Indonesia: Religious leaders soften stance on LGBTs

Amid growing pressure from Muslim clerics to seek harsher punishment for members of the LGBT community, an interfaith forum has agreed to take a more humane approach, defying the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) calls for prosecution of the minority group. The group, however, said that the religiously devout should only embrace members of the LGBT community in order to “reform” them.

Religious leaders representing Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism and Confucianism held a meeting at the MUI headquarters to issue a joint statement on the LGBT issue, in which they concluded that a peaceful approach was the only way to deal with members of the LGBT community before they could turn to faith to be cured. 

Despite endorsing the interfaith agreement, the MUI maintained its official stance demanding the prosecution of LGBT people, which the organization announced in an edict issued on Wednesday. Read more via Jakarta Post

US: LGBTQ youth engaged in 'survival sex' see perks for skipping condoms – survey

Choosing not to use a condom can mean an extra meal or shelter for LGBTQ youth, according to a survey of young people in New York City who exchange sex for money to pay for basic needs – a practice also known as “survival sex”.

The health habits of 283 LGBTQ youth in New York City who who become involved in the commercial sex market to meet “basic survival needs” were published in a study by the nonprofit Urban Institute.

“A common theme we had through a lot of the conversations was ‘I’m doing this because I have no other choice’ and ‘this is the only way I can get by,’” said Meredith Dank, the study’s lead author. Of those surveyed, 99% said they use protection against sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy, though only 63% said they used protection all the time.  Read more via the Guardian

Turkey: Human Rights and Equality Foundation of Turkey debate inclusion of LGBT rights

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey Commission on Equal Opportunity for Women and Men discussed the proposal that a Human Rights and Equality Foundation of Turkey should be formed as a subsidiary organ in order to focus on protecting and improving human rights based on individual’s dignity, to ensure their right to be treated equally, and to prevent discrimination in benefiting from lawful rights and freedom.

Candan Yüceer, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Tekirdağ MP, stated that LGBT individuals are faced with discrimination and killed. Yüceer further added that overlooking this problem, and interpreting the recommendations listed in the international agreements would mean ignoring the individuals who are being discriminated against. Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP, emphasized that sexual orientation and gender identity must be included in the proposal, and that turning a blind eye to these individuals would not simply make them disappear.

Ayşe Doğan, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Tekirdağ MP, made the following homophobic remarks in response to Yüceer and Kerestecioğlu responded that homosexuality is 'one of the biggest threats to our society' and should not be included in the human rights agenda.  

 Read more via LGBTI Turkey
 

Brazil: State Secretary of Human Rights dismissed over gay ‘cure’ remarks

A Brazilian governor has fired his official human rights secretary because the man expressed a belief in curing homosexuality. Ezequiel Teixeira told the O Globo newspaper that he believed in a "gay cure" comparable to a cure for AIDS or cancer and declared his opposition to gay marriage. Teixeira's also an evangelical minister.

After the publication of the interview, Rio de Janeiro state Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao said he was "totally opposed" to Teixeira's comments and replaced him with Paulo Melo, a former president of the state assembly. Rio faces a financial crunch, and it recently closed down four LBGT call centers and an anti-homophobia project run by the state government has fired 78 people. Read more via Gospel Prime 

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