LGBT troops on Ukraine’s front line fight homophobia at home
One corner of Kyiv’s symbolic central square is now carpeted in thousands of tiny blue and yellow flags, in tribute to Ukraine’s fallen soldiers. Earlier this month, a group of activists gathered to add a different type of flag to the ever-growing collection. They had unicorns in their centre, to represent each gay soldier that […]
President Biden to pardon veterans convicted under regulation used to keep LGBT members from serving
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he will pardon U.S. veterans who were convicted by the military under a regulation that allowed people to be kicked out for being gay. The White House says the move will impact thousands of military veterans, though officials declined to give a specific number. “Today, I am righting an […]
You won’t believe what happened at the first-ever Pride Run at SM Mall of Asia!
The SM by the Bay at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex was transformed into a thrilling, inclusive celebration as SM Supermalls, in collaboration with RunRio, hosted SM Supermalls’ first-ever Pride Run on Saturday, June 22, 2024. The event brought together thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) members and […]
Taiwan’s gay politicians have broken ground – but their battle isn’t over
Even in the exuberant world of Taiwanese politics, Huang Jie stands out – and not just because of the pink highlights in her hair and love for cosplay. Known for her fiery speeches and progressive views, the 31-year-old made history in January when she won a seat in parliament – and became the island’s first […]
US Supreme Court to hear challenge to ban on transgender care for minors
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide the legality of a Republican-backed ban in Tennessee on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, as the justices waded into another contentious issue implicating LGBT rights. They took up an appeal by Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration of a lower court’s decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on […]
What are the legal challenges to Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill?
Courts in Ghana are considering multiple legal challenges to the West African country’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill with its top court due to deliver its first decision on July 27. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill, passed unanimously by parliament in February, will further criminalise same-sex relations and ban the “promotion” of LGBTQ+ activities. But […]
Camille Villar Stands Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination: ‘Tayo Po Ay Pare-Pareho, Pantay-Pantay’
House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar has called for a stop to the continuing discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community. During the Pride Month celebrations in her district, Villar underscored the need to accept and respect the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queers, intersex, and asexuals. “Tayo po ay pare-pareho, pantay-pantay sa […]
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is using her voice to ensure more Black, queer stories get told
We always knew Oscar-nominated actress, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, was a queen. But it wasn’t until 2022 that we learned Ellis-Taylor was a bisexual queen. Two years ago in an interview with Variety, the King Richard and Origin star came out as bi. And though her closest friends and family had known for years, this was the first time she had shared her […]
US ambassador accuses Hungary’s PM of using anti-LGBTQ ‘machinery of fear’
The US ambassador in Budapest has accused the government of Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orbán, of using a “machinery of fear” to launch legal and rhetorical attacks on the LGBTQ community. “Fear is something those who seek to undermine democracy trade on, and their currency is too often you and your families,” David Pressman said […]
How Chengdu became China’s unofficial ‘gay capital’ despite uncertain LGBTQ rights
The Chinese city of Chengdu is known by many Chinese millennials as the country’s unofficial “gay capital”, even sometimes dubbed “Gaydu”. Although probably more famous for pandas, Chengdu also has a reputation for its inclusive and laid-back culture. While such prevailing attitudes may have paved the way for a relatively more visible LGBTQ presence, the community […]
Hungary’s Anti-LGBT Crusade Apparently Includes Trolling the U.S. Ambassador
The U.S. Ambassador to Hungary hasn’t exactly been embraced by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government. But now, it seems, things are getting petty. David Pressman, a gay human rights lawyer who acts as Washington, D.C.’s envoy in Budapest, had been hoping to attend an event in Hungary’s parliament building this week. “I was honored to […]
In Brazil’s election, the gay vote counts
When nearly 2.5 million people converged on Sao Paulo this year for the world’s biggest gay pride parade, the celebration emphatically reminded Brazil’s presidential candidates of the growing political clout of the gay community. Though it is the world’s largest Catholic country, Brazil is increasingly tolerant of homosexuality and has long been one of the […]
“Let’s love a little more”. Sofia Pride is taking place for the 17th year
Thousands of people gathered at the 17th Sofia Pride protest march on Saturday night. It is held every summer in defense of the rights of people from the LGBT community in Bulgaria. This year’s event is entitled “Bulgaria is also our home”, and its theme is patriotism and national belonging in the context of the […]
Supreme Court Just Countered Landmark Gay Marriage Ruling, Sotomayor Warns
Liberal-leaning Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that the Court countered a landmark gay marriage ruling, Obergefell v. Hodges, in a recent case, Department of State v. Muñoz, warning that it could have negative implications for same-sex couples. In a 6-3 decision on Friday, the Court ruled against Sandra Muñoz, an American citizen who challenged […]
UK’s first Muslim Pride set to take place this weekend
A first-of-its-kind Pride event for LGBTQ+ Muslims is happening this weekend. Organised by charity Imaan LGBTQI+, Muslim Pride 2024 is set to take place at Queen Mary, University of London, on Saturday (22 June) and hundreds of people are expected to attend the full-day “celebration of queer Muslim culture, activism and history”. The event was […]
Continued progress leaves homosexuality illegal in 64 nations
The number of nations with laws against gay sex has fallen to 64, continuing the slow, decades-long progress toward recognition of the human rights of LGBTQ+ people. The latest countries to end the criminalization of same-sex intimacy are Namibia in Africa and Dominica in the Caribbean in 2024, Mauritius in the Indian Ocean and the […]
US military must face lawsuit over discharge of LGBTQ veterans
A federal magistrate judge in San Francisco has refused to dismiss a lawsuit claiming the U.S. military violated the constitutional rights of more than 35,000 LGBTQ veterans by failing to grant them honorable discharges after they were barred from serving because of their sexual orientation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero on Thursday rejected claims by […]
From a stage in a lorry to party of 50,000
It’s 1999 – teaching children about being gay is banned and same sex marriage is 15 years away, but one corner of Cardiff stages a celebration of all things LGBTQ+. Wales’ first Pride was modest, to put it mildly, with about 2,500 people and a stage “essentially the back of an articulated lorry,” said drag […]
Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center set to open honoring historic LGBTQ uprising
Fifty-five years after an uprising gridlocked the streets of downtown Manhattan and catapulted the modern gay rights movement, a visitor center dedicated to the now-historic riots will open its doors next Friday. The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center will be located in the building next door to the Stonewall Inn, the site of the June 1969 Stonewall […]
Namibian court declares laws banning gay sex unconstitutional
WINDHOEK, June 21 (Reuters) – A high court in Namibia declared two colonial-era laws that criminalised same-sex acts between men unconstitutional on Friday, in a landmark win for the LGBTQ community in the southern African country. The case was brought by Namibian activist Friedel Dausab with the support of British-based non-governmental organisation Human Dignity Trust. Dausab told […]
Fascinating 1970s Pride footage shows queer activism half a century ago
Pride in the 1970s was an incredibly different landscape – with the wounds of the Stonewall Riots in New York, which gave way to Pride, still fresh in people’s mind, the decade was a significant turning point. Footage from events across London, Los Angeles, Sydney, and many more places show that, while Pride still had […]
France’s Macron faces transphobia accusations after criticising left-wing coalition manifesto
The emergence of the New Popular Front, which groups left-wingers from Socialists to Communists, has been an unwelcome development for Macron since he called the snap elections in response to his party’s defeat by the far right in European polls. His ruling alliance is forecast by opinion polls to come only third in the legislative elections on June 30 – followed by a […]
Singapore gay-rights rally draws record crowd: organisers
Organisers of Pink Dot 2015 said the estimated turnout of 28,000 was a record for the event, surpassing the crowd count of 26,000 they gave last year. No independent estimates were available, but an AFP photographer on the scene said the crowd appeared to be bigger than at last year’s event. The annual gathering in support of […]
Leeds Pride reverses controversial new policy forbidding ‘political opinions’ after backlash
The Yorkshire-based Pride organisation, which is hosting its 2024 event on 21 July, told PinkNews that it had removed a point in its code of conduct after an LGBTQ+ group refused to participate in the protest. In a section on the Leeds Pride Parade 2024 guidance document, which details terms and conditions for individuals and walking […]
Martinique : Christian lesbian finds growing acceptance
The presence of homosexuals within the Catholic Church in Martinique remains a subject of debate, both among church authorities and the local LGBT+ community. It’s a topic that Chloé Socias knows well. In November 2022, she published a book entitled “Moi, catholique et homosexuelle en Martinique” (Me, a Catholic and homosexual in Martinique), about her journey of faith and spirituality, which […]
Thailand becomes first Southeast Asian country to allow same-sex marriage
Thailand’s Senate has passed the marriage equality bill, paving the way for the country to become the first in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex marriage. The upper house on Tuesday approved the measure in its final reading – with 130 votes in favour from the 152 members in attendance. Four senators voted against and there were […]
Rainbow Revolution: Thailand becomes third Asian nation to recognize marriage equality
In a momentous occasion for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia, the senate in Thailand senate has overwhelmingly approved same-sex marriage legislation. The vote, passing 130 to 4 with 18 abstentions, paves the way for Thailand to become only the third country in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal to legalise same-sex marriage. “Today is the day that […]
Suspected gay escapes lynching at Assin Fosu
An alleged gay, identified as “Junior”, has been mercilessly beaten for allegedly attempting to have a sexual affair with a young man in Assin Fosu, located in the Central Region.
LGBTQ migrants face ‘triple vulnerability’ as a group in Mexico aims to help them
Dayling Ramírez says that each day that passes is a challenge to overcome because, despite having survived the persecution of the Mara Salvatrucha gang and the abuses in an immigration station in Mexico, Ramírez hasn’t yet fully integrated into the country’s society. “We trans people have a hard time getting hired, it’s horrible. Here you […]
LGBTI people’s human rights at the 56th UN human rights council
It’s June, and it’s time for the second session of the year of the UN Human Rights Council! The 56th session will take place at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva until 12 July 2024. We look forward to amplifying the voices of LGBTI activists and civil society worldwide, as we follow resolutions, […]