YouTuber Kommander Karl tells homophobes to ‘grow up’ IG News
A YouTube star has told furious homophobes to “grow up” after receiving backlash for sharing his wife’s artwork. YouTuber and game developer Karl Schecht, better known as Kommander Karl, was shocked by some of the backlash he received after sharing his wife’s rainbow-themed artwork on social media. Responding to the backlash in the post on […]
First Russian prosecution of LGBT rainbow flag as “extremist symbol”
A woman in Russia’s Saratov region faces charges for the first time ever of “demonstrating an extremist organisation’s symbols” after posting an image of the LGBT’s rainbow flag on Instagram, Meduza reported on January 19. Russian recently beefed up its anti-gay laws to make “promoting” alternative sexualities illegal and has been cracking down on LGBT groups. The potential […]
Burundi President Stokes Fear Among LGBT People
In an ever-worsening climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in East Africa, Burundian president Évariste Ndayishimiye has added fuel to the fire. Speaking with journalists on December 29, he said, “if you want to attract a curse to the country, accept homosexuality,” and “it is better to take [LGBT people] to a stadium and stone them” […]
Long-sought IDs give trans Indonesians the right to vote
JAKARTA, Jan 19 (Openly) – At 53, Mak Luké, a transgender woman, will go to the polls for the first time when Indonesia holds an election on Feb. 14 after finally obtaining a government identity card. Like many trans Indonesians, Mak Luké left her family as a teenager and ended up living on the streets, making […]
Indonesian trans women hold fashion show against plastic pollution
In the heart of Jakarta’s slums, a vibrant transgender community is using fashion to shine a light on their lives and the challenges of living in a densely populated, polluted city. Picture this: on a makeshift catwalk, surrounded by curious neighbors, these incredible women strut their stuff. Their outfits? Imagine colorful dresses crafted from plastic cutlery […]
Club Q shooter faces more than a century in prison for hate crime charges
The mass shooter who killed five at a Colorado LGBT nightclub in 2022 now faces dozens of federal hate crime charges, court documents show. Anderson Aldrich is expected to plead guilty and may be sentenced to more than a century in prison for the Club Q shooting. Aldrich already pled guilty to state charges and […]
Polish far-right MP who attacked Hanukkah candles stripped of immunity from prosecution
Parliament has voted to remove the legal immunity of Grzegorz Braun, the far-right MP who last month attacked a Jewish religious celebration. Every main parliamentary group other than Braun’s own Confederation (Konfederacja) supported the move. Prosecutors want to bring seven charges against Braun, who has a long history of controversial statements and actions, including promoting various […]
‘I will pretend not to be me’: Russia cracks down on LGBTQ+ community
The ink was barely dry on Russia’s decision to outlaw what it called the “international LGBT public movement” as extremist when masked police raided a bar in central Moscow where Vasili gathered with his friends on Friday nights for an LGBTQ+ party. “It was a regular Friday evening until suddenly we saw the police storming in,” Vasili, […]
The Supreme Court is running away from transgender rights cases
For the third time in the last year, the Supreme Court unexpectedly turned away a case asking it to diminish the rights of young transgender Americans in much of the country. On Tuesday, the Court announced that it would not hear Metropolitan School District v. A.C., a case asking whether public school districts may require transgender students to use bathrooms that […]
Making LGBTQ Issues Top Priority for Global Leaders: Inside GLAAD’s Work at the 2024 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland convenes leaders from government, business, and civil society to address the state of the world and discuss priorities for the year ahead. Critical discussions and commitments that take place in Davos this week provide a platform to engage in constructive, forward-looking dialogues and help find […]
Supreme Court stays out of fight over transgender student bathroom access
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined for now to weigh in on the contentious issue of bathroom access for transgender students by rejecting an Indiana school district’s appeal. The court left in place an appeals court ruling that required a middle school in Martinsville, Indiana, to allow a transgender boy to use the bathroom that […]
Conviction overturned for man who punched antigay attackers at WorldPride
A man who was convicted for stopping an anti-LGBTQ+ assault during Sydney WorldPride last year had his conviction overturned in court on earlier this month, as reported by the Australian AP. Mirco Olivieri, 30, had been convicted of his involvement in the incident which took place in the Darlinghurst section of Sydney in January 2023. […]
Lives have been blocked by a wall separating Haiti and the Dominican Republic
The lives of both gay and straight residents of the island of Santo Domingo / Hispaniola are being impacted by a new border wall — the second longest in the Americas. That wall and disputes between the island’s two nations — the Dominican Republic and Haiti — have created hardships for LGBTI people on both […]
We are needed’: Queer and trans carpenters start renovations company
After years of experience working in the male-dominated carpentry industry, Kate Wilton and Greer Roberts — who both identify as queer — decided to create their own, queer space in the field. Wilton and Roberts officially started their queer and trans-owned carpentry business, Splitgill Carpentry, on Oct. 3. About half of Splitgill’s clientele identifies as […]
Croatia watchdog criticises president over ‘gay minister’ remarks
A Croatian watchdog on Monday criticised the country’s president over his remarks about a minister’s alleged sexual orientation, warning they violated the right to privacy. President Zoran Milanovic was criticised by the ruling HDZ conservative party as well as the opposition, independent media and many in the public after he said last week that Economy […]
Brazil drag queen fights hate with children’s stories
Wearing heavy makeup and a fuchsia wig, Brazilian drag queen Helena Black is acting out a story for a rapt group of children — but this is not your typical fairytale. “The princess’ true love was not Prince Febo, nor any other man: it was the seamstress,” the performer tells the young listeners at a […]
Protest at Mexico’s National Palace after murder of trans activist
LGBTI groups protested at Mexico’s National Palace on Monday, in response to the death of activist and politician Samantha Fonseca, the fourth trans woman murdered in the country in the first few weeks of 2024. Samantha Fonseca, the 37-year-old trans woman, was awarded the Medal of Merit for Human Rights Defenders by the Congress of […]
Greeks divided on same-sex marriage: 50.4% are negative, 46.7% are positive
Greeks appear divided regarding the institutionalisation of marriage for same-sex couples, as shown in a poll by Opinion Poll for The Toc as 50.4% appear negative or rather negative in such a development, with 46.7% of respondents responding positively or rather positively to this arrangement. Regarding the attitude depending on the party they vote for, 39.6% of […]
Pope defends same-sex blessings declaration, says it is misunderstood
ROME, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Sunday defended a landmark decision approving blessings for same-sex couples, suggesting that those in the Catholic Church who have resisted it have jumped to “ugly conclusions” because they do not understand it. In a television interview, Francis made his first public comments since the Dec. 18 declaration sparked widespread […]
Ghana: Education authorities specify ban on same-sex conduct
The Ghana Education Service (GES) is accused of encouraging anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and discrimination by unnecessarily singling out same-sex sexual conduct in schools as misconduct. Human rights group Rightify Ghana has brought attention to a recent update in the “Code of Conduct for Students in the Pre-Tertiary Levels of Education in the GES.” The GES, responsible for implementing […]
Proposal to improve LGBTQ+ inclusion in care homes
Brighton and Hove councillors are to discuss proposals to improve LGBTQ+ inclusion in care homes. The new measures aim “to support understanding and create learning programmes which will allow teams to better support LGBTQ+ people in later life,” Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) said on its website. Tristram Burden, chair of the adult social care and […]
Controversy erupts as Florida governor misfires on Bangladesh LGBT rights funding
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has come under scrutiny for criticizing US President Joe Biden’s economic policies, specifically targeting federal spending on promoting transgender rights in Bangladesh. However, a CNN fact-checking reveals that the program in question, aimed at promoting the civil rights of LGBT Bangladeshis, was initiated during former US president Donald Trump’s administration. DeSantis, […]
Global Affairs Canada changing policy as gay diplomat wins surrogacy expenses case
A gay employee of Global Affairs Canada posted in China, who travelled to the U.S. for the birth of his child through surrogacy, will have those expenses covered after a tribunal ruling. The public service labour board ruled in August it would be discriminatory if Ottawa does not compensate travelling expenses for any diplomat in […]
Blessing gay people not LGBT groups says pope
The Vatican’s recent decision to start blessing gay couples is about blessing individual people and not LGBT groups, Pope Francis said Saturday amid a backlash against the move by conservatives and African bishops. The measure on the blessings of gay couples concerns “people, not organisations”, Francis said at a closed-door meeting with the Roman clergy, […]
Qatar’s ongoing abuse of LGBTQ people highlighted as soccer’s Asian Cup kicks off
The continuing discrimination and risk of imprisonment or worse faced by LGBTQ people in Qatar is in focus as another major international soccer tournament begins in the Gulf state. Fourteen months after the men’s FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar amid intense scrutiny of the country’s dismal record on human rights, the AFC Asian […]
Gazprom-Owned TV Channel Fined for ‘LGBT Propaganda’ Over Music Video Kiss
A music channel owned by the media arm of Russian energy giant Gazprom was fined $11,300 for spreading “LGBT propaganda among minors” in a 90s-era music video that shows two women kissing, the independent Vyorstka news outlet reported Friday. The music video with the offending kiss aired in July on the channel Lya-Minor TV, which […]
West Virginia Conservatives Want to Legally Define Trans People as “Obscene”
West Virginia State Sen. Michael Azinger (R) introduced a slew of anti-transgender bills on Wednesday, including one that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth and one sanctioning conversion therapy. “Even though it’s just the second day of the session, nine bills that oppose LGBTQ+ rights have already been introduced, with a heavy focus on […]
Macron appoints gay French PM’s ex-partner as foreign minister
French president Emmanuel Macron has appointed Stéphane Séjourné, the ex-partner of new prime minister Gabriel Attal, to the role of foreign minister. On Tuesday (9 January) Macron named 34-year-old education minister Gabriel Attal as France’s youngest – and first gay – prime minister. The appointment also makes him the youngest head of government in the […]
Greece to legalize same-sex marriage after opposition agrees to support it
Greece’s government is slated to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption after the country’s left-wing political party withdrew its opposition. Stefanos Kasselakis, the out gay leader of Syriza, said Thursday that he would instruct the 38 lawmakers in his party to vote in support of the measure, despite saying it does not go far enough to […]
Which European countries have LGBTQ+ leaders?
BRUSSELS, Jan 9 (Openly) – French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Education Minister Gabriel Attal as his new prime minister, the first time an openly LGBTQ+ figure has held the role. The 34-year-old Attal, who recent polls have shown is one of the country’s most popular politicians, also becomes the youngest prime minister in French history. Europe leads […]