First same-sex marriage takes place in Colombia

Two men on Tuesday became the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Colombia. Fernando Quimbayo and José Ticora, who have been together for two years, exchanged vows before a registrar in the city of Cali. Colombia’s constitutional court last month ruled same-sex couples have the right to marry in the South American country. Jorge

Bolivian politicians have approved a bill to allow trans people to change their name and gender on official documents. The Chamber of Deputies approved the bill which will forever change the legal standing of trans people in the South American country. The Gender Identity bill still needs to be approved by the Senate before being

European Parliament concerned about LGBTI situation Gambia

In a resolution adopted last week, the European Parliament has called on Gambia to repeal its laws criminalising LGBTI people, and urged the government to guarantee the right to freedom of expression and the right to non-discrimination. The calls were made in a resolution addressing the current human rights crisis in the country. The resolution

Mexico’s president seeks to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage has been recognized in several Mexican states. But the country’s president seeks to extend the right to all citizens of the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking country. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Tuesday local time signed an initiative to pave the way for same-sex couples to marry in accordance with Mexican law. The

Chinese gay couple marry despite court ruling

To start their campaign for legalizing homosexual marriages in China, a gay couple has held a marriage ceremony despite a court ruling against it. Many believe the case shows a growing acceptance of LGBT rights in China. “I hope that the world knows that there are homosexual people in China, and that we demand legally

Uganda held largest ever rally for LGBTI rights

Uganda held its largest ever rally for LGBTI rights on Tuesday (17 May). The event, scheduled to coincide with International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, saw around 300 Ugandan LGBTI celebrate and enjoy and live in as much freedom as they could. Sponsored by the Rainbow International LGBT Activist Solidarity Fund, it saw a

Activist Riamoni Chisty speaks about the country he fled, where a gay person can be brutally attacked and then called the aggressor. The government treats homosexuality as a crime, and society largely sees it as a sin. Last month, unknown assailants hacked two gay activists to death in an apartment in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. One

Global survey finds homophobic views are still dominant

Two-thirds of adults would be upset if child was gay, and only a quarter would accept a trans child. Two-thirds of adults would be upset if their child told them that they were in love with someone of the same sex according to a new survey. The survey was conducted by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,

Global Focus Issue of IDAHOT 2016 is Mental Health and Well Being

Each year activists from around the world identify one theme that they feel should get priority attention. While everyone is of course free to work on their own agenda, the annual theme allows one specific aspect to get highlighted. For 2016, activists have selected “Mental Health and Well Being”. Sexual and gender diversities are still characterized

Mariela Castro leads Cuba LGBT march

The daughter of Cuban President Raúl Castro on Saturday led in a march in Havana that commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Mariela Castro, director of Cuba’s National Center for Sexual Education that is known by the Spanish acronym CENESEX, joined transgender actress Candis Cayne and hundreds of others who marched from the

Maria Sam Katseva, a singer from Ukraine, will perform at the Baltic Pride 2016 concert in Vilnius on June 18th, 2016. The artists performing at the Baltic Pride concert will unite in sending a powerful message of tolerance, respect and support for the local LGBT* community. Today we speak with Maria Sam Katseva about the

Thousands march in Tokyo Rainbow Pride to promote LGBTQ visibility in Japan

Some 5,000 participants marched in the Tokyo Rainbow Pride on Sunday to show support for the LGBTQ community in Japan. The cheerful crowd waved banners and rainbow flags, with some members in drag or dressed in other costumes, as they marched through downtown Tokyo rallying for more visibility and rights for LGBTQ individuals in the country. ‘Everyone should