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May 18, 2013
London: ‘violated’ gay black police officer wins harassment hearing

An employment tribunal ruled this week that detective Kevin Maxwell suffered from homophobic and racist bullying in the police force

A tribunal has ruled that a former police officer was victim to homophobic and racist abuse while on the force.

An employment tribunal found that Kevin Maxwell suffered from ‘an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment’ as a gay black man working as a counter-terrorism officer.

The hearing was held because the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for law enforcement in greater London, was trying to appeal Maxwell's claims that he was fired unjustly.

May 16, 2013
Over hundred LGBT South Koreans and allies record video against gay hate

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
Ukraine: new report reveals pervasive homophobia

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 15, 2013
Anti-gay hate crimes rise sharply in France

Homophobic hate crimes peak in the run-up to the introduction of same-sex marriage in France.

Assaults on the LGBT community and incidents of homophobic hate speech have both risen sharply in France over the last year.

The number of calls to SOS Homophobie’s helpline were up by 27% on the previous year.

Homophobic hate crime spiked last year in the run-up to the French parliament's approval of a Bill allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.

Incidents doubled in October and November when compared with the previous year, and tripled in December.

May 14, 2013
Albania celebrates gay life with festival for IDAHO

Albania organizes IDAHO week to give the LGBT community sexual liberation from verbal and physical homophonic abuse

Pink Embassy and LGBT Pro Albania have organised a weeklong celebration which includes the countries second Festival of Diversity, LGBT exhibitions and lectures.

It is all part of making a stand as Albania celebrates International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) for the fifth time this week, culminating on IDAHO day on 17 May.

May 10, 2013
Investigation reveals National Lottery funds awarded to homophobic British faith groups

Some church groups throughout the UK that published homophobic materials intended for children, recieved up to £10,000 in grants from the Big Lottery Fund

Gay rights activists are demanding audits into British faith groups who’ve published homophobic materials.

According to British newspaper The Guardian, an investigation has revealed numerous church groups throughout the UK that receive grants from the Big Lottery Fund have published anti-gay lesson plans and sexist articles online.

Every year, the Big Lottery Fund awards millions of pounds to organizations for ‘good causes’.

May 9, 2013
Seattle man charged with breaking lesbian student's jaw and nose

A 21-year-old faces hate crime charges after hurling anti-gay slurs and punches at a gay woman

A Seattle man is facing hate crime charges after allegedly hurling anti-gay slurs and punching a lesbian student.

Gregory Cage Jr, 21, is being charged of abusing the woman outside a restaurant on 16 November.

As Seattle PI reports, he is accused of questioning her about her gender and sexuality on the night in question.

May 9, 2013
Women’s football captain: being gay shouldn’t be an issue in sports

Women’s football can set an example that being gay should not be an issue in sports, says Casey Stoney

Casey Stoney said that recent coming out by leading sportsmen is encouraging but more work against homophobia needs to be done and lessons can be learnt from women’s football.

The England and Lincoln Ladies captain told the BBC that ‘things are moving in the right direction regarding homophobia in sport’ following the coming out of NBA basketball star Jason Collins and Leeds footballer, Robbie Rogers.

April 30, 2013
Georgia governor told to put the gay back into homophobia day

 Governor Nathan Deal is being urged to change the title of the current 'Mistreatment Awareness Day'

 Georgia's governor has been accused of 'sanitizing' International Day Against Homophobia by changing its name in the US state to Mistreatment Awareness Day.

Now an online petition has been started to urge Governor Nathan Deal to declare 17 May as International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), as it is around the world.

April 15, 2013
British MP fights against anti-gay abuse in football

John Leech MP will highlight a report pointing out the levels of homophobic abuse suffered by Brighton fans

A British member of parliament will highlight the importance of fighting against homophobia in football in the House of Commons today (15 April).

April 12, 2013
Cardinal: I can’t be homophobic as I don’t know any gays

South African Archbishop Wilfrid Napier, who says the promotion of gay rights is a 'new kind of slavery', says he is not homophobic

The South African Cardinal has said he cannot be accused of being homophobic as he does not know any gay people.

Wilfrid Napier, 72, was one of the 115 cardinals to pick the new pope last month and describes the promotion of gay rights as a ‘new kind of slavery’.

The Archbishop of Durban caused controversy last month when he said pedophilia is an ‘illness’ and not a criminal condition.

April 9, 2013
Homophobes film themselves wrecking LGBT center in Paris

In a video posted by a French anti-gay group, it shows them vandalizing an Inter-LGBT fair in the gay district of Marais

Anti-gay bigots decided to film themselves vandalizing and wrecking the outside of a LGBT center in Paris, as seen in a video posted on 7 April.

It shows ‘Le Printemps Francais’ (French spring), a collective made up of hard line Catholics and royalists who have split from the mainstream ‘Manif Pour Tous’ anti-marriage equality movement.

The group published the video showing them vandalizing the annual Inter-LGBT fair in the gay district of Marais, but later deleted it. A pro-gay activist republished it on YouTube later.  

April 8, 2013
Gay couple badly beaten in Paris

As the Senate discusses same-sex marriage and adoption, it is believed there are more attacks happening against gay people in France

A gay couple have said they were badly beaten up in Paris on 6 April.

Wilfred de Bruijn and his partner Olivier posted a picture of what happened after they were attacked by several men in the 19th district of Paris.

Describing it as the ‘face of homophobia’, De Bruijn said: ‘Olivier and I were badly beaten up just for walking arm in arm.

‘I woke up in an ambulance covered in blood, missing tooth and broken bones around the eye.

‘I’m home now. Very sad. Olivier takes care of me. Forbidden to work for at least 10 days.’

April 4, 2013
Another tackle in the world of homophobic sports

As retired American football star Kwame Harris comes out as gay, Reverend Irene Monroe says the trickle of sports stars revealing their sexuality needs to turn into a flood

Another former professional athlete came out last week – 6ft 7ins Jamaican-born NFL offensive tackle Kwame Harris.

With news of LGBT equality in the news daily, one may wonder why this is news at all. But it is. The world of sports is quickly becoming the last closet, where gays and lesbians hide their sexual orientation. In a homophobic testosterone-driven sport, like American football, Harris concealment is understandable.

March 14, 2013
How homophobic are you? Take the test

Quebec government has revealed a series of adverts aiming to get Canadians to be more open-minded

While being taught by a transgender teacher, or working with a bisexual man shouldn’t bother people, it still does for many people.

The Quebec government has launched an advertising campaign designed to get the province thinking how open-minded they are when it comes to homosexuality.

The TV, radio and web campaign features routine, simple scenes in which the viewer has no idea is about homosexuality until the end, the Montreal Gazette reports.

March 14, 2013
Mexico defines and bans gay hate speech

We look at Mexico fighting homophobic hate speech and the Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar who had an apparent anti-gay slur on his eye black

Homophobic epithets are so pervasive across the globe that most heterosexual people are sadly unaware of the psychological and physical toil they have on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Too often and cavalierly these epithets go either unchecked or unchallenged as hate speech.

Mexico, however, has stepped forward to define and reduce homophobic hate speech. Two commonly used words – ‘punal’ and ‘maricones’ are the main targets. Both words closely translate as ‘faggot’.

March 13, 2013
Just because Queen Elizabeth has signed a bit of paper, it doesn’t make her pro-gay

The Commonwealth charter is intended to provide some support for LGBT people but the Queen has to do much more to signal a royal rainbow revolution

My heart was aflame with delight as I browsed Twitter over my cornflakes. ‘A historic step has been taken for human rights,’ I thought to myself. ‘Good old Betty, supporting her fellow queens.’

February 19, 2013
Gay rape victim speaks out in India

Triggered by the news of the woman who was raped on a bus in Delhi, Vinodhan opens-up to an LGBT support group about his own ordeal

A gay man who was raped by several men in India has spoken out about his ordeal hoping to break the silent suffering of male sexual assault victims.

The recent horrific news about the 23-year-old woman who was gang raped on a bus in Delhi triggered Vinodhan to open-up about his experiences on the blog of Chennai-based LGBT support group Orinam.

February 9, 2013
Police Chief backs gay officer over homophobic mayor

The Police Chief of a small town in Ohio has gone public about the harassment of a gay police officer by the town’s mayor, warning that it could get the local government sued

The Chief of Police of Pomeroy, a small town of less than 2,000 people on the banks of the Ohio River, has gone public about what he says is the homophobic harassment of one of his officers by the town’s mayor – warning that she may be breaching the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

Police Chief Mark E Proffitt accused Pomeroy Mayor Mary McAngus of a homophobic campaign against part time police officer Kyle Calendine who was hired by Pomeroy Police in September.

January 27, 2013
US gays join Russian campaign against propaganda law

Gay rights advocates in San Francisco, California, are the latest LGBT Americans and allies to protest Russia's gay gag law with a photo campaign

American allies are joining forces the Russian LGBT community in a new photo campaign to protest Russia's anti-gay propaganda bill.

Mike Petrelis, San Francisco-based blogger and gay rights advocate (pictured), has joined other Americans in the 'I am Not Propaganda' campaign started by Coming Out, an LGBT organization based in St. Petersburg, and OutLoudMag.ru

January 25, 2013
Anti-gay Italian Catholic blog is hacked

Pontifex has been closed after an online attack, but the founder says: 'We'll be back in a couple of days'. Italian LGBT blogs celebrate the closure

A famous Italian Catholic blog, which has made headlines for its homophobic stance, has been closed after having been hacked.

The reasons behind the hacking of Pontifex – it means 'Pope' - are still unknown, but LGBT blogs have celebrated its closure.

But founder and owner Bruno Volpe told la Repubblica newspaper: ‘We’ve been hacked but we’ll be back in a couple of days.’

In the past, Pontifex attacked women and their freedom, Jews, Muslims and LGBT people.

January 24, 2013
Ball boy 'kicked' by Chelsea footballer faces gay Twitter abuse

Welsh teen Charlie Morgan is being blamed for Chelsea losing after Eden Hazard was sent off and given a three match ban

A Welsh teen has found fame after a Chelsea soccer star was sent off for appearing to kick him while attempting to retrieve the ball.

But Charlie Morgan, 17, is now facing a barrage of homophobic abuse on Twitter blaming him for Chelsea’s loss against Swansea.

Nicknamed ‘Ballboygate’, and with Chelsea facing the next few games without one of its star players, it prompted a fury on social networking sites.

Among the many homophobic insults hurled directly at the 17-year-old, @The_WhiteMist said: ‘u little fat gay prick. Hope he broke your ribs.’

January 20, 2013
Australia to ban homophobia in sports

A draft national Australian anti-discrimination law could see homophobic abuse in the sporting world made illegal, but churches will still be able to legally exclude anyone they want

Homophobic taunts by spectators, anti-gay on-field sledging between players and homophobic harassment in locker rooms could all be banned soon in Australia under the government’s draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill.

The bill would bring all current national anti-discrimination protections in Australia under a single law and outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity at a national level in the country for the first time.

January 14, 2013
Ghana Christian group slams pro-gay gender minister

Anti-gay Christian group blasts appointment of Nana Oye Lister as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection over gay rights support

A Christian group is protesting Ghana's new gender minister Nana Oye Lithur over her support of gay rights.

The homophobic group called 'Concerned Clergy Association of Ghana' is opposing Lithur's appointment as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection because she is a 'proponent and supporter of gay rights'.

January 3, 2013
Claims Atlanta NYE stabber was responding to anti-gay attack

There are claims that a young man charged over a stabbing incident at a New Years Eve house party in Atlanta, Georgia, was defending himself against a homophobic attack but his supporters are refusing to cooperate with police

Supporters of a young man who was charged over a stabbing incident at a New Years Eve party say he was defending himself against a homophobic attack.

Luke Patrick O’Donovan, 19, who was also stabbed during the incident, was charged after Atlanta Police responded to a 3am 911 call from a motorist who was transporting two of the stabbed men to hospital.