Are South African gays among the world’s happiest?
An online survey has found that South African gays live pretty happy lives, relative to most of the rest of the world. The claim stems from a massive global “gay happiness” survey of 115,000 gay men by the Planet Romeo dating site, in collaboration with Germany’s Johannes Gutenberg University. In the index, South Africa rates […]
Vatican slams Ireland’s gay marriage vote
The Vatican says that Ireland’s overwhelming vote to legalise same-sex marriage last week is a “defeat for humanity.” On Tuesday, a senior Vatican official, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, spoke out against the outcome of the predominately Catholic country’s referendum at a press conference in Rome, reported The Guardian. Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and described […]
Limpopo Pride 2015 a two day event
The fourth annual Limpopo Pride is set to be a two day event, taking place in Polokwane on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 June. Organisers earlier this month postponed the original May 9 event to ensure the safety of participants and to rally more support from civil society and government. The two day event will […]
Justice served! Killer gets two life sentences for horror lesbian murder
Activists have welcomed the two life terms handed out to the man who brutally murdered Disebo Gift Makau, an openly lesbian woman, in August last year. The Potchefstroom High Court last week sentenced Stoffel Pule Motlhokwane to life in prison for rape, life for murder, and 15 years for robbery. Motlhokwane was found guilty of raping […]
UK dance shoe company backs same-sex ballroom dancing
When you think of ballroom dancing you think of sparkles and glitterballs, and you also probably envisage a man twirling his female partner around the dance floor. Now, a world famous dance shoe company has decided to change the traditional image of ballroom dancing. It’s time, they say, for Fred and Ginger to step aside […]
Changing lives for 21 years
OUT, the Pretoria-based health and well-being non-profit organisation serving the LGBT community, is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. One of the longest-running LGBT groups in the country OUT was launched on the cusp of the new South Africa. Initially a loose network of individuals who wanted to make a difference, it’s become a respected […]
Three jailed for having gay sex in Morocco
Three Moroccan men have each been jailed for three years after being found “guilty” of homosexuality. The Moroccan Association of Human Rights told AFP that two of victims, a 40-year-old mechanic and a 20-something man, had been discovered having sex in the mechanic’s workshop, in the city of Taourirt. After they were arrested, they told […]
Newly crowned Miss Gay Jozi to champion LGBT youth
The annual Miss Gay Jozi pageant crowned its 2015 queen on Saturday night; a 27-year-old model from Midrand. Ycer Machimana took home the title in a glittering event filled with glamorous drag performances and plenty of diva sparkle at the Wits Theatre in Johannesburg. Originally from Tzaneen, she beat out stiff competition, including the likes […]
Ireland: Marriage equality vote based on a “whim”
Human Rights Watch has welcomed Ireland voting to legalise same-sex marriage but warned that a referendum is not the ideal way to do so. On Friday, 62% of voters said “yes” to same-sex marriage, making Ireland the first nation to put the issue to a public vote. Other countries have decided on marriage equality through […]
Singer accused of being homophobic wins Eurovision
Sweden’s Måns Zelmerlöw spoke out for the gay community after winning the Eurovision Song Contest, despite claims he’d made homophobic comments in the past. The 28-year-old’s upbeat winning entry Heroes beat out songs from 26 other countries in a glitzy spectacular in Vienna on Saturday night. The handsome singer caused controversy in 2014 when he […]