Category: Europe

Success at Baltic Pride 2013 March despite eggs and bottles thrown

July 27, 2013

“Gay haters attacked the Swedish Minister with eggs” By Cathy Kristofferson, July 27,2013 After months of court battles, Baltic Pride 2013’s March for Equality, today successfully proceeded along Gediminas Avenue in the center of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city. Escorted by 500 police, fire brigade and a helicopter overhead, an estimated 600 proud marchers were met by an array … More Success at Baltic Pride 2013 March despite eggs and bottles thrown

Moldova secretly adopts anti-propaganda law

July 18, 2013

“Politicians specifically sought to avoid debating the bill in public.” By Cathy Kristofferson, July 18, 2013 An article introduced in the Parliament of Moldova on May 23rd titled “Public activities with negative impact on minors” has now been secretly passed and adopted.  Today, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights is reporting that “A new … More Moldova secretly adopts anti-propaganda law

Wildly successful Budapest Pride March 2013 attended by U.S.’s Stuart Milk

July 6, 2013

Budapest Pride 2013: Rise up for diversity and human rights By Cathy Kristofferson, July 06, 2013 Today Budapest celebrated its 18th annual Gay Pride Parade. The Budapest Pride Film & Cultural Festival 2013 has been held on the first Saturday of July every year since 1997.  This year’s seems to be wildly successful as HVG.HU reported: “The Andrássy … More Wildly successful Budapest Pride March 2013 attended by U.S.’s Stuart Milk

South African Lesbian photographer’s big ask of Norway’s Crown Princess

June 21, 2013

Please tell other Monarchs, especially in Africa, that being gay is OKAY By Melanie Nathan, June 21, 2013 The Crown Princess of Norway, Her Royal Highness Mette-Marit, met famed South African photographer, filmmaker and LGBTI activist Zanele Muholi recently at an exhibition of Muholi’s work in Norway. The event took place last night at the Kunstplass … More South African Lesbian photographer’s big ask of Norway’s Crown Princess

Poland Pride’s success dampened by first openly gay PM assault

June 17, 2013

By Cathy Kristofferson,  June 17, 2013 Saturday about 8 thousand marched in Poland’s annual Equality Parade, Parada Równości 2013, under the slogan ‘Fully-fledged Diversity’.  Since Poland has become more accepting these days, the organizers decided to march for Russia and Eastern Europe where the LGBT communities are currently under attack.  Prior to the parade bout … More Poland Pride’s success dampened by first openly gay PM assault

Turkey’s ruling party says LGBTs ‘immoral’

June 1, 2013

“Isn’t there a place in Turkey for LGBT’s?” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 1, 2013 Just before Turkey exploded onto the international news scene with the current uprising in Taskim Square now labeled #OccupyGezi , we received a request to publicize the police suppression of this year’s Istanbul Gay Pride March which we did here.  While … More Turkey’s ruling party says LGBTs ‘immoral’

IDAHOT Around the World | The good, the bad, and the ugly

May 18, 2013

By Cathy Kristofferson, May 18, 2013 The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia – IDAHO, IDAHOT, IDAHOBIT or however you like it – annually celebrated on May 17, was conceived in 2004 to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1990. This year over 100 … More IDAHOT Around the World | The good, the bad, and the ugly

Albany N.Y. teacher assignment asked students to argue that Jews are evil

April 12, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 13, 1013. Haaretz is reporting that a high school English teacher could face disciplinary action for giving a writing assignment that asked students to make a persuasive argument blaming Jews for the problems of Nazi Germany, as noted by Albany school district officials on Friday. School district spokesman Ron Leskosaid administrators … More Albany N.Y. teacher assignment asked students to argue that Jews are evil

Topless Protestors in Germany lunge at Putin in Protest at Trade Event

April 11, 2013

European protestors, the group Femen take their protests to an effective extreme – at least I think so – certainly noticeable and passionately expressive. This makes American protests in the vein of Code Pink and GetEQUAL seem tame. I say ‘way to go and thank you FEMEN! By Melanie Nathan, April 10, 2013. A must … More Topless Protestors in Germany lunge at Putin in Protest at Trade Event

Watch Video of show as thousands turn out in Amsterdam to Protest Anti-gay Putin

April 11, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 11, 2013. Further to our report about the lowering of rainbow flags to half mast in the Netherlands and protests against Russian PM Vladimir Putin, on April 08, the Dutch LGBT community and allies turned out by the thousands to protest Putin’s proposed anti-gay propaganda law in Russia. On stage performers … More Watch Video of show as thousands turn out in Amsterdam to Protest Anti-gay Putin

The Pope who led the failed crusade against gay marriage in Argentina

March 13, 2013

Just Another Anti-Gay Pope By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson,  March  13, 2013. When white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel today, heralding a new Pope, LGBTI communities around the world were not expecting anything more than another religious leader to work actively against secular legal rights. Choosing the name Pope Francis,  Cardinal Bergoglio, of … More The Pope who led the failed crusade against gay marriage in Argentina

European Court of Human Rights balances religion against gay rights

January 17, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2013. The European court of human rights in response to claims brought against the British government in four individual cases by Christians,  should, according to the U.K. Guardian, come as no surprise. The detailed ruling shows how difficult it was for the seven Strasbourg judges who heard the claims to … More European Court of Human Rights balances religion against gay rights

Video Topless Gay Women Protesting in front of Pope

January 13, 2013

Much watch video of the extreme protest by topless “gay” identified women By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2013. The Petrelis Files report on the Vatican topless protests.  Equality supporters staged a topless protest in a packed St. Peter’s Square during the Pope’s address, in protest of Pope’s anti-gay stand against same-sex adoption. The Vatican paper … More Video Topless Gay Women Protesting in front of Pope

Hundreds of thousands of French Catholics, Evangelicals and Muslims protest at Eiffel Tower against Gay Marriage

January 13, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2013. The Eiffel Tower was not looking so friendly to Paris and Gays today as several hundred thousand people  converged on the Eifel Tower in Paris on Sunday to protest against President Francois Hollande’s plan to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption by June, 2013. Many came after long train and … More Hundreds of thousands of French Catholics, Evangelicals and Muslims protest at Eiffel Tower against Gay Marriage

A Report from Stockholm and The ILGA World Conference

December 16, 2012

By Kristina Hultman, December 16, 2012 After a few days of climate shock, jetlag and defrosting, an unseasoned warmth took over a cold and frosty Stockholm, when four hundred participants at the ILGA World Conference saw its conclusion today, Sunday 16th, casting 242 votes from over one hundred countries, while warming up to camaraderie of common … More A Report from Stockholm and The ILGA World Conference

Facebook homophobia bullying may have resulted in Italian 15 year old’s suicide

November 23, 2012

“They crucified him like Jesus: now I want justice.” Mother of Andrea By Melanie Nathan, November 23, 2012. Outrage is building as a community of grief stricken LGBT Romans in Italy are trying to come to  grips with the suicide of a young Italian. His name was Andrea and he was only was 15 when … More Facebook homophobia bullying may have resulted in Italian 15 year old’s suicide

Defending the Gay Family at Installtion of San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone

October 6, 2012

Anti-gay Catholic Archbishop Cordileone Installed amidst noisy protests By Melanie Nathan, Oct 05,2012. Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone was one of the major voices in the campaign to pass the discriminatory Proposition 8 in California. He is the head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for the Defense of Marriage, whose purpose has … More Defending the Gay Family at Installtion of San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone

AIDS 2012 to Discuss HIV and World Travel Bans

July 21, 2012

Dr Paul de Lay, Deputy Executive Director of the UNAIDS Programme said “Every individual should have the right to freedom of movement, regardless of their HIV status. UNAIDS is opposed to any restriction imposed on people living with HIV and restricting movement only on the basis of their HIV status. These restrictions are discriminatory.”
… More AIDS 2012 to Discuss HIV and World Travel Bans

Historic Line-up of Speakers for AIDS 2012 in D.C.

July 17, 2012

High level speakers announced for XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) By Melanie Nathan July 17, 2012. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush, South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, U.S. Senators John Kerry and Lindsey Graham, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi , U.S. Congresswoman Barbara … More Historic Line-up of Speakers for AIDS 2012 in D.C.

New EU Commission Report on Transgender and Intersex Discrimination

June 11, 2012

Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 11th, 2012 The European Commission has just published a new report, ‘Discrimination against trans and intersex people on the grounds of sex, gender identity and gender expression‘. With it, the European Commission looks into the situation of trans and intersex people for the first time. The European Commission had already … More New EU Commission Report on Transgender and Intersex Discrimination

Sweden Threatens to Deport Persecuted Lesbian back to Uganda

May 14, 2012

Stop the Deportation of Ugandan Lesbian Nantale Prosscovia. By Melanie Nathan, May 14, 2012. Nantale Prosscovia, a Ugandan lesbian held in a Swedish prison, is facing deportation back to the life-threatening situation she fled 6 years ago. Now a Petition has been launched on the site “GO Petition” to try and save her from this … More Sweden Threatens to Deport Persecuted Lesbian back to Uganda

United Kingdom Publishes New Human Rights Report

April 30, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, April 30, 2012. While the United States has yet to publish its annual (2011)  Human Rights Report, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office issued its  392 page report on human rights today and  the LGBT section can be found at page 68 as follows:- Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights The Government is … More United Kingdom Publishes New Human Rights Report

Catholic Church UK letter to Schools to Sign Anti Gay Marriage Petition

April 26, 2012

” The Catholic Church has as much right to influence change to secular law as I do to seducing  the Pope during Sunday Mass!” By Melanie Nathan, April 26, 2012. The Catholic Church in the UK, including Wales and Ireland, has apparently sent a letter out to high schools to demand that all students sign … More Catholic Church UK letter to Schools to Sign Anti Gay Marriage Petition

New Accuser for Secretly Gay Murder Suspect Shrien Dewani

April 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan,April, 02, 2012 A beautiful bride and the perfect groom and what better than a honeymoon in magnificent Cape Town, South Africa. It would take wealth to put on the lavish wedding depicted in the photographs splashed across the world press, and that wealth itself would serve to question the very alibi upon … More New Accuser for Secretly Gay Murder Suspect Shrien Dewani

Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

March 6, 2012

Tomorrow the UN debates Human Rights for LGBT people By Melanie Nathan, 03/06/2012, For us in the USA, “gay rights” is associated with the debate over equality and is about whether LGBTI people should be allowed to marry, adopt, serve in the military, be subject to baseless firing from jobs. Yet others in the World … More Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

Study of Teens of Lesbian Parents shows Happy as Teens from Heterosexual Parents

January 12, 2012

The quality of life of 17-year-olds reared in lesbian-parent families did not differ from that of a matched group of adolescents who grew up in heterosexual-parent families, according to a new study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The study took 78 17-year-olds from the NLLFS—all of whom have lesbian mothers—and matched them based on … More Study of Teens of Lesbian Parents shows Happy as Teens from Heterosexual Parents

Hungary’s New Constitution Causes Mass Protests

January 3, 2012

 Sacrifices 1989 Constitutional safeguard amendments; excludes LGBTI, bans same-sex marriage and abortion Posted by Editor, Jan 03, 2011, BUDAPEST;- Hungary has a new constitution, and it has caused tens of thousand of people to take to the streets. The Constitution which was enacted with a vote of  262-44 in April of last year, bans marriage … More Hungary’s New Constitution Causes Mass Protests