Queer Cafe

Queer Europe: Entertainment Guide

World Wide Pride Celebrations

Survey: Most LGBTQ Europeans Fear Holding Partner's Hand in Public

Stockholm Deputy Mayor Dons Drag for Children’s Story Hour
Estonia Set to Become First Baltic State to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
Turkey’s President Erdogan Claims LGBTQ Will Not Emerge in This Country

Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage in First for an Orthodox Christian Nation

Greece will be the 16th European Union nation and the 35th country worldwide to legalize same-sex marriages

Greek lawmakers voted in Feb 2024 to legalize same-sex marriage in a landmark decision that will make it the first Orthodox Christian country to do so.

The passage of the law — which was drafted by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government and had support from four left-wing parties — makes the nation the 16th within the European Union and the 35th worldwide to legalize same-sex nuptials, according to a tally from the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. Gay marriage is also legal in the territories of Taiwan and Greenland.

A cross-party majority of 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat Parliament voted in favor of the bill. Another 76 rejected the reform while two abstained from the vote and 46 were not present for the vote.

Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage in First for an Orthodox Christian Nation

Hundreds of Protesters Opposed to Bill Allowing Same-Sex Marriage Rally in Greek Capital
Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption
Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: First for Orthodox Christian Country

“People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us. And with them, many children will finally find their rightful place,” Mitsotakis told lawmakers ahead of the evening vote.

Greece has allowed civil unions for same-sex couples since 2015. However, that law did not permit same-sex parents to both claim legal guardianship over their children. The new law amends this, though it still would prohibit same-sex male couples from having children through surrogate mothers in Greece, an option available to single women and heterosexual couples who require surrogates due to health reasons.

The legalization of same-sex marriage has come under fierce criticism from the Greek Orthodox Church, which teaches that homosexuality is a sin. Conversely, some LGBTQ advocates have criticized the law, arguing that it does not go far enough. The vote comes as the Orthodox Christian nation has loosened its regulations around LGBTQ people in the last decade.

Two years after the country passed the 2015 law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples, lawmakers passed legislation that would allow people to have their gender identity legally recognized. In 2022, Greek legislators also banned the widely debunked practice of conversion therapy nationwide, something that is still widely available in more historically progressive nations, including the United States.

In Latest Move, Russia Adds LGBTQ Government to Official List of Extremists and Terrorists

Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage in First for an Orthodox Christian Nation

Top Irish Official Comes Out as Gay
Russia to Outlaw LGBTQ Rights Movement

Nepal Registers Its Historic First Same-Sex Marriage
Ugandan Police Arrest Four People for Acts of Homosexuality

John Nicolson MP Warns Scotland Faces Explosion of Imported Transphobia From US
How LGBTQ Youth are Changing Poland’s Conservative Culture

Russian President Signs Legislation Outlawing Gender-Affirming Procedures
Estonia Legalizes Marriage Equality

The passage of same-sex marriage in Greece coincides with a precarious time for LGBTQ rights around the world.

While lawmakers in the United States enshrined same-sex marriage into federal law in 2022, state legislators have also proposed and enacted hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills in recent years.

Late last year, Russia’s Supreme Court designated the LGBTQ social movement as extremist, which critics have argued effectively bans any organized advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ rights. Local reports have shown Russian police raiding gay bars in cities across the country since the court’s ruling.

And in Uganda, lawmakers enacted one of the world’s most punishing anti-LGBTQ laws, which would criminalize landlords who knowingly house LGBTQ people and impose the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”

[Source: Matt Lavietes, NBC News, Feb 2024]

Thousands Protest Victor Orban’s Bigotry at Budapest Pride
Russia Wants to Ban All Trans Healthcare and Gender Recognition
Pride in London Unveils Powerful New ‘Never March Alone’ Campaign

First Trans Woman Crowned Winner of Miss Netherlands

Never March Alone: Pride in London 2023
Climate of Fear: Russia Steps Up Attacks on LGBTQ People

Uganda Passes New Version of Horrific Anti-LGBTQ Law
Georgina Beyer, First Out Trans MP in World History, Dies at 65
Turkish Police Break Up LGBTQ Pride March

UN Steps Up Efforts Against Anti-LGBTQ Violence and Discrimination

Best French Lesbian Movies

Russia Outlaws LGBTQ Rights Movement

Labels it Extremist

The Russian Supreme Court has approved a ban on the “international LGBTQ movement”. This allows LGBTQ activists to be labeled as “extremists” and all activities related to LGBTQ rights can be banned.

The Supreme Court's ruling seemed inevitable, as the Ministry of Justice requested approval for the ban two weeks ago. With this, Russia takes another step to limit the visibility of LGBTQ people in the country. For example, the country already has a law that prohibits “LGBTQ propaganda”. This previously only applied to minors, but was extended to everyone in Russia a year ago. Films, books and advertisements featuring LGBTQ characters are therefore no longer allowed to be shown in the country. Gender transition has also been made punishable this year. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “LGBTQ ideology is imported from the West” and has no place in Russian society.

In Latest Move, Russia Adds LGBTQ Government to Official List of Extremists and Terrorists

Russian Supreme Court Bans LGBTQ Movement and Labels it an Extremist Organization
Top Russian Court Bans LGBTQ Movement as Extremist
Russia Bans LGBTQ Activism, Declaring It an Extremist Movement
Russian Supreme Court Bans LGBTQ movement, Labels It Extremist
Russia Outlaws LGBTQ Rights Movement
Russian President Signs Legislation Outlawing Gender-Affirming Procedures
Russia Wants to Ban All Trans Healthcare and Gender Recognition

A gay St. Petersburg city councillor, Sergei Troshin, tells the BBC that the ban will have disastrous effects on the LGBTQ community. "I think this will mean that anyone whom the state considers an LGBTQ activist could receive a long prison sentence for 'participating in an extremist organization'." According to Troshin, there is a lot of panic in the Russian LGBTQ community and people are fleeing the country in haste. Russian LGBTQ organizations write that LGBTQ people are massively deleting their posts on social media and dating apps.

The future is therefore presented bleakly by Russian LGBTQ organizations: “People with homophobic views now feel at ease. And the prospects are bleak: people are returning from war, and that is also a threat to LGBTQ people,” says the coordinator of a Russian LGBTQ organization.

Independent Russian media, which often operate from abroad, have adapted their logo with rainbow colors as a statement of support for the Russian LGBTQ community. This also includes the independent TV Rain, which currently operates from the Netherlands. They say: “We will continue to defend the rights of those who are wrongfully persecuted.”

[Source: Out TV, December 2023]

Gay Couple in Nepal Becomes First to Officially Register for Same-Sex Marriage in the Country

John Nicolson MP Warns Scotland Faces Explosion of Imported Transphobia From US

Places Where Showing LGBTQ Pride Is Illegal

First Trans Woman Crowned Winner of Miss Netherlands

London Mayor Sadiq Khan announces LGBTQ Homeless Shelter Funding

Thousands Hit the Streets of London to Celebrate Pride

Senator David Norris: The Man Who Overturned Ireland’s Homosexuality Ban
Pride in London Unveils Powerful New ‘Never March Alone’ Campaign

Uganda Passes a Law Making it a Crime to Identify as LGBTQ

Anti-LGBTQ Crackdown Worsens in Tanzania
From Northern Ireland with Pride: An Interview with Brian Kennedy
Gen Z Twice as Likely to Identify as LGBTQ in England and Wales
Trans People Protest Against UK Government Blocking Scottish Gender Bill

Famous LGBTQ People From France

Gabriel Attal - Prime Minister

Gerard Araud - France Ambassador to US
Sophie Arnould - Opera Singer

Olivier Ducastel - Film Director, Screenwriter
Christophe Beaugrand - Television Journalist
Marcel Carne - Film Maker
Christian Dior - Fashion Designer
Celine Sciamma - Film Director, Screenwriter

Caroline Fourest - Writer, Filmmaker
Jean-Paul Gaultier - Fashion Designer
Guillaume Pepy - Government Official
Ines-Loan Rau - Transgender Playboy Model

Jean-Pierre - TV/Radio Food Critic
Yves Saint Laurent - Fashion Designer
Thierry Schaffauser - Actor, Writer, Activist

Chevalier d’Éon - Transgender Spy (18th Century)

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette - Author

Activists Link US Nonprofit to Anti-LGBTQ Laws Across Africa

Xavier Espot Zamora Prime Minister Of Andorra Comes Out

Man Faces Death Penalty for Violating Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law
Estonia Becomes First Ex-Soviet State to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Kenya’s Controversial Anti-Homosexuality Law: Fight for LGBTQ Rights
UN Steps Up Efforts Against Anti-LGBTQ Violence and Discrimination

European Union Takes Hungary to Highest Court Over LGBTQ Violations

Congolese Government Cautions Media Not to Promote LGBTQ-Specific Content
Passing the Fields: Gay French Film

Helpful Guide: French LGBTQ Vocabulary

Gay Europe

Current LGBTQ Situation

In general, the LGBTQ situation in Europe has been marked by significant progress in terms of legal recognition and societal acceptance, but challenges and variations persist across different countries.

Many European nations have made strides in recognizing and protecting the rights of the LGBTQ community. Several countries have legalized same-sex marriage, and anti-discrimination laws have been enacted to safeguard LGBTQ individuals in various aspects of life, including employment and housing. Additionally, some countries have taken steps to recognize and legally support individuals who identify as non-binary or transgender.

However, the situation is not uniform across the continent. Eastern European countries, in particular, have shown varying levels of acceptance, with some facing criticism for policies that may be perceived as discriminatory or regressive. The divide in attitudes and legal frameworks between Western and Eastern Europe has underscored the diverse cultural, social, and political landscapes within the continent.

Moreover, despite legal advancements, challenges persist in terms of societal acceptance and attitudes. LGBTQ individuals may still face discrimination, prejudice, and violence in some communities. Initiatives promoting education and awareness have been crucial in challenging stereotypes and fostering inclusivity.

The LGBTQ rights situation in Europe is dynamic, and developments may have occurred since my last update. It is essential to consider the intersectionality of LGBTQ issues with other social, cultural, and political factors when examining the situation in any specific country or region. Overall, Europe continues to navigate the complexities of achieving comprehensive LGBTQ rights and inclusion while respecting the diversity of its member states.

Rainbow River at Norwich Pride in UK

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Paris Hosts Gay Games
Homophobic Assaults Reported After Berlin's Pride Celebrations

Uganda Passes New Version of Horrific Anti-LGBTQ Law

Pride in London 2018

Germany Bans Gay Conversion Therapy

UN Steps Up Efforts Against Anti-LGBTQ Violence and Discrimination
Granddaughter of Italian Fascist Mussolini Speaks Out for LGBTQ Rights

Tblisi's First LGBTQ Pride Celebration

Mr. Gay Hungary

In Latest Move, Russia Adds LGBTQ Govement to Official List of Extremists and Terrorists

Activists Link US Nonprofit to Anti-LGBTQ Laws Across Africa

Gay Couple in Nepal Becomes First to Officially Register for Same-Sex Marriage in the Country

Which Countries Still Criminalize Gay Sex?
Nepal Supreme Court Pushes for Gay Marriage
Turkey’s President Erdogan Claims LGBTQ Will Not Emerge in This Country
Courts Advancing LGBTQ Rights Worldwide

New Russian Law Bans Well-Known LGBTQ Films like Call Me by Your Name
Trans People Protest Against UK Government Blocking Scottish Gender Bill
Hungary’s Anti-LGBTQ Laws Create Threatening Environment For Human Rights

Uganda's President Signs One of the World’s Harshest Anti-LGBTQ Bills Into Law

“I think this is so so horrible. We didn’t expect this.

We thought he would be advised against it.

We are going to be tortured. We are going to die.”

-Henry Mukiibi, Activist who assists LGBTQ Ugandans

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has signed some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world, the speaker of Parliament said, defying international pressure. The bill includes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality," which includes sex with a minor, having sex while HIV-positive, and incest.

The bill criminalizes sex education for the gay community and makes it illegal not to expose what it calls perpetrators of aggravated homosexuality to the police. It calls for “rehabilitation” (widely discredited conversion therapy) for gay offenders.

Museveni sent the bill back to Parliament for revisions earlier this year. The latest version of the bill passed earlier this month. Uganda’s longtime president has already faced extensive criticism from Western governments, including the US, over the law. A similarly homophobic law was struck down by the courts in 2014.

Uganda's President Signs One of the World’s Harshest Anti-LGBTQ Bills Into Law
Uganda’s President Signs Deadly Anti-Homosexuality Bill into Law
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Uganda Passes a Law Making it a Crime to Identify as LGBTQ

Uganda Passes New Version of Horrific Anti-LGBTQ Law

Uganda Passes Anti-Homosexuality Bill Making it Illegal to Identify as LGBTQ

The speaker of the parliament Anita Annet Among celebrated the bill’s signing, saying Parliament had “answered the cries of our people. I thank His Excellency, the president, for his steadfast action in the interest of Uganda. With a lot of humility, I thank my colleagues the Members of Parliament for withstanding all the pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of the country,” she added.

Henry Mukiibi, an activist who assists LGBTQ Ugandans, says that he fears people will take the law into their own hands: “I think this is so so horrible. We didn’t expect this. We thought he would be advised against it. We are going to be tortured. I am just scared now about what is next. People have been waiting for the bill to be signed and then they will work on us. We are going to die.”

Civil society groups are already looking to challenge the law. “This is hardly surprising for anyone following the events closely, but it is still deeply concerning that the country is viciously discriminating against its sexual minorities. The battle lines are drawn and the next stage of the contestation will be in a court of law,” Nicholas Opiyo, a prominent human rights lawyer said. “The civil society in Uganda together with the LGBTQ community are prepared to take this to the courts and challenge the law. Because this law is a deeply discriminatory and repressive law that doesn’t meet any international human rights and local standards.” He added that Uganda’s development partners need to hold the Ugandan government to account.

[Source: David McKenzie, Eve Brennan, CNN]

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Xavier Espot Zamora Prime Minister Of Andorra Comes Out

Police in Ethiopia Beg Public to Snitch on LGBTQ People in Anti-Homosexuality Crackdown

John Nicolson MP Warns Scotland Faces Explosion of Imported Transphobia From US

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Kenya’s Controversial Anti-Homosexuality Law: Fight for LGBTQ Rights
Anti-LGBTQ Crackdown Worsens in Tanzania

Thousands Protest Victor Orban’s Bigotry at Budapest Pride

Congolese Government Cautions Media Not to Promote LGBTQ-Specific Content

Latvia Swears in Edgars Rinkevics: EU's First Openly Gay President

German Parliament Officially Commemorates LGBTQ Victims of Nazi Regime for First Time

Update: Ugandan Police Arrest Four People for Acts of Homosexuality

In Uganda, which has one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world, police arrested four people in August 2023 for “acts of homosexuality” at a massage parlor. The arrests occurred in Buikwe, a town about 35 miles east of the capital, Kampala.

“The police operation was carried out following a tip-off by a female informant to the area security that acts of homosexuality were being carried out at the massage parlor,” a police spokesperson said. Two of those arrested were women.

Uganda adopted the Anti-Homosexuality Act in May 2023. It provides for the death penalty for what it calls “aggravated homosexuality,” including sex with a minor, sex while HIV-positive, and incest. Those convicted of having same-sex relations that are not of the “aggravated” variety can be imprisoned for life.

Ugandan Police Arrest Four People for Acts of Homosexuality

Uganda Enacts Harsh Anti-LGBTQ Law Including Death Penalty
Uganda Leader Signs Law Imposing Life Sentence for Same-Sex Acts and Death for Aggravated Homosexuality
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A previous anti-homosexuality law that did not include the death penalty, although that was considered when the measure was discussed by legislators, was struck down in court in 2014, not because of its content but because of the manner in which it was passed by Parliament.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act has been condemned by world leaders, including President Joe Biden, and human rights groups. Democrats in Congress have pushed for an amendment to the pending National Defense Authorization Act to prohibit aid to Uganda’s army or police forces.

In August 2023, the World Bank announced it would provide no new funding for public projects in Uganda because of the law. Officials with the bank said they will try to negotiate “additional measures” to prevent anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the country. The bank will meet previous commitments and will consider private-sector loans selectively, while taking any steps necessary to assure there won’t be discrimination.

[Source: Trudy Ring, Advocate, August 2023]

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Russian President Signs Legislation Outlawing Gender-Affirming Procedures

London Mayor Sadiq Khan announces LGBTQ Homeless Shelter Funding

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100 Year Old Polish Actor Comes Out as Gay

Moscow Toughens Anti-Gay Laws: LGBTQ Russians Fear for the Future

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Big Coronation Concert

The King Charless III Coronation Concert features Take That, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry as well as an appearance by Brighton’s Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and The Pink Singers, London’s LGBTQ community choir. 20,000 people attended the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.

Other performers include bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, pianist Lang Lang, Andrea Bocelli, Paloma Faith and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. Tom Cruise, Joan Collins, Bear Grylls and Tom Jones appear in pre-recorded video sketches. They recited little-known facts about the monarch. Additionally, the Royal Ballet, Royal Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal College of Music and Royal College of Art combined to present a spectacular one-off performance.

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As King Charles III is Crowned, Will he Address LGBTQ Rights?
King Charles Coronation: Time for Royals to Face Up to Britain’s Anti-LGBTQ Colonial Legacy

The 300-voice Coronation Choir combines chorists from 18 community and amateur choirs in a special ensemble for the Coronation Concert. Concert organizers chose refugee, NHS, LGBTQ and deaf-signing choirs for the ensemble after a nationwide search earlier this year.

Brighton’s Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and London’s The Pink Singers will both participate. Sadly, despite exploiting queer musical groups to burnish his progressive credentials, King Charles III has never yet made a single comment on queer issues.

[Source: Destiny Rogers, Q News, May 2023]

Gay Kings and Queens of Europe

Granddaughter of Italian Fascist Mussolini Speaks Out for LGBTQ Rights

Poland May Start Sending Teachers to Jail for Turning Kids Gay

Tutorial: French Kiss

Lesbian Couple in Italy Wins Right Not to Be Identified as Mother and Father on Government Docs
King Charles III and New Prince of Wales: Royals' Attitude About LGBTQ Rights
Queen had Understanding of LGBTQ Community, Says Gay Former Lord Mayor

Never March Alone: Pride in London 2023
German Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Same Sex Marriage

First Transgender Woman to Compete in Miss Universe Pageant

Duas Noivas Lindas: Casamento Budista

LGBTQ Pride in Serbia

Je Suis Lesbienne

New Russian Law Bans Well-Known LGBTQ Films like Call Me by Your Name

The purge of films, including Brokeback Mountain, began in 2022

A government committee regulating compliance with the new anti-LGBTQ law in Russia has issued a list of criteria for banning content online and in the media, and several notable film titles have disappeared from streamers in the country.

The Russian language news outlet Vedomosti reports that the new rules from the Roskomnadzor (RKN) ban any content that affirms “nontraditional” sexual relations or relationships, forbids affirmation of transgender and nonbinary people, and bans any attempts to speak in support of the LGBTQ community.

The RKN had earlier sent a list of films and TV shows it classified as LGBTQ propaganda and in violation of the new law. The list included the films Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Call Me By Your Name (2017), as well as episodes from TV shows The Sex Lives of College Girls and This Is Going to Hurt.

New Russian Law Bans Well-Known LGBTQ Films like Call Me by Your Name
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Alexander Khinshtein, a member of the State Duma and coauthor of the censorship law, told Vedomosti he held two meetings with the top managers of three major streaming services in the country last December, where he delivered the criteria list and discussed its implementation. The group also reportedly agreed on a short transitional period for the streamers to remove content now considered illegal under the new law.

The news of the committee's list was condemned by Amnesty International's Russia chapter. “This unabashed censorship shows that the Russian authorities are wholly out-of-step with human rights, willing to blatantly violate the right to freedom of expression. Disguised as 'protecting traditional values,' this outrageous move will not only further stigmatize millions of LGBTQ people but expose them to increasing discrimination and stigma, hostility, and violent acts," Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia Director, said. "This censorship directive, not to mention the anti-LGBTQ law itself, must be immediately repealed. It’s time for Russia to stop promoting and endorsing discrimination against LGBTQ people and understand and recognize that their rights are human rights, and protect them.”

The new law expanded a 2013 ban against spreading “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” to minors to also include adults. The new law took effect December 5 and makes it illegal to promote or “praise” LGBTQ relationships, publicly express non-heterosexual orientations, or suggest that they are “normal.” The new law also bans all advertising, media, and online resource books, films, and theater productions that affirm the LGBTQ community or individuals.

Under the new law, individuals can be fined up to 400,000 rubles ($6,370) for "LGBTQ propaganda" and up to 200,000 rubles ($3,185) for “demonstrations of LGBTQ and information that encourages a change of gender among teenagers.”

[Source: Donald Padgett, Advocate, Jan 2023]

Places Where Showing LGBTQ Pride Is Illegal

In Latest Move, Russia Adds LGBTQ Govement to Official List of Extremists and Terrorists

Turkey's Erdogan Tells Supporters He Does Not Recognize LGBTQ People

John Nicolson MP Warns Scotland Faces Explosion of Imported Transphobia From US

Kenya’s Controversial Anti-Homosexuality Law: Fight for LGBTQ Rights
Anti-LGBTQ Crackdown Worsens in Tanzania

Estonia Set to Become First Baltic State to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Congolese Government Cautions Media Not to Promote LGBTQ-Specific Content

Uganda Passes Anti-Homosexuality Bill Making it Illegal to Identify as LGBTQ

Finland Ranks 6th in European LGTBQ Rights Comparison

Spain Passes Law Allowing Trans People to Self-Identify From Age 16

European Rainbow Map Update

Ranking LGBTQ-Friendly Countries Worldwide

The annual Rainbow Map ranking has named Malta as the best nation for LGBTQ rights in Europe for the eighth year in a row, while the UK’s score continues to fall.

ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) Europe’s Rainbow Map and Index has ranked European countries on the basis of their “legal and policy situation” for LGBTQ people each year since 2009. The index ranks countries from zero to 100 per cent, with zero representing gross violations of human rights, and 100 representing full equality. Countries are marked in seven categories: equality and non-discrimination, family, hate crime and hate speech, legal gender recognition, intersex bodily integrity, civil society space, and asylum.

The 2023 list placed Malta top, with a score of 89 per cent. Rising in the ranks to fourth place was Spain (74 per cent), which ILGA-Europe said was due to the country’s ground-breaking introduction of a self-ID law for trans people.

Social Acceptance of LGBTQ People in 175 Countries
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Until 2015, the UK consistently achieved the number-one spot in the rankings, but since then has slipped down the list. It was down in 10th in 2021 before falling to 14th in 2021. This year, the country dropped further still and now sits in 17th place.

The worst countries for LGBTQ people in Europe are Azerbaijan (two per cent), Turkey (four per cent), and Armenia (eight per cent). Those three countries have retained the bottom three places for the past three years.

The Rainbow Europe Map, developed by ILGA, utilizes a 100 point scale and tracks 49 countries. Here is their top 20 list:

1 Malta
2 Belgium
3 Denmark
4 Spain
5 Finland

6   Iceland
7   Sweden
8   Norway
9   Luxembourg
10 France 1

11 Portugal
12 Montenegro
13 Greece
14 Netherlands
15 Germany

16 Ireland
17 United Kingdom
18 Croatia
19 Austria
20 Switzerland

In a similar study, the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law ranks 175 countries worldwide according to their average LGBTQ Acceptance Index score. They utilize a 10 point scale. Here is their list of the top 20 countries ranked for LGBTQ Social Acceptance:

1 Iceland
2 Netherlands
3 Norway
4 Sweden
5 Canada

6   Spain
7   Denmark
8   Ireland
9   Great Britain
10 New Zealand

11 Australia
12 Malta
13 Switzerland
14 Finland
15 Belgium

16 Uruguay
17 Nepal
18 Luxembourg
19 France
20 Germany

[Source: Williams Institute, Pink News, ILGA Europe, May 2023]

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GCN: Gay Community News (Ireland)

Sydney World Pride

Over 60 Shows, Exhibits, Experiences...

WorldPride is a global LGBTQIA festival that has been staged since 2000, with cities competing to host the event.

The right to host it is licensed by InterPride which has representatives from nearly every Pride organization around the world. Previous WorldPride celebrations include New York in 2019 marking 50 years since the Stonewall uprising, and Copenhagen in 2021 celebrating both WorldPride and the EuroGames.

Sydney World Pride
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
InterPride

Sydney was chosen by InterPride members to be the host of WorldPride in 2023, marking the first time a city in the southern hemisphere had been chosen.

Sydney WorldPride will incorporate all the beloved Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events, plus a broad festival offering across arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference.

The First Nations gathering, called Marri Madung Butbut, is the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and global First Nation LGBTQIA+SB program to take place in Australia.

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Slovenia Becomes First Eastern European Country to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage
Gay Man Elected as President of Latvia
Georgina Beyer, First Out Trans MP in World History, Dies at 65
Uganda Passes a Law Making it a Crime to Identify as LGBTQ

Which Countries Still Criminalize Gay Sex?
Nepal Supreme Court Pushes for Gay Marriage

First Openly Gay Lord Mayor

Carl Austin-Behan Served as Lord Mayor of Manchester from 2016 to 2017

Manchester’s first openly gay lord mayor says the Queen showed a “genuine” interest in the LGBTQ community when they met in 2021.

The Queen, who died in September 2022, didn’t make her views on LGBTQ rights known to the public throughout her 70-year reign. It’s something that leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many, especially considering the crown’s involvement in colonial, anti-LGBTQ laws around the world. But Carl Austin-Behan, who served as lord mayor of Manchester from 2016 to 2017, has vouched for the late monarch, saying she had an interest in and understanding of the community.

In July 2021, Queen Elizabeth II visited Manchester. Ahead of this, Austin-Behan said, he was contacted by the Queen’s lord-lieutenant to request that an LGBTQ choir perform during a service at Manchester Cathedral. Austin-Behan forwarded the request to the Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus – recently renamed Manchester Proud Chorus.

“I think it was really poignant to ask for an LGBTQ choir as she’s head of the church and in Greater Manchester we have a lot of multicultural faith, and there we were with all the different faith leaders and people from different backgrounds there with an LGBTQ choir performing,” he said. “It sent a very clear message of how she did understand and that she recognized us as a community.”

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He recalled the lord-lieutenant introducing him as the former lord mayor, and the Queen interrupting to say “you look very young for a lord mayor”. The 50-year-old said the Queen showed a keen interest in learning about the LGBTQ charities in Manchester, and about the work of Fighting With Pride (FWP) – a military charity which works to support LGBTQ veterans, serving personnel and their families, which he’s a trustee of.

“She acknowledged that Greater Manchester had a very large LGBTQ community. And then I mentioned about being kicked out of the RAF for being gay in ’97 and she said ‘we’ve had a lot of changes over the last 20 years’.

“She acknowledged that we had come a long way in that time and mentioned LGBTQ people in the military, same-sex marriage and being able to have children, she was knowledgeable.”

“She knew Greater Manchester had a large LGBTQ+ community and the importance of it.

“I felt it was genuine and sincere and her understanding was beautiful.”

Austin-Behan joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the age of 19, but was kicked out in 1997 for being gay. The ban on LGBTQ people serving openly in the military wasn’t lifted until 2020. Those suspected of being LGBTQ were arrested, searched and questioned, and those found ‘guilty’ were ‘dismissed in disgrace’.

While Austin-Behan “didn’t want being gay to define” him, he said: “Being kicked out the RAF ended up defining me, because I’ve ended up getting involved with LGBTQ rights from when that happened.” Prior to his discharge from the army, Austin-Behan was commended in the 1991 Queen’s Birthday Honors for saving a pilot from a burning aircraft. He’s now the current LGBTQ advisor to the mayor of Greater Manchester, and in 2020 the Queen made him an Officer of the Order for the British Empire (OBE) for his charity work towards LGBTQ equality.

[Source: Chantelle Bilson, Pink News, Sept 2022]

World LGBTQ News

Turkey: Thousands Protest Victor Orban’s Bigotry at Budapest Pride

Italy: Over 40% of LGBTQ Workers Say Careers Have Been Hit by Discrimination
England: Trans People Protest Against UK Government Blocking Scottish Gender Bill

France: Outlaws Discredited Practice of LGBTQ Conversion Therapy
Africa: Gay Sex Is Legal in Botswana, Affirms Appeals Court

Ukraine: Thousands March for LGBTQ Rights
Germany Two Transgender Women Win Seats in Parliament
Netherlands: 20 Year Anniversary of First Same-Sex Marriage

Bavaria: Duke François Comes Out as Gay at 87

Switzerland: Approves Same-Sex Marriage In Nationwide Referendum

Japan: Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Ban is Unconstitutional

England: Veteran LGBTQ Humanist Activist George Broadhead Dies
Hungary: Proposes Ban on Material Promoting LGBTQ Activity Among Youth

Scottland: Politician Says Same-Sex Marriage is the Cause of COVID 19

Ghana: Politicians Move to Ban All LGBTQ Advocacy
Ireland: Incredible Transformation Into an LGBTQ Haven

Greece: Appoints First Out Gay Cabinet Minister

Germany: Making it Easier for Lesbian Couples to Co-Parent

Hungary: Ramps Up Assault on LGBTQ Community and Bans LGBTQ Rights

How the World Feels About LGBTQ People

One of the major human rights stories of the past decade in the United States has been the astonishing progress toward equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The advance of marriage equality across the states before the Supreme Court made it the law of the land; the narratives of bullying and suicide that aroused public sympathy; and the swift rise in the visibility of transgender people have been tremendously gratifying and exciting to witness.

But while the United States can be awfully myopic, it’s impossible to ignore that this progress hasn’t been global. Sexual minorities in Uganda have been attacked with greater frequency since the country passed a law creating a new range of offenses related to sexual orientation, pairing them with correspondingly harsh penalties. Russia criminalized so-called “gay propaganda” as part of widespread government efforts to clamp down on free speech supposedly in defense of traditional Russian culture. And earlier this year, two gay rights activists were killed in Bangladesh.

In this context, it’s particularly interesting to read the results of a study released today by ILGA and Logo and conducted in conjunction with RIWI, a Canadian research company that has made a specialty of public opinion research in countries where it’s difficult to do traditional polling. The results from 96,331 respondents in 65 countries provide a broad — if not necessarily complete, because the surveys were conducted online — look at how the world feels about LGBTQ people. And it also suggests ways that gay rights movements around the world might advance in directions different from the one in the United States.

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Gay Pride in Berlin

Russian Post-Invasion Kill List Includes Ukrainian LGBTQ Citizens
France Outlaws Discredited Practice of LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

How the World Feels About LGBTQ People

First, the broad picture: Thirty-five percent of respondents worldwide said that their attitudes about gay, lesbian, transgender and intersex people had become much more favorable or somewhat more favorable over the past five years. Fifteen percent said their feelings had become less favorable, and 50 percent reported no change. Sixty-seven percent agreed with the statement that “human rights should be applied to everyone, regardless of whom they feel attracted to or the gender they identify with.” Just 16 percent disagreed.

In no region of the world do a clear majority of respondents agree that “being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or intersex should be a crime,” though 42 percent of respondents in the Middle East and North Africa, and 43 percent of respondents in other African countries, said that being a sexual minority, transgender or intersex should be illegal. And 68 percent of respondents around the world said that they would be very or somewhat upset if their child said they were in love with someone of the same gender, though it’s hard to determine whether that response comes from opposition to homosexuality or concern for a child’s safety and acceptance.

Figures like these remind us of what we already know: that gay rights movements around the world are operating in vastly different cultural and political environments and have achieved varying levels of success and visibility. And it’s particularly interesting to look at the responses to the questions that ask respondents of other countries about subjects that provided powerful leverage for LGBTQ rights movements in the United States.

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Take bullying of young people, an issue that provided rafts of sympathetic headlines, as well as plotlines on shows like “Glee.” Sixty-three percent of North American respondents to the survey said they agreed that “Bullying of young people who identify or are perceived as gay, lesbian, or transgender is a significant problem.” And while there was no region where a majority of respondents rejected the idea that bullying was a problem, there is less consensus on the issue in other regions than in the United States. Just 40 percent of respondents in Latin America and the Caribbean said that bullying was a significant issue, and 49 percent of Middle Eastern and North African respondents agreed.

Similarly, marriage equality became a successful battleground for gay rights activists in the United States because it provided an opportunity for the movement to argue that LGBTQ Americans wanted the same things as their straight peers, and the issue helped publicize the stories of long-term couples who were being treated differently from heterosexual husbands and wives. And now that LGBTQ couples can marry in the United States, and have been able to do so for more than a decade in Canada, 50 percent of North American respondents said that same-sex marriage should be legal; only in Europe is support higher, at 52 percent of respondents. Elsewhere, the numbers are much lower: 36 percent of Asian respondents supported marriage equality, as did 34 percent of Latin American respondents, 21 percent of Middle Eastern, North African and Central and Eastern European respondents, and 20 percent of African respondents.

It’s possible that the stories of committed same-sex couples might change those figures; as the report’s authors wrote, “These results seem to show that LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) visibility leads to more people actually knowing in person someone who is LGBTI and, hence to adopt a more positive attitude towards them.”

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And the survey results suggest another area where many people around the world might be open to changes in laws that could make it safer for LGBTQ people to live out of the closet: employment discrimination. Fifty-six percent of respondents worldwide said an employer should not be able to fire workers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Support for employment non-discrimination is weaker in some regions than others; 41 percent respondents from Middle Eastern and North African countries and 35 percent of respondents from other African countries agreed that companies should be allowed to fire LGBTQ employees simply on the grounds of their sexuality or gender expression. But despite pockets of support for employment discrimination, those responses suggest there may be global support for making it safer for LGBTQ people to be out on the job. The United States, of course, has yet to pass our own Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

But whatever courses activists in different countries choose, American advocates should be cautious about assuming that it’s possible to export a US model for equality abroad. In fact, the idea that same-sex attraction is a Western, and potentially colonial, export infringing on other countries’ cultures pops up in a number of regions where respondents showed other discomforts about LGBTQ rights. Forty-seven percent of African respondents said that homosexuality was a “Western world phenomenon,” as did 42 percent of Asian respondents. And, as the report’s authors’ noted, 48 percent of Russian respondents agreed with that statement, too.

During the Obama administration, American embassies have had an explicit mandate to advocate for LGBTQ rights. And it’s understandable that gay rights activists in the United States want to see their brothers and sisters around the world win the same protections and public acceptance. But Logo and ILGA’s report is a reminder that movements around the world may have to find their own messages and paths forward.

[Source: Alyssa Rosenberg, Opinion, Washington Post]

World LGBTQ News

Greece: Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage in First for an Orthodox Christian Nation

Congo: Government Cautions Media Not to Promote LGBTQ-Specific Content

Latvia: Edgars Rinkevics is EU's First Openly Gay President

Uganda: President Signs Deadly Anti-Homosexuality Bill into Law

Denmark: Princess Mary Calls for LGBTQ Equality at Copenhagen WorldPride

Spain: Passes Law Allowing Trans People to Self-Identify From Age 16

Slovenia: First Eastern European Country to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage

Russian: Post-Invasion Plan to Kill Ukrainian LGBTQ Citizens

Italy: Mussolini's Granddaughter Speaks Out for LGBTQ Rights

Poland: Some Regions End LGBTQ-Free Zones
Brazil: President Bolsonaro Say We Have to Stop Being a Country of Fags

England: Maureen Duffy is Britain's First Out Woman in Public Life

Poland: Elects Harsh Anti-LGBTQ President

Poland: Pro-LGBTQ Protest at President's Inauguration

France: First Transgender Mayor Elected

Poland: Won't Let EU Force It Into Legalizing Same Sex Marriage

Netherlands: Plans to Remove Gender From ID Cards Entirely

Germany: Approves Ban on Conversion Therapy

Russia: New Survey Shows 1 in 5 Russians Want to Eliminate LGBTQ Community

Germany: Ban on Ex-Gay Therapy

Russia: Putin Vows to Never Allow Same-Sex Marriage in Russia

Current LGBTQ Situation in Europe

What is the current situation of the LGBTQ movement in Europe? The LGBTQ movement in Europe has been around for a long time and has grown immensely over the past decades. However, the environments in which the groups operate vary significantly, from Italy to Finland and the UK to Azerbaijan. The needs of the movement are always unique and need individually tailored responses.

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Despite these differences, the movement overall has become increasingly professional. NGOs are run on the basis of democratic governance principles, reflect the movement’s diversity and meet high levels of legal and other accountability standards. This has allowed an increasing number of organizations to carry out their work with paid staff, although many NGOs continue to depend on volunteers for the biggest part of their work.

At the same time, many new groups have emerged and therefore are still in need of more basic capacity building. There are a rapidly increasing number of initiative groups working in cities outside of capitals. Groups representing minority groups within the LGBTQ community are also increasingly their engagement. Think for instance about religious groups or groups based on a certain ethnic background.

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Vladimir Putin: No LGBTQ Families, No Same Sex Marriages in Russia

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This Gay Nightclub in Italy is Considered Europe’s Studio 54
Princess Mary Calls for LGBTQ Equality at Copenhagen WorldPride
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Scotland Becomes First Country to Require LGBTQ Curriculum in Schools

Julianna and Valentina

ILGA-Europe has invested heavily in building skills to allow other organizations to use a human rights based approach in their work. This approach combines the documentation of and reporting on human rights violations with advocacy work. Together with litigation work that advances the LGBTQ rights agenda through the court, this approach has proved tremendously helpful in advancing domestic and regional agendas through an evidence-based approach.

In recent years it has become increasingly important to combine the human rights based approach with efforts that focus on winning the hearts and minds of people over to support LGBTQ issues. The reason for this is simple: legislative debates on LGBTQ issues have become highly visible battles, leading to greater involvement of both supporters and opponents. This means that the capacity of the European movement needs to grow to effectively mobilize its own supporters, to win the backing of politicians, allies and citizens.

The need to raise awareness and campaign has grown rapidly in recent years, combined with an increased pressure on financial resources. Effectively supporting the European movement therefore includes questions around finding sustainable resources to make sure the movement can carry out their work.

[Source: IGLA Europe]

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Gay Marriage Now Legal in Northern Ireland

Romanian Courts Rule LGBTQ Couples Should Have Legal Protection

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Liebesleben: German Music Video by Amy Wald

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100 Year Old Polish Actor Comes Out as Gay

Pride Celebration in Rio de Janeiro

Northern Ireland News: First Same Sex Marriages on Valentine's Day

One Third of Poland Declared LGBTQ-Free Zone

Czech Republic Could Be Next for Marriage Equality

Senator David Norris: The Man Who Overturned Ireland’s Homosexuality Ban

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Scotland Becomes First Country to Require LGBTQ Curriculum in Schools

First Gay Couple Married in Germany

Famous LGBTQ People From Italy

Gianna Amelio - Film Director
Giorgio Armani - Fashion Designer
Lorenzo Balducci - Actor
Pierre Cardin - Fashion Designer
Immanuel Castro - Singer, Songwriter
Nino Cesarini - Model
Claudio Cipelletti - Film Director
Milly D'Abbraccio - Actor, Porn Star
Domenico Dulce - Fashion Designer
Elenora Duse - Actor

Prospero Farinacci - Lawyer, Judge
Stefano Gabbana - Fashion Designer
Giancarlo Giametti - Businessman
Luca Guadagnino - Film Director
Andrea Occhipinti - Actor
Emanuele Crialese - Film Director

Alfredo Ormando - Writer
Alfonso Signorini - Television Host
Bruno Tonioli - Dancer
Luca Trevisan - Computer Science Professor
Gianni Versace - Fashion Designer

World LGBTQ News

Poland: How LGBTQ Youth are Changing the Country’s Conservative Culture

Greece: Homophobic Homeowner Refuses to Help Gay Family Fleeing Wildfire

Russia: Putin Signs Legislation Outlawing Gender-Affirming Procedures

Turkey: Thousands Protest Victor Orban’s Bigotry at Budapest Pride

Italy: Over 40% of LGBTQ Workers Say Careers Have Been Hit by Discrimination

England: Trans People Protest Against UK Government Blocking Scottish Gender Bill

France: Outlaws Discredited Practice of LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

Africa: Gay Sex Is Legal in Botswana, Affirms Appeals Court

Ukraine: Thousands March for LGBTQ Rights

Germany: Two Transgender Women Win Seats in Parliament

Netherlands: 20 Year Anniversary of First Same-Sex Marriage

Bavaria: Duke François Comes Out as Gay at 87

Switzerland: Approves Same-Sex Marriage In Nationwide Referendum

Japan: Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Ban is Unconstitutional

England: Veteran LGBTQ Humanist Activist George Broadhead Dies
Hungary: Proposes Ban on Material Promoting LGBTQ Activity Among Youth

Scottland: Politician Says Same-Sex Marriage is the Cause of COVID 19

Ghana: Politicians Move to Ban All LGBTQ Advocacy
Ireland: Incredible Transformation Into an LGBTQ Haven

Greece: Appoints First Out Gay Cabinet Minister

Germany: Making it Easier for Lesbian Couples to Co-Parent

Hungary: Ramps Up Assault on LGBTQ Community and Bans LGBTQ Rights

Marriage Equality Worldwide

2001 Netherlands
2003 Belgium
2005 Spain
2005 Canada
2006 South Africa
2009 Sweden
2009 Norway
2010 Argentina
2010 Iceland
2010 Portugal

2012 Denmark
2013 Brazil
2013 France
2013 New Zealand

2013 Uruguay

2014 Scotland

2014 United Kingdom
2015 Ireland
2015 Luxembourg
2015 United States
2016 Greenland
2016 Colombia
2017 Finland
2017 Malta
2017 Germany
2017 Australia
2019 Austria
2019 Taiwan

2019 Ecuador

2020 North Ireland

2020 Costa Rica

2021 Switzerland

Marriage Equality Worldwide

Top Most Homophobic European Countries

London Pride: Still Important

Je Suis Lesbienne

Casamento na Praia: Brazilian Same Sex Wedding

Best and Worst European Countries for LGBTQ Rights

Senator David Norris: The Man Who Overturned Ireland’s Homosexuality Ban

Sitges, Spain: Gay Capitol of Europe

Luxembourg's Openly Gay Prime Minister and His Partner

First Gay Couple Married in Germany

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Top Most LGBTQ Affirming European Countries

UN Steps Up Efforts Against Anti-LGBTQ Violence and Discrimination

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Colombia's First Woman and Lesbian Mayor Marries Girlfriend

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Under the Skin: Short Spanish Language Trans Film

Jeremie: La Relation Entre Raph et Alexia

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Australian Parliament Approves Marriage Equality

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Famous LGBTQ People From Spain

Pedro Almodovar - Film Director, Screenwriter
Gretel Ammann - Philosopher, Activist, Writer
Marta Balletbo-Coll - Actor, Director

Jose Villarrubia - Artist

Robert Fernandez Canuto - Film Director, Screenwriter

Nath Sakura - Photographer

Cristobal Balenciaga - Fashion Designer
Isabel Pantoja - Singer
Pio del Rio Hortega - Scientist
Juan Suarez Botas - Illustrator

Carla Antonelli - Spain’s first openly transgender Senator

Angela Ponce Camacho - Trans Model, Miss Spain

European Gay Slang Dictionaries

Spanish Gay Slang Dictionary
German Gay Slang Dictionary
French Gay Slang Dictionary
Italian Gay Slang Dictionary
Portuguese Gay Slang Dictionary
Greek Gay Slang Dictionary
Danish Gay Slang Dictionary
Dutch Gay Slang Dictionary
Swedish Gay Slang Dictionary
British Gay Slang Dictionary

World LGBTQ News

Greece: Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage in First for an Orthodox Christian Nation

Congo: Government Cautions Media Not to Promote LGBTQ-Specific Content

Latvia: Edgars Rinkevics is EU's First Openly Gay President

Uganda: President Signs Deadly Anti-Homosexuality Bill into Law

Denmark: Princess Mary Calls for LGBTQ Equality at Copenhagen WorldPride

Spain: Passes Law Allowing Trans People to Self-Identify From Age 16

Slovenia: First Eastern European Country to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage

Russian: Post-Invasion Plan to Kill Ukrainian LGBTQ Citizens

Italy: Mussolini's Granddaughter Speaks Out for LGBTQ Rights

Poland: Some Regions End LGBTQ-Free Zones
Brazil: President Bolsonaro Say We Have to Stop Being a Country of Fags

England: Maureen Duffy is Britain's First Out Woman in Public Life

Poland: Elects Harsh Anti-LGBTQ President

Poland: Pro-LGBTQ Protest at President's Inauguration

France: First Transgender Mayor Elected

Poland: Won't Let EU Force It Into Legalizing Same Sex Marriage

Netherlands: Plans to Remove Gender From ID Cards Entirely

Germany: Approves Ban on Conversion Therapy

Russia: New Survey Shows 1 in 5 Russians Want to Eliminate LGBTQ Community

Germany: Ban on Ex-Gay Therapy

Russia: Putin Vows to Never Allow Same-Sex Marriage in Russia

Rainbow Europe Index

Which European countries have the best and worst LGBTQ rights? Countries across Europe need to do more to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, according to a new index, which says law and policy advances have slowed down across the region.

The Rainbow Europe Index, released in May 2018 by advocacy group ILGA-Europe, ranks 49 countries in the region on their LGBTQ equality laws and policies, giving them a score between 0% (gross violations of human rights, discrimination) and 100% (respect for human rights, full equality).

Azerbaijan fared the worst in this year’s ranking, scoring less than 5% on criteria measuring policies in areas including equality and non-discrimination, legal gender recognition, hate crime and civil society space. ILGA-Europe cited police raids against LGBTQ people and offensive public statements by politicians among the major issues in the country.

Armenia, Turkey and Monaco were also among the poorest performers on the index.

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In the European Union, Latvia was the lowest scoring country, with a mark of around 16%, followed by Poland (18%) and Lithuania (21%).

Meanwhile, Malta topped the board for LGBTQ rights, scoring more than 91% with positive steps over the past year, including the legalization of same-sex marriage in July. Belgium, Norway, the UK and Finland also received high scores for progressive LGBTQ laws and policies.

However, ILGA-Europe noted that only 16 of the 49 countries assessed scored above 50%, with several countries historically seen as “equality trailblazers” failing to make any major advances in the past year.

[Source: Alice Cuddy, Euro News]

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LGBTQ Community in Nordic/Scandinavian Countries

Denmark was the first country in the world to recognize same-sex partnerships back in 1989, and the Scandinavian country officially legalized same-sex marriage in 2012. Gallup ranked Denmark among the “Top Places for Gay People to Live” in the world, and Copenhagen, its capital, was listed among the top cities for ex-pats.

Iceland, which legalized same-sex marriage back in 2010, was recently ranked as the happiest country for gay men. The Nordic island nation was also the first country in the world with an openly gay head of government, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, who served as prime minister from 2009-2013.

The Netherlands is considered the most gay-friendly country in the world, according to Gallup, and it was also the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2000. Amsterdam, its capital, is a popular destination for LGBTQ tourists and was ranked among the best cities in the world for expats.

Norway legalized same-sex marriage in 2009, became the first country to enact anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation in 1981 and is ranked no. 6 on HSBC's best countries for expats. LGBTQ culture is also very visible in the Scandinavian country -- Pride in Oslo is one of Norway's largest events, and the city is also home to one of the world's best gay choirs.

Sweden comes in at no. 8 on both Gallup's list of "Top Places for Gay People to Live" and HSBC's list of best countries for expats. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Scandinavian country since 2009, and anti-LGBTQ discrimination has been banned since the 80s.

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Kim Petras - Pop Music Singer, Songwriter, World's youngest transsexual

Susanne Baer - Legal Scholar
Erica Brausen - Art Dealer
Manfred Bruns - Civil Rights Activist
Wolfgang Busch - Filmmaker
Dirk Dirksen - Music Promoter
Prince Egon von Furstenberg - Banker, Aristocrat
Wilhelm von Gloeden - Photographer
Alfred Hirsch - Athlete, Teacher, Zionist Activist
Ilse Kokula - Educator, Author, Activist

Dora Richter - First known person to undergo gender reassignment surgery

Rudolph Moshammer - Fashion Designer
Michael Mronz - Sports/Events Manager
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau - Film Director
Ulrike Ottinger - Photographer, Filmmaker
Eva Rieger - Musicologist
Alice Schwarzer - Journalist
Wieland Speck - Film Director
Jorn Weisbrodt - Art Administrator
Felice Schragenheim - World War II Jewish Resistance Fighter
Lilly Wust - World War II Soldier, Activist

Germany Supports Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex Citizens

Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, has approved legislation that will make it easier for transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to officially change their name and gender.

The reforms, which will take effect in November 2024, will allow individuals who want to legally change their gender to do so by a simple procedure at government registry offices. It will replace the current "transsexual law," which dates back to the 1980s, and required two assessments from two experts, followed by a court decision. Advocates for the LGBTQ community have called the process onerous and humiliating.

"For over 40 years, the 'transsexual law' has caused a lot of suffering... and only because people want to be recognized as they are,“ Sven Lehmann, the government's commissioner for queer issues, told lawmakers. "And today, we are finally putting an end to this."

The new rules will also allow minors above the age of 14 to change their legal name and gender with their parents' permission. Teens without the consent of their parents may ask a family court to overrule them.

But not all lawmakers are on board with the changes. The law passed with 374 votes in favor to 251 against, and 11 abstentions. The conservative opposition has criticized the legislation for what it described as a lack of safeguards against abuse for young people.

[Source: DW Germany, Berlin, April 2024]

World LGBTQ News

Poland: How LGBTQ Youth are Changing the Country’s Conservative Culture

Greece: Homophobic Homeowner Refuses to Help Gay Family Fleeing Wildfire

Russia: Putin Signs Legislation Outlawing Gender-Affirming Procedures

Turkey: Thousands Protest Victor Orban’s Bigotry at Budapest Pride

Italy: Over 40% of LGBTQ Workers Say Careers Have Been Hit by Discrimination

England: Trans People Protest Against UK Government Blocking Scottish Gender Bill

France: Outlaws Discredited Practice of LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

Africa: Gay Sex Is Legal in Botswana, Affirms Appeals Court

Ukraine: Thousands March for LGBTQ Rights

Germany: Two Transgender Women Win Seats in Parliament

Netherlands: 20 Year Anniversary of First Same-Sex Marriage

Bavaria: Duke François Comes Out as Gay at 87

Switzerland: Approves Same-Sex Marriage In Nationwide Referendum

Japan: Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Ban is Unconstitutional

England: Veteran LGBTQ Humanist Activist George Broadhead Dies
Hungary: Proposes Ban on Material Promoting LGBTQ Activity Among Youth

Scottland: Politician Says Same-Sex Marriage is the Cause of COVID 19

Ghana: Politicians Move to Ban All LGBTQ Advocacy
Ireland: Incredible Transformation Into an LGBTQ Haven

Greece: Appoints First Out Gay Cabinet Minister

Germany: Making it Easier for Lesbian Couples to Co-Parent

Hungary: Ramps Up Assault on LGBTQ Community and Bans LGBTQ Rights

LGBTQ Community in Eastern Europe

I have been tracking and reporting on anti-gay tendencies occurring across Europe with a growing frequency. One week I am reporting on a referendum in Slovakia, where conservative groups, backed by the Catholic Church, attempt to put further restrictions on marriage equality. The next week there are massive protests in Slovenia, where the marriage equality law was just past, with thousands threatening to launch contra-referendum to overrule the new legislation. Growing up in the Czech Republic, a post-communist country in the heart of Europe, I have never experienced open hostility towards the LGBTQ community. During the Communist time, the state was too busy with political repression to concern itself with policing sexual orientation. While today, public awareness, media attention, and legal improvements are a showing a steady increase. This has often to do more with curiosity than actual sympathy. However, the LGBTQ community in the Czech Republic has progressed far better than many of its western counterparts. Sometimes, we believe that the way we grow up and the experiences we have encountered must be the standard for everybody else. I thought of Eastern Europe as very liberal and forthcoming in regards to the LGBTQ rights. I could not have been more wrong. More than 16 countries in Europe and Eurasia introduced anti-gay laws, or restricted marriage to solely between woman and man in the past five years, making my experiences from the Czech Republic the exception.

[Source: Michael Krejcova, GLAAD]

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LGBTQ Situation in Russia

It has been well-documented that discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer persons (including by the government and its agents) is widespread and severe in Russia. LGBTQ persons in Russia experience discrimination in many different aspects of their life, ranging from housing to healthcare and from their relationships and to their employment. Discrimination occurs when LGBTQ persons are treated unfavorably due to their sexual orientation or their gender identity and where they are treated the same as others, but experience an adverse impact due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Discrimination can take many different forms, from not being offered a promotion at work to being evicted or from harassment at school to (most troubling of all) physical assault resulting in serious injury or death.

Both domestic and international human rights organizations report high levels of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ persons in Russia. In 2015, the Russian LGBTQ Network surveyed 1,346 LGBTQ persons regarding their experience of discrimination and violence over a period of 12 months. The survey found that 17% of respondents had experienced physical violence, and 32% had experienced discrimination in the workplace and workplace harassment. Nine percent of respondents had faced restricted access to goods and services, and eight percent had experienced restricted access to health care.

[Source: Equal Rights Trust]

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