University of Venda radio station in ‘gays can be converted’ hate speech case
The head of a rights-based NPO and the University of Venda community radio station have been taken to the Equality Court over claims of anti-LGBTI hate speech. The incident took place on the 19th of September last year, when the station’s current affairs programme Nkho Ya Lushaka hosted Dr Baldwin Mufunwaini, head of the organisation […]
Moonlight stars honour “misfits” in best kiss win at MTV Awards
Two of the stars of Moonlight have dedicated their best kiss win at the MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday to those who don’t always fit in. Ashton Sanders, 21, and Jharrel Jerome, 19, who shared a same-sex kiss in the Oscar winning film as their characters Chiron and Kevin, took to the stage […]
“Just listen!” Trevor Noah wins LGBTQ media award
South Africa’s Trevor Noah has been honoured with a GLAAD Media Award for helping to improve the visibility of LGBTQ people. On Saturday, Noah and his The Daily Show won the award for Outstanding Talk Show Episode for his interview with transgender actress, businesswoman and activist Angelica Ross in April last year. Noah and Ross accepted […]
Congrats! Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black marry
Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black, one of the world’s hottest gay power couples, have tied the knot in a 58 room English castle. Champion diver Daley, 22, and Hollywood screenwriter Black, 42, married on Saturday in a lavish ceremony at Bovey Castle in Devon. The men wore Burberry suits – Daley in Purple and […]
DNA results confirmed: Lesbian murder victim Nonkie Smous to be laid to rest
The family of lesbian murder victim Nonkie Smous can finally begin the difficult journey of coming to terms with her horrific killing. Activists in Kroonstad say that police have confirmed that the burnt out body discovered in the township of Maokeng on April 4 was that of Smous. Because the body could not be visually […]
Indonesia’s shocking violation of gay men’s privacy
The Indonesian police have not only arrested 14 gay men for allegedly watching pornography in private but have also released their HIV test results to the public. Acting on tip-offs from neighbours, police carried out an April 30 midnight raid on the 14 men, who had gathered in two rooms of a hotel in central […]
Surprise as Putin agrees to probe into Chechnya anti-gay purge
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed an official investigation into the reported persecution of gay men in Chechnya. On Friday, Putin met with Russian Human Rights Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova, who presented him with her annual report. During the meeting, Moskalkova told Putin that she had been asked to investigate the violation of gay men’s rights […]
Did Barack Obama consider having a gay relationship?
A new biography of former President Barack Obama claims that he considered having a gay relationship while he was a student. The book Rising Star: The Making Of Barack Obama, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Garrow, makes a number of revelations about Obama’s past personal life. In addition to claims that he proposed twice to […]
Trump opens door to LGBTQ discrimination with religious freedom order
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could be used to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people on the basis of “religious freedom”. While not specifically targeting the LGBTQ community, the order instructs Attorney General Jeff Sessions to provide guidance to all federal agencies on “interpreting religious liberty protections in Federal law”. This effectively […]
Indonesian university won’t allow LGBTI students to enrol
Indonesia’s anti-LGBTI crisis shows no sign of abating as one university says it won’t allow anyone who identifies as LGBTI to enrol. Andalas University (Unand), in the city of Padang in the West Sumatra province, is forcing prospective student to sign a mandatory statement that they are not LGBTI. The statement was posted on its […]