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 […]
Editorial | Take responsibility for your homophobia, Israel Folau
Aussie rugby star Israel Folau believes that stating that gay people are going to hell is not in the least bit homophobic. He’s dead wrong. The 29-year-old Wallabies star sparked controversy recently when he said on Instagram that gay people would go to hell, “unless they repent their sins and turn to God”. Unfortunately, Rugby […]
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 […]
Opinion | Keep the rainbows, give us representation
Internationally, brands like Banana Republic and Tiffany & Co have successfully featured same sex couples and LGBTQ audiences in their advertising as part of an attempt to include gay audiences. And yet South Africa, famed for our diversity, continues to represent homosexuals either as clichés or stereotypes. Wouter Lombard, head of talent at M&C Saatchi […]
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 […]
Britney Spears honoured for her LGBTQ support (Watch)
Ricky Martin has presented pop icon Britney Spears with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award at the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles. The star was recognised on Thursday for making a significant difference in promoting equality and acceptance of LGBTQ people. Introducing Spears as “our ally”, Martin praised the singer for her support of the […]