Stories about LGBTQ+ from April, 2008
Czech Republic: Opinion Polls
Dr. Sean's Diary writes about a poll on who the Czechs’ “least favoured [groups] of potential neighbours” are.
Bahrain: MPs call to deport homosexuals
Out of the closet and out of the country? Ayesha Saldanha brings us blogger reactions on how Bahraini MPs are pushing for a new law to clampdown on homosexuality among locals and throw out expatriate gays and lesbians from the country.
Poland: Tolerance March
The beatroot writes about this year's Tolerance March in Krakow.
Armenia: Homophobic Politics
Unzipped: Gay Armenia expresses its concern with recent reports in the radical opposition Chorrord Ishkhanutyun newspaper implying that the newly appointed prime minister, Tigran Sargsyan, is homosexual. Although offering no proof that such speculation is true, the paper linked to former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, appears to be hoping to exploit...
Uganda: Government refuses passport to transgender woman
A post by Gay in Uganda last week reveals the discrimination the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) population faces when applying for travel documents.
AIDS – A Taboo in the Arab World
AIDS, the deadly acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is a taboo word in the Arab world. But the scary word has managed to crop up in many blog posts this week - from Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Bahrain and Yemen.
Armenia: Homophobic Values
Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on the recent suicide of a 22-year-old ethnic Armenian living in the United States. According to the blog, the young man killed himself after being forced into marriage by his family who were ashamed of his homosexuality. The blog says that the story represents the homophobic...
Jamaica, China: Carrying the Torch
“For many Chinese nationals, this Olympics is an event about hope–hope that China will become a better country not just economically, but as a nation progressing in all ways”: Blogging from Jamaica, ComPromise explains why she would “proudly carry the Olympic torch.”
Jordan: Coming out of the closet
Jordanian 7aki Fadi discusses what coming out of the closet means to gays and lesbians in the Middle East.
Jamaica: Red Stripe Pulls Support
Jamaican beer Red Stripe has ceased sponsorship of one of island's biggest musical events, Reggae Sumfest, “which it describes as facilitators of ‘violent and anti-social’ lyrics”. Stunner's Afflictions says: “I applaud Red Stripe for this bold move in an attempt to stem the…violent behavior being projected by some of these...
Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Canada: iTunes Boycott
“In another blow to the controversial dancehall music industry, iTunes Canada has pulled several songs from major Jamaican dancehall singers…which contain lyrics glorifying violence against gays”: Caribbean Beat Blog says that the Jamaican government appears unfazed.
Jamaica, Canada: Homosexual Boycott?
“I do not want any public campaign telling the children of Jamaica that homosexuality is alright…I don't want to see two men kissing in public, nor two women joining hands in marriage…” Stunner's Afflictions puts in his two cents’ worth on news that a leading human rights organisation in Canada...
Japan: Family registry system and same-sax couples
Blogger Maruyama Teruno discusses the gay-unfriendly nature of the Japanese family registry system, referred to as koseki, and argues that the system lacks consideration for the privacy of individuals. Even if partnership law was implemented but the current family registry system remained the same, it could potentially violate the privacy...
Japan: 7th Tokyo Pride Parade announced
7th Tokyo Pride Parade (TTP7th) has been announced and the official blog [jp]has been launched. Scheduled for August 9, the theme for this year's TPP is “matsuri”, or festival in Japanese.
Armenia: Young, Gay & Depressed
The Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York (AGLA) responds to an email from a LGBT person in Armenia requesting information on immigration and asylum procedures in the U.S. The blog responds, but also offers its assistance in helping LGBT people in Armenia find others in order to feel...
Australian blogger now a celebrity in the Philippines
The blog of Australian Brian Gorrell is among the most popular blogs in the Philippines today. Even mainstream media is interested in Gorrell’s blog.
