Here’s the world’s first Men’s Health trans cover model
A German man will be the first transgender model to grace the cover of Men’s Health magazine. Ben Melzer was chosen for the honour after he beat out a group of other aspiring buff male models to win a cover contest for the German edition of the men’s fitness publication. The hunky 29-year-old stunner, who […]
Welcome to Ghana, but not if you’re gay
Visitors to Ghana are greeted with a welcome sign at Accra International Airport, which then warns “sexual deviants” to turn right around. As reported by Erasing 76 Crimes, the sign proclaims: “Welcome!! Akwaaba!! Ghana warmly welcomes all visitors of goodwill.” The words that follow become much more ominous, with the warning: “Ghana does not welcome […]
Home HIV testing gets the green light in SA
Pharmacists can sell take-home HIV testing kits, according to Pharmacy Council of South Africa Registrar and CEO Amos Masango. According to Masango, a May 2015 decision by the council effectively quietly removed the ban on pharmacist sales of HIV self-testing kits. The decision comes almost one year after the council gazetted a draft plan to […]
Nigeria tries (and fails) to stop UN LGBT stamps
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations has lashed out at the release of stamps promoting LGBT equality by the UN’s postal service. Last week, the UN Postal Administration issued six colourful commemorative postage stamps on behalf of the Free & Equal campaign, a project of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. […]
New York protects LGBT youth from conversion therapy
New York has joined a handful of other American states in barring the provision of so-called conversion therapy to young LGBT people. On Saturday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a series of regulations to prevent the discredited and dangerous practice. Conversion or reparative therapy, which falsely claims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender […]
2016 Shambhala LGBTI scholarship recipients announced
The Shambhala Organisation has awarded R25,000 scholarships to 11 future leaders in the LGBTI community for the 2016 academic year. The organisation was established by entrepreneur Dale Pudney, with the aim of assisting LGBTI leaders to take their rightful place in the business world. “The objective of the scholarship initiative is to improve the image of […]
LGBTI community raises R42,000 for children’s charity
A disadvantaged rural children’s charity received a financial boost last month through an LGBTI fundraising initiative in Cape Town. Representatives from Goedgedacht, based near Malmesbury, attended the Other Foundation’s latest Conversations event at Zenith Sky Bar in Green Point to take receipt of a cheque for R42,000. Conversations Cape Town, launched in October 2013, is […]
Randy Berry: I am hopeful for LGBTI equality in Africa
Randy Berry, America’s first ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, recently made an official visit to Southern Africa, meeting with officials, civil society activists and journalists in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia and South Africa. Appointed to the historic position early last year by the Obama administration, Berry has already visited dozens of […]
UN launches stamps promoting LGBT equality
The United Nations’ Free & Equal campaign has unveiled six commemorative postage stamps to promote LGBT equality. The stamps were produced by the UN Postal Administration (UNPA) for the campaign, which is a project of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Designed by artist and art director Sergio Baradat, the LGBT […]
Ugandan businesswoman arrested for lesbian sex
A Ugandan woman, described as a “top businesswoman”, has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a younger female partner. According to local media, she was taken into custody by police in the Bukomansimbi District in central Uganda on 20 January. The woman, who we have chosen not to name, has been charged with “unnatural […]