Romania's Constitutional Court goes to the European Court over whether to recognise gay couple’s marriage

The constitutional court in Romania has said it will consult with a top European court over whether a marriage between a Romanian and his same-sex American husband will be recognised.

The court will liaise with the European Court of Justice over whether the marriage of Adrian Coman, a Romanian gay rights activist and US-born Claibourn Robert Hamilton. 

The couple married in 2010 in Belgium and are seeking to have Romania recognise their relationship. If the couple had been straight, the marriage would be legally recognised by authorities in Romania.

Romania banned the recognition of civil partnerships concluded between heterosexual persons, which are available in most EU countries, as well as the recognition of marriages and legal partnerships concluded between same-sex partners abroad.

The country earlier this year moved towards ruling out the legalisation of equal marriage. The Constitutional Court’s nine judges ruled that a proposal signed by three million Romanians was valid, which could lead to a referendum on defining marriage as only between one man and one woman.

We will see how it goes...

The gay couple await the court ruling

Mass demonstration supporting same-sex marriage in Taiwan

Thousands of people have protested in favour of the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Taiwan, the same month thousands protested against it.

The protesters rallied at the country’s Parliament, with a view to having same-sex marriage legalised quickly through legislation.

Activists hope that Taiwan can be the first Asian country to recognise marriages between two people of the same gender.

Currently, 67 out of the 113 members of the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s Parliament, have backed same-sex marriage publicly.

The country’s President, Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, previously expressed support for equal marriage.

It's time Taiwan!

Nearly two thirds of Taiwan supports marriage equality

Thousands rally for equal rights in Hong Kong

Thousands of people took part in the Hong Kong's Pride parade to march for equality, including Alfred Chan Cheung-ming, the Equal Opportunities Commission chairman, and a handful of top diplomats.

Yeo Wai-wai, a spokeswoman for the pride parade, said: “The purpose and the demand of this year’s parade is to urge the government to do something on the legislation, such as a public consultation. We think it is the right time to do so".

Yeo explained that marchers wore green to signify that the Hong Kong population has already given the green light to the LGBT community, especially when it comes to combating sexual and gender discrimination.

“We think it’s about time for the government to put it into law”, Yeo added.

Currently discrimination legislation only covers race, sex, disability and family status, so many advocates are calling for sexual and gender identity to be pulled in line.

November 25 International Day Stop Violence Against Women

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 54/134).

The premise of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence; furthermore, one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden. 

Launched in 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign aims to raise public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.

UNiTE Goals:

• Adoption and enforcement of national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls, in line with international human rights standards.
• Adoption and implementation of multi-sectoral national action plans that emphasize prevention and that are adequately resourced.
• Establishment of data collection and analysis systems on the prevalence of various forms of violence against women and girls.
• Establishment of national and/or local campaigns and the engagement of a diverse range of civil society actors in preventing violence and in supporting women and girls who have been abused.
• Systematic efforts to address sexual violence in conflict situations and to protect women and girls from rape as a tactic of war and full implementation of related laws and policies.

Visit UNiTE website.

Premier League joins Rainbow Laces campaign again

The Premier League has announced that rainbow laces will return this year to send a message of support to LGBT players and fans.

This weekend, all ten fixtures will include a rainbow laces perimeter board ads and flags for the campaign.

A staetment reads that the Premier League is supporting the campaign to make sure “their supporter groups to welcome fans in their stadiums, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation”.

“The Premier League is all about exciting, passionate and unpredictable football that is for everyone, everywhere”, Premier League Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore adds.

“The Rainbow Laces campaign complements the work clubs are doing to promote inclusion and diversity in their stadiums, and across all levels of the sport”, Scudamore added.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

UN votes to keep first independent LGBT rights expert

The United Nations voted to keep the independent LGBT rights expert despite major opposition from many nations in the Middle East, Africa, as well as China and Russia.

All were opposed to the first official charged with investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand, who was appointed on 30 September.

Botswana’s UN Ambasador sponsored the resolution, but Latin American, North American, and many in Europe voted for the appointment of the expert. Finally, the UN’s Human Rights Committee voted 84-77, with 12 abstentions, to keep a role working on LGBT rights.

850 non-governmental organizations from 156 countries around the world had called on the General Assembly to take a stand that LGBT rights are human rights.

Remember that at least 76 countries around the world have laws in their books that criminalize LGBT people.

Mr. Muntarbhorn was appointed
as first UN expert on LGBT rights

Just give me a reason

Pink's song Just give me a reason is used to tribute the Brazilian movie "Do começo ao Fim" (From beginning to end). Absolutely wonderful!

Watch the video below and judge for yourself:

Diesel hires transgender models for its new campaign

Diesel has just partnered with a German company called “About You” and hired two trans fashion models. Their names are Benjamin Melzer and Loiza Lamers, and they are just about as chic as they come.

Melzer was on the cover of Men’s Health in Europe, and what he hopes to achieve with this collaboration is to generate visibility for transgender people and particularly models, and show that they're not just some fad that's going to come and go like a trend.

Lamers was last seen on the Dutch version of Next Top Model, where she walked away with the grand prize last year, and what she also hopes is that when people see this collaboration, they see two hard-working models, and they realize that being transgender "is just normal" and wants it to "really open peoples eyes and bring a change, acceptance and awareness." 

Both models are pretty excited about the gig, writing on Instagram: “Proud to represent who we are and what we do.”

Ellen DeGeneres to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Ellen DeGeneres will be one of 21 Americans to be presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at The White House later this month. The medal is the highest civilian honor a person can receive in the U.S.

She is the only gay person in a distinguished group that also includes Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Elouise Cobell, Robert De Niro, Richard Garwin, Bill and Melinda Gates, Frank Gehry, Margaret H. Hamilton, Tom Hanks, Grace Hopper, Michael Jordan, Maya Lin, Lorne Michaels, Newt Minow, Eduardo Padrón, Robert Redford, Diana Ross, Vin Scully, Bruce Springsteen, and Cicely Tyson.

It is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

"The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor, it’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better," declared President Obama.

Boston LGBT Youth Theater Group honored at White House

The LGBT youth theater program True Colors, the nation’s longest-running queer youth theater group based in Boston, received the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from First Lady Michelle Obama.

It’s the first LGBT organization to receive this award, and it was recognized for its effectiveness in promoting learning and life skills in young people through the arts by engaging them in creative youth development programming.

True Colors uses a community-based theater approach to provide an outlet and safe space for LGBT and allied youth leaders aged 14 to 22 to develop artistically and emotionally, and to empower them to change their communities. They bring their work to all the neighborhoods of Boston, performing in schools, community centers, private homes, and other venues. 

Abe Rybeck, founder of True Colors, said in a statement: “As we continue to focus on the challenges faced by LGBT youth, from family rejection to bullying to homelessness, this award is inspirational and a validation of our impact.” 

Congrats guys!

Majority of participants are youth from Boston neighborhoods

Thousands attended Orlando's Pride Parade

More than 150,000 people attended the Orlando’s annual Come Out With Pride parade, one of the largest Pride festivals in Florida.

The event was delayed five weeks by Hurricane Matthew and rescheduled to align with the anniversary of the shooting at Pulse gay nightclub, where 49 people were killed five months ago. 

Organizers wanted highlights the strength and resilience of the gay community and its allies, but despite the thousands of vibrant rainbow flags that blanketed Lake Eola Park, an emotional gray somehow muted the colors.

Family members of those who died in the attack walked near the front of the parade, trailing behind Community Grand Marshals: the Orlando Police and Fire Departments; Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan; and the Pulse Float with employees and family members.

Each carried photos of their loved one or waved a white fabric angel overheard that honored the deceased. Names of the 49 were memorialized in bright marker, eliciting thunderous applause and tears from parade onlookers.

Never forget!

Video released in Ukraine to protect LGBT community

Gay Alliance of Ukraine (GAU) released a video with simple tips on what to do in the event of a homophobic attack.

The video is taken with the support of ILGA-Europe in the framework of programs in advance of the reaction to discrimination, hate crimes and other human rights violations in the European Region.

According to research, 65 percent of members of the LGBT community are subjected to humiliation and violence. However, according to official statistics, in 2015 the police only one similar case was registered.

The video is a simple but necessary sequence of actions: call an ambulance and the police, to fix the injury, take a copy of the card medbrigady departure immediately submit an oral statement and note homophobic motive.

Later, it is necessary to execute and submit an application to the police in writing and receive a voucher for its registration with the accounting log. Besides, the victim has the right to seek compensation for injury and malicious punishment.

Gay rights in Ukraine are in the midst a broader struggle between Russia and the West.

A Mexican constitutional committee rejected the same-sex marriage bill

President Enrique Peña Nieto proposed in May to change Mexico’s constitution to allow same-sex couples to marry. But the measure has been rejected by a constitutional committee in Mexico’s lower house with 19 votes against, 8 in favor and one abstention.

For now, the bid to legalize same-sex marriage looks very unlikely under the current government.

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 10 of 31 states. And the Mexican Supreme Court said last year banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and urged states to change their legislature.

However, following Nieto’s vow to legalize the right to marry for gay couples, hundreds of thousands of people across Mexico marched against the issue in multiple cities across the country.

Do you remember the child who faced 

the anti-gay marriage demonstrators?

Roy Cooper wins Pat McCrory for North Carolina Governor

While Donald Trump will be the next U.S. president, there appears to be one big win for Democrats in North Carolina.

Democrat Roy Cooper has declared victory over Republican Pat McCrory for North Carolina Governor. With 100% of precincts reporting, Cooper won 2,280,398 votes compared to 2,276,059. Despite results that appear too close to call, Roy Cooper claimed victory in the North Carolina Governor's race.

"By electing Roy Cooper their next governor, North Carolinians have sent a powerful message across their state and this country that the days of anti-LGBTQ politicians targeting our community for political gain are over," the Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina said.

Cooper has committed to repealing House Bill 2, the transphobic bathroom law which banned transgender people from accessing bathrooms and locker rooms in state facilities that correspond with their gender identity. It also eliminated all existing LGBTI-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances in North Carolina, and banned cities from adopting new protections.

America has spoken

Australian cowboys just want the same right

Dan and Miki run a farm together in New South Wales and have joined their country’s fight for marriage equality in Australia. 

Even though they’ve been together for six years, Dan and Miki want the right to tie the knot just like any other couple. “People generally don’t bat an eyelid when Miki and I are living and working amongst other farmers,” explains Dan.

“We don’t want anything more than anyone else, we just want the same. Being able to marry and celebrate our commitment with our friends and family would mean so much,” says Miki.

“Marriage equality would make a change in Australia, in that LGBTIQ people would feel that their love is as important as anyone else’s,” added Dan.

It's time Australia!

Pulse Victims Honored at Orlando Magic Season Opener

The basketball team Orlando Magic dedicated their season opener to the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub massacre in June.

The pre-game ceremony included a moment of silence and the raising of a No. 49 banner with the words "Orlando United" and each victim's name on it. 

"Tonight we honor their lives, the heroes who emerged that early morning and a healing community that showed the world love always conquers hate," the NBA team's announcer said during the ceremony.

Never forget.

Moscow office of Amnesty International sealed by authorities

Staff at Amnesty International’s Moscow Office arrived at work yesterday to find their office unexpectedly sealed with a notice from municipal authorities warning people not to enter. The locks and alarm system had been removed and the electricity supply appeared to have been cut off.

“We do not know what prompted Moscow authorities to prevent our staff from accessing our offices – an unwelcome surprise for which we received no prior warning," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Director. 

The short notice posted on the organization’s central Moscow office – which is rented directly from the city’s municipal authorities – said the building was “property of a city of the Russian Federation” and that nobody could enter without being accompanied by a municipal official. 

Human rights organizations in Russia have complained of official pressure in recent years, including the intimidation of their staff and controversial legislation regulating the operation of non-governmental organizations.

This is the Russian Federation's overview by Amnesty International:

Freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly remained severely restricted. The authorities dominated the print and broadcast media, and further extended their control over the internet. NGOs faced further harassment and reprisals under the “foreign agents” law, while their access to foreign funding was further restricted by a new law banning “undesirable” organizations. Growing numbers of individuals were arrested and criminally charged for criticizing state policy and publicly displaying or possessing materials deemed extremist or otherwise unlawful under vague national security legislation. Four people faced prosecution under the 2014 law that made repeated violations of the law on public assemblies a criminal offence. Deep flaws in the judicial system were further exposed through several high-profile cases; a new law gave the Constitutional Court the authority to overrule decisions by the European Court of Human Rights. Refugees faced numerous obstacles in accessing international protection. Serious human rights violations continued in the North Caucasus, and human rights defenders reporting from the region faced harassment.

Ellen gets cooking with Franco Noriega

The hot chef Franco Noriega joined Ellen DeGeneres show for a little cooking lesson.

Noriega is a Peruvian chef and former professional swimmer who blew up on the internet this month after starting a YouTube channel in which he cooks various healthy recipes with most of his clothes off.

On the menu for Ellen’s show was Tacu Tacu, a traditional Peruvian dish that originated as a way to use leftover rice and beans combined with other items you might have sitting around. Noriega’s method uses lentils, quinoa, soy sauce and a few other items.

If you are interested on his cooking, watch the videos below: