Yes, We Kam!!!

 

U.S. President Joe Biden made history by selecting Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) as the first woman of color as a vice president (VP) in 2020, and a rising political star who has demonstrated a commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.

VP Kamala Harris was a relative newcomer to Washington, but her record on LGBTQ+ rights extends back to her tenure as a District Attorney for San Francisco and California Attorney General as well as her work during her first term as U.S. Senator. 

Kamala Harris has a strong record of support for LGBTQ+ causes. In 2010, one of her signature issues in her campaign for attorney general was her opposition to Proposition 8, the voter-approved ballot initiative that revoked marriage equality in California in 2008. 

As Attorney General of California, Harris denied gender affirmation surgery to transgender inmates. She went on to lead efforts to abolish gay and trans panic defenses in criminal trials. Harris also showed her support for LGBTQ+ rights as San Francisco District Attorney; in 2004, when Mayor Gavin Newsom declared same-sex marriage legal in the city, Harris conducted marriages for same-sex couples. 

As a member of the U.S. Senate, she co-sponsored the Equality Act. In July 2018, Harris led her colleagues in introducing the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018, a nationwide bill that would curtail the effectiveness of the so-called gay and trans panic defenses, an issue she pioneered during her tenure as District Attorney of San Francisco. 

In October 2019, Harris participated in a CNN/Human Rights Campaign town hall on the topic of LGBTQ+ rights, where she pledged her support for "all of the folks who are fighting for equality" in cases that would determine whether gay and transgender people were protected under laws banning federal workplace discrimination.

On campaign, she spoken out against and promises to reverse Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military. And she has promised to appoint an Attorney General who will prioritize investigating and prosecuting anti-LGBTQ+ bias crimes and invest money in ensuring local police departments receive proper training on how to interact with members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Kamala Harris, the next President of the United States!!!

#YesWeKam

No optimism on Iran's new "reformist" president

Masoud Pezeshkian is due to take office as Iran’s next president, his election follows the death of Ebrahim Raisi last May. Describing himself as a “reformist-principalist”, Pezeshkian is loyal to Iran’s Supreme Leader and the principles of the revolution which established the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979.  

Pezeshkian is explicitly telling the world he wants a new global order, centered around China, Russia and his Islamic Republic. The United States of America, and the West, does not fit into this vision. However, Pezeshkian wants Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear deal. 

Besides, he is against using force to impose the compulsory hijab rule and lamented the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish girl who was murdered in Iranian custody. Her death sparked nationwide protests calling for “women, life and freedom.”

The Iran president criticized the LGBTQ+ community, he said: “The West today is trying to promote the idea of homosexuality and by promoting homosexuality they are trying to end the generation of human beings.“ And he added: “The Western countries try to identify homosexuality as an index of civilization, while this is one of the dirtiest issues.”

Despite the election of a reformist president, the Iranian regime has executed at least 266 prisoners across the country in the first half of 2024, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported. Iran is considered one of the most dangerous places to be gay. Under the Islamic Shariaa law practiced in Iran, same-sex relations are a criminal offence and the punishment ranges from flogging to the death penalty.

No optimism on Iran's new "reformist" president.

Meet the Team LGBTQ in 2024 Paris Olympics

 

The 2024 Paris Olympics will feature at least 194 publicly out LGBTQ athletes, marking the second consecutive Summer Games with triple-digit representation. The final total of Team LGBTQ members in Tokyo was 186 athletes, but the current number will grow as the Games progress.

Check the medal count of Team LGBTQ in Paris Olympics here.

The numbers reflect growing acceptance in the sports world, especially for women athletes, despite the total of out LGBTQ Olympians still hovering at less than 2% of the expected overall figure of around 10,700 participants. 

The list of out athletes is heavily weighted to parts of the world where being LGBTQ is both legally and culturally accepted. This includes countries in North and South America, Western and Northern Europe and Australia and New Zealand. There are out athletes from 23 of the 206 participating nations.

The countries with the most out athletes at the Paris Olympics: USA (30), Brazil (25), Australia (18), Great Britain (10), Germany (9) and Netherlands (9).

There are only three out athletes from Asia: two boxers from the Philippines and one from Thailand. There are only four athletes from Africa (three South Africans) and one from the Refugee Team, boxer Cindy Ngamba, born in Cameroon and now living in Great Britain. There is only one athlete from any Muslim-dominated country (a Turkish volleyball player), places where being out and gay is often illegal or dangerous, and none from Russia, which has cracked down on LGBTQ rights in the past decade.

Some of the members of the Team LGBTQ in the 2024 Paris Olympics are:

• Dan Jervis, Great Britain, swimming.
• Sha'Carri Richardson, USA, track.
• Robbie Manson, New Zealand, rowing.
• Chelsea Gray, USA, basketball.
• Campbell Harrison, Australia, climbing.
• Nikki Hiltz, USA, track and field.
• Tom Daley, Great Britain, diving.
• Timo Cavelius, Germany, judo.
• Elke Vanhoof, Belgium, BMX.
• Hergie Bacyadan, Philippines, boxing.
• Alexia Putellas, Spain, soccer.

And many, many more!

Enjoy 2024 Paris Olympic Games!!!

United Nations calls countries to decriminalize homosexuality

The United Nations (UN) human rights chief and UNAIDS’s executive director have reiterated their calls for countries to decriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations.

“Laws criminalizing LGBTQ+ people must be consigned to history,” said Volker Türk and Winnie Byanyima in a statement. The “decriminalization of LGBTQ+ people is vital for protecting everyone’s human rights and everyone’s health,” they added.

The statement notes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, the Cook Islands, Dominica, Gabon, India, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago over the last decade have repealed laws that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations.

There are 61 countries that have laws that criminalise homosexuality, and nearly half of these are in Africa. Check them below:

From ILGA

Many thanks Mr. President for being our ally!

 

Many thanks President Biden !

Adult LGBTQ+ Population in the United States

The LGBTQ+ population is the largest it has ever been in recorded United States history, and the community is only growing.

13.9 million adults in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ+, accounting for 5.5 percent of the country's total population, a study from the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, found.

The states with the largest number of LGBTQ+ adults are also the states with the largest overall populations. Oregon, Delaware, and Vermont are the states with the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ people. West Virginia, Mississippi, and North Carolina are the states with the lowest.

The study also found that 18-24-year-olds are the group with the most queer people, with one in every six identifying as LGBTQ+. In other age groups, one in ten (9.1 percent) of those 25 to 34 years old, less than 5 percent of those ages 35 to 49, and less than 3 percent of those ages 50 and older identify as LGBTQ+.

Check the report here.

From the Williams Institute

South Korea's Supreme Court recognises rights for same-sex couples in historic ruling

South Korea's highest court ruled it was discrimination for state health insurers to treat same-sex couples differently from their heterosexual counterparts, in a verdict that activists said could pave the way for the eventual legalisation of same-sex unions in the country.

The Korean Supreme Court ruled that it was discrimination based on sexual orientation to exclude the couple just because they are same-sex. The court ruled that the health service decision to not recognize same-sex partners who have formed an economic community of life similar to a married couple as dependents is unlawful.

The verdict, which cannot be appealed, means common-law spouses of the same sex can now register as dependents on their partners' state health insurance, something long permitted for heterosexual common-law partners.

While South Korea does not recognise same-sex marriages, gay relationships are not criminalised. This ruling ultimately paves the way for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in South Korea, following the lead of other Asian countries like Taiwan and Thailand.

It's time South Korea!!!

Labour government includes conversion therapy ban in King’s Speech

King Charles III delivered the first King’s Speech for the new Labour government at the State Opening of British Parliament.

Within the speech, the King announced a draft bill will be brought forward to ban conversion practices, confirming Labour plans to outlaw it after promising to do through a “full, trans-inclusive, ban”.

Conversion therapy incorporates abusive practice refers to attempts by anti-LGBTQ+ groups or individuals to forcibly change the sexuality or gender identity of an individual.

LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations welcomed the news, because conversion practices are abuse, and they must be banned once and for all.

The UK will join to several countries around the world which already banned this awful practice.

The Italian Puglia region passes a gender equality law

The Puglia region in Italy has successfully enacted a law combating homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. The new legislation ensures equal opportunities and treatment concerning sexual orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex characteristics. 

The legislation promotes labour policies, professional training, job placement activities, and initiatives ensuring equal access to work. It also mandates training for teachers, school staff, and parents, focusing on equal opportunities, valuing differences, countering stereotypes, and preventing bullying and cyberbullying related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.

It also includes socio-welfare and socio-health interventions and interventions for university students, offering information, counseling, and support for homosexual, transgender, transsexual, and intersex individuals and their families, along with training for sector operators.

With this law, everyone has the opportunity to be themselves, freely expressing their sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex condition. Ms. Meloni, when a national law against such discrimination will be established in Italy?

Congratulazioni Puglia!!!

To know more about the amazing Puglia region, 
visit the PugliaGuys.com or follow the @PugliaGuys on X.

Many countries signed the Samoa Agreement with EU, but not all are pro-LGBTQ

The Samoa Agreement is the overarching framework for European Union (EU) relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, to promote economic development, democracy, and human rights. 

The agreement has been signed by the 27 member states from the EU and 79 countries worldwide, including 48 African, 16 Caribbean, and 15 Pacific nations. Around 2 billion people are covered by the agreement.

Africa: South Africa, Angola, Cape Verde, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia , Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Chad, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Saint Christophe and Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

The Pacific: Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

By signing the agreement, these countries aim to address global challenges and promote cooperation in various areas. The agreement provides a platform for its members to work together towards sustainable development, economic growth, and improved living standards for their citizens and their rights.

The priorities include human rights, democracy and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and mobility/migration.

The Samoa Agreement also contains clauses about the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity, which are interpreted as LGBTQ rights.

However, among the signatories to the Samoa Agreement are countries with anti-LGBTQ laws, including those governed by Islamic laws or with a predominantly Muslim population.

Samoa itself, where the agreement is named after for hosting the foundation summit, criminalises same-sex relations between men. In fact, consensual same-sex relations are illegal in over 30 African countries.

Either these countries haven't read the whole agreement or they don't intend to comply with it in this matter, giving further credence to the fact that the agreement does not mandate them to become pro-LGBTQ.

World laws pertaining to homosexual relationships and expressions

One million marched in the Pride Parade in Madrid, Spain

One million people marched along the main streets of Madrid, filling the Spanish capital city with colored flags for the main LGBTQ pride parade in the country and one of the biggest parades throughout Europe.

The Madrid Pride, known as Madrid Orgullo or MADO, takes place annually at the beginning of July and offers a week of activities, from concerts and parties to cultural events and political rallies. 

The highlight of the festival is the impressive parade that winds through the heart of Madrid, with colorful floats and enthusiastic participants.

This year’s demonstration carries a particularly important message. Through the slogan "Education, rights and peace: Pride that transforms", the parade's organisers called for education in diversity as a key tool to fight against any kind of homophobia.

In a society where LGBTQ rights are often threatened and hate speech and crimes are on the rise, it is crucial to raise voices and stand against regression. The march is a tool to advocate for real and effective equality in all spheres of life, demanding an end to discrimination and injustice.

Spain is one of the nation tops most accepting of homosexuality, but human rights activists are warning that attacks on queer people increased in Spain in recent times, after right party PP and far-right party VOX have extreme their speech against LGBTQ rights.

Happy Madrid Orgullo 2024!!!

Yes, there are LGBTQ+ athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris

The 2024 Olympics in Paris are here and, every time the Olympics come around, it's a chance for some of the best athletes from around the world to get together, compete, and celebrate. 

And many of those elite athletes are part of the LGBTQ+ community. There were over 186 publicly out LGBTQ+ athletes at Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021.

Fortunately, the Olympics has been a place where queer athletes like Greg Louganis, Sue Bird, Tom Daley, Megan Rapinoe, and Adam Rippon have become beloved international stars. 

And now, it's time for another generation of LGBTQ+ athletes to rise to the occasion. Here are some of the LGBTQ+ athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics:

• Dan Jervis, Great Britain, swimming.
• Sha'Carri Richardson, USA, track.
• Robbie Manson, New Zealand, rowing.
• Chelsea Gray, USA, basketball.
• Campbell Harrison, Australia, climbing.
• Nikki Hiltz, USA, track and field.
• Tom Daley, Great Britain, diving.
• Timo Cavelius, Germany, judo.
• Elke Vanhoof, Belgium, BMX.
• Hergie Bacyadan, Philippines, boxing.
• Alexia Putellas, Spain, soccer.

And many, many more!

Meet the Team LGBTQ in 2024 Paris Olympics

Istanbul Pride March celebrated again despite ban

In the midst of ongoing bans throughout Türkiye, İstanbul's LGBTI+ community managed to hold their 22nd Pride March in an unexpected location, once again surprising security forces.

The march began around 3.30 pm on Bağdat Avenue, a vibrant location on İstanbul’s Anatolian side. Despite the ban on almost all events during Pride Month, the LGBTI+ community managed to come together using alternative and creative methods, even though they could not publicly announce the route in advance.

The Pride Week Committee advised the crowd to disperse for safety reasons by leaving their flags behind. The event, which lasted about 10 minutes, concluded with a brief walk down Bağdat Avenue after a statement was read out. Police later arrived and began searching for LGBTI+ demonstrators in the side streets.

The Turkish activists made a statement on Bağdat Avenue:

After the march, a rainbow flag was hung from the Chackra building on Bağdat Avenue.

Happy Pride Türkiye!!!