International News New Gender Recognition law in Finland is ‘major step’ towards protecting trans rights Lawmakers in Finland have removed the requirement for trans people to be sterilised and obtain a psychiatric diagnosis in order for them to obtain legal gender recognition. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Move to ban LGBTQ+ characters from film and TV in Russia will “increase homophobia”, say Amnesty International Amnesty International has warned that a likely move by Russia’s media regulator to ban films and television series with LGBTQ+ characters will further stigmatise LGBTQ+ people in the country. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
International News Russian court upholds lengthy prison sentences for Chechen LGBTQ+ siblings Amnesty International has responded to news that a Russian court has upheld lengthy prison sentences for Chechen LGBTQ+ siblings Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isaev – who, Amnesty say, had been “falsely accused of aiding illegal armed groups”. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News UK drops from 10th to 14th place in Rainbow Europe Map and Index According to ILGA Europe, the UK has suffered a significant drop in ranking because the Government is not effectively protecting on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
International News Acquittal of police officers in Greek LGBTQ+ activist killing ‘beggars belief’, say Amnesty Zak Kostopoulos, queer activist and drag artist, was brutally beaten by two men after entering a jewellery shop in central Athens in 2018. According to Amnesty International, footage showed four police officers using unnecessary force to arrest the activist as he lay dying. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
A Pride event in South Korea General News South Korean government criticised for lack of anti-discrimination laws LGBTQ+ advocates have criticised South Korea for failing to implement anti-discrimination laws to protect the country’s queer community. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Hungary passes law banning LGBTQ+ content in schools Hungary has passed a law to prevent the sharing of content that is considered to ‘promote homosexuality or gender change’ with under 18s. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
Business News Amnesty International responds to ‘conversion therapy’ ban update Praying the gay away’ is just as unacceptable as any other pseudoscientific approach which tells LGBTI+ people they are ‘sick’ and ‘broken’ By Graham Robson • 1 min read
General News Three trans women attacked in Benin Three trans women were violently attacked in Benin, West Africa, on April 30. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News Indonesian men beaten for same-sex relations Two men in Indonesia were publicly flogged 77 times for allegedly having sex, while around 100 people witnessed the beating. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News Lesbian refugee denied asylum in Ireland A lesbian refugee from Zimbabwe, who was facing death threats from her own family, has been denied asylum by Irish authorities which argued her claim ‘lacked credibility’. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Polish LGBTQ+ activists go on trial On January 12, three LGBTQ+ activists went on trial in Poland after being arrested for showing an image of the Virgin Mary with a rainbow background during a protest against the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ regime. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read