Silver Rainbow – Let older LGBTI people shine

On 1 October 2015, we will celebrate the 25th annual UN International Day of Older Persons.   Leading up to 1 October, ILGA-Europe will be running ‘Silver Rainbow’ – a social media campaign to highlight life experiences of older LGBTI people. What is Silver Rainbow? The campaign aims to raise awareness of the specific needs

Banned Russian LGBT youth group returns with more members than ever

The LGBT support group has gained even more members since its recent ban.   Last week Russian media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, banned a number of LGBT groups registered on the country’s most popular social network VKontakte. The media watchdog forced VK – the Russian version of Facebook – to officially ban the groups, which included Children

Indian court protects trans man ‘forced into arranged marriage’ with another man

The court has provided protection for a man tricked into visiting the country by his parents. Shivy, 18, is technically an Indian citizen – but has been living in the USA for fifteen years. The court move comes after he alleged that his parents tried to forcibly marry him off to a man after tricking him

European LGBT advocates offer assistance to refugees

Jure Poglajen, a Slovenian dentist, and his partner of more than four years last month spent two weeks on the Greek island of Lesbos.   The couple had gone to the town of Molyvos, which is on the island’s northern coast, for what Poglajen described as a “normal vacation.” The two men soon found themselves

Intersex Surgeries Are A Human Rights Violation, Says U.N. Group

Last week the United Nations convened its first meeting to address the issue of human rights violations against people with ambiguous genitalia, also known as intersex. The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights meeting, held in Geneva, builds off a 2013 report by the U.N.’s Special Rapporteur on Torture calling on the

Bi-Visibility Day and Bi-Awareness Week: Time to Celebrate!

September is not only the month of the first yellow leafs on trees and the beginning of school; September is the month of Bisexuality Visibility Day and Bi-Sexuality Awareness Week! Let’s go a bit more in depth into the topic and discover more about these two very important events within the LGBT* agenda. What is

Montenegrin Police bans Nikšić Pride for third time this year

For the third time this year, police in the city of Nikšić, Montenegro, has banned a pride march. The Pride was banned quoting security threats. The Orthodox Church mobilised against the Pride, while nationalists and football hooligans had threatened to disturb the march. Earlier Pride marches in the capital city, Podgorica, and Budva, were well-protected

Parliament demands Commission and Member States to tackle homophobia in schools

The European Parliament agreed that the European Commission and Member States should work together to tackle homophobia and transphobia in education. The report, authored by Portuguese Member Liliana Rodrigues, calls on the Commission to “combat discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in educational settings.” Furthermore, it “urges the Commission to support

Joint letter to President Juncker on HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis

On 14 September 2015, the European AIDS Treatment Group and seven partner civil society organisations and networks submitted a joint letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.    The civil society groups expressed the urgent need to keep HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis on the EU’s agenda and asked for the Commission’s leadership and support on this

Argentina lifts ban on gay and bi men donating blood

Argentina has changed its rules to allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood immediately. The country’s health ministry announced a resolution which allows men who have had sex with men to donate blood. It does away with previous rules which blocked gay and bisexual men from donating blood. The previous rules had been condemned

Channel Islands first Pride parade hosts thousands

Thousands of people turned out for the Channel Islands first Pride parade last week. The event, organised by Guernsey-based campaign group Liberate, comes two weeks before the States of Jersey are due to vote on equal marriage. Organiser Christian May said he was amazed at the support from the community and business. He said: “Growing

Elton John Urges LGBT Acceptance in Ukraine

Elton John has called on Ukrainians to be more accepting of LGBT people, and he would like to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to encourage him to improve the situation in his nation as well. Policies “designed to repress LGBT citizens … hinder economic development,” the music star and activist told a meeting of