Discussions of anti-LGBTI attitudes and laws in Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar (Burma) are a focus of the latest edition of the online Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia, which has as its theme “Queer in Southeast Asia.” The review also presents similar articles about Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, which are not included in the world’s 76+ countries … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: August 2015
New blog targets French-speaking nations’ anti-LGBTI laws
This week marks the first official week of publication of the French-language affiliate of the “Erasing 76 Crimes” this blog. “76 Crimes en français,” which has been published in beta version for months, provides coverage in French of an under-served part of the world — the 13 francophone countries, including 12 in Africa, where LGBTI … Continue reading
Activists go head-to-head with unaware Trinidad boosters
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is one of only two countries in the Western Hemisphere that still legally bans the entry of homosexuals, and one of only 11 that continues to criminalize same-gender intimacy. As the country prepares to celebrate its 53rd year of independence on Aug. 31 and prepares to select a new … Continue reading
In Uganda, new bill threatens LGBTI advocates
LGBTI rights activists in Uganda have sounded an alarm about a new threat to their advocacy of justice and fair treatment for the country’s sexual minorities. While the now-overturned Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014 targeted individual LGBTI Ugandans and the organizations representing them, the NGO Bill focuses only on the LGBTI rights organizations, along with every … Continue reading
LGBTI briefs: Stigma and HIV in Africa, India, Russia
News briefs about LGBTI-related health issues in countries with anti-gay laws, excerpted with slight modifications from UNAIDS’s Equal Eyes recap of the world’s LGBTI news. Involving LGBTI people in the fight against Aids In South Africa, the Global Forum on MSM & HIV brought together health workers, government officials, and advocates to discuss HIV needs … Continue reading
March for justice, or stand? 2 experts compare tactics
Denis LeBlanc is a pioneer of the LGBTI liberation movement in Canada and has been a visible activist for SOGI equality for over 40 years. He was among the first Grand Marshals for Ottawa Pride. Maurice Tomlinson is a leading LGBTI activist from Jamaica and has also been collaborating with local activists across the Caribbean … Continue reading
Denial, prayer, fasting — growing up LGBTIQ in Nigeria
“When I first came out to my parents, they subjected me to a compulsory everyday prayer and fasting session,” a young gay Nigerian tells the No Strings podcast. “After my coming out, my parents never looked at me the same way again.” He calls himself “Scarface,” indicating that he has to be strong-willed to survive. … Continue reading
Story with a moral: 2 gay tourists, 1 anti-gay merchant
Two gay tourists arrived on a cruise in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Aug. 19 and decided to explore the beautiful capital. On their stroll they passed a shop at the same time as a group of local boys who, according to the tourists, looked gay. The Barbadian shopkeeper hurled homophobic insults at the youngsters and then … Continue reading
Cameroon: 290 march and pray for human rights
Last month, hundreds of Cameroonians marched in support of the country’s human rights defenders in a protest organized by Camfaids and its partners. Camfaids (the Cameroonian Foundation for Aids) combats HIV/Aids and works to achieve recognition of the importance of guaranteeing human rights for LGBTI people. The peaceful march by nearly 300 people was part … Continue reading
U.N. makes history; ISIS makes a point of killing more gays
I wish activist/analyst Scott Long didn’t seem so instantaneously accurate in his pessimistic prediction about yesterday’s historic U.N. Security Council session, which focused on anti-LGBTI violence perpetrated by the Islamic State/ISIS/ISIL. Today he writes: “My fear (I wrote two days ago) was that ‘the Security Council will only give more impetus to murder’: that ISIS, … Continue reading
