Switzerland: Catholic bishop in ‘death to gays’ storm

Vitus Huonder, the controversial Catholic bishop of Chur in eastern Switzerland, has once again attracted criticism for quoting homophobic Bible passages and denouncing non-traditional family models att the “Joy in Faith” forum in the German city of Fulda. In his address, titled “Marriage – a gift, sacrament and order”, Huonder quoted various passages backing up his views. He also slammed gender theory, divorce, sex education and gay marriage. Regarding homosexuality, the bishop quoted from the book of Leviticus, including: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” 

In response to applause, he continued: “Both of these passages alone suffice to clarify unambiguously the church’s position on homosexuality”. In his opinion, the passages had implications for the definition of marriage and the family. “There is no diversity when it comes to marriage and family models,” he said. “Even speaking of family diversity is an attack on the Creator.” 

Swiss gay organisation Pink Cross said it was “shocked and angry” by Huonder’s comments, calling for a “public apology for the latest gaffe”. Pink Cross said it was looking into how such hate speech could be prosecuted, pointing out that representatives of the church do not live in a legal vacuum.  

The bishop later released a statement saying he regretted that his comments had been misunderstood and interpreted as contemptuous towards homosexuals. Read More

Israel: Jerusalem’s chief rabbi visits victim of gay pride parade stabbing

A few hours before Shabbat in Israel, Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern posted an arresting photograph on his Hebrew Facebook page. In it, the ultra-Orthodox cleric, in his full rabbinic regalia, is holding the hand of a victim of Jerusalem pride parade attack. Six people were initially reported as wounded, including a sixteen-year-old girl who who later died. The alleged assailant, Yishai Schlissel, was an ultra-Orthodox man who had previously served 10 years in prison for a similar crime in 2005.

At the hospital, Stern said, “The person that committed this sinful act is a criminal in every way, and his intention to kill Jews is something which is terrifying.”

Other ultra-Orthodox figures have also sharply condemned the attack. “The Torah of the Jewish people is the Torah of life, and the value of life is above everything,” said Moshe Gafni, head of ultra-Orthodox UTJ party. “The attempt to kill & injure is something severe which we utterly reject. [It] is opposed by Judaism, morality, Jewish law, and our path since we have been a people.” Read More  

Uganda: Ban gay couples from adopting children in EAC countries

Uganda’s state minister for East African Affairs, Shem Bageine wants foreigners from countries practicing same sex marriage barred from adopting children from East African Community (EAC) group. Bageine was addressing members of the East African legislative Assembly who are sitting in the Ugandan Parliament. 

The East African Community group is comprised of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. See more here.

US: Three more black trans woman slain in US

According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), Kandis Capri, 35, was one of 16 transgender people to be murdered in the US this year. 

Earlier this year, the NCAVP released a report that said LGBT homicides rose by 11% in 2014. In 2015, with the recently reported deaths in Michigan, Texas and North Carolina of Amber Monroe, Shade Schuler and Elisha Walker – whose body was discovered on Friday – murders of transgender women have hit historic levels.
 

This week, a petition was launched asking the White House to open an investigation into the deaths. After the death of Kandis Capri, pressure will only grow. Read More

Serbia: We asked experts what you can do when you're under attack because you're gay

For those who closely follow the media in recent months in Belgrade there has been a growing epidemic of violence towards LGBT people.  We do not know the exact number of these cases of attacks and beatings in Belgrade and in Serbia. People may be embarrassed to report the crimes, they may feel ashamed, and they may be afraid of repercussions from the attackers. The reasons are myriad.

But what can a person who was attacked or suffered some form of violence because of their gender identity or sexuality do in order to protect and resumed a normal life? Lawyer Milena Vasic from the organization Yucom - Lawyers Committee for Human Rights from the Institute for Criminological and Sociological Research answered common questions and concerns people face after suffering assault. 

Questions addressed included: Should I report the attack to the police? Will the police treat me fairly? How to I obtain a lawyer? What if my abuser is a family member? How should I respond if I am verbally attacked in public?  Read More

Portugal: Finally, a 'gay couple holding hands in public' video that won't ruin your day

In the past two weeks, viral videos from Ukraine, Russia, and Israel have shown us how dangerous it can be for gay men to holds hands in public. But a new version of the same "social experiment" offers some hope for humanity.

"There was no hate, threat, punches — not even a single verbal abuse," Lorenzo reported in the video. Some people stared, but he and Pedro felt that these weren't "negative stares," but rather evidence of surprise or curiosity. Before shooting the video, Lorenzo and Pedro rarely held hands in public.

Maybe they were a "bit frightened," they explained. Seeing how people of Lisbon reacted to them change that. "We felt respected and free," he said. "We felt what any straight or gay couple should feel: comfortable." Read More 

Jerusalem: Gay couple abused while holding hands

A social experiment where a gay couple holds hands in public has been recreated in Jerusalem. Similar to videos created in Ukraine and Russia, the video shows the men enduring vile abuse. As they walk down the street, dozens of people look, and others make homophobic comments. The video comes 2 weeks after 6 people were stabbed at a Pride parade in the city, which left one 16-year-old dead. Read More

Ukraine: Gay couple violently attacked for holding hands in public

A shocking video shows the reaction of a group of neo-Nazis to a gay couple holding hands in public. The video shows Zoryan Kis and Tymur Levchuk holding hands in the Ukrainian capital, in order to gauge the response from the public.

ChebuRussia TV of YouTube previously conducted a social experiment to see what would happen when two men holding hands walked through the streets of Moscow, Russia. For both videos, footage was captured by a third member walking in front of them with a camera hidden in his bag. The first part of the experiment in Ukraine shows no extreme reactions other than some funny looks, and one group of women actually just want to have their photo taken with the couple. 

The couple are later attacked with pepper spray and beaten. Despite the violent attack, the couple say in the video that they see the overall lack of reaction as a “step forward”. Read More
 

Lebanon: Why my own father would have let IS kill me

The group that calls itself Islamic State (IS or Isis) has a special punishment for gay people - it kills them by throwing them off high buildings. Taim, a 24-year-old medical student, tells the story of how he only escaped this fate by fleeing from Iraq to Lebanon: 

If I'd stayed, Isis would have come for me and killed me the way they've killed others. If Isis didn't get me, members of my family would have done it. A few days after I left, I learned that my uncle - my father's brother - had taken an oath to cleanse the family honour.  Read More 

Iraq: Huge crowd gathers to watch ISIS throw gay man off building

Yet another huge crowd has gathered to watch ISIS execute a man accused of being gay – some even brought their children. The man was thrown from a high building after being “found guilty” by a man posing as a judge, wearing a mask.

This is the latest in a spate of killings by ISIS, of men accused of homosexuality. Last week, another video, shot in Palmyra, showed two Syrian men be thrown off a building before being stoned to death. The terrorist group, which operates predominantly across Syria and Iraq, is notorious for filming videos in which captives are brutally slaughtered. It has also taken to executing men it claims are gay, by throwing them off of tall buildings and pelting them with rocks in IS-produced videos.

Members of the terrorist group, which has published a number of graphic videos featuring the murder of supposed gay men, holds power across parts of Iraq, Syria and Libya. Read More

Sierra Leone: To be gay and African should not be a crime

George Reginald Freeman: In my home country of Sierra Leone, homosexuality is punishable by a minimum of 10 years in jail. My first punishment was when I was 12 and came out. I confided in my uncle. Instead of the acceptance, he beat me up and called me names: “shob am na kaka hole,” which loosely translates to “ass-fucker.” His screaming and yelling brought neighbors out of their homes. They yelled at me while my uncle went to get the police, who arrested me.

Sierra Leone is my homeland, yet I lived in constant fear of the police and officials who arrested and detained me numerous times because I am gay. Yet there are longstanding traditions of homosexuality in African history. The Mende tribe in Sierra Leone has the “sande bwake,” which means male cross-dresser. The word “mabole” means a woman who plays the role of a man and at times dresses like men, while eschewing “women’s” activities.

Even the masquerades allow cross-dressing during festivals and cultural performances. Most women who are not able to give birth are allowed to marry their fellow women for child-bearing. These women are not considered the wife to a husband, but the wife to a wife. Homosexuality is not “un-African.” We are the cradle of human life, and nothing human is alien to us. Read More

Namibia: Deputy Finance Minister’s anti-gay rant

Namibia’s Finance deputy minister, Natangue Ithete, launched a scathing verbal attack on homosexuality this week, declaring to Ministry of Finance staff that African culture does not entertain gays. Ithete accused foreigners coming into Namibia under false pretences and selling the idea to local cultures that homosexuality is acceptable. Ithete’s remarks have an international flair to it, following only days after Kenyan President Kenyatta said gay rights were a non-issue. 

“You are either a man or a woman. Don’t come from outside and tell us this is acceptable. They must keep their gay activities in their countries. We will not entertain any of this gayness [sic],” Ithete told staff during a visit to the ministry’s western region. Ithete’s attack on homosexuals followed as he urged customs and excise staff to welcome foreigners “with a true Namibian welcome”.  Foreigners will always be treated well in Namibia on condition they respect Namibia’s cultural orientations and not encourage or entertain anything he labelled as “un-Namibian”, said Ithete.

Despite the segmented homophobic remarks, Ithete welcomed foreigners to Namibia and acknowledged the importance of foreign involvement in the country like investment and assistance in areas the country lacks. “We have our president to respect. The president of Angola is not above any other president in Africa. When you are the president of your country, direct your people in your country and don’t influence us here. Sorry, this is how it’s going to be,” he pressed.  Read More