A new web series aims to take a thoughtful, no-holds-barred look at gender identity, "to tell their own stories about being queer and trans" as opposed to "just people talking about queer and trans communities." Newly released episode two: Host Kristin Russo sits down with writer, musician, filmmaker and performer, Vivek Shraya, about bisexual erasure and his experience identifying as bisexual. Shraya also discusses his new book “She of the Mountains,” a bisexual love story based on his life experiences. Read More
Dolce & Gabbana comments trigger public outrage--and uncomfortable silence
In an interview with the Italian magazine Panorama, designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of Dolce & Gabbana had some contentious things to say about same-sex families and children born of IVF: “You are born to a mother and a father, or at least that’s how it should be,” Mr. Dolce said. “I call children of chemistry, synthetic children. Rented uterus, semen chosen from a catalog.”
Outrage was swift. Read More
Japan: Lawmakers form nonpartisan group to support LGBTs ahead of 2020 Olympics
To avoid a repeat of the Russian anti-gay law controversy at last year's Sochi Games, lawmakers established a group to rid Japan of discrimination against sexual minorities ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The nonpartisan body includes Liberal Democratic Party member Hiroshi Hase, a former vice education minister; Komeito member Masaaki Taniai, vice chairman of the party's Policy Research Council; and Democratic Party of Japan member Goshi Hosono, chairman of the party's Policy Research Committee.
"As it hosts the Olympic Games, there is no doubt that Japanese society will be questioned on how it treats its sexual minorities," Hase said. "We must substantiate the principles described in the basic plan of the Games." Read More
Nigeria: Presidential elections "Vote for me; I too oppose gay marriage"
Anti-gay politics continue in Nigeria, as the presidential campaign of Muhammadu Buhari denied the accusation that Buhari struck a deal with Western nations to repeal Nigeria’s new anti-gay law in exchange for supporting his campaign to unseat President Goodluck Jonathan.
“There is no relationship between General Buhari and any western nation concerning gay marriage and such pervasive orientations that are not in conformity with our cultures and values,” said Olayemi Success, national coordinator of the campaign’s Buhari Volunteer Network.
Buhari will not seek to repeal the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, that provides up to 14 years in prison for anyone who enters into a same-sex marriage and up to a 10-year sentence for anyone who attends a same-sex wedding in Nigeria, makes a “public show of same-sex amorous relationship,” or belongs to a “gay organization.” Read More
UK: Rugby players get naked to support LGBT domestic violence hotline
Rugby players at Kings College London have gotten naked for a great cause -- to support an organization that helps victims of LGBT domestic violence, an issue that gets little attention.
The players and the student newspaper Roar News have teamed up on a calendar, with proceeds going to help Broken Rainbow UK. At least one in four lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people experience domestic violence, the newspaper reported, and Broken Rainbow is facing funding cuts. Read More
UK: David Cameron Supports Trans Rights – And Says We Need To Tackle “Homophobic Bullying”
David Cameron has pledged to tackle prejudice against transgender people and said “one of the most important things” is to combat bullying in schools related to sexual orientation.
“I think we need to take a look at what the issues are and what the specific issues of discrimination that trans people have,” said the prime minister. “I think one of the most important things is what happens in our schools, particularly homophobic and biphobic bullying.” Read More
Australia: MP sees gay plot in anti-bully scheme
In a presentation to Liberal MPs at Parliament House, Peter Abetz has warned colleagues that an anti-bullying program, Safe Schools Coalition Australia, is actually a "gay lifestyle promotion program" and should be stopped from coming to Western Australia.
The SSCA program, he said, crossed the line into advocacy and was "really not an anti-bullying program". "In fact, when you look at it closer, it really is little more than a gay, lesbian, transgender lifestyle promotion program," Mr Abetz said. "The militant gay lesbian lobby is trying to get this into our schools to 'normalise' what they consider the LGBTI agenda."
Shadow minister for disability services, mental health and child protection, Stephen Dawson, a supporter of the program, said the comments were "misguided and homophobic". Read More
Australia: Sri Lankan cricket fan displays homophobic banner at World Cup
A Sri Lankan cricket fan has been roundly condemned by his countrymen for waving a placard labeling Glenn Maxwell a ‘fag’ at a world cup match in Sydney after a photo made rounds on Sri Lankan social media.
Politician Malsha Kumaranatunge, and the daughter of a former sports minister, said cricket was a game you played with respect, most importantly for your opponents.
'Holding placards like this, insulting players of the host country, in their own soil, is not only disrespectful to the people of Australia but reflects us Sri Lankans in a poor light,' she wrote on Facebook. 'Using homophobic terms to insult opposing players or anyone is unacceptable. Cricket is for everyone. Whether you are Sinhalese,Tamil or Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu, rich or poor, gay or straight. Respect.' Read More
Italy: School plan to change gender stereotypes causes storm
A plan to to challenge young children’s ideas about gender through play at schools in northern Italy – including with a memory game that contains images of male homemakers and female plumbers – has created a storm of protest, with some politicians saying the effort will confuse children about their sexual identity.
The programme – titled Game of Respect – is aimed at children aged three to six in 45 schools in the Trieste region and involves educating teachers about how to use games and role-playing to teach gender equality. Read More
European Court Rules Turkey Cannot Make Sterilization A Requirement For Gender Reassignment
Europe’s top human rights court ruled Tuesday against the government of Turkey in a case brought by a trans man who was denied the right to gender reassignment surgery unless he agreed to be sterilized.
Twenty countries of the 47 states that signed the human rights charter that created the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights impose sterilization as a requirement for people seeking legal gender change, according to the org. Transgender Europe. Tuesday’s ruling, which is technically binding on the courts of member states, comes as several European countries are overhauling their gender identity laws to give more control over gender identity to individuals.
“It’s absolutely thrilling and important to have this judgement now,” said Richard Köhler, Transgender Europe’s senior policy officer. Read More
Turkey: Council of State rules firings of gay teacher against the law
The Council of State has ruled that the dismissal of a teacher who has homosexual relations in their private life to be against the law. The Council of State has pointed to the lack of evidence, indication or witnesses to show that the plaintiff reflected homosexual tendencies in the school or engaged in such relations with students outside of the school. Read More
Germany: Court fines father who ‘tried to marry gay son off to Lebanese girl’
A court in Germany has handed out fines to the father and two uncles of a gay teenager after they abducted him and tried to marry him off to a Lebanese girl against his will. After a five-minute hearing in Berlin, the father and uncles were each fined 1,350 euros in absentia for depriving a minor his personal freedom by abducting him and taking him abroad.
Nasser El-Ahmad was 15 when he revealed to his family he was homosexual. The 18-year-old also alleges that he was subject to verbal threats and physical violence. The Berlin court did not handle these separate allegations of torture, but the abduction occurred after Nasser was put into care having run away from home.
Nasser, unlike the accused, was present at the hearing and wore a badge marked “STOP HOMOPHOBIA”. He told reporters afterwards: “At least this came to court and I am happy for that. I’m not someone who hides. I don’t want to suppress my homosexuality.” Read More