Malawi court to decide if politician can call for gays to be murdered
A leading Malawian politician will appear in the High Court this week to find out if he should be prosecuted for calling for the killing of gay people. In January last year, Ken Msonda, spokesperson for Malawi’s former ruling People’s Party, wrote on Facebook that arresting gays and lesbians would not work and that “the […]
Call for Kenya to end anal torture exams on gay men
A Kenyan LGBT rights group is urging the country’s prosecuting authority to stop administering anal exams on arrested gay men. The degrading practice usually involves doctors or other medical personnel inspecting the anus of the accused, often under duress, in an attempt to “prove” they engaged in anal sex. In June 2016, the High Court […]
Growing clout as number of Americans who identify as LGBT rises to 10 million
There’s been a significant increase in the number of Americans who identify as LGBT, compared to just five years ago. A new Gallup survey has found that 10 million adults in the US now see themselves as belonging to the LGBT community. That’s 4.1% of the population, compared to 3.5% of the population who identified […]
Brilliant! Nando’s takes swipe at Trump with #EveryoneisWelcome campaign
Nando’s, the South African restaurant brand, has stood up for LGBT (and other) inclusiveness in a new campaign that targets incoming US president Donald Trump. The campaign, called #EveryoneisWelcome, was launched ahead of Trump’s January 20 inauguration and is a bold statement in defiance of the intolerance that’s marked his views, comments and planned policies. […]
Watch: (More) men kissing takes Hollywood by storm
Judging by a sudden spate of man on man smooching, it seems that men kissing is now the hottest thing in Hollywood! It all started on Sunday when Ryan Reynolds and Andrew Garfield shared a surprise kiss at the Golden Globe awards after Reynolds lost out on the best actor in a musical or comedy […]
Christian group says hate crimes bill will support gay “immorality”
A group of Christian leaders have complained that, if made law, South Africa’s hate crimes bill could stop them from preaching that homosexuality is a sin. The Ministerial Leaders for Christian Rights, said to represent around 100 church leaders in Durban, has argued that the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill […]
Praise for positive steps on LGBTI issues in SA’s human rights report card
In its annual World Report 2017, Human Rights Watch has found generally positive developments when it comes to LGBTI rights in South Africa. Looking back at the past year, the New York based rights watchdog highlighted progress by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. It said that the department “has taken significant steps to […]
Top gay travel mag names Cape Town’s beaches among world’s best
Passport magazine says that Cape Town’s stunning beaches are a must-visit destination for international gay tourists. The leading gay travel publication has listed the city’s beaches at no 6 in its list of the 25 Best Beaches in The World. “If your priority is sun and fun with the gay community, there are definitely a […]
Opinion: Is this the truth behind Oscar Bougardt’s accusations?
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” – Leviticus 19:11 Rev Oscar Bougardt is the pastor at Calvary H.O.P.E Ministries in Cape Town. He has repeatedly been in the news for his extreme homophobic comments, self-justified by his arguably erroneous interpretation of the Bible. Some of his reported claims, however, are simply […]
UK government apologises for gay arrests and jailings
As it moves to pardon gay men who were prosecuted in the past, the British government has officially apologised for their criminalisation. On Tuesday, a bill to pardon and clear the criminal records of gay and bisexual men who were convicted of consensual homosexuality was passed unopposed by the lower house of Parliament. The amendment […]