News

/ /

‘It’s easier to die than live in Russia’: Queer artist flees Putin’s LGBTQ+ ‘propaganda’ crackdown

,

After Russia voted to extend its LGBTQ+ propaganda law to adults, artist and activist Yulia Tsvetkova has been forced to flee. Tsvetkova was acquitted of distributing pornography and so-called LGBTQ+ “propaganda” by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur court in July, in a rare win for the queer community in Russia. Tsvetkova was arrested and charged with distributing pornography in 2019 after she posted drawings of vaginas on social media in a bid to combat societal body norms. She was also charged over the same drawings in 2020 after Russian officials claimed she violated the country’s LGBTQ+ “propaganda” law. After the acquittal, prosecutors attempted to relaunch proceedings against Tsvetkova, but on […]

/ /

Same-sex households in the U.S. surpass 1 million for the first time, data shows

The number of same-sex couple households in the U.S. has surpassed 1 million for the first time, according to recently released government data.  There were more than 1.2 million same-sex couple householdsacross the country in 2021, up from 540,000 in 2008, an increase of 120%, the data, taken from the Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey, showed. About 710,000 (59.2%) of the same-sex couple households were married, and about 500,000 (41.7%) were unmarried.  The number of married same-sex households started to outnumber unmarried same-sex households in 2016, following the Supreme Court’s landmark 2015 Obergefell vs. Hodges ruling, which effectively legalized gay marriage […]

/

Sonoma County Pride’s “Drag On Ice” Happens December 9 at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa

Sonoma County Pride & Redwood Ice Theatre Company have teamed up to present Sonoma County’s first-ever DRAG ON ICE show with Milk from RuPaul’s Drag Race! Presented by Santa Rosa Metro Chamber. Get ready for a 90’s theme drag show with host MILK from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 and DJ Rotten Robbin with performances by Lolita Hernandez, Shania Twampson,  Maria Twampson & Milk! As part of this event, Sonoma County Pride will be donating its portion of proceeds from Drag on Ice to the Colorado Healing Fund to help the victims of the Club Q shooting. For tickets visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drag-on-ice-tickets-469557337637

/ /

DHS warns of domestic terror threats to LGBTQ, Jewish and migrant communities

In a terrorism advisory bulletin, the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday raised concerns about potential threats to the LGBTQ, Jewish and migrant communities from violent extremists inside the United States. Americans motivated by violent ideologies pose a “persistent and lethal threat,” a senior DHS official told reporters in a briefing on the bulletin. Intelligence officials across the federal government have consistently highlighted the growing threat of American extremistsin recent years, while explaining that foreign threats such as the Islamic State terrorist group and Al Qaeda are no longer as persistent as they once were. The bulletin was the latest summary of national terrorism threats, […]

/ /

Singapore repeals gay sex ban but limits prospect of legalizing same-sex marriage

Singapore’s parliament on Tuesday decriminalized sex between men, but, in a blow to the LGBTQ community, also amended the constitution to prevent court challenges that in other countries have led to the legalization of same-sex marriage. The moves come as other parts of Asia, including Taiwan, Thailand and India are recognizing more rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and queer community. Activists cheered the repeal, but said the amendment to the constitution is disappointing because it means citizens will not be able to mount legal challenges to issues like the definition of marriage, family, and related policies since these will […]

/ /

Two Club Q survivors say they feel hopeful for the local community despite the deadly shooting

One man who has frequented Club Q for decades was just opening up a tab at the bar when he was shot in the back. Another man was about to leave the club with his group when he heard a “pop, pop, pop” and took a bullet to his arm — then watched his boyfriend and sister fall to the floor. They are some of the 17 people wounded by gunfire Saturday when a 22-year-old man went on a shooting rampage at Club Q, a well-known club for the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs. On Tuesday, they shared the horror […]

/ /

Taliban lashes and flogs Afghans in crowded football stadiums for ‘adultery and gay sex’

,

The Taliban have flogged a group of people in a crowded football stadium for “moral crimes” including gay sex. Twelve people, including three women, were lashed in front of thousands of onlookers in the eastern Logar province, a Taliban official has informed theBBC.  According to the source they were punished for “sins” including “adultery, robbery, and gay sex”. The people flogged received between 21 and 39 lashes each, with the maximum a person can receive being 39, another Taliban official shared. It comes a week after the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, announced the group would be “implementing sharia law” in full force […]

/ /

Russian embassy in Canada sparks furious row after stating ‘family is a man and a woman’

,

The Russian embassy in Canada has sparked outrage after tweeting a photo of the pride flag with a red symbol prohibiting it and writing: “family is a man and a woman and children”. Posted on Friday (25 November), following Russia adopting a “gay propaganda” law prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality the day before, the tweet has been condemned by many who have demanded response and action from the Canadian government. “It is all about family. Family is a man and a woman and children,” the tweet states. In response to backlash the embassy has released a statement: “Canada and a range of other States-supporters of […]

/ /

Lauren Boebert lashes out at LGBTQ critics

,

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) defended her anti-LGBTQ rhetoric after she was widely denounced online in the wake of the Club Q shooting for stoking violence against LGBTQ people. “That is completely false,” she told Ross Kaminsky on KOA, an AM radio station. “I have never had bad rhetoric towards anyone and their personal preference as an adult.” Sexual orientation is not a “personal preference” and minors can have sexual orientations. In fact, Boebert herself got pregnant for the first time when she was in high school. This past Saturday, a shooter entered the LGBTQ bar Club Q in Colorado Springs, […]

«‹ 233 234 235 236›»