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 […]
So why do LGBT tourists like to visit Cape Town?
An online survey aims to find out more about LGBT travellers to Cape Town, seen as one of the world’s gay tourism capitals. Created by Capetonian Chris Hattingh as part of his PhD, the survey is being run in collaboration with Cape Town Tourism. Targeting both local and international LGBT tourists, it is set to […]
Will South Africa vote for LGBTI expert at the UN?
South Africa has been urged to vote in favour of creating a UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. A resolution to create the position has been tabled by six Latin American countries at the current session of the UN Human Rights Council. According to activists, the expert would help address human rights […]
Bermuda votes no in same-sex marriage referendum
A slim majority of people in Bermuda have voted against legalising both same-sex unions and marriages in a referendum. The Royal Gazette reported that 51% of those who voted in Thursday’s poll said no to the two questions on the ballot: “Are you in favour of same-sex marriage?” and “are you in favour of civil […]
Jerusalem gay Pride killer jailed for life
The religious extremist who killed a young woman during last year’s Jerusalem Pride parade has been sentenced to life in prison. Yishai Shlissel, an ultra-Orthodox Jew, ran amok through the July 2015 parade, stabbing participants with a 15 cm-long kitchen knife. One of his victims, 16-year-old LGBT-ally Shira Banki, succumbed to her injuries in hospital and […]
Hillary Clinton marches in New York City Pride Parade
America’s possible next president surprised New Yorkers on Sunday by joining them in the city’s 46th LGBT Pride parade. Hillary Clinton, the presumptive presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, walked a portion of the route along with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Reverend Al Sharpton. She […]
Watch: Gay policeman proposes during London Pride parade
A video of a policeman asking his boyfriend for his hand in marriage during London’s Pride Parade has melted hearts around world. The clip shows a group of police officers walking in Saturday’s parade, when they stop and turn towards the cheering crowd. Then, one of the officers breaks rank and walks up to his […]
US to end transgender military ban
Almost five years after the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the US military will end its ban on transgender personnel. According to reports, the US Department of Defence (DoD) will finally announce an end to the discriminatory policy on 1 July. “At long last, thousands of brave transgender patriots will be able to serve our […]
Pope Francis says Christians must apologise to gay people
Pope Francis says that the Catholic Church and Christians in general should express their regret for what they have done to gay people. The pontiff made the remark on a flight back to Rome from Armenia on Sunday, in response to a question from a reporter. The journalist asked if Francis believed that in the […]