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Ten years ago, Russian LGBTI activists displayed this rainbow flag during the 2016 May Day parade in St. Petersburg -- before getting arrested for doing so. (Photo courtesy of ВЫХОД Coming Out via Twitter)

Russia’s anti-LGBT crackdown is punishing homophobes too

Joking about gay rights? Attacking Pride?  Don’t show photos or you can be fined or…

School children at Kakuma refugee camp (File photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Fleeing conflict in Ethiopia, LGBT refugees find violence in Kenya and S. Sudan
New video: Trans woman attacked in Cameroon

Resources

Map of countries criminalizing homosexuality, June 2026
Homosexuality is now illegal in 66 nations
This site's activist journalists have laid the groundwork for Project Not Alone, which frees imprisoned victims of African homophobia. This illustration shows two gay men waiting for donations that will pay their fines and set them free.
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21 varieties of traditional African homosexuality
Death penalty, ex-gay therapy, 100s of prisoners, the Commonwealth, more

Upbeat news

This illustration of Chidi was created by the AI program ChatGPT, based on a description of him provided by reporter Mike Daemon.
Readers’ donations freed him from Nigerian prison; now Chidi rebuilds his life
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo courtesy of Ukrainian government / Ukranews.com)
Ukraine approves first LGBT-inclusive national human rights strategy
George Freeman Browne and Edwin Bolaji Deen together in Spain (Photo by George Freeman).
Spain: Two LGBT+ activists who fled Sierra Leone share their stories
Queer youth leaders attend Rightify Ghana workshop. (Photo courtesy of Rightify Ghana)
Rightify Ghana trains dozens of queer youth leaders in advocacy

Important work funded by our readers

This illustration of Chidi was created by the AI program ChatGPT, based on a description of him provided by reporter Mike Daemon.
Readers’ donations freed him from Nigerian prison; now Chidi rebuilds his life
The three friends celebrated their release from prison but, for their safety, they did not want their names or faces to be used in this article. (Photo by Steeves Winner)
Cameroon: Freed from prison, 3 women go into business — with readers’ help
This illustration of Cam was created by the AI program ChatGPT, based on a description of him provided by reporter Steeves Winner.
Still imprisoned in Cameroon, Cam thanks readers for medical aid
The three friends celebrated their release from prison but, for their safety, they did not want their names or faces to be used in this article. (Photo by Steeves Winner)
Generous readers set free 3 women imprisoned for homosexuality in Cameroon

Africa

School children at Kakuma refugee camp (File photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Fleeing conflict in Ethiopia, LGBT refugees find violence in Kenya and S. Sudan
New video: Trans woman attacked in Cameroon
Two Senegalese athletes, some of more than 2,600 Youth Olympic athletes currently competing in Senegal, walk thorugh the Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio, Senegal. (Patrick Meinhardt photo courtesy of AFP)
Senegal: 32 people referred to the Criminal Court for ‘acts against nature’
Yas in happier times. (Photo courtesy of Yas)
Trans woman attacked again in Cameroon

Caribbean

Secretary Marco Rubio meets with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., April 21, 2026. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett)

Postponement of elections worries Haitian LGBT+ rights advocates

For Global Black Pride a reported 10,000+ people gathered in Paris on Sept. 12 to celebrate and also combat LGBTphobia and racism. The march through Paris followed a banner proclaiming "We the People". (Photo courtesy of Global Black Pride via Instagram)

As funding drops, Global Black Pride is accused of financial misdeeds

Armed security guard protects Haiti's acting prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, center, after an event in July that marked one year since a severely outgunned Multinational Security Support Mission began trying to restore order in the capital city. (Odelyn Joseph photo courtesy of AP and NPR)

Haiti’s wary LGBT+ activists brace for first elections in 10 years

Europe

Ten years ago, Russian LGBTI activists displayed this rainbow flag during the 2016 May Day parade in St. Petersburg -- before getting arrested for doing so. (Photo courtesy of ВЫХОД Coming Out via Twitter)
Russia’s anti-LGBT crackdown is punishing homophobes too
Ergün Sünmez via guncel kibrisq.png
North Cyprus court issues first conviction for anti-LGBT hate crime
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo courtesy of Ukrainian government / Ukranews.com)
Ukraine approves first LGBT-inclusive national human rights strategy
LGBTQ activists march in a Pride parade despite a ban by local authorities in Ankara on June 20, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Japan Times / Reuters)
Turkiye outsources its anti-LGBTQ censorship

Asia

Ten years ago, Russian LGBTI activists displayed this rainbow flag during the 2016 May Day parade in St. Petersburg -- before getting arrested for doing so. (Photo courtesy of ВЫХОД Coming Out via Twitter)
Russia’s anti-LGBT crackdown is punishing homophobes too
A hijra household in Bangladesh. (Jack Taylor photo courtesy of the Telegraph)
Bangladesh’s third-gender Hijras struggle for basic rights
Tukiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched the anti-LGBTI repression last month. (Getty Images: Jeff J Mitchell photos courtesy of Getty / ABC.net.au)
UN human rights experts blast Turkiye for anti-LGBTI arrests
Ho Chi Minh Islam (Photo courtesy of X/Twitter)
Bangladesh think tank excludes trans activist from diversity panel amid pressure

Middle East/North Africa

LGBTQ activists march in a Pride parade despite a ban by local authorities in Ankara on June 20, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Japan Times / Reuters)
Turkiye outsources its anti-LGBTQ censorship
Anti-LGBT countries get to guard human rights for the U.N.
Tukiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched the anti-LGBTI repression last month. (Getty Images: Jeff J Mitchell photos courtesy of Getty / ABC.net.au)
UN human rights experts blast Turkiye for anti-LGBTI arrests
Running through the streets on Beirut after an explosion in August. (Hassan Ammar photo courtesy of AP / NY Times)
Lebanon: Queer people shut out of wartime shelters

Americas

Secretary Marco Rubio meets with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., April 21, 2026. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett)

Postponement of elections worries Haitian LGBT+ rights advocates

Haiti has endured ten years without elections

Trans woman Daniela Fuentes, deported to the Central African Republic, where she has no connection and doesn't speak the language. (Photo courtesy of AP)
Trump deports trans woman to African nation where she’s at risk
For Global Black Pride a reported 10,000+ people gathered in Paris on Sept. 12 to celebrate and also combat LGBTphobia and racism. The march through Paris followed a banner proclaiming "We the People". (Photo courtesy of Global Black Pride via Instagram)
As funding drops, Global Black Pride is accused of financial misdeeds
Turkish police arrest LGBT rights protesters opposed to this month's crackdown. (Photo courtesy of Getty / BBC)
Turkey’s anti-LGBT crackdown expands; activists fight back

Oceania

Penioni Ravunawa (Photo courtesy of the Government of Fiji / Facebook)

Fiji Christian group demands constitutional ban on same-sex marriage

Muslim nations add anti-gay laws as Christian nations repeal them

Young participant at Coming Out's rally for LGBT* rights holds a sign that states "Let's Live in Peace." (Photo courtesy of Coming Out)

LGBTQ+ news from Russia, Ukraine and Vanuatu