General News Indonesian military vows to remove LGBTQ+ soldiers from ranks Major general Burhan Dahlan has started a campaign to have LGBTQ+ people removed from Indonesia’s military. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News Pope Francis supports same-sex civil unions Pope Francis has openly backed same-sex civil unions for the first time after interview in a documentary film, Francesco, premiered at the Rome film festival on Wednesday 21 October. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Update: Tokyo politician apologises for LGBTQ+ remarks 78-year-old Masateru Shiraishi, an 11th term politician in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward, has publicly apologised for saying the LGBTQ+ community were responsible for falling birth rates. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
New Zealand Pride General News New Zealand now has most LGBTQ+ inclusive parliament in the world Following the New Zealand elections on Saturday 17 October, the country now has a greater proportion of LGBTQ+ parliament members than any other country in the world. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
Mitt Romney has endorsed Barrett Election Special ‘Anti-LGBTQ+’ Amy Coney Barrett endorsed by Mitt Romney US senator Mitt Romney has confirmed on Twitter he intends to vote in favour of Amy Coney Barrett who is in the running to become the newest associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
Shaji posted videos online explaining her experience General News Indian woman attempts suicide after transphobic harassment Sajana Shaji, a trans woman living in Kochi, Kerala, attempted suicide after claiming to have been harassed and verbally assaulted while working as a food salesperson. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Piers Morgan argues trans women should not play rugby TV presenter Piers Morgan, known for his controversial views, has publicly agreed with World Rugby’s decision to prevent trans women from playing in professional leagues, arguing it was a safety risk to other players. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
Election Special Biden vows to protect trans youth US presidential candidate Joe Biden has vowed to protect young trans and gender non-conforming people in America after mother of a transgender girl, Mieke Haeck, asked how he would protect her daughter. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News Indian government urged to ban conversion therapy On Monday 12 October, an LGBTQ+ rights group in the Indian province of Kerala – named Queerala – sent a petition to the area’s high court urging local authorities to ban conversion therapy. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Australia to outlaw ‘gay panic’ defence South Australia, the only province where ‘gay panic’ defence is still legitimate, is moving to outlaw the excuse used to defend violence against the LGBTQ+ community after a bill was proposed to the area’s local parliament on Thursday 15 October. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News New law allows Texas social workers to refuse LGBTQ+ or disabled clients The Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted unanimously to eradicate protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
Arts FEATURE: SPOTLIGHT ON: Denholm Spurr – whose art mirrors his life. In the first of a new series looking at young LGBTQ+ actors Brian Butler meets Denholm Spurr By Brian Butler • 3 min read
General News 33rd trans person killed in the US Sara Blackwood is the 33rd trans person to have been killed in the US this year after she was shot in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday 11 October. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News Update: Monica Roberts autopsy reveals pulmonary embolism caused death Houston police have retracted their statement that trans activist Monica Roberts was killed in a hit and run incident after her autopsy revealed a pulmonary embolism was the ultimate cause of her death. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
US president Joe Biden Election Special Biden condemns Trump for not protecting trans community US presidential candidate Joe Biden has criticised Donald Trump for ignoring the increasing rates of violence against the trans and gender non-conforming community. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News LGBTQ+ activists in Japan launch petition for equality law The Japan Alliance for LGBTQ+ Legislation launched a petition on Thursday 15 October in collaboration with various LGBTQ+ activists in the country to demand an official LGBTQ+ equality law is implemented in time for the Tokyo Olympics next year. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Update: English rugby league allows trans women to play Despite recent rulings from World Rugby, the international union for the sport, stating trans women should not be allowed to play professionally on the basis of ‘safety’, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in England has announced it will continue to allow trans women to participate. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Reflecting on Spirit Day 2020 Thursday 15 October saw thousands of social media users and numerous famous figures promote and demonstrate their support for Spirit Day 2020. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News French government unveils plan to protect LGBTQ+ citizens The French government has created a plan to combat the growing prejudice and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which involves more inclusive education and national efforts to tackle homophobia and transphobia. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
Election Special Amy Coney Barrett apologises for remarks about LGBTQ+ people Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is in the running to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the US Supreme Court, has apologised for her previous statements which many deemed anti-LGBTQ+. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
Community European Olympic Committee insist the LGBTQ+ community will be protected in 2023 games The European Olympic Committees (EOC) has responded to backlash about the 2023 European Games being held in Kraków – an LGBTQ+ free zone in Poland. By Rachel Badham • 2 min read
General News Matthew Shepard commemorated 22 years after his death Tributes poured in for Matthew Shepard on Monday 12 October which marked 22 years since he was murdered in Wyoming in 1998. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
Election Special Over 500 LGBTQ+ candidates to appear on US ballots According to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, there are over 500 LGBTQ+ candidates in this year’s US elections which is more than any other voting year. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
General News Update: Trans activist Monica Roberts killed by motorist Houston police have announced transgender activist Monica Roberts, who was pronounced dead at 58 last week, may have been killed in a hit and run incident. By Rachel Badham • 1 min read
