LGBTQ

Transgender Candidates in Nepal’s Local Body By-Elections

Two transgender candidates, Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan, are running in Nepal's local body by-elections. The voting will take place on Sunday across 32 districts. Election Overview There are 44 vacant positions, but by-elections are being held for 41 local-level roles. These include two rural municipality chairs, four vice-chairpersons, one...

Young Dumb & Broke Star Khalid Reveals He’s Gay: ‘In Reality…’

Renowned singer Khalid, celebrated for hits like Young Dumb & Broke and Location, confessed his sexuality in an unadorned and straightforward conversation on X (formerly Twitter). This on Friday evening, Khalid took speculations head-on with a post that featured a pride flag emoji, stating, "There y'all go. Next topic, please, lol." When a...

LGBTQ+ Reacts to Trump’s Victory: A Nation’s Cry for Equality

Following Donald Trump’s reelection as U.S. President on November 5, the LGBTQIA+ community has voiced growing concerns about potential changes in policies under his administration. Across the country, protests and creative acts of resistance, such as organized “screaming events,” have surfaced to provide emotional relief and strengthen community bonds. One...

Georgia’s President Rejects Controversial Bill Limiting LGBTQ Rights

Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili has declined to sign a contentious bill criticized by human rights organizations and European officials for its potential to limit LGBTQ rights, according to reports on Wednesday. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, passed the so-called “family values” bill last month with a vote that the opposition...

Iraq criminalises same-sex relationship,15 years in prison

Iraq's parliament has passed a new law criminalizing same-sex relationship, imposing a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. The legislation, known as the Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality, also targets individuals who promote homosexuality or prostitution with a minimum prison term of seven years. Furthermore, the law includes penalties...

Maharashtra Police Constable Who Underwent Sex Change Surgery Welcomes Baby Boy

Lalit Kumar Salve, a police constable from Maharashtra's Beed district, who underwent sex reassignment surgery to transition from a woman to a man in 2020, recently welcomed a baby boy on January 15th. The constable, born Lalita Salve in June 1988, defied societal norms by transitioning, marrying, and now embracing...

LGBTQ activists hope for favourable verdict from SC in same sex marriage case

Indian activist Anjali Gopalan said they are hoping for a favorable ruling, whether it be a civil right or a marriage equality right, as the Supreme Court bench is expected to rule on marriage equality rights for the LGBTQIA+ community on Tuesday. "We hope for a positive verdict, I think...

People from LGBT community and supporters participate in ‘Barnali Walk’, in Kolkata on Sunday.

Will form committee to look into issues faced by LGBTQIA+ community : Centre to SC

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a committee led by the Union Cabinet Secretary would be established to investigate the problems the LGBTQIA+ community is facing. Tushar Mehta, the Centre's solicitor general, explained this to a five-judge Constitution Bench. A group of petitions concerning "marriage equality rights...

LGBTQ members shouldn’t be stigmatised but be assimilated with society, petitioner argues before SC

On Tuesday, a petitioner argued before the Supreme Court that the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) community should not be stigmatized, but rather integrated into society through marriage equality. The court stated during the hearing that the current matter would be limited to the Special Marriage Act and...