Quarter of LGBT people in Japan have been outed

 

One in four LGBT people in Japan have experienced outing, or had their sexual orientation or gender identity disclosed to others without their consent, an online survey has showed.

The survey shows about two-thirds of the 10,769 respondents in their teens through their 70s felt that society was more “respectful” towards LGBT people than five years ago. In particular, 67 per cent of respondents said that “compared with five years ago, diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity is better recognised by society”.

However, nearly eight in 10 of those who were employed said they have heard anti-LGBT words. Concretely, of the 8,690 respondents with jobs, 79 per cent said they “have heard discriminatory speech about sexual minorities at work or school.”

The survey also found 25 per cent of respondents said they had been outed, with transgender men reporting the most such cases almost at 54 per cent. 

Japan’s LGBT population has campaigned for greater recognition from the government in recent years. Thirteen same-sex couples filed suits last year accusing Tokyo of discrimination for failing to recognise their unions.

While Japan does not recognise same-sex marriage although a majority of Japanese show their support, a number of municipalities issue partnership certificates for LGBT couples. And a law enacted in June also requires firms to take measures against abuse of power, which includes outings and insults of sexual and gender minority people in its government guidelines.

It's time to come out, Japan!

Tokyo Rainbow Pride gathers thousands every year

FIFA praises a Norwegian football referee who come out publicly as gay

Tom Harald Hagen, a Norwegian football referee, came out publicly as gay and he explained the decision was prompted by a player's alleged homophobic slur against another player at Sunday's Vålerenga IF vs Kristiansund match.

Hagen said: "I feel the time is right and I think that only positive things will come out of this. I have gradually become confident in myself, and my life is very good. I feel it is important to make it safe, including the fact that I am gay. I have lived like that all my life, my relationship, my family, and my football family."

Speaking about Sunday's incident, he continued: “It is the height of irony that I was just leading that match. Maybe he said it on a whim, that can happen in football. But we have to get rid of it.”

Responding to the news, FIFA’s Chief Social Responsibility and Education Officer Joyce Cook said in a statement: "FIFA commends Hagen on this courageous decision. For an active actor of the game to come out, and the positive reactions that this has generated overall, sends a clear message in favour of diversity. Football has to be for all and Tom Harald’s brave move is important to show the way and make everyone feel safe and welcome in our game."

Hagen shows red car to homphobia in football

Security Forces abuse and torture LGBT people in Egypt

Human Rights Watch recently published the report “Egypt: Security Forces Abuse, Torture LGBT People.” The report’s main findings include arbitrary arrests of people thought to be LGBT; entrapment of gay and bisexual men through social networking and dating apps; and torture and prolonged detainment of sexual and gender minorities in state custody.

“Egyptian authorities seem to be competing for the worst record on rights violations against LGBT people in the region, while the international silence is appalling,” Rasha Younes, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated in the report. "Egypt has unabashedly continued to target and abuse LGBT people simply for who they are.”

For its report, they interviewed LGBT people who had been prosecuted between 2017 and 2020 under “debauchery” and “prostitution” laws, as well as two defense attorneys. Their accounts allege systemic abuse throughout the judicial system in Egypt, whether explicitly or just in practice.

All of those prosecuted went by pseudonyms in the report, for fear of retaliation by Egyptian authorities. Some of them reported being denied food and medication, while others shared stories of forced virginity tests and anal exams. 

While LGBT people have long been subjected to homophobia and transphobia in Egypt, Younes said the situation worsened after its current president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, took power in 2014.

Younes said Egyptian authorities actively monitor social media and city streets to crackdown on LGBT people and others who are protesting or organizing for civil rights, all of which are labeled as subversion or even terrorism.

Human Rights Watch said police will set up fake profiles masquerading as gay men on dating apps like Grindr and social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp in an attempt to meet in public or learn the names and meeting places of other queer people for future raids and arrests. Officers will also look through arrested people's phones with the same goal in mind.

Egyptian government has long used anti-LGBT arrests to whip up support among Islamic conservatives while distracting citizens from poor living conditions and other civil rights abuses. 

Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman team up for LGBT musical The Prom

Meryl Streep loudly demands LGBT rights in glittering first trailer for Ryan Murphy’s lesbian musical epic The Prom.

The new adaptation of the Broadway musical, directed by legendary queer creator Ryan Murphy, revolves around a group of out-of-work actors who decide to come to the aid of a lesbian high-school student who is denied the chance to bring a female date to her prom.

Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers. 

Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose). 

The actors hit the road with Angie (Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman) and Trent (Andrew Rannells), and travel to the small Midwestern town of Edgewater, Indiana, after seeing a news report about Emma’s experience and attempt to win her the chance to bring her girlfriend to the prom.

In the trailer, Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) announces: “We have come to this community on behalf of a young girl,” referring to student Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman). Watch it below:

Woman arrested in Iran for cycling without hijab can face lashes

 

A young woman has been arrested in central Iran for “insulting the Islamic hijab”, after a video appeared to show her cycling without a veil.

A short video shot with a mobile phone was circulated on social media networks showing a bare-headed woman cycling in front of a mosque. The long-haired woman, whose head was pixellated, appeared to raise her right arm in the air from time to time as she rode the bike.

“A person who had recently violated norms and insulted the Islamic veil in this region has been arrested,” Mojataba Raei, the governor of Najafabad, told. He said the video of the woman “riding her bike without a veil in the main square” and “in front of a big mosque” provoked protests from residents and clerics in Najafabad.

Under Islamic law in force in Iran since its 1979 revolution, women must wear a hijab that covers the head and neck and that conceals their hair. But many women have pushed the boundaries over the past two decades by allowing their veils to slide back and reveal more hair, especially in Tehran and other major cities.

The woman arrested can face a punishment of 75 lashes, a medieval rules in 2021. We can't accept that anymore!

Pope Francis declares support for same-sex civil unions

Gay couples deserve legal protections for their relationships, Pope Francis said in a new documentary. 

The filmmaker, Evgeny Afineevsky, asked Pope Francis during an interview for the documentary about the place of LGBT Catholics in the church. Francis reemphasized his belief that LGBT people should be made to feel welcome in the church.

“Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family,” the pope said. “They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable because of it.”

But Francis said for the first time as pope that gay couples deserve legal recognition for their relationships. “What we have to create is a civil union law,” he said. “That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that.”

When served as archbishop of Buenos Aires, he advocated for same-sex civil unions in an attempt to block a same-sex marriage law,  as a way to keep marriage distinctly heterosexual. Now, the comments in this new documentary represent his most public declaration of support for same-sex unions since becoming pope.

Francesco, a new documentary about Pope Francis

Students in skirts protest against sexist dress code in Canada

 

Over a hundred students at Collège Nouvelles Frontières in Canada wore skirts to school to protest a sexist dress code. Students joined similar protests that are sweeping through Quebec to highlight the arbitrary requirements imposed on girls, but not boys, and the inherent anti-LGBT rationalization behind it.

When Zachary Paulin told classmates he intended to wear a skirt, he urged them to do so as well and he thought about 30 students would join him. Instead, over 100 classmates came to school showing their legs. “I knew that it was going to be a big movement, but not that big of a movement,” he said. “I was pleasantly surprised.”

“Today, you probably saw that some boys, including me, wore skirts,” Paulin posted with on Instagram with some snapshots of the day. “Well, let me talk a bit about why we did that. Basically, a boy wearing a skirt is a sign of resilience, solidarity, and support in the intersectional battle for equality between the sexes.”

“The double standard on the way society views our women and men is blatant; if a woman decides to wear a suit or pants, clothes associated with masculinity, it’s not a big deal. But the moment a man does anything remotely feminine – whether it is to put nail polish, makeup, or, in our case, a skirt – fingers are pointed and he gets insulted. People will say that he’s not a ‘real man’ and they will automatically assume his sexual orientation.”

“So, by wearing a skirt, we are united and together against the sexualization of women and we’re sending a message against toxic masculinity which keeps boys from being who they truly are, without judgment,” he continued. “We’re in 2020, we should be open-minded and fight to end discrimination, homophobia, and sexism. That’s what our skirts represent.”

Zachary Paulin has led the protest

The attendees at gay wedding have been convicted in Algeria

44 people have been charged and convicted after attending a gay wedding in Algeria. The arrest took place in July after the police stormed a private residence and arrested 9 women and 35 men, after neighbours complained. Most of the attendees were university students from the el-Kharoub district in northeastern Algeria.

 

Algerian Police decided the event must have been a “gay wedding” because the men had a “gay appearance” and there were decorations, flowers and sweets present. 

 The ruling was made on 3 September, with the court convicting the 44 people of “same-sex relations.” “public indecency,” and subjecting others to harm by breaking Covid-19-related quarantine measures”. 

The married gay couple, which was immediately imprisoned, have been sentenced to three years in prison with a fine and the others 42 attendees were handed a one-year suspended sentences. 

Even though Algeria has laws protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and has joined the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, the country still showcases the lack of regard and protection for its LGBT citizens.

Top European Court rules that Russia unlawfully violated LGBT activists’ right to protest

 

On June 6, 2013, several activists gathered outside Russia’s State Duma to peacefully protest the reading of a bill banning the “promotion of non-traditional sexual relations among minors”.

They were harassed by an opposing group of conservative Orthodox Christian activists carrying religious icons, who pelted them with eggs while chanting: “Russia is not Sodom.” Riot police surrounded the LGBT+ protestors, pushed them into buses, and arrested, convicted and fined them for so-called “administrative offences”. 

In a recent ruling, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concluded that the measures taken against the protestors “did not correspond to a pressing social need and were thus not necessary in a democratic society”.

The top human rights court rejected the Russian government’s claims that the police’s behaviour wasn’t motivated by sexuality, ruling that the activists’ arrests, transfer and ensuing sanctions constituted an interference with their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

It also found violations of the right to liberty and security, and the right to a fair trial in relation to all of the applicants. Their arrests outside the State Duma were deemed to be arbitrary, and the administrative proceedings, taken as a whole, did not allow them a fair hearing.

The court ordered Russia to pay each of the applicant’s damages of €5,000.

Unfortunately this is only the fourth time in three years that the ECHR has found Russia to have violated LGBT+ people’s rights. The country lost a 2018 case over a ban on Pride events, while a 2017 decision found that the country’s “gay propaganda” law violates human rights standards. And just a few months ago the court issued fines for violating freedom of association by blocking the registration of LGBT+ groups.

The human rights court has little power to take enforcement action over continued breaches, but the victories are still celebrated by human rights groups for the precedent they set.

Russia legally bans LGBT rights since 2013 

with the called 'Gay Propaganda' Law

French government unveils national plan to combat hatred against LGBT people

The French government has unveiled a national plan to combat hatred and discrimination against LGBT people, which emphasises the importance of inclusive education in stamping out homophobia.

The three-year plan aims to make members of the LGBT community "citizens in their own right", French Junior Minister of Gender Equality Elisabeth Moreno told. She also insisted on the importance of education.

It comprises over 40 measures designed to tackle homophobia or transphobia in the home, school, university, work, healthcare or sport.

The gender equality minister has pledged to work with her counterpart at the Education ministry, Jean-Michel Blanquer, to "amplify" training for teachers serving LGBT students.

A website called "Educating against LGBTphobia" is to be set up in order to "give teachers the weapons to fight homophobia and transphobia, and allow the proper inclusion of LGBT students", Moreno added.

The national plan also aims to act against conversion therapy, "abject and medieval practices" according to the minister, which try to change the sexual orientation of LGBT people. "We want to ban them outright," Moreno said.

Same sex families have not been left out either. Administrative forms will continue to be adapted to include them, the minister insisted.

Minister Moreno explained the plan

LGBT equality is on the ballot, former Democratic candidate Buttigieg says

 

Pete Buttigieg, former Democratic candidate who dropped out of the presidential race in March 2020, has warned LGBT equality is on the ballot ahead of the US election.

Taking to Twitter, as various US states approach/pass voter registration deadlines, Buttigieg reminded followers: "We need to be clear with anyone who considers themselves an ally: LGBTQ+ equality is on the ballot."

The politician also marked National Coming Out Day with a series of tweets, saying: "While every struggle is different, every struggle is connected. So whether you've been out for decades, today is your day, or you're still not ready - know that there is a big, diverse community where you belong."

He added: "Coming out means being vulnerable, and placing your trust in another person. I know the courage it takes, and I'm humbled by that trust anytime someone shares with me - sometimes as soon as we meet - that they are in the process of coming out as LGBTQ+."

The first family some day

Ukraine wraps skyscraper in rainbow to fight homophobia

 

The rainbow colours will cover Gulliver Mall, a 35-storey shopping and entertainment centre in the Ukraine capital city of Kyiv, every evening between October 5-11.

The flag and accompanying slogan “It’s good to be different together!” will flash across the face of the building in five minute intervals between 6.30pm and 10.00pm, being projected from the nearby Ukrainian Empire State building in an extraordinary public display of LGBT solidarity.

The famous shopping centre is so tall it can be seen from anywhere in central Kyiv as well as surrounding areas of the city. The colourful display has been timed to celebrate PrideMonth in Ukraine, and also International Coming Out Day which is celebrated worldwide on October 11.

#PrideMonth & #ComingOutDay

World Rugby bans trans women from playing at elite women’s level

World Rugby has announced transgender women cannot compete at the elite and international level of the women's game, becoming the first international sports federation to implement the rule. 

The announcement comes after "a comprehensive, collaborative and inclusive review of its existing guidance" and their decision that transgender women can't play contact rugby at a high level was based"on safety grounds". 

A report published by World Rugby earlier in the years said there was a "20-30 percent greater risk" of injury if a female player was tackled by someone who had gone through male puberty. Instead, transgender men remain permitted to play men's contact rugby.

National unions still have the flexibility to allow transgender women to play in women’s rugby at community level. Individual rugby unions across the world determine their own policies on trans inclusion at a domestic level, and in recent weeks the Canadian, US and Australian Rugby Unions have come out strongly in support of trans inclusion.

Deeply disappointed!

UN expert calls for a global ban of conversion therapies

Conversion therapy is any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. These practices inflict severe pain and suffering on LGBT persons, often resulting in long-lasting psychological and physical damage-

Victor Madrigal-Borloz, an UN expert, called for a global ban of these practices. After hundreds of submissions from States, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, medical practitioners, and individuals who had been subjected to such practices, he concluded that conversion therapy is attempted through beatings, rape, electrocution, forced medication, isolation and confinement, forced nudity, verbal offense and humiliation and other acts of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse.

He said: “These interventions exclusively target LGBT persons with the specific aim of interfering in their personal integrity and autonomy because their sexual orientation or gender identity do not fall under what is perceived by certain persons as a desirable norm,” Madrigal-Borloz said. “They are inherently degrading and discriminatory and rooted in the belief that LGBT persons are somehow inferior, and that they must at any cost modify their orientation or identity to remedy that supposed inferiority.”

And he added: “Such practices constitute an egregious violation of rights to bodily autonomy, health, and free expression of one’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Ultimately, when conducted forcibly, they also represent a breach to the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment.”

Check his report here.

A lot of countries and cities banned it, but conversion therapy should be banned around the world!!!

Lesbian Prime Minister remains in office in Serbia for another term

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic nominated Prime Minister Ana Brnabic to remain in office for another term. 

“Several minutes ago I have signed a nomination for the prime minister, and that is Ana Brnabic,” Vucic, who is head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), told a news conference. “I think this was a good choice.”

An SNS-led alliance won June 21 parliamentary elections by a landslide, securing 188 deputies in the 250–seat parliament, and the approval of Brnabic’s new Cabinet is largely a formality. Parliament is expected to reconvene in the coming days. 

Brnabic, 45, a technocrat who frequently described Vucic as her “boss”, took the post in 2017, as the country’s first female and first openly gay head of government. 

Brnabic attends Belgrade's Pride Parade every year

US soccer team walks off after homophobic slur to gay teamplayer

 

USL team San Diego Loyal walked off the field halfway through their match against rivals Phoenix Rising after their openly-gay midfielder Collin Martin was the victim of an alleged homophobic slur by a Phoenix player.

Loyal, who were chasing a playoff place, were leading the match 3-1 when the incident occurred at the end of the first half. After heated words were exchanged between the two teams' managers, the teams went into the locker rooms for halftime.

After the break, San Diego returned to the field, then took a knee before leaving the pitch.

It is the second time in two weeks that the team has protested discriminatory behavior by opposition players. Last week, their player Elijah Martin was the victim of a racial slur by LA Galaxy II player Omar Ontiveros, who was subsequently suspended by the league, then released by the club.

The Loyal manager, former US National Team star Landon Donovan explained, "We went through a really hard incident last week and we made a vow to ourselves, to our community, to our players, to the club, to USL that we would not stand for bigotry, homophobic slurs, things that don't belong in our game."

Stop homophobia and racism in any sports!!

Martin's teammates said it's enough!

'ProudBoys' hashtag hijacked with thousands of gay love pictures

 

Over the weekend, gay and LGBT people hijacked the #ProudBoys hashtag, usually reserved for the far-right, neo-fascist, and male-only organization, on social media.

The trend follows Donald Trump spotlighting the racist group by saying "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by" (whatever that means) during his TV debate against Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Then, Star Trek actor George Takei took to Twitter to suggest taking over the term. "I wonder if the BTS and TikTok kids can help LGBTs with this," he said. "What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys. I bet it would mess them up real bad. #ReclaimingMyShine."

As the new and improved hashtag began to take off, the iconic actor added: "Look up what’s trending now on #ProudBoys. You’re welcome, Internet." After that, thousands of posts from betrothed boys of all ages and races - as well as some from proud single boys, also spread far and wide on the platform. 

#ProudBoys

The picture shared by George Takei, proud of you!

Belgium appoints Europe's first transgender deputy prime minister

A transgender woman was sworn in as deputy prime minister in Belgium's new government, becoming the most senior trans politician in Europe. Petra De Sutter, a gynecologist and Green party Member of the European Parliament, became one of seven deputy prime ministers in Belgium's coalition government. 

De Sutter, who is also minister for public service and public enterprises, was elected to the European Parliament in 2019 representing the Flemish Green party, Groen. LGBT rights groups welcomed De Sutter's appointment as an important step forward for trans politicians.

"Incredibly grateful for the confidence I have received from my party!" De Sutter said. "Now I can do whatever it takes to relaunch our country and work on a new future for all Belgians together with that government!"

She also wrote on Twitter: "I am proud that in Flag of Belgium and in most of Flag of European Union your gender identity does not define you as a person and is a non-issue. I hope that my appointment as Minister and deputy PM can trigger the debate in countries where this is not yet the case. #fighttransphobia"

Congratulations!!

Simply awesome!

 

I've just watched this 2018 video in Youtube showing 5 year old Bobby Ray absolutely happy dancing in that concert. 

But the most meaningful moment to me is when he looks to the camera and realizes he is being recorded and his reactions is... keep dancing and caring nothing! Awesome! 

Watch the video below and enjoy it as I did: