News
CSIRO Telescope Turns Rainbow As Staff March In First Sydney Mardi Gras
National science agency CSIRO has lit up its Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope in rainbow colours ahead of their staff’s participation in their first Sydney Mardi Gras parade. In the stunning photo, the radio telescope’s antennas are lit by portable white LED lights placed on the ground in front of each antenna, …
Researcher Wins Victorian Sport Award For World-First Homophobia Study
Monash University researcher Erik Denison has received a Victorian Sport Award for his work on a world-first trial of a program designed at end homophobic language in sport. The Victorian Sport Awards honours outstanding contributions to sport in Victoria across 19 categories, and Mr Denison (pictured, second from right) was awarded the inaugural Peter Norman …
Rockhampton’s Oxford Street Gets Into The Mardi Gras Spirit
Residents of Oxford Street in the south-west of Rockhampton have woken up this week to find a pair of pink flamingos wearing sailor hats cuddling at the end of their street. The street’s sign has been transformed with the two brightly coloured birds ahead of this year’s Mardi Gras parade on the Sydney street of …
Taiwan Unveils Draft Same-Sex Marriage Legislation In Historic First For Asia
The Taiwanese government has unveiled a draft of its same-sex marriage legislation, in a historic first for Asia. Newly-appointed premier Su Tseng-chang said in a statement on Facebook that the Taiwan cabinet’s proposed law would allow same-sex couples to get legally married. According to Su, the country’s definition of marriage in civil law will remain …
Jussie Smollett Charged With Making False Police Report About Alleged Attack
Actor Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report and disorderly conduct after he claimed he suffered a homophobic and racist assault in Chicago last month. “Felony criminal charges have been approved by [Cook County State Attorney’s Office] against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report,” Chicago Police …
Gay Man Calls For Reform Of Australia’s ‘Outdated’ Blood Donation Policy
A gay Tasmanian man has written to three federal political leaders ahead of the federal election to call for changes to Australia’s blood donation policy, which effectively bans gay men from giving blood. Currently, Australian gay or bisexual men can only donate blood if they have not had male-to-male sex – including with a condom …
Brisbane Pride Festival Announces Date Of 2019 AGM
The Brisbane Pride Festival has announced the date of its 2019 AGM. On March 19, the Brisbane Pride Festival is inviting all current members to attend their annual AGM at the Sportsman Hotel, commencing at 6:30pm. The group is inviting members of Brisbane’s LGBTIQA+ Community to submit nominations for the following positions by 5pm on …
Trump Administration To Push For Global Decriminalisation Of Homosexuality
The Trump Administration has announced it plans to campaign for the decriminalisation of homosexuality worldwide. The campaign will be headed by the US’ highest-profile openly gay diplomat Richard Grenell, who is currently the US Ambassador to Germany. Mr Grenell kicked things off in Berlin earlier this week by flying in LGBTIQ rights campaigners from across …
Why Courtney Act Chose Black Rainbow As Her ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Charity
Courtney Act has selected indigenous suicide prevention charity Black Rainbow as the recipient of her $50,000 in prize money if she wins the new series of Dancing with the Stars on Channel Ten. Black Rainbow was established in December 2013 to provide a nationwide and online support network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people …
US Court Blocks Discharge of HIV-Positive Air Force Personnel
A US judge has this week issued a preliminary injunction to stop HIV-positive members of the US Air Force from getting discharged for their HIV status. The ruling comes after two HIV-positive Air Force personnel challenged, anonymously for their protection, the Trump administration’s discriminatory “Deploy or Get Out Policy” that took effect in October last …