Egypt: Court says gay bathhouse report “in the public interest”
An Egyptian court has explained why it acquitted disgraced journalist Mona Iraqi of spreading false claims about 26 men arrested at an alleged gay bathhouse. Iraqi was slammed for targeting the gay community by broadcasting images of the humiliated near-naked men being herded into police trucks following a December 2014 raid on the Cairo bathhouse. […]
Portugal’s Parliament overturns president’s gay adoption veto
An attempt to stall same-sex couple adoption by Portugal’s outgoing president has been thwarted by the country’s parliament. On Wednesday, a majority of lawmakers voted (137 votes to 73) to overturn President Cavaco Silva’s veto of a bill allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt children jointly. The legislation was approved by parliament in November […]
Moving with the times! Mrs SA pageant open to married lesbians
Despite initial concerns, the annual Mrs South Africa pageant has confirmed that it does indeed accept married lesbian women as contestants. Running since 2006, the event is dubbed “the number one pageant for married women in South Africa”, and states on its website that it is also a “women empowering program”. Mambaonline was contacted by […]
Confusion in Malawi as court orders gay arrests to continue
Malawi media is reporting that a court has overturned the government’s moratorium on the country’s criminalisation of homosexuality. According to Nyasa Times, the High Court in Mzuzu on Monday “ordered the Malawi police service and the director of public prosecutions to continue arresting and prosecuting gays and lesbians who commit homosexual offences in Malawi.” The […]
Still no arrests in Vaal lesbian murder
Despite earlier reports, there have been no arrests in last year’s horror murder of Gauteng lesbian Motshidisi Pascalini Melamu. Melamu, 21, was murdered, mutilated and set on fire in Evaton North on 16 December after she left her home to go to a party with friends. It is believed she was also raped. Last month, we […]
Malawi: man beaten in bloody suspected anti-gay attack
Arrested and tortured, now beaten to a pulp. A Malawi man who was charged with homosexuality last year has been brutally attacked in what’s thought to be an anti-gay hate incident. Bloody pictures of the thirty-something man, who we have chosen not to name, were posted on Facebook on Monday by activist Kelvin Gormani. According […]
US gays alarmed at Trump win in New Hampshire
America’s Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has expressed alarm at Donald Trump’s significant win in the New Hampshire Republican primary on Tuesday night. In a statement, the organisation – the largest LGBT rights group in the country – warned that a Trump presidency would be disastrous for the LGBT community. “Donald Trump has pandered his way […]
SA tourism minister to speak at Africa’s first LGBT tourism conference
South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom will address the first-ever international LGBT business conference to be held in Africa. He will participate in the upcoming 33rd Annual Global Convention of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) in Cape Town. The ground-breaking event, set for 14 to 16 April at the Belmond Mount […]
Kenya: Teacher arrested for gay text messages
A 20-year-old Kenyan teacher has been arrested for professing his desire to another man via text messages. Local media reports that the man from Muranga County, who we have chosen not to identify, allegedly sent the messages to a journalist after they briefly met at a media roadshow. The journalist explained that he handed out […]
Top Malawi musician dumped over anti-gay views
Lucius Banda, a well known Malawian musician and politician, has lost a UK concert tour contract because he refused to retract his anti-gay statements. According to Nyasa Times, Banda, who is also an MP, was set to perform a series of shows in England over the Easter holidays. The concert promoters, Grajoh Talent Management, have […]