Meet the Team LGBTQ in 2024 Paris Olympics

 

The 2024 Paris Olympics will feature at least 155 publicly out LGBTQ athletes, marking the second consecutive Summer Games with triple-digit representation. The final total of Team LGBTQ members in Tokyo was 186 athletes, but the current number will grow as the Games progress 

The numbers reflect growing acceptance in the sports world, especially for women athletes, despite the total of out LGBTQ Olympians still hovering at less than 2% of the expected overall figure of around 10,700 participants. 

The list of out athletes is heavily weighted to parts of the world where being LGBTQ is both legally and culturally accepted. This includes countries in North and South America, Western and Northern Europe and Australia and New Zealand. There are out athletes from 23 of the 206 participating nations.

The countries with the most out athletes at the Paris Olympics: USA (30), Brazil (25), Australia (18), Great Britain (10), Germany (9) and Netherlands (9).

There are only three out athletes from Asia: two boxers from the Philippines and one from Thailand. There are only four athletes from Africa (three South Africans) and one from the Refugee Team, boxer Cindy Ngamba, born in Cameroon and now living in Great Britain. There is only one athlete from any Muslim-dominated country (a Turkish volleyball player), places where being out and gay is often illegal or dangerous, and none from Russia, which has cracked down on LGBTQ rights in the past decade.

Some of the members of the Team LGBTQ in the 2024 Paris Olympics are:

• Dan Jervis, Great Britain, swimming.
• Sha'Carri Richardson, USA, track.
• Robbie Manson, New Zealand, rowing.
• Chelsea Gray, USA, basketball.
• Campbell Harrison, Australia, climbing.
• Nikki Hiltz, USA, track and field.
• Tom Daley, Great Britain, diving.
• Timo Cavelius, Germany, judo.
• Elke Vanhoof, Belgium, BMX.
• Hergie Bacyadan, Philippines, boxing.
• Alexia Putellas, Spain, soccer.

And many, many more!

Enjoy 2024 Paris Olympic Games!!!

United Nations calls countries to decriminalize homosexuality

The United Nations (UN) human rights chief and UNAIDS’s executive director have reiterated their calls for countries to decriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations.

“Laws criminalizing LGBTQ+ people must be consigned to history,” said Volker Türk and Winnie Byanyima in a statement. The “decriminalization of LGBTQ+ people is vital for protecting everyone’s human rights and everyone’s health,” they added.

The statement notes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, the Cook Islands, Dominica, Gabon, India, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago over the last decade have repealed laws that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations.

There are 61 countries that have laws that criminalise homosexuality, and nearly half of these are in Africa. Check them below:

From ILGA

Many thanks Mr. President for being our ally!

 

Many thanks President Biden !

Adult LGBTQ+ Population in the United States

The LGBTQ+ population is the largest it has ever been in recorded United States history, and the community is only growing.

13.9 million adults in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ+, accounting for 5.5 percent of the country's total population, a study from the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, found.

The states with the largest number of LGBTQ+ adults are also the states with the largest overall populations. Oregon, Delaware, and Vermont are the states with the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ people. West Virginia, Mississippi, and North Carolina are the states with the lowest.

The study also found that 18-24-year-olds are the group with the most queer people, with one in every six identifying as LGBTQ+. In other age groups, one in ten (9.1 percent) of those 25 to 34 years old, less than 5 percent of those ages 35 to 49, and less than 3 percent of those ages 50 and older identify as LGBTQ+.

Check the report here.

From the Williams Institute

South Korea's Supreme Court recognises rights for same-sex couples in historic ruling

South Korea's highest court ruled it was discrimination for state health insurers to treat same-sex couples differently from their heterosexual counterparts, in a verdict that activists said could pave the way for the eventual legalisation of same-sex unions in the country.

The Korean Supreme Court ruled that it was discrimination based on sexual orientation to exclude the couple just because they are same-sex. The court ruled that the health service decision to not recognize same-sex partners who have formed an economic community of life similar to a married couple as dependents is unlawful.

The verdict, which cannot be appealed, means common-law spouses of the same sex can now register as dependents on their partners' state health insurance, something long permitted for heterosexual common-law partners.

While South Korea does not recognise same-sex marriages, gay relationships are not criminalised. This ruling ultimately paves the way for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in South Korea, following the lead of other Asian countries like Taiwan and Thailand.

It's time South Korea!!!

Labour government includes conversion therapy ban in King’s Speech

King Charles III delivered the first King’s Speech for the new Labour government at the State Opening of British Parliament.

Within the speech, the King announced a draft bill will be brought forward to ban conversion practices, confirming Labour plans to outlaw it after promising to do through a “full, trans-inclusive, ban”.

Conversion therapy incorporates abusive practice refers to attempts by anti-LGBTQ+ groups or individuals to forcibly change the sexuality or gender identity of an individual.

LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations welcomed the news, because conversion practices are abuse, and they must be banned once and for all.

The UK will join to several countries around the world which already banned this awful practice.

The Italian Puglia region passes a gender equality law

The Puglia region in Italy has successfully enacted a law combating homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. The new legislation ensures equal opportunities and treatment concerning sexual orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex characteristics. 

The legislation promotes labour policies, professional training, job placement activities, and initiatives ensuring equal access to work. It also mandates training for teachers, school staff, and parents, focusing on equal opportunities, valuing differences, countering stereotypes, and preventing bullying and cyberbullying related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.

It also includes socio-welfare and socio-health interventions and interventions for university students, offering information, counseling, and support for homosexual, transgender, transsexual, and intersex individuals and their families, along with training for sector operators.

With this law, everyone has the opportunity to be themselves, freely expressing their sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex condition. Ms. Meloni, when a national law against such discrimination will be established in Italy?

Congratulazioni Puglia!!!

To know more about the amazing Puglia region, 
visit the PugliaGuys.com or follow the @PugliaGuys on X.

Many countries signed the Samoa Agreement with EU, but not all are pro-LGBTQ

The Samoa Agreement is the overarching framework for European Union (EU) relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, to promote economic development, democracy, and human rights. 

The agreement has been signed by the 27 member states from the EU and 79 countries worldwide, including 48 African, 16 Caribbean, and 15 Pacific nations. Around 2 billion people are covered by the agreement.

Africa: South Africa, Angola, Cape Verde, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia , Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Chad, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Saint Christophe and Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

The Pacific: Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

By signing the agreement, these countries aim to address global challenges and promote cooperation in various areas. The agreement provides a platform for its members to work together towards sustainable development, economic growth, and improved living standards for their citizens and their rights.

The priorities include human rights, democracy and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and mobility/migration.

The Samoa Agreement also contains clauses about the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity, which are interpreted as LGBTQ rights.

However, among the signatories to the Samoa Agreement are countries with anti-LGBTQ laws, including those governed by Islamic laws or with a predominantly Muslim population.

Samoa itself, where the agreement is named after for hosting the foundation summit, criminalises same-sex relations between men. In fact, consensual same-sex relations are illegal in over 30 African countries.

Either these countries haven't read the whole agreement or they don't intend to comply with it in this matter, giving further credence to the fact that the agreement does not mandate them to become pro-LGBTQ.

World laws pertaining to homosexual relationships and expressions

One million marched in the Pride Parade in Madrid, Spain

One million people marched along the main streets of Madrid, filling the Spanish capital city with colored flags for the main LGBTQ pride parade in the country and one of the biggest parades throughout Europe.

The Madrid Pride, known as Madrid Orgullo or MADO, takes place annually at the beginning of July and offers a week of activities, from concerts and parties to cultural events and political rallies. 

The highlight of the festival is the impressive parade that winds through the heart of Madrid, with colorful floats and enthusiastic participants.

This year’s demonstration carries a particularly important message. Through the slogan "Education, rights and peace: Pride that transforms", the parade's organisers called for education in diversity as a key tool to fight against any kind of homophobia.

In a society where LGBTQ rights are often threatened and hate speech and crimes are on the rise, it is crucial to raise voices and stand against regression. The march is a tool to advocate for real and effective equality in all spheres of life, demanding an end to discrimination and injustice.

Spain is one of the nation tops most accepting of homosexuality, but human rights activists are warning that attacks on queer people increased in Spain in recent times, after right party PP and far-right party VOX have extreme their speech against LGBTQ rights.

Happy Madrid Orgullo 2024!!!

Yes, there will be LGBTQ+ athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris

The 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, are nearly here and, every time the Olympics come around, it's a chance for some of the best athletes from around the world to get together, compete, and celebrate. 

And many of those elite athletes are part of the LGBTQ+ community. There are over 170 publicly out LGBTQ+ athletes at Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021.

Fortunately, the Olympics has been a place where queer athletes like Greg Louganis, Sue Bird, Tom Daley, Megan Rapinoe, and Adam Rippon have become beloved international stars. 

And now, it's time for another generation of LGBTQ+ athletes to rise to the occasion. Here are some of the LGBTQ+ athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, until now:

• Dan Jervis, Great Britain, swimming.
• Sha'Carri Richardson, USA, track.
• Robbie Manson, New Zealand, rowing.
• Chelsea Gray, USA, basketball.
• Campbell Harrison, Australia, climbing.
• Nikki Hiltz, USA, track and field.
• Tom Daley, Great Britain, diving.
• Timo Cavelius, Germany, judo.
• Elke Vanhoof, Belgium, BMX.
• Hergie Bacyadan, Philippines, boxing.
• Alexia Putellas, Spain, soccer.

And many more!

Paris Olympics 2024 are held from July 26 to August 11

Istanbul Pride March celebrated again despite ban

In the midst of ongoing bans throughout Türkiye, İstanbul's LGBTI+ community managed to hold their 22nd Pride March in an unexpected location, once again surprising security forces.

The march began around 3.30 pm on Bağdat Avenue, a vibrant location on İstanbul’s Anatolian side. Despite the ban on almost all events during Pride Month, the LGBTI+ community managed to come together using alternative and creative methods, even though they could not publicly announce the route in advance.

The Pride Week Committee advised the crowd to disperse for safety reasons by leaving their flags behind. The event, which lasted about 10 minutes, concluded with a brief walk down Bağdat Avenue after a statement was read out. Police later arrived and began searching for LGBTI+ demonstrators in the side streets.

The Turkish activists made a statement on Bağdat Avenue:

After the march, a rainbow flag was hung from the Chackra building on Bağdat Avenue.

Happy Pride Türkiye!!!

President Biden parties with Elton John and Katy Perry in Stonewall National Monument

President Joe Biden courted LGBTQ+ voters with two New York events and warned about Donald Trump returning to the White House, as he looked to shake off a widely panned debate performance.

President Biden inaugurated a visitor center at the Stonewall National Monument with pop legend Elton John and Katy Perry, and later headlined a Pride Month fundraiser. 

"You marked a turning point in civil rights in America," President Biden told the crowd at the Stonewall monument, a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride for decades. And he added, that "we remain in a battle for the soul of America" but "I look around at the pride, hope and life that all of you, all of you, bring, and I know it's a battle that we're going to win."

President Biden used the evening fundraiser at the Manhattan Center as a chance to emphasize his differences with former Trump, who he said posed a threat to the rights achieved by the LGBTQ+ community. "Let there be no doubt: I will continue to defend your freedoms," President Biden said. "Trump is committed to roll back all the progress".

LGBTQ Americans are highly motivated to vote in November, with a majority preferring President Joe Biden (68%) to Donald Trump (15%) according to polling result released by GLAAD.

This is not over!

Happy Pride Month!!!! 🌈

 

Pride Month started after the Stonewall Riots

President Biden pardons all veterans convicted under old military ban on gay sex

President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of gay veterans convicted and discharged under a now-repealed military law that banned gay sex. The announcement comes during the midst of Pride Month

President Biden said in a statement: “Our nation’s service members stand on the front lines of freedom, and risk their lives in order to defend our country."

“Today, I am righting an historic wrong by using my clemency authority to pardon many former service members who were convicted simply for being themselves.”

“Despite their courage and great sacrifice, thousands of LGBTQ+ service members were forced out of the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity." 

"Some of these patriotic Americans were subject to court-martial, and have carried the burden of this great injustice for decades.”

“This is about dignity, decency, and ensuring the culture of our Armed Forces reflect the values that make us an exceptional nation,” he added.

This act of clemency means that thousands of military personnel who were convicted over six decades for engaging in consensual sexual intercourse with someone of the same sex would be able to apply for a certificate of pardon that would help them gain access to benefits that were previously withheld.

These benefits include healthcare, pensions, and more, significantly impacting the lives of those who were unjustly discharged. The administration is considering ways to connect veterans with pro bono attorneys who can assist in navigating the application process for discharge upgrades and other legal matters related to the pardon.

LGBTQ Americans are highly motivated to vote in November, with a majority preferring President Joe Biden to Donald Trump according to polling result released by GLAAD.

A historic move!!!

Lewis Hamilton wears a rainbow helmet at Spanish Grand Prix

During the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton wore a rainbow helmet with the words “Love is Love” to celebrate Pride. 

This is not the first time Hamilton has shown support for the LGBTQ+ community, previously wearing various Pride-related designs, including at the Qatar Grand Prix, where his helmet featured a Progress Pride flag design and the words “We Stand Together”.

Hamilton kept the same helmet for races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, making a statement in places not known for their tolerance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Hamilton also vowed to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in Florida. “It’s not good at all,” he said of Florida lawmakers expanding the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, which prohibits discussion of LGBTQ+ lives across all school grades. “I stand by those within the community here. I hope they continue to stand firm and push back,” he added.

Many thanks Lewis!!!

Hamilton ended third in Spanish GP

Thousands march at Budapest Pride 2024

 

Over 30,000 people marched at Budapest Pride to protest Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

All of them proved that the spirit of Pride is still alive in Hungary as they turned out to march at Budapest’s 29th annual Pride event.

The participants came together to celebrate Budapest Pride against the backdrop of an increasingly hostile legislative environment for LGBTQ citizens in Hungary, under Orban regime.

44 embassies signed a statement supporting the Budapest Pride, stating their support for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their rights to equality and non-discrimination, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and freedom from violence.

The European Commission decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU over a Hungarian law which discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

We stand with Hungary!!!

The American Library Association creates a task force to protect LGBTQ+ books

 

The American Library Association (ALA) is on a mission to protect LGBTQ+ librarians in the U.S. It recently created a task force to address the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ library workers.

Amid record-high book bans and numerous attempts to defund or shut down libraries across the country, it has been fighting to enhance access to books and information. 

In 2023, more than 4,200 books were targeted for censorship in schools and libraries in the U.S., with over 1,200 challenges to books and resources in public libraries. 

The fight to protect access to books comes amid a book banning boom, with an alarming increase in attempts to censor books in K-12 schools, universities and public libraries. 

Many of these efforts seek to pull books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes and are part of a broader, Republican-led movement to chisel away at the rights and status of LGBTQ+ Americans.

Each attempt to ban a book represents a direct attack on every person’s right to freely choose what books to read and what ideas to explore, and to suppress the voices of LGBTQ+ community. 

Happy Pride Month Folks!!!

 

Thailand legalizes marriage equality

Thailand’s Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill legalizing marriage equality, putting Thailand on the path to become the second country in Asia and the first in Southeastern Asia to legalize the practice.

The Thai Senate voted to pass this bill overwhelmingly, with 130 members voting for it, 4 voting against it, and 18 abstaining. The Thai House, which the bill passed through in April, voted similarly, with 400 members voting for it, 10 voting against it, and 5 abstaining.

The bill will also allow LGBTQ+ couples to adopt children together, though it does not use gender-neutral language for that provision. 

The bill still requires endorsement from the king before marriage equality can become reality in Thailand, but this process is considered a formality. The law will then come into effect 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette.

Thailand is projected to join Taiwan in legalizing marriage equality. 

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin celebrated the victory on X, writing, “I am proud of the collective effort of all stakeholders which reiterates the power of ‘unity in diversity’ of the Thai society.”

Congratulations!!!

20,000 Species of Bees, a lovely trans kid Spanish movie

Set in the rural Spanish countryside, Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren’s 20,000 Species of Bees centers on a transgender eight-year-old girl who happens to be visiting family over a weekend for the occasion of a christening. 

But while all others find themselves caught up in their own problems, this young girl is trying to find a way to articulate to them that she isn’t the boy they all think she is, but rather a girl named Lucía (Sofía Otero) who wants to be understood as the person she knows herself to be.

It’s uncommon indeed to see a trans coming-of-age story so acutely in-tune to the subtle realities of growing with an understanding of your differences but not being able to put such variance into words. Lucía is often sullen, bristling at the use of her deadname or the more gender-neutral nickname “Coco” often employed by her family. 

She longs to be seen as Lucía, and while she may not know what the word transgender means, she knows that she’s a girl. Spending time among multiple generations of women in her family over the course of a few days helps her put this profound and essential femininity into focus.

Young Sofía Otero won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for her work. Check all the movie awards and nominations here.

Watch the trailer below:

NYC subway station is renamed in honor of Stonewall Riots

A bill to rename a New York City subway station in honor of the Stonewall Riots unanimously passed the state legislature  and now awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s review and expected signature. 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) proposed to rename the Christopher Street-Sheridan Square subway station as the Christopher Street-Stonewall National Monument station.

The proposal was co-sponsored by State Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick (D-Manhattan) and State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan). 

“This change will memorialize the history of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement and inspire NY to demand justice and equality for all,” Hoylman-Sigal posted. 

Happy Pride Month!!!

The Stonewall Inn was declared National Monument by President Obama

Transgender community members invited to Modi's oath ceremony in India

 

About 50 people from the transgender community have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and the new cabinet of ministers to them give blessings, in IndiaIndia.

Before the ceremony, BJP MP and former Social Justice and Empowerment minister Virendra Kumar felicitated the community members at his residence.

“This is a part of Prime Minister Modi’s call of ‘sabka saath sabka vishwas and sabha prayas’. Including people from transgenders in the ceremony is to enhance the inclusivity message of the PM,” Kumar told.

This is the first time in IndiaIndia that people from the transgender community are formally invited for the swearing-in ceremony, he said. These participants have made contribution in the empowerment of the transgender community, Kumar added.

PM Modi won the reelection in India

The Boyfriend, the first Japanese same-sex dating reality show

Netflix will next month upload its first Japanese same-sex dating reality TV series: The Boyfriend.

The show takes nine men to a beach house in order to find love. For a month, they live together and take turns working shifts at a coffee truck, forging deep friendships and learning about themselves along the way.

The show will also be hosted by an eclectic mix of personalities including Megumi, Horan Chiaki, Thelma Aoyama, drag queen Durian Lollobrigida and Yoshimi Tokui.

Japan has a complicated relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, with same-sex marriage currently not legal in the country. In the law fast years alone, multiple courts have issued rulings on whether its exclusion is unconstitutional or not.

Watch the short trailer below: