K-Quarantine: The Condemnation or Resurgence of LGBTQ Rights in South Korea
The United States and South Korea sit on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the successful containment of COVID-19. As South Korea enters its second wave of infections and the United States rides out a protest-ridden quarantine, a central debate has developed around public safety versus personal privacy, most notably in relation […]
Mexico City’s Casa Frida Offers Refuge to the LGBTQ Community During the Pandemic
Shelter-in-place measures limit coronavirus numbers, but they also expose the ugly side of staying at home. Calls to domestic violence hotlines have been up across the globe and in some places, LGBTQ individuals have reported family environments that are “psychologically damaging.” But in Mexico City, one group is working to ensure that its LGBTQ community […]
Christian Activist Calls For Violence Against Those Who Use Pandemic To Impose Socialism
Trump-loving radical right-wing activist Scott Lively warned listeners during an online Bible study yesterday that they need to establish a modern-day Underground Railroad for Christians to escape coming persecution and prepare to wage a violent revolution against those who seek to use the current COVID-19 pandemic to impose a socialist End Times “emerging Beast government” […]
Tanzania Opens To (Non-Gay) Tourists Without Conditions*
There are huge restrictions on international travel at the moment. Many countries have closed their borders altogether, other countries are restricting visitors from some countries, others are requiring a mandatory quarantine, etc. And then you have Tanzania. Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli, has announced plans to open to tourists effective immediately. There are no restrictions on […]
Australia: Grant to help LGBT conversion survivors
Researchers from La Trobe University have been awarded an Australian Research Council Linkage grant to improve the support provided to survivors of LGBT conversion practices. Dr Timothy Jones from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences will investigate the impact of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) conversion practices in Australia. “Previous research has shown […]
No medicine, no food: Coronavirus restrictions amplify health risks to LGBT+ people with HIV
It started with headaches then came nausea and diarrhea. Within two weeks, gay Ugandan barber Eric had became so weak without his HIV medication he could not walk and had to be hospitalised. “I was in the hospital for a week and four days. I nearly lost my life,” said Eric, 26, by phone from […]
Ireland made history by emphatically saying yes to same-sex marriage five years ago today
Five years ago today, people in Ireland went out in their droves and voted in favour of same-sex marriage. Ultimately, 62 per cent of the public voted in favour of amending the constitution to allow same-sex couples the right to marry, with 38 per cent voting against. It was a seismic moment for a country […]
Coronavirus claims San Francisco’s oldest gay bar
San Francisco’s oldest gay bar, The Stud, has fallen victim to the coronavirus. “We want to let you know that we are not reopening our location at 399 9th St.,” the bar said in a Facebook post on Wednesday night. One of the historic venue’s co-owners, Honey Mahogany, confirmed the closure in an email. The […]
Over half of LGBTQ Europeans are not out about their identities, report finds
Six in 10 gay and lesbian Europeans avoid holding hands with same-sex partners in public, and over half of LGBTQ people in Europe are almost never open about their sexual orientations or gender identities, according to a new survey. “The overarching finding was that not much has changed and there’s a long way to go,” […]
COVID-19 delayed a United Methodist schism. But it has left LGBT members in limbo.
Rebecca Bernstein says she wants to go to a United Methodist seminary. But her dreams of becoming an ordained Methodist minister are on hold for now. That’s in part because of COVID-19, which has disrupted plans at many graduate schools around the country. But also because of her sexuality. Bernstein, a youth minister at San […]
‘If I don’t have sex I’ll die of hunger’: Covid-19 crisis for Rio’s trans sex workers
Social distancing is keeping people off the streets of central Rio de Janeiro. And that has created serious challenges for its trans sex workers, who have seen their clientele, and their income, melt away. “You can see what it’s like: empty streets, shops closed, the fallen economy ” says Elba Tavares, 44, from Paraíba state […]
Virus pushes Pakistan’s transgender dancers out of their homes
Before the virus shutdown, dancer Adnan Ali had carved out a comfortable living performing at parties for newlyweds and newborns, avoiding the financial hardship faced by many in Pakistan’s transgender community. But the closure of wedding halls and scrapped celebrations where she would twist and twirl in front of applauding crowds have frozen her income, […]
Health care for SA’s LGBT+ community needs boost
South Africa’s LGBTI community continues to face extreme discrimination and inadequate health care. Every day, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people face violence, exclusion and discrimination in South Africa. To promote inclusivity, the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia took place on Sunday. Seoketsi, from Limpopo, was physically assaulted by a nurse. […]
Supreme Court Strikes Down Bigotry in Brazil’s Schools
Amid the public health crisis in the country, Brazil has recently achieved two significant victories for the right to education and the rights of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. On April 24, the Supreme Court unanimously struck down a 2015 law from Novo Gama, Goias state that banned learning materials with […]
Iraqi politicians call for expulsions after embassies fly LGBT flag
Iraqi political leaders have issued condemnations and called for the expulsion of diplomats following a decision by a number of foreign embassies in the country to fly the rainbow LGBT flag in honour of International Day Against Homophobia. The European Union, the World Bank and the Canadian and UK embassies all raised the flag on […]
Top Iranian aide apologises for ‘homosexual propaganda’ after sharing cartoon of loving lesbian and gay parents
On May 15 Shahindokht Molaverdi shared a poster to mark the International Day of Families on her Telegram account. Produced by the UN, the simple illustration depicted several families, including two same-sex couples with children. Beneath it the caption read: “The structure of family has changed in the past few decades, but the United Nations […]
How Mexico Can Keep LGBT Rights On Track
Mexico officially recognized the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia for the first time last year. On May 17, 2019, I spoke at President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s morning press conference on the progress Mexico has made supporting LGBT rights, and on all the work left to be done. A lot has happened since […]
FINALLY FREE: ORDER FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ISSUED FOR #COSF19
Uganda’s LGBTIQ community has reason to jubilate amidst the COVID-19 hardships as an order for immediate release has this afternoon been issued for the #COSF19. This comes after the DPP withdrew all charges against the nineteen youth. Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), which is the legal representation for the #COSF19 received news of […]
Iraqi leader who blames coronavirus on same-sex marriage demands Islamic flag is raised across UK and EU to counter-protest Pride flag
Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who is head of the Sadrist Movement and the Saraya al-Salam militia, said in March: “One of the most appalling things that have caused this epidemic is the legalisation of same-sex marriage. “Hence, I call on all governments to repeal this law immediately and without any hesitation.” Al-Sadr has now […]
Coronavirus causing a humanitarian crisis for LGBT+ people around the world
LGBT+ people around the world are facing a humanitarian crisis. And COVID-19 risks decimating the organizations they rely on for support. UK-based international LGBT+ charity, the Kaleidoscope Trust, conducted research in 37 countries in the Commonwealth – nations that were previously part of the British Empire. By speaking to 34 LGBT+ charities working in those […]
Freelance, LGBT wary of Japan’s new anti-harassment law
With a new law aimed at stopping harassment in the workplace set to enter into force in Japan in June, freelance workers and sexual minorities are casting a wary eye on how effective it will be in improving their situation and say individual efforts will be vital in bringing about a change. The law requires […]
The ‘gender critical’ feminist movement is a cult that grooms, controls and abuses, according to a lesbian who managed to escape
“TERF is hate speech and it’s time to condemn it,” gender-critical writer Amy Dyess announced in October 2018 – words she now regrets. “TERF is a slur used to sexually harass, threaten, and silence lesbians,” continued Amy’s viral Medium post, which was liked more than 4,300 times. Back then, Amy was connected to an international […]
‘Safe But Not Safe’: Life As a Gay Man Between China and New Zealand
Arriving in New Zealand to start my doctorate in 2017, I immediately sensed it was a more welcoming environment for LGBT people than my home country. On my very first day at the University of Auckland, I spotted a rainbow flag hanging in the window of the international students office. A poster by the library […]
Map Shows Where It’s Illegal To Be Gay – 30 Years Since WHO Declassified Homosexuality As Disease
It’s still illegal to be LGBT+ in 70 countries, and you could be given the death penalty in 12, as the world marks 30 years since “homosexuality” was declassified as a disease. International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), May 17 marks the day the World Health Organisation (WHO) declassified “homosexuality” as a mental […]
Taiwan marks anniversary of Asia’s first gay marriage law
Taiwan on Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of legalising same-sex marriage, as gay couples and rights groups called for full recognition of unions involving foreigners. The island is at the vanguard of the burgeoning gay rights movement in Asia and became the first place in the region to legalise same-sex marriage after a bruising political […]
May 17 Is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia
May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. First observed in 2004, the day was designed to focus “attention on the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender, identities or expressions, and sex characteristics,” according the May17.org website. The U.N. […]
Albania becomes third European country to ban gay ‘conversion therapy’
Albania’s psychologists have banned so-called “conversion therapy”, which tries to change the sexual orientation of young LGBT people, a move hailed on Saturday by the country’s rights groups. The decision by Albania’s order of psychologists on Friday is “significantly important for LGBTI adolescents”, the gay rights association Pink Embassy said in a statement. All registered […]
LGBT families in Ireland still caught in legal loophole
In the run-up to the marriage referendum, one of the key pieces of legislation that was on the table was the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. This was viewed as an important piece of legislation, not just to formalise guardianship and parenting issues, but also so that the conversation during the referendum would be […]
Singaporean pop star dropped by his record label for coming out as gay makes triumphant comeback
Willie Tay, a Singaporean pop star whose sexuality cost him his record deal and social media following, has bounced back with a brand new album. Tay was a rising star on the Singaporean music scene when he came out as gay in 2019. Homosexuality is still criminalised in Singapore, and he was promptly dropped by […]
Gay Korea: homophobia sparked by Seoul coronavirus cluster driven by Protestant right
The Korean LGBTQ+ community knew to prepare for an anti-gay onslaught after it emerged that a person with an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection had been partying in Itaewon, a gay nightlife district in the South Korean capital, Seoul. The community is used to being shamed for just living their lives or blamed for spreading disease. While […]