· May, 2011

Stories about LGBTQ+ from May, 2011

Russia: Moscow Pride 2011

This year's Moscow Gay Pride event ended in clashes almost as soon as it began, at least 18 gay rights activists and 14 of their opponents are reported to have been arrested, and a journalist who had blogged about her reasons for attending the rally ended hospitalized with a concussion.

Trinidad & Tobago: Gay Rights

  24 May 2011

gspottt thinks that “it’s impressive that the Ministry is interested in attitudes to homosexuality; and notable that the poll [about equal rights for homosexuals] was commissioned by the last government”, but maintains that “it’s a matter of how you ask the question.” Photos and video of Trinidad and Tobago's first...

Guyana: Caribbean Law

  19 May 2011

Signifyin’ Guyana interviews regional legal expert Abiola Inniss about her new book and possible “solutions to some of the major issues which plague Caribbean law today.”

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Eurovision Diplomacy?

Global Voices’ Caucasus Editor rounds up opinion to the possibility that winning this year's Eurovision Song Contest could contribute to change in Azerbaijan. The post looks at the situation in terms of LGBT and political rights, in addition to the ongoing conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno...

Bermuda: Gay Rights = Human Rights

  18 May 2011

Wishful Thinking says that “discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation” is a human rights issue and asks compatriots to “send a message that we've waited long enough and leave no doubt in the minds of our parliamentarians that we expect action now.”

Cambodia: Blog to promote LGBT welfare

  17 May 2011

Cambodia LGBT Pride! is a blog established by volunteers who “work together with NGOs and local businesses to reduce discrimination based on sexuality and co-ordinate events to help nurture and strengthen the LGBT community in Cambodia.”

Lebanon: Against Homophobia

LebIDAHO is a new initiative by seven Lebanese LGBT bloggers in preparation for Lebanon’s International Day Against Homophobia. It calls on its readers to write about their personal experiences regarding homophobia.

Azerbaijan: Eurovision Pride

Scary Azeri comments on her country's success in this year's Eurovision Song Contest by saying that she doesn't understand how ecstatic many of her fellow Azerbaijanis are about their victory. In particular the blog notes the high level of poverty in the country while also wondering if Eurovision fans from...

South Africa: Homophobia Hurts

  14 May 2011

Free Gender is a black lesbian organisation based in Khayelitsha township of Cape Town, South Africa: “As human rights defenders, we are also gender friendly towards transgender and intersex persons in our community. The organisation was founded in 2008 and have since participated in various protests/ political meetings/ guest talks...

Uganda: Police Paint Protesters Pink

  13 May 2011

Ugandan police have responded to the past month's ongoing Walk to Work protests by spraying protesters with tear gas and live bullets. During a demonstration on Tuesday, they took a different tack, firing water cannons filled with pink liquid at demonstrators who were attempting to walk to Constitution Square in the center of Kampala.

South Africa: Corrective Rape Claims Another Victim

  10 May 2011

The unending cases of "corrective rape" that have plagued South Africa at alarming levels are still on the rise. Corrective rape is a criminal practice, whereby men rape lesbian women, purportedly as a means of “curing” the woman of her sexual orientation. The latest victim is a twenty-four year old soccer player from Johannesburg who was stabbed to death minutes after dropping off her girlfriend.

Cuba: Activities Against Homophobia

  9 May 2011

Blogger and journalist Francisco Rodríguez Cruz discusses [es] the history of, and his participation in, the Cuban Symposium against Homophobia [es], which celebrates it fourth edition this May with events all over the island.

Georgia: Human rights precedent in the Caucasus

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that the first case against homophobia displayed by police in dealing with a LGBT activist in Georgia has been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights. Also the first such case from the Caucasus, the blog notes the important precedent it represents.