Report: Temple butt-baring gay couple to be released
It appears that the gay American couple who posed for selfies with their pants down at a temple in Thailand will not be jailed after all. According to San Diego Gay and Lesbian News (SDGLN), Travis and Joseph Dasilva will be heading back to the US when they are released shortly. The site reports that […]
Fear and panic as police shut down Uganda’s only LGBTIQ film festival
Police in Uganda have illegally raided and shut down the second annual edition of the Queer Kampala International Film Festival (QueerKIFF) on the weekend. The three-day event, which first took place last year, is the only LGBTIQ film festival in the country, where it is illegal to be gay. It aims to celebrate the diversity of […]
A promise to God? Top wedding photographer refuses to cover gay wedding
Two Cape Town men have been left humiliated after a leading wedding photographer cancelled their booking when he discovered they are a gay couple. In May, event planner Frikkie van Zyl contacted Nelis Engelbrecht to photograph his March 2018 wedding in Ladismith to partner of ten years, Davide. Engelbrecht is an award-winning photographer and belongs […]
After being fired, director Bryan Singer accused of raping teen boy
Bryan Singer, who was fired as director of the Queen movie, has – alongside Kevin Spacey – become the second major openly LGBT public figure to be implicated in Hollywood’s growing sexual abuse scandal. It’s been reported that Singer, who identifies as bisexual, is being sued by Cesar Sanchez-Guzman, who claims he was raped at […]
Jubilation as Australia’s Parliament legalises same-sex marriage
In a historic landslide vote, Australia’s Parliament has passed a marriage equality bill to finally legalise lesbian and gay marriages. In an almost unanimous vote on Thursday, only four MPs rejected the bill to define marriage as a union between two people, regardless of their sex. There was an air of palpable excitement and anticipation in parliament […]
Russia bans naked rowers’ anti-homophobia calendar
A charity calendar featuring naked rowers from England’s Warwick University Rowing Club has reportedly been banned by Russia. Sales of the annual homoerotic calendar, and associated videos and merchandise, help keep the club afloat and go towards Sports Allies, an organisation that combats homophobia in sport. According to the calendar’s creators, Russian customs officials recently blocked […]
Costa-Rican legal expert appointed as new UN LGBTI watchdog
Victor Madrigal-Borloz, a Costa-Rican jurist, is the new UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. His appointment follows the shock resignation in September of Vitit Muntarbhorn, the first-ever person to hold the position, due to poor health. Madrigal-Borloz currently serves as the Secretary-General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, and spent […]
License to discriminate? US Supreme Court hears gay wedding cake case
The US Supreme Court is considering whether or not a baker is allowed to refuse to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, in a case that could have major implications for LGBTQ Americans. The matter involves Jack Phillips, owner of Colorado’s Masterpiece Cakeshop, who in 2012 refused to make a wedding cake for a […]
“Sweet closure” as Botswana finally agrees to recognise trans man
The government of Botswana had agreed to abide by a historic court ruling ordering it to acknowledge a transgender man’s gender identity. According to the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), the national registrar confirmed that it will supply the man, identified as ND, with a new identity document that reflects his male gender identity on […]
Queen movie in crisis as director Bryan Singer is fired
Bryan Singer, the director of the long anticipated movie about iconic rock band Queen and singer Freddie Mercury, has left the production midway amid a flurry of rumours. It was earlier reported that filming had been suspended because Singer had to deal with a personal issue, but it’s now been confirmed that he has been dumped, […]