Tunisia will end forced anal exams but won’t stop arresting gay men
Activists have welcomed a commitment by Tunisia to stop carrying out forced anal exams for “evidence” of homosexual conduct. The country finally agreed to longstanding calls to do so at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday. “These exams can no longer be imposed by force, physical or moral, or without the consent of […]
Seven arrested in Cairo for waving rainbow flag at concert
A concert by a gay affirming rock band in Cairo has led to seven people being arrested for waving a rainbow flag and the group barred from playing again in Egypt. The incident took place at the Music Park Festival on Friday which was attended by thousands of people. At one point, two rainbow flags […]
Bloem photographer crowned Mr Gay World Southern Africa 2017
Juan Pinnick, a 23-year-old photographer from Bloemfontein, walked away with the 2017 Mr Gay World Southern Africa crown in Pretoria last night. Pinnick, who also won Mr Gay Mardi Gras at the Pink Loerie Festival earlier this year, beat out 11 other finalists to earn the highest score in the competition. The finalists’ audited scores […]
Lesbian called “abomination” before being raped by ex-boyfriend
A man has allegedly raped his lesbian ex-girlfriend in Pretoria in an incident being described as a case of “corrective rape”. The Citizen reports that the 24-year-old woman was allegedly raped by her former male partner, a 25-year-old man from the Central African Republic. According to Police spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela, the woman and her […]
Life with HIV for 34 years I The remarkable David Ross Patient dies
David Ross Patient, one of the longest-infected HIV survivors and activists in South Africa and a member of the LGBT community, has passed away. On Friday, Patient’s partner Neil Orr announced on Facebook: “I regret to inform you that David Patient left us at 10:30pm on the 22nd September 2017. He developed pneumonia after surgery, […]
Australia | Marriage equality campaigners condemn attack against former prime minister
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is lobbying against marriage equality, says he was violently attacked by a supporter of same-sex marriage. Abbott claims that he was approached by a man wearing a “Yes” campaign badge in the street in the city of Hobart, who asked to shake his hand. “I went over to […]
It’s Bisexual Awareness Week | Celebrating our bi community
The bisexual community is often the most forgotten element of the LGBTQ acronym. That’s why it’s time to remember and support our bi+ brothers and sisters. Now in its fourth year, BiWeek (Bisexual+ Awareness Week) runs from Sunday, 17 September till Sunday, 24 September, while Bisexuality+ Day is celebrated on 23 September. Created in the […]
The Mr Gay World Southern Africa 2017 boys are in town! (Exclusive pics)
The 12 sexy finalists in the Mr Gay World Southern Africa (MRGWSA) 2017 contest have arrived in Gauteng from across the country. They gathered in Pretoria over the weekend to start a jam-packed week of pre-judging and trips around the province to places such as Rustenburg and Sun City. It’s not just an opportunity for […]
Australia’s biggest sport comes out in support of same-sex-marriage
Marriage equality in Australia has been given a huge boost after the Australian Football League (AFL) expressed its backing for the “Yes” campaign. The country is in the midst of a controversial postal survey on whether or not to change the law to allow same-sex marriage. On Wednesday, the AFL made its position on the matter clear […]
Brazil | Outrage as judge rules that ‘gay cure’ conversion therapy is allowed
LGBTQ activists in Brazil are in shock after a federal judge ruled that homosexuality may be seen as a disease that can be treated. Last week, Judge Waldemar Claudio de Carvalho effectively overturned Brazil’s Federal Council of Psychology’s 1999 ban on mental health professionals offering so called “conversion therapy”. The council’s restriction, known as Resolution 01/99, […]