J. Lester Feder
Ugandan President Denounces Anti-Homosexuality Bill — But Stops Short Of Blocking It — In Letter To Parliament
"Homosexuality and lesbianism, if not mercenary or out of social frustration (for sexually starved women) is an abnormality and must be treated as such," writes Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in a seven-page letter denouncing the "Anti-Homosexuality Bill." If Museveni does not block the bill, which would send it back to Parliament, the bill will become law.
J. Lester Feder
Report: Uganda President Rejects "Anti-Homosexuality Bill"
“How can Parliament be the one to break the Constitution and the Law repeatedly?” Museveni wrote, according to The Daily Monitor.
J. Lester Feder
Former Mozambique President Calls For LGBT Equality in Africa
"We can no longer afford to discriminate against people on the basis of age, sex, ethnicity, migrant status, sexual orientation and gender identity, or any other basis — we need to unleash the full potential of everyone," Joaquim Chissano wrote in an open letter to African leaders.
J. Lester Feder
Russian Orthodox Church Spokesman Endorses Referendum To Recriminalize Homosexuality
"I'm certain that such sexual contacts must be entirely excluded from the life of our society ... If we need to involve the law then let's ask the people if they're ready for this," a priest who acts as the church's spokesman said on Friday.
J. Lester Feder
Russian Actor Who Called For Burning Gays Alive Calls For Recriminalization Of Homosexuality
Ivan Okhlobystin makes the call in an open letter on Twitlonger to President Vladimir Putin. Updated: Twitlonger's founder responds and deletes the letter.
J. Lester Feder
Amsterdam Venue Cancels Concert By Jamaican Dancehall Star Over Anti-Gay Remarks
"As a result of some very hurtful anti-gay statements reggae artist Sizzla made during a recent performance, Melkweg decided to cancel [his] concert," the popular Dutch nightclub announced on its website.
J. Lester Feder
Change.org Deletes Indian Petition To Reject Gays' "Repulsive And Extremely Abnormal Lifestyle"
"If we [legitimize homosexuality], we will be forced to legitimize pedophilia, bestiality and a host of other horrendous practices which will completely destroy our nation," said the petition removed by Change.org Monday for violating rules against hate speech. But similar petitions have been active on the platform for months. Updated: Change.org has removed further anti-gay petitions
J. Lester Feder
LGBT Groups Ask Apple To Cut Ties With Russian Retailer After Creative Director Advocates Burning Gay People Alive
"We urge you to reconsider your business dealings with Euroset ... set Apple as an example of a corporate citizen who supports basic human rights," the groups wrote in a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
J. Lester Feder
Jamaican Dancehall Star Sizzla Banned From Music Festival For Anti-Gay Lyrics
"Them say, 'Sizzla, you sing too much anti-gay lyrics.' ... Burn out the lesbian, burn out the gays with the lyrics," Sizzla sang during a concert broadcast to millions worldwide.
J. Lester Feder
Massachusetts Anti-Gay Activist Tells Jamaica To Preserve Law Banning Sodomy
"They say [repealing] it is about freedom and tolerance and anti-violence... but it's ultimately about tyranny and an increase in diseases and the loss of your freedoms," MassResistance's Brian Camenker said at an event in Kingston.
J. Lester Feder
U.S. Must Do More To Prevent Ugandan Anti-Gay Law, Activists Say
Activists raised the issue during a meeting with U.S. diplomats in Kampala on Monday. "The U.S. Embassy or the British, I think diplomatic missions here are still taking a quiet stand, which I don't appreciate. I think they should be more vocal," said a leading Ugandan activist.
J. Lester Feder
Was 2013 A Good Year For LGBT Rights?
"Australia, India, Uganda, Russia, and now [Nigeria] — great year in the U.S., but globally? Turning out to be one of the worst," summed up one international LGBT issues expert.
J. Lester Feder
Indian Government Says It Will Appeal Sodomy Ruling
The original ruling "violated the principle of equality," the government said in its filing asking the Supreme Court to reconsider.
J. Lester Feder
Nigerian Law Outlawing LGBT Advocacy And Criminalizing Same-Sex Marriage Clears Final Test In Senate
If President Goodluck Jonathan signs the bill into law, Nigeria would have the world's broadest law cracking down on LGBT rights.
J. Lester Feder
The Netherlands Passes Landmark Gender Identity Law
Transgender people in the Netherlands will no longer be required to be sterilized or undergo surgery in order to change their gender identity on official documents.
J. Lester Feder
Why Some LGBT Youths In Jamaica Are Forced To Call A Sewer Home
Young LGBT Jamaicans are chased out of their communities by family and neighbors using vigilante justice to enforce the country’s laws against homosexual conduct. Now police are trying to push them out of their shelter of last resort.
J. Lester Feder
Arrest And Punish Partners Of Gay U.S. Diplomats, Says India's Ex-Foreign Minister
"Put them behind bars, prosecute them in this country and punish them,” said Yashwant Sinha, in response to a growing scandal between India and the U.S.
J. Lester Feder
India Supreme Court Upholds Sodomy Law
The top court in the world's second-largest nation says it's up to parliament to decide on undoing the law criminalizing same-sex intercourse. This is "a major setback to LGBT rights," says the legal group that brought the case. Updated with details from the written judgement.
J. Lester Feder
For LGBT Donors, Russia Is The New Marriage
Can the strategies that turned the U.S. LGBT movement into a money machine work when the fight goes abroad? Melissa Etheridge headlined a celebrity fundraiser for a new coalition that hopes to make that true.
J. Lester Feder
U.S., U.K. Activists Urge Jamaicans To Keep Same-Sex Intercourse Illegal
"Do not be like us, do not be like Britain, do not sit idly by as so-called 'LGBT activists' manipulate words and laws to achieve dominance in your country," Peter LaBarbera, founder of Americans for the Truth About Homosexuality, told a conference of Christian conservatives in the Caribbean country this weekend.
J. Lester Feder
