TAIWAN – The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has confirmed in a statement that same-sex spouses of foreign diplomats are not entitled to full diplomatic privilege and immunity in Taiwan. The news channel Focus Taiwan reported that the statement was made after an anonymous diplomatic official complained to local media that his same-sex partner…
GERMANY – The archbishop-elect of Berlin has said that he will meet with gay activists, even after they criticized his appointment as the new archbishop of the German capital. At a recent press conference, Archbishop-elect Rainer Maria Woelk said, “We will meet with each other. I have respect and esteem for all people, independent of…
AUSTRIA – The fourth Pink Lake festival is to be held in Austria in August. Set around Lake Wörthersee Aug. 25-28, the event includes entertainment, parties, relaxation and sports. The festival is described as, “Not the usual big-city backdrop, no parades for the titillation of curious onlookers, but rather an international get-together for gays, lesbians…
RUSSIA – A dozen activists determined to mark the banned Slavic Gay Pride march were attacked by neo-Nazis and then dispersed by the police in St Petersburg last week. The St. Petersburg Times reported that the activists shouting “Russia with no homophobes” and “Equal rights with no compromise” marched to central St. Petersburg. Some carried…
BRAZIL – A Brazilian judge has approved the country’s first gay marriage. Following the recognition of same-sex civil unions by Brazil’s Supreme Court back in May Sao Paulo state Judge Fernando Henrique Pinto has ruled two men could convert their civil union into a full marriage. Globo television’s G1 Website identified the couple as Sergio…
SWITZERLAND – In a historic achievement for upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (L9/Rev1). The resolution, presented by South Africa along with Brazil and 39 additional co-sponsors from…
NIGERIA – The Nigerian women’s soccer team has announced that it has successfully eradicated homosexuality from the squad. In an astonishing statement to the New York Times, Coach Eucharia Uche claims that since she was hired in 2009 she had rid the team of lesbianism. Uche, who is married with two children, said lesbianism was…
FRANCE – Despite increased public support for gay rights, the French parliament has rejected a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The National Assembly voted by 293 votes to 222 to throw out the bill. Opposition was led by President Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP, while other left wing members supported the bill, which said, “marriage can be…
CROATIA – In June, two very different Pride events took place in Europe: the very first pride event in Split (Croatia) and EuroPride in Rome. The two events clearly showed what different realities LGBT people in Europe live in. While Rome was a massive celebration of diversity, the event in Split turned violent and demonstrated…
AUSTRALIA – A Melbourne man has appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria charged with murdering his gay housemate. AAP reported that Aaron James Johnstone, 29, “lost it” after being propositioned by his drunken naked housemate, Phillip Higgins, in September 2006. Johnstone told police that Higgins, who was openly gay, had come out of his…
