Outrage grows over “medieval” arrest of teen girls for kissing
As details emerge of the abuse faced by two girls arrested for kissing in Morocco, a leading writer has condemned the country’s “medieval” laws. On Friday, a number of human rights groups slammed the prosecution of the girls, who are both minors, known only as Sanaa (16) and Hajar (17). According to reports, the girls […]
Now Tanzania also ends vital HIV programmes targeting gay men
Tanzania’s embarrassing excuse for a health ministry has announced that it has blocked HIV programmes targeting men who have sex with men. “We have suspended MSM (men who have sex with men) community-based interventions pending (a) review,” Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. According to Reuters, she justified the move by claiming […]
Kissing teen girls arrested for homosexuality in Morocco
Morocco’s criminalisation of homosexuality has notched up yet more victims; this time a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old girl. According to local media, the teens were arrested by police after they were seen kissing one another in a house in the city of Marrakesh on 26 October. A cousin videoed the girls kissing and showed it […]
Number of LGBTQ characters hit record high on US TV
American television shows are including more LGBTQ characters than ever before, but lesbian and bisexual female characters continue to be arbitrarily killed off. LGBTQ media advocacy GLAAD’s latest annual report, released on Thursday, found that 4.8% of the 895 regular characters in the 2016-2017 TV season (including broadcast and cable networks and streaming services) are […]
Yes! Manila von Teez “breaks free” to SA’s Got Talent top 6
Cape Town’s Manila Von Teez has once again wowed viewers on SA’s Got Talent, ensuring she’s one of the top 6 finalists. On Sunday, the fashion designer and drag performer, 26-year-old Veon Wentzel, pulled off a slick and dynamic adaptation of Ariana Grande’s hit track Break Free. As always, the performance included a costume change […]
Will Johnny Depp play Dumbledore’s love interest?
There’s fierce speculation that Johnny Depp has been cast as Dumbledore’s love interest in the new Harry Potter spinoff movie series. On Tuesday, Deadline confirmed that Depp had officially joined the cast of the 2018 sequel to the upcoming Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which will be released this month. While his role has […]
Bizarre! Donald Trump unfurls “LGBTs for Trump” rainbow flag
American presidential candidate Donald Trump has attempted to show that he has supporters within the LGBT community. On Sunday night, Trump walked onto a stage in front of a crowd at an election rally in the city of Greeley, Colorado and unfurled a large rainbow flag with the words “LGBTs for Tump” scrawled on it. Beaming, […]
Breaking! “We heard you” – MCQP changes 2016 theme
Following a furore over claims of cultural appropriation, the organisers of Cape Town’s MCQP costume party have changed the 2016 theme. On Wednesday, MCQP Director Ian McMahon announced that the event will now be held under the theme of “MCQP, The Musical”, dropping the originally planned “A Bollywood Production”. He explained that the decision was […]
Opinion: The hits and misses of Johannesburg Pride 2016
The 27th annual Johannesburg Pride was like one we’ve never seen before; controversially held within an exclusive city precinct that was dubbed an elitist and exclusionary venue. To the surprise of many, Saturday’s Melrose Arch event was a roaring success – at least based on the reaction of the thousands who turned out to celebrate […]
Kenyan LGBTQ activist honoured at first African Art Awards Dinner
Tribal drums summoned the top brass of the Washington D.C. art world to the city center where the National Museum of African Art hosted its inaugural African Art Awards Dinner on Friday. Held at the Smithsonian’s iconic Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall and hosted by CNN International anchor Isha Sesay, the African […]