Asia
WHO: ‘China is witnessing an evolving HIV epidemic’
With an estimated 800,000 people living in China with HIV/AIDS, the WHO’s country representative Bernhard Schwartlaender tells DW the nation needs to do more to prevent infection and eliminate stigma and discrimination. Around the world, there were around 35 million people living with HIV in 2013, and 2.1 million people becoming newly infected, according to… Read more »
Hundreds march in New Delhi for gay pride in Modi’s India
(Reuters) – Hundreds of people danced, sang and cheered in a gay pride parade in New Delhi on Sunday, the first since the country’s top court reinstated a ban on gay sex in the world’s largest democracy. Multi-coloured balloons, masquerade masks and wigs, a huge rainbow flag and a St. Bernard dog ushered in the… Read more »
Indian city of Baroda gears up for first pride march – despite gay sex being a crime there
City in Gujarat to hold trailblazing first gay celebration this weekend Baroda is to host its first ever gay pride celebration this weekend. It is the first event of its kind in the city (also known as Vadodara), and the third in the Indian State of Gujarat, after similar events in Surat and West Bengal… Read more »
167 transgender women detained, then released in India
NLS Queer Alliance reported that some 167 members of the transgender community have been detained in two days in Karnataka state in South West India. The community quickly responded and organised a protest in response yesterday, November 26, at the Town Hall, against the illegality of police action against transgender persons. Perhaps it is no… Read more »
Being gay in China: Does the rainbow flag fly free?
Editor’s note: In this month’s episode of On China join Kristie Lu Stout for a revealing conversation with China’s leading gay rights advocates. The show premieres at 5:30pm Hong Kong time on Thursday. For other air times please click here. Beijing (CNN) — In this narrow Beijing hutong, the rainbow flag flies free. I’m in… Read more »
Gay-dating app finds financial boost
A former policeman who founded a dating app for gay men said he wanted to liberate fellow homosexuals across the world after the app pulled in $30 million in third-round financing. Geng Le, founder of Blued, made the high-profile announcement after Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged his homosexuality, which Geng said was a great encouragement.… Read more »
Being LGBT in Asia: Nepal Country Report
Summary Being LGBT in Asia: Nepal Country Report provides an overview of LGBT rights in Nepal including the current challenges facing and opportunities available for LGBT organizations and individuals in the country. The report encompasses the major discussions, findings, and recommendations from the Nepal National LGBTI Community Dialogue held in Kathmandu in April 2014. The… Read more »
Taking Discrimination to Court in India
The TREAT Asia Report Interview: Anand Grover Anand Grover served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health from 2008 until July 2014. He remains project direct of the Lawyer’s Collective HIV/AIDS Unit in New Delhi and has led… Read more »
Neglected No Longer: The Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Community in Pakistan
This film captures the efforts of Naz Male Health Alliance, under the Multi-Country South Asia (MSA) Global Fund HIV Program, to reach traditionally neglected key populations of men who have sex with men and transgender people in Pakistan with needed HIV treatment, care and support services: Neglected No Longer: The Men who have Sex with… Read more »
Bangladesh: Third gender hijra groups hold country’s first ever Pride march
At least 1,000 transgender hijras led Bangladesh’s first ever Pride march on Monday, marking one year since the government recognised them as a third gender. Last November, in a landmark decision, the government in Bangladesh approved a proposal of the social welfare ministry to identify “Hijra” as a third possible gender identity. Hijra, often subsumed… Read more »
Taiwan: Survey reveals 68% support same-sex marriage
An online poll released today has shown a significant surge in the number of people in Taiwan who back same-sex marriage. Pollster Online Survey interviewed 1,660 respondents aged 13 and above on 30 October. It came after a coalition of over 120 gay rights groups campaigned outside the Taiwanese parliament earlier in the month, as… Read more »
China: Gay rights activists in Macau demand domestic violence bill includes gay couples
Gay rights activists in Macau have delivered a letter to the government headquarters, demanding same-sex couples to be re-introduced into the domestic violence bill. Rainbow of Macau – the city’s first gay rights group – was founded after gay couples were dropped from the legislation in November 2012. In the letter addressed to Justice Secretary… Read more »
Korea University’s student council bans anti-gay discrimination
Korea University’s student council has revised its rules to ban discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The move Oct 22 came as a response to a series of homophobic incidents such as when this year, a school club welcoming new students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender had its poster… Read more »
Kyrgyzstan’s ‘Homosexual Propaganda’ Law Proposal Sparks Gay Community Fears
* Law has won first of three readings in parliament * Backers say it is needed to protect family values * Gay community says it is intimated, suffers beatings * Critics fear it will be used to muzzle civil society Bishkek (Reuters) – A draft law banning “homosexual propaganda” in Kyrgyzstan could be the last… Read more »
Singapore: Human Rights groups condemn court for upholding colonial-era anti-gay law
Human rights groups have condemned a court in Singapore for rejecting a challenge to the country’s colonial-era law criminalising gay sex. Section 337A of the country’s penal code criminalises “any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person… Read more »
Thai junta’s surrogacy bill to ban LGBT and singles from having their own children
Takato Mitsunaga With no people’s representatives in parliament, the junta has attempted to pass several quick bills without people’s participation. Among them are three controversial gender-related bills, opposed by women and LGBT rights groups. Following bills on Civil Partnerships and Gender Equality (see Prachatai’s reports on these), the junta is aiming to pass another bill.… Read more »
For Asia’s Gays, Taiwan Stands Out as Beacon
Taipei, Taiwan — Waving rainbow flags and banners demanding same-sex marriage, the revelers set off from Taiwan’s presidential palace, drawing cheers and thumbs-up from spectators along the way. For the 13th year in a row, the gay pride march took over the streets of the capital on Saturday in a boisterous, freewheeling demonstration of how… Read more »
Kyrgyzstan: UN urges anti-gay draft law to be scrapped
The United Nations (UN) has today urged the Kyrgyz Parliament to withdraw the draft legislation that would discriminate against LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan. In June, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan’s Human Rights Committee approved the bill banning the dissemination of information “aimed at forming positive attitudes toward non-traditional sexual relations.” Spokesperson for the Office of the… Read more »
More support for gay and transgender communities needed in Thailand
Thailand has made strides in the fight against HIV, but must do more to directly prevent HIV transmission among men who have sex with men, transgender people, and sex workers. Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM), says it is crucial that the government and healthcare providers create… Read more »
More support for gay and transgender communities needed in Thailand
Thailand has made strides in the fight against HIV, but must do more to directly prevent HIV transmission among men who have sex with men, transgender people, and sex workers. Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM), says it is crucial that the government and healthcare providers create… Read more »
Hong Kong: Rainbow pro-democracy umbrella leads sixth annual pride event
This month’s Hong Kong sixth annual pride event took place with rainbow umbrellas making an appearance in “mutual support” of pro-democracy protests. Organisers said the rainbow symbol was “a beautiful coincidence” as they had ordered 500 rainbow umbrellas just a month before the Umbrella Movement began. Pride spokeswoman Wei Siu-lik said: “We support civil society,… Read more »
Chinese HIV vaccine finishes safety testing
A new HIV/AIDS vaccine, developed by Chinese scientists, has completed its safety testing stage, the results of which will soon be submitted to the Chinese authorities, experts said during the 2014 National Conference on HIV/AIDS held in Beijing on Tuesday. Shao Yiming, AIDS expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the… Read more »
Being LGBT in Asia: Mongolia Country Report
Summary Being LGBT in Asia: Mongolia Country Report provides an overview of LGBT rights in Mongolia including the current challenges facing and opportunities available for LGBT organizations and individuals in the country. The report encompasses the major discussions, findings, and recommendations from the Mongolia National LGBT Community Dialogue held in Ulaanbaatar in March 2014. The… Read more »
Govt registers bill of Civil Code at Parliament ignoring the recognition of ‘third gender’
Madhav Dulal/Kathmandu (Pahichan) The government has registered a draft of Civil Code at the Parliament with provisions that discriminates the Sexual minorities living in the country. The Code registered at the Parliament Secretariat is contrary to the spirit of the Supreme Court’s decision in 2007, which had issued a verdict that LGBTI persons (Lesbian, Gay,… Read more »
Changes in social outlook must
There have to be changes in social outlook and public attitude to protect the rights of sexual minorities in Bangladesh, said discussants yesterday. The media should come forward to break the social stigma, and raise public awareness to end negative stereotypical attitude towards sexual minorities, including transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual people, they said at… Read more »
Positive Outcome At The UN!
Equal Ground Press Release Colombo, 15th October 2014: There is finally good news from the UN for the LGBTIQ community of Sri Lanka. In an unprecedented statement the Government of Sri Lanka informed the Experts Committee reviewing Sri Lanka for ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) that “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI)… Read more »
Burma: First LGBT film festival to be held in the country’s largest city
Burma’s first LGBT film festival is to be held next month in the former capital city of Rangoon. According to Irrawaddy, the &Proud LGBT Film Festival will be held from 12-14 November at the French Institute. The festival’s aim is to celebrate the sexual and gender diversity of the region. Colors Rainbow program officer Hla… Read more »
India’s Gays, Lesbians ‘Suddenly Afraid’ After Court Ruling
Mumbai, India — When openly gay actor and model Sushant Divgikar marched into India’s answer to the Big Brother house last month, he was reaching for more than a few minutes in the limelight. “I can sensitize the people about my community by being the face of LGBT community in ‘Bigg Boss’,” the 24-year-old told… Read more »
Philippines: Mayor of largest city backs same-sex marriage
The Mayor of Quezon City in the Philippines has said he “looks forward” to the day equal marriage can be legalised in the country. Quezon City recently made history after it unanimously approved ordinance that bans anti-gay discrimination. According to the Inquirer, now Quezon Mayor Herbert Bautista has since spoken during his State of the… Read more »
Thailand entices gay men for HIV testing through parties
Bangkok: Thai authorities are raising awareness about HIV and encourage testing among gay men and transgender people by embarking on new and novel campaigns that include bare-chested male models in a glitzy ballroom dancing to house music while dozens of young gay men get their blood tested. The party for gay men called TestBKK is… Read more »
Major Philippines city bans discrimination against LGBT individuals
Philippines: Quezon City Council in the National Capital Region of the Philippines has approved an ordinance banning discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. This is very special and better than other ordinances (and) there is also affirmative action,” said Ging Cristobal, project coordinator for the Asia Pacific region of the International Gay and… Read more »
Indonesia’s Aceh introduces whipping as punishment for gay sex
Banda Aceh, Indonesia – The Indonesian province of Aceh on Saturday approved an anti-homosexuality law that can punish anyone caught having gay sex with 100 lashes, a lawmaker said. After a three-decade-old separatist movement, a peace agreement signed in 2005 granted special autonomy to Aceh, at the northern tip of Sumatra, on condition that it… Read more »
Activists petition lawmakers as Kazakh politicians ratchet up anti-gay stance
Kazakhstan: Kazakh gay activists are petitioning local lawmakers do away with the gay propaganda law and other discriminatory statutes in Kazakhstan even as many politicians have ratcheted up their homophobic stance by calling for blood tests to determine and single out people as gay. A group of social activists from Almaty, the country’s largest city… Read more »
Taiwan to get its first International Queer Film Festival
Taiwan: Taiwan is getting ready to host its first International Queer Film Festival which organizers say is an endeavor to showcase LGBT themes to the Taiwanese people as well as highlight awareness about issues the community faces. “We hope that the Queer Festival will not only play an anchor role in showing to the Taiwanese… Read more »
Striking Black-And-White Portraits Shed Light On Bangladesh’s Third Gender
“I feel like a mermaid. My body tells me that I am a man but my soul tells me that I am a woman. I am like a flower, a flower that is made of paper. I shall always be loved from a distance, never to be touched and no smell to fall in love… Read more »
Padmini Prakash becomes first transgender news anchor in India history
Her hiring comes come five months after India’s Supreme Court recognized transgender people as a legal third gender Transgender female Padmini Prakash has made history by being hired as a news anchor at Lotus News in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Prakash is the first openly trans anchor in India – ever. ‘I… Read more »
Bangladesh set to veto UN rights for lesbian and gay people
Bangladesh: Bangladesh says it will veto the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) proposal to provide rights for lesbian and gay people. “It goes against our values. Like many other countries including those Muslims and Christian, we opposed it,” Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Abdul Momen told the Dhaka Tribune. Bangladesh, a Muslim… Read more »
Gay rights storm in Beijing as senior British diplomat marries boyfriend at ambassador’s residence
It had all the hallmarks of a traditional British wedding with a three-tier cake, bagpipes, a garden party and even “Keep Calm and Marry On” orders of service, but the Beijing wedding ceremony of a senior British diplomat to his male partner has sparked a fierce debate over gay rights in China. On Saturday Brian… Read more »
Malaysian religious police raid hotel, arrest two women for sharing room
Malaysia: Malaysian religious police arrested a lesbian couple after raiding a hotel room in Johor Baru where they were staying, media reported. The two young women had been arrested by officers of the Johor Islamic Religious Department, according to outinperth.com citing a Sinar Harian newspaper report. The newspaper reported nine officers searching the hotel when… Read more »
Kazakhstan gay bar poster wins award but sparks outrage
Kazakhstan: An advertisement for a gay club showing a Kazakh composer kissing one of the greatest Russian poets has won an international award but has sparked outrage for what many consider is a national insult. The ad created by Havas Worldwide Kazakhstan for the “Studio 69? gay bar and club in Almaty shows an image… Read more »
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