Happy mothers’: South Korea couple beat same-sex barriers to parenthood
SEOUL – South Korea has spent billions of dollars on policies to boost its birthrate. But when Kim Kyu-jin and her wife wanted to have a baby, they had to fly to Belgium. Legally, South Korea considers Kim single, despite her 2019 wedding — ceremony in Seoul, legal registration in New York City — because the country […]
Hundreds gather at Brooklyn gas station to remember O’Shae Sibley
As night fell in southern Brooklyn on Aug. 4, a crowd of people equipped with pictures and Rainbow Flags swarmed the Brooklyn gas station where an out gay man, O’Shae Sibley, was stabbed to death on July 29 in an apparent act of anti-gay hate. The crowd that poured in to pay tribute to Sibley continued to swell […]
Catholic Church open to everyone including LGBT: Pope
Pope Francis says the Catholic Church is open to everyone, including the gay community, and that it has a duty to accompany them on a personal path of spirituality but within the framework of its rules. The Pope, speaking to reporters on the plane returning to Rome from Portugal, also said his health was good […]
LGBT members in SVG say they want to leave – Human Rights Watch report
More than 20 members of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender (LGBT) community in St Vincent and the Grenadines who were interviewed by the international Human Rights Watch (HRW)group, have all said that they wish to leave the country immediately to live abroad as homophobic attitudes, violence and discrimination were making their lives miserable. The […]
Journalists, Rights Activists Warn of Damage From Anti-Gay Rhetoric in Turkey
For staff at the Turkish LGBTQ online magazine Velvele, the worry that content will be censored is constant. “That’s one of the biggest threats that we might face in the near future,” said Ilker Hepkaner, an editor at Velvele. “They might block an essay — or the whole website,” he said, referring to Turkish authorities. […]
Gareth Southgate ‘understands’ anger over LGBT community supporter Jordan Henderson’s Saudi move
England manager Gareth Southgate says he understands the criticism directed at Jordan Henderson, a vocal supporter of the LGBT community, following his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq. The former Liverpool captain has followed other global stars including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the oil-rich Gulf state. The influx has taken place despite frequent […]
Teen charged with hate crime in death of dancer in New York City
A 17-year-old male has been charged with murder as a hate crime in the stabbing death in New York City of a man who was dancing at a gas station when confronted by a group hurling anti-gay and anti-Black slurs, a police official said on Saturday. The death on July 29 of O’Shae Sibley, a […]
Pediatricians’ group plans evidence review to inform care for transgender youth
The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed on Thursday its existing policy supporting gender-affirming care for transgender youth, but the group also plans to conduct an additional review of research. The review is intended to “develop an expanded set of documents to support pediatricians across the country,” with their management of transgender patients, Mark Del Monte, […]
Ukraine Military Has a New Transgender Spokesperson
A transgender journalist from the United States is now an official spokesperson of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Kyiv Post on Thursday tweeted that Sarah Ashton-Cirillo “has become one of the speakers for the Defense Forces,” and her work for Ukraine was soon praised in statements from Ukraine’s Ministry of […]
S. Korean lesbian couple beat barriers to parenthood
South Korea has spent billions of dollars on policies to boost its birth rate. But when Kim Kyu-jin and her wife wanted to have a baby, they had to fly to Belgium. Legally, South Korea considers Kim single, despite her 2019 wedding — ceremony in Seoul, legal registration in New York City — because the […]
More than 100 trans men enter Miss Italy pageant in protest after event organiser said transgender women would not be allowed to compete
More than 100 transgender men have entered the Miss Italy pageant in protest after the event organiser said that transgender women would not be allowed to compete. Trans activist Federico Barbarossa, who lives in southern Italy, said the exclusion of trans women from competing in the Miss Italy pageant made him angry but he was […]
Malaysian official brands LGBTQ+ people ‘perverted’ after eight protestors detained
A representative for Malaysia’s government has described being queer as “a perverted lifestyle” following the arrest of eight LGBTQ+ advocates protesting in the country. In a statement released on Tuesday (1 August), and seen by PinkNews, Dato’ Setia Dr. Na’im addressed the “issue” of a pro-LGBTQ+ gathering outside the Sogo Kuala Lumpur shopping centre on […]
Panama decriminalized homosexuality 15 years ago: persecution continues
After the cancellation of the decree law criminalizing sodomy, Panama decriminalized homosexuality 15 years ago, becoming the latest Latin American country to do so. Shortly before, activist Juan Alonso had been arrested for distributing condoms as part of a campaign against HIV. “I had the feeling that I was illegal, first of all you don’t fit into society and […]
Guadalajara says they will host a successful Gay Games despite low registration numbers
Gay Games organizers in Guadalajara say that the games will go on in the Mexican city this November, regardless of historic-low registration numbers. It is, for the organizers, a push to impact Central and South America with a multinational LGBTQ event they say is guaranteed to take place in some form, due to government funding. Monica […]
High Court hears petition on adoption by LGBTQ couples: ‘Decision cannot be avoided’
The High Court heard a petition Thursday against discrimination toward LGBTQ couples who wish to adopt, and indicated it might move to resolve the issue in the absence of a legislative solution. The discussions on the Child Adoption Law ended without a decision, but the three-judge panel made it clear that the current situation was untenable […]
USAID Releases Historic LGBTQ-Inclusive Development Policy
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Wednesday its first-ever LGBTQI+ inclusive development policy, which will guide the agency’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ rights support in its programming. “The Policy outlines overarching USAID principles and objectives for LGBTQI+ inclusive development programs and activities as part of a coordinated Agency priority, and advances USAID’s commitment to […]
Dyan Tai’s Mission To Showcase Queer Asian Excellence
Dyan Tai, the self-described “Gaysian Empress of Sydney,” is a trilingual Malaysian-born classically trained musician, singer, performer, cabaret artist, DJ, and fixture of the Sydney Queer arts scene. In a conversation with Star Observer, he spoke about showcasing and cultivating Queer Asian excellence, the importance of music in his life, and his memorable first Sydney Gay and […]
Negros Occidental town declares drag queen Pura Luka Vega persona non grata
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A municipal government in Negros Occidental declared drag queen Pura Luka Vega unwelcome in its town on Tuesday, August 1. The persona non grata declaration by Toboso town’s legislature came in response to a controversial video that went viral, showing Vega wearing a Black Nazarene-inspired costume while dancing to a remix of the song […]
Mike Pence says he’ll ban transgender people from the military if he wins
Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence said that if he wins the White House he would ban transgender people from the military again. Pence was speaking to reporters in Nevada – an early primary state – when he said that it “makes no sense” to let transgender people serve in the military. “Look, we have people […]
NHS: Transgender Court of Appeal case for gender dysphoria waiting times is dismissed
Two transgender people have lost a Court of Appeal challenge against NHS England over waiting times for gender dysphoria treatment. Eva Echo and Alex Harvey took legal action against the healthcare body over “extreme” waiting times for a first appointment with a specialist, along with two other young people who cannot be named. At a […]
Anti-LGBT Rhetoric Undermines Rights in Lebanon
Anti-gay remarks made on Saturday by a Hezbollah leader in Lebanon who has recently called for anti-gay violence sparked panic and terror among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, described same-sex relations as a “sexual perversion,” and warned that gay people’s existence is a “threat to […]
Iraqi Kurdistan human rights group shuttered over rainbow logo
A court in the Kurdistan region of Iraq dealt independent civil society a blow on May 31, 2023, by ordering the closure of Rasan Organization over “its activities in the field of homosexuality,” Human Rights Watch said. Rasan is the only human rights organization willing to vocally support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights […]
Fear and frustration escalate after antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ graffiti found in London park
Members of London’s LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities say they’re disappointed and fearful after “alarming” graffiti was found scrawled in a park in London’s SoHo neighbourhood over the weekend. “It’s really scary that this is happening,” said Shawnie Gallant, who was out walking a dog Saturday when they came across swastikas and hateful words on the […]
Iran official in charge of ‘promoting Islamic values’ suspended over alleged gay sex video
An official in Iran in charge of “promoting Islamic values” has reportedly been suspended over an alleged gay sex video. Reza Tsaghati, head of culture and Islamic guidance in Gilan province, was reportedly seen having sex with another man in a video posted online, however the video’s authenticity, and the identities of those in the […]
In a first, State to roll out queer-friendly hospital initiative
For the first time in the country, the Kerala government will implement a “Queer-friendly hospital initiative” to protect the rights of the queer, transgender community and to ensure healthcare services for them in hospitals across the State. Health Minister Veena George said in a statement here on Monday that the Health department intended it to […]
Gay dads win case against rightwingers who used their son’s photo on an anti-surrogacy flyer
An Italian anti-LGBTQ+ political party has been ordered to pay the equivalent of $10,000 U.S. to a gay Canadian couple after it used a photo of their family in a campaign against surrogacy. In 2014, an emotional photo went viral that captured the moment Frank Nelson and BJ Barone met their newborn son, Milo. Taken […]
`Belgium’s trans-friendly reputation faces far-right rise
BRUSSELS — Belgium has built a reputation as among the most progressive EU countries on trans rights. For the past five years, people there can legally change their gender and name without medical certification. Its current government includes a transgender politician in a leading position. And, just recently, the city of Ghent in Belgium’s northern Flanders region […]
Hong Kong public broadcaster cancels LGBTQ radio show
A radio show promoting LGBTQ equality will end its 17-year run at Hong Kong’s public broadcaster on Sunday, with station management citing “changes in programme” as the reason for cancellation. The axing of “We Are Family” comes after Beijing crushed Hong Kong’s democracy movement and imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020, which critics say […]
India’s first openly gay prince says his parents tried to subject him to the ‘torture’ of conversion therapy to make him straight
India’s first openly gay prince said his parents tried to make him undergo conversion therapy in a interview with Sky News. Speaking from Jaipur, India, on Friday, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil told the news channel that his mother and father would’ve gone to go to extreme lengths to try to make him straight. “My parents were planning to […]
Texas church firebombed after ‘anti-LGBT’ YouTuber video
(NewsNation) — A Texas church was firebombed Sunday, weeks after it was the subject of an anti-LGBTQ Christian YouTuber’s video, according to multiple news reports. Community Unitarian Universalist Church in Plano, Texas, was the target of the attack carried out July 23, the church posted on Facebook. The attack happened between midnight and 12:30 a.m. using a chemical accelerant that […]