Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts

Monday, January 29, 2024

In Russia, Gays Are Extremists! | #shorts

All LGBT are banned in Russia. Yes, that’s right – banned! Gays must be striking fear into Russians’ hearts, or something.

Growing Up Gay in the Country I The Feed | Reupload

Oct 6, 2014 | Ivan hasn’t been back to his rural hometown of Tumut NSW in 21 years. He left as a teenager after a childhood of bullying about his sexuality, and never looked back. Until now.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Russia Outlaws ‘International LGBT Public Movement’ as Extremist

GUARDIAN INTERNATIONAL: Human rights activists say supreme court’s vague wording provides wide scope for persecution

The head of the Russian LGBT Network, Igor Kochetkov, centre, says ‘all legal activities of LGBT organisations will be impossible in Russia’. Photograph: AP

Russia’s supreme court has outlawed what it called an “international LGBT public movement” as extremist, in a landmark ruling that representatives of gay and transgender people warn will lead to arrests and prosecutions of the already repressed LGBTQ+ community.

The ruling in effect outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in a country growing increasingly conservative since the start of the war in Ukraine. The “extremist” label could mean that gay, lesbian, transgender or queer people living in Russia could receive lengthy prison sentences if deemed by the authorities to be part of the so called “international LGBT public movement”.

The justice ministry earlier this month filed a request that the “international LGBT movement” be labelled extremist, without clarifying what it meant under the term, which is not a registered entity in Russia but rather a broad definition used by the Russian authorities. » | Pjotr Sauer | Thursday, November 30, 2023

Bash the shit out of the weak, the oppressed and the downtrodden, why don’t you? It’s always a good idea, because it makes the weak look strong. Thereafter, these weaklings often proceed to quote Jesus and Christianity as justification for their cruel and ruthless behaviour and persecution. But never forget: Jesus would abhor the persecution of gay people. Jesus, lest we forget, besought us all to be mindful and caring of the weak and oppressed. For this, He assured us, is the way to honour God, our Maker! Anyone who thinks that he is doing God’s work by oppressing any weak group in society is not on the straight path. In fact, he is on the road to perdition! Repent and repeal these ridiculous laws! Cease and desist meting out such cruelty! – © Mark Alexander

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Turkish Islamists Seeking Cultural Dominance Launch Bans on Festivals and Concerts

EL PAÍS INTERNATIONAL: Many artists have been cancelled for their LGBTQ+ support or for criticizing the conservative government

In June 2021, Turkish pop singer Gökçe tweeted, “Love whoever you want. Love is love.” Little did she know that this tweet would have long-lasting consequences. This year, she was scheduled to perform at a festival in the small resort town of Sandikli in western Turkey. However, less than two weeks before the August 11 concert, Islamist Mayor Mustafa Çöl cancelled the concert. Posting several screenshots of Gökçe’s supposedly offensive tweets, Çöl said, “We’ll never accept those who attack our sacred values. People who share these things won’t even be allowed to set foot in our region, let alone appear in Sandikli!”

About 20 concerts by major Turkish rock, pop and folk stars, as well as music festivals, have been canceled in the past three months as a result of pressure from government authorities and Islamist groups. Artists have faced backlash for expressing support for LGBTQ+ rights, condemning violence against women, supporting opposition parties and promoting music in minority languages. Similar events occurred last summer and many see these cancellations as an attempt by Turkish Islamists to extend their influence and promote a culture aligned with their ultra-conservative principles during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long tenure in office. » | Andrés Mourenza, Istanbul | Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Rishi Sunak Apologises to LGBT Veterans for Past Armed Forces Gay Ban

BBC: Rishi Sunak has apologised for the historical treatment of LGBT veterans who were sacked or forced out of the military for being gay.

The PM called the ban an "appalling failure" of the British state.

It was illegal to be gay in the British military until 2000 - with thousands of veterans thought to be affected.

A report into their treatment recommended they be given a financial reward and that the PM publicly apologise.

Addressing MPs, the prime minister said: "Many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment all while bravely serving this country."

The LGBT Veterans Independent Review, led by Britain's first openly gay judge Lord Etherton, began last year and heard about the experiences of 1,145 veterans between 1967 to 2000.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK in 1967 but a ban continued in the armed forces. According to the report, the Ministry of Defence said at the time that justification for the policy included "maintenance of operational effectiveness and efficiency" - but the report said there had been an "incomprehensible policy of homophobic bigotry" in the armed forces.

It heard shocking accounts of homophobia, bullying, blackmail, sexual assaults, "disgraceful" medical examinations, and conversion therapy. » | Megan Fisher, Lauren Moss and Josh Parry, BBC News | Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Monday, June 26, 2023

This Ex-doctor Turned Activist Is on a Mission to Create a More Inclusive Healthcare System

Jun 26, 2023 | Fighting for inclusion and better treatment for trans and genderqueer people by the healthcare profession is an overriding passion for Dr Jo Hartland. Their work inspires us, which is why they're being honoured at the Attitude Pride Awards, in association with Magnum.

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Islamisten sollen Anschlag auf Regenbogenparade geplant haben

WIEN

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Am Samstag marschierten in Wien 300.000 Personen bei der Regenbogenparade mit. Jetzt wird bekannt: Zuvor wurden drei mutmaßliche Islamisten festgenommen. Der Jüngste ist 14 Jahre alt.

In Wien haben die Sicherheitsbehörden nach eigenen Angaben einen drohenden islamistischen Anschlag auf die Regenbogenparade am Samstag vereitelt. In einer am Sonntag kurzfristig anberaumten Pressekonferenz des Staatsschutzes wurde mitgeteilt, dass drei teils noch jugendliche Verdächtige vor Beginn der Veranstaltung in der Wiener Innenstadt, an der bis zu 300.000 Personen teilgenommen haben, festgenommen worden seien. Die Gruppe sei zuvor schon beobachtet und „engmaschig überwacht“ worden, so dass für die Veranstaltung „zu keiner Zeit eine Gefahr“ bestanden habe. Teilnehmern war allerdings die besonders hohe Zahl an Polizeikräften aufgefallen. » | Von Stephan Löwenstein, Wien || Sonntag, 18. Juni 2023

Saturday, June 10, 2023

Wednesday, June 07, 2023

The LGBT Influencers Facing Arrest in Saudi Arabia • The Observers - France 24

Oct 25, 2022 | Under Saudi Arabia's restrictive cybercrime laws, even makeup tutorials or behaviour suggesting same-sex attraction can lead to arrest. Suhail al Jameel's photo on Twitter got him charged with sharing nudity online. TikToker Tala Safwan posted a conversation with a female friend and was accused of “suggestiveness that could have a negative impact on public morality". And Mohamad al Bokari was convicted of promoting homosexuality online and “imitating women”. Our Observer is a Saudi activist living in exile in the US. He told us more about how these LGBT influencers face danger and arrest by sharing their identities online.

Sunday, November 20, 2022

World Cup 2022: Growing Up LGBT in the Middle East

GETTY IMAGES

BBC: More than a million fans from around the globe will be going to Qatar to watch the World Cup.

But the country has been criticised for its ban on same-sex relationships and its treatment of migrant workers.

For some LGBT football fans, there is a conflict - between the game they love and the life they wish to lead.

It's a dilemma one fan, who fled a neighbouring Middle Eastern country with similar attitudes, understands well.

That person, who asked to remain anonymous, told BBC Asian Network's Luke Wolstenholme what it was like to grow up LGBT in a country where "everyone is scared to talk about it".

'I was trying to change myself'

Living your whole life in fear isn't an experience you would wish on your worst enemy. Fear, consistent lying, pretending - this is the highlight of my life there.

I wasn't happy for long time, to be honest. At that time I was thinking there is something wrong with me for being gay and I didn't accept it.

I was trying to change myself - we are raised like that.

Everything around us says being gay is wrong and God will punish us for being gay. My home country is a religious country and Islam is the religion.

It took me a long time to accept myself. » | BBC | Friday, November 18, 2022

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Meet Iran's Gay Mullah Forced to Flee the Country - BBC News | 2016

In Iran, homosexuality is banned and punishable by execution under its strict code of sharia, or Islamic law. In a country dominated by the religious class, being gay is taboo, and especially among the establishment. One Iranian gay cleric, who conducted gay weddings in secret, was forced to flee the country, and has been threatened with death. BBC Persian's Ali Hamedani reports. Video Journalist: Kelvin Brown

Two Bears Life: We Can Get Married! Gay Couple Talks about Marriage Equality in Austria | 2017

We talk about the landmark decision of the Austrian supreme court that will open "marriage for all". This means that gay couples will be allowed to get married at the latest by the beginning of 2019.

Thursday, April 14, 2022

A New Crusade: Poland's Embrace of Catholicism and Anti-LGBT Ideology | Foreign Correspondent

Apr 28, 2020 • When Poland’s Archbishop of Krakow talks about fighting a plague, he’s not talking about the new coronavirus. He’s talking about gay rights.

“A certain ideology is a threat to our hearts and minds…so we need to defend ourselves just like against any other plague”, says Archbishop Jedraszewski.

In the 1980s Poland played a central part in liberating the world from communism. Now there’s a push to wind back many of those hard-won freedoms.

The Catholic church and the Polish government are forming a holy alliance, joining forces to denounce Western-style liberalism as the new enemy.

“From the very beginning the history of the Polish state and Polish nation were connected with the history of Christianity”, says Archbishop Jedraszewski. “Christianity, nation and state were so tightly connected, they were almost inseparable.”

In today’s Poland, the church is supporting government moves to discriminate against gay people, wind back sex education and outlaw abortion.

But feminists, gays and liberals are fighting back.

Foreign Correspondent’s Eric Campbell reports on a deeply divided nation in the throes of a culture war.

He meets the Archbishop of Krakow who likens gay activists to the much-reviled Soviets who occupied Poland after the Second World War.

“This time it is not a red but a rainbow plague”, says Archbishop Jedraszewski. Regional governments across Poland have declared about a third of the country ‘an LGBT free zone’.

Eric interviews critics of the current government, including Lech Walesa, the father of Polish democracy, who warns “our Constitution is being broken, the separation of powers has been violated and we have to do something about it.”

He meets a gay mayor in a small town who says the rhetoric from church and state is leading to an “increase in hatred spreading against homosexual people.” And he films at a far-right rally in Warsaw where Catholic extremists are co-opting the church in their bid to push their nationalist agenda and vision of Poland as a new theocracy.

While many Poles believe a religious revival will lead their country to the light, others fear it is opening the gates to something darker.


Saturday, April 09, 2022

L'amour et l'affection battent toujours la haine et l'agressivité !

Liebe und Zuneigung schlagen immer Hass und Aggression! / Love and affection always beat hatred and aggression!

N'ayez jamais honte d'être exactement qui vous êtes ! Au contraire, soyez fiers ! / Schämen Sie sich niemals dafür, genau der zu sein, der Sie sind! Im Gegenteil, Seien Sie stolz! / Never be ashamed of being exactly who you are! On the contrary, be proud!

Very many thanks to Taksim gay sohbet for this delightful photo.

Sunday, March 06, 2022

The Terrifying Reality of Life under Russia's Anti-Gay Laws

Jan 6, 2014 • The Iron Closet: Russia's draconian anti-gay laws effectively licensing violent vigilante gangs to target the LGBT community.

Brutally beaten and forced to drink their own urine while being filmed for internet broadcasts, homosexuals lured into the hands of vigilante groups like Occupy Pedofilyaj (who uniformly view gays as paedophiles) should be very afraid. But they can't expect any help from the police: if they're caught the police arrest the victims and not their torturers. "The objective is to look for paedophile-minded residents and film a video that will them leave them publicly disgraced", Yekaterina Zigunova, of the group Occupy Pedofilyaj, boasts unashamedly.

The encouragement and free hand they're given is one of the more confronting features of Russia's anti-gay stance. The law has left homosexuals living in fear. Even an expression that you believe in equal rights, or any public display, could result in arrest. "Theoretically it's possible to start hauling us into the police station today", Masha Gessen says about co-habiting with her partner. But they're not giving up and see the Olympics as a great opportunity to confront Russian society. As one activist, Polina, says, "I would call on Games participants to come here and to do visible things in support of LGBT people. Only this way will we have a public discussion".


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Friday, February 18, 2022

Number of Adults Who Identify as LGBT Has Doubled in Past Decade, Study Finds

ABC NEWS: The research also shows more than half of LGBT Americans say they are bisexual.

STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

A new Gallup poll has found that the number of Americans who identify as something other than heterosexual has doubled in the last decade.

Currently, 7.1% of Americans consider themselves to have an LGBT identity, according to the study, which was based on aggregated 2021 data and included interviews with more than 12,000 U.S. adults. That figure is more than double from 3.5% in 2012.

Of the adults surveyed, 86.3% said they are straight or heterosexual, and 6.6% offered no opinion.

The study also revealed that while LGBT identification has been stable in older generations, it has risen significantly in younger generations. Over 20% of Gen Z adults -- those born between 1997 and 1999 -- identify as LGBT, followed by 10.5% of millennials, 4.5% of Generation X and 2.6% of baby boomers. » |Tony Morrison | Thursday, February 17, 2022