Army head urges troops to protect Zimbabwe from ‘foreign’ homosexuality
Adding to fears that LGBT people will continue to be oppressed in Zimbabwe, the country’s army chief has lashed out at homosexuality as a threat from the West. Speaking at a Culture Day celebration in Bulawayo on Monday, Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda called on over 1,000 graduating recruits to defend the […]
Gay fans warned of danger at Russia World Cup
Football anti-discrimination group Fare had admitted that gay and lesbian fans may be at risk if they show public affection while attending next year’s World Cup in Russia. The group’s executive director, Piara Powar, announced that it will publish a guide to help LGBT attendees better understand the dangers they may face. “The guide will […]
Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau apologises for LGBTIQ oppression (watch)
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, has apologised in parliament for his country’s past treatment of LGBTIQ people, “with shame and sorrow and deep regret”. On Tuesday, Trudeau said the criminalising of homosexuality and the persecution and firing of LGBTIQ individuals from the government and the military had been wrong. He also admitted the government’s […]
British swimming world champion and Olympian Mark Foster comes out
British former Olympic swimmer and world champion Mark Foster has revealed that he is gay in an interview with The Guardian. The athlete, who competed primarily in butterfly and freestyle, is not only well known for his successful swimming career but also as a TV commentator, presenter and personality. “I’ve just swerved and swerved. Telling […]
Egypt | 17 sentenced to jail for homosexuality
Egypt’s anti-LGBT crackdown continues as 17 people face lengthy jail time after being found guilty on homosexuality charges. According to Reuters, the individuals were released by a court in Cairo on Sunday pending an appeal. They were earlier found guilty of practicing homosexuality and inciting debauchery. The news agency said they were sentenced to three years […]
Family devastated by murder of Gauteng transgender woman
Joan Thabeng, a transgender woman from Gauteng, has been murdered and dragged though the streets of Mohlakeng, in a possible hate crime. Rights group Access Chapter 2 (AC2) reports that on 11 November, Thabeng left a friend’s house after receiving a call from her boyfriend asking her to visit. Thabeng’s body was found in the […]
Gay adult star reject awards nominations over racism
American gay adult film actor Hugh Hunter has rejected his GayVN Awards nominations, citing entrenched racism in the industry. Hunter was recently nominated for three awards in the categories of Best Bear Scene, Fan Awards – Favourite Daddy and Best Fetish Scene. In a letter posted on Twitter on Saturday, Hunter wrote: “…I am respectfully […]
This town tried (and failed) to ban drag shows
Councillors in Portland, Tennessee, have failed in their months-long bid to ban drag shows in the American town of around 12,000 people. The controversy started in August when the Envy Restaurant Bar & Grill hosted a series of wildly popular sold-out drag shows, put on by Elite Productions. The councillors (also known as aldermen) were […]
Here’s a fierce celebration of Afro-homoerotica (watch)
Queer expression is rarely represented in mainstream South African culture. Avant-garde music artists Umlilo and Whyt Lyon (from Stash Crew) have joined forces to break this cultural erasure and inject it with their catchy, homoerotic dance track, DL Boi. The duo have elicited the help of some of Joburg’s fiercest queer talent to create a sexy […]
Stellies honours LGBT and HIV rights icon Simon Nkoli
Ahead of World Aids Day, Stellenbosch University has announced that it will honour Simon Nkoli by naming one of its buildings after the late gay activist. A building at 39 Victoria Street will be renamed Huis Simon Nkoli House after the struggle hero, LGBT rights lobbyist and HIV/Aids activist at a ceremony on 1 December. […]