Chantelle Billson

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Trans Catholic teacher explains why having LGBTQ+ people in schools is so crucial

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In August this year, Suella Braverman (then attorney general, now Home Secretary) said it was “lawful” for schools to deadname trans kids in education. In July, Nadim Zahawi (chairman of the Conservative party) sparked fear of a new Section 28 for trans people when he said he wanted to protect young people from “damaging and inappropriate nonsense being forced on them by radical activists.” That’s why people like 29-year-old George White are so important in UK schools. George is trans, and he teaches religion education at St Paul’s Catholic School in Evington, Leicestershire – where he went to school when he was […]

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HSBC to pay for trans staff’s gender-affirming care to encourage workers to ‘be their authentic self’

HSBC has confirmed it will pay for trans employees’ gender-affirming treatments from next year in a bid to support people to “be their true authentic self”. Its 2023 initiative will allow its employees, their partners and children under 21 (and over 18) to apply to have their gender-affirming surgeries paid for, as well as, mental health treatments, hormone consultations, speech therapy and more.  The “gender dysphoria benefit”, which will launch from 1 January, is part of the bank’s aim to encourage its trans and non-binary employees to “be their true authentic self”. A spokesperson for the bank told PinkNews: “Our diversity is […]

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

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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 […]

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

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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 […]

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At least 32 trans Americans have had their lives violently taken in 2022 as ‘epidemic of violence’ continues

At least 32 trans people have been violently killed in America this year alone, as anti-trans rhetoric continues to fuel violence. Sunday (20 November) marks Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honours the memory of those whose lives were cut short by anti-trans violence.  Ahead of the date, LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation Human Rights Campaign(HRC) released a report reflecting on the causes of this violence, as seen over a year of documenting. The report confirmed that at least 32 trans and gender non-conforming people have been violently killed in the United States (US) since the start of 2022.  They are: Amariey Lej, Duval Princess, Cypress Ramos, Naomie […]

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Malta’s PM promises free gender affirming surgery as part of sweeping LGBTQ+ rights reforms

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Malta’s prime minister, Robert Abela, has promised reforms for the country’s LGBTQ+ community, including free gender affirming surgery for trans people.  According to local publication Lovin Malta, the prime minster attended Malta’s Pride march in Valletta on 10 September to share news that the government is committed to carrying out these reforms. In an interview with ONE Radio he said: “I believe that social reform gives the Labour Party its identity. “My presence yesterday, as well as that of ministers and MPs, symbolises the messages that while we have done a lot, more is yet to come. While we’re proud of what we […]

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Sri Lanka’s president says his government won’t oppose decriminalisation of homosexuality

The president of Sri Lanka has said his government won’t oppose a bill to decriminalise homosexuality – but added the bill must gain support before any laws change. On Sunday (11 September) president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has held his role since July this year, said the government will not oppose a private member’s bill presented to parliament by MP Premnath C Dolawatte to decriminalise homosexuality. Same-sex relationships are currently illegal in Sri Lanka, and there are other discriminatory laws against trans people and sex workers. Dolawatte’s bill seeks to decriminalise same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults by amending sections 365 […]

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