Holocaust survivor and ‘proud gay man’ shares inspirational coming out story: ‘It was beyond liberating’
A Jewish man who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust has shared his heart-warming story of finally feeling able to come out as gay in his 50s. Sacha Kester recalled how living through the atrocity, in which an estimated 5-15,000 men were sent to concentration camps for the ‘crime’ of being homosexual, left him fearful of […]
Netanyahu’s Far-right Allies: Doctors Could Refuse Treatment on Religious Grounds, Hotels Can Refuse LGBT Guests
Religious Zionism party lawmaker Orit Strock said on Sunday that a doctor shouldn’t be forced to provide treatment that contradicts his religious beliefs, “as long as there are other doctors who can provide the same service.” Speaking to Israeli public radio Kan, she added that she “cannot fathom the thought that the Halakhic law will […]
Elon Musk challenged by Tesla investor with trans child: ‘You’re punching down’
In the same month that he tweeted mocking pronouns, and urged people to follow conspiracy theorists QAnon, Musk reportedly told investors he would not “censor” his views on trans people. According to William LeGate, who live-tweeted a meeting Musk had about Tesla on a public Twitter space on Thursday (22 December), the billionaire stated that […]
19 arrested after police raid same-sex wedding in Nigeria
The Islamic police force, known as Hisbah, recently raided a same-sex wedding in northern Nigeria and arrested 19 people for attending. In the virulently anti-LGBTQ+ country, homosexuality is illegal based on both secular and the strict Islamic legal system known as Sharia law that functions in conjunction with the government in the majority Muslim state […]
La Tianguis Sexo Disidente: the radical, queer, Mexican flea market
Every day, in the centre of Mexico City, a flea market takes place. At the market, trans girls and queer folx gather under a railway, selling clothing, art, makeup, zines, accessories, sex toys and more. It’s named La Tianguis Sexo Disidente – which translates as ‘The Market of the Dissident Sex’. But despite the name […]
Tunisia: Activists seek to block anti-gay sportscaster from visiting Europe
The LGBTQ rights group ADHEOS is seeking to block a sportscaster and former Tunisian official from traveling in Europe because of his violently homophobic comments on a Qatari sports channel during the World Cup. ADHEOS said that Tarek Dhiab, a former Tunisian soccer/football star and Tunisian Minister of Youth and Sports, called for the extermination […]
At Istanbul’s Queer Olympix, the aim is for LGBTQ+ athletes to have fun and feel safe
Every summer since 2017, Istanbul has played host to a sporting event known as the “Queer Olympix.” Created by a handful of soccer-loving Turkish queer activists, the annual event — which is not affiliated with the international Gay Games organization, though they have similar goals — includes beach volleyball, dodgeball and soccer. The organizers see […]
These two women travelled to every country in the world but kept one thing secret
Travel brought Rachel Davey and Martina Sebova together. Almost 15 years ago, the two women met on a 49-day overland tour of Europe. Rachel, from Victoria, was an on-road chef for a group of young Australians, and Martina, from Slovakia, was a tour guide. Both were hungry to see the world. “We both seek those […]
28 Republicans Who Call Gay People ‘Groomers’ Just Voted Against a Bill Addressing Child Sex Abuse
For the past year, we’ve been subjected to an endless, escalating right-wing fearmongering campaign presenting LGBTQ adults as innate child sexual predators, or “groomers,” and any children in their vicinity as victims. People are literally throwing molotov cocktails into establishments that host drag events, under the guise of protecting children. The now-feuding Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Lauren […]
Gender self-determination to be granted in Spain, Scotland
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s lower house of Parliament Thursday passed a law that allows people over 16 years of age to change their legally registered gender without any medical supervision. Under the Spanish law, drawn up by the center-left coalition government, minors ages 12 and 13 will need a judge’s authorization to make the change, while […]
LGBT campaigners hail new gender recognition law as MSPs vote for change
The Gender Recognition Reform Bill was voted through the Scottish Parliament on Thursday afternoon after lengthy and often heated debate. Holyrood spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday debating amendments to the Bill late into the night. Scottish Trans, part of the Equality Network charity, said the new law will improve the lives of trans people. Vic […]
Senegal: LGBTI activists sue in France to punish anti-gay group JAMRA
JAMRA has initiated numerous marches and demonstrations in Senegal over the past two years to pressure lawmakers to increase the nation’s criminal penalties for homosexual activity. Under current Senegalese law, people convicted of an “act against nature” with another person of the same gender can be sentenced to one to five years in prison and/or fined. […]
A transgender resource centre now favourite stop for scholars, students in Tamil Nadu
The silence in the hall is broken by the ringtone of a mobile phone. The caller, who is a Ph.D. scholar from Coimbatore engaged in research on the transgender community, wanted to know when she could visit the library. “You are welcome, anytime,” was the reply. The research scholar was enquiring about the Transgender Resource […]
Deputy FM says Avi Maoz’s anti-LGBT sentiment has only boosted support for community
Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll says that the anti-LGBT sentiments espoused by Noam party chief MK Avi Maoz have only boosted support for Israel’s LGBT community. “I want to thank MK Avi Maoz, because due to him and his efforts, the Open House in Jerusalem has already raised NIS 100,000 ($29,000) toward the Jerusalem Pride Parade,” […]
Russian LGBTQ History Museum Closes Because of Anti-Gay Law
An LGBTQ history museum in Russia opened and closed in less than two weeks, in a protest of Russia’s new law banning LGBTQ “propaganda.” Pyotr Voskresensky, the museum’s founder, spent years gathering Russian-made art and books relating to Russia’s LGBTQ subculture, according to euronews. He set up a pop-up exhibit at his home in St. […]
European Union prepares to assist LGBTI rights groups in Cameroon
The coalition of Cameroon’s 34 LGBTI rights organizations has signed a contract with the Delegation of the European Union in Cameroon to improve the groups’ operations and to cooperate in advocacy for human rights reforms. Michel Engama, president of the Unity coalition, proposed the partnership to Philippe Van Damme, the ambassador of the European Union […]
NHS will spend £100,000 on scheme that teaches staff how to be inclusive to pregnant transgender men
Health chiefs are planning on forking out £100,000 on a woke scheme that teaches NHS staff how to treat pregnant transgender men inclusively. It could encourage the use of gender-neutral terms such as ‘chest-feeding’ or ‘expressing milk’ instead of breastfeeding. Other trusts promoting similar inclusivity have automated systems alerting midwives to patients’ preferred pronouns.
Scottish transgender reform looks imminent after marathon Holyrood debate
Transgender 16- and 17-year-olds in Scotland are soon likely to be able to apply to change the sex on their birth certificate for the first time as MSPs debated long into the night the Scottish government’s controversial plans to change gender recognition laws. The marathon session – believed to be the longest ever sitting of […]
EU lawmakers on Slovakia mission point to worrying LGBTQ, Roma situation
An EU Parliament Monitoring Delegation expressed concern over the equal rights situation in Slovakia regarding LGBTQI+ and Roma communities and called on the government to step up its efforts in recognising their rights. The monitoring group for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, led by MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld visited Bratislava on […]
Two faces of Pakistan: The Transgender RIghts Act and its Muslim opponents
Transgender Pakistanis face the complex challenges of life in a homeland with both a strong conservative Muslim society and a groundbreaking transgender rights law. Pakistan, a conservative Muslim society, is trying hard to overcome its inertia and adjust to new norms arising from the needs of global integration – with mixed results.
Exclusive: Biden administration pressed Uganda president on anti-LGBTQ record
During last week’s U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., Biden administration officials pressed Uganda President Yoweri Museveni on his country’s anti-LGBTQ policies, theGrio exclusively reports. An anonymous source with knowledge of the high-level bilateral meeting says the exchange occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 14, between Museveni — a notorious figure who has criminalized homosexuality — and […]
Gay couples in India ask Supreme Court to legalise same-sex marriage
Four gay couples have asked India’s Supreme Court to recognise same-sex marriages, setting the stage for a legal face-off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government which has in the past refused to legalise such marriages. In a historic verdict in 2018, India’s top court decriminalised homosexuality by scrapping a colonial-era ban on gay sex. Despite […]
Maria B announces Khunsa Fund for intersex community
A few days after receiving criticism for her opinion on the film Joyland, renowned designer Maria B established the Khunsa Fund for the empowerment of the intersex population. Julie Khan is the ambassador for the Khunsa Fund, which according to her Instagram post works to empower transgender people in the areas of legal rights, employment, […]
Inclusive Healthcare! In A First, Cloud Clinics Launched For LGBTQIA+ Community In Bengaluru
Borderless.lgbt, the world’s first health and wellness cloud platform devoted to LGBT healthcare, has launched a cloud clinic in Bengaluru, where global experts will work alongside doctors from local community clinics to deliver treatments. After Vietnam, India is now the second country to have this initiative. It would provide a space with clinical competence and […]
Qatar’s Secret Gay Conversion Center Minutes From World Cup Final Stadium
One of Qatar’s secret alleged conversion therapy centers for members of the LGBTQ community is only minutes from where the FIFA World Cup final will be played. Funded by the Qatari government, the Wifaq Family Consulting Center is located in the city of Lusail, just a five minute drive from Lusail Stadium where Argentina will […]
Forgotten victims of Indonesia’s new sex outside marriage ban
Sweeping changes to Indonesia’s laws, which will make sex between unmarried partners illegal, has made headlines around the world. Much of the global bewilderment has been on how that might affect couples visiting tourist hot spots like Bali. But there’s another group who are far more fearful of the new criminal code which has been […]
Veto of Discriminatory Poland Sex Ed Bill Shows Power of Protest
In the last weeks, Polish students and activists regularly gathered in front of Warsaw’s Presidential Palace and across the country to demand respect for their rights. They called on President Andrzej Duda to veto a controversial bill that would further limit access to comprehensive sexuality education and anti-discrimination classes in schools. Despite naysayers, these protests […]
Local Canberra history tour uncovering the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community in the nation’s capital
Once the location of Canberra’s first publicly-organised LGBTQIA+ event in the ACT, today Glebe Park, located in the heart of the city, acts as a meeting place for Lucy Dingwall and Sita Sargeant, two queer women waiting patiently to begin their walking tour. As a number of tour participants arrive, Lucy announces to the group: […]
Court upholds Connecticut’s transgender athlete policy
A federal appeals court on Friday dismissed a challenge to Connecticut’s policy of allowing transgender girls to compete in girls high school sports, rejecting arguments by four cisgender runners who said they were unfairly forced to race against transgender athletes. A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City […]
UN human rights expert backs Scottish government’s vital gender law reforms
One of the UN’s leading voices on gender identity and LGBTQ+ rights has endorsed Scotland’s Gender Recognition Act reforms, which will be voted on next week. Victor Madrigal-Borloz, a UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, said: “Legal recognition of gender identity is a human right and self-identification is the appropriate standard for […]