LGBT Italians Protest in 63 Cities to DemandProtection from Violence
Protestors in 63 Italian cities have come together with 24 organizations to demand LGBT+ people receive protection from violence. Meanwhile 69,000 people from Italy and all over the world have signed a petition asking the Italian parliament to approve new legislation against homophobia, transphobia and misogyny. The protests over the last few days have included […]
The military is having a hard time providing evidence that supports the transgender ban, advocate says
The military is having a hard time providing documented evidence in support of its transgender ban. In Karnoski v. Trump, one of four challenges to the transgender military ban, the argument is being made that the military arbitrarily followed President Donald Trump’s order to ban transgender service members without first conducting an independent, fair study […]
Pro-LGBT+ central Tallinn protest passes off largely peaceably
Around 300 people gathered in Tallinn’s Vadaduse väljak (Freedom Square) Sunday in protest against a planned referendum on defining marriage within the constitution as being between one man and one woman. The protest came in the wake of remarks about LGBT+ people by interior minister Mart Helme (EKRE) appearing in the international media Friday. The […]
NEW ZEALAND BEATS UK, ELECTS ‘GAYEST’ PARLIAMENT
The big story out of the New Zealand elections is – yes, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s landslide win, but also that the country will get the gayest Parliament in the world. Eleven openly queer MPs or 9.1% of the parliament were elected to the 120-member NZ Parliament helping it beat the United Kingdom, which has […]
UK census will include questions about gender identity and sexual orientation for the first time
The Office for National Statistics will be asking questions concerning gender identity and sexual orientation in its upcoming census. Answers from these questions will be used to “help build a clearer picture for policy-makers and service providers.” Iain Bell, the ONS deputy national statistician discussed the addition of LGBTQ+ statistics with the Observer, stating: ” […]
Belize’s far-reaching gender bill runs aground. Critics warn of international ‘gender ideology’ pressure.
A bill purporting to secure equality and anti-discrimination in Belize was withdrawn last month after Bishop Lawrence Nicasio and other Catholic leaders raised objections to the bill’s treatment of sexual orientation and gender identity. Nicasio said the bill risked creating a “new colonialism” where international experts are allowed to change the country’s laws, culture and […]
Amy Coney Barrett Puts Reversal of Marriage Equality ‘Clearly Within Sight’
While many Republicans and right-wing activists are pretending that they have no idea how Amy Coney Barrett will rule on major issues, anti-equality activists like National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown aren’t being so coy. In an email to supporters Wednesday, Brown said his group’s goal of overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage equality […]
Single fathers with children via surrogates flee Russia amid crackdown
Several gay men have fled Russia after officials said that they would arrest people “of non-traditional sexual orientation” who had had children through surrogacy. The announcement formed the authorities’ latest attack on the LGBT community. Surrogacy is legal in Russia but has increasingly been attacked by conservative lawmakers and the Orthodox church. Police arrested a […]
44 held for attending ’gay wedding’ in Algeria
Human rights advocacy group Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that Algerian authorities must immediately release and drop the charges against 44 people for attending a “gay wedding”. According to reports, on July 24 the police raided a private residence and arrested the 44 people, including nine women and 35 men, most of them university […]
While fighting anti-Muslim hatred, I decided to stand up up for LGBT+ rights. Homophobes targeted me.
A core founding principle of leading organisations that tackle hatred and bigotry, is to ensure that these organisations hold up and stand firm against any form of bigotry, whether that emanates from within a certain community or within a wider population setting. With this laudable principle in mind, I developed and formed Tell MAMA in […]
Demos planned as Italy mulls LGBT+ hate crime law for the sixth time
When Marlon Landolfo kissed his date on a night out, onlookers started heckling, a fight broke out and his friend ended up in hospital – the latest in a series of anti-gay attacks in Italy where plans to combat homophobic violence are hotly contested. “They hurled insults at us,” said Landolfo, 22, describing how he […]
Japan: Calls grow to include LGBT couples in national census
Advocacy groups and members of the LGBT community are calling on the central government to count the number of LGBT couples in the national census so they can be accurately reflected in government policies. Same-sex marriages are currently not legally recognized in Japan, but there are growing calls for the government to review its census […]
Australia Set to Fully Outlaw ‘Gay Panic’ Defense
The state of South Australia is poised to eliminate the controversial gay defense provision that allows defendants to claim their reaction to a person’s sexual orientation can be considered as a mitigating factor at trial. Reuters reports the state’s parliament considered a reform bill which eliminated the provision, but the body adjourned until next month […]
Indonesia Vows Firm Actions Against Soldiers Linked to LGBT
The Indonesian Military said today it will impose strict sanction on soldiers who are proven to involve in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual or Transgender (LGBT) groups. Earlier, rumors circulated that the groups exist within the armed forces. “The TNI applies strict sanctions to soldiers who are proven to have violated the moral law, including […]
How American religious conservatives fought LGBT rights in Ukraine
This year has seen several blows to LGBT rights in Ukraine. In June, the Law Enforcement committee of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, voted down a proposed law which would have enhanced liability for hate crimes and hate speech motivated by anti-LGBT bias or bias on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The […]
Pastor suspended for giving blessing at LGBT festival
The Korean Methodist Church has suspended Rev. Lee Dong-hwan for two years for holding a “blessing ceremony” at a queer festival in August last year, during which he gave a blessing to the LGBTQ community and scattered flower petals. In a secular hearing held in Yongin City, Thursday, the judicial committee of the Gyeonggi Province […]
Rugby latest battleground for trans women as England breaks ranks
A ban on transgender women competing in international rugby matches will not stop them playing the women’s game in England, the sport’s governing body said on Wednesday in the latest split over trans competitors in sport. World Rugby, which controls international matches, banned trans women from international female games last week, saying they were a […]
Demos planned as Italy mulls LGBT+ hate crime law for the sixth time
When Marlon Landolfo kissed his date on a night out, onlookers started heckling, a fight broke out and his friend ended up in hospital – the latest in a series of anti-gay attacks in Italy where plans to combat homophobic violence are hotly contested. “They hurled insults at us,” said Landolfo, 22, describing how he […]
LGBT groups in Japan launch petition seeking equality law
Sexual minority groups and human rights activists launched a petition on Thursday calling for an LGBT equality law in Japan in hopes that it can be enacted next year, when the country is to host the Olympics and will be the focus of international attention. “In this country, equal rights for LGBT people are not […]
French government unveils national plan to combat hatred against LGBT people
The French government has unveiled a national plan to combat hatred and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT), which emphasises the importance of inclusive education in stamping out homophobia. The three-year plan unveiled on Wednesday, aims to make members of the LGBT community “citizens in their own right”, French Junior Minister of […]
Algeria: Mass Convictions for Homosexuality
An Algerian court on September 3, 2020 sentenced 2 men to prison terms and 42 others to suspended terms after mass arrests at what the police alleged was a “gay wedding,” Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should void the charges and release them immediately. On July 24, 2020, police raided a private residence […]
Texas Social Workers Can Refuse LGBT and Disabled Clients Under New Rule
Texas officials have changed rules for social workers to allow them to refuse service for clients who are LGBTQ or disabled. The Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners unanimously voted to eliminate protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or disability on Monday, according to The Texas Tribune. The change […]
Queer Nigerians Are Being Beaten by SARS — I’m Trying to End That
Matthew Blaise is an LGBTQ+ activist in Nigeria who has been on the front lines of the #End SARS protests and has suffered abuse by SARS officers due to his queerness. He recently posted a video from the protests which received over 3 million views, and writes of his experiences here for Out. “The news […]
Co Cork town ends twinning arrangement with Polish “LGBT-Free zone”
Saoirse Mackin, the chairperson of the Cork East branch of the Social Democrats, welcomed the news in a statement on Monday: “Poland, one of just six European countries to not yet legalise same-sex marriage, designated a number of towns as ‘LGBT-free’ in early 2019. “In Ireland, we have seen real progress on social issues in […]
Israel to Form Government Committee to Assist Transgender Community
Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn and Welfare Minister Itzik Shmuli announced an inter-ministerial team to consider ways to ease hardships for transgender people on Monday. The team is to be the first of its kind in the country and includes top professionals from the justice, health, welfare and education ministries. Members are expected to meet with […]
Anti-gay violence continues in Senegal’s ‘holy city’
That assault came less than three weeks after 10 young homosexual men in Touba were arrested by the city’s Safiyatoul Amal religious militia. The assault came three days after an attack on Aly Ndiaye (a pseudonym), the leader of an LGBTQ organization that has been helping the 10 men who were arrested. That organization negotiated […]
Israeli Orthodox leader: Judaism does not forbid same-sex couples from building a family
(JTA) — A prominent Israeli Orthodox rabbi said that Jewish law does not forbid LGBTQ people from building a family. Rabbi Benny Lau made the statement as part of a set of guidelines for observant LGBTQ Jews and their families released Saturday evening under the heading “It is Not Good for Man to be Alone.” […]
For Georgia’s LGBT rights campaigners, a victory
In December 2009, plainclothes police raided the offices of the Inclusive Foundation in Tbilisi, an organisation that campaigns for LGBT rights in Georgia. Two members of the organisation, Ekaterine Aghdgomelashvili and Tinatin Japaridz, claimed that the officers behaved aggressively, and that one of them went so far as to say that he would like to […]
LGBT Pride Parade Rolls Through Kosovo’s Capital
Kosovo’s LGBT Pride Parade took place in the capital, Pristina. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, activists paraded in their brightly colored cars at the event on October 12. A crosswalk was given a special paint job and the mayor’s office flew a rainbow flag.
How young, queer Nigerians use Twitter to shape identity and fight homophobia
Nigeria continues to be largely homophobic, mainly as a result of cultural and religious conventions. Negative perceptions of homosexuality led to the criminalisation of same-sex relations in 2014. The Nigerian environment is therefore toxic for LGBTI people. They become easy prey to oppressive and exploitative state security apparatus. They are also vulnerable to public “moral […]