Malaysian Authorities Raid LGBT Halloween Party

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Islamic religious officers broke up a large Halloween party attended by the LGBT community and arrested 20 people for cross-dressing and allegedly encouraging vice, activists said Sunday. Activist Numan Afifi who was among those arrested at the event in Kuala Lumpur late Saturday described the raid as “traumatizing and harrowing.” “About 40 religious officers […]

Thousands attend LGBTQ Pride marches in South Africa and Taiwan

Some 3,000 people participated in South Africa’s LGBTQ Pride Parade on Saturday, the country’s first after celebrations were cancelled for two consecutive years due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, officials in the US had warned of a possible terror attack in Johannesburg’s Sandton district, an upmarket suburb in the capital. Despite the warning, the festivities went ahead under […]

Taiwan holds first LGBTQ Pride march in two years

The festivity was back in full swing on Saturday as marchers donned eye-catching costumes and draped themselves in rainbow flags. Tens of thousands braved downpours in Taiwan on Saturday to celebrate as the island staged its first LGBTQ Pride rally since fully reopening its border. Taiwan is at the vanguard of the burgeoning LGBTQ rights […]

Nearly half of Japan’s LGBTQ teens have considered suicide: survey

Out of Japan’s LGBTQ teens, 48.1% thought about committing suicide over the past year and 14% made an attempt, according to a recent survey by a nonprofit organization. Both proportions were higher than those for LGBTQ people in their 20s to 30s in the same survey said the Tokyo NPO, ReBit. “LGBTQ people need stress-free […]

Johannesburg LGBT+ Pride marches on despite U.S. terrorism warning

Thousands of people took part in Johannesburg’s first LGBT+ Pride march since the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday despite U.S. warnings of a possible terrorist attack in the area. Marchers sang, cheered and waved flags in Pride colours amid a heavy police presence. The event went ahead without any disturbances. On Wednesday, the U.S. government said […]

Brazil’s LGBTQ+ community fears Bolsonaro re-election

LGBTQ+ Brazilians fear that a win for incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro in Sunday’s runoff election could lead to a rollback of their rights. The vote in South America’s largest country pits the far-right populist Bolsonaro against leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, who governed Brazil from 2003-2010. The latest polls show Lula is […]

Penalized pastor vows to continue his fight for LGBT people

Rev. Lee Dong-hwan’s fight to reverse the decision by the Korean Methodist Church to suspend him for two years for blessing LGBT people in 2019 came to an end last week. The church upheld its earlier decision on the grounds that Lee’s action violated the teachings of the church. “It is disappointing to be honest, […]

A Thai media mogul and transgender activist has bought the Miss Universe competition

A Thai business tycoon and transgender activist has purchased the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, her company announced Wednesday. Chakrapong “Anne” Chakrajutathib, who controls JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., is a celebrity in Thailand who has starred in reality shows and is outspoken about being a transgender woman. She helped establish a nonprofit […]

Republican Governor Wants a Statewide Ban on Gay Marriage

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said at a debate on Wednesday night that he would enforce a state ban on same-sex marriage if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn its own 2015 ruling legalizing the practice nationwide. Participating in a debate, hosted by South Carolina Educational Television and the Charleston-based newspaper The Post and […]

UN expresses deep concern over Russia’s ‘LGBTQ propaganda’ law

The United Nations said on Friday that it was “deeply concerened” by moves of Russian legislature to toughen up the notorious ‘LGBTQ propaganda’ law. The UN has urged Russian lawmakers to repeal the legislation. On Thursday, lower house of the Russian parliament (the Duma) voted to strengthen the law.

Vatican’s Latest Synod Document Recognizes LGBTQ+ People as Pressing Pastoral Issue

The Vatican released the latest working document for the Synod on Synodality yesterday, which included LGBTQ+ issues at two points. The document is a signal for LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies to keep participating in the synodal process. The 56-page working document, “Enlarge the space of your tent (Is 54:2),” is the culmination of the Synod’s first, […]

Russia moves to ban ‘LGBT propaganda’ among all ages

Russian lawmakers backed a bill on Thursday that would expand an existing ban on the promotion of “LGBT propaganda” among children to include people of all ages, a move critics see as an attempt to further intimidate and oppress sexual minorities. Authorities have already used existing laws to stop gay pride marches and detain gay […]

Gay couples in Cuba marry under new law

SANTA CLARA, Cuba — Serious, standing upright and dressed in long gala dresses — despite the midday Cuban heat — Lisset and Liusba quietly walk up the ten steps of the notary office, their hands clenched and shaking. Less than a few feet ahead walk their two young daughters. Nearly an hour later, when they walked out […]

Thousands rally in Prague to honor two slain Slovak gay men

PRAGUE —  Thousands rallied in the Czech capital Wednesday to honor two Slovak gay men shot dead this month outside a bar in Slovakia, and demanded better protection of LGBTQ people and their families. The gathering in Prague’s central Wenceslas Square was held the same day the funerals of Matúš Horváth and Juraj Vankulič were conducted in Slovakia.  […]

Where does Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stand on LGBTQ issues?

Conservative party leader and former treasury minister Rishi Sunak has become Britain’s first prime minister (PM) of color, following the 49-day tenure of former PM Liz Truss. Conservatives have helped secure vital LGBTQ rights in the country, including marriage equality, the pardoning of gay sex convictions, LGBTQ-inclusive sex education, and eased blood donation restrictions for […]

Gender: X – Proud owner of Chile’s first non-binary ID card

Shane Cienfuegos, the first non-binary person to receive a gender-neutral identity document in Chile, says they feel a “great weight” of responsibility despite their victory over centuries of discrimination. “It is difficult to be the first,” the 29-year-old told AFP 10 days after receiving their new ID from a civil registry in Santiago. In the […]

Qatar’s emir lashes out at criticism ahead of FIFA World Cup

Qatar’s ruling emir on Tuesday lashed out at criticism of his country over its hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, describing it as an “unprecedented campaign” targeting the first Arab nation to hold the tournament. Since winning hosting rights for the World Cup over a decade ago, Qatar has faced scrutiny and criticism for […]

Judge Dismisses Second Challenge to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Law

A federal judge has dismissed a second lawsuit challenging Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education” law, also dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law for its restrictions on speech related to LGBTQ issues. U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger, of the Middle District of Florida, a Trump appointee, dismissed a lawsuit brought by LGBTQ students, parents and their […]

LGBT football fans fight for safe space in Brazil stadiums

Wearing a rainbow T-shirt and earrings, Ona Ruda struts confidently through the Arena Fonte Nova football stadium, home to his beloved Bahia team and one of Brazil’s LGBT fan bases. However, his cool demeanour is not the norm for football fans who dare to display their homosexuality in Brazilian stadiums. Ruda, a dark-haired, bearded man […]

Pakistan’s Transgender Act & its opponents

Eunuchs, or “Khawaja Sira” as they were known, were the most dependable royal aides during the Mughal Empire. They commanded a great deal of respect and had even amassed considerable money in certain cases. They were mostly employed as harem stewards, while some became army generals, royal professors, and court consultants. Their power diminished with […]

Qatar: Security Forces Arrest, Abuse LGBT People

Qatar Preventive Security Department forces have arbitrarily arrested lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and subjected them to ill-treatment in detention, Human Rights Watch said today. LGBT people interviewed said that their mistreatment took place as recently as September 2022, as Qatar prepared to host the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in November and […]

Nearly half of LGBTQ teens in Japan thought about suicide in past year: survey

TOKYO — Many sexual minorities in Japan are experiencing mental suffering, with nearly half of LGBTQ children and young people having thought about suicide in the past year, a recent survey has revealed. The survey conducted by Tokyo-based authorized nonprofit organization ReBit also found that one in seven LGBTQ youths aged between 12 and 19 actually […]

Dance show in Mexico highlights sexual diversity

Guadalajara, Mexico, Oct 22 (EFE).- LGBTQ dance company Mexico de Colores presented a show in the Mexican city of Guadalajara on Saturday to highlight discrimination, transphobia and pride in sexual identity. A total of 17 dancers gave life to 13 dance pieces combining traditional dance styles and cabaret with Mexican mischievousness, black humor and a message […]

COUNCILLOR EQUATES LGBT PRIDE FLAG TO NAZI FLAG

The discussion to fly the LGBTQI rainbow Pride flag over a Victorian regional shire headquarters turned ugly recently when a  councillor compared it to a Nazi symbol. The Gannawarra Shire Council up in northern Victoria was one of eight local councils that was yet to respond to a petition by Victorian Pride Lobby as to […]

Gunmen kill transgender woman activist in Honduras for supporting LGBTQ

A transgender woman activist who openly supported the LGBTQ community in Honduras has been killed by unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle on Thursday in the town of Morocelí, in the eastern province of El Paraíso. The police say she had dropped some friends off and was leaving their house, talking on a cellphone, when she […]

Dutch Christian Union ready to give seats to people in gay relationship

The board of the Dutch political party Christian Union drops the notion that sexuality belongs to the marriage of a man and a woman. The party has put a homosexual with a relation in an eligible position on the list for the Senate. The CU’s core values contains a footnote from 2008, saying that the […]

Slovakia votes against more rights for LGBT couples

The Slovakian Parliament has decided to keep registration of relationships exclusively for one man and one woman only. On Wednesday, it voted against a proposal that would grant same-sex couples inheritance rights and the right to access medical records, the so-called cohabitation partnership. If the proposal had been passed, same-sex couples could register their partnership […]