World Archives - Page 2 of 3

UK: Transphobic Hate Crimes Increase by More Than 50%

6Oct

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

World

UK: Transphobic Hate Crimes Increase by More Than 50%

Recorded hate crimes against trans people in the United Kingdom rose by more than 50% in a year. LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop warns that the hateful & transphobic rhetoric that is being spread by politicians is translating into violence against the trans community. They also highlight how the media contributes to the problem by amplifying transphobic voices and broadcasting bigotry without it being challenged. The warning comes as a response to Home Office figures showing that crimes that were rooted in transphobia rose by 56% in a year. In a statement, the Home Office related this to transgender issues having been “heavily discussed on social media” in the last year, which they argue may have caused the increase in hate crimes. Chief executive at Galop, Leni Morris said, “tr...

Slovenia Legalizes Same-sex Marriage & Adoption

5Oct

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

World

Slovenia Legalizes Same-sex Marriage & Adoption

Slovenia became the first central European country to grant its citizens marriage equality yesterday, as its parliament passed legislation that will allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt. This followed a July ruling by the Slovenian Constitutional Court that said that same-sex couples should be able to be legally married and adopt children. After strong criticism from the country’s conservative leaders, 29 legislators voted against it and one abstained, allowing the legislation to pass with 48 votes in favor. Earlier this year, the Slovenian Constitutional Court ruled that the country’s previous family code discriminated against LGBT couples by defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and only allowing heterosexual couples to adopt. With its decision, Slovenia’s Cons...

26Sep

By Sara BanksNo Comments

World

Cuba Votes To Legalize Gay Marriage

Cuba’s new family code which legalizes same-sex marriage and makes adoption possible for same-sex couples, passed with about two-thirds of the populations’ votes. The referendum that was voted on yesterday also legalizes surrogate pregnancies, expanding LGBTQ+ Cubans' options to start their families. This makes Cuba the first communist country in history to allow same-sex marriages. The country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, expressed his optimism on Sunday by saying that he believed that the majority of the country would support the new family code. While endorsed by the Cuban government, the referendum did receive opposition from conservative and religious groups on the island. Gay people in Cuba were persecuted and sent to work camps in the 60s and 70s, something Fidel Castro ...

Clashes Surrounding EuroPride March Result in More than 64 Arrests

18Sep

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

World

Clashes Surrounding EuroPride March Result in More than 64 Arrests

Belgrade police dressed in riot gear clashed with soccer hooligans and other anti-lgbtq protesters yesterday as a pan-European pride march was being held in the city. Thousands of people participated in the pride march although it had been officially banned earlier this week due to threats from far-right extremists. Just a couple of miles from the march, police clashed with anti-lgbtq protesters who attacked authorities with grenades, stones and flares. This led to 64 anti-lgbtq protesters being arrested and ten police officers sustaining injuries. The march’s trajectory was shortened significantly due to the ban. This as Serbian authorities had deemed it an illegal march by stating that “we will not tolerate any violence in Belgrade streets, any more than illegal marches.” The country...

Ukrainian LGBT Activists Now Running Refugee Shelters Instead of Planning Pride Events

6Sep

By Sara BanksNo Comments

World

Ukrainian LGBT Activists Now Running Refugee Shelters Instead of Planning Pride Events

Ukraine’s LGBT community is standing together in solidarity as the country continues to be invaded by Russian forces. LGBT activists in Kiev have gone from planning Pride events to running refugee shelters in order to support the community. The Kiev Pride organization is now operating several LGBT shelters across Ukraine. With the organization's activists now focusing on supporting LGBT refugees rather than organizing the city's Pride events. Reports indicate that many of the refugees are coming from Mariupol, Kharkiv and other parts of eastern Ukraine that have been heavily targeted by Russian forces. The shelters offer them food vouchers, medicine, job advice and clothes to wear at job interviews or when exploring the city. Some guests use the shelter to get away from homophobic fami...

Two Gay Rights Activists Sentenced to Death in Iran

4Sep

By Sara BanksNo Comments

World

Two Gay Rights Activists Sentenced to Death in Iran

Iran has sentenced two gay rights activists to death, according to a report from human rights organization Hengaw released today. 31-year old Zahra, and 24-year old Elham received the sentence for the crime of “corruption on earth” as they stand accused of promoting homosexuality. The activists are currently being held in the women’s section of the Urmia Central Prison. Zahra has reportedly been denied access to legal counsel by Iranian authorities and has faced threats and verbal abuse while in custody, according to human rights organizations. Local gay rights activists are urging the international community to step in on behalf of the two women. Reports indicate that Zahra was arrested when trying to flee Iran for Turkey in October, 2021. She was then held in solitary confinement for...

Protesters Demand Answers After Trans Activist Dies in Police Custody

27Aug

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

World

Protesters Demand Answers After Trans Activist Dies in Police Custody

LGBTQ+ activists in Lima took to the streets yesterday to show their disdain for their government's response to the death of a Peruvian transgender man in Indonesia. Harvard graduate student and trans rights activist Rodrigo Ventosilla, reportedly died of “bodily failure” while in custody. This after being detained by authorities in Bali upon arrival for alleged cannabis possession earlier this month. The 32-year old traveled to Indonesia to honeymoon with his partner while on break from his Harvard studies. Indonesian authorities have stated that he was detained on suspicion of possession of cannabis derived products but deny that any violence was involved in his death. Ventosilla’s family however, is accusing Indonesian authorities of police violence, racism and transphobia. ...

Two Men Face Up to 20 Years in Prison for Having Sex by Window in Moscow

24Aug

By Sara BanksNo Comments

World

Two Men Face Up to 20 Years in Prison for Having Sex by Window in Moscow

Two gay men in Moscow face up to 20 years in prison after being arrested for having sex by an open window. According to a Baza telegram channel report from today, the men will have to spend 2 months in a detention center while the crime is investigated. The men are being charged with "Violent acts of a sexual nature against children under the age of 14," which has a maximum penalty of 20 years. This after two boys aged 12 and 13 allegedly saw the men having sex and told their mothers who contacted authorities. 21-year old Timur and 22-year old Daniil stand accused of having sex with each other on the windowsill of an open window in their Moscow apartment. One of the defendants has told authorities that they undressed to fix a water pipe in the bathroom. While sex bet...

22Aug

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

US, World

Singapore to End Ban on Gay Sex

Singapore’s prime minister announced yesterday that a colonial-era section of their penal code will be repealed. This will end the city-state’s ban on gay sex. The ban itself was set in place by the British empire but continued even after Singapore gained its independence. Gay marriage however will continue to be illegal. The prime minister called the move“the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept,” when announcing the legislative change. In the same speech, he also said that moves will be taken to ensure marriage stays between a man and a woman. Which many consider a move to pander to the state’s religious right, as they oppose granting freedoms to LGBTQ Singaporeans. Section 377 of the penal code that banned Gay sex was put in place by the Britis...

The Maldives Urged To Stop Prosecuting Men for Having Sex With Other Men

13Aug

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

World

The Maldives Urged To Stop Prosecuting Men for Having Sex With Other Men

Humans Rights Watch urged the Maldivian government to revoke a local law that criminalizes consensual same-sex conduct this week. This comes as Maldivian authorities are prosecuting four men and investigating several others for supposedly having sex with other men. Humans Rights Watch argues that these investigations are politically motivated and that the Maldives' strict homophobic laws are inhumane and have been put in place to appease extremist groups. The vacation hot-spot was stunned by a sex scandal earlier this year when videos leaked of a Bengladeshi man having sex with prominent local male officials. One of these videos is believed to depict him having sex with the brother of the current Parliament Speaker and former President of the Maldives. The Bangladesh national was arre...