Queensland government to introduce vital trans reform bill later this year
Queensland’s Attorney-General has said the state government will introduce legislation to reform birth certificate laws to benefit transgender Queenslanders later this year, after years of lobbying by advocates. Trans and gender diverse Queenslanders must undergo expensive and invasive gender affirmation surgery before they can update gender markers on birth certificates. Many trans and gender diverse …
Art Simone debunks Drag Race Down Under conspiracy theory
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under star Art Simone has debunked a conspiracy theory claiming RuPaul was “green-screened” into the new series. We’re two episodes into the new series, and more than a few RuAnon conspiracy theorists have taken to Reddit and Twitter with editing allegations. “I feel like RuPaul isn’t actually there,” one person wrote. …
Catholic priests go rogue and defy the Pope by blessing gay couples
As many as 100 Catholic priests in Germany have publicly defied Pope Francis and offered their blessings to same-sex couples despite a Vatican ban. In March, the Vatican declared the Catholic Church can’t bless same-sex unions because God “does not and cannot bless sin.” But on Monday (May 10), Catholic churches around Germany publicly invited …
Gay Iranian man beheaded by his own family members after being outed
A 20-year-old gay man in Iran was murdered by members of his own family last week after being outed. Alireza Fazeli-Monfared (pictured) knew he was in danger and had plans to flee Iran for Turkey where his boyfriend, a refugee, lives. Sadly, he never made it. Last week, his own half-brother and cousins reportedly kidnapped …
Queensland’s Palm Island blazes trail for its LGBTIQ community
A North Queensland council has become the first in the state to introduce an LGBTIQ portfolio to ensure the community is heard by government. Palm Island is located 65 kilometres north-west of Townsville, off Queensland’s east coast. The main island is one of a group governed by Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council. And newly-elected deputy …
Fans discover Snatch Game jokes cut out of Drag Race Down Under
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under fans around the world have compared notes and discovered editing of some jokes during the Snatch Game. The show’s second episode screened on Saturday afternoon Australian time, and is also streaming around the world. New Zealand queen Anita Wigl’it played Queen Elizabeth II in the Snatch Game main challenge and …
Tributes flow after death of Cairns Indigenous artist Arone Meeks
Cairns’ LGBTIQ and arts communities have mourned the death of Indigenous artist Arone Meeks, who passed away last week. The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair director died peacefully in hospital last Wednesday (May 5) after a short battle with cancer. Meeks was 64. The Kuku Imidiji man grew up in the Cape York town of Laura. …
John Barrowman apologises for inappropriate behaviour on Doctor Who set
Doctor Who actor John Barrowman has admitted to “tomfoolery” on the set of the BBC series, after claims he would regularly expose his penis to other cast members. A 2015 video from a Doctor Who convention recently resurfaced, in which co-star Noel Clarke alleged Barrowman would expose himself on the show’s set. Clarke claimed Barrowman …
Here’s who the queens play in Drag Race Down Under’s first Snatch Game
Spoiler alert! The queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under have brought a few famous Australian faces to the Snatch Game. We’re only on episode two of the new local spinoff, but the queens are already debuting their celebrity impressions in the main challenge on Saturday. Among the Australian impressions are Bindi Irwin, Lindy Chamberlain …
Drag Race UK queens caught up in bomb scare at gay nightclub
A group of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK stars were evacuated from London’s Heaven nightclub this week after a “sick individual” made a hoax bomb threat. The Vivienne, Tia Kofi, Veronica Green and their drag sister Shania Pain were rehearsing for a new tour at the venue on Monday (May 3). Then police arrived and ordered …