World Bank halts new lending to Uganda over anti-LGBTQ law
WASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) – The World Bank said on Tuesday it would halt new lending to the Ugandan government after concluding that its anti-LGBTQ law, which has been condemned by many countries and the United Nations, contradicts the bank’s values. In response, the East African country dismissed the move as unjust and hypocritical. A World […]
Owners of ‘LGBT’ Swatch watches could be jailed for three years in Malaysia
Owners or sellers of rainbow-coloured timepieces made by the Swiss watchmaker Swatch face three years in prison in Malaysia, the interior ministry has said, as the Muslim-majority country rails against LGBTQ+ symbols it says could “harm morals”. Homosexuality is outlawed in Malaysia and LGBTQ+ people face discrimination. Malaysia’s law enforcement unit at the interior ministry raided Swatch stores at 11 […]
Lebanon moves to ban ‘Barbie’ film for ‘promoting homosexuality’
BEIRUT, Aug 9 (Reuters) – Lebanon’s culture minister moved to ban the film “Barbie” from cinemas on Wednesday, saying it “promotes homosexuality” and contradicts religious values. Minister Mohammad Mortada is backed by powerful Shi’ite armed group Hezbollah, whose head Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has ramped up his rhetoric against the LGBT community, referring in a recent speech […]
Germany receives 178 compensation applications from gay servicepeople over discrimination
BERLIN (AP) — The German defense ministry said Tuesday that it has received 178 applications for compensation from gay servicepeople who experienced discrimination in the military in the past. The ministry said in a statement that it had expected more applications, but that nonetheless “the goals of the law were achieved.” A law rehabilitating gay soldiers who […]
World Bank values violated by Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ law
The World Bank has said that Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ law, which has been condemned by many countries and the United Nations, contradicts the bank’s values. A World Bank team traveled to Uganda immediately after the law was enacted to review the multilateral development bank’s portfolio. That review determined that additional measures were needed to ensure projects […]
LGBT Criticisms As Biden Admin Asked To Step In
FIRST ON FOX– House Republicans want the Biden administration to step in to help two Finnish officials who are “stand[ing] trial for simply being Christians,” and echoing biblical views on marriage and sexuality. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and 11 of his GOP colleagues issued a scathing letter calling for action against a “rogue prosecutor” who has […]
Iraq bans media from using term ‘homosexuality’, says they must use ‘sexual deviance’
Iraq’s official media regulator on Tuesday ordered all media and social media companies operating in the Arab state not to use the term “homosexuality” and instead to say “sexual deviance,” the regulator said. The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) said in a statement that the use of the term “gender” was also banned. It […]
‘You learn to hide your identity’: being queer in the Armenian army
While military service is mandatory in Armenia, the prospect comes with many dangers for queer Armenians. Faced with a system that labels them mentally ill while both denying and mocking their existence, there appears to be no easy way through. For Artak Adam, the threat of military service loomed heavy as they approached their 18th […]
World Bank says Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ law violates its values
The World Bank said on Tuesday it would halt new lending to the Ugandan government after concluding that its anti-LGBTQ law, which has been condemned by many countries and the United Nations, contradicts the bank’s values. In response, the East African country dismissed the move as unjust and hypocritical. A World Bank team traveled to […]
178 gay German soldiers apply for compensation over past discrimination
The German defense ministry said Tuesday that it has received 178 applications for compensation from gay servicepeople who experienced discrimination in the military in the past. The ministry said in a statement that it had expected more applications, but that nonetheless “the goals of the law were achieved.” A law rehabilitating gay soldiers who suffered […]
SNP’s LGBT rights record blasted by gay MP who says the Nats have ‘set back’ progress
The SNP has “set back” gay rights with its gender reforms and “toxic” debate, claims an openly gay MP who called the Scottish party out on stage at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival. Labour MP Wes Streeting, who also labelled Stephen Flynn a “career politician”, had a few words to say about the issue dividing politics and […]
The Double-Edged Sword: Hypocrisy or Homophobia?
In recent days, videos of sexual relations allegedly involving a number of male officials of the Islamic Republic made the news. Reza Saghati, the dismissed director-general of Culture and Islamic Guidance in northern Gilan province and Hojatolislam Mahdi Haghshenas, former deputy of the Headquarters for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in […]
In Latest LGBTQ Crackdown, China Bans Rainbow Attire at Pop Concert
eijing concert-goers say they were prevented from displaying rainbow imagery at a pop singer’s performance on Saturday, in a sign of increasing tightening on LGBTQ expression in China. Fans attending a concert by Taiwanese singer Chang Hui-mei — better known by her stage name A-Mei — say they were prevented from wearing shirts with rainbows […]
FDA policy allowing more gay and bisexual men to donate blood goes into effect
In a victory for LGBTQ rights, a broad swath of the U.S. population of gay and bisexual men Monday became newly able donate blood, thanks to the American Red Cross’ implementation of a landmark recent change in Food and Drug Administration policy. The policy, which the FDA put on the books in May, newly permits […]
Portrush Pride: First rally a monumental moment, say organisers
Organisers of Portrush’s first Pride rally said they were delighted with the “monumental moment”. The hometown of gay rights campaigner Mark Ashton hosted the rally on Saturday afternoon. Mark Ashton grew up the County Antrim town before moving to London in 1978 and was a leading figure in the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners […]
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 […]
Milan to resume registering children from male couples
MILAN, Aug 3 (Reuters) – The city of Milan will resume registering children born abroad from male couples, its mayor said on Thursday, after challenging curbs imposed by the right-wing national government. The government took action in January to stop local authorities from registering the children of same-sex parents, in a move that has sparked protests from […]
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 […]