The EU is no longer leading on LGBT rights

 Many Western European countries have rested on their laurels in recent years when it comes to gay rights – and are now overlooking issues around trans and intersex rights. Evelyne Paradis is executive director of ILGA-Europe, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. The interview was conducted by EurActiv.   When

European Commission publishes List of Actions to advance LGBTI Equality

On Monday, Commissioner for Justice and Gender Equality Věra Jourová presented a List of actions by the Commission to advance LGBTI Equality in the EPSCO Council, where the EU Ministers responsible for employment and social policy meet. The list is to be seen as a follow-up to the Parliament’s demand for an EU Roadmap against

Czech court recognizes gay adoption

The court in Prostějov, south Moravia, has delivered a breakthrough ruling when it recognized the adoption of 10-year-old twins by a Czech-French gay couple living in the US, daily Mladá fronta Dnes (MfD) writes. The Czech man and his French husband adopted the boys as new-born babies in San Francisco, where they bring them up,

Same-sex couple traffic lights taken down by far-right party

Same-sex couple traffic lights taken down by far-right party The Austrian city of Linz has decided to scrap their LGBT friendly traffic lights. Markus Hein, Linz’s traffic official and member of the far-right Freedom Party, told AFP that “Traffic lights are for traffic, “and should not be misused to impart advice on how to live your

Transgender woman elected to Venezuelan National Assembly

A lawyer on Sunday became the first openly transgender person elected to the Venezuelan National Assembly. Popular Will, a left-leaning Socialist party that is pro-LGBT, on its Twitter page announced that Tamara Adrián had been elected to represent the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. National Electoral Council President Tibisay Lucena announced the governing United Socialist Party

Bolivian lawmakers approve transgender rights bill

Bolivian lawmakers have approved a proposal that would allow transgender people to legally change their name and gender on official documents. EFE on Nov. 25 reported that Justice Minister Virginia Velasco made the announcement during a press briefing in the country’s administrative capital of La Paz. The news agency said those who wish to legally

Bermuda court grants equal rights to ‘binational’ same-sex couples

A judge has made a landmark ruling for same-sex couples in Bermuda. The Supreme Court in Bermuda has ruled that those in same-sex relationships with Bermudians should be granted the same rights to live and seek employment as their heterosexual counterparts, according to The Royal Gazette. The ruling comes after legal action was brought against

Children of gay parents challenge government over marriage equality laws

Five children from same-sex families are challenging marriage equality laws in Austria. Austria’s lack of marriage equality is being challenged by children of same-sex parents in the country. The children joined their parents in court in Vienna yesterday, to protest the ban on same-sex marriage in Austria. They hope to encourage a change in the

Indian minister says country’s gay sex ban needs to be ‘reconsidered’

Arun Jaitley says India cannot simply ‘nudge off’ its LGBT community. India’s finance minister has spoken out against the harsh laws criminalising gay sex in the country. Arun Jaitley says that the country must reconsider the “conservative” ruling made by the Supreme Court in 2013, as it ignores the needs of “millions of people” across

Trans people win right to change name and gender in Bolivia

Transgender people in Bolivia will soon be able to legally change their name, sex and gender, Bolivia’s justice minister has announced. Virginia Velasco Condori unveiled the new policy last Wednesday, meaning trans Bolivians will soon be able to register legal documentations using their new identities. In a statement regarding the change. Condori said that people who wan

Civil unions to become a reality in Cyprus

The Cypriot parliament has voted in favour of the Civil Partnership Bill, meaning that same-sex couples in Cyprus will be legally recognised for the first time. The legislation, which has generated lots of debate nationally, will offer couples the same rights as civil marriage. However, joint adoption rights are not included as part of the

Syphilis: what is it and why should gay men be concerned?

Health authorities in the US, Australia and UK have all highlighted an alarming increase in rates of syphilis among gay and bisexual men Although HIV receives much attention in the press – particularly following last week’s announcement by the actor Charlie Sheen that he is HIV positive – it is not the only sexually-transmitted infection