The country risking it all for Europe – as Brexit Britain buries its head
They come out every night. They’re shot at with rubber bullets and they’re fired upon by water cannons and they’re detained and they’re hospitalised. But they come out every night anyway. They come out and they face down the police, with their riot shields and truncheons, because they still believe in Europe. They believe in […]
SCOTUS conservative majority appears ready to endorse Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors
The Supreme Court appeared likely to back a divisive Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care for minors after more than two hours of oral arguments on Wednesday in which the court delved into a culture war battle that has become even more politically fraught since the election. The transgender care case is the most significant […]
Gay clubgoers found guilty of “hooliganism” following Moscow raids
As many as a dozen individuals rounded up at gay clubs in Moscow this past weekend have been found guilty of “hooliganism” by a Russian court and sentenced to administrative detention. Three clubs were raided by Russian security forces Saturday night into Sunday morning “as part of measures to combat LGBT propaganda,” according to reporting […]
End of gay sex ban a small step for Singapore’s LGBTQ+ couples
Singapore’s decision to lift a colonial-era ban on sex between men is long overdue and will not end discrimination of LGBT groups in the city-state, rights activists and members of the gay community have said. On Sunday, Singapore’s prime minister announced a repeal of 377A law, which prohibited sex between men. “It’s just a small, […]
Three bills affecting transgender Albertans pass debate, set to become law
A trio of bills affecting transgender people in Alberta have passed the final stage of debate in the legislature and are set to become law. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have already promised to challenge the legislation in court, calling it discriminatory. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the bills are necessary to protect children and female athletes, […]
Transgender woman wins payout in China for electroshock ‘conversion’ therapy
A transgender woman in China who won an unprecedented compensation payout after being subjected to electroshock ‘conversion’ therapy in a psychiatric hospital where she said she was held against her will. The woman, known only by her nickname Ling Er for fear of reprisals, recently made headlines after winning 60,000 yuan (US$8,300) in compensation in […]
A dozen Moscow clubgoers found guilty after anti-LGBTQ ‘propaganda’ raids
A dozen Moscow clubgoers were found guilty of “petty hooliganism” and detained following anti-LGBTQ “propaganda” raids by Russian security forces, according to Russian court documents and local news reports. The group was arrested on Saturday night and early Sunday at three nightclubs — Arma, Inferno and Mono — in the Russian capital, according to a […]
In Supreme Court battle over transgender rights, conservatives look to an unlikely ally: Europe
When the Supreme Court hears oral arguments Wednesday in a major fight over Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, conservatives defending the law plan to point to an unexpected place as a model: Europe. Two decades ago, Republicans appeared allergic to foreign influence on the U.S. legal system, decrying Supreme Court decisions that looked […]
Anti-gay bill targets promotion, not LGBTQ+ people — Former Justice Minister
Ghana’s Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, is not intended to target LGBTQ individuals but seeks to prevent the promotion of LGBTQ practices, according to Nii Ayikoi Otoo, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Speaking on Master of the Game with Kwesi Kyei Darkwah (KKD), Ayikoi Otoo clarified […]
Spain’s Socialists to ban trans women from female sports
Spain’s ruling Socialist party intends to ban transgender women from competing in female sports and to remove the Q+ from the LGBTQ+ acronym. The Socialists, led by Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister, included plans to limit participation in female sports to “people with a female biological sex” in a policy document decided on at the […]
Village People singer defends Trump’s use of ‘Y.M.C.A.,’ says song isn’t a ‘gay anthem’
“Y.M.C.A.” singer and co-writer Victor Willis of the band Village People defended President-elect Donald Trump’s use of the song Monday on Facebook. Willis denied that the disco tune was intended as a “gay anthem,” saying he “knew nothing about the Y being a hang out for gays” when he wrote the lyrics. Willis said he […]
The BBC’s new obsession: nonbinary Morris dancers
Move over drag queens, the BBC has found a new group to obsess over: LGBT Morris dancers. As X user ‘ripx4nutmeg’ pointed out at the weekend, Britain’s state broadcaster has developed a curious fascination with gender-nonconforming English folk dancers. On Saturday, the BBC published an article about a ‘queer-inclusive Morris dance group’ in York. Ramshackle […]
Georgian Dream’s Oppressive Anti-LGBT Law Comes into Effect
Georgian Dream’s homophobic and transphobic law “On the Protection of Family Values and Minors,” adopted in September, comes into force on December 2. The repressive law, introduced as part of Georgian Dream’s hate-laced election campaign, imposes several restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly for queer people, bans gender reassignment surgeries and legal procedures for gender recognition, reaffirms […]
How lesbian escort agencies became a form of self-care in Japan
In Japanese society, prostitution is often framed as a necessary evil – a way to maintain social harmony by providing men with an outlet for their pent-up sexual desires. While there are a number of issues with this view – such as the implication that men are inherently unable to control their sexual impulses – it […]
He’s the first known transgender lawyer to argue before Supreme Court. For Chase Strangio, the mission ‘is not lost on me’
A single 15-minute argument in the middle of this week could change Chase Strangio’s life – and the lives of so many people like him in the United States. Strangio, an attorney for the ACLU, is set to make history Wednesday as the first known transgender person to argue before the US Supreme Court. And he’ll do it […]
A twice-yearly shot could help end AIDS, but can it get to those who need it?
MEXICO CITY (AP) — It’s been called the closest the world has ever come to a vaccine against the AIDS virus. The twice-yearly shot was 100% effective in preventing HIV infections in a study of women, and results published Wednesday show it worked nearly as well in men. Drugmaker Gilead said it will allow cheap, generic versions to be sold […]
Pastor Oscar Bougardt Vows to Block “Abomination” Cape Town WorldPride
Cape Town’s most virulently homophobic pastor, Oscar Bougardt, is back in the spotlight, lashing out at news that the city will host WorldPride in 2028. The International Association of Pride Organisers (InterPride) recently announced that Cape Town Pride’s bid to host WorldPride was successful, sparking excitement across the LGBTIQ+ community in the country. This will […]
Two out trans candidates are running for office in Nepal for the first time
Two out trans candidates are running for office in Nepal, marking the first time that out trans candidates have run for the positions. Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan are both rallying for a role in parliament. Both Honey and Mouni, who are not related despite sharing the same surname, are in the running for the […]
Ghana parties stoke anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment ahead of election
Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community faces an impossible choice in next month’s general elections after the leading presidential candidates all promised to crack down on gay rights to tap into widespread anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the country. One of the first tasks the winner of the December 7 vote may face is to sign into law or veto […]
Moscow Police Raid Clubs Overnight Under “LGBT Propaganda” Law
Police in Moscow raided multiple bars early Saturday and arrested the director of a travel agency serving LGBTQ+ customers under laws criminalizing “LGBT propaganda,” state media reported. The raids came on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s Supreme Court outlawing the “international LGBT movement,” paving the way for arrests and prosecutions of the country’s already repressed […]
Trans activist Sir Lady Java fought hate and won. So can we
Sir Lady Java wasn’t just a trailblazer; she was my second mother. Like so many trans girls, I saw myself reflected in her strength, grace, and unapologetic authenticity. For a young trans girl navigating a world that often felt cold and unwelcoming, Sir Lady Java was an icon, a beacon of hope, and living proof […]
From Chinese army dancer to transgender icon: Jin Xing’s extraordinary journey
In this edition, we meet the Oprah Winfrey of China. Born a man and once crowned the country’s best male dancer, Jin Xing has gone on to become China’s first transgender icon and a star TV host. Now in Paris for her upcoming show, she shares her life story with FRANCE 24’s Yuka Royer. In […]
‘To be seen, have unabashed fun and be liberated’: A Kenyan party celebrates queer joy
Though he may not remember, the first time I met Ashton Laurence was backstage at a music showcase in Nairobi last December. He was touching up his make-up, preparing to go on stage in a blonde wig, glitter mesh sleeves, and a long red train. Moments later, as I watched him on stage, performing his […]
Italian Transgender Ex-Politician Recalls Parliament Bathroom Ban As Sarah McBride Faces Similar Fight
Despite deadly conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and a possible trade war with China, US lawmakers still have time to argue about which toilet they are supposed to use. In a striking reminder of the enduring challenges faced by transgender politicians, Vladimir Luxuria, the first transgender parliamentarian in Europe, has voiced her support […]
LGBT Activism on the Ropes: ‘No One Wants to Join That Team’
They’re so close to getting it — and yet still so far. Transgender activism appears to be going through a facelift in the aftermath of President-elect Donald Trump’s resounding Election Day victory — and the massive repudiation of far-leftism that Trump’s win entailed. According to the New York Post, transgender activists are “reconsidering their abrasive approach as public support slips.” Citing a New York […]
LGBTQ+ people in Mombasa recount anti-gay protests
MOMBASA — Astraeus O’Levin is tired of strangers telling her they want to kill her. In 2015, as a transgender woman, she left the scrutiny of her family in western Kenya, seeking peace and new opportunities in the tourism sector in the eastern coastal city of Mombasa. Instead she was greeted by children pelting rocks and religious […]
Polish government approves criminalisation of anti-LGBT hate speech
Poland’s government has approved plans to add sexual orientation, gender, age and disability to the categories covered by Poland’s hate crime laws. Those guilty of such offences can face jail terms. Polish law already makes “public insult based on national, ethnic, racial or religious affiliation” a crime punishable by up to three years in prison. However, the […]
LGBTQI+ Allies Conference begins December 2 in Curaçao
WILLEMSTAD – From December 2 to 4, the LGBTQI+ Allies Conference will take place at the Kura Hulanda Conference Center on Curaçao. Organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the event brings together a diverse group of participants, including activists, policymakers, researchers, artists, and community leaders. The conference focuses on promoting inclusion and […]
Saskatchewan Premier Faces Backlash Over Transgender Policy
Recent discussions surrounding education policy in Saskatchewan have sparked significant controversy, with sharp criticism aimed at Premier Scott Moe. A proposed change room policy affecting transgender students has triggered heated debates not only within the legislature but also among the general public, particularly as it pertains to the right of students to use facilities corresponding […]
L.A. County gears up for Trump with millions in funding for immigrants, transgender residents
Gearing up for another Trump presidency, Los Angeles County supervisors will funnel millions in funding to beef up support for immigrants and transgender residents, who could be targeted by the incoming administration. The governing board of the deep-blue county passed a flurry of resistance-themed motions Tuesday in response to the incoming president’s anti-transgender rhetoric and […]