MOSCOW (CNN) – Three members of Russian LGBT-supporting feminist punk band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison Friday after they were found guilty of hooliganism for performing a song critical of President Vladimir Putin in a church. The five months they have spent in detention since their arrests in March count toward…
EDINBURGH, Scotland – An Episcopal church located on one of Edinburgh’s busiest streets, Princes St., has unveiled a gay wedding mural. St John’s Church chose the topic for the mural which shows two men with one about to place a ring on the other’s finger under the words “God is love.” Associate Rector of the…
HARARE, Zimbabwe – A member of the Zimbabwean Parliament has been released after spending Christmas in jail for allegedly saying President Robert Mugabe had had gay sex. BBC News reported that Lynette Karenyi, from the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, was arrested after reportedly saying, “Zanu PF members have been attacking MDC…
A New Zealand tampon company is apologizing for an offensive television ad that depicts a transgender female competing with another woman in what the company alludes to natural differences between the two. Libra is removing the ads after equality groups say the commercials “ridicule” transgender women. The ad features a blonde woman and what appears…
CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS QUESTION: What do Russia, Uganda and Nigeria have in common? Other than the fact that all three are oil-producing countries (albeit Uganda as a fledgling oil producer), they are all involved in creating legislation banning homosexuality in one way or another. While Sharia law courts in northern Nigeria have already sentenced people…
VALLETTA, Malta – A study of discrimination in Malta has revealed widespread ignorance of anti- discrimination agencies and legislation and significant victim discomfort in reporting incidences of discrimination. The Times of Malta reported that the survey tackled discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and described several forms of discrimination. Sixty percent of respondents…
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian Senate has voted against same-sex relationships in the country. As the bill received its third reading in the Senate, members of the upper legislative house unanimously voted in favor of passing the bill into law. The Senate increased the penalty for an offender to up to 14 years imprisonment and…
Jerry Gana LAGOS, Nigeria – Legislators in Nigeria are aiming to pass legislation that would criminalize marriage for same-sex couples. Couples who marry could face up to three years in jail. Under the measure, couples who marry could face up to three years in jail, and witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be…
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – In just a few months, gay couples will get the right to marry in the Church of Denmark – that is if the new church minister has his way. The government plans to introduce a bill just after the New Year that will allow same-sex couples to hold weddings in the Church…
ACCRA, Ghana – Ghanaian president, John Atta Mills has reacted angrily to the U.K.’s threat to cut aid if the country refuses to legalize homosexuality. According to the Ghana News Agency President Mills stated categorically that he as the head of state will not support any attempt to encourage homosexuality in Ghana. “I as president…
