Stories about LGBTQ+ from February, 2012
Zambia: Ban Ki-moon Calls on Nation to Respect Gay Rights
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Zambia on 24 February; he addressed parliament, met key political figures and visited the Victoria Falls. None of these events have made as much news as his call on the nation to respect gay rights.
Liberia: “Kill the Gays” Bill Spreading
Former Liberian first lady Jewel Howard Taylor has introduced a bill making homosexuality liable to a death sentence. Homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries.
Hong Kong: Videos Against Homophobic Bullying in Schools
A LGBT group in Hong Kong has released a series of advocacy videos against homophobic bullying in schools. Oiwan Lam reports.
Armenia: Homophobia as PR for the Yerevan Municipality
Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on homophobic comments left on the Facebook page of the new Mayor of Yerevan, Taron Margaryan, in response to recent environmental protests in the city. Noting that the discriminatory remarks were made by municipal employees, including the person responsible for public relations, the blog says that...
Brazil: LGBT AIDS Prevention Campaign Excluded From TV
Marcelo Gerald, from the blog Eleições Hoje, comments [pt] on the alleged censorship by the Brazilian Ministry of Health of a recently launched campaign on AIDS prevention, focused on the LGBT public. He posts some of the videos that were excluded from the TV a few days after the campaign...
Tunisia: LGBT Outrage at Human Rights Minister's Comments
The Tunisian Minister of Human Rights has stated on a private Tunisian TV channel that freedom of expression has limits when it comes to Tunisian queers to express themselves. He also compared homosexuality to sexual perversion and mental illness. The country's LGBT community responds.
Uganda: The Anti-Gay Bill That Won't Go Away
Uganda has again re-tabled the controversial anti-gay bill, which seeks to introduce the death penalty for "the offence of aggravated homosexuality". Haute Haiku reports.
Jordan: The Gay Husband
The Arab Observer, from Jordan, posts a letter he got from a reader who discovered that her husband was gay.
Thailand: “The Purple People Toilet”
Richard Barrow uploads a photo of the ‘Purple People Toilet’ in Thailand. It's a toilet for those who belong to the “Third Sex” or in Thailand they are often called “Lady Boys”
France: How Are PACS and Marriage Different?
Pierre Vicari [fr] had this to say about the results of a survey [fr] which appeared on the site Lefigaro.fr, “To the ignoramuses who say that PACS and marriage are the same thing: No! A PACS does not provide any of the same rights as marriage! In addition, you intolerant people who do not...
Russia: “Anti-Gay Propaganda Bill” Passes Second Reading
St. Petersburg is getting closer to signing into law the notorious "anti-gay propaganda bill." "Will talking about Tchaikovsky be banned?" tweets British writer and actor Stephen Fry. Some of the Russian netizens' reactions are translated below.
Russia: Day of Protests Divides Citizens
Despite temperatures of -20 degrees, thousands of Russians went out to the streets to participate in election manifestations. Some, organised online, were protesting against the elections and possible re-election of prime minister Vladimir Putin. Others, partly organised by pressure and bribes as well as fear of possible revolutions manifested that Putin should stay.
