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There’s Safety in the Family Fold for Rural LGBTI People in Uganda

On a small farm in eastern Uganda, a baby boy named JoJo was born. Skinny with thin lips and cute ears, JoJo grew up hanging out only with the girls, singing and braiding hair. “People used to call me names, and I hated it,” says JoJo. But at home, that wasn’t a problem. “Most the […]

Brazil Attempts To End Gender And Sexuality Education In Schools

President Jair Bolsonaro’s win was a grave day for Brazilian LGBTI individuals. Not only did the former army captain actively come out against LGBT rights, but he’s now going after gender and sexuality education in schools. Bolsonaro is pushing against teachers talking about “gender ideology,” a term describing gender, sexual orientation, and political views, in […]

Holiday Hiring in Brazil Reaches Out to Transgender Community

Brazilian LGBT+ rights activists on Tuesday hailed Dutch retailer C&A for directing a new hiring campaign at underrepresented minorities, including transgender people. The company announced that it would be hiring for 5,000 temporary roles at more than 270 stores across the country, and encouraged both transgender people and refugees to apply. An announcement directed specifically […]

Political Impasse Stops Protection for LGBTI Students Passing This Year

The government’s bid to legislate this year to protect LGBTI students from discrimination at religious schools has failed because of an impasse over the detail. After weeks of negotiation and tactical maneuvering between the government and Labor, Scott Morrison on Wednesday produced his own bill and suggested both sides give their parliamentarians a conscience vote. […]

Trump Strips LGBTI Rights From USMCA Trade Deal with Mexico and Canada

The Trump administration has exempted the United States from provisions in the new USMCA trade deal with Mexico and Canada that require LGBT+ rights protections to be put in place. The trilateral United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) deal was made public on November 30 as it was signed by Trump, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Mexico’s Enrique Pena Nieto at the G20 […]

Sask. Advocates Blast ‘pray the gay away’ Methods Aimed at ‘converting’ LGBTI People

Advocates in Saskatchewan are calling on the province to ban therapies meant to make people reject LGBTI identities. Conversion or reparative therapies are defined as any practice, from counselling to prayer, that tries to change someone’s sexual orientation to heterosexual. These methods are discredited and opposed by the Canadian Psychological Association as lacking scientific proof and resulting […]

How the LGBTI Referendums Split From Taiwanese Popular Opinion

After the Nov. 24 series of referendums, the international media reported that Taiwan’s push for same-sex marriage referendum had been defeated. Although this is disappointing, there was another piece of news that was not picked up as widely: a majority of Taiwanese voted in favor of providing legal protections to same-sex relationships, albeit not as […]

Gay couples in Brazil marrying sooner for fear of Bolsonaro bias

After 15 years together, social networks manager Marcelo Serrano and designer Wellington Pereti decided to get married immediately instead of waiting until the end of 2019 as they had planned, out of fear of a reduction of LGBT rights in Brazil following the inauguration of President-elect Jair Bolsonaro. “We’ve lived together for eight years, but […]

Newly-signed USMCA points at increased auto imports, watered-down LGBTQ protections

Initial analysis of the final text of the new North American trade pact Canada signed on Friday is pointing to two changes – one potentially helpful for the auto sector, the other potentially problematic for labor rights. The original text of the agreement pledged all three countries to support “policies that protect workers against employment discrimination on the […]

Another Indonesian city outlaws gay sex

The city council in Pariaman on Nov. 27 approved the new bylaw providing fines of 1 million rupiah (U.S. $70) for behaviors that “are considered LGBT,” the Jakarta Post reported in an Agence France-Presse article. The bylaw prohibits “immoral acts” between same-sex couples and  “acting as a transvestite”, but otherwise cites few concrete examples of banned behavior, […]

Hotline Calls Increase after LGBTQ Referendum in Taiwan

After losing three referendums regarding LGBTQ rights, Taiwanese calls to a LGBTQ helpline jumped 40%, reported Gay Star News. The Taiwain Tongzhi Hotline, which is dedicated to LGBTQ phone counseling, received an influx of calls both during and after the referendum. “Phone calls from LGBTQ+ people and parents who have LGBTQ+ children have both increases,” […]

The West exported homophobia, not homosexuality

Tanzania’s recent intensified efforts to clamp down on the country’s queer community highlights the risk of statements by Africa’s political, business and social elites normalizing hate and discriminatory actions against sexual minorities. In the latest development, regional commissioner of Dar es Salaam, Paul Makonda, announced that he had set up a 17-member task team to […]

Rejected by my family, raped – but proud to be gay’

Seyeda has been rejected by her family, abused and raped because she is gay – but is determined to be out and proud. The 42-year-old from Pakistan believes she would have been killed if she had not moved to the UK. “I can’t even imagine (what would have happened). I don’t think I would be […]

Agony of Orthodox Jews caught between two worlds

A childhood friendship between two women deepens into first love, passionate and consuming. But in a north London Orthodox Jewish community, it is illicit, an abomination, against the strict codes that govern their lives. Religious and sexual identities cannot be reconciled; a painful choice must be made. This, in essence, is the story of Disobedience, a film […]

Homosexuality is more than sex: time to look beyond the labels and prejudice

Stuart Heaver writes kindly of the stigma facing LGBT youth who are coming to terms with their sexuality (“ Ignorance, Chinese values, religious dogma: LGBT Hong Kong students’ plight ”, November 29). In a world that has become increasingly tolerant of diversity, there are still ingrained prejudices and those who refuse to accept, usually because of ignorance or […]

Blackmailers force Nigerian student to come out to family

Chigozie (names changed), a student in his early 20s, told NoStringsNG that his troubles began when Obi, a coursemate, started making advances at him. Chigozie turned him down, but it became obvious that Obi was still interested in him. “While in school, he would make advances at me, telling me he likes me and all, and I […]

LGBT CARAVAN ASYLUM SEEKERS COULD HAVE TO ‘PROVE’ STATUS TO GET INTO U.S.

LGBT asylum seekers traveling from Central American countries to the U.S. may have to “prove” their status in order to claim asylum in the U.S., said a University of California researcher. Earlier this month, around 80 LGBT members of the more than 6,000-strong caravan of Central American asylum seekers traveling to the U.S. split with the main […]

As Tanzania’s LGBT fear for their lives, HIV will thrive

In one day, everything changed. One day, she could walk down the street like anyone else. People still stared and often judged but in their own minds — not out loud. But before she knew it, she was dodging abuse and stones thrown at her by strangers, as well as familiar faces. “Since the announcement was made, things got […]

Indonesian city to fine LGBT residents for disturbing ‘public order’

An Indonesian city plans to fine its gay and transgender residents 1m rupiah ($70) for disturbing “public order”, reflecting a rise in discrimination against the Muslim-majority nation’s small LGBT community.  This week, the city of Pariaman on Sumatra island passed a sweeping regulation banning “acts that are considered LGBT”. The regulation forbids “immoral acts” between […]

Nepal Stalls on LGBT Rights Despite Early Strides

Nepal was hailed a leader in LGBT rights when it became the first country in conservative South Asia to recognize a third gender and assure equality for its sexual minorities. But more than a decade later, that trailblazing reputation has lost its luster, with gay and transgender Nepalis still confronting obstacles to jobs and schools, […]

Mike Pence fails to mention gay people in World AIDS Day speech

US Vice President Mike Pence has been branded a “hypocrite” for a World AIDS Day speech in which he only spoke about straight victims of the AIDS crisis. Pence, a historical opponent of LGBT+ rights, gave a speech in the White House on Thursday ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1. Thousands of men who […]

Bulgarian Choreographer Captures Chechnya Refugee Experience

Kosta Karakashyan is a talented artist devoted to social justice and LGBT rights. The New York choreographer is fighting for the vulnerable in the hostile region of the Russian Federation. He intends to win over hearts and minds through film. Karakashyan produced “Waiting For Color” – a documentary dance film about the ongoing humanitarian crisis […]

Papua New Guinea’s ‘gay village’ offers sanctuary, hope

As an openly gay man in Papua New Guinea, where sex between men is illegal and stigma and violence widespread, 24-year-old Kapera Patrick remembers thugs pelting him with abuse, stones and bottles.  His life changed when he was taken in by a family in Hanuabada, a settlement in Port Moresby that has become a haven […]

LGBT+ groups welcome same-sex marriage amendment to bill

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-plus (LGBT+) advocacy groups have welcomed the adoption of the Civil Union Amendment Bill that will compel marriage officers at Home Affairs to officiate at same-sex marriages even though they may object to them. The bill was adopted by the Home Affairs portfolio committee as a step towards equality.  Triangle Project’s […]

Gay rugby player facing deportation allowed to leave holding centre

A gay rugby player who is facing deportation to Kenya, where he says he will be persecuted because of his sexuality, has been granted bail allowing him to leave the immigration centre where he was being held. Kenneth Macharia, who plays for Bristol Bisons, a gay and inclusive rugby club, told of his relief at being allowed out […]