Several parties pledge to ensure rights of LGBTQ community in Sri lanka
Marking a historic day in Sri Lankan politics, representatives from several major political parties came together to discuss their views on ensuring the rights of LGBTQ Sri Lankans. Ceylon Workers’ Congress Leader, Minister Jeevan Thondaman, SLPP MP Premnath C. Dolawatte, SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake and Freedom People’s Congress MP Prof. Charitha Herath shared their views during […]
Spain approves controversial LGBT and abortion laws
Spain’s parliament on Thursday passed legislation which makes it easier for trans people to change their gender, expands access to abortion procedures and grants menstrual leave to women suffering from severe period pain. It was a historic day in Spain on Thursday. Inside the parliament, politicians approved several controversial laws. Outside, LGBT activists were having […]
A lesbian lost her son to his sperm donor. Should other gay parents be concerned?
A court ruling this week that rejected an Oklahoma woman’s petition of custody over the son she raised for two years with her estranged wife should serve as a cautionary tale for same-sex parents, some legal experts say. Kris Williams and Rebekah Wilson were legally married in June 2019, before Wilson gave birth to a […]
LGBTQ Politics in Nicaragua: Revolution, Dictatorship, and Social Movements
Drawing upon years of political engagement and research in Nicaragua, as well as a deep network of contacts, Karen Kampwirth’s book LGBTQ Politics in Nicaragua: Revolution, Dictatorship, and Social Movements offers a compelling, in-depth examination of lesbian, gay, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) politics. Taking a historical approach to LGBTQ organizing, culture, persecution, and resistance, Kampwirth […]
Uganda: No, Image of Ugandan Opposition Leader Bobi Wine in Front of Gay Rights Banner Has Been Doctored
IN SHORT: Gay rights are controversial in Uganda, where homosexuality is outlawed. An image that seems to show a popular opposition leader in the country supporting LGBTQI rights has been altered. An image doing the rounds on Facebook shows Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, standing in front of a banner […]
Transgender prison row heightens safety fears in Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community
The furore surrounding the placement of transgender offenders in Scottish prisons has sharpened personal safety fears across Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community, the Guardian has been told. Soon after Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation on Wednesday, Scottish equalities campaigners expressed unease at the loss of such a visible LGBTQ+ ally. But even before then, campaign groups and […]
Bill would restrict transgender people from military service
Florida Senator Marco Rubio on Thursday introduced legislation that would disqualify most people with a history of gender dysphoria from serving in the U.S. Military. The bill would also require troops to identify as their biological sex and anyone who has received transgender surgery would not be eligible to serve. Backers of the legislation include […]
Transgender Persons Act
What was considered to be a historic act in the country’s history is now being amended to erase any minor gains or goodwill that was generated. On Monday, the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights held a meeting where the body discussed the different proposed amendments relating to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, […]
Spain passes transgender law allowing minors treatment without parental consent
After its passage in the Senate, Spain’s lower house passed the Law for the Real and Effective Equality of Trans Persons and for the Guarantee of LGTBI Rights, which will allow transgender genital surgery and hormonal treatments from the age of 16 without parental consent. Known simply as the Trans Law, it was pushed by […]
Changing gender identity: Countries that make it easy
Spain on Thursday joined a small but growing club of nations that allow people to change their gender on their ID card through a simple administrative declaration. Several countries have scrapped requirements for people who want to change the gender registered at their birth to undergo medical or psychological treatment. AFP looks at the situation worldwide: According to […]
How Progress Shark became Australia’s accidental World Pride icon
What if we put a giant model shark in a sparkly rainbow swimsuit? Like many great ideas, the pitch for Progress Shark – a recent Australian viral sensation – was equal parts “ridiculous” and “brilliant”. The Australian Museum wanted to create a vivid and unique sign to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to Sydney […]
Spain passes law allowing people to freely change gender from age 16
After months of sometimes heated debate within the ruling left-wing, Spanish MPs on Thursday gave final approval to a law allowing people to freely change their gender from the age of 16, at a time when other European countries are holding back on this controversial subject. The so-called ‘transgender law’, which is the battle horse of […]
First openly lesbian football team in Europe launch new kit in LGBT History Month
Past and present members of the first openly gay women’s football team in Europe have spoken of the importance of the “wonderful” club as it launches a new kit during LGBT History Month. February marks LGBT History Month, as well as Football versus Homophobia Month, which offers those with a connection to Hackney Women’s Football Club (HWFC) the […]
China’s Charm Offensive Shouldn’t Deflect Europe on Rights
After the Chinese government reversed its draconian “Zero Covid” policy and fully lifted pandemic restrictions, it is now beaming a new message into Europe: China is open for business. Beijing appears to have replaced its abrasive “wolf warrior” diplomacy of recent years with a charm offensive in Europe amidst its rocky relations with the US […]
Nicola Sturgeon’s LGBTQ+ legacy: The good, the bad and the unresolved
Nicola Sturgeon will leave behind a strong legacy of LGBTQ+ allyship following her resignation as Scotland’s first minister. Sturgeon announced on Wednesday (15 February) that she will stand down as SNP leader and first minister imminently, once a successor has been chosen. Among LGBTQ+ people, there was an outpouring of worry, disappointment and frustration as they […]
“This Is Why We Became Activists”
In June 2021, Amani’s girlfriend ended their relationship. Amani told Human Rights Watch that for months prior to the breakup, her girlfriend’s parents had been “refusing to let her leave the house” and “pushing her to marry a man.”[3] They ultimately succeeded, and the woman left Amani. Amani said it was “not the first” time […]
California bill would enshrine gay marriage right in constitution
California, a U.S. trendsetter for progressive policies and a state where the current governor once made news issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco before it was legal, will attempt to enshrine marriage equality in the state constitution. The effort comes 15 years after a voter-approved initiative, Proposition 8, banned the state from […]
Prominent Orthodox Israeli journalist Yair Cherki comes out as gay
A veteran Orthodox journalist on the country’s most-watched news network came out as gay on Tuesday. “I love men and I love God, and this is neither contradictory nor new,” wrote Channel 12’s Yair Cherki in a Facebook post that quickly garnered thousands of likes and shares. Cherki grew up in a national religious community […]
Brianna Ghey: Trans girl’s killing must lead to end of ‘merciless war’ on trans community
The killing of Brianna Ghey, a trans teenage girl from Warrington, comes amid a “wider atmosphere of hostility towards trans people, perpetuated through apathy and malice”. Brianna Ghey was stabbed dead on 11 February, and a boy and a girl, both aged 15, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Police are exploring all lines […]
Uganda is working to stamp out groups promoting human rights for LGBTIQ people
The Ugandan Government’s National Bureau for Non-Governmental organization is currently investigating the operations of 22 NGOs suspected to be involved in so called “promotion of LGBTIQ activities”. The NGO Bureau has made a hit list and is threatening to “comprehensively criminalize” activities that promote homosexuality in the country and lay down stringent requirements for registration […]
Kentucky’s first LGBTQ summer camp aims to be a beacon of hope, safety
Coming this summer to Lexington, a new summer camp will be the first of its kind in the Commonwealth. Camp Beacon is raising funds to create a summer camp specifically for young people that identify as part of the LGBTQ community. Although February can be cold and cloudy, co-founder Jess Bowman is already planning for […]
Transgender Discrimination Continues in Kuwait, Despite a Court Ruling
A year ago, Kuwait’s Constitutional Court overturned a law that criminalized “imitating the opposite sex,” ruling that Article 198 of the penal code, which authorities had used to prosecute transgender people, was unconstitutional because it violated Kuwaitis’ right to personal freedom. The decision was welcome news for transgender people in Kuwait who face widespread discrimination, […]
Czech Republic Soccer Player Jakub Jankto Comes Out as Gay: ‘I No Longer Want to Hide’
Czech Republic soccer player Jakub Jankto has announced he is gay. The athlete, 27, posted a candid video on social media on Monday. In the video, Jankto introduces himself before he says, “Like everybody else, I have my strengths. I have my weaknesses. I have a family. I have my friends.”
Amendments to ‘Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018’ discussed
The Meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights was held here at the Parliament House on Monday with Senator Walid Iqbal in the chair. The Senate body discussed the different proposed amendments relating to the “Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018.” Senator Iqbal apprised the committee about the common position taken by […]
The Netherlands votes to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation
The Netherlands voted to expand part of its constitution so discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and disability are explicitly banned. The change, approved in a 56-15 vote by the Dutch senate, is the last step in a years-long process toward the amendment. Previously Article 1 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands stated it […]
LGBT teen Abbie Kelly takes Rainbow Shoelace Project from outback Broken Hill to WorldPride
When Abbie Kelly started making up little packs of rainbow beads for LGBT kids and their friends to thread on their shoelaces in Broken Hill, she had no idea the idea would catch the imagination of people the world over. Now, the 13-year-old from Broken Hill in far west New South Wales is taking the beads to […]
Japan’s ruling party vows to promote debate on bill for LGBTQ community
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will accelerate discussion on a bill that would promote understanding of sexual minorities, a senior lawmaker said Sunday, amid growing criticism of the government’s conventional stance on LGBTQ rights. Koichi Hagiuda, the policy chief of the LDP, said in a TV program that he will make efforts to “forge a […]
Disinformation on SOGIE bill spreads as Filipino queers face real-world discrimination
MANILA, Philippines – Speaking at the podium during a Senate session on Wednesday, February 8, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva paused to grab a plastic bag sitting on a chair next to him. From the bag, he pulled out piles of paper, which he struggled to hold with both hands. He told his colleagues that these […]
It is time for action to protect the rights of Hong Kong’s LGBTQ community
Ten years ago, a judgment by Hong Kong’s top court was hailed as a breakthrough for the city’s transgender community. Last week, another landmark ruling was rightly heralded in similar terms. But little has been done in between the two decisions to safeguard the rights of the LGBTQ community, despite growing support among the general […]
Bangladesh withdraws school books after anti-LGBTQ backlash
Bangladesh said on Saturday it had withdrawn two new school textbooks after protests from Islamist groups incensed by a curriculum overhaul to recognise transgender identities, same-sex relationships and secular science. Thousands have demonstrated in the capital Dhaka since last month demanding that the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) scrap the changes to the books, […]