Original 'X-Men' Character Iceman Comes Out As Gay

Original "X-Men" member Iceman is set to make a big revelation this week: he's gay.

The iconic character makes the surprise declaration in the All-New X-Men #40, which is available in stores and online April 22. Pages from the new book show an intimate conversation between a young Iceman, or Bobby Drake, and pal Jean Grey.

"There are thousands, if not millions, of stories of people who, for many different reasons, felt the need to hide their sexuality," he said. "The X-Men, with the conceit of time travel, give us a fascinating platform in which to examine such personal journeys. This is just the first little chapter of a much larger story that will be told.” Read More

Making the pen give LGBT might

In a move to help make journalism as practiced in the Philippines more sensitive to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, Outrage Magazine has launched the Pink Ink.

Pink Ink is in line with the #HateWatchPH, which aims to: 1) document LGBT-related hate crimes happening in the Philippines, and 2) empower LGBT people to report, and/or do something when such crimes happen; and 3) form partnerships with like-minded organizations to eradicate – not just curb – LGBT-related hate crimes. It has numerous components as it attempts to help develop would-be journalists while they are still in campuses, and provide support to already professional media practitioners.  Read More

Canada: Gay Olympians honoured at 2015 Bonham Centre Awards Gala

Pioneering out Olympians were honoured April 23 for their contributions to  LGBT inclusion in sports. The Bonham Centre and the Canadian Olympic Committee hosted this year’s Gala. The awards recognize individuals or groups that have made a difference in the field of sexual diversity education. Mark Tewksbury, Greg Louganis and Marnie McBean will be recognized as people who have made a difference in the world of sports.

“These are people that were coming up through sport at a time when there was no safe space at all,” says Brenda Cossman, director of the Bonham Centre.

Mark Tewksbury, who won Olympic gold in the 100 metres backstroke in 1992 for Canada, says that was the case for him. “There wasn’t really space to talk about it with anybody. There’s been a massive shift in sport,” he says. “It’s not a non-issue, but the issue has advanced.” Read More

US: Olympian Bruce Jenner Interview Breaks Twitter Record as Most Social Friday Telecast of All Time

Bruce Jenner, the Olympic gold medalist and member of the Kardashian family, ended months of speculation when he announced during a television special that he identified as a woman and was transitioning to female.

The announcement made him among the highest-profile people to publicly come out as transgender. For the purpose of the interview, Mr. Jenner said he preferred the pronoun “he,” and Ms. Sawyer called him Bruce. He said that he had been undergoing hormone therapy for a year and a half but had not made up his mind about reassignment surgery. He declined to provide the name he might use during or after his transition, citing privacy concerns.

According to Nielsen Social, a total of 8.1 million people in the US saw one or more of the 972,000 tweets sent about the 2-hour special, “Bruce Jenner – The Interview” The tweets were sent by 403,000 people and viewed 139 million times, making Jenner’s official declaration that he is a transgender individual who identifies as a woman the top worldwide trend on Friday.  See more of Jenner's interview here

China: LGBT Consumers, how luxury can tap a $300 billion market

Long an important target for marketers in the West, LGBT consumers often have higher disposable incomes and lead consumer trends. With public acceptance of LGBT people continuing to grow worldwide, it’s time for brands to think global when developing their marketing strategies to this community. Case in point: as the second-largest economy—and home to the largest LGBT population—in the world, China deserves serious attention.

According to Hong Kong-based venture capital firm LGBT Capital, the annual purchasing power of China’s 70 million-strong LGBT population amounts to $300 billion, compared to $870 billion for Europe and $750 billion for the United States. Despite its size and huge potential for growth, virtually no Western brand has formally engaged this community, mainly due to its invisibility in public and in the Chinese media. But that’s quickly changing. Read More

Taiwan: Gamania becomes first company to recognize gay marriage

Computer game developer Gamania has become the first listed company in Taiwan to recognize same-sex marriage by extending marital leave to gay employees. Gamania said it realized that gender equality was a global trend, with tech companies such as Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, HP and eBay throwing their support behind gay marriage in the US. It added that it was important create an happy work-life environment for staff. Read More

US: IBM has 'strong opposition' to Louisiana religious freedom bill

IBM voiced its "strong opposition" to Louisiana's religious freedom bill (HB 707) backed by Gov. Bobby Jindal, a week after the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau also asked that the bill be dropped over fears that it would tarnish the state's open and accepting image.

"We are deeply concerned by reports that you intend to support this legislation. IBM has made significant investments in Louisiana including most recently a technology services delivery center in Baton Rouge, creating new jobs for Louisiana workers," wrote James Driesse, IBM senior state executive. "A bill that legally protects discrimination based on same-sex marriage status will create a hostile environment for our current and prospective employees, and is antithetical to our company’s values."

IBM's prominent, 800-job facility in downtown Baton Rouge is being built only few blocks away from where the legislation will be debated. The company is expected to bring 400 jobs to Monroe in the northern part of the state.  Read More 

China: Google, IBM, Ford and McKinsey attend first LGBT job fair

The event was organized by WorkForLGBT and Shanghai LGBT Professionals as part of its second, annual LGBT Corporate Diversity & Inclusion Conference. Both the conference and job fair – held in conjunction with Kanzhun.com – took place at the Langham Xintiandi Shanghai.

Around 200 HR leaders and LGBT employees attended the conference, and around 400 LGBT Chinese job-seekers attended the job fair, which featured 17 Fortune 500 companies. 

WorkForLGBT founder, Steven Paul Bielinski, said that LGBT job seekers were keen to meet with representatives of companies that had comprehensive diversity and inclusion policies: "Talented LGBT employees from all across China traveled to Shanghai to be part of this groundbreaking job fair. Inclusive employers with programs, policies, and a corporate culture where LGBT employees can bring their authentic selves to work are their first choice."  Read More

Australia: PwC appoints advisory board for greater diversity and inclusion

PriceWaterhouseCoopers Australia has announced a number of appointments to a new external advisory board that will be charged with moving the firm towards greater diversity and inclusion.

The professional services company is already regarded as a market leader in this field. It held the number one spot in 2012 and second place in 2013 in Australia's Pride in Diversity's Workplace Equality Index – which ranks best employers for LGBTI individuals. It scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index in 2015 and 2014, and also regularly features in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index in the UK.

‘PwC is determined to be different and our external advisory board is one of the ways we are doing this,’ said PwC Chief Executive Luke Sayers in a statement. ‘This is a continuation of our deep commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce.' Read More

Russia: Meet the badass mom who’s taking on the gay propaganda law

Elena Musolina grew up thinking homosexuality was an affliction of alcoholics and drug addicts. Now she marches alongside her son at LGBT rights protests and goes head-to-head with Russia’s most vocal anti-LGBT politician.

When Musolina joined Coming Out’s support group for parents of LGBT kids in 2011, she didn’t expect it would become political. But that changed when the “gay propaganda” ban made her feel like her son was a second-class citizen. Musolina, a petite 68-year-old, comes to LGBT rights demonstrations in St. Petersburg with other mothers in Coming Out’s parents club, which she now helps lead. 

The group is now under threat after Coming Out was branded a “foreign agent” under a 2012 law that requires NGOs receiving foreign funding and engaging in what the government broadly deems “political activity” to register as such. Read More

UK: Mother of bisexual asylum seeker will sue Britain if they send her son home to die

A Jamaican bisexual asylum seeker could be deported at any moment after being detained by the UK government. Orashia Edwards, 32, was ruled to be lying about his sexuality in the final judgment of his asylum case earlier this month.

This is in despite of a man in the UK saying he has been in a relationship with Edwards for the past two years and his entire family being British citizens. Two specialists living in Jamaica have also written on Edwards' behalf to the UK, saying it is not safe for him to return.

His mother warns that if her son is sent home, she will sue the UK government for deporting him to a place where he could very easily be killed.  Read More