Anger as LGBTQ rights ignored by Commonwealth leaders
Protesters have condemned Commonwealth leaders for refusing to discuss the persecution of LGBTQ people who live in Commonwealth countries where being gay is a crime. On Thursday, around over 120 LGBTQ rights defenders protested outside Marlborough House, the Commonwealth HQ in London, where Commonwealth heads of state gathered for their biennial summit. The activists demanded […]
Study links religious faith to suicide among LGBQ youth
A distressing study has shown that LGBQ youth who have strong religious beliefs may be more prone to suicide. The research, published in the the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, aimed to asses the links between the importance of religion and suicidal thoughts and attempts among young LGBQ people. The researchers used information collated by […]
LGBT voices from Middle East and North Africa speak out
LGBT activists from Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and North Africa are defying state-sponsored repression and social stigma by speaking out about their experiences. The Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFE) and Human Rights Watch have released a series of videos in which Arabic-speaking LGBT activists describe their journeys of self-acceptance. The clips […]
Swaziland | Parents demand removal of LGBTI teacher
A teacher who has been described as “lesbian” has become the subject of parents’ bigotry in Swaziland. The Times of Swaziland recently reported that the unnamed individual caused a furore in the Shiselweni Region when they changed their gender appearance. The newspaper said that the “female teacher” started “dressing like a man and wanting to […]
Historic! Theresa May regrets Commonwealth anti-gay laws
In a landmark speech, Prime Minister Theresa May has admitted that Britain was wrong for exporting anti-LGBT laws to Commonwealth countries. Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on Tuesday, May addressed calls by LGBT activists to apologise for Britain’s role in the criminalisation of homosexuality in its former colonies. “As […]
China | Popular social media site reverses gay ban
Weibo, one of China’s largest social media sites, has reversed the controversial decision to remove all LGBTQ content from its platform. The microblogging site was launched in 2009 and has over 392 million monthly active users. It is estimated to be worth more that US$30 billion. Last week, the company announced it would be removing material […]
Homophobia behind Black Panther actor’s gay adult film scandal
Zambian actor Patrick Shumba Mutukwa, who appeared in the hit Marvel movie Black Panther, is embroiled in a gay adult film scandal. Mutukwa, who is now based in the US, was hailed in Zambia as a national hero for his role in the groundbreaking Hollywood blockbuster as a border tribe warrior. He also worked as a dialect […]
LGBTQ Trinidadians under fire after court victory
LGBTQ people in Trinidad and Tobago are facing a backlash after the country’s High Court ruled last week that criminalising gay people is unconstitutional. Local media reported that three young gay men who took part in the post-ruling celebration outside the court, which was shown around the world, have now been targeted and made homeless. One […]
One year later, no justice for victims of Chechnya’s gay purge
Activists say that a year after reports emerged of a deadly crackdown on gay men in Chechnya, no action has been taken against the perpetrators. At a press conference on 3 April in Moscow, the co-founder of the Russian LGBT Network, Igor Kochetkov, and Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina presented an update on the ‘gay […]
LGBTQ activist sets himself on fire in deadly protest
David Buckel, a prominent American LGBTQ and environmental attorney and activist, has died after setting himself on fire in New York. According to reports, his charred body was discovered by passersby in a park in Brooklyn. It appears he took his own life to protest the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. A note […]