The youngest Grand Marshal serves in Orange County Pride

Orange County Pride announced that its 2018 Grand Marshal is the youngest in Pride history, not just Orange County’s Pride history, but the US.

OC Pride’s 2018 Grand Marshal is C.J. Duron, an 11-year-old fifth-grader, LGBT community member and advocate from South Orange County, Calif.

When C.J. attended OC Pride in 2017, it was his first Pride. His parents took a picture with him at Pride and shared it on social media. The photo went viral when James Woods retweeted it and said “This is sweet. Wait until this poor kid grows up, realizes what you’ve done, and stuffs both of you dismembered into a freezer in the garage.”

Neil Patrick Harris came to the family’s defense by tweeting “Utterly ignorant and classes, Mr. Woods. I’m friends with this family. You know not of what you speak, and should be ashamed of yourself.”

Soon, celebrities, politicians, influencers, high-profile organizations and the media were heatedly arguing for and against supporting LGBT youth.

“OC Pride is thrilled to welcome the Duron family back as C.J. serves as the youngest Grand Marshal in Pride history and the inspiration behind OC Pride’s 2018 ‘Be You’ theme,” said Jeremy Huntington, president of OC Pride. 

C.J. self-identifies as gender creative and a member of the LGBT community. As an advocate for non-binary children, C.J. has traveled to Washington DC to educate members of the American Academy of Pediatrics about working with gender expansive children.

In April, C.J. was awarded the LGBT Center Orange County’s Torchbearer award for his advocacy work in the community.

“It is such an honor to be OC Pride’s Grand Marshal and to be the youngest Pride Grand Marshal ever,” C.J. said. “It’s important to me to be an advocate and a leader and change things for the LGBT community. I want to change how people view the community and show people that it’s okay to be different, no matter how you are different. If I could change one thing in the world, it would be that all LGBT people would feel safe and be safe and have equal rights.”

Awesome C.J.! Be you!

This is the photo which went viral last year

Pride matters!

Pride in London released a new emotional short film about why Pride still matters in 2018.

The “Pride Matters” film features a group of LGBT people who face difficulties due to their sexuality or gender coming together to sing a chilling version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The video begins with several painful incidents, including someone being beaten and another person who is told that “it’s just a phase” when they attempt to come out to their mother.

However, the short film then takes a more positive turn as the people turn to their loved ones and their community for support.

We see people coming out to their families, partners holding hands in the street and others proudly wearing rainbows and flags.

The video ends with a hopeful and important message, stating: “We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a way to go.”

Releasing the video, Pride in London said: “We want to reflect on why Pride is still important in 2018, whether as a protest, celebration, symbol of freedom or platform for diversity".

#PrideMatters

A new LGBT musical film is ready to excite

How The Moon Fell From The Sky And No One Even Noticed is a brand new musical drama that will feel all too familiar to many gay men: Growing up different in a small, conservative town and falling in love with your straight best friend.

Directed by Christina Xing and written by Jack Fossett, the film tells the story of best friends Benji (Peter Carroll) and Ruben (Nick Trivisonno) as they make a film about the man on the moon, but their feelings for each other start to get in the way.

Even more impressive, the film was created entirely by high school talent, crew and orchestra on a budget of only $3,000.

“At its core, this film is essentially a diary entry. I grew up in a small city in the Midwest and I’ve been out of the closet since I was thirteen, so I’m no stranger to loneliness and isolation, or perceived isolation,” screenwriter Jack explains.

“All of the emotion in the film is lifted straight from real life. The pain and the heartbreak, as well as the liberation of growing up in an environment that isn’t necessarily unsupportive or unfriendly, but just isn’t equipped to handle you yet," he says.

“I want young artists, queer and otherwise, to walk away from this film understanding that their dreams are worth pursuing, that all bad things come to an end, and that not even the sky is the limit,” he added.

Awesome!

The Pride March gathers thousands in Santiago de Chile

Almost one hundred thousand people marched in Santiago de Chile in the 18th Pride March, through the La Alameda, the main avenue of the capital.

Participants in the march asked the new government three specific things: to include children under 14 years of age in the gender identity law, equality for same-sex and lesbian families in the reform of the adoption law, and advance in the legal process of equal marriage.

The slogans became stronger when the march passed through the Palace of La Moneda, seat of the Government of Chile. President Sebastián Piñera generates rejection and concern in the LGBT community, due to the possibility of regressing or not moving forward in terms of laws and rights.

Although Chile has an anti-discrimination law and a civil union agreement for same-sex couples, they still can not regulate their family relationships under the same conditions as heterosexual couples, trans people still can not adapt their identity documents , and now the government seeks to prevent same-sex couples from initiating adoption proceedings.

Vamos Chile!

Justin Trudeau raises LGBT flag on Canada’s Parliament Hill to celebrate Pride

For the third year in a row, the rainbow flag has been raised on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to celebrate Pride Month.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the rainbow flag above Parliament Hill, in order to mark Canada’s commitment to greater LGBT inclusivity and equality.



Trudeau was joined at the ceremony alongside his LGBTQ2 Special Advisor, Randy Boissonnault. Boissonnault tweeted about this important event, saying: “Raised the Pride flag on the hill today for the third year in a row!”

The LGBTQ2 advisor to the prime minister also tweeted a picture of himself, with the Canadian Prime Minister and student Ryan Brown.

Happy Pride Canada!!

Czech government supports an equal marriage bill

The Czech government gave its backing on Friday to a bill which would make the country the first in formerly communist Europe to allow same-sex marriage.

The Czech Republic has been allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter registered partnerships since 2006. A group of 46 lawmakers across the floor drafted the marriage bill, arguing that gay couples deserved the option of full marital status.

The bill allowing same-sex marriages would need only a simple majority in the 200-seat house, while the constitutional change would require 120 votes.

Most western European countries permit same-sex marriage, but the only formerly communist region where it is legal is the east of now-unified Germany.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Friday his government backed the legislation to introduce same-sex marriage. In a poll conducted in May, 50 percent of respondents supported gay marriage, but seventy-four percent approved of the existing registered partnership option.

First step to full marriage equality is done!

Suprem Court stands up for LGBT rights in Poland

Poland’s Supreme Court ruled that an employee of a print shop could not refuse to print a banner for an LGBT organization because he did not want to “promote” the rights of LGBT people.

The court was upholding a lower court’s decision that the right to equality before the law meant the printer did not have a right to withhold services from the organization.

Polish Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General sharply criticized it, because they think it is a direct attack against government by Court. In many democracies in the European Union, a justice minister might disagree with a court decision, but would never think to cast it as a betrayal of the government. 

The ruling should be celebrated as a principled confirmation that everyone, no matter their sexual orientation, is entitled to the same services without discrimination. But the ruling also reinforces in stark terms how important it is that the judiciary is independent from government and that the rule of law is firmly engrained in Poland’s democracy.

Sadly, the Suprem Court of US recently ruled the opposite on gay cake cas.

Congrats to Poland!

Warsaw put an unbreakable light and water rainbow

to avoid the repeated attacks from far-right groups

Save LGBT refugees in Turkey

This petition in change.org is made by the LGBT refugees who have been stranded for years in homophobic country of Turkey without any resettlement option. 

They call upon resettlement countries and UNHCR to act immediately in order to save their lives.

Seeking asylum is the last solution for LGBT individuals who are left with no option but to leave their countries to save their lives. They escaped persecution as homosexuality is punished in their countries.

This petition is solely initiated and prepared by LGBT refugees in Turkey, and not by any organization. They don’t have any kind of support whatsoever from any organisations either in or out of Turkey. 

They will be highly grateful to you for providing them any support in saving their lives.

Sign the petition here.

Ireland apologises for historical persecution of LGBT people

Ireland is to issue an apology for historical persecution under anti-gay laws.

The Republic of Ireland only decriminalised homosexuality in 1993, five years after its archaic sodomy law was found to be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. 

Prior to decriminalisation, laws dating from the nineteenth century made “buggery” an offence punishable by imprisonment, and gay men in the country lives under a culture of fear.

In a poignant move today, the government of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set to issue an apology to men who were persecuted under the laws.

The move has a particular resonance as Varadkar is the country’s first openly gay leader, taking office in June 2017.

The leader is expected to give a speech before the Dáil today on a Labour Party motion on the issue. The motion is supported across parties.

Mr. Varadkar (middle) with his partner Matt Barrett (right) 

and Mr. Trudeau (Canada PM), at Montreal Pride Parade

Being transgender is not a mental illness, confirms World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) just announced that it will no longer be classifying gender incongruence as a mental disorder. 

In its latest revision to a disease classification manual called the International Classification of Diseases, or ICD, the UN health agency explains the change and why it has finally removed the transgender mental disorder classification.

“Gender incongruence, meanwhile, has also been moved out of mental disorders in the ICD, into sexual health conditions,” the report says. “The rationale being that while evidence is now clear that it is not a mental disorder, and indeed classifying it in this can cause enormous stigma for people who are transgender, there remain significant health care needs that can best be met if the condition is coded under the ICD.”

Removing the mental health label from trans identity is a powerful and important signifier of acceptance. It’s sending a very strong message that the rest of the world is no longer considering it a mental disorder.

Late, but well done!

Thousands hold gay pride march in Ukrainian capital of Kyiv

Several thousand activists pride supporters have held a march in Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, despite opponents’ attempts to block them. This year’s theme, Visibility, was selected via a poll of LGBT people and organizations.

About 3,500 were on hand for the Equality March and  took to the streets of Kyiv, whose size was estimated at 2,000 by Ukraine’s Interior Ministry and up to 5,000 by organizers.

Participants marched behind rainbow flags while others carried placards declaring messages like "Love has no gender". Although opponents tried to block the march some times, they were moved aside by police.

Kyiv held its first major pride march in 2016 after a pro-Western government that came to power sanctioned such events.

Some previous gay pride rallies in Ukraine were cancelled because authorities said they would not guarantee protection to those taking part from homophobic violence.

When the revolution succeeded in ousting Yanukovych, many gays were hopeful that Ukraine would further distance itself from Russia, where homophobia is the official state policy. But Ukraine’s activists currently face similar problems that LGBT people in Putin's Russia.

Kyiv Pride is all about public visibility. Visibility belongs equally to everyone. That’s why Kyiv Pride is such an important event; it provides a platform for the public to see and hear all of their fellow citizens. Whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex or anything else, it’s important for everyone to be visible.We can make Ukraine better —together!

One rainbow flag waves at Russia World Cup stadium

A Russian football fan gave the Russia World Cup that extra touch of colour last night as he waved a large rainbow flag every time his beloved team scored a goal.

In support of the struggling LGBT community in the country, Alexander Agapov waved a rainbow flag symbolising gay rights at the opening match of the World Cup. He is president of the Russian LGBT Sport Federation and also a big fan of his country’s soccer team.

Every time his home team of Russia scored, Agapov waved the flag, despite the potential risk to his safety if spotted by anti-gay supporters inside or outside of the stadium. 

Agapov said no-one bothered him at the game for waving the flag, but said that a fan outside the stadium told him, "I don’t want that kind of world." While Agapov’s rainbow coloured support of his team passed without incident, LGBT fans could face the risk of random attacks by thugs during the tournament.

By the other hand, LGBT activist Peter Tatchell was arrested by the Russian Police on the first day of the World Cup for protesting Chechnya’s concentration camps where gay men were allegedly killed and abused for their sexual orientation.

Hours later, the team at the Peter Tatchell Foundation tweeted: “Peter Tatchell has been released. I’ve spoken to the Consulate Gen. who says he has been bailed & treated well. Thank you for the all the good wishes. Let’s remember the awful plight of LGBTs in Russian & Chechnya.”

Remember that LGBT football fans have been strongly warned to not publicly display sexuality at the Russian Football World Cup.

Tatchell arrested for protesting Chechnya's LGBT crackdown

Over 250K people celebrate Tel Aviv's 20th Pride Parade

More than a quarter of a million people from around the world gathered in Tel Aviv on Friday to take part in the largest ever pride parade in the Middle East. The turnout this year was the biggest ever in the parade’s 20-year history.

The theme of this year’s event was “The Community Makes History,” in recognition of 10 years since the founding of the Gay Center in Tel Aviv, and 20 years since Tel Aviv’s first Pride Parade.

It's the biggest event of its kind in the region and draws people from around the world to party. Israel has emerged as one of the world's most gay-friendly travel destinations in recent years, in sharp contrast to the rest of the Middle East, where gay culture is often not tolerated and homosexuals are persecuted in some places.

Musical offerings included favorites from the Eurovision Song Contest over the years, a performance by longtime members of the LGBT community of "Golden Boy," as well as a drag show and an appearance by the Israeli Arab diva Nasreen Qadri. Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai also performed her song 'Toy' on main stage. 

All major sports leagues will take part in the New York City Pride March

The New York City Pride March on June 24 will feature the largest collection of professional sports leagues ever for an LGBT Pride March or Parade.

Virtually all of the major professional sports leagues based in the United States will all be taking part in the Pride March. The NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA and WNBA are all registered as leagues to march in the parade and will have floats. Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Hockey League will have employees and players marching as well.

This will be the first time the NFL or MLB have participated in the Pride March. The National Football League will have a float in the parade that features former NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan, who came out publicly last year. Major League Baseball will feature a huge contingent of about 200 employees, including out former MLB umpire Dale Scott and gay MLB executive and former player Billy Bean. 

Returning to the NYC Pride March is the National Hockey League, which is marching for the second consecutive year. Also marching will be the NBA and WNBA, which started the trend with their joint participation in the 2016. Members of the National Women’s Hockey League, as well as Major League Soccer staffers, will also be marching in New York City. 

And tennis legend Billie Jean King has been named one of the Grand Marshals of NYC Pride.

This will be the sportiest Pride March ever!

Billie Jean King named Grand Marshal of NYC Pride

Take that, Trump!

A Democratic candidate has made history by appearing in an election campaign advert believed to be the first in the US to feature a same-sex kiss. Richard Madaleno, who is running in the party primary for state governor in Maryland, kisses his husband, Mark Hodge, and then says: “Take that, Trump!”

The advert aired in the Washington area during a segment on the Fox News show Fox & Friends, which the US president, Donald Trump, is known to watch.

In the advert, Madaleno says: “I’m running for governor to deliver progressive results and to stand up to Donald Trump. Here are a few of the things that I’ve done that already infuriate him.” He goes on to list defending Planned Parenthood and supporting a ban on assault weapons, before finishing the advert with the kiss.

The video has also been posted to social media channels, with Madaleno urging supporters to share it with the hashtag #TakeThatTrump. The primary on 26 June will select the Democrat to run against incumbent Republican Larry Hogan.

Indian Psychiatric Society stops considering homosexuality as an illness

Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), the country’s largest body of mental health professionals, has announced its official stance on homosexuality, saying that members should ‘stop considering homosexuality as an illness’. The IPS has around 3,000 members, and started issuing the new guidance earlier this week.

In a video, which was posted on social media, the body’s president, Dr. Ajit Bhide said: “Certain people are not cut out to be heterosexual and we don’t need to castigate them, we don’t need to punish them, to ostracize them.

“It is a step in the right direction… whatever your sexual orientation, whatever your sexual preference, as long as there is no other party being hurt, an individual should be allowed to practice.”

One of the reasons given for the new policy was the advancement of LGBTQ rights worldwide. In the video, Dr. Bhide made reference to how “most respectable psychiatric societies” don’t list homosexuality as a mental illness.

This change is very important because it will be an effective argument in courts to challenge bodies that support criminalisation of homosexuality.

Watch the video statement below:

23 foreign ambassadors in Bulgaria support Sofia Pride 2018

Twenty-three ambassadors of foreign countries accredited in Bulgaria have issued a joint statement of support for Sofia Pride 2018, being held on June 9.

The statement noted that this was the 11th Sofia Pride, and was being held during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Respect for human rights, including fairness, equality, non-discrimination, and freedom of expression and the rule of law, are the foundations of democratic states. These rights and protection should be equally applicable to LGBTI people, the statement said.

The statement called on Bulgarian authorities not to allow extreme views to undermine what should and will be an occasion for joy.

“By signing this statement, we encourage Bulgarian society and public authorities to seize the opportunity to support and defend these values ​​to join in the procession of Sofia Pride, accepting LGBT people as equal citizens without prejudice and discrimination and to contribute to LGBTI equality.”

“This provides an important opportunity to express support for human rights and tolerance, celebrating diversity and condemning homophobia and transphobia.”

The statement was signed by the ambassadors of Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the representatives of Unicef and the UNHCR, and the head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Sofia.

This year is the 11th celebration of Sofia Pride

Spanish new government, mostly women, has two openly gay ministers for first time

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has formed the new cabinet with women holding the majority of ministerial posts. 

He named eleven women to top posts, including Defence and Economy, in a cabinet with six male ministers. That is the highest female proportion in the country's history.

That also makes it the European government with the most women after Sweden's, which has twelve female cabinet ministers and eleven men.

The new Spanish cabinet has for first time two openly gay ministers too. They became the new Interior Minister and the new Culture Minister.

The Interior Minister is Fernando Grande-Marlaska, an openly gay judge at Spain's top-level National Court, and LGBT activist.

And another openly gay, Maxim Huerta, is the new Culture Minister. He is an award-winning novelist and TV journalist.

This should not be weird because Spain is the 9th LGBT-friendly country according to the ILGA index, and it has two cities, Madrid and Barcelona, in top ten of the best LGBT cities in the world. 

Bravo!!

The new cabinet with the king Felipe VI

Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the new Interior Minister

Maxim Huerta, the new Culture Minister

Pride in London receives The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

Pride in London has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) 2018. The award, created by The Queen in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of her coronation, recognises excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community.

The recipients of the Queen’s Award are at the very top of a formidable volunteering movement in the UK involving millions of our citizens, and going from strength to strength.

As the UK’s largest LGBT pride group, Pride in London has recruited nearly 5,000 volunteers in recent years from a range of different and diverse backgrounds. Around 1,000 volunteers are needed each year on the Parade day alone, which this year takes place on Saturday 7th July. 900 new volunteers have signed up for Pride in London since the beginning of 2018.

The not-for-profit community interest group is now almost entirely run by volunteers, both the thousands who help out on the Parade day and the 150-strong team who volunteer all year round. Any surplus funds raised are used to support the LGBTQ community and improve the event.

Congrats and happy Pride!

Pride in London 2018, save the date!

Top EU Court rules same-sex couples have equal residency rights regardless of country marriage law

EU countries that have not legalised gay marriage must still offer same sex spouses the same residency rights as heterosexual couples under Brussels’ freedom of movement laws, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

In a landmark decision, EU judges decided that a country could not use the illegality of homosexual marriage as a reason to stop an EU citizen bringing their non-EU spouse to live with them, which is a right guaranteed by Brussels.

They stressed that the decision, which will set a precedent across the bloc, did not force EU members to recognise gay marriage in a bid to prevent accusation that the Luxembourg court was meddling in national affairs.

The judgement comes after an American man, Clai Hamilton, was denied residency in Romania with Adrian Coman, his Romanian husband, because gay marriage is illegal in that country. Instead he would only be allowed to stay in Romania for three months.

“Although the member states have the freedom whether or not to authorise marriage between persons of the same sex, they may not obstruct the freedom of residence of an EU citizen by refusing to grant his same-sex spouse, a national of a country that is not an EU Member State, a derived right of residence in their territory,” the European highest court said.

A very Important ruling!

Clai & Adrian, the couple who denounced and won the case

Suprem Court rules for baker in same-sex cake case, but...

The Supreme Court today reaffirmed the core principle that businesses open to the public must be open to all in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. 

The court did not accept arguments that would have turned back the clock on equality by making our basic civil rights protections unenforceable, but reversed this case based on concerns specific to the facts here. 

The American Civil Liberties Union argued the case on behalf of Charlie Craig and David Mullins, who were refused service at a Colorado bakery because they are a same-sex couple.

In 2012, Mullins and Craig visited the Masterpiece Cakeshop to order a cake for their wedding. After the bakery turned the would-be customers away because they were a same-sex couple, Mullins and Craig filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. 

The commission found that the bakery had discriminated against the couple in violation of Colorado law, a decision the Colorado courts upheld. 

The Supreme Court today found that members of the Commission had made statements evidencing anti-religious bias, and thus had not given a fair consideration to the bakery’s claims.

The court reversed the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision based on concerns unique to the case but reaffirmed its longstanding rule that states can prevent the harms of discrimination in the marketplace, including against LGBT people.

Then, the Court ruled in favor of baker, but didn’t address principle of whether a business can refuse to serve gay people.

German president apologizes to gays for decades of persecution

Germany’s president asked gays for forgiveness for decades of suffering and injustice they endured as a result of repressive laws in Germany in the Nazi era and after World War II.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke in a ceremony marking the persecution of gays by the Hitler regime. He remembered the harsh treatment continued in the post-war era, in both parts of a then-divided Germany, where homosexuality remained a criminal offense. 

Homosexuality was illegal in Germany since the country’s founding in 1871, under the terms of Paragraph 175, which formed part of Germany's criminal code until 1994.

During the Nazi period up to 100,000 gay men and women also were persecuted and imprisoned for their sexuality. Most of them were sent to concentration camps where as many as 60% were killed.

Steinmeier said: “This is why I’m asking for forgiveness today, for all the suffering and injustice, and the silence that followed.” And he added he wants to reassure all LGBT people are protected in today’s Germany.

Gay prisoners wearing a pink triangle at Nazi's concentration camps

White House will not be rainbow for second year

One president proclaimed June as LGBT Pride Month and celebrated it with receptions at the White House. His successor ignores it, for the second year in a row.

The first president was, of course, Barack Obama, who recognized Pride Month in each of his eight years in office. His successor, Donald Trump, has once again issued several proclamations for June, but not one for Pride.

As he did last year, Trump has proclaimed June National Homeownership Month, National Ocean Month, African-American Music Appreciation Month, and Great Outdoors Month, several of which square oddly with his record, particularly on racial issues and the environment. But missing once again is LGBT Pride.

Under President Obama, the U.S. continued its long march toward LGBT equality. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell ended and fought for transgender equality in schools, military service, health care, and public accommodations. Across the country, violence against LGBT individuals can now be prosecuted as federal hate crimes. And of course, marriage equality is now the law of the nation.

Happy Pride Month!

President Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month

Pride Month starts in the world southest site

Pride is being celebrated on Antarctica. The event, to be celebrated in June will mark the first time Pride has been celebrated on the remote southern continent. 

It will be at McMurdo Station, the United States’ primary station on Antarctica, which is some 850 miles from the South Pole. The site houses as many as 900 employees, although just 133 are there for the Antarctic winter, which runs from March to September. Ten identify as LGBT.

The community at McMurdo Station opted to begin celebrating Pride early, taking a historic photo standing in the rugged wilderness, holding a pride flag. It was roughly -14° as they took the photo.

At the remote site, it is difficult for members of the LGBT community to remain connected to queer culture at large. This means there’s little chance of checking out the scene on Grindr or catching up with your favorite queer centric programming.

During winter months, the entire staff lives together in one of three structures. Also, the ten hours a day, six days a week work schedules of those at the station leave little time for social activities as it is.

In any case, even in as remote a place as Antarctica, you can find a LGBT community.

Hurray!

President Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month