70 percent of Singaporeans disapprove of same-sex relations, study finds
Almost 70 percent of people in Singapore disapprove of same-sex relationships, a recent study has found. The number of people who disapprove was highest among Singaporean Muslims, Christians and Hindus. The working paper, produced by the Singapore-based think-tank the Institute of Policy Studies, looked at the responses of 1,800 Singaporeans about their views on religion. […]
Cayman Islands legalises same-sex marriage in historic ruling
The Cayman Islands has legalised same-sex marriage after a judge ruled prohibitions on such relationships was unconstitutional. The decision marked a personal victory – and the end of a tough legal battle – for Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden, who had last year applied to get married in the islands but were turned down. But […]
For many Native Americans, embracing LGBT members is a return to the past
The sound of drums, singing and prayers marked the opening of a powwow in Phoenix on a Saturday afternoon this month. Marchers carried the flags of the United States and some of Arizona’s tribal nations onto the grass field, but the procession also included rainbow flags, and the pink and blue transgender flag. It was […]
Transgender band plays upbeat songs in conservative Malaysia
Shika Corona strums her guitar on a Kuala Lumpur stage, the crowd dancing as she launches into a chorus, “Gender doesn’t lie between your thighs!” Shika, 42, is the transgender singer and guitarist of Tingtong Ketz, a Malaysian three-piece band whose upbeat songs about queer and transgender life are unique in the strait-laced Southeast Asian […]
Revealed: Trump-linked US Christian ‘fundamentalists’ pour millions of ‘dark money’ into Europe, boosting the far right
US Christian right ‘fundamentalists’ linked to the Trump administration and Steve Bannon are among a dozen American groups that have poured at least $50 million of ‘dark money’ into Europe over the last decade. Between them, these groups have backed ‘armies’ of ultra-conservative lawyers and political activists, as well as ‘family values’ campaigns against LGBT […]
CPI-M releases manifesto, calls for anti-discriminatory bill
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) released its manifesto in New Delhi on March 28 calling for a comprehensive anti-discriminatory bill covering the LGBTQIA+ community of the country. In a significant move, the CPI-M has advocated for reservation in education institutions; ensuring horizontal reservation in employment for the community. The manifesto proposed passing the […]
France sees rise in conversion therapies to ‘cure’ homosexuality
The film “Boy Erased” highlights controversial conversion therapies in the United States, which attempt to change homosexual children to heterosexual. This practice is surprisingly common in France. In France, “sexual reorientations” are practiced by some Christian evangelical groups inspired by the American model and by some Muslim preachers. Young people undergo “internships” that combine prayers, […]
Taiwan to amend LGBT education law
Taiwan’s education ministry has revised a 2004 law that promotes sexual orientation and gender identity education in the country’s schools. Luckily, the ministry’s proposed changes this week maintain LGBT-inclusive teaching in elementary and middle schools. In November last year, more than six million people voted against the LGBTI-inclusive Gender Equity Education Act. On the same […]
LGBT refugee leader steps down
The Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration’s founder and leader announced he would be stepping down from the LGBT-focused organization after a decade of advocating for queers fleeing persecution and violence in their homelands. Neil Grungras, who founded the organization and served as its executive director, announced his departure in an email to the ORAM […]
First same-sex couple to marry in UK says five-year anniversary ‘marred’ by inequality for Northern Ireland couples
Five years since the first same-sex UK marriage, Peter McGraith calls for marriage equality to be extended to Northern Ireland Equal marriage advocates Conor McGinn MP and Lord Hayward issue joint statement urging Westminster to legislate The first same-sex couple to get married in the UK is urging the Government to extend marriage equality to […]
New UCP candidate under fire for link to Christian group’s conversion therapy-style programs
A newly appointed United Conservative Party candidate strongly denies claims that when he promoted religious sexuality and relationship programming, he was supporting conversion therapy, a widely-discredited practice which aims to turn gay people straight. Jeremy Wong joined the race in Calgary-Mountain View on Wednesday. His predecessor, Caylan Ford, resigned after Facebook messages came to light […]
Japanese footballer comes out as gay and encourages others to do the same before Tokyo 2020
Female Japanese footballer Shiho Shimoyamada has come out as gay and has encouraged other athletes to do the same before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The 24-year old plays for SV Meppen, a team in the second tier of the German Bundesliga. She came out in an interview for Pride House Tokyo, a project which […]
Trump’s transgender ban on the military gets full legal blessing
The Trump administration’s long-wished-for transgender military ban now is officially – and legally – cleared to proceed. Different variations of the ban have been floating in legal limbo for several months. The language has shifted, but its core idea has remained the same: Transgender troops are not welcome to risk their lives defending the U.S. […]
First LGBT-inclusive textbooks for elementary schools in Japan
Publishers of elementary school textbooks in Japan have included LGBT information in the latest editions of their books. Two out of five government-accredited publishers have included content on sexuality and gender identity, according to NHK. The books teach that people may be attracted to people of the same sex. They also explain how different gender […]
Zambian fleeing from arrest for Homosexuality denied Refugee Asylum in South Africa
A young gay man who left a well-paid government job and fled from Zambia because of his sexual orientation has been denied refugee status by the South African Department of Home Affairs. Homosexuality is punishable by 14 years imprisonment in Zambia where sections 155 to 157 of the Penal Code says “carnal knowledge of any […]
Indonesian University Censors Lesbian Love Story
A student news website in Indonesia that published a story about a woman expressing her love for another young woman was ordered by university officials to shut down its entire news operation after the story went viral. North Sumatra University (USU), a public university in Medan, North Sumatra province, gave the 18 students who write […]
Brunei urged to halt introduction of strict new anti-LGBT+ laws
Brunei must rowback on plans to implement changes to its penal code next month that could see LGBT+ people whipped or stoned to death for same-sex activity, human rights groups said on Monday. Brunei was the first East Asian country to introduce Islamic criminal law in 2014 when it announced the first of three stages […]
LGBT refugees protest Kenya arrests and jail time
LGBT refugee activists gathered outside a Nairobi courtroom today to protest the mistreatment of 20 LGBT refugees who were arrested at an earlier protest and have been in jail since then. The group said officials compelled today’s protesters to stay in a small space near the court; they would be arrested if they moved elsewhere. […]
New culture war’: Northern Ireland’s LGBT+ community fights for gay marriage
Hidden away up several flights of stairs in the centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland, teenagers, many of them with shocks of red, blue and rainbow hair, relaxed and joked with one another. At the LGBT+ youth group, run by charity Cara-Friend, they felt themselves to be among friends, free to be themselves. But outside, the […]
Majority of Americans back LGBTQ protections — but support is sliding
Nearly 70 percent support nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, though support has fallen since 2015. A majority of Americans across every state and almost every demographic support LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, according to a poll released Tuesday by the nonprofit research firm Public Religion Research Institute. The nonpartisan organization’s “American Values Atlas” […]
LGBT Groups Want Pete Buttigieg to Be More Than the ‘Gay Candidate for President’
LGBT political movers and shakers were thrilled when Pete Buttigieg won a spot on the debate stage—but say he has to keep impressing them if he wants to earn formal support. As an out Midwestern mayor whose résumé boasts both a Harvard diploma and a deployment to Afghanistan, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg had no […]
Little Mix fly the LGBT flag at Dubai concert despite strict homosexuality laws in UAE
Little Mix made quite the statement during their performance in Dubai over the weekend, proudly flying the rainbow flag to support LGBT+ rights. The Shout Out To My Ex singers performed at the Global Teacher Prize concert on Saturday, alongside Liam Payne and Rita Ora who were also on the line-up. Fans in the audience […]
For transgender people, visiting family in Mexico often means hiding their gender identity
In the pictures, Jess Enriquez Taylor wears artful makeup and her hair is carefully styled. But her face was bare as she rode the bus toward the international border one recent afternoon, and her long black hair was tucked under a hat. One of her hands was painted with glittering nail polish, but she kept […]
Political Rocks Stars Turn Up Heat Ahead of Thai Elections
From an upstart entrepreneur to a transgender person hoping to find a political voice for the LGBT community, this Sundays Thai election is proving inclusive even if the chances of victory among the smaller parties remain slim. It’s an eclectic mix of candidates with personality politics and single-issue platforms firmly on the agenda. Sports stars […]
No Significant Progress in Gender Equality in Croatia
ZAGREB, March 23, 2019 – Some of the gender equality indicators in Croatia, such as the number of boys and girls enrolled in primary and secondary schools, continue to be good, however, there has been no significant progress on other indicators such as labour market equality, female entrepreneurship, the role of women in politics and […]
Michigan will no longer fund adoption agencies that deny LGBT parents
Michigan will no longer fund adoption agencies that turn away parents who are LGBT because of religious objections, a move that was part of the terms of a legal settlement announced Friday. President Donald Trump highlighted faith-based adoption agencies during his keynote at the National Prayer Breakfast in February. He drew attention to a family […]
Seeing yourself on the big screen
Shin Thant tried to create a metaphor for the experience of feeling culturally excluded and vilified on the big screen. It went like this; A transgender person who goes to the cinema to see a Myanmar comedy would want to duck out of the theatre at the end before anyone could see them, such would […]
Thailand’s transgender politician Pauline Ngarmpring: ‘I do it for future generations’
On March 24, Thai voters will elect a new parliament, which is set to end five years of direct military rule. 52-year-old Pauline Ngarmpring, a transgender candidate, is contesting the polls and representing the Mahachon Party. In fact, Ngarmpring is one of three candidates put forward by the party for the post of prime minister. […]
UK lawmakers calls against detention of LGBT asylum seekers
Britain should not put LGBT+ asylum seekers in immigration detention centres where they risk being abused and harassed by staff and other detainees, lawmakers said on Thursday. LGBT+ people are often traumatised after fleeing persecution back home, said the Home Affairs Committee, whose inquiry was prompted by a scandal over abuse of detainees by staff […]
Gay politician Robert Biedron challenges Polish leaders on gay marriage
Openly gay politician Robert Biedron is demanding the Polish government and president to recognise LGBT+ equality, including same-sex marriage. Biedron, a long-time LGBT+ campaigner who became Poland’s first openly gay MP in 2011 and the first openly gay mayor in 2014, presented five demands for LGBT+ equality in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. […]