US Supreme court sends back anti-gay florist case
In the wake of its recent ruling in favour of a homophobic baker, the US Supreme Court has declined to look at a case concerning a florist who also refused to serve a same-sex couple. In 2013, Curt Freed and Robert Ingersoll were denied service by the flower shop, Arlene’s Flowers, while planning their wedding, […]
Hong Kong follows Gay Games bid win with hosting rights for Mr Gay World 2019
In an official statement, Mr Gay World™ has announced that Hong Kong has been chosen to host the 2019 contest. The news was first revealed at the recent Mr Gay World 2018 grand finale in Knysna, South Africa, but was formally confirmed on Friday by the event’s executive committee. The awarding of the hosting rights to […]
Zimbabwe | New hope as ruling party meets with LGBTI community
In a move described as an “important shift”, top officials from Zimbabwe’s governing party have met with activists about the rights of LGBTI people. The meeting came about after GALZ, the country’s leading LGBTI group, reached out to political parties ahead of the upcoming 30 July elections. Among the questions asked by the organisation were […]
Ethiopia’s former Mr Gay World contestant on being an LGBTIQ asylum seeker
Robel Hailu, the man who represented Ethiopia in the Mr Gay World contest in Johannesburg in 2012, has spoken out in a video about his struggles as an LGBTIQ asylum seeker. Without any formal backing from his country, Hailu that year became one of the first two black African men to take part in the […]
DA says ACDP’s sentiments threaten to incite anti-gay violence
The DA in the Western Cape says that the ACDP’s support for anti-gay comments made by the mayor of George is a violation of the party’s “moral obligation to create a tolerant post-apartheid South African society.” Last week, Mayor Melvin Naik – who is himself from the DA – went on to local Christian radio […]
Grahamstown teen launches youth inclusivity campaign after anti-gay sermon
A Grahamstown teenager has created an empowerment campaign to raise funds for his Equality Court case against a preacher who told school pupils that homosexuality is wrong. In April, 17-year-old Geir Wilson, a matric pupil at St. Andrew’s College, spoke out after Theuns Pauw, from the African Enterprise international ministry, addressed pupils on “the trappings […]
Eye candy | The underwear matador
Olé! Male underwear label Modus Vivendi has launched its new Polkadot line with a stunning matador-themed photoshoot. Photographer Joan Crisol took these powerful images of striking model Antonio Miranda in Madrid (where else?) to promote the range. The Modus Vivendi Polkadot line comprises briefs, low cut briefs, boxers, bottomless and tanktops, in yellow, red and […]
The economic cost of homophobia to anti-LGBTQ nations
A new report has revealed that the more than 70 countries that criminalise homosexuality suffer significant economic disadvantages as a result, thereby hampering their development and prosperity. These costs include lost tourism revenue, lost inward foreign aid and investment and lost talent and skills as LGBT+ people flee abroad. The human rights abuses meted out […]
“They hate God”: Cape Town’s anti-gay pastor at it again
It appears that Cape Town hate pastor Oscar Bougardt cannot stop himself from continuing to attack the LGBTQ community, despite the threat of jail. In May, the preacher was again found guilty of making comments that are “discriminatory or incite hatred or harm on the grounds of sexual orientation.” This was in connection with his violating a […]
US pulls out of UN Human Rights Council
Accusing it of being a hypocritical “protector of human rights abusers,” the US has withdrawn from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). On Tuesday, Nikki Haley, the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, made the announcement in a scathing press conference in Washington, DC. “For too long, the Human Rights Council has been a […]