Serbia hosted its first LGBTQ+ pride march in four years—and the event proceeded peacefully, the Star Observer reported. Hundreds participated in the streets of the country’s capital of Belgrade, waving rainbow flags and blowing whistles while surrounded by security. The marchers made their way through the city’s center to the National Assembly, where speakers addressed the crowd. Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stayed away from the event, which the Serbian Orthodox Church patriarch criticized. Two weeks before the parade, a German LGBTQ+-rights activist was badly beaten in Belgrade, causing Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic to state, “We will not allow this kind of thing to remain unpunished.”
The African country of Mali has become the 65th nation to criminalize same-sex relations, according to Erasing 76 Crimes. The militant junta-led country’s new law mandates seven years in prison for LGBTQ+-rights advocacy and up to two years in prison for same-sex activity in public. However, although it makes consensual private same-sex intimacy a crime, the new statute does not specify a punishment for that offense. Mali’s ruling National Transitional Council adopted the measure in November 2024 by a nearly unanimous vote (131-1) and it was officially published in December.
The Vatican eased guidelines on admitting gay men to Italian seminaries, allowing them to train—as long as they remain celibate, The Jerusalem Post noted, citing T24. The Vatican Congregation for the Clergy approved the norms and were promulgated by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, on Jan. 1, according to RPP Noticias. A 68-page document referred to people with same-sex leanings studying in seminaries or disclosing this orientation, and advised candidates not to openly demonstrate their sexuality, T24 stated.
In Spain, four men have been jailed over the murder of Samuel Luiz—a young gay man whose killing almost four years ago shocked the country and led to nationwide protests, The Guardian reported. Luiz’s friends said he had stepped out of a nightclub to make a video call when two passersby accused him of trying to film them on his phone; an argument ensued, and several people pummeled Luiz. In November 2024, a jury found the four men guilty of Luiz’s murder at the end of a trial in A Coruña. A court in the city sentenced three of the convicted men—Diego Montaña, Alejandro Freire and Kaio Amaral—to terms of 24 years, 20 years and 20 years and six months, respectively; a fourth man, Alejandro Míguez, who did not hit Luiz, received a 10-year sentence. The sentences, which can be appealed in Galicia’s high court, also ordered the killers to pay Luiz’s family compensation of €303,000 (about $310,000 U.S.).
In the UK, the 25th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on gay service personnel was recently celebrated, and the winning design for a memorial dedicated to the military service of LGBTQ+ people was unveiled, per Forces News. Overseen by the LGBTQ+ military organization Fighting with Pride, the design and construction are being funded by a grant from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the MOD. The construction of a monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ veterans and serving personnel was one of the recommendations of a national inquiry into the historic treatment of queer people in the armed forces.
In most countries normally visited by cruise lines, being queer is not an issue—but, as a reminder, Jamaica has some very strict laws, Yahoo! Life noted, citing Human Rights Watch. “The criminalization of homosexuality in Jamaica dates back to the 1864 Offenses Against the Person Act, which calls for a punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment with hard labor for those convicted of the “abominable crime of ‘buggery.’ Members of the Jamaican LGBT community are denied access to basic rights and services, resulting in alarming rates of homelessness and HIV,” according to the organization. Also, the government of Canada warns that LGBTQ+ people “have experienced harassment and verbal or physical abuse” in Jamaica, and it also warns queer people to “avoid public displays of affection.” The U.S. State Department has Jamaica under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel warning; it does not make a specific mention of the nation’s LGBTQ+-related prejudice and laws.
London Underground advertisements featuring Muslim cleric Ismail ibn Musa Menk—also known as Mufti Menk—were removed after an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority, PinkNews noted. The six ads promoted Wahed (an online investment platform for those of Islamic faith) and featured Zimbabwean Islamic speaker Menk—who previously described gay people as “worse than animals”—as well as Russian former UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov. Last October, Transport for London and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were criticized for the ads because of Menk’s inclusion as well as the imagery of burning bank notes belonging to the United States and Eurozone countries.
In a profile in NME, trans and non-binary musician Sudanese-American singer Dua Saleh—who had a breakout role in the Netflix series Sex Education—talked about issues haunting them. “I am aghast that we’re willing to destroy our planet to sustain an economic system that will not sustain itself because the pillars of it are destruction,” they said. They also talked about music, of course, saying, in part, ““The thing about R&B and Black music at large is that a lot of it is insightful on the worries that we have about the world,” citing The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as an example. Saleh added, ““For me, environmental justice is something that is considerably important, being from East Africa and seeing the ways our resources have been exploited.”
British rock icons Skunk Anansie—founded in 1994 by queer musician Skin—released their new single “An Artist Is an Artist,” along with a video, per a press release. Produced by David Sitek of TV On The Radio fame, known for his production work with Foals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Santigold, Solange, Weezer, and Chelsea Wolfe, “An Artist Is An Artist” is the band’s first new music in almost three years. Also, Skunk Anansie will launch a tour in Portugal on Feb. 28, continuing through Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Belgium before ending in the UK with 14 shows; tickets are here.
LGBTQ+ ally Nicola Sturgeon—who said last year that the abuse she faced for trying to overhaul transgender laws helped convince her to quit as Scotland’s first minister in 2023—announced that she and her husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, are divorcing, according to the Belfast Telegraph. They had been one of the most powerful couples in UK politics, with Sturgeon serving for more than eight years as Scottish first minister and SNP leader, while Murrell was the chief executive of the party. The BBC noted that Murrell was charged with embezzling SNP funds in April 2024 as part of a police investigation into the party’s finances; Sturgeon was arrested and released without charge in June 2023.
In the western African country of Sierra Leone, Health Minister Austin Demby issued a public-health emergency after two cases of mpox were reported, according to AlJazeera. Earlier this month, Sierra Leone reported its first confirmed case of the disease since the African Union’s health watchdog declared an emergency over the growing mpox outbreak on the continent last year. Demby also announced increased border surveillance and testing, as well as the launch of a national awareness campaign.
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched a new “Year of the Family” initiative—and partially blamed the LGBTQ+ community for his country’s decreasing birth rate, LGBTQ Nation noted. The longtime authoritarian leader cited what he called the “historical truth” that a “strong family paves the way for a strong state”—but added that the family unit is partially under attack from the queer community. “The target of gender neutralization policies, in which LGBT is used as a battering ram, is the family,” Erdoğan said. “Criticism of LGBT is immediately silenced, just like the legitimate criticisms of Zionism. Anyone who defends nature and the family is subject to heavy oppression.”
Icelandic gay-rights activist Eldur Smári Kristinsson—known for social-media posts criticizing the trans-rights movement—claimed a local police department launched an investigation into his posts questioning if biologically male trans individuals can breastfeed, according to WLOS. “I want to sue the broadcaster [RÚV] and the chairwoman for the National Queer Association for their [libelous] and defamatory statements about me, but I am also likely having to defend myself in criminal court proceedings,” according to his GoFundMe page. Recently, Kristinsson was a candidate in an Icelandic parliamentary election “to put the dangers of gender ideology, and the harm it poses to children and vulnerable adults, on the agenda,” the page also read.
The BAFTA nominations were revealed in London, with the papal thriller Conclave and trans-led crime-musical Emilia Pérez leading the way with 12 and 11 nominations, respectively, according to Deadline. The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, Nosferatu, Anora, Wicked, the Irish dramedy Kneecap and A Complete Unknown also did well among nominees. Queer performers Cynthia Erivo and Karla Sofia Gascon scored best actress nods along with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore and Saoirse Ronan; on the male side, Colman Domingo was the sole out LGBTQ+ individual to get a nomination, and he will compete against Adrien Brody, Timothee Chalamet, Ralph Fiennes, (Gascon is the first trans actress to score a BAFTA nod.) Hugh Grant and Sebastian Stan for best actor. In addition, the trans film Will & Harper is up for best documentary.
And Deadline also ran a piece on BAFTA surprises and snubs. High-profile movies such as Queer, Challengers, Babygirl and Paddington In Peru were completely shut out and, in one of the more stranger awards season streaks, Denzel Washington remains without a single BAFTA nomination during his career. Also, the Brazilian drama I’m Still Here and the highly praised drama Nickel Boys (with LGBTQ+ star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) each only got one nod. On the flip side, The Outrun star Saoirse Ronan scored her seventh nomination at the age of only 30.
Queer UK singer Olly Alexander has released the single “When We Kiss” along with a video directed by Colin Solal Cardo, according to a press release. Alexander said, “‘When We Kiss’ is an epic love song about a difficult moment in a relationship, when you don’t know whether you should break up or if you should stay together forever. I wanted this song to reflect those conflicted feelings, all the pain and ecstasy of loving someone.” “When We Kiss” is the fourth track release from the upcoming album Polari, which is due to be released next month.
The 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival unveiled this year’s juried award winners, Variety noted. The festival took place during Jan. 2-13, and screened 165 films from more than 71 countries, including 68 premieres. The FIPRESCI Prize for Best International Feature Film went to the Brazilian film I’m Still Here, while the Italian film Vermiglio won for Best International Screenplay. Zoe Saldaña won the FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actress in an International Feature Film for her role in the French trans-centered film Emilia Pérez; and the trio of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Provái took the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in an International Feature Film for leading the Irish movie Kneecap.
Thai actors “Porsch” Apiwat Apiwatsayree and “Arm” Sappanyoo Panatkool have made history as the first same-sex couple in Asia to marry and document their journey in Thailand, according to Instinct. The entire process has been captured in PorschArm The Wedding—Asia’s first LGBTQ+ marriage reality series. They appeared as Sippakorn and Jaonan in the Thai BL drama Ai Long Nhai. Porsch and Arm got engaged a decade ago at their friends’ wedding.
Emmy-winning reality TV series The Traitors is back with season three and with queer Scottish actor Alan Cumming returning to host the hit show after having just won the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, Instinct noted. Some of the contestants include Sam Asghari, the actor/model who was married to Britney Spears; reality star Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York City); controversial Vanderpump Rules cast member Tom Sandoval; out gay personal trainer Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser); RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Bob The Drag Queen; gay British royal Lord Ivar Mountbatten; and LGBTQ+ real-estate agent/reality-TV star Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset).
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Trixie Mattel discovered that the Philippines’ Cronasia Foundation College, Inc. used a photo of her to warn students to go easy on their makeup for graduation, Queerty noted. Mattel shared the image to Facebook, simply saying “Damn.” The school later apologized on Facebook, saying, “Our school, Cronasia Foundation College, Inc., acknowledges that the communication around the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for graduation pictures may have caused confusion and unintended frustration. For this, we sincerely apologize to the people involved—Trixie Mattel and the drag community, our students and our families. We also acknowledge that the use of certain words and punctuation was our fault.” When Mattel initially posted her response, one user replied, “Don’t take any advice from a college that uses apostrophes to make plurals but not contractions.”