US: High rates of HIV found among trans women as new studies narrow transgender data gap

Although transgender people -- especially trans women of color -- have among the higher rates of HIV infection, this population has not been adequately studied. Many HIV prevention studies miscategorized transgender women as men who have sex with men, and there has been little specific research on HIV among trans men.

However, HIV prevention and services for transgender women and men were the focus of several presentations at the 2015 National HIV Prevention Conference (NHPC), which took place in December in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, the upcoming Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) will feature a plenary session on transgender people -- a first for this research conference focused on HIV/AIDS and related infectious diseases. Follow the link for an overview of new data. Read more via The Body Pro

Nike cuts ties with Manny Pacquiao after derogatory comments

Nike terminated its endorsement contract with boxer Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday after he made derogatory remarks about same-sex couples.

"We find Manny Pacquiao's comments abhorrent," the company said in a statement. "Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community."

Based on Pacquiao's comments, a spokesman confirmed that he is no longer on the company's endorsement roster. Pacquiao, 37, had endorsed Nike for a little more than eight years.

On Thursday, Pacquiao said he respects Nike's decision to drop him but stood pat on his opposition to same-sex marriage and added that he is happy that "a lot of people were alarmed by the truth."

Read more via ESPN

Czech Republic: Officials launch criminal investigation into 30 gay men over HIV exposure

A public health department in the Czech Republic has launched criminal investigations against 30 HIV-positive men whom it alleges had unprotected sex in violation of the country’s laws that make it a crime to expose someone else to HIV.

There are no complainants in the case, nor any evidence anyone has contracted HIV from the 30 men under investigation. The sole evidence against the men is that they contracted other sexually transmitted infections (STI) — like gonorrhea or syphilis — after testing HIV-positive, which the health department contends is proof they had condomless sex in violation of the law.

“There’s absolutely no evidence, there are no victims,” said Jakub Tomšej, a lawyer with the Czech AIDS Help Society, which has provided counseling to some of the men under investigation. “We believe the only consequence [of this kind of investigation] is that HIV-positive people who get another STI will simply avoid doctors.”

Edwin Bernard, the U.K.-based head of the HIV Justice Network, said that the collaboration between a public health agency and law enforcement in this new investigation is alarming because it threatens much of the progress that has been made in Europe in reforming HIV policy. 

Read more via Buzzfeed
 

Peru: Police use water cannons against LGBT activists

Peruvian police used water cannons against a group of activists who staged an LGBT rights protest. More than two dozen people gathered in Lima’s Plaza de Armas to take part in the protest that was described as “kisses against homophobia.” Sin Etiquetas, a Lima-based LGBT website, posted pictures to its website that show same-sex couples kissing and holding hands in the street with armored police trucks in the background. Other pictures show officers confronting the protesters. 

George Liendo of Promsex, a Peruvian LGBT rights group, said that that authorities have banned protests of “any kind” in the square. Although religious processions, cultural events and other demonstrations routinely take place without incident. “They (the police) are obligated to protect the LGBTI community, as it is a population that is particularly susceptible to violence,” said Liendo. Read more via Washington Blade

UK: The gay teacher transforming a Muslim school

It took one complaint from a parent “as a Christian” to undo all Andrew Moffat’s work teaching children respect for people of different sexual orientation. A meeting of 40 parents followed with calls for an apology. Above all, the parents objected that he had told children he was gay. Moffat felt he could no longer continue and resigned. Far from retreating to a safe haven, however, he crossed Birmingham to take up an even greater challenge: assistant headteacher at Parkfield Community school, where 98.9% of pupils are from Muslim families.

That was two years ago. With the backing of the headteacher, Moffat went on to introduce a No Outsiders policy promoting diversity at the 770-pupil school, where 23 nationalities are represented. That includes welcoming people of any race, colour or religion and those who are LGBT.

A gay teacher teaching gay rights to pupils from a faith that believes homosexuality is a sin, punishable by death in some countries? It doesn’t seem possible and yet the school’s Muslim parents appear to have accepted that children can be taught about Britain’s anti-discrimination laws without undermining their religious beliefs. Learning from his unhappy experience at his previous school, Moffat has been careful to centre the policy around the Equality Act 2010, to first gain the support of the governing body, and to keep parents fully informed, inviting them in to see the books that would be used.  Read more via the Guardian

Australia: After this anti-gay group tried to ruin a dance for LGBTI teens, everyone just donated to it instead

An anti-gay group’s attempt to ruin a formal for LGBTI youth backfired badly after people on social media responded by donating to the event instead. A Facebook page for 'Stop Safe Schools Coalition' is encouraging followers to buy tickets to an upcoming LGBTI youth formal in order to prevent young people from being able to attend. Ironically, the dance is not funded by Safe Schools Coalition, but another non-profit: Minus18.

After learning of the protest, people began donating to support Minus18 and the formal— exceeding $48,000 via chuffed.org  so far (you can still donate). Organisers say they’re “ecstatic”, and are looking at making the event free for all by refunding tickets bought by those actually attending.  

Read more via Buzzfeed
 

Canada: Kael McKenzie sworn in as 1st transgender judge

Winnipeg has sworn in Canada's first transgender judge. After being appointed to the bench in mid-December, former Crown attorney Kael McKenzie officially took his seat in the Manitoba court Friday.

"Kael is the first self-identified transgender judge in Canada and that is something to be celebrated," a judge said to a crowd of applause at the swearing-in ceremony. "Kael is a proud member of the Manitoba Métis Nation. His appointment can only serve to strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice in this province."

McKenzie was praised for his involvement in the legal community before saying a few words himself. Read more via CBC 

Portugal: Abortion laws liberalized and same sex couples adoption rights granted

The Portuguese Parliament, ruled by a Socialist-Communist majority coalition, has further liberalized abortion laws and granted same-sex couples the right to adopt children. Overturning a veto by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva last month, the new ruling allows for same sex couples to adopt children and removes the mandatory requirement that women seeking an abortion receive prior counselling and pay for the procedure.

The President explained his veto by asking for more public debate on such “sensitive social topics.”

In 2010, the Portuguese Parliament had approved equal rights for same-sex marriages, excluding adoption rights. Portugal is among the first 10 counties in the world to allow same-sex marriages. Today, Portugal is one of the few countries in the world to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in its Constitution.   Read more via PAJ 

This beautiful photo series depicts lives of LGBT people around the globe

National Geographic photographer Robin Hammond’s photo series, “Where Love Is Illegal,” has called much-needed attention to the lives of LGBT people living in danger around the world. As the project has evolved, Hammond has been giving vulnerable LGBT people a platform to tell their own stories, especially through Instagram, where the project has more than 132,000 followers and counting. 

Here’s the words of one subject, Alex: “Every day was full of tension, fear and depression but I did my best not to let the depressive spiral take a hold of me, trying to help others deal with problems that I had never had and I tried to focus on positive things.” Alex (@alx_supernova) is a #lesbian from #Caracas, #Venezuela. When her parents learned of her sexuality, they sent her first to a rehabilitation camp in #Virginia, followed by another in #Utah. Read more via Buzzfeed

Turkey: All gender bathroom initiative achieves success at Boğaziçi University

Today, we talked to Beren Azizi and Görkem Ulumeriç of Boğaziçi University LGBTI Studies Association about the “All Gender Bathroom” campaign, which officially yielded its initial successful outcome.

Beren Azizi: This idea emerged from analyses of the “violation of rights” that result from “deprivation.” Education is a human right, because everyone is equal; however in practice we see that things do not really work that way. LGBTI+ students drop out of their studies, do not come to school, they are depressed or “unsuccessful.”

When you start asking what happened and what went wrong, you realize that places, where a fundamental right such as education is offered, are in fact filled with challenges and obstacles for the LGBTI+’s. Toilets, as we see from numerous scientific studies around the world, are one of those obstacles. Based on the feedback we received from LGBTI+ students, we realized that “All Gender Bathroom” is a right and we should demand it.  Read more via LGBTI News Turkey

UK: Sex education will not be compulsory

England's education secretary has rejected MPs' calls to make sex-and-relationship education compulsory in all schools, infuriating campaigners. Four key House of Commons committees wrote to Nicky Morgan last month, pressing for sex education to be made statutory in primaries and secondaries. In response, Mrs Morgan now says the government "will continue" to keep the subject's status "under review".

But the National Aids Trust said it was "extremely disappointed". The trust's chief executive Deborah Gold said the decision meant the subject "will continue to be delivered according to the whims of individual head teachers rather than the needs of young people".

Last month, the chairmen of the education, health, home affairs and business committees wrote to Mrs Morgan saying personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), which includes sex education, was a "crucial part of preparing young people for life". Read more via BBC

Criticised for rejecting same-sex marriage, but is the Anglican church actually helping gay rights?

At their recent meeting, the Anglican church leaders did indeed decide to suspend the episcopal church for its “fundamental departure” from the faith. It’s also true that the decision has come as a result of pressure from more conservative church leaders – not at least those from a range of African countries. But one part of the official statement that came out of this meeting has gone largely unnoticed – and that’s the section in which the church leaders “reaffirmed their rejection of criminal sanctions against same-sex attracted people”.

This statement is surprising. Many of the leaders come from countries in which same-sex practices are illegal – particularly those who sought sanctions on the US church. Gay men and women face being ostracised and even imprisoned in countries such as Uganda, Burundi, Nigeria and Rwanda – all of which were represented at the meeting. The Anglican churches in Uganda and Nigeria have even supported introducing new, fiercer anti-homosexual legislation in their countries.

They could do so without facing any “consequences” for their role in the Anglican Communion, while the US church is now being sanctioned for its support for, and blessing of, loving relationships between people of the same sex. Read more via the Conversation