Protests Against Russian and Its Olympics Opening Dialogues About Its LGBT Community After many years of protesting by the small but active lgbtq activist community, the international community is finally taking notice of human rights abuses and homophobic laws and prejudices rampant in the chilly country. A lot of it has to do with momentum
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Police in the Russian city of St Petersburg have seized a number of pieces of art, including a satirical portrait of President Vladimir Putin wearing women’s underwear, for violating undetermined laws. Officers also removed a painting of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church with his torso covered in prison tattoos, and two other pictures
Today, Russian and international human rights organisations launch the ‘Keep Hope Alive’ campaign asking world leaders to challenge Russia on the deteriorating human rights situation and escalating clamp down on civil society in the context of the G20 meeting taking place in St Petersburg on 5-6 September. Since Putin’s return to the presidency in 2012,
Russia may bring back its ban on gay blood donors, and offer an additional gay-to-straight conversion therapy service. 32-year-old Mikhail Degtyarev, who is a candidate for mayor of Moscow, said since 65% of all HIV-positive people were homosexuals, the proposal could not be considered discriminatory. Read more at gaystarnews.com A young gay man in Ireland, Tomás
On Monday, August 19, 2013, New Zealand became the fifteenth country to welcome same-sex marriage. Some newlyweds, estimated at three dozen, took advantage of the new law such as Rachel Briscoe and Jess Ivess as well as Richard Rawstorm and Richard Andrew in Rotorua, New Zealand. Activist Ferguson, with his new husband laywerJustin Mikita, who were married in New
Gay rights campaigners say making homophobia as unacceptable as racism is a step towards an environment where gay players will be able to come out. Homophobic British football fans are being warned they will face prosecution under new police guidelines. For the first time, anti-gay slurs are being included in a Crown Prosecution Service policy
A US reporter invited onto Russian state-funded TV to talk about Bradley Manning who used his time to speak out against the repression of LGBT people in the country was cut off by the host, but not before saying “we’re not going to be silent of horrific repression”. Describing the RT channel (formerly Russia Today),
Lithuanian experts will examine whether the advertisement of the LGBT pride parade For Equality that the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) decided to restrict is in line with the Law on Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effects of Public Information. Deividas Velkas, adviser to the inspector of journalist ethics, said an expert group will
The United Nations has launched “Free & Equal” – an unprecedented global public education campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality: “In 76 countries it’s illegal to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. And in at least five, it can be punished by death. The UN is here to make it clear that
IKEA Taiwan releases divisive advert, urges gays to go for younger model. Advert has divided viewers with some calling it offensive and homophobic and others saying there is an element of ‘self-ridicule’. Read more on www.gaystarnews.com
From November this year, Germany will become the first country in Europe to introduce a third option for assigning gender on birth certificates, giving parents the choice to leave the child’s gender indeterminate. Read more on www.pinknews.co.ok
A judge denied the request of a US evangelist preacher accused of human rights violations for his support of the Ugandan ‘Kill the Gays’ bill, to have the case against him dismissed. The ruling by Judge Michael Ponsor, means the persecution of people based on sexual orientation or gender identity is considered a crime against