Trump administration says transgender workers aren’t protected by civil rights
President Trump’s administration has told the Supreme Court that transgender workers are not protected by federal civil rights law and can be fired because of their gender. The US government is arguing workers should only be protected from discrimination based on their “biological sex”. A Supreme Court ruling in favour of the administration’s position would set a legal […]
From Lil Nas X to Frank Ocean, the gay rappers changing hip hop’s homophobic culture
On June 30, the final day of Pride Month, the young country-rap sensation Lil Nas X came out to his 2.2. million Twitter followers “Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to C7osure,” […]
China’s parliament rules out allowing same-sex marriage
Limiting marriage to a relationship between a man and a woman will remain China’s legal position, a parliament spokesman said on Wednesday, ruling out following neighboring Taiwan in allowing same-sex marriage, despite pressure from activists. Taiwan’s parliament passed a bill in May that endorsed same-sex marriage, after years of heated debate over marriage equality that […]
LGBTQ church vandalized six times in two weeks
An LGBTQ church has been vandalized six times in the past two weeks and churchgoers are worried their community is the target. “Really the first time, I thought, oh, maybe it was just a mistake or, you know, some kids playing around,” said churchgoer Andy Najar. Najar has been attending the Metropolitan Community Church of […]
Poland’s Kaczynski condemns gay pride marches as election nears
Poland must resist the “travelling theatre” of gay pride marches, the leader of its conservative ruling party said on Sunday, as the staunchly Roman Catholic country gears up for a parliamentary election on Oct. 13. Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has used LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) rights as a key campaign […]
PA BANS LGBTQ ACTIVITIES IN WEST BANK
The Palestinian Authority banned members of the Palestinian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community from carrying out any activities in the West Bank. The ban came after the grassroots group Al-Qaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society (Arabic for “the bow”), which engages and supports Palestinians who identify as LGBTQ, was […]
After legal win for LGBT residents, Hong Kong Marriage Equality hopes city can follow in Taiwan’s footsteps
Hong Kong’s LGBT rights activists have renewed their push for marriage equality by launching the city’s first pressure group dedicated to putting same-sex unions on the statute books. The group hopes Hong Kong can follow in the footsteps of Taiwan, which recently legalised the marriages after a landmark court case. Hong Kong Marriage Equality, a […]
Butuan students reminded on anti-discrimination ordinance
With the implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance here, the students of various schools were reminded on the provisions of said ordinance during a symposium conducted by the Ladlad Caraga, Incorporated, a non-government organization that promotes the rights and welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community. According to Isagani Bacasmas, Jr., […]
Greek bishop convicted of hate speech steps down
A controversial Greek Orthodox bishop who was convicted of inciting violence against homosexuals has announced his resignation after four decades at the post. “Today is my last service as your bishop,” 81-year-old Bishop Amvrosios told his congregation on Sunday.”Tomorrow I will submit my resignation, I’ve been with you for 41 years. I need to look […]
Law needed to stop abuses vs LGBTQ
A law is needed to discourage and prevent abuses against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, Laguna Third District Rep. Sol Aragones said over the weekend. In a statement on Saturday, Aragones cited a study conducted by New York-based Human Rights Watch in 2015 that found 15 percent of Filipinos […]
Two conversion therapy survivors want protections for LGBTQ youth
For Thomas Argue, growing up in Victoria County in the 1990s was idyllic in some ways, humiliating and painful in others. Argue, who is gay, was raised in Plaster Rock, where his family belonged to the Family Worship Centre, a strict Pentecostal organization. Argue thinks his mother was the first to suspect he was gay. […]
New survey finds a decrease in homophobic attitudes in Nigeria
A survey from The Initiative for Equality Rights has found that homophobic attitudes in Nigeria are decreasing. The survey was last conducted in 2017, and this time it talked to 2,400 residents of the country. Although numbers were still fairly low, they did show that more Nigerians were becoming accepting of the LGBTQ identity. In […]
A gay couple in Russia was forced to flee the country simply because they told their adopted children they are married
A Russian couple was forced to flee the country because they told their two adopted sons that they are married. As far-fetched as that may sound, the story is true – simply because they are gay. Andrei Vaganov and Evgeny Erofeyev, who were married in Denmark, had been raising their two teenage boys for nearly […]
America Moved On From Its Gay-Rights Moment—And Left a Legal Mess Behind
Roughly half of americans think federal law bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Despite four years of nationwide same-sex marriage, despite rapidly growing cultural acceptance for LGBTQ people, despite extensive annual Pride celebrations—these Americans are wrong. Now that all of this summer’s glitter floats have been dismantled and the rainbow confetti has been […]
Watch: Nepal pride rally calls for better LGBT rights
Hundreds of people gathered in Nepal’s capital on Friday for the annual gay pride parade. The participants used the event in Kathmandu to call for better rights. The parade has been held annually for the past few years on Gai Jatra, a Hindu festival to remember the dead when people are traditionally allowed to crossdress. […]
Union quits Pride Glasgow event over ‘commercialisation’
A major trade union has pulled out of the Glasgow Pride march after criticising the “commercialisation” of the event. Unite will not be taking part in Saturday’s event after its Scottish LGBT+ committee said it did not agree with imposing charges on organisations to join in the demonstration. It also criticised companies using Pride to […]
The Trump Administration Asked The Supreme Court To Legalize Firing Workers Just For Being Transgender
The Trump administration on Friday took one of its most aggressive steps yet to legalize anti-transgender discrimination by telling the Supreme Court that federal law allows firing workers solely for being transgender, arguing a Michigan funeral home could fire a transgender woman because she wanted to wear women’s clothing on the job. Although the administration […]
Native American Tribes Are Wrestling With Decision To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
While across the U.S. same-sex marriage has been legal for four years, some Native American tribes still fail to recognize it. Tribes are empowered to make their own laws, and some are just now wrestling with new rights. Chynna Lockett of South Dakota Public Broadcasting says the Oglala Lakota tribe is the latest to legalize […]
Gay marriage cake: customer takes case to European court
Lawyers representing a man from Northern Ireland who sued a bakery for refusing to make a cake with pro-gay marriage message are going to Europe to challenge a supreme court ruling that its evangelical Christian owners had a right to refuse to bake it. Belfast human rights law firm Phoenix Law confirmed on Thursday it […]
Prague Pride March attracts 30,000 supporters, but faces minor protests
The annual Prague Pride March on August 10 attracted approximately 30,000 participants, despite some rain. The march, and a week of Prague Pride events ahead of it celebrate the LGBT+ community. The number was a bit below the 40,000 in last year’s parade but above the 8,000 who participated in 2011. While support came from […]
Côte d’Ivoire: Bill to Amend Marriage Law Approved
On March 27, 2019, the Council of Ministers of Côte d’Ivoire approved a bill that would substantially amend the country’s marriage law. It must now be presented to the Parliament, where, if adopted, it will become law following its promulgation by the President. The bill, which was drafted as part of a package of new […]
‘Scandal’ as English gay men at risk without access to HIV prevention pill
Delays in rolling out an HIV prevention pill in England are putting gay men’s lives at risk, with thousands buying it online without medical supervision, HIV campaigners said on Wednesday. England is lagging behind the United States and Kenya, where the highly-effective drug is more widely available, as health authorities only give the pills to […]
How Multinationals Can Help Advance LGBT Inclusion Around the World
As the rainbow flags come down in New York City after the WorldPride and Stonewall 50 celebrations, and as flags go up for pride events in other parts of the world, it’s worth asking: where do we stand on global LGBT rights? This year has offered a mixed bag. More jurisdictions, including Ecuador and Taiwan, […]
Mumbai: LGBT people raise clamour for gender-neutral laws
Two city youths have decided to take the next step in the assertion of LGBT rights and have more queer-friendly laws in the country. To enable their quest, Shrushti Mane and Varun Sardesai have started an online petition which has been uploaded on change.org. The petition calls for inclusivity in laws for protection of the […]
Cameroon’s most prominent LGBT+ activist Marc Lambert Lamba has passed away
Marc Lambert Lamba a leading LGBT rights activist in Cameroon, passed away unexpectedly on August 4th of a stroke at age 44. In 2000 Lambert founded Cameroon’s first LGBT rights organization AGALES (Association for Gays and Lesbians and Supporters). In 2005, along with 10 other men, he was arrested in police raid in gay-friendly bar The […]
Bill to allow transgender people to change birth certificate without surgery clears first hurdle in Victoria
A bill to allow transgender and gender diverse people to change the sex listed on their birth certificate without surgery has cleared its first hurdle, passing the Victorian legislative assembly on Thursday. The equality minister, Martin Foley, said the legislation was an opportunity for trans and gender diverse people to have “their true self reflected” […]
Same-sex penguin couples keep adopting eggs, and the Berlin Zoo is celebrating
To the untrained eye, Skipper and Ping look like a typical king penguin couple. Standing side by side at the Berlin Zoo with their flippers touching, they take turns carefully nestling an egg between their feet in the hope that it will eventually hatch the chick they have both long sought. Except these two 10-year-olds […]
Bus driver suspended after ‘refusing to drive double-decker celebrating gay pride’
A bus driver has been suspended amid claims he refused to drive a vehicle with a rainbow-coloured service number on the front. The driver allegedly told passengers in Norwich: “This bus promotes homosexuality and I refuse to drive it.” Becca Sears wrote on Twitter that the driver of the 501 service to Thickthorn said they […]
Australian national newspaper condemned for appalling coverage of transgender issues
Journalist Bernard Lane of The Australian newspaper, announced a gender issues section on the broadsheet’s website on Friday to widespread criticism from LGBT+ advocates. The section so far has published 18 articles which led with headlines such as “They’re castrating children”, “Transgender project ‘out of balance’”, “Sex not a matter of belief” and “Corrupting kids’ thinking”. […]
Far-right anti-gay party links LGBT, Reform Jews to Nazis
A new campaign video by the Noam party, which went viral on Tuesday evening among Hebrew-speaking social media users, compares Reform Jews, left-wing activists and gay rights advocates to Nazis and Palestinian suicide bombers, saying all of them “want to destroy us.” The far-right conservative religious party has polled far below any chance of passing […]