HRW calls on Kuwait to stop punitive acts towards transgender Kuwaitis
Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Kuwait to end its suppression of the LGBTQ community in a report published on Thursday, following the conviction and imprisonment of Maha-al-Mutairi, a transgender woman. She was charged with allegedly violating telecommunication laws by “imitating the opposite sex” online. These claims were brought under Article 70 of the Communication […]
Bullying and queerphobia literally change queer people’s genetics, affecting their offspring
Numerous studies have shown how bullying and queerphobia affect LGBTQ people’s physical health, emotional well-being and social functioning. But scientific research on the effects of ongoing trauma suggest that anti-LGBTQ environments can literally alter queer people’s genetics, affecting their offspring for generations afterward. This is because of something called epigenetics. While the field of genetics […]
Activists criticise unofficial Russian Drag Race for lack of LGBTQ+ recognition
Last week, a new Russian drag competition series headed by popular blogger Nastya Ivleeva premiered on YouTube. Like RuPaul’s Drag Race, the show includes lip-sync battles, extravagant costumes and outlandish comedy. But unlike its predecessor, the series completely avoids highlighting the queer community – which is an integral part of the drag history. In an […]
Gay couple hail ‘big win’ in battle over children’s Namibian citizenship
Namibian court ruled on Wednesday that the son of a gay couple, born via surrogacy in South Africa in 2019, is a Namibian citizen by descent, in a decision hailed as “big win” for same-sex couples. In a test case for Namibia, High Court Judge Thomas Masuku ruled that a paternity test is not needed […]
Pete Buttigieg hits back at Fox News host’s criticism of his paternity leave
US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has been on paternity leave since mid-August with newborn twins, called right-wing attacks on his paternity leave “strange” and from “a side of the aisle that used to claim the mantle of being pro-family”. Buttigieg – who is gay – was the subject of criticism from Fox News host […]
LGBTQI+: ‘We’ll campaign against Dutch interests in Ghana’ – Sam George on visa denial
Lead sponsor of the anti-gay bill in Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram Sam Nartey George has slammed the Dutch Embassy in Ghana for resorting to blackmail after losing the debate on the criminalization of LGBTQI+ activities in Ghana. He promised that a crusade against Dutch interests in Ghana will be launched following […]
LGBTQI+ debate is a waste of time – Kpone Mantse
Nii Tetteh Otu II, Paramount Chief of the Kpone Traditional Area has described the public discussion about Lesbians Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) as a complete waste of productive time in the country. The Kpone Paramount Chief said he was shocked at how Ghanaians were using precious time debating whether or not LGBTQI+ […]
Most Russians Oppose Same-Sex Relationships – Poll
More Russians oppose same-sex relationships than they did nearly a decade ago, according to a new survey released Friday. Russia’s independent Levada Center pollster said 69% of respondents disagreed with the statement that “adults have the right to enter into same-sex relationships by mutual consent.” That share has grown from 60% in 2013, when Russia […]
LGBTQ + Mariachi Uniting Communities
A Los Angeles group which prides itself as the first and only LGBTQ+ Mariachi in the world is breaking barriers, uniting communities and promoting acceptance.
The construction of Chinese patriotic masculinity: ‘sissies will ruin the nation’
Many cultural-political scholars have suggested that nationalism involves active control over a population’s biological traits such as health, reproduction, gender, sexuality and more. China’s recent campaign against ‘niang pao’ (娘炮), a vulgar and derogatory term which is literally translated in English to a ‘girlie gun’ or more commonly as an ‘effeminate men’ or ‘sissies’, is […]
Texas House votes to keep transgender girls out of female sports
The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that bans transgender women and girls from participating in female school sports after three previous attempts failed, all but assuring Republican Governor Greg Abbott will sign it into law. Texas is now poised to join seven other states that passed similar laws this year, part of a […]
Astronaut Sally Ride will be the first LGBT + person in the US quarter.
(US Mint / Getty) Astronaut Sally Ride will become the first LGBT + person to appear in US currency, as part of the new American Women Quarters Program. According to the United States Mint, the first five limited edition coins from the American Women Quarters Program will be released next year. The coins honor Ride, […]
Sex Education’s’ gay teen Eric takes a risky trip to Nigeria. How realistic is it?
In season 3 of the popular Netflix series Sex Education, the character named Eric Effiong goes to Nigeria. It is a risky trip. Eric is a gay teenager in this series about a high school in the United Kingdom where sex is very much on everyone’s mind. Eric is out and proud. His parents know he […]
Ghana’s parliament to vote on what could be world’s toughest anti-gay laws
A video has emerged in Ghana of a gay man being beaten by a mob and doused in animal blood, as the country’s MPs prepare to vote on what critics say could be the most draconian anti-LGBTQ legislation on earth. In the grainy mobile footage, which surfaced last week from Nkoranza, in northern Ghana, the 21-year-old […]
I have not taken money to fight LGBT Bill; I’m not a pimp – Akoto Ampaw
Lawyer Akoto Ampaw, the leader of the group of lawyers and professors opposing the anti-gay Bill in Parliament has rubbished allegations that he is championing the course for monetary gains. The veteran lawyer is leading a group of 18 made up of educationists and lawyers who have human rights at heart. In the last few weeks, the […]
‘Enraged’ allies plan powerful show of solidarity with under-attack LGBT+ community in Birmingham
There was an outpouring of anger on social media over the weekend when John-Paul Kesseler, 38, posted a photo of himself with blood pouring down his face after he was attacked for holding hands with another man in Birmingham’s Gay Village. It was the latest in a string of attacks around the area. Salman Mirza, […]
Botswana Court Reserves Judgement After State Appeals Gay Sex Ruling
GABORONE — Botswana’s Court of Appeal on Tuesday reserved judgement in a case in which the state seeks to overturn a 2019 ruling that decriminalized same sex relations. In a landmark case the High Court had ruled in favor of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, but the government is challenging the judgment. Members of […]
Ghanaian chief threatens to storm parliament to force through anti-LGBT+ bill
The “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021”, leaked in July this year, would criminalise everything from sex toys, to trans medical care, to simply being an LGBT+ ally. It has been described by Rightify Ghana as the “most homophobic document the world has ever seen”. The bill is currently with Ghana’s […]
Dutch crown princess could marry woman and be queen – Rutte
Now caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte has made clear any king or queen could also marry a person of the same sex. The heir to the Dutch throne, Princess Amalia, turns 18 in December. Mr Rutte said it was all about “theoretical situations” but the next queen could marry a woman. “Therefore the cabinet does […]
Trans Man Fights Japan’s Sterilization Requirement
A Japanese transgender man, Gen Suzuki, 46, has filed a court request to have his legal gender recognized as male without undergoing sterilization surgery as prescribed by national law. His case highlights the urgent need for Japan to revise its outdated and harmful transgender legislation. In Japan, transgender people who want to legally change their […]
Botswana appeals ruling allowing gay sex, court delays judgment
Botswanan judges on Tuesday postponed ruling on a case in which the government is seeking to overturn a 2019 ruling that decriminalised gay sex, saying the matter needed more research and debate. The case was initially brought by a university student, Letsweletse Motshidiemang, whose representatives argued then that the government should do away with the […]
Medical student creates app for improving transgender individuals’ experience with health care
Rutgers is endorsing the beta launch of TranZap, a web-based application designed by a Rutgers medical student for the transgender community to leave reviews for health care providers, according to a press release. Taylor Chiang, co-creator of TranZap and a second-year student at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, discussed their role in the […]
Outrage after gay woman diagnosed at Spanish hospital with ‘homosexuality’
A family and an LGBT collective in south-east Spain are demanding answers and an apology after a 19-year-old lesbian woman who visited a gynaecologist over a menstrual condition was diagnosed with “homosexuality”. On Monday the woman went to an appointment at the Reina Sofía hospital in the city of Murcia. After being examined she was […]
LGBTI organisations say next government must enshrine rights in coalition deal
Gender equality organisations will be urging the future coalition parties to include LGBTI rights in the government accord at a symposium being held in Assen on Monday. ‘We are counting on the next government to honour the promises on LGBTI rights which have been set down in our Rainbow Accord, even though one of the […]
Wyoming librarians may face criminal charges for stocking LGBTQ books
Local prosecutors in Wyoming may consider charging librarians for having books in the library’s collection that include information about reproduction, sex, or being gay. The books were flagged by conservative parents and local religious leaders in Campbell County, Wyoming, outraged that such material was allowed in the teen or children’s section of the Campbell County […]
Ghana church leaders intensify pressure on parliament to pass anti-gay bill
Dis move dey follow from recent calls by some academics and lawyers who start dey criticize de anti-LGBTQ Bill. Pentecost, Anglican Church state dema position. House of Bishops of de Anglican Church inside statement dem release say “aside Christianity, de Ghanaian tradition and culture no dey allow such act.” Apart from de Anglican Church, Christian […]
Poland’s LGBTQ+ community potentially at risk after court challenges primacy of EU laws
On Thursday, the country’s constitutional tribunal ruled that the EU and some of its key treaty articles go against Poland’s own constitution. Back in March, the country’s prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki introduced the case after clashing with the EU over various issues including LGBTQ+ rights. The European Commission has since spoken out against the ruling […]
‘TUPAD for all’, Bello tells LGBTQ workers in Laguna
The financial aid given by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is for all workers hardest hit by the pandemic, including members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government has no discrimination in extending assistance to needy workers through DOLE’s key aid […]
UGANDA RECOGNISES ITS FIRST TRANSGENDER CITIZEN, CLEOPATRA KAMBUGU
Cleopatra Kambugu, a Ugandan activist who advocates for sexual and gender minorities, has made history as the first transgender person in Uganda to have their new gender recognised by the government. Kambugu has received her new passport and government-issued photo ID card, which identifies her as female. The process of getting official ID recognising her […]
North Carolina lieutenant governor won’t resign over anti-LGBTQ+ remarks
The Republican lieutenant governor of North Carolina has said he will not resign or back down over remarks in which he called transgenderism and homosexuality “filth”. Mark Robinson, the first African American to hold the post, made the remarks in question at Asbury Baptist church in Seagrove, North Carolina, in June. “There’s no reason anybody […]