Mika: “Tolerance must be provoked”

A British singer and songwriter Mika, who will perform in Lithuania for the second time in Kaunas Žalgiris arena on the 23d May, 2016 spoke to portal 15min.lt about homophobia and the need to foster tolerance in Lithuania and abroad. You have mentioned that your albums are very personal. I understand that one of them contained

Argentina joins global LGBT rights initiative

Argentina has become the third Latin American country to join a U.S. initiative that seeks to promote LGBT rights around the world. The White House on Wednesday said that Argentina “agreed to join the” the Global Equality Fund, a public-private partnership the State Department manages with the U.S. Agency for International Development. The announcement coincided

Five homophobic and transphobic law projects in the Parliament agenda

On 15th of March Lithuanian Parliament confirmed their new agenda which lists 5 initiatives seeking to restrict LGBT* persons’ human rights once again. The proposal to change article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania is of discriminatory nature and first registered at Seimas by the end of the year 2013. This amendment

Report: Saudi authorities seek death penalty for coming out

A published report indicates that people who come out online in Saudi Arabia could face the death penalty. Oraz, a Saudi newspaper, reported on Saturday that prosecutors in the city of Jiddah have proposed the penalty in response to dozens of cases they have prosecuted over the last six months. These include 35 people who

North Carolina Governor signs vile LGBT protection-voiding bill

The Governor of North Carolina has signed into law a vile bill which voids all local laws protecting LGBT people. Last night the US state of North Carolina passed the law which voids all local ordinances protecting LGBT rights. The bill, HB 2, which was passed by the General Assembly with 83-24, and after only

World Psychiatric Association call for homosexuality to be legalised

The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) has called for homosexuality to be decriminalised and for “harmful” and “discriminatory” practices to be ended. The organisation, which represents over 200,000 psychiatrists worldwide, has said that LGBT people should be regarded as “valued members of society, who have the same rights and responsibilities as all other citizens”. Stating recent

Real Talk With RuPaul

The drag supermodel of the world on how straight people steal from gay culture, meeting David Bowie, and why educating the youth is a waste of time. RuPaul was born November 17, which makes him a Scorpio — a detail he has said accounts for his observant and analytical nature during interviews. I could feel

Obama meets with Cuban LGBT activists

Two independent LGBT rights advocates are among the members of Cuban civil society with whom President Obama met on Tuesday in Havana. Juana Mora Cedeño of Alianza Mano and Nelson Álvarez Matute, who works with her organization, attended the meeting in the Cuban capital. A pool report indicates that Secretary of State John Kerry, National

Cuban police harass LGBT advocate ahead of Obama visit

An independent Cuban LGBT rights advocate says a police officer came to his home ahead of President Obama’s arrival on the Communist island. Cuban Foundation for LGBT Rights President Nelson Gandulla Diaz told the Washington Blade on Monday during a telephone interview from the city of Cienfuegos that a female police officer came to his

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

Faroe Islands rejects same-sex marriage

Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago part of Denmark, has rejected same-sex marriage. Comprising of 18 rocky, volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean, it remains the only Nordic country to not have adopted same-sex unions in any form. A majority of 26 out of total 33 members in the Faroe Islands

Botswana government loses battle to ban gay group

Botswana’s highest court has said the organization Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) can be allowed to register. A five-judge bench at the Court of Appeals said the refusal had been unconstitutional. Activists launched their legal battle after the Home Affairs Ministry rejected an application to register the gay rights lobby group. But judges