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October 7, 2012
South Africa officially recognizes gay pride flag

South Africa has recognized it’s own version of the rainbow gay pride flag as an officially registered national symbol

South Africa has become the first country in the world to recognize the rainbow flag as a national symbol.

South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture, through its Bureau of Heraldry, announced the registry of the flag in the official Government Gazette this week following an application by the South African version of the rainbow flag’s designer, Eugene Brockman.

‘The Gay Flag of SA is now officially recognized and protected by the Department of Arts and Culture and the government of South Africa,” said Mava Mothiba, a spokesperson for the department.

August 22, 2012
Rainbow crosswalks to be permanent in West Hollywood

Intersection at heart of gay district originally painted for pride month

During LGBT Pride Month in June, the crosswalks spanning the intersection of San Vicente and Santa Monica boulevards in the heart of West Hollywood were transformed from brick red to the colors of the rainbow flag that symbolizes gay pride.

Now the transformation will be permanent.

The West Hollywood City Council voted this week to keep the rainbow crosswalks in the section of the city known as Boystown where such popular spots as The Abbey attract tourists and locals alike.

July 5, 2012
Police halt gay pride march in Dominican Republic

Video footage shows police officers arguing with marchers for using the Dominican flag at the gay pride event

Dominican Republic authorities repeatedly disrupted this year's gay pride march.

Video provided by Imagenes Dominicanas shows police officers forbidding marchers from carrying the Dominican flag in the 5th annual Dominican pride on 1 July (Sunday).

According to Imagenes Dominicanas, authorities at the beginning of the route told marchers they could not carry rainbow banners that had been fashioned to look like the country's flag.

Authorities reportedly confiscated the rainbow flags before returning them on condition they be kept out of sight.

June 15, 2012
The gay Olympics symbol that shops just can’t sell

Olympic gay pin badges were applauded when released but two years later, retailers just can’t shift them

London 2012 organizers are making a last ditch effort to sell gay Olympic pin badges as many shops refuse to stock them.

The badges which feature the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic logos combined with an LGBT rainbow flag were unveiled two years ago at a special reception at the headquarters of the LOCOG, the London body running the games.

LOCOG has heralded them as one of the most groundbreaking things it has done to bring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the Olympic celebrations.

June 13, 2012
Euro 2012 fans wave rainbow flags at Ukraine versus Sweden match

Despite concerns over homophobia during Euro 2012 soccer tournament, Ukrainians and Swedes both embraced Kyiv gay protest

Swedish and Ukrainian soccer fans delighted a lesbian activist by supporting her rainbow flag demonstration to show solidarity with Ukraine’s gay and trans population.

Human rights campaigners had raised concerns about the safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fans attending the European Football Championships in Poland and Ukraine, which both have poor records on LGBT rights, and Amnesty International had even suggested gay fans should stay away.

May 17, 2012
World marks IDAHO with courage and pride

Activists defy anti-gay laws in Iran and Russia to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Activists in Iran, one of the most homophobic countries in the world, braved persecution today (17 May) by publicly unfurling a rainbow flag to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

Campaigners in the Muslim state's capital Tehran also distributed leaflets and flew multi-colored balloons to raise awareness of LGBT rights.

May 2, 2012
Band flies rainbow flag at Chinese music festival

Headlining band wave rainbow flag at Shanghai's Strawberry festival, play song in tribute to gay Hong Kong singer Leslie Cheung

At the first night of Strawberry music festival in Shanghai on Sunday, headlining act Top Floor Circus made a bold declaration for gay rights, unfurling a giant rainbow flag on stage.

When the band returned to the Love Stage for an encore, they performed a song by Leslie Cheung, the popular Hong Kong actor and singer and one of the first openly gay Chinese celebrities, who committed suicide nine years ago.

Top Floor Circus vocalist Lu Chen said: 'There is diversity in love. I hope you all love your real selves'.

May 2, 2012
Gay activists arrested in St Petersburg for rainbow protest

17 gay activists were arrested in Russia's second largest city for unfurling rainbow flags

Seventeen gay activists were arrested at a May Day rally in St Petersburg after unfurling rainbow flags.

The campaigners were detained by police in the Russian city yesterday (1 May) at a protest attended by 300,000 people, led by the ruling United Russia party, as well as Communist and nationalist groups.

‘The first activists who unfurled their flags were detained. Some tried to raise posters, they were also detained,’ Yury Gavrikov, a local gay rights leader, told The Guardian.

April 13, 2012
Brighton Pride 2012 theme will be the United Colours of Pride

The event on the south coast of England will raise awareness of countries where LGBT people are still persecuted

Brighton Pride have announced the winner of a competition to choose the theme of their 2012 event is the United Colours of Pride.

The theme has been chosen to raise awareness of countries where members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community are still persecuted. It also highlights the carnival theme Pride is known for and represents the rainbow flag.

March 28, 2012
Taiwanese pop diva to raise money for HIV/AIDS

A-Mei Chang Hui-mei will raise money for families hit by HIV/AIDS as she celebrates the 15th anniversary of her singing career

A leading Taiwanese singer will sell 10,000 rainbow flags during the upcoming concerts at home to raise funds for an HIV/AIDS group.

Long-term LGBT rights supporter A-Mei Chang Hui-mei - who has been on her ‘AMeiZing’ world tour to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her singing career from September – will be selling rainbow flags and distributing red ribbons during the six concerts in Taipei, starting from Friday (30 March).

January 16, 2012
Rainbows worn in protest against Margaret Court

British tennis player Laura Robson wore a rainbow ribbon in support of gay rights.

Tennis players and fans added a splash of colour to the Australian Open today, wearing rainbow colored clothing in protest against Margaret Court's anti-gay comments.

During her match against former world number one Jelena Jankovic, British player Laura Robson showed her support for those angry at Court's vocal opposition to same-sex marriage by wearing a rainbow ribbon in her hair.

And she wasn't the only one standing up for gay rights at the tournament in Melbourne, with many fans also proudly wearing rainbows.