Europe
Boys in heels respond to Russia’s anti-gay ‘Crazy Law’
Ukrainian pop sensation Kazaky releases their latest video titled ‘Crazy Law’, a possible rebuttal to Russia’s anti-gay propaganda laws The Ukranian all-boy-band, a group of muscled dancers who don stiletto heels to headline performances that include Diesel fashion shows and Madonna music videos, has released a new video titled “Crazy Law’. Judging from the song’s… Read more »
Police break into homes and arrest 20 trans women in Istanbul
On the night before International Women’s Day, the homes of trans women was broken into by police on suspicion of ‘providing space for sex work’ On the night before International Women’s Day, police officers in Istanbul arrested and harassed 20 transgender women. Around 4pm yesterday (7 March), police officers broke down their doors with sledgehammers… Read more »
Russia’s only lesbian glossy magazine goes on sale – but homophobes call it ‘filth’
The pilot issue of the only glossy magazine for lesbians in Russia has gone on sale this month, in a launch that publishers hope will reach out to the country’s embattled LGBT community. RIA Novosti reports that the magazine Agens, which takes its title from a Latin word meaning “driving force”, has gone on its… Read more »
It is easy to be cynical and exaggerate the extent of abuse by clergy against children
Westhampton, MA – Quoted here are excerpts from the Associated Press of September 14, 2009 and published by the New York Times. It is easy to be cynical and exaggerate the extent of abuse by clergy against children but that serves no purpose other than creating more abuse, in this case against innocent clergy who… Read more »
Moldova: Second largest city overturns local ban on ‘gay propaganda’
A court in the second largest city in Moldova has struck down a local ban on what authorities had referred to as “homosexual propaganda”. The Balti Court of Appeals gave its verdict on the case on 28 February, which was that the ban approved last year by the city council was unconstitutional. It also ruled… Read more »
Gay Propaganda Ban ‘Not Discrimination’ – Russian FM
Moscow – The ban on “gay propaganda” among minors, currently under review in Russian legislature, does not infringe on human rights – unlike “gay propaganda” itself, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. “We’re not discriminating against anyone, we just don’t want reverse discrimination, when one group of citizens gets the right to aggressively… Read more »
Gay Russian TV personality reflects on his firing and his country
Anton Krasovsky was fired after publicly revealing that he is gay. He discusses his decision, its aftermath and the state of Russian government and society. Moscow — The day last month that Russian lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill establishing fines for spreading “propaganda” supporting homosexuality among minors, leading Russian media personality Anton Krasovsky… Read more »
Gay Russian TV personality reflects on his firing and his country
Anton Krasovsky was fired after publicly revealing that he is gay. He discusses his decision, its aftermath and the state of Russian government and society. Moscow — The day last month that Russian lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill establishing fines for spreading “propaganda” supporting homosexuality among minors, leading Russian media personality Anton Krasovsky… Read more »
European Human Rights court finds Austria’s gay second-parent adoption ban discriminatory
The court this week that it was unconstitutional for Austria to allow unmarried straight couples to adopt and not extend the same rights to same-sex couples. The European Court for Human Rights this week ruled in favour of an unnamed Austrian lesbian couple seeking to have a second-parent adoption for their son who was born… Read more »
Circumcision makes no difference to HIV infection in UK gay men
An analysis of an online and gay-venue survey of white, British-born, gay and bisexual men in the UK has found no association between whether they were circumcised and whether they had HIV, even among men who were mainly or exclusively ‘tops’ (who take the insertive role in anal intercourse). The study While a couple of… Read more »
Turkey: Children fostered by European gay couples will be retrieved
A campaign has been launched by the Turkish Government to retrieve Turkish children fostered by Christian families in Europe – starting with children fostered by gay and lesbian couples. According to the Hurriyet Daily, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag has instructed Turkish international representatives to start the process in the cases of three… Read more »
59 Deputies From Republican People’s Party (CHP) Request LGBT Rights Inquiry
Republican People’s Party (CHP) requested an inquiry yesterday from the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) to find solutions for the problems of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The request for the inquiry was prepared by Istanbul deputy of CHP, Binnaz Toprak and signed by 59 CHP deputies, including Toprak. CHP demanded legal protection… Read more »
Belarus cracks down on gay activists
Minsk, Belarus – Police in Belarus are going after gays, raiding their clubs and locking up clubbers overnight, and summoning gay activists for questioning. One activist accuses police of beating him during questioning, while others say they were interrogated about their sex lives. The leader of a gay rights organization was stripped of his passport… Read more »
God’s LGBT Children in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Moldova: Homosexuality is Not Sinful, Demonic, or a Mental Illness
The book is in Russian and includes a full English translation. It is authored by an Eastern Orthodox Bishop for LGBT individuals in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Russia. The book will resonate with Eastern European LGBT persons who are “out and proud,” out to a select few, and those who live quiet lives of isolation… Read more »
HIV tests, free condoms for Ukrainian Condom Day celebrations
If a Condom Day celebration evokes images of a bright festival with people dressed as variously flavored condoms dancing in the streets, a reality check is needed. Source – Kyiv Post
Mount Athos: A visit to the Holy Mountain
In February 1936 the young Patrick Leigh Fermor walked along the peninsula that we know as Mount Athos. It was there he celebrated his twenty-first birthday with Russian Orthodox monks. In 2011 the CBS ’60 Minutes’ programme gained access to the Holy Mountain, the first television since 1981. Here is a unique opportunity to take… Read more »
Sweden: Gay couple married in Sweden say their families back home are being harassed
The families of two Ugandan men living in Sweden, who claim they are the first gay couple from their country to get married, have been harassed over the couple’s marriage. Lawrence Kaala and Jimmy Sserwadda were married in January at a church in Järfälla, a suburb north of the Swedish capital, Stockholm. Mr Sserwadda’s elderly… Read more »
Attempt To Register A LGBT Organisation In Belarus Provokes Police Raids
Last month, police raided three gay club events in Belarus. It appears that the authorities have become increasingly nervous about the growing social activity of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, especially following the largest Belarusian LGBT initiative to obtain the legal status of an NGO. On the night of 11 January, about… Read more »
Ukraine: ‘Read Oscar Wilde? 5 years in prison’
Human rights activists in Ukraine have launched a media campaign and a petition drive against the proposal to impose a ban on “homosexual propaganda.” Posters in Kiev metro stations point out some possible outcomes if the bill is passed: “Listen to Queen? Five years in prison.” “Read Oscar Wilde? Five years in prison.” “Watch the… Read more »
‘Inhuman and degrading’: Gay asylum seekers feel they must go to extreme lengths to prove their sexuality, including filming themselves having sex
S Chelvan, a barrister at No 5 Chambers, blames strict UK Border Agency demands for the desperate measures A leading barrister has warned that gay asylum seekers believe they have to go to extreme lengths to prove their sexuality in order to meet strict UK Border Agency demands. S Chelvan, a barrister at No 5… Read more »
UN rights experts advise Russian Duma to scrap bill on ‘homosexuality propaganda’
Geneva – A group of United Nations independent human rights experts today called on the lower house of the Russian parliament to discard a draft bill to establish administrative penalties for “propaganda of homosexuality among minors,” which has already been approved by the State Duma. The experts on freedom of expression, human rights defenders, cultural… Read more »
Suspected Gay Editors Outed in Macedonia
The pro-government Vecer newspaper has asked its readers to name which journalists they think are gay, proposing several suggestions of its own. The move to “out” gay journalists in Macedonia is only the latest bizarre twist in the media – as a competition to outdo a recent spoof interview in Serbia appeared to spiral out… Read more »
What Do We Do With The Sissies? Homophobia, Gender, Stereotypes And Emancipation Stratigies Among Young And LGBT People In The Netherlands
Introduction This report analyses the results of two researches carried out in the Netherlands. The research was done in the context of the NISO Project “Fighting homophobia through active citizenship and media education”, a two years initiative co-funded by EU (DG Justice) through its Human Rights and Citizenship Programme. The aim of the NISO project… Read more »
First Ugandan gay couple to marry in Sweden
Stockholm – Two Ugandan men who married in a Swedish church claim to be the first Ugandan gays to be legally married. One of the newly wed husbands faces possible deportation to Uganda where homosexuality is illegal and can carry a lifelong prison sentence. The Local reported Lawrence Kaala and Jimmy Sserwadda married just over… Read more »
Russian Duma Overwhelmingly Passes Ban On “Gay Propaganda”
Out of 390 Members of Parliament in Russia’s Lower House, 388 voted for a national ban on “homosexual propaganda” toward minors. One MP voted against and one abstained in the first reading of the bill. RT.com reports: The ban was submitted by deputies from the Novosibirsk Region in Siberia, who had earlier introduced similar local… Read more »
Thousands March In Paris For Gay Marriage
Thousands of activists are marching through the streets of Paris on Sunday in a show of support for the government’s plans to make France the 12th and most influential nation so far to legalize gay marriage. Demonstrators carried banners with phrases such as “Equality of rights is not a threat” as they kicked off their… Read more »
What do we do with the sissies?
One third of Dutch secondary students keep a distance to gay and lesbian peers or feels insecure about having contact with them. 32% does not want to sit next to a gay classmate during lunch break. Only one third thinks homosexuality “a natural sexual orientation”. These are some of the results of the research EduDivers,… Read more »
Russia moves to enact anti-gay law nationwide
Moscow (AP) — Kissing his boyfriend during a protest in front of Russia’s parliament earned Pavel Samburov 30 hours of detention and the equivalent of a $16 fine on a charge of “hooliganism.” But if a bill that comes up for a first vote later this month becomes law, such a public kiss could be… Read more »
Gay Activists Beaten During Picket in Southwest Russia
Voronezh(RIA Novosti) – Gay activists were beaten by an angry crowd during an authorized picket in the city of Voronezh in southwest Russia on Sunday. Voronezh gay activists earlier announced their intention to hold a protest against the so-called homophobia bill, which will be discussed in Russia’s parliament soon. The picket in the square near… Read more »
Angry crowd of fascists attack gay activists in Russian city of Voronezh
Homophobic Russians have attacked gay activists in the city of Voronezh, the attacks have taken place following a protest against homophobic legislation in place in parts of the country and being considered in others. Activists had announced that they would picket the city earlier in the week and several hundred anti-gay opponents gathered to counter… Read more »
Tolerance survey: Lithuanians grow more homophobic and resent Roma, but accept Russian-speakers
Lithuanians are most reluctant to have contacts with Roma people and former prisoners, while homosexuals and the mentally disabled would least popular as neighbours. Such is the conclusion of a survey by the Labour and Social Research Institute. The representative poll, carried out in November 2012, shows people in Lithuania are most likely to resent… Read more »
Protest against gay marriage: Huge crowds expected in Paris
Paris – Several hundred thousand people are expected to march through Paris on Sunday against the planned legalization of same-sex marriage in the first mass protest against the unpopular President Francois Hollande. Strongly backed by the Catholic hierarchy, lay activists have mobilized a hybrid coalition of church-going families, political conservatives, Muslims, evangelicals and even homosexuals… Read more »
Landmark Ruling: Human Right Court Rules Religious Beliefs Do Not Trump LGBT Rights
In an historic, landmark decision the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that an individual’s religious beliefs do not trump the rights of an LGBT person and may not be used to discriminate against them. The Court, in Strasbourg, France, examined four cases brought by Christians from the UK, two of which related to… Read more »
Vatican: Topless women demonstrate for equal marriage rights during Pope’s weekly prayer
A Ukrainian feminist group have demonstrated topless at St Peter’s Square for gay rights, as Pope Benedict XVI gave his weekly prayer. Four women from Ukrainian feminist group, Femen, stripped off to display the words “Shut up!”, on their fronts, and “in gay we trust” on their backs. The activists also shouted “Homophobic shut up!”,… Read more »
Gay rights demonstration in Croatia
The issue of gay rights is currently fuelling debate across Europe. In Croatia, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists gathered outside Zagreb’s main cathedral. This time, it was not about gay marriage, but education. The government and church are at loggerheads over a new curriculum for state primary schools, with sections on sexual minorities and… Read more »
Prove You’re Gay Or Go Home, Home Office Tells Senegales Student
A gay student has been told to prove his sexuality or face deportation to his home country Senegal, where homosexuality is outlawed. Serigne Tacko Mbengue, who studies at Newham College in east London, and is a LGBT campaigner for the NUS, fled to the UK in 2008 to escape homophobic persecution. But the 26-year-old is… Read more »
Poll: Strong support across Europe for equal marriage and adoption – but France divided
A majority of people in several European countries believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married and adopt children, but in France the public is divided, according to YouGov. It’s latest poll shows a slim majority of French people (51%) are against allowing gay couples to adopt. The findings come ahead of an… Read more »
Comment: The truth about being a gay 16-year-old at an all boys boarding school
16-year-old Olly Hudson writes for PinkNews.co.uk about his experiences of being gay at a private all boys boarding school in the UK. He despairs at the homophobic environment and the lack of acknowledgement by the school that homosexuality even exists. My name’s Olly, and I’m a 16-year-old from South Wales. I’m also gay. I decided… Read more »
Macedonia Activists Oppose Anti-Gay Constitution Change
Civil rights group urges political parties to clarify whether they support or oppose Church-led proposal to constitutionally ban gay marriage. The Skopje-based NGO “Plostad Sloboda” [Freedom Square] says politicians must make clear where they stand on calls to change the constitution, outlawing gay marriage. The heads of the five main faiths in the country last… Read more »
Muslims urged to march against gay marriage in France
Muslims join Catholics in fight against President François Hollande’s ‘Marriage for All’ law French Muslims have joined Catholics in protesting the country’s plans to legalize gay marriage and adoption. An open letter signed by 50 Muslim activists calls on religious followers to join a march against the law in France’s capital Paris on Sunday (13… Read more »
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