LGBT discrimination in sport highlighted after a week in the headlines
In a week when issues of gender and sexuality in sport have been in the spotlight, new research has found many LGBT athletes feel unsafe and vulnerable but attitudes are changing. The study, by Adelaide’s Flinders University, found that almost 40 per cent of respondents who participate in sports “have felt unsafe or vulnerable in […]
Edmonton students walk out of school to protest UCP education policies
Chanting, “We have voices” and clutching signs reading “GSAs save kids,” more than 100 students walked out of Victoria School of the Arts Friday morning to protest the new Alberta government’s planned education changes. The protesters oppose the United Conservative Party’s intention to proclaim the Education Act, a move that would overwrite additional protections for […]
Support for gay rights seen growing in Singapore
Singapore has seen “distinct shifts” in attitudes to gay rights in the last five years, with support for same-sex marriage rising, a survey released on Thursday showed. Nearly six in 10 of those aged between 18 and 25 believe same-sex marriage is not wrong, according to the survey by the Institute of Policy Studies, a […]
Poland’s ruling party confronts the “LGBT dictatorship”
Poland faces an “attack on the family”, says Jaroslaw Kaczynski, chairman of the ruling Law and Justice (pis) party. In 2015 the party swept back to power by claiming it would protect the country against refugees from the Middle East. Now Mr Kaczynski has identified a new threat: gay people. The Polish religious right has […]
LGBTI rights in the Balkans: A perpetual struggle
Romanian Adrian Coman and his American-born partner Clai Hamilton had two major reasons to celebrate when they tied the knot last June. One of course, was their marriage. The other was the historic legal victory they scored when their case before Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) led to the recognition of same […]
Ireland ‘still on’ for gay-hate preacher Steven Anderson after Dutch ban
An American preacher who says homosexuals should be executed, and who was banned by Dutch authorities last week from entering the Schengen area, still plans to visit Ireland as part of a speaking tour this month. Steven Anderson, founder of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Arizona, has been widely criticised for the contents of […]
LGBT in the Persian Gulf: Hiding is critical
In the Persian Gulf, LGBT persons in general hide their sexual orientation and non-conforming gender identity. Expressing them could put them at grave risk of violence and criminal prosecution, not only to themselves but their families too, who could also suffer rejection from society. For this reason, it is common for meeting places to be […]
Are isolated LGBTI Japanese finally about to step out of the closet?
Tomoyuki Oishi is probably the only LGBTI person living in his small village in Nagano prefecture, Japan. ‘I like the village, but it feels very cramped’ the 36-year-old told Gay Star News. Oishi is unable to come out to his family and has only told a couple of close friends that he is gay. ‘I […]
AIDS drugs prevent sexual transmission of HIV in gay men
A European study of nearly 1,000 gay male couples who had sex without condoms – where one partner had HIV and was taking antiretroviral drugs to suppress it – has found the treatment can prevent sexual transmission of the virus. After eight years of follow-up of the so-called serodifferent couples, the study found no cases […]
Spanish far-right party’s anti-LGBT tweet makes star of tiny gay ghost
Aragorn, son of Arathorn, pal of hobbits, scourge of orcs and wielder of a legendary sword, appears to have met his match in a tiny gay ghost. A few hours after the polls opened in Spain’s general election last Sunday, the far-right Vox party attempted to recruit author JRR Tolkien’s fighter to its cause, tweeting […]
Dance Film ‘Memories of My Body’ Takes a Battering From Conservatives in Indonesia
Muslim groups in Indonesia are calling for a ban on the film “Memories of My Body,” a drama from the country’s best-known art house director, Garin Nugroho. The groups say that the film is “sexually deviant” and promotes “LGBT values.” The film depicts the story of a young man from a dance troupe that performs […]
LGBT shelter means I can be myself
About one in four homeless people is thought to be LGBT. But Chabahn, who became homeless last year aged 51, said it was very, very, dangerous to be open about being LGBT on the streets. “In some places where I stayed you could hear it in some people’s conversation – it’s almost hatred and it’s […]
Malaysian LGBT activist accuses authorities of intimidation
A leading Malaysian LGBT activist has accused the authorities of intimidation after a statement he read to the UN Human Rights Council led to him being questioned by police. Numan Afifi, an openly gay Muslim man and prominent advocate, travelled to Geneva last month to read out a statement from a coalition of LGBT groups […]
My LGBT-friendly mosque saved me from being radicalised’
Sitting in my bedroom alone, a wave of fear washed over me. I was 12 years old, confused, and scared – I was beginning to realise I was gay. My dad was watching TV in the living room, and all I could think about was how disappointed he’d be if he ever found out. I […]
LGBTs visit US-Mexico border, meet asylum seekers
President Donald Trump threw asylum seekers and immigration advocates another wrench April 29, proposing new restrictions targeting the United States’ southwestern border. Late Monday, Trump ordered acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan and Attorney General William P. Barr to propose new asylum regulations and implement them within 90 days. “Immigration issues are LGBTQ issues,” […]
You’re always told you can’t be queer and a politician. That needs to change says creator of Pink List.
There’s a rainbow wave sweeping the country this time with a record number of LGBT individuals in the poll fray. A young trio comprising Anish Gawande, a Columbia University graduate and director of the Dara Shikoh Fellowship, journalist Devina Buckshee, and freelance designer Smriti Deora have banded together to create the Pink List, a guide […]
Ex-president Da Silva: Brazil governed by ‘crazy people’
From the federal police headquarters where he is serving a sentence for corruption and money laundering, Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the South American country is now being governed by a “bunch of crazy people.” Da Silva, who governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010, said Brazilians should look at themselves in […]
Furia Marica – the meaning of ‘faggot’ and LGBT rights In Colombia
In a country like Colombia, which has somehow taught itself to use the word gonorrhea as a term of endearment, it is not surprising that the word marica (or faggot) has also indelibly established itself into our everyday jargon. Except for its obvious use as an insult or when reappropriated by the LGBT community, the […]
Belgian tennis couple blazing a trail for LGBT community: ‘We want to inspire people struggling with coming out’
Having pulled off one of the greatest wins of her career a year ago at Wimbledon – storming past defending champion Garbine Muguruza to reach the third round – Alison Van Uytvanck headed straight for her partner. Beaming after the victory, they shared a kiss in front of the delighted Court 2 spectators as the […]
South Africa to host Mr Gay World 2019 pageant after China pulled out
All roads will lead to Cape Town, South Africa for the 2019 edition of Mr Gay World pageant where 24 finalists will compete for this year’s crown. The last-minute hosting duties for South Africa comes after Hong Kong pulled out as host following a halt on events around the LGBT community by the Chinese government. […]
Is America Ready for a Gay President? ‘You’re Going to See the Wall Crumble’
In 2009, Raymond Buckley was the only openly gay state chairman in the Democratic Party. His state, New Hampshire, was one of very few that had passed a law making same-sex marriages legal. Barack Obama, the new president, held a position that was then the norm for Democratic politicians: that marriage should be reserved for […]
With spirits high, the LGBT community and supporters marks Tokyo’s 25th pride march
With rainbow flags flying high and colorful signboards vividly displayed under a clear blue sky, thousands of members of the LGBT community and their supporters took to the streets of Shibuya Ward on Sunday to march in the annual Tokyo Rainbow Pride Festival parade. According to the organizers, 10,000 people were expected to take part […]
China’s resistance to gay relationships and surrogate births, seen through a filmmaker’s own family
Chinese documentarian Hao Wu’s latest film, All in My Family, focuses on Chinese family tradition, social expectations, gay relationships and children born using surrogacy through an extremely personal lens. The 40-minute film – Wu’s fourth and set for release on streaming service Netflix this Friday – was shot over a series of Lunar New Year […]
Saudi Arabia beheaded 5 men ‘proven’ to be gay under torture
Saudi Arabia recently beheaded 37 men in a mass execution. Most were suspected spies and terrorists allegedly working on behalf of Iran, but one of the men “allegedly admitted to having sex with four of his co-accused ‘terrorists,’” reports Metro UK. The executed men were part of the country’s Shia minority. Court documents accused the […]
Bangladesh gives voting rights to hijra community
Bangladesh will allow parts of the transgender community to vote under their proper gender identity. Officials have introduced hijra as a third gender option on voting forms for the first time. “From now onward, a third gender individual can be a voter with their own identity, as a hijra,” said Abdul Baten, the director of […]
Bolsonaro Backlash: Event Honoring Brazilian President Calls into Question Corporate Support of LGBT Rights
Marriott International, among many big corporations, has gone on record in support of the LGBT community. Its CEO, Arne Sorenson, has been one of the most vocal defenders of LGBT rights in recent years as corporations have been pulled more squarely into divisive social and legal battles related to LGBT discrimination. But now Marriott is […]
Tunisia invokes sharia law in bid to shut down LGBT rights group
One of the Arab world’s most visible advocacy groups defending the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people is facing closure following legal threats by the government. Association Shams has been officially operating in Tunisia since 2015, helping the country’s LGBT community repeal article 230 of its penal code, a French colonial law, […]
Spanish election: Anti-LGBT Vox party makes political breakthrough
The far-right Vox party won just over 10 percent of the vote in Spain’s general election. Vox will take 24 of the Congress of Deputies’ 350 seats following the Spanish election, held on Sunday (April 28). Its success marks the first time that a far-right party will sit in parliament since the 1975 death of […]
Hopeful signs for LGBT people in the Caribbean
In the Caribbean, homophobia remains a problem, but LGBT people are seeing increased signs of public acceptance, including politicians coming out in support of their LGBT constituents. In St. Lucia, the National Security Minister said it is time to review the nation’s buggery laws. In St. Kitts & Nevis, a young person asked ministers about […]
Riyadh Khalaf: ‘Homophobia begins from a lack of education’
Riyadh Khalaf is standing on St Stephen’s Green when he is approached by two young women. “Are you Riyadh K?” asks one, referring to his YouTube handle. The two young women are Norwegian, on holidays in Dublin. After gamely chatting to them for a few moments, Khalaf volunteers to take a photo with one of […]