East Timor celebrates Gay Pride in its tiny territory after a prolonged war of independence with enormous Indonesia. Yet the little country is courageous with much integrity to host a Rainbow Parade while Indonesia turns against its LGBT citizens with discrimination and homophobia. A fine example of the ‘child’ teaching the ‘parent’ how to live
Good will from the State Department regarding Gay Pride month
Good will from the State Department regarding Gay Pride month: “We recognize that LGBTI persons continue to face the threat of violence and discrimination. Violence and discrimination targeting any vulnerable group undermines our collective security as well as American values. When all persons are protected on the basis of equality and with dignity, global stability
WorldPride in Madrid 2017
Amid the carnage of terrorism, WorldPride rises again, this year in Madrid. No evil force will ever defeat the vitality and light of LGBT lives everywhere–not in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Nigeria, Jamaica, Guinea … “we will not merely endure we will prevail” because we represent the future of dignity and truth on this earth! http://www.worldpridemadrid2017.com/en/
Progressive Gay Activists Push for Relationship Equality in Albania
In 2017 the PRO-LGBT leader Kristi Pinderi (photo attached) announced the rights group will file a lawsuit requesting equal recognition of gay relationships. This is a far cry from the repression of the communist regime that ended in 1985 under which LGBTs were imprisoned and tortured. What makes the difference? ‘Blood. sweat and tears’, literally,
Luswata Brant Runs Uganda’s First LGBTI Clinic
Luswata Brant Runs Uganda’s First LGBTI Clinic. Here is a courageous and compassionate man who is able to see through the superficialities of Ugandan society to reach out to the souls of other humans regardless of their sexual orientation or health status. The Clinic and Resource Center Manager at Ice Breakers Uganda, is an organisation
Gay Syrian Asylum Seekers Face Threats From Fellow Refugees in Europe
As if fleeing from tyranny and war are not enough, Syrian LGBT refugees face continued abuse and hostility from other non-gay refugees in Europe. By Anthony Faiola Washington Post October 24, 2015 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/gay-asylum-seekers-face-threat-from-fellow-refugees-in-europe/2015/10/23/46762ce2-71b8-11e5-ba14-318f8e87a2fc_story.html Dresden, Germany Rami Ktifan made a snap decision to come out. A fellow Syrian had spotted a rainbow flag lying
Gay Life in Modern Portugal
A few days in Lisbon is enough to whet one’s appetite for more of this vibrant, stylish, culinary-dense, historic and trendy city. It’s also in the forefront of Gay Life in Europe. By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com March 2015 (most photos by GlobalGayz.com) Lisbon is alive with countless cafes serving up a thousand menus
Baptist College Resists Bigotry; Affirms All Sexualities
Here is a story about a fine and affirming southern Baptist college that will not be intimidated by bigotry and “idolatry of the bible” from fundamentalist anti-gay pastors who cannot see further than the worn out pages of their tattered bibles and rigid dogma. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/11/pastors-oppose-lesbian-bishop-speaker-at-baptist-college/24744385/
The Past and Future of America–and Gay America
I am looking at two journal reports from the NY Times that look across two very different plains in gay America. One is a full-page coverage of a September 2012 gay wedding of two well-off gay men in the prime of their lives and professions. The other is a recent opinion piece, entitled ‘Excluded From
Delta Airlines, Gays and Mecca
April 19, 2012 At 6535 miles we were quite far from Mecca, a quarter way round the world, at 35,000 feet somewhere over the Atlantic. I know this because our TV monitor on Delta flight 73 from Istanbul to New York showed that distance every couple of hours with an arrow pointing to the holy
Roaming the Gay World–For Better and For Worse
By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com 2022 Intro: gay travelers roam the world with backpacks or tuxedos as they explore foreign cultures and encounter others gays worldwide in resorts, beaches and big ships. However, beyond the popular destinations and colorful festivals are countless closeted or impoverished or endangered lesbians and gay men whom most gay travelers do
Sexuality and Law
International human rights law today stands on the United Nations Charter of 1945, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950, and two UN 1966 treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These initiatives have
Britain Threatens Homophobic Countries with Aid Cuts
How fine is this: the British government is threatening to cut its foreign aid to homophobic countries because of their laws and treatment against LGBT citizens. If only more wealthy countries got serious about backing up their human rights standards with financial penalties we might see some serious change of policies in places like Malawi, Uganda, Ghana,
Dalai Lama Donates to Center for Healthy Minds. “It’s about changing habits of the heart.”
New York Times By Dirk Johnson September 26, 2010 Madison, Wisconsin, USA They say money can’t buy happiness — but it can finance the research. When Richard Davidson (left in photo) , then a psychology doctoral student in the 1970s, told his advisers at Harvard that he planned to study the power of meditation, the
Gay Life in Lebanon: Bounce Back Beirut
Intro: An intrepid Dutch reporter ventures into the mixed-message country of Lebanon to experience the glitter and fears of gay life in Beirut. During his visit he discovers the fashionable avenues of Gemmayzeh and the tense streets of Dahiyeh (controlled by Hezbollah) yet finding gay life in both. The conclusion is that LGBT life is not widespread or publicly celebrated but is progressing and tolerated thanks to courageous club owners and Helem human rights group.
Gay Rights Activist Murdered in Honduras
Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.com December 17, 2009 Once again we are humbled and infuriated that yet another courageous gay activist has been gunned down for his human rights work. In a previous blog we considered the irrational persecution and killing of LGBT (gay) people across the world and how human fear and hatred make us inhumane.
Olympic Committee Should Monitor Host Countries on Human Rights
Human Rights Watch New York October 7, 2009 Olympic Congress Should Adopt a Plan to Oversee Human Rights Environment for the Olympic Games The Copenhagen Olympic Congress should create a permanent mechanism to monitor human rights in host countries before, during and after Olympic Games. Human Rights Watch, which has submitted a proposal to the
Major Lesbian Publication Issued from Copenhagen Conference
Posted by Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comI was fortunate to attend the July 2009 OutGames and Human Rights Conference in Copenhagen, Denmarkwhere the following publication was presented by ILGA on behalf of worldwide lesbian activists and supporters. In the past decade lesbians have taken their full place on the world stage of human rights advocacy. Once relegated