Tragic end to search for missing Joburg man, Ross Govender
The desperate search for Ross Govender, the 31-year-old Johannesburg interior architect who disappeared on 19 January, has ended in tragedy. It has since come to light that he was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident after leaving Babylon bar in Illovo. On Saturday, Govender’s sister posted on Facebook: “It is with a very heavy heart that […]
Zim’s President Mnangagwa slams door on same-sex marriage
Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has spoken on the subject of LGBTI equality for the first time since becoming the country’s leader, but has not addressed fundamental rights. In an interview with CNN’s Richard Quest, who is himself gay, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mnangagwa was asked about the country’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. “Those […]
Almost 80,000 LGBT teens to receive conversion therapy in US
A study has estimated that 77,000 LGBT American youth, currently aged 13 to 17, will undergo dangerous conversion therapy in some form before the age of 18. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, 20,000 will undergo the discredited treatment from a licensed health care professional. Approximately 57,000 youth will receive the […]
Guilty! Judge says Vovo was killed because she was lesbian
Activists have welcomed the guilty verdict against the man accused of kidnapping and murdering Noluvo Swelindawo, an openly lesbian woman, in the Western Cape. The body of 22-year-old Swelindawo, also known as Vovo, was found dumped next to the N2 highway near Khayelitsha in December 2016. On Thursday, 26-year-old Sigcine Mdani, who was standing trial for […]
Elton John announces retirement after one last global megatour
In the wake of a 50-year career, legendary musician Elton John is set to retire from touring, but only after completing one final mammoth world tour. The 70-year-old icon made the announcement at Gotham Hall in New York City On Wednesday at an event that featured highlights of his career as well as a performance […]
Ad industry fails to respond to needs of LGBTQ community
The blame for little to no representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in South African advertising lies squarely at the door of our ‘conservative culture’. While advertisers have worked hard to redress racial stereotypes in their creative executions, the same is not true for the LGBTQIA+ community. “Brands are not brave enough,” says Lynn Madeley, CEO […]
Brazil has world’s highest LGBT murder rate, with 100s killed in 2017
More than one LGBT person is murdered every day in Brazil because of their sexuality or gender identity; the highest LGBT homicide rate in the world. According to the organisation Grupo Gay de Bahia, which monitors LGBT hate crimes, there were a shocking 387 murders in 2017, an increase of 30% compared to 2016. While […]
‘Inxeba (The Wound)’ misses Oscar glory, ‘Call Me By Your Name’ gets four noms
South Africa’s Oscar hopes were dashed on Tuesday after Inxeba (The Wound), the country’s official submission, was snubbed by the Academy Awards. Today, the final five Foreign Language Film contenders were announced live from Beverly Hills by actors Tiffany Haddish and Andy Serkis. Sadly, Inxeba was not included in the list. The 2018 nominees are: […]
At it again! Pastor blames gays for Cape Town drought
Unrepentantly homophobic Cape Town pastor Oscar Bougardt is once again attacking the LGBTQ community, this time proclaiming that gays and lesbians are to blame for the city’s drought. On Monday, Bougardt took to Facebook to expound his views on the pending disaster in the Mother City, which could see taps running dry in April. He asserted […]
Alarm as another gay man goes missing in Joburg
Update 28/02/2018: It has now emerged that Govender was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident. For more details, click here. Ross Govender, a 31-year-old interior architect, has mysteriously disappeared in Johannesburg; the third member of the LGBT community to go missing in the city this month. According to concerned friend and colleague Anthonie Bekker, Govender was […]