Portugal’s president blocks gay adoption bill
As he prepares to leave office, Portugal’s President Cavaco Silva has vetoed a bill passed by parliament to legalise adoption by same-sex couples. The legislation was approved by a majority of lawmakers in November to great celebration by the country’s LGBT community. Silva’s move on Monday will undoubtedly be a frustrating development. The president justified […]
2016 Pan Africa Regional LGBTI Conference for Joburg
The African chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) has revealed that the third Pan Africa ILGA Regional Conference (PAI 2016) will be held in Johannesburg in May. It was announced at a launch in the city on Friday that the event will be themed, “Breaking Ground and Building Bridges,” […]
UN slams dropping of case against Malawi “kill gays” politician
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has criticised Malawi for dropping charges against a politician who recently called for the killing of lesbians and gays. Earlier this month, 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 best way to […]
Pink Loerie celebrates 16 years in 2016
This year’s Pink Loerie Mardi Gras Arts Festival takes place in Knysna from Wednesday 27 April to Sunday 1 May. The 2016 theme is “Young at Heart and Never Been Kissed” and celebrates the event’s 16th anniversary. The festival will include 16 things to do in Knysna, 16 places of special interest in the region, […]
Anger as poppers set to be banned in the UK
The UK Parliament has moved to approve a bill banning poppers, a mild recreational drug favoured by some in the gay community who argue that it presents little risk. Poppers – technically called alkyl nitrates – are used by gay men around the world to make sex more pleasurable by heightening the senses, reducing inhibitions and […]
Gay online radio station launched in SA
A new online radio station for the South African LGBTI community has started broadcasting from Pretoria. Gay SA FM describes itself as “a voice for the South African lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) population, while at the same time providing useful information and entertainment.” The station promises a “crafted fusion of dance music, […]
Soweto Fashion Week distances itself from anti-gay web designer
Soweto Fashion Week has finally distanced itself from its web designer, Edwin Mbugua, after he attacked gay vlogger and MTV presenter Moshe Ndiki and the gay community in a hateful twitter rant. In an e-mail to Mambaonline on Friday, Stephen Manzini, the Founder and MD of Soweto Fashion Week (SFW), said that Mbugua’s comments do […]
Two escaped justice say activists as David Olyne’s murderer found guilty
The man who killed David Olyne in a brutal homophobic attack was found guilty of his murder on Thursday, but activists say justice was not served. The Western Cape High Court in Ceres found that Christo Oncke brutally beat and kicked the tied-up 22-year-old to death in March 2014 as a group of young locals watched on. His […]
We’ll miss her dancing, says slain lesbian’s aunt
The aunt of Motshidisi Melamu, who was murdered, mutilated and set on fire last month in Gauteng, has spoken about the pain of losing her niece. According to an EWN video report (see below), Motshidisi left home on 16 December to go to a party with friends. When she didn’t return after two days, her […]
Tragic! Grieving gay man humiliated after husband dies on Ausssie honeymoon
A gay British couple’s honeymoon in Australia has ended in tragedy and humiliation after one of the men died and the survivor was refused recognition as his husband. According to Buzzfeed, the couple of more than five years, Marco Bulmer-Rizzi, 38, and David Bulmer-Rizzi, 32, were married in the UK in June last year. While […]