Category Archives: Global

Dec 19 3 comments
Global, LGBT

UN statement on gay rights: Why the U.S. didn’t sign

Yesterday, a statement on the decriminalization of homosexuality and protection of LGBT human rights was presented to the United Nations. The statement called on countries to protect LGBT from discrimination in hiring and housing, as well as a most important call to repeal laws the criminalized homosexuality or put a death penalty on it.

Among the Western nations that didn’t sign it, one name sticks out: The United States of America.

A report from The AP by writer David Crary tells us why:

According to some of the declaration’s backers, U.S. officials expressed concern in private talks that some parts of the declaration might be problematic in committing the federal government on matters that fall under state jurisdiction. In numerous states, landlords and private employers are allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; on the federal level, gays are not allowed to serve openly in the military.

Oh, so it was a technicality. That makes me feel much better. On a day chock full of political B.S. — from Obama’s pick of Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation to the news there’d be no openly gay cabinet posts — this story only adds to the frustration.

Get the whole story »

Dec 12 0 comments
Global, Media, Religion

As if he’s in any position to judge…

From Reuters:

SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Pop star Madonna’s antics are lustful, a stain on humanity and offensive to God, a retired Roman Catholic cardinal said Wednesday during a mass for the late Chilean military dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

Madonna performed in Santiago on the Latin American leg of her Sticky and Sweet Tour to promote her album “Hard Candy.”

“The atmosphere in our city is pretty agitated because this woman is visiting and with incredibly shameful behavior provokes a wild and lustful enthusiasm,” Cardinal Jorge Medina told the congregation.

“Thoughts of lust, impure thoughts, impure acts, are an offense to God and a dirty stain on our heart,” Medina said in his homily marking the second anniversary of Pinochet’s death.

The conservative prelate is reviled by some Chileans for his close ties to Pinochet, who died in 2006 without facing trial for the fate of 3,000 people who died or disappeared during his 1973-1990 rule.

(Writing by Simon Gardner, Editing by Anthony Boadle)

Oookay.

Dec 12 0 comments
Global

Why the free world hates Russia

Is Russia ever going to join us in the present? Or will they continue to live in their Soviet past?

This is why Russia is despised in the free, democratic world:

The Mayor of Moscow has used a Eurovision Song Contest ceremony to warn gay people visiting the city for the event next year that they are not welcome on the streets. Yuri Luzhkov was receiving a set of symbolic keys from the Mayor of Belgrade, Dragan Dilas, in recognition of Russia’s success at this year’s Eurovision in Serbia. The winning country usually hosts the contest the following year.

Speaking at a press conference after the ceremony the Mayor, who has banned every gay rights march in Moscow since 2005, gave some advice to gay people coming to the city for Eurovision: “Entertain yourself, no problem, but not on the streets, squares, marches and demonstrations. We never introduced any limitations in their respect except public actions. We do not allow gay parades.”

Dec 09 0 comments
Global, LGBT, United States

In bed with terrorists

France’s UN declaration on the universal decriminalization of homosexuality is being considered this week. If passed, the resolution would call on all nations of the world to stop penalizing homosexuality, which is illegal in 86 countries. In at least seven of those, death is the sentence.

According to Peter Tatchell, it is going to be presented tomorrow, on the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights.

In the meantime, the Vatican and the Organization of Islamic States are teaming up to lead the fight against the resolution. While the Holy See teams up with Islamic fundamentalists (many of whom have supported muderous terrorists), the U.S. sits idly by while watching the rest of the civilized world speed past them on a path to recognizing the right to human dignity and life, regardless of sexual orientation.

Get the whole story »

Aug 05 1 comments
Global, Health, LGBT, Sexuality

Putting the transgenie back…

While most Americans, and even gay folks in the U.S., have no idea what it means to be transgender, Thailand has not only known its meaning, but for ages allowed gender reassignment surgeries and castrations for men of any age.

Bloomberg reports that will be changing. New rules from national health officials will prohibit castrations for boys under the age of 18. Gay rights activists were at the forefront of the push for a change:

Paiboon Marvin started wearing dresses and makeup before he became a teenager. Now 16, he wants to be castrated as the next step toward becoming a woman.

Until recently, that wouldn’t have been a problem: Boys of any age in Thailand could have their testicles removed for as little as 5,000 Baht ($150) with no questions asked. Now Paiboon may have to wait two years because the procedure will be outlawed for those under 18, after pressure from gay rights activists who say youngsters may follow a trend and regret it later.

But, perhaps, putting the genie back in the bottle will prove difficult:

Even so, some doctors in Thailand are unhappy with the proposed age rule.

Boys should be allowed to “express their feeling,” says Thep Vechavisit, 55, who has castrated patients as young as 17 with parental consent and is preparing a lawsuit to challenge the new guidelines.

“They’re in a very stressful situation, psychologically and socially,” says Thep, who charges 5,000 baht for a castration at his Pratunam Polyclinic in central Bangkok.

Paiboon, who first had to overcome opposition from his mother, can’t wait. He’s turned to the Internet to find a surgeon prepared to operate in secret.

“It’s my own money, my own body,” he says. “It’s nobody else’s business.”

Aug 04 1 comments
Global, LGBT

Queer… it’s just so queer

Originally posted at OutCarolinas.com

Why is Queer so…queer?
by Amanda Harris | OutCarolinas.com Contributor

Queer. What is it? Really? I can hardly think of a week that passes where I don’t explain Queer identity to somebody, and yet I am finding new ways to think of it now as I embark on a summer-long Queer research project in Prague, Czech Republic. You see, the Czechs have no word for Queer. If they use it, they just say it in English-mostly in the context of Queer studies or some other academic usage. But there is no Czech word for it. Why is this? What is it about the identity of Queer that makes it seemingly nontransferable in Eastern Europe? What is it about the Queer identity that still makes it confusing in America and elsewhere in the West? Why is Queer so… queer?

Let us first start by getting over the mental block that many have already put up after reading the first word of this piece. Queer… isn’t that derogatory? Or, “I don’t want to be called that, it’s ugly”… “it has been used in degrading ways in my past and present, and I want nothing to do with it.” So on and so on. I have heard countless reasons why Queers should forget Queer identity and stick with something more practical that everybody can understand. “Can’t you just call yourself a bisexual, Amanda?”

‘Fraid not. Because I am not. What many seem not to understand is that those who self-identify as Queer have often put much thought into claiming a Queer identity.

Click here to read the rest at OutCarolinas.com

Feb 05 3 comments
Anti-LGBT, Global, LGBT, Politics, Sexuality

Why anyone believes the ignorance, I don’t know

I caught a commentary written at a conservative Canadian site:

But the real reason I bring up this story is to point out the grossly homosexualised hypocrisy and blatant propaganda seems to be endemic in so much of the mainstream media coverage of cases of sexual assault or abuse. Take a look at the following headlines.

Scout Leader Accused of Abuse – The New York Times

Female coach jailed in sex case – Calgary Herald

Sexual exploitation draws 18 months; Teacher had affair with 14-year-old girl – Edmonton Journal

Canadian sought for Thai sex crimes; Man born and raised in region allegedly abused kidnapped boy – The Kitchener Record

Abused – by a trusted teacher – Montreal Gazette

Former P.E.I. girl’s soccer coach convicted of sexually exploiting player – Canadian Press

Judgment day for soccer coach – The Halifax Daily News

Verdict near in soccer sex trial – Calgary Herald

Man avoids jail after trading for sex with teen; Cadet leader offered boy, 15, computer – Calgary Herald

Every single one of the headlines I just mentioned is about a case of homosexual sexual abuse. Yet where do you see the word “gay” or “lesbian” in the title. Even in the three titles that reveal that the case is same-sex in nature (in each case, in the 2nd half of the title, or what might appear as the sub-title in the hardcopy version of the paper), they do not use the word “lesbian” or “gay.”

It appears to be an unwritten – or maybe it is written somewhere – code among Canada’s homosexualised mainstream media, that they must do whatever is in their power to do to protect the image and reputation of homosexuals. Therefore, one has to avoid any kind of link at all between a homosexual sex abuser and his “sexual orientation.”

Ignorance. Pure and simple. I guess he hasn’t stopped to think that when we report male-on-female rape, abuse or sexual assault we don’t label it as a “heterosexual crime” either.

Ignorance. Pure and simple. Really… people believe this… yeah, they really do.

Nov 30 0 comments
Global

Going Global

Tomorrow is World AIDS Day and I know it is easy for me to think of AIDS Walk, Magic Johnson, or even an aquaintence from USC that I knew who was HIV+. But just as we in America have come to understand that HIV/AIDS affects more than just gay men, I’m also learning to remember that HIV/AIDS affects more then just Americans. I might rarely see their faces, but 22.5 million people in Africa are living with the disease.

Take a look at what The Global Fund is doing to change that:

Hopefully you can be inspi(red) to make a difference.

Oct 15 1 comments
Anti-LGBT, Global, LGBT, Politics, United States

Maybe they should get a Bill of Rights?

There are some interesting civil rights situations happening across the pond.

In England a debate has erupted over a “hate speech” law that was recently expanded to include prohibitions against inciting violence against others, based on sexual orientation or gender-identity. The law has been around for centuries, originally including prohibitions against inciting religious or ethnic violence.

From CBS:

The director of the Christian Institute says it’s an issue of free speech and that prison should not be the penalty for “expressing sincerely held religious beliefs.” Yet the Muslim preacher in East London who urged the murder of gays might say his religious beliefs were sincerely held too.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission has also condemned the proposed law, arguing that it will “either be watered down until it becomes pointless, or you deprive people of free speech.”

Earlier this year, it was made illegal for hotels and bed-and-breakfasts to bar guests over their sexuality. Here again, Muslims and Christians united, arguing that to rent a room to a gay couple would go against their religious beliefs, essentially denying them freedom of religion.

Their objections didn’t sway the politicians.

This time though, not all gays are comfortable with the proposed legislation. Writing in the Guardian, Peter Tatchell, an outspoken human rights and gay rights activist wonders whether it might indeed infringe upon free speech.

He also says current laws designed to protect gays are not enforced, so why expect this one to be?

Tatchell also points out that similar laws have in the past been abused, recalling the case of a student arrested for making a joke about a policeman’s horse being gay.

Here in America, arch-conservatives absolutely freaked when the Matthew Shephard Act was passed. Including people in hate crimes legislation will take away their right to free speech, they say.

Unfortunately for those conservatives, they live in America. Maybe they haven’t realized that yet.

American hate crimes laws apply only to the violence itself and doesn’t punish a person from preaching. The only way a preacher is going to be slapped with a hate crime is if he directly tells someone to go out and kill a queer (and then that person does).

If our dear arch-conservatives want to experience a real lack of their civil right to spew hatred, they should take a trip to the land of really cute guys with cute accents, *cough*cough* ahem, I mean, take a trip to England.

Sep 28 2 comments
Global

Eastern Europe update: Russia arrests blood ban protesters; EU court scolds Poland… again.

RUSSIA

In Moscow Wednesday, six LGBT demonstrators were fined for holding an unauthorized public event in what organizers say was an entirely lawful protest of Russia’s ban on gay blood donors. Led by Alexey Davydov, the activists gathered outside the Ministry of Health and Social Development two weeks ago to protest the 2001 law prohibiting homosexuals from donating blood.

In response to the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in the former Soviet power, government officials attempted to slow the rapidly growing infection rate by placing restrictions on blood donations. According to Russian government sources, an estimated 200,000 HIV-positive people are living in the country, while UN estimates are much higher, between one and two million.

No charges were brought in relation to the blood ban, and activists say they will add this rights infringement to their mounting appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Moscow Gay Pride events for the last two years have been marred by nationalist counter protesters and police indifference, which parade organizers intend to bring before the European court.

FRANCE

The European Court of Human Rights has denied Poland’s appeal over the banning of 2005 pride events in Warsaw. Then mayor of the capital city, President Lech Kaczynski forbade the parade, only to be told by the European Court that such actions are illegal. Unfortunately, little can be done in the European system to prohibit these kinds of human rights violations other than publicly embarrass and pressure the recent EU member state to follow international guidelines.

Speaking from Strasbourg, Michael Cashman, president of the EU parliament’s gay caucus “Intergroup” said of the ruling, “It is yet another vindication of the brave efforts in favour of human rights that are being undertaken by Polish LGBT human rights defenders. I applaud their courage and their resolve and call upon the Polish Government, once and for all, to end their discrimination of the LGBT community or face the consequences of their behaviour unbecoming of an EU Member State.”

We’ll see…