Stories about LGBTQ+
A report about the lives of imprisoned LGBTQ+ people in Brazil raises the alarm
" ... [I]n prisons, LGBTQ+ people are overloaded with crimes: in addition to the crime committed, they also pay for the social and symbolic crime of their sexuality and gender identity."
In Moldova, asylum was denied to five representatives of the LGBTQ+ community from Russia
In all five responses published this week, Moldovan imigration agency claims that 'some individuals have certain obligations to protect their country, and their avoidance of military service in Russia does not pose a risk of persecution.'
Fleeing home as a queer Ukrainian
After her own escape from Kherson just before Russian occupation, the LGBTQ+ activist coordinated with international volunteers and raised funds to help others evacuate from the city.
In the shadows of self-censorship: The impact of the Cyber Security Act on Bangladesh’s LGBTQ+ movement
Several sections of the newly enacted Cyber Security Act (CSA) restrict the advocacy and movement for LGBTQ+ rights, criminalising published contents highlighting injustices faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Bangladesh.
Between four walls: The suppressed voices of peace in Azerbaijan
It’s a landscape where the very act of speaking out often comes at a steep cost, both in terms of personal sacrifice and the relentless pressure they face.
Georgia embarks on a journey toward EU membership
The December 14 decision comes amid a growing rift between Georgia's ruling government and Western allies, as well as the local civil society groups that insist the government has failed to fulfill 12 priority conditions.
Russian LGBTQ+ asylum seeker dies outside Dutch refugee camp
LGBTQ+ support NGO: 'Deaths in refugee camps, especially among the LGBTQ+ community, are becoming a troubling trend. This is no longer just an incident but a cry for help.'
Police immediately raids LGBTQ+ clubs in Moscow after Russia bans ‘International LGBTQ+ movement’
LGBTQ+ people in Russia say that they are afraid that anyone identifying as LGBTQ+ could now be announced as "extremist" and criminally punished.
Exiled Iranian crown prince awarded US LGBTQ+ award for speaking up for Iran's queer community
The Iranian LGBTQ+ community is kept invisible by the Iranian opposition, but a US LGBTQ+ award to exile Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi seems to signify changes in attitudes.
Australian journalist pushes back against anti-LGBTQ+ trolls
"I don't want people to feel like I'm not their broadcaster. But equally if I'm not my authentic self, I can't do my job well."
Tatar language activist who identifies as queer: ‘Under the influence of the modern Russian state, Central Asian politicians are trying to implement similar anti-gay policies’
Interview with Tatar queer language activist Marsel Ganeyev, whose aim is to „help minorities reconnect to their roots or overcome the emotional trauma"
Undoing colonialism in gender diversity discourse in the Philippines
Colonized by Spain, the US, and Japan, the Philippines has a long history of discourses imposed on its own traditions, including the ones related to gender identity and fluidity.
The 11th Gay Games are happening in Hong Kong and very much watched
The games' attendees must agree to be filmed by police or security staff “for the purpose of ensuring public security at the Event and preventing crime.”
In Georgia, backsliding has taken over culture and art, says a new report
Those who spoke to PEN American said the repression reminded them of the Soviet occupation, "during which all art and culture was systematically repressed or exploited for government propaganda purposes."
In Azerbaijan, public transportation does not welcome trans passengers
Public transportation become a place where transphobic stares, harassment and threats of violence are rampant.
In Taiwan, Asia's largest Gay Pride event celebrates gender and sexual diversity
Here is a photo-essay showcasing Taiwan's 21st Gay Pride event in Taipei, also known as Asia's largest visibility event for the LGBTQ+ community, with about 170,000 participants this year.
Without official data about trans population in Brazil, civil initiatives try to translate reality
Non-governmental organizations and entities have been the source of data that help visualize what the population of trans people and travestis experience in Brazil, amid the absence of official surveys.
A deep dive into Taiwan's drag scene ahead of Pride 2023
As Taiwan is holding East Asia's largest LGBTQ+ Pride event in late October, local drag shows are experiencing something of a come-back in the island's art scene.
Landmark decision: Supreme Court of India rejects same-sex marriage
On October 17, 2023, a five judge bench of the Supreme Court of India has ruled against legalizing same-sex marriage in a unanimous verdict. This judgment has sparked concerns among LGBTQ+ activists.
Undertones: Transwomen in Pakistan reclaim their ancestral heritage
While Western far-right narratives take root in Pakistan, the queer community endeavors to remind citizens that they have always been there
Brazil: Communicators and activists from marginalized communities discuss online harassment and how they protect themselves
More than half of the journalists, communicators and influencers surveyed said they had received threats or been intimidated online, while 46 percent reported that they had already suffered hacking attempts on social media profiles