Elton John: Pranks are funny, homophobia is not
Elton John has responded to the Russian pranksters who called him pretending to be President Putin. Earlier this week, the singer made global headlines when he claimed on social media that he had promising talks with the Russian leader over the phone about the plight of the country’s LGBT community. It was later revealed that […]
American rugby pledges to end homophobia
As the 2015 World Cup is set to kick off, the United States’ national rugby body has affirmed its commitment to ending homophobia in the sport. Last week, USA Rugby signed a memorandum of understanding outlining its partnership with International Gay Rugby (IGR). The move follows IGR’s March 2015 agreement with World Rugby to promote […]
Nepal joins SA as new constitution protects LGBT people
Nepal has passed a new constitution that provides explicit protections for LGBT people from discrimination, violence, and abuse – a first for an Asian nation. It also joins only a handful of countries, including South Africa and Ecuador, that have enshrined equal rights protections for LGBT people in their national constitutions. Nepal’s Parliament endorsed the […]
Acclaimed proudly South African gay film to screen in cinemas
A new gay and lesbian themed South African big screen drama that’s already won international accolades will be released in local cinemas on Friday 2 October. While You Weren’t Looking is the first feature film produced by the Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and possibly the first LGBT South African feature produced […]
Another loss for Mr Gay South Africa as Zander Barnard passes away
Zander Barnard, a popular Mr Gay South Africa 2015 finalist and a well known Cape Town GP, has passed away at his home at the age of 32. Barnard graduated with an MBChB at the University of Stellenbosch and specialised in sport and exercise medicine. He was in private practice and consulted for Gentlemen’s Health, […]
2015 Feather Awards to honour hunks and activists
The nominees for the 7th Annual Chevrolet Feather Awards have been announced. The awards are described as a celebration of high-profile individuals – LGBTI and otherwise – who, the organisers say, have inspired, scandalised and amused South Africa’s LGBTI community over the past year. The controversial event has over the years been criticised by some […]
Zizipho Pae demoted by UCT’s SRC
Although homophobic student leader Zizipho Pae’s expulsion from the UCT Student Representative Council (SRC) was reversed by the university, she is no longer Vice President External. On 21 July, the university’s SRC voted to remove Pae from the SRC after she posted on Facebook that legalising same-sex marriage was “institutionalising and normalising sin!” She added, […]
Listen: Pranksters convince Elton John he’s talking to Putin
Two Russian phone pranksters have released audio of the conversation in which Elton John was duped into thinking he was talking to President Putin about LGBT issues in Russia. Known as Vovan and Lexus, the duo are are well known in Russia for their on-air pranks, often focusing on celebrities and other high profile figures. “It was a […]
Ugandan president: Colonial anti-gay law is good enough
President Yoweri Museveni doesn’t think a new anti-gay law is needed in Uganda and that colonial-era legislation is sufficient to criminalise homosexuality. Just over a year ago, Uganda’s Constitutional Court struck down the infamous Anti-Homosexuality Act on a technicality. There have been threats by MPs to re-table another similar law ever since. Speaking to AP […]
Kim Davis loses same-sex marriage delay bid – again
Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis has once again been told by the courts that she cannot stop her office from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court rejected her bid to suspend this service to gay and lesbian couples while she sues Governor Steve Beshear. Davis has taken Beshear to court claiming […]