activist on Monday received a new ID card reflecting his gender change, after a yearslong legal battle to change the document, and he vowed to continue working for equality for the LGBTQ+ community. Henry Tse won his appeal over the government’s refusal to change the gender on his ID card in […]
Transgender health care must be paid for by state insurance, says an appeals court
A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that state health insurance plans must provide coverage for gender-affirming care in North Carolina and West Virginia. Trans advocates say it’s a huge victory, especially since bills restricting the rights of transgender people have been on the rise in state legislatures. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in […]
Michelangelo and the most sublime declarations of gay love in art
Tommaso de’ Cavalieri was the light of the age, unique in the world – at least in the eyes of the man who loved him. That ardent lover was Michelangelo, who described Cavalieri in these glowing words in a letter from 1532. If only a portrait of Tommaso survived we could have seen his face, […]
Passage of harsh anti-LGBTQ+ law in Iraq draws diplomatic backlash
BAGHDAD (AP) — Human rights groups and diplomats criticized a law that was quietly passed by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend that would impose heavy prison sentences on gay and transgender people. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the law passed Saturday “threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society” […]
‘Queer Storytime for Palestine’ drag event for children causes outrage
A Massachusetts-based pro-Palestinian drag event for children from two weeks ago has drawn international criticism, according to global media reports from the last week. Drag queens were recorded encouraging young children to chant “free Palestine,” with the New York Post claiming that some described the chant as “indoctrination” that is “wrong on every level.” “Today, what we’re going to do […]
The 1st Diversity Expo is coming, which will bring products and services to the LGBT public to São Paulo
A EXPO Diversity, event aimed at the end consumer, aimed at the public, LGBT and people who value culture, entertainment and quality products, will take place at the event center PRO MAGNO, in the capital of São Paulo, from the 22nd to the 24th of July. The space has 30.000 m² of covered area and the exhibition will occupy, […]
Group of gay footballers ‘set date to reveal identities imminently with couples in hiding’
A group of professional footballers from Germany will reportedly come out as gay next month before the final weekend of the season. According to German outlet Preussische Allgemeine Zeitung, the players will collectively come out as gay on May 17. The date is significant as it’s also the International Day Against Homophobia. The move is […]
Biden administration restores protections for gay and transgender Americans seeking health care
The Biden administration announced a new rule Friday expanding safeguards against potential discrimination of gay and transgender Americans seeking medical care, in a reversal of Trump-era limitations that nixed federal health protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community. In a set of expansive new rules unveiled by the Department of Health and Human Services, the […]
Thousands rally in Australian capitals to demand gender violence justice
Violence against women is an “epidemic” in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday, as thousands attended rallies in Sydney and other major Australian cities urging tougher laws on gendered violence. The rallies were spurred by a wave of violence against women that the government says has seen a woman killed every four days […]