Ella Braidwood

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Arsonists Target Lithuania’s Only LGBT Rights Group in ‘Vicious Homophobic Attack’

Arsonists attacked the Lithuanian Gay League’s office in capital Vilnius. (lgl.lt/Instagram) The office of the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) – the country’s only non-governmental organization representing LGBT+ people – has reportedly been targeted in an arson attack. The incident allegedly took place in Pylimo in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, at about 4am on Friday morning. The front door and door blinds of the organization’s office were set on fire, according to LGL.LGL said that a passing taxi driver stopped to put the fire out. The group described the incident as a “vicious homophobic attack,” adding: “LGL believe that the incident […]

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Anti-LGBT Group Asks Supreme Court to Review Ruling that Would Allow Trans Discrimination in the Workplace

An anti-LGBT+ Christian legal advocacy group has asked the US Supreme Court to review a ruling that bans employers from discriminating against transgender people on religious grounds. Alliance Defending Freedom filed a petition to the court last week, which means that the Supreme Court, if it decides to go ahead and hear the case, now has the option to rule whether the country’s civil law right prohibiting sex discrimination in the workplace also includes discrimination based on gender identity. It follows a landmark ruling from the US Court of Appeals in March, which was praised by LGBT+ rights campaigners, that stated […]

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Trump Administration is ‘Likely to Have Devastating Consequences’ for LGBT Healthcare, Says Report

US president Donald Trump’s administration is “likely to have devastating consequences” for LGBT+ healthcare in the country, according to a damning new report by non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch. The latest research published on Monday (July 23) concludes that LGBT+ people face “significant barriers” accessing healthcare, which it states is worsening as the Trump government rolls back anti-discrimination protections and introduces religious exemption laws. “Many LGBT people already face difficulties obtaining accessible, inclusive health care,” the 34-page report reads.“The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of antidiscrimination protections and expansion of religious exemptions are likely to have devastating consequences, exacerbating health disparities […]

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Bulgaria Recognizes Rights of Married Lesbian Couple in Historic First

A Bulgarian court has backed the right of a same-sex married couple to reside in the country for the first time in a landmark ruling. The Sofia City Administrative Court ruled that the French-Australian couple should be allowed to live in Bulgaria together, reports Australian TV network SBS. Cristina Palma, from Australia, married her partner Mariama Diallo in France in 2016, having met in Sydney 15 years ago. The couple moved to Bulgaria together shortly afterwards. However, Palma’s application to continue her residency in the country was rejected in 2017.Palma then started a lawsuit over the refusal of her residency, which she won […]

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Phoenix Permanently Paints Road Crossings with Pride Colors

Phoenix has painted two crossings with Pride colours in a tribute to its LGBT+ residents. (ILoveGayPhoenix/Twitter) Phoenix has permanently painted two zebra crossings with Pride colours, embracing the city’s LGBT+ community. The city’s council unanimously voted to give two crossings a rainbow makeover, reports The Arizona Republic. The two crossings are in Seventh and Glenrosa avenues, and Central Avenue at Portland Street. Three local LGBT+ organisations — Phoenix Pride Community Foundation, Aunt Rita’s Foundation, and one-n-ten – asked the council to install the Pride-themed crosswalks in a permanent demonstration of support for the Arizona capital’s queer community.“The time is right to move […]

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Marriage Equality Has Improved Gay Men’s Health, New Study Suggests

A new study has suggested that the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the US has improved the health of gay men. The latest research – by professors at Vanderbilt University – found that equal marriage had led to increased health insurance coverage and better access to health care for men living in same-sex households. The study revealed that gay marriage “increased the probability” of a man in a same-sex household having health insurance by 4 percent. These men, it found, since equal marriage became law in the US, were 4 percent more likely to have a “usual source” of healthcare, and 7 […]

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Paris Mayor Makes Rainbow Crossings ‘Permanent’ After They Were Vandalized Twice in One Week

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has said that rainbow crossings in the city – vandalised twice in one week with homophobic graffiti – will be made permanent. The Pride-themed crossings were installed for Paris Pride, Marche des Fiertés, at the end of June. However, the rainbow additions were targeted by vandals twice in one week – on June 25 and June 28 – who covered them with paint and scrawled homophobic messages, including “LGBT get out of France” and “LGBT dictatorship.” The vandalism was promptly cleaned up and widely condemned, including by mayor Hidalgo.“Paris is a safe haven that embraces the republican values ​​of […]

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California Official Faces Backlash After Calling for ‘Straight Pride Month’

The vice mayor of Dixon, California, is facing calls to step down after he proclaimed July as “Straight Pride American Month.” Ted Hickman declared July as a month to celebrate heterosexuals in a bizarre article on his personal blog, which was also published in local paper Independent Voice. His piece prompted recall efforts – a procedure when elected officials can be removed from office following a vote – with the creation of a “Recall Ted Hickman” Facebook page, which currently has more than 700 ‘likes’. Hickman has faced calls to step down in response to his article (QuentenVoyce/Twitter) Hickman wrote in his article: […]

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Closeted Men ‘Underestimate the HIV Risk’ From Having Gay Sex, Say Researchers

A new study has found that closeted men who have gay sex may be underestimating the risk of catching HIV. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that public health messages should be used to target men who aren’t open about having gay sex because this group has been “neglected.” The study revealed that men who weren’t open about their sexuality – and who had sex with other closeted men – were more likely to contract HIV from each other, instead of from out gay or bisexual men. The researchers believe these men are less likely to take on board prevention messages, decreasing […]

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Trans Woman Dies in US Custody, with Migrant Groups Accusing Authorities of ‘Murder’

Roxana Hernández. (familiatqlm/Twitter) A trans woman has died in US custody, with migrant groups blaming the death on the “medical negligence” on the part of American authorities – and accusing them of “institutional murder.” Roxana Hernández, 33, died in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She had been seeking asylum at the San Ysidro port of entry on the US border earlier this month, when she was detained in ICE custody on 13 May. Hernández, known simply as Roxy, had travelled to the American border as part of a ‘refugee caravan’ – a group of more […]

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