Egyptian activists have compiled a detailed report on the ongoing and increasing abuse of LGBT citizens by Egyptian police. Recent highly publicized arrests made after a rainbow flag was displayed at a Sept. 22 concert were “simply the latest episode in the systematic campaign” of repression, according to The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) Continue reading
The concept of “traditional values” has been weaponized for use against LGBT people. “Through a persistent rhetoric, powerfully promoted by Russia and its allies, LGBT people have come to embody all that is antithetical to so-called ‘traditional values,’ ” says Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. Continue reading
Human rights activists are using an advocacy video, a boycott and an analytical political update in their efforts to block a new proposal for toughening Egypt’s already-harsh anti-LGBTQ repression. Continue reading
A bill awaiting action in Egypt’s parliament would make the country’s ongoing anti-LGBT crackdown much worse, says activist analyst Scott Long. Continue reading
“We will not let the world look away while people are detained, arrested, tortured and even disappear because they are ‘suspected’ of being gay.” That’s why activists are calling for an online “tweetstorm” today, seeking the end to Egypt’s latest wave of anti-LGBT arrests, detentions and trials. Continue reading
A common thread ties together the anti-LGBT crackdowns in Egypt, Tanzania, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Indonesia and the Russian republic of Chechnya — many of them look like “copy cats” of each other. Is public pressure the only hope for stopping them? Continue reading
Indonesian and Egyptian leaders have made news through repressive, wrong-headed responses to the existence of LGBTI people. Continue reading
More than 50 human rights organizations issued a statement today decrying widespread repression in Egypt, which came to a climax recently in a wave of arrests in response to the display of a rainbow flag at a music concert. Separately, Human Rights Watch on Saturday called on Egypt to halt the anti-LGBT crackdown. Continue reading
Police in Egypt reportedly arrested seven people after a rainbow flag was hoisted at a rock concert in Cairo last Friday, Sept. 22. The specifics of the incident remain unclear. Anti-gay Egyptians are outraged that such a display occurred. Gay-friendly organizations are outraged that such arrests occurred. Continue reading
ILGA and this blog have both issued updated lists of countries with anti-LGBT laws. ILGA counts 72 of them. This blog lists 76. We don’t disagree about where those repressive laws apply, only on how to categorize the countries. Continue reading
