Fear and Loathing

, ,

Isolation and HIV memories hit LGBT+ elderly hard in lockdowns

, ,

As lockdowns are imposed around the world to stop the spread of coronavirus, LGBT+ groups are scrambling to support older members of their community who are more likely to live alone and suffer from poor health than their heterosexual peers.

UK: 'I'm stuck in isolation with my homophobic parents'

With the UK on coronavirus lockdown, some young people have been forced to isolate alongside parents who don't accept their sexuality. After the coronavirus outbreak suddenly ended a UK tour he was performing in, Sam, 23, a dancer, from Birmingham, says he had "no choice" but to move back to his "strict" Christian family home.

Bangladesh: One of world's largest brothels in Bangladesh appeals for funds

DHAKA: Sex workers from one of the world’s largest brothels appealed to the Bangladesh government on Monday for emergency funding after a ban on customers to prevent the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus.

More than 1,500 sex workers are based at the Daulatdia brothel, about 100 km (60 miles) west of Dhaka, which is one of about 12 officially sanctioned brothels in the South Asian country, and receives an estimated 5,000 customers every day.

The government on Friday announced the closure of the brothel - a series of shacks spread over a maze of alleyways - until at least April 5 but promised to give all of the sex workers a package of 30 kgs of rice, US$25, and a freeze on rent.

Government official Rubayet Hayat, executive officer of the sub-district of Goalanda, where the brothel is located, said the aid was expected to arrive late this week.

But women working at Daulatdia appealed for immediate help, saying they no longer had money to pay for food for themselves or their children due to the sudden closure of the brothel.

“If we were informed beforehand, we could have tried to save up as much as possible. Now many of us have to take loans to not stay hungry,” said Kalpona, a 30-year-old sex worker, who has been living in the brothel for nearly two decades. Read more via Straits Times