India’s Supreme Court rejects latest bid to repeal gay sex ban
In another blow to India’s LGBT community, the country’s Supreme Court has refused to hear a new petition to end the ban on gay sex. The petition was filed by five well known LGBT Indians: journalist Sunil Mehra, dancer N.S. Johar, chef Ritu Dalmia, hotelier Aman Nath and business executive Ayesha Kapur. They asked that the […]
Chinese fans and government turn on Lady Gaga
There are reports that the Chinese government has banned Lady Gaga after she shared pictures of a meeting with the Dalai Lama. The star, who self-identifies as bisexual, met the Tibetan Buddhist leader for a panel discussion on kindness at a conference in Indianapolis on Sunday. She posted photos on Instagram of the meeting, with […]
South Africa should keep standing up against violence against LGBT persons – at home and abroad
As the spotlight falls on the adoption of South Africa’s landmark Constitution, 20 years ago this year, one of its striking features — the inclusion of the first-ever constitutional guarantee of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation — is also under global scrutiny. The scene is set at the current session of the United Nations (UN) […]
1.26 million Gautengers approve of violence against gays & lesbians
Levels of homophobia are on the rise in Gauteng, with a shocking spike in the number of people who support anti-gay violence and discrimination. According to the latest Gauteng City-Region Observatory Quality of Life Survey, an astonishing 14% of the province’s citizens say it is acceptable to be violent to gay and lesbian people. This […]
Pakistani transgender marriage fatwa welcomed
Transgender activists in Pakistan have welcomed a religious ruling allowing transgender people to marry someone of the opposite sex. The fatwa was issued by 50 Islamic clerics and was a largely positive call to respect transgender people. The ruling said that a transgender individual with “visible signs of being a male” can marry a woman […]