Asia
Constant homophobic abuse won’t stop this Middle East lesbian helping others
‘It makes me happy and makes me want to live.’ Aisha a 29-year-old Muslim lesbian living in the Middle East describes her life as ‘one blockade after another’. Even though her father is extremely abusive, Aisha can’t move out. It’s not culturally accepted for women to move out of their family homes until they are… Read more »
LGBTI advocates denounce support for Singapore’s anti-gay law
Islamic and Christian organizations have voiced support for Singapore’s Section 377A amid intense debate over the anti-gay law Advocates for LGBTI rights have hit back at religious institutions for supporting Singapore’s anti-gay law, Section 377A. In the last two weeks both Christian and Islamic organizations have expressed support for the law that punishes gay sex… Read more »
India’s transgender population still at risk after gay sex decriminalized
While much of India’s LGBTI community may be celebrating the end of gay sex ban, transgender people in the capital have reported a surge in violence Despite a major win for the LGBTI community in India, transgender people are still vulnerable. On 6 September, India’s Supreme Court ruled that a law making gay sex illegal… Read more »
Hong Kong recognizes same-sex partnerships in spousal visa applications
The administrative change comes after top court ruled denying dependent visas to same-sex couples was unconstitutional Same-sex spouses will be able to apply for dependent visas to stay with their partners in Hong Kong from Wednesday (19 September). The government will change its visa policy in line with a historic legal ruling in July this… Read more »
Gay Sex In China: Where Communist Puritanism Meets Colonial Baggage
Centuries-old tales showing an acceptance of same-sex romance abound in Chinese culture, but even ultra modern Hong Kong lags behind in embracing the LGBTI community Like India, where the recent decriminalisation of gay sex is a return to deep historical roots, China has a long tradition of acceptance – at times even celebration – of… Read more »
‘No LGBTI discrimination in Singapore’, says education minister
Rights activist strongly disputes minister’s claim that Singapore’s LGBTI community does not experience discrimination Singapore’s education minister has claimed that LGBTI people in the city-state do not experience discrimination. ‘The fact is [that LGBTI people] live in Singapore peacefully, no discrimination at work, housing (and) education,’ said minister Ong Ye Kung. ‘However, on the issue… Read more »
The Guardian view on gay rights: India backs freedom – others should follow
Editorial The supreme court judgment decriminalising homosexuality overturned a colonial era law. But its welcome ruling is a reminder of the work to be done elsewhere Unless you are gay, and have lived in one of the 70 or so countries where homosexuality is illegal, it is hard to imagine what it would feel like… Read more »
This DJ Is Challenging Singapore’s Gay Sex Ban
This will be the first case brought against the archaic law since 2014. A tide of change is lapping at the shores of southern Asia. The decriminalizing of gay sex in India last week has galvanized people in the region to take more strides towards equality, with the newest push coming from a DJ in… Read more »
Most Singaporeans still support law banning gay sex – survey
Singapore (Reuters) – A slim majority of Singaporeans still support a law that bans gay sex, an online survey showed on Monday, amid renewed debate on whether the city-state should follow India’s footsteps and scrap similar British colonial-era legislation. Previous legal challenges to overturn the ban failed but a prominent Singapore diplomat called on the… Read more »
In over 40 countries, laws against homosexuality are a lasting legacy of British rule
After scrapping a regressive 19th century law that criminalised homosexuality, India has joined the ranks of the few former colonies to abandon a lasting legacy of British rule. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was introduced by the British in 1861, inspired by the 1553 Buggery Act that outlawed homosexuality in England. It… Read more »
India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling
In a historic decision, India’s Supreme Court has ruled that gay sex is no longer a criminal offence. The ruling overturns a 2013 judgement that upheld a colonial-era law, known as section 377, under which gay sex is categorised as an “unnatural offence”. The court has now ruled discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation… Read more »
Dependent Visa Case Gives Hong Kong’s Gay Community Reason To Hope
The future’s looking bright in the fight against discrimination – a victory in the city’s top court by a lesbian couple who took on the Immigration Department will have far-reaching implications The Pride March in London this year was a particularly colourful and vibrant celebration of diversity. There were 30,000 participants, including 150 police officers.… Read more »
World’s first openly gay prince pioneers LGBT university course
India’s Manvendra Singh Gohil, who is believed to be the first openly gay prince in the world, has pioneered an LGBT+ module at Karnavati University in the western state of Gujarat. The course is reportedly the first module to focus on LGBT+ issues at a university in South Asia, according to The Times of India.… Read more »
What it’s like to be LGBT in Singapore: ‘It definitely takes a thick skin’
A recent controversy featuring Paris Jackson has sparked a conversation on Singapore’s LGBT+ rights record and on how LGBT+ celebrities and allies should deal with countries that criminalise homosexuality. The 20-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson, who identifies as bisexual and has promised to be an advocate for the LGBT+ community, shared a picture… Read more »
Transgender Pakistanis Demand Protection After Murder, Dismemberment
Dozens of transgender people have staged a protest in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar to demand more protection after a transgender woman was shot dead and dismembered. The protesters gathered on August 20 outside the Peshawar Press Club, chanting: “We want protection. We want respect and rights.” On August 16, a transgender woman named… Read more »
2 Terengganu Women To Be Caned For Having Sex In A Car
They were also fined RM3,300 each. On 12 August, the Terengganu Syariah court sentenced two women to six canes and a RM3,300 fine each after they pleaded guilty to having sex in a car New Straits Times reported that the women admitted to breaking an Islamic law which bans sexual relations between women. Punishment… Read more »
Exclusive: Police are ‘blackmailing gay and bisexual men’ in Kyrgyzstan
Police in Kyrgyzstan are using false nicknames on LGBT dating apps to entrap gay and bisexual men, an NGO activist has told PinkNews Nazik, an advocate for LGBT+ rights in Kyrgzstan, has been “beaten with a bottle” because she is a lesbian. “I know dozens of cases myself and I personally had to deal with… Read more »
India appoints its third transgender judge in Assam
Karachi: India’s transgender community marked another milestone in its challenging path on Saturday when Swati Bidhan Baruah was appointed as the first transgender judge in the state of Assam, Geo News reported. After taking up their new role, Judge Baruah went on to hear their first case in the Guwahati District Court (Guwahati Lok Adalat)… Read more »
Out of the Shadows: Pakistan’s Transgender Candidates Step Onto the Political Stage
Each week, residents of Islamabad call in to Nadeem Kashish’s radio show to vent frustration with the problems bedeviling Pakistan’s capital: a lack of running water; chronic electrical outages; soaring rent prices. On air, Kashish’s voice crackles with energy, imploring listeners to vote and hold politicians accountable on their campaign promises. But the program has… Read more »
Here are the 21 best photos from East Timor’s second Pride parade
Lead by a trans marching band, East Timor’s Pride parade stopped traffic in the streets of Dili The young nation of East Timor held its second ever Pride parade over the weekend and it was a rousing success. About 1500 people hit the streets of the capital, Dili, to celebrate the LGBTI community but to… Read more »
‘We are ready’: Singapore’s LGBTI community celebrates 10th Pride rally
The 10th Pink Dot SG sent a clear message to Singapore that LGBTI people will fight for their rights Singapore’s largest LGBTQ-affirming movement, Pink Dot SG, celebrated its 10th anniversary at the weekend. The LGBTI rally has overcome a lot of adversity to make it to its 10th birthday. But on the weekend thousands of… Read more »
Proud to be gay
A repeal of Section 377 would demonstrate that I am not a criminal but simply a normal human being. The social stigma around being gay is wrong. I told my parents I was lesbian when I was only 17 years old. They were scared for my future, concerned what people would say and worried I… Read more »
Adam Rippon leads tributes for Olympic figure skater stabbed to death
Denis Ten was only 25 years old The figure skating world is in mourning after thieves murdered 25-year-old Olympic figure skater, Denis Ten. The Olympic medallist was stabbed to death in Almaty, Kazakhstan after reportedly trying to stop men from stealing his car mirrors. He was taken to hospital with severe bleeding where he died… Read more »
India hires trans people as bodyguards to protect women from rape
It’s a win-win situation for the trans community who need better employment opportunities A state in India has recruited the trans community to help protect women and girls living in care homes. The drastic move came after widespread reports of sexual assaults occurring at the care homes in Bihar. A shocking audit of 100 care… Read more »
Indian state takes a step forward for transgender rights
The southern Indian state of Kerala announced this month that it would reserve places for transgender students in the state’s higher education institutions, a move aimed at easing their stigmatization. The transgender community is among the most marginalized in India, with access to education and subsequently jobs mostly nonexistent, according to experts. Kerala’s move to… Read more »
Gay men, adulterers publicly flogged in Aceh, Indonesia
Fifteen people, including five women, were punished with public caning Friday for violating Sharia law in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province. Two men accused of being gay received 87 lashes each for gay sex, while nine others were sentenced up to 26 lashes for adultery. Four people were caned for being drunk, including one woman who… Read more »
Over 210,000 sign petition against South Korean gay pride festival
More than 210,000 people have signed a petition on the web site of the South Korean president’s office demanding that an “abominable” gay pride festival scheduled to take place in central Seoul this weekend be cancelled. The three-day Seoul Queer Culture Festival is marking its 19th anniversary this year and will include art exhibitions and… Read more »
HRW: Indonesia’s ‘Unlawful Action’ Contributes to Soaring HIV Rate
A human rights watchdog says Indonesia’s crackdown on its LGBT community is contributing to the country’s soaring HIV rate. Human Rights Watch says Indonesian authorities have taken “unlawful action,” in collaboration sometimes with militant Islamist groups, against people presumed to be LGBT. A newly released 70-page report documents how the unlawful activities have impacted the… Read more »
“Scared in Public and Now No Privacy”
Human Rights and Public Health Impacts of Indonesia’s Anti-LGBT Moral Panic Summary On May 21, 2017, police in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, raided the Atlantis gym and sauna, arresting 141 people, most of whom were gay or bisexual men. Ten were ultimately prosecuted under Indonesia’s pornography law. The Atlantis was not just a “gay club,” but… Read more »
[Opinion] The extra struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in Mindanao
‘We cannot achieve peace and genuine development if gender equality is not upheld especially in Mindanao’ Openly LGBTQ+ are everywhere in the Philippines. Given this level of normalcy, pride events are organized in the Philippines’ central metropolitan cities – a celebration of gender diversity by parading in eleganza, extravaganza, and an ensemble of rainbows all… Read more »
Alarmingly high rates of HIV among China’s youth
Young Chinese people living in urban areas have never had it so good. They have better access to education and healthcare services, and a higher quality of life overall. But authorities are alarmed by one statistic: rates of HIV among young people aged 15-19 have tripled over the past decade. While China’s youth have become… Read more »
Colombo PRIDE 2018
Go to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColomboPRIDESriLanka/ Source – Facebook
Colombo PRIDE 2017
Equal Ground is the only organisation in Sri Lanka to hold annual PRIDE celebrations – an important event in the Sri Lankan LGBTIQ calendar. Equal Ground works very hard to provide for the needs of the community each year giving the LGBTIQ community of Sri Lanka the space to stand up tall and be proud… Read more »
Vietnam begins testing HIV through saliva
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Much like home testing kits, the oral HIV quick test method will be launched in Vietnam for the first time, said an official of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC). According to Vo Hai Son, head of the HIV/AIDS Surveillance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Testing Division under VAAC,… Read more »
Gay Rights Failures Are Holding Back Asia Banking
If Singapore and Hong Kong want to be centers of financial innovation, attitudes need to change. What makes a city a financial center? Investopedia says it requires “international connectedness, diversity and expertise in a variety of financial products and services.” In Asia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo risk falling short on measures two and three… Read more »
This Is What It’s Like To Travel As A Gay Asian Man
As a gay Asian man who works in the tourism industry and loves to travel himself, Romey Louangvilay’s goal is to make travel more inclusive for everyone. A finalist in Forbes’ 2016 Top 30 Under 30 in Marketing & Advertising, Louangvilay is head of communications, overseeing public relations, social media and influencer marketing, at a… Read more »
Gay in India, Where Progress Has Come Only With Risk
Bilaspur, India — If you had told Ayesha Kapur 10 years ago that she would help lead the fight against one of the world’s oldest laws criminalizing gay sex, she would never have believed you. For most of her life, Ms. Kapur was afraid to ever speak of her sexuality. Growing up in New Delhi… Read more »
China’s LGBT community finds trouble, hope at end of rainbow
Beijing: When two women wearing rainbow badges were beaten up by security guards in an arty part of Beijing last month, social media users quickly jumped in to fight their corner. China’s LGBT community may not get much support from authorities, but in a sign of growing tolerance in Chinese society, people are using the… Read more »
China’s LGBT community finds trouble, hope at end of rainbow
Beijing: When two women wearing rainbow badges were beaten up by security guards in an arty part of Beijing last month, social media users quickly jumped in to fight their corner. China’s LGBT community may not get much support from authorities, but in a sign of growing tolerance in Chinese society, people are using the… Read more »
It looks like Indonesia will not criminalize gay sex after all
The law will now ban the vague concept of ‘indecent’ sex which could have much broader consequences After months of debate, it seems as though Indonesia will not go ahead with plans to criminalize homosexuality. The idea to criminalize homosexuality was first floated at a Criminal Code (KUHP) bill working committee meeting. It quickly gained… Read more »
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