European Parliament Condemns Homophobia in Indonesia

Last Thursday, January 19, 2017 the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it condemns the growing intolerance towards LGBTI people in Indonesia. In the resolution, the European Parliament “strongly condemns all acts of violence, harassment and intimidation against minorities” and “calls on the government and lawmakers to refrain from further restricting the rights of

Haters Helped the Polish Gay Couple Gain Permission to Marry in Portugal

A Polish couple who received death threats on their coming out video are getting a sweet taste of revenge, as their haters have made their dreams of marriage a reality. Polish TV presenter and journalist Jakub Kwieciński and his partner David have been granted special permission to get married in Madeira, Portugal. The couple had

LGBT Activists Marching for Equal Rights in Montenegro

Dozens of LGBT activists and their supporters have gathered for a pride event in Podgorica on Saturday, December 17, 2016. Activists marched through the Montenegrin capital carrying banners that read “born this way” and “equality for everyone”. The Balkan country is known for having highly conservative attitudes towards the gay community, with one survey finding

Malta Looks to Guide Europe on Social Issues in Upcoming EU Presidency

Slovakia’s time at the helm of the EU’s rotating presidency has not been completely smooth sailing and its successor, Malta, will hope to guide the bloc’s agenda controversy-free. Recent successes in social issues point towards a presidency quite different from the last. During its six months holding its first EU presidency, Slovakia faced criticism about

New Report Takes Stock of Fundamental Rights in the EU, Including LGBTI Rights

On December 13, 2016, the European Parliament adopted a new comprehensive report on fundamental rights in the EU.  The report assesses how fundamental rights are implemented in the EU, and what must still be done to reach standards laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The document includes an extensive snapshot of the situation

Commission ‘Shockingly Passive’ on LGBT* Rights in Lithuania

On December 5th, 2016 the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBTI Rights has addressed the European Commission regarding its “shockingly passive” position on clear discrimination against LGBT* people in Lithuania. On November 7th, 2016 the European Commission informed the National LGBT* rights organization LGL that it would take no action over a 2013 law that claims

Dutch king meets with LGBT activists

The king of the Netherlands met with members of a Dutch LGBT advocacy group last month. King Willem-Alexander met with COC Nederland staff and volunteers in The Hague on Nov. 22. He also spoke with LGBT youth, seniors and those with bicultural or religious backgrounds. The meeting coincided with COC Nederland’s 70th anniversary. “It’s a

New EU accession reports: LGBTI rights in the Western Balkans and Turkey

Earlier this month, the European Commission’s published its annual progress reports on accession states’ progress towards EU Membership. The reports include important and extensive information on the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in those 7 countries. The reports show that LGBTI people continue to face discrimination, threats and violence in the Western

Intersex people put gender binary on trial in Karlsruhe

Intersex people want Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court to officially allow them to use their own gender designations rather than relegating them to “male” or “female.” For them, it’s about dignity and recognition. An estimated 80,000 people in Germany identify as intersex, meaning that they don’t display the gender traits of people generally described as “male”

This gay penguin couple are celebrating their 10th anniversary

Two penguins are celebrating their 10th year of partnership, as a gay couple. Dotty and Zee are two Humboldt penguins that reside at Bremerhaven Zoo in Germany. Scientists have found that more than 450 species of animals display gay behaviour. They have been together for over a decade now and are completely inseparable. At first,

IRISH CATHOLIC SCHOOL FLIES THE FLAG FOR GAY STUDENTS

A CORK city school is this week celebrating its first ever LGBT Awareness Week. Deerpark CBS is running the weeklong event to coincide with National Stand-Up Awareness Week, which is organised by Belong To, an Irish support group for LGBT youths. By increasing awareness, friendship and support for LGBT people, this awareness week helps to

Gibraltar approves same-sex marriage

Members of the Gibraltar Parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. The Gibraltar Chronicle reported Equality Minister Samantha Sacramento told lawmakers after she introduced the measure that “marriage is a hugely important institution.” She also stressed the proposal contains what she described as “religious safeguards.” “This bill