Asia
Hong Kong urged to learn from Japan, Taiwan’s stand on equality
Hong Kong: International rights activists are urging Hong Kong’s lawmakers to heed the examples of Japan and Taiwan and take a stand against anti-gay prejudice and discrimination. “Taiwan serves as a model because it has already enacted legislation that protects sexual minorities against discrimination in employment and education,” said Professor Holning Lau of the University… Read more »
Chinese man sues gay ‘cure’ clinic after electric shock treatments
A man hopes to have the practice of gay “cure” therapy banned in China, as he is suing a clinic which performed electroshock treatment on him. The 30-year-old man who has only been identified by his pseudonym Xiao Zhen, filed his lawsuit back in July. It is the first of its kind, and is hoped… Read more »
Taiwan begins campaign to woo gay tourists
Taiwan: Taiwan is officially wooing gay tourists in the hope of becoming Asia’s top tourist destination in a region that is often openly hostile towards gay people. In its bid to raise its presence on the world stage, Taiwan has been pushing hard to increase tourist numbers. Lagging behind rivals Japan and China, the country’s… Read more »
Gay club advert sparks controversy in Kazakhstan
Advertising firm responsible for poster featuring Russian poet Alexander Pushkin kissing Kazakh composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly has promised not to display it in public after widespread complaint. EurasiaNet reports An advert featuring an image of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and Kazakh composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly kissing has sparked widespread complaint in Kazakhstan. The poster – which features… Read more »
Singapore is becoming more tolerant despite anti-gay prejudices
Singapore: Despite a law that criminalizes same-sex relations and anti-gay prejudices, Singapore has over the years shown that it is becoming more tolerant towards the gay community. “As of late, Singapore’s gay community has been rapidly growing and becoming more visible. Many Singaporeans often boast that their country has the best gay scene in all… Read more »
Bold new BJP? Debate gay rights in Parliament, add to manifesto, says Mumbai leader
Seeking a new, nuanced position on homosexuality among his party men, BJP Member of the Legislative Council and president of the Mumbai unit of the BJP Ashish Shelar has shocked many in his party by stating that he supports demands for protection of gay rights, though he is not really promoting gay sex. Given that… Read more »
Cambodia gets its first gay men-only hotel
Cambodia: The first gay boutique hotel in the Cambodian capital exclusively designed for men has been opened the heart of the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. “Not only are we gay-friendly, but we are a men-only hotel,” says the hotel’s press release which appeared in arthurandpaul.com and which urged patrons to visit Cambodia’s first ever… Read more »
Progress made in ensuring LGBT human rights issues addressed in Nepal’s new Criminal and Civil Code
Blue Diamond Society (BDS) has made significant progress in ensuring that human rights issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are adequately addressed in the proposed Criminal and Civil Code of Nepal’s new Constitution. Important sexual and gender minority issues have been included in the Nepal Bar Association’s Report of the General Secretary,… Read more »
Internet a boon for gay men to connect in small Indian towns
India: The internet is seen as a boon for gay men in small Indian towns to connect with like minded people as well as arrange meetings in safe locations in a country where same-sex relations are not only a socially taboo but illegal. “Gay men in small towns live a highly closeted life, with hardly… Read more »
Gay Pakistan: Lesbians’ lives on the line
For a woman from a low-income, conservative background in rural Pakistan, Azra Ahmed had built a potentially hot career. But then it went right off the boil. Ms Ahmed, 29, is in a lesbian relationship – and in a country where homophobia has wide social and religious sanction, that may not help your job prospects.… Read more »
Criminalizing gays by misusing anti-gay sex law not acceptable, says Mumbai chief of ruling party
The Mumbai chief of India’s ruling party, BJP, says his party is now against the misuse of section 377 and will raise the issue in Parliament ‘Criminalizing the gay community by misusing section 377 of the IPC [Indian Penal Code] is not acceptable to the [ruling] BJP,’ Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar told some 250 attendees… Read more »
Gays in UP towns avoid prying eyes, get hooked online
Bareilly: Once while walking through the deserted banks of the Rapti in Tulsipur, Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh, 28-year-old Aman hugged his friend who had come visiting from Delhi. A local cop who had been following them recorded it on his mobile phone. The cop would go on to extort Rs 15,000 from the boys… Read more »
Parents nearly burn teen son to death after they find out he is gay
An 18-year-old from Azerbaijan has escaped with his life after his parents doused him with gasoline and threatened to murder him A teenager has escaped with his life after his family found out he was gay. An 18-year-old from Azerbaijan, who we will call Malik to protect his identity, has been victim of blackmail for… Read more »
Fighting For Gay Rights in India
Ashok Row Kavi is an Indian journalist and one of the country’s most prominent gay rights activists. He was one of the first public figures to come out as gay in the 1980s, and he went on to found the Humsafar Trust, India’s first community-based organisation for men who have sex with men. Pedro Solis… Read more »
Nepal Gay Community Parades for Same-Sex Marriage
Katmandu, Nepal — Tooting horns and ringing chimes, hundreds of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transvestites paraded through Nepal’s capital Monday for a colorful celebration of Gaijatra, a Hindu festival to remember the dead that is gleefully overtaken each year by the country’s gay community. In this socially conservative Hindu-majority nation, the festival was traditionally the… Read more »
Nothing about us, without us
The right to equality of gender and other minorities is under threat from a regressive state In a true democracy the main mantra to ensure inclusion is ‘nothing about us without us’. But, too often in Nepal, for the marginalised it is always ‘there is nothing for us and it’s always without us’. From 2009-2012,… Read more »
“Cure the problem not the people” – Landmark report on LGBT rights in Cambodia presents facts, experiences, and recommendations
Phnom Penh – Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Cambodia continue to face abuse and discrimination at home, at school, in the workplace and in the media. LGBT rights advocates are calling protection from ill treatment and for equal opportunities, according to the first comprehensive report of its kind released today. According to… Read more »
Mayor blesses marriage of Thai gay couple, praises their good example
The mayor of a northeastern Thai city has officiated at a wedding between two men even though Thailand does not legally recognize marriages of same-sex couples. The marriage of Maitri Chotipinit and Chirasak Klangboriboon who have been dating for four years was blessed by Udon Thani city Mayor Itthipon Triwattanasuwan in the presence of the… Read more »
Nepal to enact new laws to recriminalize same-sex relations
Nepal is all set to enact new anti-gay laws to recriminalize same-sex relations, media have reported. Nepal Justice Minister Narahari Acharya is to introduce those laws soon, says Nepal Times, the local English language daily. Nepal in 2007 decriminalized same-sex relation and chose equality and protections for its LGBT citizens. However, the law ministry is… Read more »
Vietnam’s LGBT community celebrates pride, softening attitudes toward gays
Hanoi, Vietnam — The streets of Hanoi were awash with rainbow flags on Sunday as an estimated 300 gay rights advocates celebrated the nation’s largest gay pride event to date. AFP reports that members of Vietnam’s LGBT community cycled and danced through the capital urging an end to discrimination against the LGBT community in a… Read more »
Vietnam hosts third gay pride parade as attitudes soften
Hanoi: Around 300 activists led a colourful parade through Hanoi on Sunday in the nation`s largest ever gay pride event, as communist Vietnam shows signs of increasing tolerance of sexual difference. The city streets were awash with rainbow flags, as a mainly young crowd cycled and danced through the capital urging an end to discrimination… Read more »
Nepal drafts new laws to recriminalize gay sex, stall same-sex marriage recognition
It’s a dramatic reversal for a country whose Supreme Court ruled in 2007 to ensure broad protections for LGBTI people and whose government was looking into legalizing same-sex marriage after a Supreme Court decision in 2008. Today, the LGBTI community faces fresh opposition as the law ministry under law and justice minister Narahari Acharya of… Read more »
Singapore celebrates 10th LGBT pride festival
Indignation – Singapore’s only LGBT pride festival featuring performances, a pink run, picnic, talks and discussions – will run for the month of August Over 200 LGBTIs and their allies filled the historic former Parliamentary Debating Chamber at The Arts House where ContraDiction – the opening event of the month-long Indignation LGBT pride season –… Read more »
Chinese society still far from accepting gays, lesbians
China: Despite the LGBT community beginning to be more active in China, society is still far from accepting them without discrimination says activists and social surveys “It’s a lot of pressure for gays to hide their real identity,” says Geng Le, founder of China’s largest dating app for Chinese gay guys. “Once you reach a… Read more »
Nearly half of young gay men in Bangkok not using condoms consistently acquire HIV within five years of starting sex
Over one in five becomes HIV positive in five years even with 100% attempted condom use, study finds A survey of young gay men and transgender women in Bangkok has found that HIV incidence is running at 9% a year in those who don’t use condoms consistently – and 2% a year in those who… Read more »
British Embassy in Hanoi officiates its first wedding of a same-sex couple
The British Embassy in Hanoi has officiated its first wedding for a same-sex couple in Vietnam. Yein Kai Yee and Sutpreedee Chinithigun, both males and British citizens, had their wedding held by the British Embassy July 29 morning, according to tuoitrenews.vn. The marriage was attended by the couple’s relatives and the embassy staff and Charge… Read more »
Ho Chi Minh City begins VietPride 2014 celebrations, over 2,000 attend
More than 2,000 people gathered in Ho Chi Minh City to join in an event dedicated to Vietnam’s LGBT. The event was part of the national VietPride 2014 celebrations slated to be held in 17 cities and provinces from July 18 to August 3. More than 2,000 people joined in Ho Chi Minh City’s July… Read more »
Bangkok HIV Foundation launches new social campaign to support gay men with HIV in Thailand
Bangkok – A voluntary organization working with people living with HIV is embarking on a new online campaign to help build supportive social environments and combat HIV discrimination against gay, transgender men and women in Thailand, reports GayAsia News.com. The HIV Foundation Thailand begins its new online campaign called “You are Not Alone” August 1… Read more »
India: Fifth annual Kerala Pride takes place with LGBT rights protest
The fifth annual queer pride march took place in Kerala, this weekend, in the city of Kochi. The protest took place in Kochi for the first time, as it has previously taken place in the Thrissur District. A public meeting considering harassment and persecution of the LGBT people by authorities and others, took place following… Read more »
Japan school introduces poster campaign to explain LGBT identities to children
A school in Japan is embarking on a new poster campaign to explain lesbian, gay, bisexual, and asexual identities to children and reduce the rate of LGBT-related bullying. Entitled Who will you come to like? the poster is part of a series on healthcare issues called Kokoro Kenkou no Nyusu roughly translated from the Japanese… Read more »
Breaking down barriers to better HIV education, treatment in Myanmar
A joint Australian-Myanmar team is working with police in Myanmar to educate the force about socially-marginalised groups such as men who have sex with men. Despite the recent momentous changes that have occurred in Mynamar, some police still treat such groups with suspicion and interfere with efforts to bring education, treatment and testing to them.… Read more »
That Gay Guy: M.A.H talks gay life in Lahore, Pakistan
I am so Mega Excited to introduce this new feature on my blog: That Gay Guy. Instead of focusing on my own travels and gay experiences, I am going to open things up and interview gay guys from all different parts of the world. I’ve already felt enlightened and educated by a couple of the… Read more »
Equality rights have little impact on lesbians in Vietnam
Same-sex relations, equality laws and their social perceptions in Vietnam are almost always associated with gay men with lesbians largely being misunderstood, ignored or discriminated against, says a social anthropologist. Vietnam has made great strides towards equality laws but these have little or no impact on the country’s lesbian population, says Vietnamese-American LGBT activist and… Read more »
Activists urge global LGBTI groups to help scuttle anti-gay law in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan: Activists in Kyrgyzstan are pleading with international LGBTI communities to mobilize support for their efforts in scrapping an anti-gay propaganda law that makes any type of information on same-sex relations a crime punishable by fines and a jail sentence. In their recent communiqué to the global LGBTI community, the activists have proposed five ways… Read more »
New HIV Infections Have Fallen in Burma: UN Report
The number of people contracting HIV in Burma decreased between 2000 and 2013, according to a new UN report, which also said there are still 189,000 people in the country living with the virus. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) “Gap report”—which was published Wednesday to highlight the global inequity of… Read more »
Countries congratulate Vietnam for its non discriminatory LGBT policy
Many Asian countries have congratulated Vietnam during an international meeting for being a model for its non discriminatory and caring attitude towards its LGBT community. ASEAN, the ten-member southeast Asian regional grouping congratulated Vietnam and is considering it as a model in creating fundamental conditions for ensuring human rights of its LGBT community, during the… Read more »
LGBTI rights, Nepal’s international Image, the reality on the ground, and UPR
Sunil Pant/Kathmandu (Pahichan) 7 July -Every year delegates gather in Geneva to shake their fingers at governments and make not of where improvements in human rights are needed. Every fourth year, it’s Nepal’s turn. It’s an important mechanism, a cyclical reminder of progress and setbacks as we lurch as a country toward stability, cohesiveness, and… Read more »
Kyrgyzstan on the verge of adopting harsh anti-gay law
Kyrgyzstan is on the verge of aligning itself more closely with Russia by making it a crime to say anything positive about homosexuality, as well as by strengthening economic ties. The anti-gay Kyrgyz bill, approved last week by the Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, is modeled after Russia’s ban on “gay propaganda,” enacted in 2013, But… Read more »
Mongolian LGBT community skeptical over anti-discriminatory law reforms
Ulaanbaatar: The Mongolian government has begun reforms of the country’s legal system to prevent discrimination but the LGBT community and rights activists remains skeptical saying it falls short of tackling hate crimes. Hate crime has emerged as a serious issue in Mongolia with numerous attacks against the country’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender population, according… Read more »
Peaches and Sleeves: A History of Homosexuality in China
June is gay pride month, with worldwide festivities of parades, parties and remembrance marking the occasion. Major cities in China, including Shanghai and Beijing, are celebrating gay pride month in their own unique ways. The issue of human rights, and the contemporary struggle of homosexuals the world over for acceptance and integration, is a central… Read more »
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