King Charles announces UK government’s conversion therapy ban

 

A Draft Conversion Practices Bill was included in King’s Speech, outlining Labour‘s legislative programme for the coming parliamentary session in the U.K.

“My Government will bring forward a Bill to speed up remediation for people living in homes with unsafe cladding and a draft Bill to ban abusive conversion practices,” the address read in part.

The Government committed to eradicating what it called “abusive” practices, in line with a pledge made in its 2024 election manifesto.

Officials say the ban will be carefully targeted to avoid interfering with legitimate healthcare for those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Several PMs have promised to ban conversion therapy, albeit in varying forms. In 2018, Theresa May made overtures toward ending the practice. In 2022, Boris Johnson would support a ban but wich did not cover trans people. In January 2023, Rishi Sunak also promised a trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban. Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labour Party promised a trans-inclusive ban in 2024.

Now, we will see if it is finally a reality.

Spain breaks Malta’s decade-long hold on the Rainbow Map top spot

 

This year’s Rainbow Map tells two stories at once:

• One of genuine courage, in Spain, in courtrooms, and in leaders who are choosing to stand with their communities rather than scapegoat them.
• And one of real and growing danger that cannot be underestimated. The question every government in Europe must now answer is which story they want to be part of.

The Rainbow Map ranks 49 European countries on their respective legal and policy practices for LGBTI people, from 0-100%. It is supported by our Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People in Europe and Central Asia, which gathers and presents qualitative data, illustrating how these laws and policies impact politics, society, and the daily lives of LGBTI people.

According to the new edition published by ILGA-Europe, Spain has moved from the 5th to the 1st place among 49 European countries for LGBTI rights, ending 10 years of Maltese leadership. This achievement is the result of years of work by activists, civil society organisations, and many committed professionals across the country.

Malta drops one place to 2nd in the ranking with a score of 88%. While the slide in the ranking is technically due to Spain’s rise, it also reflects Malta’s stagnation and lack of continuous reform. The country still lacks a comprehensive anti-discrimination framework, which could be addressed through the Equality Bill that was tabled in 2019 and has been stalled since.

Iceland retains the 3rd place in the ranking, but gains two points, resulting in a total score of 86%. The government renewed its equality action plan, reaffirming its commitment to legal progress. Some measures set in the action plan have started being implemented, such as a training framework for asylum caseworkers in cooperation with the LGBTI organisation.

The three countries at the other end of the Rainbow Map scale are Russia (2%), Azerbaijan (2%), and Turkey (5%). Not a surprise.

The pink triangle is also a symbol of resistance

 

Donald Trump posted a Washington Times article titled Army Recruitment Ads Look Quite Different Under Trump on Truth Social. The thumbnail showed a crossed-out upside-down pink triangle – the same one used by Nazis during WWII to identify and murder LGBTQ+ people.

This triggered a great deal of anxiety for Queer people. Though Trump hadn’t directly shared the image itself, sharing the link felt like an statement of endorsement for systematic homophobia and transphobia.

But the pink triangle is also a symbol of resistance and community, and deserves to be remembered that way. Since the 1970s, LGBTQ+ liberation groups have worn the pink triangle as a way of memorialising the Queer people who have died as a result of persecution, apathy, and violence.

We must hold onto the power of the pink triangle as a symbol of resistance. Trump’s administration may wish to use it to persecute, but by using it for protest, we remember the lives it represents with as much integrity as possible.

A Vatican report includes gender, sexuality and LGBTQ issues

 

The Vatican released a study group document that has surprised gay Catholics for including their voices on controversial subjects affecting the Church. The study group’s report address gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ inclusion.

It’s the first time that in any official publication of the Vatican, they’ve included witnesses and testimonies and stories from LGBTQ Catholics in any kind of detailed way. Two of the testimonies were from married gay men.

Among the issues the report addresses are the negative impacts of conversion therapy, described as the devastating effects of reparative therapies aimed at recovering heterosexuality, as well as the Church’s role in enabling the solitude, anguish, and stigma that accompany persons with same-sex attractions and their families.

Though document was not written by the Pope, but by the study group, it requires the authorization of the Pope to be released to the public. Nevertheless, Pope Francis reiterated that homosexuality is not a crime, but at same time he defended that the Church cannot bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin.

Read the report here.

Russia's largest publishing house raided for LGBT propaganda

 

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues to intensify domestic repression against his own people. The latest target was the country's largest publishing house, Ekcmo, which was raided by police.

Police officers confiscated thousands of books and arrested the company's CEO for distributing what the Kremlin calls "gay propaganda".

With Putin seeking ​to promote an image of Russia as a guardian of traditional moral values in contrast with a decadent West, ​Russian authorities banned what they call the "LGBT movement", designating it as extremist and those supporting it as ⁠terrorists.

Private Russian companies including music channels, online film distributors and book publishers are routinely fined for hosting LGBT content.

Shame on you Putin!!!

Europe moves to wide-ban on conversion therapy

 

The European Parliament has voted in favour of banning conversion therapy practices across the European Union, marking a major step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Europe.

The move follows a European Citizens’ Initiative launched in January 2024 by ACT LGBT, which gathered more than 1.2 million signatures in support of outlawing the practice.

The vote is considered a strong political signal to the European Commission, which is the only EU institution with the power to formally propose binding legislation.

If advanced, the proposed law would seek to ban all forms of conversion therapy for both children and adults throughout the bloc.

Conversion therapy refers to practices that attempt to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, and has been widely condemned by health and human rights organisations.

Read the press release here.

Alarming increase in laws against LGBTQ+ people around the world

 

The Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) expresses its deep concern at the growing trend towards the criminalisation of same-sex relationships around the world. Since 2023, some countries have enacted or passed laws criminalising homosexuality, whilst in others, draft legislation aimed towards criminalisation is currently being considered.

The tightening of criminal penalties based on sexual orientation or gender identity contravenes international human rights obligations freely undertaken by States. Criminalisation violates the principle of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in addition to prosecuting the promotion, support, and financing of LGBTQ+ people, exacerbating the risks of persecution, violence and social exclusion against LGBTQ+ people and, in the end, it promotes fear, fuels polarization, and stigmatizes differences thus posing a threat to rights, freedom and well-being of every individual.

These provisions may not only constitute a direct violation of human rights, but also restrict access to essential services such as healthcare and justice, and perpetuate structural cycles of violence and discrimination.

Read the statement here.

Almost 40% of all book challenges in 2025 were LGBTQ+ books

 

The American Library Association (ALA) released data documenting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during 2025

ALA tracked 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, the second highest ever documented after 2024. Of the unique titles challenged in 2025, 1,671 (39%) represent the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people and people of color.

In 2025, 92% of all book challenges were initiated by pressure groups, government officials and decision makers, up from 72% in 2024. Less than 3% of challenges originated from individual parents.

Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the data compiled by ALA represents only a snapshot of book censorship throughout the year.

ALA is on a mission to protect access to LGBTQ+ books in the U.S. “Libraries exist to make space for every story and every lived experience,” said ALA President Sam Helmick. “We reaffirm that libraries are places for knowledge, for access, and for all,” he added.

Hungary violated EU law and discriminated LGBTQ+ people, top European Court rules

 

The Court of Justice of European Union (CJUE) rules that Hungary's 2021 Child Protection Law unlawfully discriminates against LGBTQ+ community; the first time a member state has been found in violation of EU fundamental values charter.

The European Court has ruled that Hungary’s amended Child Protection Law violates EU law and discriminates against gay and transgender people.

The court said the legislation “stigmatises and marginalises non-cisgender people, including transgender people,” and noted that the law’s title links them with people convicted of paedophilia. According to the court, this association increases stigma and may encourage hostile behaviour.

It is the first time the court has found that an EU member state breached the fundamental values set out in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The law was pushed by Viktor Orbán in a referendum coinciding with a general election vote.

The ruling comes nine days after Hungary’s parliamentary elections, in which the opposition Tisza Party defeated Orbán’s Fidesz party.

Read the CJEU press release here.

A Russian local media fined over Heated Rivalry review

 

A Russian court has fined a local news outlet 500,000 rubles (about $6,600) after it published a review of the gay-themed hockey drama series Heated Rivalry, treating the cultural write-up as illegal in a ruling under the "gay propaganda law".

Heated Rivalry centres on closeted gay Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who is in a secret affair with Canadian player Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams). Some scenes are set in Russia, and Rozanov’s tense relationship with his family is a big plot point and something he struggles with throughout season one.

Despite legal risks around LGBTQ content, the series has found a big Russian fanbase via pirate sites or VPNs.  The fine was linked to a review headlined: “Why Did ‘Heated Rivalry’ Become Popular?” People are watching it in part because it is forbidden, a guilty pleasure that the government would likely view as dangerous propaganda.

With Putin, Russia is a very homophobic and transphobic place, especially given the 2013 law that bans so-called gay propaganda, in fact, any positive mention of LGBTQ identity. 

Trump forced to restore Pride flag at Stonewall National Monument in NYC

 

The rainbow Pride flag will return permanently to the Stonewall National Monument after federal government agreed to reinstall it as part of a legal settlement ending a high-profile lawsuit over its removal.

The removal was in line with updated Trump's guidance, limiting the types of flags permitted on government-managed flagpoles.

The agreement, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, settles a case brought by the Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation, Equality New York, and others, following the National Park Service’s removal of the Pride flag in February. 

The agreement requires the National Park Service to reinstall the display within seven days, with the American flag at the top of the pole and the rainbow Pride flag and the agency’s flag flown beneath it.

The removal, at the site of the 1969 uprising that ignited the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, sparked swift backlash from advocates, historians, and elected officials who saw it as an erasure of both symbol and story.

This resolution ensures the flag will continue to fly at the monument, affirming its rightful place at the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Bravo!!

Activists already returned Pride flag defying Trump's policy

Time to end Orbán's Hungary government

 

For almost 16 years, Hungary has been governed under the self-styled “illiberal democracy” of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a right-wing populist, and his national-conservative party, Hungarian Civic Alliance (Fidesz). 

This regime has been much criticized for eroding democratic norms, with a media that is heavily biased towards the government, and accusations of widespread corruption and gerrymandering. 

Orbán has further drawn criticism internationally for interfering with the courts and judiciary, strict anti-migrant laws, and repression of the LGBTQ+ community; as seen last year with the banning of Pride events, following previous bans on same-sex marriage and adoption.

Going into the election, the political and media landscape in Hungary still appears highly stacked in Fidesz’s favour. The country’s public broadcaster has repeatedly aired Fidesz campaign videos, whilst newspapers and other independent media have been shut down or taken over by oligarchs sympathetic to Fidesz, which controls around 80% of the traditional Hungarian media.

Despite this, opponents of Orbán have been cautiously optimistic this time around about the chances of the main opposition party, Respect and Freedom Party (Tisza), a liberal-conservative and pro-European party.  Under the leadership of Peter Magyar, it has been leading in the polls over recent months.

If Tisza wins with the constitutional majority, complete regime change is the most likely scenario. That will mean a completely new chapter in Hungary’s political life. In terms of EU relations, we can expect rapid improvement, and that some EU funds will be unfrozen.

It is time to end Orban's government!

Euphoria season 3 release

Euphoria, one of the most-watched series in all of HBO’s history that earned 25 Emmy nominations and 9 wins, is back with more heart-pounding drama.

The series follows a group of young adults navigating sex and drug addiction, love, friendship and trauma. Season three will feature a time jump that follows the cast into their adult lives after graduating high school. 

Zendaya will return to reprise her role of Rue Bennett, as will Hunter Schafer in her role as Jules Vaughn. The rest of show's principal stars Jacob Elordi, Eric Dane, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Colman Domingo, Martha Kelly and Chloe Cherry are set to return.

There will be new faces, of course, including Sharon Stone, Grammy winner Rosalia, football player Marshawn Lynch, Emmy nominee Natasha Lyonne and even Trisha Paytas.

After a five-year time jump, the characters are navigating life after graduating college. Rue is south of the border in Mexico and in debt to a drug dealer while Cassie and Nate get married and live in the suburbs. Jules is in art school and Maddie is working for a Hollywood talent agency. Lexi is an assistant to a showrunner played by Sharon Stone.

Though HBO has not officially confirmed whether season three is Euphoria’s last, many fans have assumed it would be the end after there was a four-year hiatus between season two and three.

Watch the trailer below:

Most Americans broadly support trans equality, a recent survey finds

 

A recent survey commissioned by Human Rights Campaign Foundation found a clear majority of US citizens support equality and legal protections for trans people, with increasing levels of personal connection.

Large majorities of Americans support equal rights and protections for transgender Americans (85%), as well as equal access to healthcare (89%), workplace protections (79%), and protections for transgender students (83%).

The survey also pointed to the impact of everyday relationships. Of those surveyed, 41% of US adults said they know someone who is transgender, and 27% reported speaking with a transgender person regularly. It is a fact, people with direct contact were consistently more supportive of trans equality.

The findings also suggest public feelings may be more positive than what some politicians would have you believe, with majority support recorded across political affiliation, race, ethnicity and gender, including among Republicans.

After one year into Trump Administration, it is marked by relentless anti-trans attacks and weaponizing government against LGBTQ+ people’s health and safety. We hope next midterm elections 2026 people vote accordingly.

4 MILLION VIEWS, 4 MILLION THANKS!!!!

 

4 MILLION VIEWS, 4 MILLION THANKS!!!!

In from the side, a gay rugby engaging story

 

In from the side, it is a romantic British rugby drama directed by Matt Carter, and starred by Alexander Lincoln and Alexander King.

This surprisingly moving sports-team story is slathered in sweat, streaked with mud, and dripping with sensuality. As a "B Squad" of gay athletes try to overcome inexperience and push past rivalries to score an elusive win, a secret affair simmers among them. 

Mark (Lincoln) and Warren (King) from a cash-strapped, divided gay rugby club unwittingly sleepwalk into an adulterous affair, but must conceal their growing feelings or risk destroying the club they love. Mark finds himself unable to avoid the blazing appeal of teammate Warren. 

After losing their first game, B team takes on a serious competitor to establish themselves as a committed team or else they'll be dropped. Wanting to be with Mark, Warren offers to join the B team under the guise of helping them win.

Awards:

Nominated - Outstanding First Feature at the Frameline Film Festival 2022.
Winner - Best First Narrative Feature and Best Actor at FilmOut San Diego 2022.
Winner - Best Narrative Feature Audience Award at Out On Film Film Festival Atlanta 2022.
Winner - Best Narrative Feature at ReelQ Pittsburgh Film Festival 2022.
Runner-up - Best Feature Film at OutShine Film Festival Fort Lauderdale.

Watch the trailer below:

IOC bans transgender women from female categories in Olympics Games

 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned transgender women and DSD athletes from the female category of events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and future Games.

Kirsty Coventry, the president of the IOC, said the landmark decision had been taken because “it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category”.

The IOC has also confirmed that all athletes wanting to compete in the female category at future Olympics will have to undergo a one-off SRY (sex determining region Y gene) screening to detect their biological sex. 

Coventry said the decision, which applies to elite individual and team sports, was based on science and would protect the fairness and safety of women’s sport. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition”, she said.

“The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe", she added.

The IOC said its new policy should be adopted by all international sports federations and governing bodies for events, such as the Summer and Winter Olympics. It made it clear it applies only to elite sport and not any grassroots or recreational sports programmes.

Check the new policy here.

Nightclub owner jailed for promoting LGBT ideology in Russia

 

Tatiana Zorina was arrested in Russia after police raided a nightclub. Prosecutors claimed the venue functioned as a space encouraging LGBTQ+ identity and community, which they equated with extremist activity.

This description stems from a 2023 ruling by the Supreme Court of Russia, which labelled the so-called “international LGBT movement” as extremist. Legal experts and activists argue that the vague classification allows authorities to target individuals and groups at random.

Zorina was sentenced to four years in a penal colony by a court Russia. The court found her guilty of “organising the activities of an extremist organisation”, alleging that she used a nightclub in Russia to promote what authorities describe as the “international LGBT movement”.

Zorina’s sentencing is a stark illustration of how Russia’s abuse of ‘extremism’ legislation has spiralled into outright persecution targeting LGBTQ+ people and their allies.

With Putin, Russia is a very homophobic and transphobic place, especially given the 2013 law that bans so-called gay propaganda, really, any positive mention of LGBTQ identity. 

The Russian authorities must immediately overturn this conviction and release Tatiana Zorina!!!

Bitter Christmas, the new film by Pedro Almodovar

 

Bitter Christmas is the new film by the Spanish iconic director Pedro Almodovar. Starring Bárbara Lennie and Leonardo Sbaraglia alongside Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Victoria Luengo, Patrick Criado, Milena Smit, and Quim Gutiérrez. 

The story begins with a family Christmas gathering that, far from being a moment of peace and harmony, turns into a night fraught with tension. What starts as a seemingly normal dinner ends up bringing to the surface secrets from the past, accumulated resentments, and emotions that have been hidden for years.

In Almodovar's universe, families are never simple. They are complex, contradictory, and profoundly human. And it is precisely there that the director once again constructs a story full of emotional intensity.

Although Bitter Christmas is not an LGBTQ+ story per se, the film maintains something that has always defined Almodóvar's cinema: a free-spirited perspective on identity, desire, and human relationships.

Throughout his career, the director has been one of the key figures responsible for bringing LGBTQ+ characters to the forefront of Spanish cinema, from classics like Law of Desire to All About My Mother. Therefore, even when his stories don't directly revolve around the LGBTQ+ community, his films continue to breathe diversity, emotional freedom, and characters who live outside traditional molds.

The title itself makes it clear: this is not a merry Christmas. Almodovar once again uses the family as a stage where everything can explode: awkward glances, recriminations from the past, and truths that forever change how the characters see each other.

Watch the trailer below:

Greece's top court upholds same-sex marriage and adoption rights in landmark ruling

 

Greece's Council of State ruled that civil marriage between gay couples and adoption by such couples are constitutional, upholding law with a 21-6 majority vote.

The law was originally passed in February 2024 despite the strong opposition of the Greek Orthodox Church, thus making Greece the first Orthodox country to legalize gay marriage. The challengers argued that same-sex marriage alters the traditional concept of family and disadvantages adopted children.

The Greek top court determined that the law does not violate constitutional protections of marriage, family, maternity, or equality in Greece. The ruling stated that legal recognition of same-sex marriages and related adoption rights align with constitutional principles and European case law.

They reflect the evolution of social and moral views on same-sex relationships and the acceptance of same-sex family life, a trend that has been adopted by the majority of advanced democratic countries in Europe and the Western world.

Bravo!!

Mamdani establishes NYC Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs

 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order establishing the first-ever Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, fulfilling a campaign promise.

From securing housing to employment, the office vows to level the playing field for the community. The creation of the office comes at a time where federal rollbacks are targeting the trans community.

Mamdani installed Taylor Brown, an attorney in the Civil Rights Bureau for the New York State Attorney General, as the office's new director. Her appointment, announced at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, is historic in itself.

With Brown's leadership, the office will oversee and implement LGBTQIA+ initiatives across city agencies that range from legal resources for sanctuary protections to ensuring agencies do not engage in discrimination based on gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

"I am frankly looking forward to working with our new director on seeing the many which ways that our city could stand up for queer and trans New Yorkers," Mamdani said.  

EU Court of Justice rules against Bulgaria’s ban on trans people

 

According to the EU Court of Justice, European Union member states must allow transgender citizens to update their names and gender markers on identification documents, 

The EU’s highest court ruled that Bulgaria’s ban on trans people updating their names and gender markers on birth certificates, established in 2023, violates the right to freedom of movement between EU countries guaranteed. All EU citizens’ right to freedom of movement supersedes any member country’s laws, the court said.

The Court agreed, ruling that “EU law precludes legislation of a Member State which does not permit the amendment of the gender data in the civil status registers of one of its nationals who has exercised his or her right to move and reside freely in another Member State”.

Such a restriction violates the right to respect for private life guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which, the Court said, “protects gender identity and obliges Member States to provide for clear, accessible and effective procedures for the legal recognition of it”.

The European Court of Human Rights also ruled in favour of a same-sex couple in 2023, acknowledging that Orban's laws had failed to recognise them as legally married abroad.

Ukraine Supreme Court recognizes same-sex couple as family for first time

 

In June 2025, Kyiv’s Desnianskyi District Court established the existence of de facto marital relations between Zorian Kis, first secretary of Ukraine’s embassy in Israel, and his partner Tymur Levchuk.

The case was prompted in part by the issue of accompanying the diplomat abroad. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry refused to process the partner’s travel as that of a family member, citing that Ukrainian law defines marriage as a union between a woman and a man.

The District Court applied the concept of “de facto marital relations” as a form of family life, recognizing the two men’s cohabitation as one family.

With a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of Ukraine confirmed the existence of de facto marital relations between two men for the first time in the country’s history.

The Supreme Court ruled that a party that did not participate in the case and whose rights and obligations are not affected by the ruling cannot challenge the decision. The Supreme Court therefore leaves in force the lower court’s position, which established that the two men had lived together as one family, confirming the existence of de facto marital relations.

Public support for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine has grown steadily in recent years as the country has drawn closer to Europe, and in particular after Russia’s invasion on the sovereign nation in 2022.

One important step, but there is a lot to walk.

Support LGBTQ Ukrainians here

One year into Trump Administration, by HRC

 

After one year of the U.S. presidential elections, Trump Administration is marked by relentless anti-trans attacks and weaponizing government against LGBTQ+ people’s health and safety.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released findings from the Annual LGBTQ+ Community Survey which reveals impacts, one year into Trump Administration, of attacks on LGBTQ+ visibility, health care access, financial stability, and discrimination. 

The HRC is the American’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for LGBTQ+ people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. 

The data presents a stark picture of the LGBTQ+ experience one year into this administration:

• Financial security is declining: LGBTQ+ adults are nearly twice as likely to say that their financial situation worsened over the past 12 months as non-LGBTQ+ adults.
• Visibility is slipping: More than half of LGBTQ+ adults (51.1%) report being less visible than a year ago. 40.1% of LGBTQ+ parents with school-aged children report being less visible at schools, the highest of all measured environments. 
• Outness is fading: Nearly half (47.5%) of LGBTQ+ adults report being less out somewhere in their lives over the last 12 months. This retreat cuts across workplaces (26.5%), healthcare (25.4%), and public spaces (28.3%).
• DEI rollbacks are harming LGBTQ+ workers: 57.4% of LGBTQ+ workers with employers that ended or scaled back DEI reported experiencing stigma and bias at work.

This moment demands that all of us stand proud.

Check the survey here.

Scouting America says transgender kids are still welcome

 

Scouting America pushed back on claims by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the organization would limit membership based solely on sex assigned at birth, insisting that transgender youth remain welcome in its programs. The organization currently services over 1 million youths.

“We have transgender people in our program, and we’ll have transgender people in our program going forward,” President and CEO Roger Krone told.

The statement contradicts Hegseth’s claims that the organization is rolling back participation rules amid the Trump administration’s dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies. Hegseth said Scouting America would “modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity,” adding that “the application must match the applicant’s birth certificate.”

Scouting America responded they remain steadfast in their commitment to providing a place for all young people to learn, grow, and thrive. In recent years, Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, lifted bans on gay youth and leaders, opened its flagship program to girls, and, in 2024, rebranded as a coeducational organization. 

Netherlands appoints youngest and first gay prime minister

 

Netherlands has appointed its first openly gay and youngest prime minister, Rob Jetten, who is the leader of the Democrats 66 (D66). He won the elections of last year, dethroning the far-right Freedom Party (PVV). 

Jetten was formally sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague. Posting a selfie ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Jetten wrote on X: "Proud to be doing this together. In a new phase, with great responsibility and, above all, a shared promise to work for everyone in the Netherlands".

Jetten served as a cabinet minister under Mark Rutte, the Netherlands' longtime prime minister and now NATO secretary-general. Now, with his minority coalition of parties is set to be put to the test in an already fractured political landscape.

He is engaged to be married to his partner Nicolás Keenan, an Argentine two-time Olympian and field hockey star.

Purple Friday: supporting LGBT youth across Scotland

 

LGBT Youth Scotland is gearing up for its 22nd annual Purple Friday celebration. On February 27, communities are invited to take part in Paint It Purple activities, aimed at showing visible support for LGBT young people.

Purple Friday is the annual fundraising day where people all over Scotland show their support for LGBT young people and fundraise for vital services.

Organisers say the day is all about celebrating "creativity, self-expression, and showing up for queer young people in ways that feel bold, joyful, and unmistakably visible."

The goal is to turn places like classrooms, offices, and shop windows visibly purple for the day.

A spokesperson said: "On Purple Friday, we use it to say loudly and clearly that LGBT young people matter, that their creativity is powerful, and that they deserve a future filled with colour, possibility, and care."

Team LGBTQ gets a new record at 2026 Winter Olympics

 

The LGBTQ athletes at 2026 Milan Winter Olympics got a new feat after winning a record-breaking number of medals.

Nineteen of the 49 publicly out LGBTQ athletes, competing in the multinational sporting event placed in Italy, won a medal in their respective competitions. In total, 11 medals were won across multiple sports by members of Team LGBTQ.

This year’s Winter Olympics had already broken records, having the highest number of out LGBTQ athletes in Winter Olympics history. Team LGBTQ was the 19th largest contingent of athletes at the event.

Team LGBTQ included competitors representing UK, US, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Among them was Swedish freestyle skier, Elis Lundholm, who became the first trans man to compete at the Winter Olympics during the women’s freestyle skiing tournament.  

Congratulations!!!

A record-breaking number of LGBTQ athletes competed at 2026 Winter Olympics

Turkish government increasingly becomes more hostile towards LGBT community

 

The Turkish government is looking to introduce new legal regulations in a fight against what authorities are calling the influence of “LGBT deviants”.

New regulations being discussed include a 3 year prison term for offences relating to the spreading of pro-LGBT propaganda, in an attempt to uphold “family and moral values”. And it is also proposing prison time of up to 4 years for people seeing same-sex wedding ceremonies. 

The government is also considering changes to laws concerning transgender people. A new proposal seeks to change the required minimum age to undergo gender-affirming surgeries from 18 to 25, with required court approval. Anyone involved in unauthorised surgeries will risk jail time of up to 3 years. 

Currently, homosexuality is still legal in Türkiye but there are no civil rights protections for LGBT people and same-sex marriage is not recognised. Besides, the authorities have been cracking down on pro-LGBT propaganda in recent years, under President Erdoğan. 

A lawmaker for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said at a summit held in Ankara this week: “Projects that attempt to force LGBT propaganda are dynamites that will blow up the future of the Turkish nation. We have to have legal reinforcement for protection against online anti-family disinformation campaigns and harmful trends targeting our children.”

Unacceptable!!!

Turkish LGBT community is fighting for their rights

European Parliament passes resolution declaring trans women are women

 

Europe’s Parliament has agreed to a resolution declaring that trans women are women. The resolution made a host of recommendations for the European Union (EU) to pursue at the 70th annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Among the recommendations was a proclamation emphasising the “importance of the full recognition of trans women as women, noting that their inclusion is essential for the effectiveness of any gender-equality and anti-violence policies”.

Other proclamations referencing LGBTQ+ people included the need for a “comprehensive tool to monitor and counter democratic backsliding and backsliding in women’s rights”, as well as the acknowledgement of a rise in attacks against LGBTQ+ and women’s rights activists.

The array of recommendations were adopted in a 340-141 vote, with 68 abstentions. While most European Parliament resolutions aren’t legally binding, their passage typically marks significant influence within EU member states.

Pride flag returns to Stonewall Monument defying Trump's policy

 

Activists in New York have restored the Pride flag at the Stonewall Memorial after it was controversially removed.

The flag, which had been flying near the monument in Greenwich Village, was taken down by the National Park Service. 

The Agency confirmed the removal was in line with updated Trump's guidance, limiting the types of flags permitted on government-managed flagpoles.

In a move of defiance against the Trump administration, who ordered it to be removed, it was restored in a ceremony at the same site.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Manhattan State Senator Erik Bottcher organised the re-raising of the flag as crowds gathered to see it returned.

Instead of the flag returning to its original place however, it was being raised on an alternate flagpole, to comply with government regulations, a move that left it essentially at half mast, displeasing many.

Two activists on the scene intervened stepped in to ensure the Pride flag went to its rightful place at the monument.

We won't be erased!!!

The price of dignity

 

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych wore a special helmet during his first training sessions on the Olympic track. 

It features portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – in total, it’s over 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches. 

But the IOC confirmed that Heraskevych won't be allowed to wear the helmet, saying it contravenes the Olympic Charter guidelines. He has finally been banned to participate in the games.

Shame on you IOC!! Stop War!! Stop Putin!!

Stand with Ukraine!!