IDAHO FIGHTS HOMOPHOBIA– May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), this year with the theme Homosexuality Knows No Boarders. Since its inception in 2003 IDAHO has aimed to remind people that despite progress in legal rights for gays and lesbians, homophobia still exists on a social level, to varying degrees, in most countries around the world. Organisers hope that this year’s theme will make the general population and ethno-cultural communities of all backgrounds more aware of gay and lesbian issues, and sexual diversity. For more information go to: http://www.homophobiaday.org
GAYS TO WED IN VERMONT– Vermont has become the fourth US state to grant same-sex marriage rights, joining Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa. The decision comes nine years after Vermont adopted same-sex civil union laws – the first US state to do so – and is the first decision on same-sex marriage to be made through legislative means and not through the courts. Neighboring states New Hampshire and Maine are now also considering bills to allow same-sex marriage and the issue is being debated in New York.
UGANDAN OUTING– Ugandan newspaper, The Red Pepper, has published a list of over 50 ‘Top Homos’, including their names, occupations, physical descriptions, HIV status and partners. The article claims it ‘exposes Uganda’s shameless men and unabashed women that have deliberately exported the western evils to our dear and sacred society,’ while rights activists are concerned it will lead to harassment and violence against the persons named. Uganda is renowned for their intolerance of homosexuality, and police in the country were recently given greater authority in investigating and punishing GLBTIQ people.
#AMAZONFAIL– Internet retailer, Amazon caused a brief stir last month when thousands of books about GLBTIQ topics were relabelled as having ‘adult content’ and subsequently lost their sales ranking, disappearing from bestseller lists. An online petition quickly circulated and gained almost 10,000 signatures before the company released a statement saying that the issues were caused by a glitch in the system. ‘Many books have now been fixed and we’re in the process of fixing the remainder as quickly as possible, and we intend to implement new measures to make this kind of accident less likely to occur in the future,’ said Patty Smith, director of corporate communications in the company’s official statement.
PINK DOT SPECIALS– In what is being dubbed as Singapore’s first public event in support of the GLBTIQ community, people are being invited to wear pink and head to Hong Lim Park on May 16. The event is called Pink Dot and it is hoped that once people are assembled in the park they will be able to form an enormous pink dot which will be photographed from above. ‘This is NOT a protest nor a parade, just a simple call for open-minded Singaporeans to come together to form a pink dot, of which aerial photographs will be taken,’ states the event’s website, www.pinkdot.sg/index.swf
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