Patrick Kelleher

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Aboriginal MP is First Openly Gay Indigenous Speaker of an Australian parliament

Northern Territory MP Chansey Paech has become the first openly gay Indigenous speaker of an Australianparliament in a landmark move. Paech took over the role of speaker from Kezia Purick, who resigned earlier this week after an independent report alleged corrupt practices. A Labor Party MP for Namatjira, Paech was previously deputy speaker in the parliament before his appointment this week. He told ABC News that it was an honour to be elected speaker, which is the parliament’s most senior role. Aboriginal Speaker Chansey Paech says his appointment sends ‘a strong message’ to young people. “It sends a strong message for our young […]

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Russian Authorities ‘Accidentally’ Recognize Gay Couple’s Same-sex Marriage

An activist in Russia has claimed that authorities in the notoriously anti-LGBT+ country have recognised his same-sex marriage through a legal loophole. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Russia, and the country’s “gay propaganda” law prohibits the promotion of homosexuality. But a legal loophole in the country’s family law has led to Russian authorities unintentionally recognising the marriage of Igor Kochetkov and Kir Fyodorov, The Moscow Times reports. Because of the loophole, the Russian tax service was reportedly forced to grant Kochetkov a tax deduction on his husband’s behalf – a benefit commonly enjoyed by married couples. A loophole in the Family Code of Russia forced […]

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90% of Americans Agree with Ruling Banning Workplace Discrimination for LGBT+ People

An incredible 90 per cent of people in the United States agree with the Supreme Court ruling banning workplace discrimination for LGBT+ people, according to a new poll. Last week, the US Supreme Court ruled that LGBT+ people are entitled to protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace. The surprise ruling extends sex-based employment discrimination protections to LGBT+ people in all 50 states. And a new nationally representative poll of 1,001 adults in America has found that the vast majority of the public support the ruling. The poll, which was conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), […]

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Polish Government Uses Taxpayer Money to Fund Anti-LGBT+ Articles

The government in Poland has used taxpayer funds to pay for anti-LGBT+articles that compare queer rights to Soviet Russia and communism. The country’s justice ministry paid for two articles in Polish weekly magazine Do Rzeczy titled “In Defence of Christians” and “Catholics Pilloried”, The Irish Times reports. “The Soviets were also marching under the banners of tolerance and freedom, only now, instead of the red flags, they hang rainbow-coloured ones on the walls,” one article says. “Their goals are linked by hatred for people with different views.” According to Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, the articles were financed by a government justice fund set up to support […]

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US Navy Grants Waiver for Trans Troop to Serve as their True Gender in Blow to Trump’s Ban

A transgender service member in the US Navy has been granted a waiver to present as the correct gender for the first time since Trump’s trans military ban became law. Trump’s infamous ban came into force in April 2019, almost two full years after the president first announced his intention to exclude all trans people from the military. The Navy confirmed that a trans service member has been granted a waiver in a statement provided to CNN on Friday (May 15). “The acting secretary of the Navy has approved a specific request for exemption related to military service by transgender persons and persons with gender dysphoria,” […]

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What Are the Most and Least LGBT-friendly Nations

The annual Rainbow Map ranking has named Poland, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan as some of the worst countries to be LGBT+ in Europe, while the UK continues to slide down the rankings. Since 2009, LGBT+ organisation ILGA-Europe has compiled an annual Rainbow Map ranking of the 49 countries in Europe based on each country’s commitment to LGBT+ rights and equality. In the ranking each country is assigned a percentage point based on its standing in six key areas: equality and non-discrimination; family; hate crime and hate speech; legal gender recognition and bodily integrity; civil society space and asylum. This year’s list names Azerbaijan as […]

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Lockdown ‘has Broken the HIV Chain’, Says Leading London Health Clinic

HIV transmission has dropped significantly with lockdown breaking the chain of new cases, a leading sexual health clinic has claimed. 56 Dean Street, a London-based sexual health clinic, is urging people to order free home test kits online in an effort to keep the number of new HIV cases down when the pandemic is over. The clinic said HIV transmission has “plummeted” during coronavirus lockdown. “Even COVID clouds have silver linings,” it wrote on its website. “Fewer hook-ups since lockdown has resulted in a huge reduction of HIV and other STIs. The chain is broken.” 56 Dean Street says an increase in testing could […]

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LGBT+ Asian Americans Warned of of Homophobia and Racism due to Coronavirus Bigotry

LGBT+ Asian Americans are reportedly experiencing a horrific “double whammy” of homophobia and racism due to the coronavirus pandemic. As the coronavirus spreads across the world, many Asian people are facing discrimination and racism from people who ignorantly and wrongly assume that they are harbingers of infection. The situation is dire in the United States, where Donald Trump has repeatedly drummed up anti-Asian sentiment by referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese Virus” (the outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, China). But the outlook is even more hopeless for Asian Americans who are also LGBT+, as they are facing an increase […]

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Award-winning Photographer who Fled Iran to Live as a Gay Man Dies of Coronavirus

Groundbreaking gay photographer Shahin Shahablou, who fled Iran for London in order to be himself, has died from coronavirus. Shahablou left Iran, where homosexuality is illegal, for Britain in 2011. He gained refugee status and went on to become an award-winning photographer. He died last week, on April 15, from coronavirus complications, just months after meeting his partner Kevin Lismore, Buzzfeed News‘ Patrick Strudwick reports. “He really wanted someone that he could share his life with,” Lismore told Buzzfeed. “He said he would never be able to find a partner there in Iran; that it would just be sex. But he wanted a partner […]

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Man Arrested as Historic Gay Resort Mourns ‘Incredible’ Staff Member

A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a Florida queer venue employee who was shot dead in a hotel room. Police were called to Parliament House Resort on April 1 after guests reported hearing shots fired. They discovered the body of Ricardo Filmore, a 37-year-old employee, in a hotel room. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Investigators have since arrested 28-year-old Courtney Lamar Williams in connection with Filmore’s death, and he now reportedly faces a charge of first degree murder. Florida’s Parliament House led tributes to Ricardo Filmore. Filmore’s death was mourned by staff at […]

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