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 […]
Funeral home refuses to cremate gay man’s body
After learning that Robert Huskey was married to a man, a Mississippi funeral home refused to accept his body, devastating Huskey’s husband and family. Huskey’s 82-year-old husband, Jack Zawadski, is now suing the Picayune Funeral Home for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and the intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. “What happened to this […]
Swaziland questioned over LGBTI rights
The kingdom of Swaziland has been asked to account for its lack of progress in protecting LGBTI people from legal and social discrimination. According to the Swazi Media Commentary blog, the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has submitted a series of questions to the country ahead of a July review of its adherence to the […]
Pink Loerie Mardi Gras 2017 Parade gallery
For the 17th year, the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival took to the streets of Knysna for its anticipated annual parade. Local residents, charities, drag queens, lesbians and bears came together in a festive celebration of the LGBTQ+ community on Saturday 29 April. This gallery, by photographer Neil Coulson, captured the highlights of […]
Pink Loerie Mardi Gras 2017 roundup: Smaller festival still a success
There was general consensus that while the 2017 Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival was smaller compared to previous years, it was still a success. In its 17th incarnation, the annual Pink Loerie event paints the town of Knysna in the Western Cape pink. Shops, guest houses and the general public were decked out […]
Merkel calls out Putin over Chechnya anti-gay purge
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly addressed the persecution of gay men in Chechnya in a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders met on Tuesday in Sochi, Russia. It was Merkel’s first trip to the county since 2015. After the meeting, Merkel spoke out about human rights concerns in Russia […]