Russia and Egypt attack sexual orientation protections in Olympic Truce at the UN

Over the next two weeks, a decision will be made at the United Nations (UN) on whether governments globally will accept discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.  While the UN General Assembly cannot remove the ban on discrimination from Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter itself, Egypt…

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LGBTQ men face terrorism charges if they flee Chechnya, Trump remains silent

NEW YORK – GLAAD today expressed outrage over President Trump’s continued silence on the attacks against LGBTQ men in Chechnya even as new reports indicate that members of the Chechen LGBTQ community could face terrorism charges if these men attempt to escape the country and attacks on them based on their perceived sexual orientation. In…

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Activists protest inside Trump Tower to declare ‘The president is not above the law’

NEW YORK CITY — Activists demonstrated inside the Trump Tower atrium on Tuesday to voice their objection in response to reports that Donald Trump is considering firing Robert Mueller and pardoning administration members who have broken the law. Members of Rise and Resist, a NYC-based direct action group, carried signs stating ‘You can’t fire the…

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Sec. Tillerson admits no concerns have been raised with Russians over Chechen atrocities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) blasted disturbing revelations made by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. When asked by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) about atrocities committed against gay and bisexual men in Chechnya, Sec. Tillerson admitted that he has not raised the issue at…

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Rainbow Railroad announces emergency response plan for LGBTQ people at risk in Chechnya

TORONTO – With recent reports of abductions, detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and deaths targeting gay and bisexual men in Chechnya, a Canadian non-profit human rights organization have announced an emergency response plan to assist those in danger. Founded in 2006, Rainbow Railroad actively assists LGBTQ people escape danger through its global network of safe routes. “Since…

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Authorities continue to ignore human rights abuses in Chechnya

The arbitrary detention of men based on their (perceived) sexual orientation is continuing, almost two weeks after the news reached international attention. In spite of the global outcry, no action has been taken, either on the part of the Russian or Chechen authorities, to release those detained, ILGA-Europe reports. According to the latest information received…

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Chechnya update: Detentions continue

ILGA-Europe’s latest update reports that the Russian LGBT Network has continued its fact finding mission on the alarming arbitrary detention, torture and killing of (perceived) gay men in Chechnya. News of the ongoing situation has received widespread media attention, but unfortunately the situation has not yet been resolved. According to information obtained by Novaya Gazeta,…

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GLAAD calls on U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley to condemn Chechen attacks on LGBTQ men

NEW YORK – Today, GLAAD called on Nikki Haley, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, to condemn the attacks on LGBTQ men by the Chechen government and investigate reports of possible imprisonment of LGBTQ people in concentration camps because of their perceived sexual orientation. GLAAD’s call to action follows reports which surfaced last week…

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Russian LGBT Network evacuating ‘at risk’ people from Chechnya

1 April, Novaya Gazeta reported that more than 100 men have been arbitrarily detained and at least three have been murdered by Chechen authorities for their alleged “non traditional” sexual orientation. Independent sources have confirmed the mass detention, described acts of torture, and suggested that the number of men killed may be as many as…

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