Duolingo Under Fire: LGBT Propaganda Allegations in Russia Ignite Controversy
In an unexpected turn, Duolingo, the widely popular language-learning app, finds itself at the heart of a controversy in Russia. Accused of disseminating LGBT propaganda, the company is now under investigation by Roskomnadzor, the country’s federal executive body responsible for supervising communications, information technology, and mass media. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from […]
ACLU and Tennessee city settle lawsuit over controversial LGBTQ events ban
LGBTQ+ advocates have settled with the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, terminating an anti-queer ordinance that banned all events — including drag shows, pride celebrations and parades — organized by the Tennessee Equality Project, the founder and host of the annual BoroPride Festival. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Tennessee, and law firms Ballard Spahr […]
For LGBT asylum-seekers, coming to the U.S. is hardly the end of a harrowing journey
Located in the suburbs of Tijuana, Mexico, the Casa Arco Iris migrant shelter is unassuming. That’s on purpose. Not so long ago, its exterior was graffitied with a homophobic slur. Casa Arco Iris, or Rainbow House, offers refuge for gay and trans migrants headed to the United States. Thousands of migrants have sought asylum in America in the last […]
Letter of the Day | Unmasking the anti-gender movement
In the heart of the Caribbean, where the rhythms of reggae and the warmth of the sun paint the cultural landscape, a troubling undercurrent threatens to erode the progress made towards inclusivity and acceptance. The anti-gender movement, a phenomenon gaining momentum in the region, presents a formidable challenge to the rights and well-being of trans Jamaicans, […]
Houthis sentence 13 to public execution on homosexuality charges – report
A court of the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen has sentenced 13 people to public execution on homosexuality charges, the French wire service AFP reported on Tuesday. Another 35 people have been detained for similar charges. The ruling was made in Ibb, a Houthi-controlled province from which the jihadist group has been launching attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea […]
Minister defends Sunak’s transgender jibe amid calls for apology
A government minister has defended Rishi Sunak’s transgender jibe after the father of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey called on the prime minister to apologise. Chris Philp, the policing minister, insisted on BBC Breakfast that Sunak had “made no reference at all to any individual trans people” and was instead “making a point about Labour’s very numerous flip-flops”. Sunak […]
A proposed deal in Congress could make asylum harder for LGBTQ migrants to obtain
As federal lawmakers consider tougher restrictions for asylum-seekers, we hear from two migrants fleeing homophobic violence. MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Later today, the Senate is set to vote on that border security and foreign aid package we’ve been telling you about. Although it was negotiated with members of both parties, Republicans are now walking away from it, arguing […]
Pope sees ‘hypocrisy’ in those who criticise LGBT blessings
VATICAN CITY, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Pope Francis said he sees “hypocrisy” in criticism of his decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples, possibly his most strongly worded defence of the move. LGBT blessings were authorised last month by a Vatican document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), but that has met with significant resistance in the […]
First Russians jailed over rainbow-coloured items after LGBTQ ‘movement’ outlawed
The first publicly known cases have emerged of Russian authorities penalising people under a court ruling that outlawed LGBTQ activism as extremism, Russian media and rights groups have reported, with at least three people who displayed rainbow-coloured items receiving jail time or fines. The Supreme Court ruling in November banned what the government called the LGBTQ “movement” operating […]
Japan court lets transgender man change official status without sterilisation in legal first
A court in western Japan has approved a transgender man’s request to have his gender changed in official records without undergoing sterilisation surgery, the first known ruling of its kind since the country’s top court struck down a surgery requirement for such record changes. Tacaquito Usui, 50, could get the gender listed for him in his family […]
Can Europe resist the anti-LGBT politics of hate?
As we navigate an increasingly tumultuous world laden with conflict, unconditional backing of equal rights for all will become increasingly essential for the well-being and resilience of minority groups within Europe, Camille Ogoti writes. Right-wing, anti-gender rhetoric is surging across Europe. From Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who has been vocally opposing what he frequently describes as […]
Trans rights leader Kris Hayashi to lead advocacy department at National LGBTQ Task Force
The National LGBTQ Task Force announced on Tuesday that long-time transgender rights activist and community leader Kris Hayashi has joined the organization as its director of advocacy and action. Hayashi most recently served as the executive director of the Transgender Law Center and previously led the Audre Lorde Project as its executive director/co-director. “We could […]
After 1 Million March, LGBTQ2S+ youth face rise in bullying and fear of outing
Sept. 20 was a hard day for some Edmonton queer and trans youth who watched their classmates leave their high school to join their parents at a protest happening nearby. Over the lunch hour and into the early afternoon, protestors carried signs and chanted in front of the Alberta Teachers’ Association office—one of multiple events […]
Ombudsperson Strikes Down Anti-LGBT Bill
Poland’s ombudsperson has said that a draft law aimed to limit the rights of LGBT people, proposed by a group of citizens, violates the constitution and EU law.
What you should know about the Iowa bill that legally defines ‘man,’ ‘woman’ and ‘sex’
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ new attempt to enforce conservative values in Iowa, introducing a bill that would define the words “sex,” “man” and “woman” in state law, has raised the hackles of civil rights and LGBTQ groups. It sounds simple, but the bill would have wide-ranging implications, including requiring changes to the way Iowa collects public […]
Namibia president dies. What does that mean for LGBTQ people?
Namibian President Hage Geingob passed away at age 82 on Sun, Feb 4. He had served as Namibia’s third president since 2015, and is succeeded by his Vice President Nangolo Mbumba. Geingob leaves a mixed legacy on LGBT issues. Most recently, he has been responsible for not signing into law the anti-same-sex marriage bill that […]
Transgender woman on election trail in bid to be member of Pakistan’s National Assembly
Transgender woman Nayab Ali is running in Thursday’s elections in Pakistan, aiming for a seat in the National Assembly. In traditionally conservative Pakistan, where no transgender person has been elected to parliament before, Ali’s candidacy marks a significant effort for increased representation.
Argentina Serves As Safe Haven For Russia’s LGBT Refugees
Persecuted and prosecuted in their home country, some members of Russia’s LGBT community have been driven abroad — and hundreds have moved to Argentina, where their civil rights are legally recognized. But some worry that Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, may roll back legal protections.
LGBTQ+ Palestinians can request asylum in Israel, court rules
LGBTQ+ Palestinians in danger due to their sexual orientation can request asylum in Israel, the Tel Aviv District Court for Administrative Affairs ruled on Sunday, according to KAN news. Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen approved the appeal of a Palestinian from the West Bank who had been rejected by the Population Authority due to his being Palestinian. The Population […]
A Tale of Tragedy and Oppression: The Struggles of Iran’s LGBT Community
In the corridors of power and the shadows of society, a chilling tale unfolds in Iran, tugging at the threads of cultural stigma, societal prejudice, and governmental oppression. The tragic death of Alireza Fazeli Monfared, a 20-year-old gay man, brutally murdered by his own family members, has ignited a global outcry, thrusting Iran’s treatment of […]
Woman arrested for “extremist” crime of wearing rainbow earrings in Russia
Reports from Russia indicate a young woman in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, east of Moscow, has been arrested and charged for wearing rainbow-colored earrings in violation of the country’s new law declaring the “international LGBT public movement” an extremist organization. A court found her guilty of wearing “prohibited symbols.” According to Aegis, a human rights […]
Opponents of Alberta’s proposals for transgender youth protest in weekend rallies
EDMONTON – Groups opposed to Alberta’s planned policies around transgender youth held rallies in Calgary and Edmonton over the weekend, with many of the attendees warning the plans will out trans kids and put their lives in jeopardy. Seventeen-year-old Jaidyn Wolf, who travelled from Red Deer to a rally at the provincial legislature in Edmonton on […]
What you need to know about appeal against Uganda anti-LGBTQ+ law
Rights groups expect Uganda’s Constitutional Court to issue a verdict imminently on an appeal against the strict anti-LGBTQ+ law the country passed last year that imposed the death penalty for some same-sex acts. Here’s what you need to know. What is the Anti-Homosexuality Act, and what has been its impact? The Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed […]
Queer-friendly Nepal aims to promote ‘pink economy’, ‘rainbow marriages’ for tourists seen as growing segment
In November, Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey made history by becoming the first queer individuals in Nepal to officially register their marriage. Now, the couple hopes their union, formalised at a government office, will be the spark that leads to a wave of LGBTQ tourism in Nepal. Through their newly founded non-profit group Maya Ko […]
Rainbow images lead to ‘LGBT extremism’ convictions in Russia
Russians courts have convicted the first two people on charges of LGBTQ extremism following the Supreme Court’s decision in November to ban the “international LGBT movement”. One woman was sentenced to five days in jail for wearing earrings that had a rainbow on them. A man was convicted and fined for posting a photo of […]
Two 16-year-olds sentenced for ‘sadistic’ murder of transgender teen in England
The two 16-year-old convicted of murdering a transgender teenager in northwest England nearly a year ago were handed life sentences Friday with minimum prison terms of 20 and 22 years. Justice Amanda Yip lifted the reporting restrictions on naming the killers of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey. They were identified at Manchester Crown Court as Scarlett Jenkinson […]
Meet the newscaster in drag making LGBTQ+ history on Mexican TV
Guillermo Barraza buzzed with a nervous energy as he watched himself transform. Hands delicately painted stripes of bright pink eyeshadow onto Barraza’s angular face as newscasters and makeup crews bustled around him. In a small studio set in the heart of Mexico City, Barraza made history. Through his drag character Amanda, the 32-year-old journalist was […]
Trudeau decries Alberta transgender policies: “most anti-LGBT in the country”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling Alberta’s new proposals on the treatment of transgender youth the “most anti-LGBT of anywhere in the country.” Trudeau says that if Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wants to fight to make life better for Canadians, she should fight for better housing and affordable groceries or against climate change. Trudeau made […]
Kentucky’s first transgender elected official wants you to get involved in local politics
Kentucky legislators passed some of the nation’s worst anti-LGBTQ+ laws in 2023. Alongside bans on gender-affirming care for minors and bans on teaching LGBTQ+ topics in public schools, the state enacted a law that also requires school districts to “at a minimum” prohibit trans students from using restrooms that align with their gender identity, and […]
‘Gay Christ’ poster sparks outcry in Spain as some say depiction of Jesus looks ‘homoerotic’
A poster in the southern Spanish city of Seville that depicts a young, handsome, Jesus wearing only a loincloth has unleashed a storm on social media. Some people are labeling it an affront to the figure of Christ and others have been posting lewd remarks and memes poking fun at the image. The poster by […]