Japan Elected Its First Trans Man Into Public Office

Japan has elected its first trans man into public office. The country has made the landmark step with the election of Tomoya Hosoda as a councillor for the city of Iruma. The 25-year-old won of the 22 seats up for grabs in the election. The country elected its first trans politician in 2003, Kamikawa Aya.

Prominent LGBT Activist to Run for Chile Congress

A prominent LGBT rights advocate in Chile has announced he is running for a seat in the country’s congress. Luis Larraín, who is the co-founder and former president of Fundación Iguales, declared his candidacy for the Chilean House of Deputies in an interview that La Tercera, a Chilean newspaper. Larraín, 36, is a member of

Hundreds of Trans New Yorkers Change Gender Identity after Rule Change

Hundreds of transgender New Yorkers have legally changed their gender following a rule change. A total of 731 transgender residents of New York City have changed their legal gender following the rule change from 2014, enacted in 2015. The City Council and the Health Department, made it easier for trans people to change their gender

Colombia City Seeks to Promote Diversity, LGBT Acceptance

The director of Medellín’s Office of Social Inclusion, Family and Human Rights last Thursday said diversity is an integral part of the Colombian city’s public policy. “Medellín is a city that has understood diversity,” Luis Bernardo Vélez told the Washington Blade during an interview at his office in Medellín City Hall. Vélez, who was a

Intersex Advocates Pull No Punches in Historic Statement

Intersex advocates in Australia and New Zealand have come together to declare their community’s priorities for the future in a powerful statement. Over two days in Darlington, Sydney more than 20 advocates worked together at a retreat to create the ‘Darlington Statement‘. The statement identifies key priorities for intersex people. Some of these include; legal reform to

LGL Representatives Participated in a Project Partners‘ Meeting

On 3rd-5th May, 2017 representatives of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL participated in a partners‘ meeting of the project “Developing research capacity in Eastern Europe” in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. During the meeting partners discussed the upcoming activities of the project, the concept of a survey on LGBT issues in education and its

New Filipino law will stop LGBTI street harassment

A new bill introduced to the Philippines parliament would make it illegal to harass women and LGBTI people in public places. Senator Risa Hontiveros filed the ‘Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017’ Bill. The Bill would outlaw catcalling, wolf-whistling, cursing, leering, groping, persistent requests for name and contact details. It will also be illegal to

Gay Movie “Moonlight” Wins the Oscars After Dramatic Mistake

Moonlight has made Oscars history as the first gay-themed film to win Best Picture and was a win for LGBTI people of colour everywhere. In what is set to become arguably the most memorable moment in an Academy Awards ceremony ever, Moonlight won Best Picture after it was mistakenly announced as La La Land. On

Thousands of UK Men Posthumously Pardoned for Historic Gay Sex Crimes

Thousands of gay and bisexual men were posthumously pardoned for historic gay sex crimes last month on January 31, 2017. The Policing and Crime Bill, known as ‘Turing’s Law’, gives pardons to anyone who has died with a crime on their record but only if it would not be considered a crime today. ‘This is

Science Proved Why Trans Kids Need to Be Themselves

A new study has revealed the benefits of letting transgender kids be themselves. Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are far higher among trans people than cisgendered, especially among children. But now a study has explained in science why letting trans kids just be themselves is better for them. The new study, published

Norway Could Introduce a Third Gender Option on Passports

The Norwegian Labour Party has proposed that it could introduce a third gender option on passports. The party proposed that the third option, ‘hen’ could be introduced for those who do not identify as male or female. The AP wrote in its draft policies for 2017-2021, that it would consider introducing the third gender option.

Chilean President to Promote Marriage Bill Debate

The Chilean government has formally begun the long-delayed process through which citizens can debate a proposed marriage equality bill. President Michelle Bachelet made the announcement on Jan. 20 at La Moneda Palace, fulfilling one of her most long-awaited campaign promises she made before she was elected president for a second term in 2013: The beginning