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May 19, 2013

A rally will be held at New York’s LGBT community center at 5:30 pm on 20 May in honor of Mark Carson

New York’s LGBT Community Center will host a rally in honor of Mark Carson, who was shot dead late Friday night in an anti-gay attack.

32 year-old Carson was shot at point-blank range on the street in Greenwhich Village. His attackers reportedly shouted homophobic slurs at Carson before shooting him in the face and fleeing the scene.

May 18, 2013

San Francisco LGBT activists declared Bradley Manning as the People’s Grand Marshal, protesting against the city’s Pride leaders’ decision not to honor him

LGBT activists and allies held a San Francisco rally to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) by declaring Bradley Manning the People's Grand Marshal of city’s Pride.

Manning is the gay U.S. Army Private accused of divulging a massive amount of government documents to WikiLeaks and has been spending nearly three years in jail without trial.

May 18, 2013

LGBT rights advocates have been detained in at least two cities in China while engaging in IDAHO activities

LGBT rights advocates were detained in at least two Chinese cities when celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

Officers detained about a dozen LGBT advocates who were handing flyers about IDAHO in a busy mall in downtown Guangzhu, yesterday (17 May) afternoon.

May 18, 2013

The first former NBA player to come out publicly thinks sports leaders should be held more accountable for homophobia in sport

John Amaechi, the first former NBA player to ever come out, had some good and bad things to say about being gay in professional sport.

In an interview with UK-based online radio station Gaydio, Amaechi first gave his opinion on the importance of International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), a global day of awareness of anti-gay hate.

May 17, 2013

New figures claim 78 trans people have already been killed in 13 countries this year and 1,233 in 59 countries since January 2008

New figures published today show 78 trans people were murdered in 13 countries from 1 January to 30 April this year.

There were 1,233 reported murders of trans people in 59 countries worldwide from 1 January 2008 to 30 April 2013.

The new figures were collected as part of the Trans Murder Monitoring project by Transgender Europe (TGEU) and published on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

TGEU says the murders are often particularly violent, including mutilation and torture.

May 17, 2013

Events in Burma, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Singapore Vietnam and India for IDAHO

In Burma gay men are asking to be decriminalized, in Thailand transgender women want to be spared military service and in the Philippines LGBT rights activists are pushing for an anti-discrimination law.

Events are being held across Asia today to bring attention to various anti-LGBT aspects of society for IDAHO (International Day of Homophobia and Transphobia).

May 17, 2013

Gambia president, Ukraine MP and American legal center named in Human Rights Watch's IDAHO 2013 Hall of Shame

International rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its 2013 Hall of Shame for IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) today.

Gambian president Yahya Jammeh was named for his 'persistent' homophobia. He directly addressed LGBT people in parliament in March saying 'if you are convicted of homosexuality in this country, there will be no mercy for offenders'.

HRW report that 20 people were charged with committing 'unnatural offenses' in the Gambia in 2012, but were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

May 17, 2013

GSN teams up with London Gay Men’s Chorus and London Gay Big Band to spread the word about fighting homophobia and transphobia

Gay Star News joined forces with the UK capital’s talented LGBT singers and musicians to make a video to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

While reports out for IDAHO today (17 May) again show the shocking levels of abuse, harassment, discrimination, violence and even murder faced by the world’s LGBT citizens, the GSN video tries to bring some hope.

May 17, 2013

Gay dating site’s co-founder Henry Badenhorst exits business. New management team pledge to ‘reinvigorate the global dating scene’

Henry Badenhorst, co-founder of Gaydar, the website which revolutionized gay dating, has sold his shares and left the business after 14 years.

A new investment partner has been brought in to allow a management buy-out of the company. Gaydar will now be headed by former manager Trevor Martin who becomes chief executive officer.

Badenhorst set up Gaydar with his boyfriend Gary Frisch in 1999 after a friend complained he was too busy to look for dates.

May 17, 2013

Had been conspicuously absent from recent events, does not give reason for departure

After just 13 months on the job, GLAAD president Herndon Graddick has resigned.

'I'm proud to leave GLAAD with a stronger, more efficient organization and an incredibly talented and experienced Board and staff,' Graddick said in a statement. 'I'm happy the role I was able to play in advancing the need for our community to fully support the rights of our transgender brothers and sisters.'

May 17, 2013

USA's first openly gay congressman and an 11-year-old transgender girl are among the award winners honored in this year's pride parade

Los Angeles Pride has announced 2013’s honor award winners and Grand Marshal for this year’s pride march.

Straight allies of the LA gay community have been honoured along with several LGBT organisations for their community service, pride organizers Christopher Street West told GSN.

Among the honourees are a Super Bowl champion, USA’s first openly gay congressman and an 11-year-old transgender girl who fought for identity in school.

May 17, 2013

Lesbians, young people and poorer people face highest levels of discrimination and harassment in survey of 27 EU members states plus Croatia

Almost one in two (47%) of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the European Union have faced discrimination or harassment in the last year.

That’s the shocking report from the EU Fundamental Rights Agency on the 27 member states of the European Union and Croatia, which is due to join the union on 1 July this year.

It’s the agency’s first comparative study on the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

May 17, 2013

GSN meets one of Europe’s leading champions for LGBT equality who argues gay and trans citizens need the European unity more than ever

It was raining in Brussels and I was late. I’d over-estimated my walking speed and sense of direction on my way to meet with Michael Cashman, one of the UK’s representatives to the European Parliament.

His assistant Renaud rang me: ‘Where are you now?’

‘I don’t know. I can see the Sofitel?’

‘Oh. You have to cross the park. I will meet you in reception.’

Well-groomed and impeccably dressed, Renaud was sympathetic when I finally made it to the reception of the parliament – my clothes dripping and my shoes covered in grass.

May 17, 2013

Russian city’s LGBT population holds demonstration for IDAHO despite propaganda law. Thugs attack

Over 150 LGBT people and their friends have braved homophobic and transphobic thugs to demand their rights at a protest in St Petersburg, Russia.

The protest for International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) today (17 May) was in the city’s main park, Marsovo Pole.

May 17, 2013

It will soon be that time of year again when rainbow flags will line the streets of the UK and beyond to celebrate the LGBT community and their friends

Gay Star News is already the official global media partner for prides in London, Brighton and Manchester in the UK and EuroPride in Marseille, France. GSN will be at all the parades handing out stylish Gay Star News tote bags with loads of fab goodies.

May 17, 2013

Gay Star News joined forces with the UK capital's talented LGBT singers and musicians to make a video to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

The GSN flashmob was filmed on Saturday 11 May, at The Scoop – an open-air performance space by City Hall, London.

It is being released for IDAHO today (17 May) – an event bringing together the LGBT community and their friends to promote equality worldwide.  

Luckily the rain held off to allow the musicians to perform the popular song ‘Bring me Sunshine’ - a tune we keep humming since rehearsals.

May 16, 2013

Is also donating part of the proceeds from pre-sale of his new album to the Human Rights Campaign

Matthew Morrison once had to awkwardly come out as straight to a magazine writer who assumed he was gay.

But that doesn't mean the Glee star is not a fully supportive of LGBT equality. Earlier today, he  released new video for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in which he speaks out for gay marriage.

HRC, the largest LGBT advocacy organization in the US, got Morrison to take part in its Americans for Marriage Equality campaign which also recently featured Hillary Clinton, among others.

May 16, 2013

YouTube video released for IDAHO (International Day Against homophobia and transphobia)

Over 100 South Korean LGBT people and allies star in a YouTube video in support of gay rights released this week (Monday 13 May).

Korean Gay Men's Human Rights Group Chingusai organized the recording of You Make me Proud, a song created by Sydney Gay and Lesbian choir to mark IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) in 2012.

May 16, 2013

Sardinia, Italy, will host its second pride parade. Thousands of people will march on the beach for the event

Sardinia is uniting for an LGBT pride parade on the beach which will teach the island about gay families and transphobia.

The announcement of the event's details comes after the first pride, last year, was attacked by right-wing politicians who declared the Mediterranean island doesn't need the event.

The ‘Queeresima’ – 40 days of events – will culminate in the final parade on the beach on 29 June. But there’s more to the festival than music and drag queens.

May 16, 2013

Kate Green MP, Britain’s Labour party spokesman on transgender issues, comments as trans campaigners meet politicians in parliament

Britain’s shadow equalities minister has called for a press that challenges transphobia, rather than fuels it.

Kate Green made the comments at as transgender campaigners and politicians met in Britain’s Parliament to discuss UK press coverage of trans issues and individuals.

The meeting in the House of Commons last night (15 May) was organized by LGBT Labour, the gay and trans group of the opposition party.

May 16, 2013

The audience's picks for Amsterdam Transgender Film Festival which ran from 8 to 12 May

The audience award winners from Amsterdam Transgender Film Festival, TranScreen were announced earlier this week with a documentary/artfilm about 'the smallest drag queen in the world' taking the top slot.

The German film called One Zero One - the story of Cybersissy & BayBjane directed by Tim Lienhard tells the story of Morrocan-German Mourad 'the smallest drag queen in the world' and his partner Antoine. It's described as 'part documentary, part camp-style visual fairy tale'.

May 16, 2013

A new report by Amnesty International reveals homophobia reached endemic levels in Ukraine

A report launched in Kiev a day before the International Day Against Homophobia, shows that homophobia and anti LGBT discrimination is spiraling out of control in the Ukraine.

The 17 page report launched today (16 May), entitled ‘Nothing to be proud of: Discrimination against LGBTI people in Ukraine’, highlights a number of violent attacks on individuals.

May 16, 2013

Not a single Palestinian was invited to speak at a reception held by the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel in honor of IDAHO

The US Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel has reportedly excluded Palestinians from speaking at reception in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

Although Aswat, a Palestinian organization for Gay Women, was invited to attend, their representative was not allowed to make a speech at the Ambassador's Tel-Aviv residence tonight (16 May).

May 15, 2013

The Ellen DeGeneres Show confirms that they have run out of time this season to feature New Zealand MP Maurice Williamson, whose pro-gay marriage speech went viral

The New Zealand MP who shot to international fame when his humorous speech in support of gay marriage went viral will no longer appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.