Marchers in London’s pride parade on June 29 urged their homeland, Nigeria, to accept LGBTI people as equals, which includes rejection of the anti-gay law that has passed both the Nigerian House and Senate. This was the scene at the pride parade: Related articles Nigeria: Ban gays’ lawyers, convict same-sex roommates? (76crimes.com) Nigeria lawmakers OK 14-year … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2013
Tunisia politician guilty of gay sex; prison term nears end
Gay Star News reports: Mounir Baatour, a political party leader and lawyer, was found guilty of ‘sodomy’ with a 20-year-old man. Baatour was sentenced to three months in prison by the court of first instance in Tunis. The judge found him guilty of violating article 230 of the Tunisian Criminal Code that makes consensual gay … Continue reading
Putin signs Russian ‘anti-gay propaganda’ bill into law
The Voice of Russia, the Russian government’s international radio broadcasting service, reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a controversial bill punishing people for homosexual “propaganda”, according to an official publication on Sunday. The law introduces fines of up to 200,000 rubles ($6,700) for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors through the … Continue reading
U.S. lets LGBTs abroad die of neglect as it OKs rights at home
It was only a year ago that the vintage convertible carrying Global Grand Marshal Bishop Christopher Senyonjo rolled down Market Street in San Francisco to the cheers of a million well-wishers at San Francisco Pride. Our theme “Global Equality” won the competition to name Pride’s theme last year. At 80, though rejected by his Anglican … Continue reading
Russia: Police arrest 60 St. Petersburg gay pride marchers
Gay Star News, among others, reports: All the participants in today’s St Petersburg gay pride parade have been arrested and are being detained in police vans. Some participants were badly beaten by anti-gay protestors. Nikolai Alekseev, one of Russia’s most prominent LGBT activists who was arrested last month for organizing a gay rights march, confirmed … Continue reading
Obama nudges Africa toward LGBT rights; too gently?
President Obama raised the issue of LGBT rights on the first stop of his current trip to Africa, where 38 countries have laws against homosexual activity. But he did not press the issue hard, nor did he raise it in his private conversation with Senegal President Macky Sall. During a press conference, Sall was allowed … Continue reading
Report cites torture of Lebanon LGBTs, others; seeks reform
Police in Lebanon often mistreat or torture LGBT people, sex workers and drug users, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. The 66-page report, titled “It’s Part of the Job: Ill-treatment and Torture of Vulnerable Groups in Lebanese Police Stations,” stated: The most common forms of torture were beatings with fists, boots, or … Continue reading
Malawi drama group pushes for gay rights
In Malawi, the Nyasa Times reports on new support for LGBT rights there: One of the Malawi’s renowned vernacular theatre groups, Kwathu drama group says it is joining the band wagon [of] campaigners advocating for equal rights by taking part in promoting rights of the minority groups in the country through performances. Assistant director for … Continue reading
By 137-0 vote, Russian senate embraces ‘gay propaganda’ ban
Russia’s Senate voted overwhelmingly yesterday for a bill to impose strict fines for broadly defined “propaganda of non-traditional sex relations” in the presence of minors, including in the media and on the Internet. The bill was passed 434-0 with one abstention on June 11 by Russia’s lower legislative body, the State Duma. Before becoming low, … Continue reading
Jamaica: Legal challenge to anti-gay law under way
Dane Lewis, head of the Jamaican LGBT rights group J-FLAG, reports on proceedings in the Jamaican Supreme Court, where Javed Jaghai, the group’s education and outreach officer, is challenging the constitutionality of the Jamaican “buggery law”: As Executive Director, I accompanied Javed to court on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in order to get a first-hand account … Continue reading
