lgbtiq rights
Vietnam accused of likening LGBTIQ to a ‘disease’
The Vietnamese government has been accused of teaching young people being gay is a “disease” despite discrimination laws. Students in Vietnam are being taught same-sex attraction is a “mental illness” that can be treated and cured, Human Rights Watch reports. Despite legislation protecting LGBTIQ rights, young people say they still face discrimination which sometimes leads …
Condolences for Sultan Qaboos ignore open secret
As commentators and world leaders pay condolences on the death of Sultan Qaboos of Oman, they ignore the open secret of his sexuality. While lauding his contributions to Middle East peace (whatever that is) and his ability to act as a conduit between warring parties in the region, commentary ignores the repressive regime he ran …
University of Tasmania awards Rodney Croome honorary doctorate
The University of Tasmania yesterday created veteran LGBTIQ activist Rodney Croome an honorary doctor of letters. Rodney noted with gratitude the support of his partner Raf, his mother, and his late father. He also spoke of the “many courageous and kind people I work with to advance equality.” 1988 Salamanca Markets Rodney Croome first came …
(Many) homophobes are frequently, secretly fond of gay sex
Homophobes are certainly a strange breed, particularly the activist types. What drives their innate bigotry toward LGBTIQ people? In fact, research exists to indicate where some of their bigotry originates. But the conclusions of that research are often not welcomed. Homophobes Some people quietly dislike or harbour prejudice against LGBTIQ people. But others make lots …
Trans woman detained at airport shares ordeal in emotional video
A trans woman has taken to Twitter to open up about her experience being detained at an airport. She was travelling to see her family over the Thanksgiving period when she was stopped and detained by airport personnel. The trans woman, Lilah, tweeted a video of herself walking through the airport in tears. “It’s so …
Ugandan Government spokesperson: No new ‘kill the gays’ law
A Ugandan government spokesperson tweeted Saturday that the government would not introduce a “kill the gays” law to parliament. Last week the Ugandan Minister for Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo said the government intended to resurrect the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act. That bill, known colloquially as the ‘Kill the gays’ bill, threatened people convicted of homosexuality …
Potential death sentence for private chat on social media
Iranian Kurdish singer Mohsen Lorestani faces a potential death sentence after a Tehran court charged him with ‘corruption on Earth’. That charge can carry the death penalty in Iran. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network tweeted news of the charge. “Mohsen Lorestani, a Kurdish singer from Kermanshah, has been charged with ‘corruption on earth’ in a …
Discrimination? Australia 4th in world religious freedom rankings
The draft Religious Discrimination Bill is a result of complaints arising out of the same-sex marriage debate. Some religious groups equate equal rights for LGBTIQ people with an erosion of their own liberty. However, various world religious freedom rankings place Australia in the Top 10 with the most recent evaluation placing us fourth. Sydney’s Catholic …
ACL unhappy with religious discrimination bill
Martyn Iles from the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) complained yesterday that the draft religious discrimination bill does not go far enough. Meanwhile Shelley Argent, national spokesperson for PFLAG says the bill “tells our children they are inferior.” Iles wrote that the draft allowed the “crazy situation” where Rugby Australia could still sack Israel Folau. “While …
Dear Christians, we are not the enemy…
The debate in Australia over religious freedoms would suggest that Christians and LGBTIQ communities are implacable foes. Advocates of religious freedoms legislation portray the issue as a fight to save Christians from persecution by the ‘Rainbow Cult’, a term frequently employed on the Australian Christian Lobby Facebook page. However, the LGBTIQ communities are not enemies …