Egypt: Court says gay bathhouse report “in the public interest”

An Egyptian court has explained why it acquitted disgraced journalist Mona Iraqi of spreading false claims about 26 men arrested at an alleged gay bathhouse. Iraqi was slammed for targeting the gay community by broadcasting images of the humiliated near-naked men being herded into police trucks following a December 2014 raid on the Cairo bathhouse. […]

Portugal’s Parliament overturns president’s gay adoption veto

An attempt to stall same-sex couple adoption by Portugal’s outgoing president has been thwarted by the country’s parliament. On Wednesday, a majority of lawmakers voted (137 votes to 73) to overturn President Cavaco Silva’s veto of a bill allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt children jointly. The legislation was approved by parliament in November […]

Moving with the times! Mrs SA pageant open to married lesbians

Despite initial concerns, the annual Mrs South Africa pageant has confirmed that it does indeed accept married lesbian women as contestants. Running since 2006, the event is dubbed “the number one pageant for married women in South Africa”, and states on its website that it is also a “women empowering program”. Mambaonline was contacted by […]

Confusion in Malawi as court orders gay arrests to continue

Malawi media is reporting that a court has overturned the government’s moratorium on the country’s criminalisation of homosexuality. According to Nyasa Times, the High Court in Mzuzu on Monday “ordered the Malawi police service and the director of public prosecutions to continue arresting and prosecuting gays and lesbians who commit homosexual offences in Malawi.” The […]

Still no arrests in Vaal lesbian murder

Despite earlier reports, there have been no arrests in last year’s horror murder of Gauteng lesbian Motshidisi Pascalini Melamu. Melamu, 21, was murdered, mutilated and set on fire in Evaton North on 16 December after she left her home to go to a party with friends. It is believed she was also raped. Last month, we […]