Here’s South Africa’s first drag reality TV show
Well known Gauteng drag star Betty Bangles is getting her own reality show in which she’ll groom three aspiring drag queens to compete in a major drag pageant. Coming to TV screens in July, Betty Bangles en die Dossers is described as a first of its kind on South African television that’s sure to raise a […]
Human Rights Court rules Russian ‘gay propaganda’ laws breach human rights
In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has declared that Russia’s so-called ‘gay propaganda’ laws are a violation of human rights. In the decision, issued on Tuesday, the Strasbourg-based court said that the laws breached the European Convention on Human Rights with regard to freedom of expression and the prohibition of […]
Unique album features queer voices from world’s most homophobic countries
A diverse group of queer musical artists from around the world have been featured in the groundbreaking new album Rainbow Riots. The album has been dubbed “a protest musical repertoire” and includes LGBTQ artists from Uganda, Malawi, South Africa and Jamaica – some of the most dangerous countries in the world for LGBTQ people. Released […]
Drama as Ugandan MPs find LGBT magazine in their pigeonholes
Uganda’s Parliament is up in arms after MPs discovered copies of a local LGBT publication in their pigeonholes. According to Uganda’s The Observer, 40 parliamentarians were left in a “panic” because “a woman sneaked into parliament with copies of the offending magazines and stashed them in the pigeonholes unnoticed”. In a sensationalistic report, the newspaper said […]
Philadelphia’s new rainbow flag divides LGBTQ community
A reworked rainbow flag that has additional brown and black stripes to include LGBTQ people of colour has proved to be highly controversial. The eight-stripe flag was unveiled earlier this month when it was raised outside City Hall in Philadelphia to commemorate the city’s Pride celebrations. The flag was developed by Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT […]
LGBT leaders | Surprise as lesbian woman to become Serbia’s prime minister
Following the appointment of Ireland’s new gay prime minister, a lesbian woman will for the first time lead the conservative Southeast European country of Serbia. On Thursday, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, announced that Ana Brnabić will form the nation’s new government as the prime minister. Brnabić, 41, studied at Northwood University in the US […]
It’s on! Eleven take Dutch Reformed Church to court over same-sex unions
Eleven members of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), also known as the NG Kerk, are taking legal action to set aside the shocking decision by the church to reverse its acceptance of same-sex unions. In November 2016, the DRC’s extraordinary general assembly dismayed the LGBTI community when it voted to recall the landmark 2015 decision to […]
Three gay men legally recognised as a “polyamorous family”
Colombia has for the first time legally recognised a polyamorous relationship between three gay men, known as a ‘thrupple’. The trio, actor Victor Hugo Prada, sports instructor John Alejandro Rodriguez and journalist Manuel Jose Bermudez, “married” one another in the city of Medellin on Saturday. According to local media, they signed papers in front of […]
KZN municipality accused of blocking motion supporting Pride Month
A gay uMhlathuze Municipality councillor alleges that his attempt to file a motion to get the city to commemorate Pride Month is being blocked. Located about 180 kilometres north-east of Durban, the KwaZulu-Natal municipality encompasses towns such as Richards Bay and Empangeni. On the 5th of June, DA Councillor SipheSihle Magubane submitted a motion application […]
A world first! LGBTI-specific HIV national plan launched at Durban Aids conference
In what’s believed to be a first, a national HIV plan to address the specific needs of the LGBTI community was launched at the 8th South African Aids conference in Durban on Wednesday. Presented by the SA National Aids Council (SANAC), the plan is the culmination of a 10 year process, and will be included […]