Gay rights bubbling up as issue in Trans-Pacific Partnership talks

As negotiations on a global trade pact among 12 Pacific Rim nations heat up, a number of opponents are raising alarm bells over human rights. Known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), critics argue that the failure to address member nation Brunei’s barbaric laws against homosexuality is yet another reason to halt, if not downright derail,…

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Singapore gay rights movement launches sexual tolerance campaign (VIDEO)

SINGAPORE — Pink Dot SG, Singapore’s gay rights movement, has launched a campaign to promote sexual tolerance ahead of an event it is holding next month in the conservative city state, reports GayAsiaNews.com. Mumbrella.asia first reported the launch of a short film featuring people talking about their sexuality and what “freedom to love” means to…

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Sri Lanka categorically rules out marriage between same-sex couples

COLOMBO —  A federal government minister has categorically ruled out marriage between same-sex couples in the island nation of Sri Lanka, reports GayAsiaNews.com. The Sri Lankan government will not legalize gay marriages in Sri Lanka, said Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa according to  colombogazette.com. Speaking to newspaper editors in Colombo April 24, the minister said…

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Ruling on transgender people may help gay rights, say Indian lawyers

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court’s ruling recognizing transgender people as the third sex might pave the way for decriminalizing same-sex relations in India, say gay-rights lawyers and activists in India, GayAsiaNews reports. In a landmark ruling on April 15, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices KS Radhakrishnan and AK Sikri directed that transgender people…

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MTV Video Music Awards: Macklemore’s ‘Same Love’ wins VMA for ‘Best Video with a Social Message’

At last night’s MTV Video Music Awards, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert accepted the Moonman for Best Video with a Social Message for their LGBT equality anthem “Same Love.” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis performed the song with Mary Lambert and special guest Jennifer Hudson at last nights awards. During his aceptance speech Macklemore used the…

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UNAIDS urges investigation into death of gay rights activist in Cameroon

NEW YORK,  – The United Nations agency leading the response to HIV/AIDS has condemned the killing of an outspoken activist for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Cameroon, and called on the government to thoroughly investigate his death. Eric Ohena Lembembe was the executive director of the Cameroonian Foundation for…

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