Observers in Zambia supplied this information about the ongoing trial of Philip Mubiana and James Mwape, who could face up to 14 years in prison on charges of homosexual activity: The clock keeps ticking in the homosexuality trial of James Mwape and Philip Mubiana in Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia. They’re heading toward five months in jail without … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: August 2013
Bangladesh newspaper urges repeal of anti-gay law
A newspaper in Bangladesh has announced its opposition to the country’s harsh anti-gay law. The Dhaka Tribune, which was launched in April, today published an editorial that urged “Decriminalising same-sex relations.” Under the laws of Bangladesh, same-sex relations are punishable by up to a life sentence. The opinion piece ran under a secondary headline arguing … Continue reading
Putin must be delighted as LGBT activists attack each other
Russian President Vladimir Putin must be chuckling with joy at the spectacle of LGBT rights activists acting as though other gay-rights activists, rather than Putin and his cronies, are their worst enemies. Activists’ harsh disagreements, especially over whether to boycott the Sochi Olympics or demonstrate for human rights there, have now reached new extremes. As … Continue reading
Another anti-gay mob attacks in Jamaica. Why??
LATEST HOMOPHOBIC ATTACK Why such a series of anti-gay attacks in Jamaica? Is it a populist homophobic response to human rights activists’ challenges to the country’s anti-sodomy law, to TV stations’ prohibition on ads urging tolerance for LGBT people, and the controversies over anti-gay singer Queen Ifrica? How much blame should be assigned to the … Continue reading
Jamaica: I failed Oshane Gordon. I will not fail Dwayne Jones.
This commentary appeared previously in Dadland Shut Up. In the early morning on August 18, 2011, armed thugs barged into the small home that 16 year-old Oshane Gordon shared with his mother in the resort town of Montego Bay, Jamaica. As Oshane tried to flee through a window, the men chopped on his foot. When … Continue reading
Russian police raid LGBT activist’s apartment
Police in Moscow today raided the home of prominent LGBT activist Nikolai Alekseev. The first news of the raid came when he sent warning messages on Twitter: “RT! Police in Moscow is trying to break into the flat of Nikolay Alekseev since 7 am! Urgent alert!!!” “To all media! From 7 am police breaks the … Continue reading
Canada was right to nix tax-funded Jamaican hate
Jamaican anti-gay lawyer, Shirley Richards, wrote a letter to the editor condemning the cancellation of a performance by homophobic reggae artiste, Queen Ifrica. Ifrica was scheduled to perform at Rastafest in Toronto on August 24. This event was partially funded by the Toronto Public Library and Service Canada, both of which are taxpayer-supported entities. … Continue reading
Former Botswana leader: Fight AIDS by changing anti-gay laws
Festus Mogae, the former president of Botswana, joined with Stephen Lewis of AIDS-Free World last month in this appeal for the repeal of anti-gay laws that hinder the fight against HIV/AIDS: In Uganda and across Africa, HIV continues to prey on women, sex workers and men who have sex with men. It is clear that … Continue reading
In Amsterdam, 2,000 protest Russia’s anti-gay law
The depth of anger about Russia’s anti-LGBT crackdown was revealed Sunday in the number of people who attended a hastily organized protest timed for the day of a scheduled concert by a Russian state orchestra and choir. The Associated Press reported: AMSTERDAM — More than 2,000 gay rights supporters protested in Amsterdam’s largest square [on … Continue reading
Boycott Jamaica to push for an end to anti-gay attacks?
This article first appeared in the blog Dadland Shut Up with the headline “Jamaica Boycott Or Not? A Question For Canadians.” Boycotts are very blunt instruments that one uses to get attention. They should be used sparingly or they can do more harm than good. I only recommend that they be resorted to when there … Continue reading
