Pretoria Anglicans add to debate on recognising same-sex unions
Members of the Diocese of Pretoria have controversially called for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa to consider blessing same-sex unions. According to the Saturday Star, clergy from the Pretoria diocese spoke out against the church’s continued gay relationship ban at a three day synod last week. The diocese is one of the largest in the country, […]
Lost Gay South Africa: Herb Klein on his new photo book
Many South African men over the age of 40 will fondly associate Herb Klein with their sexual awakening back in the dark, pre-internet days of the 1980s. At the time, the Zimbabwe-born photographer caused a stir with his Flash magazine; an independent underground publication that featured images of the male form and openly celebrated gay sexuality. […]
Overcoming hate in the wake of the Nonki Smous horror murder
Following the hate murder of Nonki Smous earlier this year, an organisation has stepped up to help build much-needed bridges between Kroonstad’s LGBTI community and police, health and social services. In April, members of the LGBTI community in the area were shaken when the burned body of the 28-year-old openly lesbian Smous was found in the township […]
Serbia | A first as lesbian prime minister attends Belgrade Pride
Serbia’s lesbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic joined the LGBTQ community at Sunday’s Belgrade Pride, an event that was banned by the authorities just a few years ago. Brnabic was seen talking to the media and members of the public and posing for selfies with participants during the parade, making her the first national leader to […]
Tanzania | 20 arrested for homosexuality in Zanzibar
Twenty individuals have been arrested simply for “suspicion” of homosexuality during an HIV workshop in Zanzibar. According to the BBC, the 12 women and eight men were detained last week while they were receiving training in HIV/Aids education at a hotel. “Yes, we rounded them up because we suspect that they were engaged in homosexuality […]
Facebook South Africa meets with LGBTQ community
Issues of online safety were at the centre of a unique discussion between Facebook and the LGBTQ community in Johannesburg. On Thursday, activists and other members of the community were invited to attend a roundtable discussion at the social media giant’s offices in Bryanston. Organised together with The Other Foundation, the event’s theme was “Empowering […]
Hollywood | LGBTQ people “practically invisible” at the box office
Only two of the 25 major Hollywood studio films released during America’s traditional big box office season include any LGBTQ characters. “LGBTQ people are still nearly invisible in the films released by the seven major studios over this summer,” said Megan Townsend, Director of Entertainment Research & Analysis at the LGBTQ media group, GLAAD. The […]
No league yet, but ANC agrees to launch LGBTI desk in Johannesburg
Discussions between a collective of LGBTI members of the ANC and the party’s Johannesburg region have borne some fruit. On Friday, the ANC LGBTI Forum announced that the ANC Johannesburg Region had agreed to start the party’s very first LGBTI Desk, which will represent the interests of LGBTI members. The ANC LGBTI Forum, which is […]
Australia | Church cancels straight couple’s wedding because bride supports same-sex marriage
An Australian bride is in shock after her church cancelled her heterosexual wedding because she supports marriage equality. The country is in the midst of a controversial postal survey on same-sex marriage, the results of which the government intends to use to decide on whether or not to change the law. Fairfax Media reports that […]
The French Orlando? | Minister says Paris gay club attacks thwarted
The French government has revealed that the authorities successfully blocked a series of terror attacks against gay nightclubs in Paris. Gérard Collomb, the Minister of the Interior, announced in the National Assembly on Tuesday that the attacks were planned to take place on 22 August. He said that, “this project of violent action” targeted “Paris […]