The World Bank denied claims that its decision to resume funding to Uganda will negatively impact advocacy for repealing the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) 2023, Erasing 76 Crimes noted. Two years ago, the bank condemned the AHA in a strongly worded statement, saying that no new public financing to Uganda would be presented to the Board of Executive Directors until it was convinced that sexual and gender minorities are not subjected to discrimination and exclusion in the projects it funds. However, the bank has decided to resume funding to Uganda while the AHA is still in place and being harshly implemented. A coalition of Ugandan LGBTQ+ organizations called Convening for Equality (CFE) has warned that the latter decision to resume lending sets a dangerous precedent and fails to hold the Ugandan government accountable.
The Hong Kong government said that “the monogamous and heterosexual marriage system” would not be compromised by a proposal to recognize some legal rights of same-sex partners married abroad, Hong Kong Free Press noted. The remark came after the government proposed an alternative framework to recognize same-sex partnerships registered overseas, in a move to comply with a top court ruling. However, the proposed guideline will not allow same-sex partners to marry locally. The government released the proposal ahead of the two-year deadline set by a Court of Final Appeal ruling in September 2023 to establish a framework recognizing same-sex couples’ legal rights.
In Germany, more than 100 representatives of Catholic youth groups took part in Christopher Street Day (CSD), an LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in Cologne, according to New Ways Ministry. The youths walked alongside representatives of #OutInChurch, a German Catholic LGBTQ+ network; and Young Caritas, an organization dedicated to the social commitments of young people, per katholisch.de. Shortly before this year’s Christopher Street Day, several rainbow flags were torn down from churches in the Cologne area—making this event one of defiance as well as solidarity. Various Catholic youth associations and other groups like #OutInChurch have been part of the celebration for several years, with certain Catholic parishes becoming involved for the first time last year.
A Church of England parish paid damages to Matthew Drapper, a gay man who underwent an exorcism meant to purge him of the “demons of homosexuality,” Them noted. According to The Times, this is the first known case in which a survivor of conversion therapy has received compensation in the UK. In 2014, while volunteering at England’s St. Thomas Philadelphia, Drapper was invited to an “Encounter God Weekend,” where he was told that a local married couple who were prayer leaders would perform an exorcism to rid him of the “sexual impurity” that had allowed demons to enter his body. In 2019, Drapper made a formal complaint about the exorcism, requesting an apology from St. Thomas Philadelphia; ultimately, Drappermade a legal claim against St. Thomas Philadelphia, resulting in a five-figure out-of-court settlement.
Also, the Church of England’s governing body voted to abolish requiring those who want to become clergy to agree to a 1991 document on sexuality, saying some of the assumptions in the paper now appeared prejudicial and offensive, according to Reuters. The document,”Issues in Human Sexuality,” described “homosexual practice as especially dishonorable” and called on gay Christians to lead a life of abstinence. The Church said the decision, which marks another step toward making the Anglican faith more LGBTQ+-inclusive, was independent of the ongoing “Living in Love and Faith” process that is exploring sexuality and marriage.
A coalition of queer-rights organizations in Madagascar—including Queer Place, Mifoha Olo Mazoto, Divers’ Unité, Justice Égalitaire, Men Engage and Madagascar LGBT+—is protesting the government’s rejection of proposals to end homophobic bias after the United Nations Human Rights Council called on the country to address the rights of LGBTQ+ people, according to Erasing 76 Crimes. In January, the UN Human Rights Council conducted Madagascar’s fourth Universal Periodic Review and issued 235 recommendations to the country, including calls to prevent, combat and prosecute all forms of discrimination, violence and hate speech against queer people, and amending the penal code to ensure that the age of consent was the same for opposite- and same-sex acts. The delegation led by Minister of Justice Benjamin Alexis Rakotomandimby accepted 178 and rejected 10, and no position was taken on 47 other recommendations.
Recently, Kyriakides Park in Yaoundé, Cameroon was transformed into a true cultural hub, Erasing 76 Crimes noted. Theater, music, poetry and dance were featured in this “Spectacle Culturel,” orchestrated by the Unity platform—a network of 39 civil society organizations committed to promoting human rights and health. The event was coordinated by CAMFAIDS, a community organization committed to the fight against HIV and infectious diseases, and committed to defending the rights of vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ people. Smadar Kalmar, wife of the Israeli ambassador to Cameroon, warmly praised the show; Michel Engama—president of the Unity Platform, a coalition of LGBTQ+-rights organizations in Cameroon—was among the speakers.
A research project titled Black in Focus found that, in the UK, Black professionals say they are still experiencing systemic racism and faltering career progression despite years of diversity initiatives, per Deadline. The project surveyed 164 mid-career Black television professionals to discover more about their experiences. Researchers found that 92% of those surveyed have experienced racial discrimination on at least one occasion.
In the UK, University of Reading students have said they are “scared” to use the school’s toilets after officials updated a policy to exclude trans people from single-sex facilities, PinkNews noted. In an internal memo sent to faculty and students in June, university officials argued that the university’s previous policy allowing trans people to use spaces consistent with their gender identity is “not compatible” with a Supreme Court ruling in the For Women Scotland v. The Scottish Minister case. Decided in April, the ruling argued that the 2010 Equality Act’s definition of sex relates only to “biological sex.”
British pansexual performer Yungblud will be featured in the documentary Yungblud. Are You Ready, Boy?, which will have its worldwide theatrical release with screenings on Aug. 20 and 24, courtesy of Trafalgar Releasing, per a press release. The feature-length documentary—directed by three-time Grammy-nominated, and Emmy® and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Paul Dugdale—was shot at Berlin’s legendary Hansa Studios Building, the birthplace of David Bowie’s Heroes, U2’s Achtung Baby! and countless other albums. The film follows the artist as he relocates to the Berlin studio with his band to record live performances of tracks from his brand-new album, Idols, for the very first time; the album was released last month to critical acclaim.
World of Wonder announced the 12 fan-favorite Asian queens competing in the premiere season of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale, per a press release. Following the success of three seasons of Drag Race Philippines, the new series format will premiere Wed., Aug. 13 worldwide on WOW Presents Plus, with Paolo Ballesteros returning as series host. Contestants include Arizona Brandy, Bernie, Brigiding, Ivory Glaze, Khianna, Kitty Space, Madame Yoko, Siam Phusri, Suki Doll, Sum Ting Wong, Viñas Deluxe and Yuhua. The Drag Race franchise, produced by World of Wonder, has seen successful adaptations in more than 15 countries, including Chile, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Down Under (Australia/New Zealand) and more.
Gay City News ran a piece on I’m Not Everything I Want To Be—a memoir that chronicles Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková’s life and work. More than 3,000 photos are featured, and most come from the period between 1968 and 1989, spanning momentous occasions in history and the artist’s own life. Her immersion in ‘80s Czechoslovak queer culture, where she was a regular at the gay bar T-Club, contributed to some of her happiest moments.
Monobrow Gay Tours is about creating safe, inclusive, and joy-filled travel experiences for the LGBTQ+ community in Greece—and it has announced its IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association) membership, a newsletter noted. From island-hopping in Mykonos to cultural deep-dives in Athens, their Greece vacations are designed by LGBTQ+ travelers for LGBTQ travelers. The Over 40s Run Away to Greece Tour and the Greece Wine Tour are just a couple of the company’s offerings.
And also regarding IGLTA, it has launched the Proud Destination Program—a new global initiative spotlighting destinations that are leaning in and publicly demonstrating that LGBTQ+ inclusion is a long-term commitment, a press release noted. The Tourist Office of Spain, Turespaña, is the first official Proud Destination; this announcement comes as Spain prepares to host the 2026 IGLTA Global Convention in Seville.
In a recent episode of the All Out podcast with Jon Dean, former British pro rugby player Keegan Hirst got real and talked about coming out and his early experiences with gay sex, per Instinct Magazine. Hirst characterized his early sexual experiences as “transactional,” which simply means it was all about the acts, with no cuddling or even eye contact. “I was still dealing with internalized homophobia,” Hirst told Dean. “That probably took me years to get rid of, if I’ve got rid of it at all.” After coming out, HIrst said his time was “freeing—but not meaningful.” And he said quickies or hookups “obviously [have their] place, but I guess when you’re coming to terms with your sexuality and trying to kind of be okay with who you are,” hookups can feel “dehumanizing.”