Gays in Syria, as in other Arab nations, are seen mostly as perverts or mentally ill. They face a state perpetuated kind of discrimination that characterizes homosexual acts as moral offences punishable by up to three years in prison. As a matter of course, most gay people in Syria have had… Read full post »

As today, 20 November, marks the 11th International Transgender Day of Remembrance, one of the few events to draw attention to the most marginalized segment of the LGBT community, officials in Puerto Rico continue their investigation of the brutal slaying of 19-year-old Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, an… Read full post »

This Friday 20 November 2009 marks the 11th annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance to commemorate transgender people who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. It was founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor Rita Hester, whose 1998 murder elicited the "Remembering Our De… Read full post »

After winning a legal challenge claiming that a ban on gay marriage violated the constitution of Argentina, Alejandro Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello obtained a marriage license Monday and will become the first same-sex couple to marry in the nation's capital, Buenos Aires.

Quoted by the Associated Pr… Read full post »

Yesterday, as I was tidying up my place, I came across my only copy of the Washington Blade, which I had picked up at a conference in D.C. last year. I almost threw it out, but said to myself, "Hmm. This is a classic," so I kept it. And now, I'm… Read full post »

For the first time in Australia, gay couples living in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), will be able to hold legally recognized civil union ceremonies under legislation that was approved Wednesday by the country's lawmakers. Although the law could still be struck down by Australia's attorney-g… Read full post »

Bravo to the American soap opera One Life to Live for recently addressing the country’s same-sex marriage debate and portraying the relationships of gay people as just as complex as those of their heterosexual counterparts. On the 2 November 2009 episode of the show, a mass same-sex marriage ce… Read full post »

From American writer, producer, and performer Shelly Goldstein comes this hilarious video that puts a spin on Mary Poppins's Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious song and pokes fun at homophobic bigots who participate in maintaining unequal civil rights legislation in the United States.

Brill… Read full post »

Of course not. A bit of common sense, which the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) seems to be lacking, and some additional validating research tell us that same-sex marriage actually makes for stronger, more inclusive societies. As M. V. Lee Badgett, author of "When Gay People Get Married: Wha… Read full post »

This story hasn't gotten much media attention, probably due to poor television ratings, but about a month ago something very special happened. Singer Jaila Simms, transitioning from male to female, became the first transgender person of color to win a reality series in the United States.

It all… Read full post »

I think it's now safe to say that Referendum 71 (R71), the initiative that asked Washington state voters to re-confirm the expansion of domestic partnership rights and obligations in the state's originally limited domestic partnership legislation, has passed. Although ballot counting continued Friday… Read full post »

Polish goalkeeper Arek Onyszko has been fired by FC Midtjylland, a Danish soccer club, after writing and publishing a book, entitled 'Fucking Polack,' in which his hatred of gay people (and himself, it seems from the title) is clearly expressed. From Pinknews:

"I hate gays, I really do. I think… Read full post »

As with every civil rights movement in America, it seems there are setbacks. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Maine voters stood for marriage equality, but with 87 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday morning, 53 percent of voters had approved the repeal of the state’s law allowing… Read full post »

Homophobic residents of the McGregor Gully community in East Kingston, Jamaica, are vowing to take action after a two week notice given to all gays and lesbians to flee the town ended over the weekend. Yes, that's right. The residents declared they were fed up with gay behavior, and ordered all… Read full post »

On Tuesday, voters in Maine just may make history by becoming the first American state to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. With one day left before Mainers hit the polls, the result will largely be effected by voter turnout. You can still make a difference now by calling a Maine… Read full post »

American President Barack Obama put an end Friday to the 22-year HIV Travel and Immigration Ban to the United States during the signing ceremony for the re-authorization of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. The ban, first implemented in 1987 and codified into law by Congress in 1993, p… Read full post »

This quote eloquently reveals how those of us who feel marginal in one way or another actually have privileged access to valuable perspectives that can't be found anywhere else.

"People who exist at the margins of society are very much like Alice in Wonderland. They are not required to make… Read full post »

US President Barack Obama signed legislation Wednesday that extends existing American hate crimes laws (for race, colour, religion, and national origin) to attacks motivated by gender, sexual orientation, and disabilities. Before endorsing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Preventio… Read full post »

As the Pope invites Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church, another Christian, an Australian Pentecostal pastor, has publicly called for the acceptance of LGBT people. In what is being reported as a "world first," Rob Buckingham, Senior Pastor of Melbourne’s Bayside of the Christian City C… Read full post »

In 1976, the Canadian Forces issued Canadian Forces Administrative Order (CFAO) 19-20, Canada's own form of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which allowed members of the military who were suspected of being gay to be investigated and released from service. The order was subsequently challenged by then Canadi… Read full post »

After 35 years of being a member of the Church of Scientology, Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning Canadian director of Crash and Million Dollar Baby, has publicly resigned from the Church in protest against its homophobic stance. In a letter made public by The Hollywood Reporter, Mr. Haggis is sharply cr… Read full post »

The Danish film, Brotherhood, about two gay neo-Nazis in a clandestine romance, won top honors at the Rome Film Festival on Friday:  

"'Brotherhood' is a story about dangerous love and the search for identity. Following disillusionment with his career, Lars decides to leave the army and is drawn… Read full post »

Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shepitko, the Russian lesbian couple who challenged the country's legal system in May 2009 when they asked for a marriage license that was ultimately rejected, will finally marry today in Toronto, Canada, where gay marriage is legal and no residency is required.

Hurrah!… Read full post »

Following the adoption of a new, gender-neutral law on marriage by the Swedish parliament on 1 April 2009, same-sex marriages in the country became officially legal on 1 May 2009. At that time, however, the Lutheran Church of Sweden, to which about 74 percent of Swedes belong, had not yet decided… Read full post »

What's not to love about Ash's new video for True Love 1980? The very gay-friendly band from Northern Ireland, who formed in 1992 and were once marketed "almost as rent boys" wearing t-shirts bearing slogans like "Three Boy Hardcore Action" and "Domination Teenage Bisexual" are now in the midst of pr… Read full post »