LGBT Ugandans: Our health depends on trans nominee in U.S.
Activists hope that Dr Levine will play a crucial role in focusing attention on and increasing support for left-behind LGBT populations in Uganda, who need improved access to health care services. She will be in a position to make a positive difference because the United States is the single biggest funder to Uganda’s national health […]
Japan: Introduce LGBT Equality Act before Olympics: 116 Groups Urge Prime Minister Suga to Take Action
(Tokyo) – Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan should commit to introducing a law to protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, J-ALL, Athlete Ally, and Human Rights Watch said today. 116 human rights and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) organizations sent a letter supporting such legislation to the […]
After advocacy by transgender women, Aetna agrees to expand insurance coverage for gender-affirming surgeries
Allison Escolastico, a 30-year-old transgender woman, has wanted breast augmentation surgery for a decade. By 2019, she finally thought her insurance company, Aetna, would pay for it, only to find that it considered the procedure cosmetic, not medically necessary, and refused to cover it. “I knew from my case, it wasn’t cosmetic,” said Escolastico, who […]
No Place For LGBT Malaysians?
In Malaysia, where sodomy is a crime with laws strictly enforced, it was reported that the government is considering amending the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act – also known as Act 355 – to enable heavy penalties to be imposed on the LGBT community. At the moment, LGBT people face three-year imprisonment, a fine of […]
Honduran lawmakers vote to lock in bans on abortion, same-sex marriage
TEGUCIGALPA, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Members of the Honduran Congress voted on Thursday to amend the constitution making it much harder to reverse existing hard-line bans on abortion and same-sex marriage, as lawmakers double down on socially conservative priorities. Lawmakers voted to require a three-quarters super-majority to change a constitutional article that gives a fetus […]
Taiwan: Step taken toward allowing international same-sex marriages
Taipei, Jan. 22 (CNA) The Judicial Yuan on Friday approved draft revisions to a law that would grant recognition to all international same-sex marriages, except for those involving a partner from China, and said it will send them to the Legislature for review. The changes would apply to Article 46 of the Act Governing the […]
Challenge against Section 377A: Chief Justice says Govt’s ‘compromise’ on enforcement should be considered
SINGAPORE – Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said the “political compromise” struck by the Government in 2007 – to keep Section 377A of the Penal Code but not enforce it – should be a factor in determining whether the law, which criminalises sex between men, passes muster. The Chief Justice made the point repeatedly on Monday […]
Canada: Anti-LGBTQ politician who proudly opposed conversion therapy ban is kicked out of his party
A right-wing politician has been voted out of his party for a series of actions that officials found contrary to their party’s conservative values. That ostensibly includes accepting donations from white supremacists and attempting to protect so-called “conversion therapy.” Derek Sloan, an elected Member of Parliament (MP) from Eastern Ontario, was ousted from the Conservative […]
Biden to lift Pentagon’s ban on transgender people serving in military
Multiple people familiar with the matter confirm to ABC News that President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Monday that will lift the Pentagon’s ban on transgender people serving in the military. The controversial ban was announced by former President Donald Trump in 2017 through a tweet and reversed the Obama […]
Separate public toilets for trans community to come up soon in New Delhi
Members of the transgender community will now be able to use public toilets exclusively made for them in New Delhi. In the annual budget for 2021-22, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to provide public toilets exclusively for the third-gender in the National Capital. H.P. Singh, a senior NDMC official dealing with the […]
Brazil’s LGBT refugees tell their stories in the short film ‘Hazte Sentir’
The short film Hazte Sentir (Make Yourself Heard) documents a moment in the lives of LGBT refugees in Manaus, the largest city in Brazil’s Amazonas state. Cineola and Frameline share the collaborative film free online. The process of creating the film is unique. Director Dieter Deswarte shared directing duties with the subjects, residents of Casa […]
The Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t been a “great equaliser” for India’s queer population
In a nation roiled with socio-political anxieties, Covid-19 amplified our sense of impending doom: a quiet cough ringing alarm bells in our heads, while the morning news kept getting darker by the day. What is worse is that against a popular perception of the pandemic as a “great equaliser,” Covid-19 laid bare the differential vulnerabilities […]
LGBT group head aims to be Knesset’s first open lesbian
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai announced on Sunday that one of the candidates of his Israelis Party would be Hila Pe’er, the chairwoman of Aguda, the Association for LGBT equality in Israel. If elected, Pe’er would become Israel’s first-ever openly lesbian member of Knesset. There has also never been an openly bisexual or transgendered MK. […]
Biden takes first major steps to reverse Trump’s attacks on LGBT+ Americans
Throughout his four-year presidency, Donald Trump worked at every turn to limit the rights of LGBT+ people – and his administration used his final days in office to deliver a parting shot at queer people. On Sunday (17 January), John Daukas, head of the civil rights division in Trump’s Department of Justice, issued a 23-page […]
Bernie’s Mittens Have Us Smitten; Meet The Queer Woman Behind Them
Whether it’s Senator Bernie Sanders joining the ladies of Sex and the City or outside our favorite LGBT nightlife establishments waiting for them to reopen (like most of us), we have all seen the viral memes of Bernie Sanders strolling into last weeks inauguration on a mission, documents gripped in his mitten laden hands. Those […]
Son of prominent anti-gay Nigerian politician causes internet frenzy by coming out as “Gay AF”
Bolu Okupe is the son of Dr. Doyin Okupe, a physician and politician in Nigeria, where LGBTQ rights are severely limited and same-sex relationships are outlawed. Bolu, currently in Paris, revealed on his Instagram that he is “Gay AF,” posing for photos in Pride-designed shorts while holding the Pride flag. Bolu has been out for […]
Chinese group KLSCAH Women says heavier punishment on LGBT community will spur more violence against them
Heavier punishments to prosecute the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population will only spur more violence and hatred towards the group, The Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) Women said. In a statement, its women’s division chairman Ng Geok Chee called out Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk […]
Acclaimed chef, LGBT advocate leads social, culinary change in Hong Kong
May Chow may be the most controversial — and visible — chef in Hong Kong: an acclaimed female restaurateur who is also a symbol of change for women and the LGBTQ community in greater China. But it seems she is just getting started. “I love to visit schools and show women that they can be […]
Doctor hands back medal over Court honour
The fallout from Margaret Court’s controversial Australia Day honour has continued, with a Canberra doctor handing back her own award in protest. Clara Tuck Meng Soo says the decision to award Australia’s highest honour to the outspoken tennis great “promotes discrimination” to LGBTQ people. Court’s appointment as Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in […]
UN: Eastern Caribbean States Called Out Over Anti-LGBT Bias
(Geneva) – Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis should decriminalize same-sex relations and adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, Human Rights Watch said today. During the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the two countries’ human rights records on June 19 and 20 at the United Nations Human Rights […]
She Raved About LGBT Lifestyle. Now She’s Been Deported
(NEWSER) – For Kristen Gray, Bali proved to be a dream come true, and the 28-year-old American wanted to share that dream—specifically, how the island is tolerant toward the LGBT community and Black visitors like her, and how others should move there. The Indonesian government, however, didn’t exactly appreciate her amateur ambassadorship. The New York […]
Seoul education office’s push for LGBT students protection faces opposition
Seoul education office’s push to protect LGBT students and eradicate discrimination at schools is facing opposition after the office released its 2021-23 draft plan to protect the human rights of students. In the draft plan, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education included its plan to support and protect minority pupils –- from multicultural to LGBT […]
Biden calls for LGBTQ protections in day-one executive order, angering conservatives
On his first day in office, President Biden issued a sweeping executive order making it clear that gay and transgender people are protected against discrimination in schools, health care, the workplace and other realms of American life. The executive order outlines a broad interpretation of last year’s landmark Supreme Court ruling that gay and transgender […]
Bangladesh’s first trans school ignites hope for acceptance
Riya was given away by her parents when she was five after a short spell at school where she was bullied for being different. Unable to accept that Riya is a hijra, a transgender or an intersex person, her parents abandoned her to a group whose primary means of survival was begging and sex work. […]
Biden to reverse transgender military ban imminently, White House says
President Joe Biden will soon reverse the ban on transgender people serving openly in the military, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Wednesday. While the reversal was not one of the 15 actions the new administration announced it would take Wednesday, Day One of the Biden presidency, Psaki said it would […]
Singapore eatery praised for LGBTQ allyship after homophobic incident in shop
A homophobic incident at a food outlet in Lau Pa Sat has drawn a flock of supporters – including local celebrities – commending the business for taking a stand against hate. Health food kiosk, Smol Singapore, posted an account yesterday of a hostile patron abusing staff over an LGBTQ pride flag which was displayed at […]
‘LGBT community deserves equal protection under the law’
Everyone is protected by the law and there is no room for harassment and threats against anyone regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. In upholding such principles, Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir said it welcomed the call by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for tougher laws in Asean countries to […]
Biden appoints Dr. Rachel Levine as assistant secretary of health, a historic first for transgender people
For the first time in history, a transgender person will go before the Senate to be confirmed for a presidential appointment. President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. If approved, Levine would be the first ever Senate-confirmed […]
Hungary’s government orders disclaimers on books with gay content
Hungary’s government, which has made hostility to LGBT people a central part of its right-wing agenda, ordered a publisher on Tuesday to print disclaimers identifying books containing “behaviour inconsistent with traditional gender roles”. The government said the action was needed to protect consumers from being misled, after Labrisz, a Lesbian group, published a fairytale anthology, […]
Romania Slammed for Violating Privacy Rights of Transgender Citizens
Europe’s top rights court held Tuesday that Romania violated the human rights of two transgender men by requiring sex reassignment surgery before recognizing their gender identity. The European Court of Human Rights found that requiring the men to undergo surgery before legally changing their gender violated their right to privacy. “The national courts placed the […]