Wrong and outdated views towards LGBT people endanger their fundamental rights

In some Member States, doctors still view homosexuality as a disease and transsexuality as a mental disorder, according to findings from a new report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Such negative views of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in society, among professional groups and policy makers hampers efforts to counter

India appoints first trans police officer

The Indian state of Tamil Nadu has appointed the nation’s first transgender woman to the police force. Prithika Yashini is among 21 sub-inspectors to receive orders from Salem police commissioner, Sumit Charan, to join the region’s local service. Having always dreamed of being a police officer, Ms Yashini told reporters her plan was to work hard and

Police use water cannons against Peruvian LGBT activists

Peruvian police on Saturday used water cannons against a group of activists who staged an LGBT rights protest. More than two dozen people gathered in Lima’s Plaza de Armas to take part in the protest that was described as “kisses against homophobia.” Sin Etiquetas, a Lima-based LGBT website, posted pictures to its website that show

Turkish police crack down on Istanbul Pride

Turkish police on Sunday used tear gas and water cannons against people who were about to take part in a Pride march in Istanbul. The Istanbul LGBTI Pride Committee in a press release said local authorities announced “at the last minute” that they had banned the event — which had been scheduled to start in

Police injured during clashes at Ukraine Pride march

Ten people were injured on Saturday during clashes that broke out at an LGBT Pride march in the Ukrainian capital. Agence France-Presse reported that nine Kiev police officers suffered injuries when members of Pravy Sektor (Right Sector), a Ukrainian nationalist group, sought to disrupt the “March for Equality” event that took place along the Dnieper

Russian police arrest gay rights activists at Moscow pride rally

Several gay rights activists have been arrested by police after attempting to stage a gay pride rally in Moscow. One of the activists attempted to unfurl a rainbow flag as they were arrested by police. During the incident, around 30 counter-demonstrators threw eggs at those participating in the pride parade. It is understood that the

Founder of Russian LGBT website convicted under propaganda law

Russian judge on Friday convicted the founder of a website for LGBT youth of violating the country’s law that bans the promotion of so-called gay propaganda to minors.  Lyudmila Pedan, a judge in the city of Nizhny Tagil, found Yelena Klimova, founder of the Children 404 Project, of violating the controversial law that President Vladimir Putin signed

Sochi 2014: Vladimir Luxuria arrested for holding ‘Gay is OK’ banner

Europe’s first openly transgender parliamentarian detained at Winter Olympics amid controversy surrounding gay rights. A prominent Italian gay rights campaigner and former MP has been arrested in Sochi while watching the Winter Olympics with a banner reading “Gay Is Ok” in Russian, two activists have said. Vladimir Luxuria, a television personality and actor who became Europe‘s first openly transgender parliamentarian

Russian police intimidate LGBT activists

Staunton, October 14 – Police in St. Petersburg told a group of LGBT activists attempting to hold a demonstration in the northern capital that Cossacks, Orthodox and Muslim clergy, and other opposed to homosexuality would beat them so badly that the gay group would “not be able to stand up again before the [Sochi] Olympics,”