Hundreds of LGBT advocates to attend Honduras conference

Hundreds of LGBT rights advocates from across Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to gather in Honduras this week for a conference designed to spur further participation in the political processes of their respective countries. Randy Berry, the special U.S. envoy to promote global LGBT rights, is among those who are scheduled to speak

Select Slogan for the “Baltic Pride” 2016 March in Vilnius! (VOTING)

The preparations for the “Baltic Pride” festival in Vilnius (Lithuania) in June, 2016 are already in the full swing. The members of the local LGBT* community and our supports and friends have submitted more than thirty (30) prospective slogans for the “Baltic Pride” 2016 festival. After careful consultations and consultations with our Estonian and Latvian

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

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

Lithuanian Motorcycle Club: “No Women, Homosexuals and Perverts Allowed”

“No women, homosexuals and perverts allowed,” states a website of one Lithuanian motorcycle club. The Ombudsperson of the Equal Opportunities Agneta Lobačevskytė claims that the regulations of private clubs may not be investigated by the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson of the Republic of Lithuania. Meanwhile the bikers from the latter motorcycle club do

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