South Africa Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi called lenacapavir—the first twice-yearly HIV prevention shot in the world—a “groundbreaking” tool to fight the disease; however, he warned that the initial donated supply would be limited to nearly half a million people in the African country with the highest prevalence rate, the AP noted.
This warning came just weeks after the U.S. announced plans to buy 2 million doses of the drug for low-income countries. The initial supply in South Africa is set to begin next April, funded by a $29.2-million Global Fund grant, with an additional $5 million allocated by the Networking HIV and AIDS Community of Southern Africa.
The Church of Norway’s presiding bishop, Olav Fykse Tveit, apologized to the LGBTQ+ community for its history of “discrimination, unequal treatment, and harassment,” according to The Advocate. The bishop made the speech at Oslo’s London Pub—a gay bar that was a target of a mass shooting in 2022 along with the queer bar Per pa hjornet. “The church in Norway has caused LGBTQ+ people shame, great harm and pain,” Fykse Tveit said, in part. “This should never have happened and that is why I apologize today.”
It turned out that LGBTQ+ entertainer/actor Wayne Brady also performed at the recent Riyadh Comedy Festival that engendered much controversy, according to a list Newsweek published. The festival was part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy that reportedly involves culture and diversity. However, the event had been criticized as an attempt to whitewash the Saudi regime, which is distinctly anti-LGBTQ+, and lesbian stand-up comedian Jessica Kirson expressed “sincere regret” for performing at the festival. Some of the other comedians who performed were Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Bobby Lee, Sebastian Maniscalco and Chris Tucker.
Manchester Pride leaders announced that the organization that runs the event has entered voluntary liquidation—resulting in some performers and suppliers being owed “thousands” in unpaid fees and raising questions over the future of one of the UK’s biggest Prides, PInkNews reported. Citing increasing costs, declining ticket sales and an unsuccessful bid to host EuroPride, the board confirmed that, among other things, the details of those owed money would be handed to liquidators. The news came days after artists such as RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Zahirah Zapanta said on social media that they had not been paid for their performances at the event in August. This year’s ticketed festival in the city center featured stars including Nelly Furtado, Olly Alexander and Billy Porter, with thousands attending.
PinkNews also noted that South Korea is recognizing same-sex couples after announcing it will acknowledge them in the Population and Housing Census. The government confirmed that it would allow same-gender households to pick “spouse” and “cohabiting partner” options on the census, which is issued every five years. Same-sex marriage is not currently legal in South Korea; as of 2023, cohabiting couples can receive spousal coverage under the National Health Insurance Service.
Australia’s LGBTQ+ Travel Association, GALTA, had planned to lead a national delegation to the annual IGLTA Global Convention 2025 in Palm Springs on Oct. 21-25—marking the country-continent’s first-ever coordinated presence at the world’s leading LGBTQ+ tourism event, a press release noted. In collaboration with Destination NSW, Visit Victoria and Tourism and Events Queensland, the unified Visit Gay Australia presence was slated to showcase Australia’s welcoming destinations and diverse experiences to global travel leaders, buyers and media.
Myka Sanders—a nonbinary teacher at a Catholic school in Melbourne, Australia—has filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit after school officials refused to recognize the teacher’s gender identity, use their correct pronouns and address them by their preferred title, New Ways Ministry noted. “It’s gut-wrenching every time I see a colleague get married, or there’s a change of name or title.” said Sanders, a mathematics teacher at Sacred Heart Girls College who uses the title “Mx.,” to the Guardian Australia. “They get to do it without any issue, but I’m not allowed to.” The case has implications not only for Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools but for LGBTQ+ employees at faith-based institutions all over Australia.
London Records announced a special 30th-anniversary edition of out Scottish singer’s Jimmy Somerville’s classic album Dare To Love, a press release touted. Set to drop Dec. 5, the album has been fully remastered and is available for the very first time on double vinyl LP, plus double CD & digital formats and with a different cover image of Somerville. The new reissue features previously unreleased B-sides, rarities and remixes by Todd Terry, The Beatmasters, Sly & Robbie, and more. Also included on the re-issue is a previously unreleased cover of Sylvester and Patrick Cowley’s 1982 disco hit “Do You Wanna Funk?,” released with a lyric video.
British actress Keira Knightley told Decider that she was “not aware” of calls for a Harry Potter boycott over English author J.K. Rowling’s anti-transgender activism, according to Them. Knightley—slated to voice Professor Umbridge in a forthcoming Audible series of full-cast Harry Potter audiobooks—made the admission during a conversation about her new film, The Woman in Cabin 10, with director Simon Stone. “We’ve all got very different opinions,” Knightley added. “I hope that we can all find respect.”
On Nov. 14-16 in Mexico City at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Corona Capital music festival will take place, a press release noted. Performers will include LGBTQ+ singer Chappell Roan, Alabama Shakes, Deftones, Linkin Park, Vampire Weekend, queer-led Grizzly Bear, Weezer, Garbage and many other acts. According to the release, “Corona Capital has remained true to its ethos of booking a highly curated event that emulates the magic of the early 2000s festival lineups that inspired its formation in 2010.” Past performers have included Paul McCartney, Shawn Mendes, Pet Shop Boys, The 1975 and St. Vincent.
Following the success of the premiere season of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale, World of Wonder has greenlit production on an expansion of the new format with Drag Race Mexico: Latina Royale, and it has renewed Drag Race Philippines for a fourth season, a press release noted. All these shows are set to premiere worldwide on WOW Presents Plus. Drag Race Mexico: Latina Royale is the latest addition to World of Wonder’s culture-shifting Drag Race franchise which has seen successful adaptations in more than 16 countries.
British pop veteran Melanie C (who was part of The Spice Girls) has announced the forthcoming album Sweat and the new title single (with a corresponding video), per a press release. According to the release, the song is an “electro-house banger that samples Diana Ross’ ‘Work That Body’ and channels vintage workout video energy.” Some of the other songs on the album include “Emotional Memory,” “Flick of the Wrist” and “Undefeated Champion.”
Bisexual U.S. singer/rapper Azaelia Banks—who has had a controversial relationship with the LGBTQ+ community—recently performed in Tel Aviv’s Ganei Yehoshua amphitheater at Yarkon Park, The Times of Israel noted. It was a rare performance by a foreign artist in Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and subsequent war (and ceasefire) in the Gaza Strip. She ended the Tel Aviv concert wearing a shirt printed with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s name, adding she gets stronger every time she is canceled for her statements.
Irish TV comedy writer Graham Linehan will not face charges following his arrest over social-media posts that were critical of transgender people, per Watermark Out News. Linehan was arrested Sept. 1 at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence in posts on X after he flew. Linehan is known for posts asserting that trans women are men; in April, he said trans women were violent criminals if they used women-only facilities.
After more than a decade of teasing and an internet-wide guessing game, YouTube icons Dan Howell and Phil Lester finally confirmed that they are, in fact, a couple, Instinct noted. The pair eventually admitted that they’ve been together since 2009. By 2011, they were living together in Manchester, England and, by 2012, they had moved to an apartment in London; in 2021, they even announced they had designed and bought a home together.
A Sydney gay nightclub named after queer pop star Chappell Roan’s hit song “Pink Pony Club” faced backlash after its owner said that it was created for gay men—and now, the club is changing its name, according to Them. Kevin Du-Val, the owner of Sydney’s Palms on Oxford club, and its manager, Michael Lewis, faced swift backlash online after saying guys would be the target demographic, with many critics questioning why they would name a club after a lesbian artist’s song, only to discourage queer women from attending. Roan previously told Headliner that “Pink Pony Club” was inspired by her first visit to the iconic West Hollywood queer venue The Abbey.