Europe
Violence mars first gay parade in Montenegro
Budva, Montenegro (Reuters) – Police clashed with anti-gay protesters in Montenegro on Wednesday as they tried to disrupt the first gay pride parade to be held in the staunchly conservative Balkan country that is in talks to join the European Union. Around 200 demonstrators hurled stones, bottles and flares at policemen in the coastal town… Read more »
Opponents Disrupt First Ever Montenegro Gay Pride; Shout ‘Kill The Gays’
Montenegro’s first ever Gay Pride event was disrupted on Wednesday by opponents shouting “Kill the gays.” The several dozen activists taking part in the event in Budva shouted back “Kiss the gays,” the AP reported. Angy opponents clashed with police as activists briefly marched holding rainbow flags and then gathered to hear speeches. The gay… Read more »
Denmark: Forum established to help more LGBT people from ethnic minority groups come out
A new national forum will be launched in Denmark, in order to help LGBT people come out to their friends and family. The forum, to be launched in August, particularly takes into account an increasing number of Danish LGBT people from ethnic minorities in recent years. The Copenhagen based Sabaah, was established to help LGBT… Read more »
First tourists arrested for ‘gay propaganda’ in Russia free to go
Four Dutch filmmakers were not charged after making a documentary about gay rights in the Russian city of Murmansk – the footage was then seized by police Four tourists who were arrested in Russia for ‘gay propaganda’ were told they were free to go today (22 July). Due to an ‘irregularity in the minutes’, the… Read more »
Greece Reinstates Forced HIV Testing
Greece’s health minister has reinstated a draconian measure that allows mandatory HIV testing, detention, and even eviction. Health minister Adonis Georgladis has reinstated Public Health Decree 39A, a 2012 measure that allows police to detain people suspected of being HIV positive and force them to be tested, according the Greek news outlet ENET. The measure… Read more »
Olympic committee calls for acceptance of all athletes at Winter Olympics despite Russian anti-gay laws
Responding to human rights groups, the International Olympic Committee has released a statement calling for the acceptance of all athletes in the wake of Russia’s recently passed anti-gay legislation. The statement was released in the face of concern from human rights groups that LGBT people will not be safe in Russia for the 2014 Sochi… Read more »
When IGLHRC honored Turkish parliamentarian Dr. Binnaz Toprak and activist Yasemin Öz
Friends, When IGLHRC honored Turkish parliamentarian Dr. Binnaz Toprak and activist Yasemin Öz with our annual human rights awards in May, we could not have predicted the turbulent events that would ensue there in the weeks to come. While Dr. Toprak and Yasemin visited the U.S., we held meetings with the Turkish Ambassador to the… Read more »
David Cameron explains what equal marriage means to him
The passing of equal marriage for England and Wales cements the UK’s position “as the best place in Europe for LGBT equality”, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. He has spoken of his pride at equal marriage becoming law for England and Wales. Writing exclusively for PinkNews.co.uk and the London Evening Standard, Mr Cameron thanked… Read more »
Gay marriage reveals surprise contrast between ‘starchy’ Britain and ‘freewheeling’ France
London — The French like to make fun of the British, joking about their repressed ways in matters of the heart. But when it came time to debate same-sex marriage, it was France that betrayed a deep conservative streak in sometimes violent protests — while the British showed themselves to be modern and tolerant. With… Read more »
Equal marriage bill for England and Wales given Royal Assent and is now law
The equal marriage bill for England and Wales was today given Royal Assent, and is now officially law. The Queen’s Royal Assent was granted to the bill on Wednesday at 15:06, turning it into the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, after clearing the final stage in Parliament yesterday, following two hours of debate, and the… Read more »
IOC issues statement on Olympics in Russia
The International Olympic Committee has released a statement to Windy City Times acknowledging the passage of anti-gay laws in Russia and calling for the acceptance of all athletes. The winter Olympic games are in Sochi, Russia in 2014, and there have been calls for a boycott of the event from some LGBT activists. The IOC… Read more »
British House Of Lords Approves Gay Marriage Bill
On Monday, the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber of the British Parliament, approved a bill which seeks to make Britain the 15th nation to legalize gay marriage. The measure now heads back to the House of Commons to reconcile amendments between the two chambers. According to Bloomberg, the upper house approved the bill… Read more »
Gay Portuguese in Braga prepare for first pride
LGBT people in Braga feel they are ‘invisible’ but are coming out for their first pride on Saturday Gay people in the Portuguese city of Braga often feel they are invisible. However, a group of LGBT people are hoping to change that by holding the city’s first Gay Pride event. Braga, the third largest city… Read more »
Gay Portuguese in Braga prepare for first pride
LGBT people in Braga feel they are ‘invisible’ but are coming out for their first pride on Saturday Gay people in the Portuguese city of Braga often feel they are invisible. However, a group of LGBT people are hoping to change that by holding the city’s first Gay Pride event. Braga, the third largest city… Read more »
Russian court rules St Petersburg Gay Pride was legal
After all the people that marched in the Russian city for gay rights was arrested, a Russian court rules police violated their right to freedom of assembly A Russian court ruled yesterday (10 July) the arrests made at Gay Pride in St Petersburg were not illegal. When every person who attended the protest was arrested,… Read more »
Over one million people descend on Madrid Pride
The Spanish capital’s gay pride celebrations started on Wednesday and conclude today with marches, festivals and more parties Madrid Pride, dubbed by some as ‘Europe’s biggest party’ draws to a close today. According to Spanish newspaper El País, two of the country’s leading LGBT rights groups Cogam and the Spanish LGBT Federation (FELGTB) estimated 1.2… Read more »
Lithuanian court rules Pride can go ahead
Baltic Pride 2013 will go ahead at the end of the month despite the city council’s objection A court in Lithuania ruled today that Baltic Pride 2013 can go ahead at the end of the month in capital Vilnius. The City of Vilnius had refused to issue a permit for the LGBT pride parade saying… Read more »
Moldova Orthodox Church bans lawmakers from taking communion over LGBT discrimination law
The Orthodox Church in Moldova has banned government officials from receiving communion while calling for a ban on so-called ‘immoral propaganda’ The Orthodox Church in Moldova has lumped same-sex attracted people and transgender people in with pedophiles and people who have sex with animals in calling for a ban on ‘immoral propaganda’ and has banned… Read more »
Queer Montenegro: Wide support for the Pride Rally in Podgorica, Montenegro
Wide support for the Pride Rally in Podgorica, Montenegro Montenegrin LGBTIQ Association “Queer Montenegro” is satisfied with the widespread domestic, regional, and European support which followed the announcement yesterday that the Pride Rally will be held in Podgorica in October 2013. We are very pleased that a large number of the LGBTIQ people from Montenegro… Read more »
Putin: The Czar of Homophobia
Russian anti-gay repression condemned Violation of Russian constitution & European human rights law Sign the petition against homophobic repression in Russia London’s LGBT Pride Parade last Saturday included protests against Russia’s new anti-gay law and condemnation of President Vladimir Putin as the “Czar of Homophobia”. See photos of the Peter Tatchell Foundation contingent at London… Read more »
MEPs condemn transphobic police crackdown in Greece
Members of the European Parliament are worried by reports Greek police have started to systematically harass transgender women in Athens and Thessaloniki. Police have made numerous arrests in recent weeks, and detained a lawyer defending the women. Officers in Thessaloniki have been operating sweeping arrests, often with policemen behaving aggressively, under the pretext of ID… Read more »
Over 15 million banned from gay marriage in France
LGBT people from 10 countries, who could potentially travel to France to get married, would be barred from doing so Over 15 million LGBT people are banned from same-sex marriage in France, it was revealed today (2 July). France has signed agreements with several countries saying any ex-patriots would be banned from marrying under the… Read more »
Istanbul gay pride supported by tens of thousands of Gezi park protestors
Tens of thousands people joined Istanbul gay pride, including Gezi park protestors in a march of unity and solidarity demanding change Tens of thousands people joined Istanbul gay pride, including Gezi park protestors in a march of unity and solidarity demanding change LGBT rights activists and demonstrators were joined by Gezi Park protestors in an… Read more »
Russian gay activist attacked, arrested by his own parents
A 24-year-old male student is reportedly missing after he was arrested twice by Kazan Police A gay activist is missing after he was attacked and arrested by his own parents in Russia. Dmitry Isakov, a 24-year-old student, was arrested twice in Kazan in the western Republic of Tatarstan on 29 and 30 June. The young… Read more »
Protests Squelched, Gay Rights March Brings Many in Turkey Back to the Streets
Istanbul — Not long after a security crackdown smothered the antigovernment protests that convulsed Turkey for weeks, thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul again on Sunday, this time for a march to demand better treatment and equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. When the first gay rights parade was… Read more »
Sardinians march for gay rights in beach pride
An estimated 10,000 people marched on the beach of Cagliari, Sardinia, to shout, sing and fight for LGBT rights in an anti-gay region of Italy At least 10,000 people gathered on Cagliari’s beach to fight for LGBT rights in Sardinia, Italy. Photo by Daniele Guido Gessa At least 10,000 people marched for gay pride in… Read more »
Turkey: Father who murdered son for being gay pleads guilty
A Turkish man who murdered his son for being gay pleaded guilty but said it was ‘an accident’ A Turkish man from Diyarbakir who murdered his son for being gay pleaded guilty but said it was ‘an accident’ A man who killed his son for being gay in the Kurdish province of Diyarbakir, Turkey, pleaded… Read more »
Gay couples can adopt in North
Gay rights campaigners have welcomed a court ruling that paves the way for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland to adopt. It comes after a legal challenge yesterday by Health Minister Edwin Poots was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The move brings Northern Ireland law into line with the rest of the UK, and means… Read more »
Russia’s upper house approves ‘gay propaganda’ bill, will become law
Anyone who offends a religious believer could be sent to jail as the Senate also makes it illegal for foreign gay couples Russia’s upper house of parliament passed the nationwide ‘gay propaganda’ bill yesterday (26 June), leaving it to President Vladimir Putin who supports it to sign into law. The Senate approved the measure by… Read more »
Were there any gay Vikings?
GSN visits Oslo to improve our Nordic history and embrace the tall, blond warriors of the future You might need to find it online, but lately I’ve been a bit obsessed with the television series Vikings. It’s a bloody and violent depiction of life at that time, I’m guessing it’s not too far from the… Read more »
Hate mob lays siege to gay TV star’s home
Petar Stojkovikj, a famous actor and celebrity, has become the latest victim of attacks targeting Macedonia’s LGBT community An angry mob has surrounded the home of a famous Macedonian gay TV star, shouting abuse and hurling objects at the house, where he lives with sick, old mother. The actor, called Petar Stojkovikj, is the latest… Read more »
Putin warns West not to interfere on ‘gay issues’ in Russia
Russian President says despite a ‘gay gag’ bill is set to become law, it does not infringe on the rights of LGBT people Vladimir Putin has warned Western countries not to interfere on Russia’s plan to ban ‘gay propaganda’. Speaking in Finland yesterday (25 June), the president said he does not instruct other countries on… Read more »
Gay and Lesbian Pride celebrations kick off in Oslo
The LGBT community of Norway’s capital brave a rainy evening to launch ‘Skeive dager’ – the city’s annual Pride festival. Oslo’s LGBT community are a hardy bunch, and despite fairly solid rain they were out in force this evening for the city’s Pride celebrations. Oslo’s celebrations are known as ‘Skeive dager’ (which translates roughly as… Read more »
Another defeat for equal marriage in Northern Ireland in the Stormont Assembly
Politicians have once again blocked moves to legalise equal marriage in Northern Ireland. Last night the country’s Stormont Assembly voted against recognising the same-sex marriage bill for England and Wales, which is currently nearing the end of its journey in the House of Lords. Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) passed a Legislative Consent Motion… Read more »
EU foreign affairs ministers adopt ground-breaking global LGBTI policy
Today the EU’s 27 foreign affairs ministers adopted a ground-breaking global policy. The LGBTI Guidelines instruct EU diplomats around the globe to defend the human rights of LGBTI people. The Council of the European Union*, the body that represents the 27 national governments in the EU, had already adopted a non-binding toolkit to promote LGBT… Read more »
LGBT Pride and Protest: A First-Hand Report From Sofia, Bulgaria
Pride has always been a tense time in Sofia, Bulgaria, where I have lived for the last four years. In 2008, the year of the first Pride (not coincidentally, Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007), the parade was disrupted by a group of nationalists, who assaulted participants and threw Molotov cocktails. In subsequent years… Read more »
Macedonia: Skopje pride attacked by anti-gay mob
The Skopje Pride Week started with an attack by an anti-gay mob on the LGBT support center, during its opening event Violence marred Skopje Pride Week’s opening event when an anti-gay mob surrounded and attacked participants in Maceodnia’s capital city’s LGBT support center. The mob, said to be composed of around 30 young people, shouted… Read more »
Sofia Pride cancelled due to fears of anti-gay attacks
Organizers of Sofia pride in Bulgaria have cancelled the event scheduled for tomorrow, citing security concerns Pride has been canceled in Sofia capital of Bulgaria, due to fears that anti-gay extremists may attack the participants. Organizers of Sofia Pride that was scheduled for tomorrow (22 June) say the event has been canceled due to the… Read more »
Malta: Bill introduced to increase protections against sexual orientation discrimination
A private member’s bill has been introduced in Malta in order to amend the country’s Constitution to increase protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Article 45 of the Maltese Constitution already protects against discrimination based on race and sex, among others, however the proposal by the Opposition, the Nationalist Party, would protect against discrimination… Read more »
Serbia: Right-wing group promises to spy on new LGBT centre
The first LGBT community centre to open in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, has become the target of surveillance by nationalists who claim they are out to protect the neighbourhood from “prostitution”. Balkan Insight reports that right-wing group SNP NASI has pledged to obtain evidence of criminal activity taking place at Belgrade. The group specifically claims… Read more »
ADS
