In Tunisia, the LGBTQ+-rights advocacy group Damj (the Tunisian Association for Justice and Equality) recently stated that 71 queer citizens, mostly transgender women, have been arrested, per Erasing 76 Crimes. In addition, the organization said that 32 of those individuals have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight months to three years. Same-sex intimacy is illegal in Tunisia, and “violators” may be sentenced with up to three years in prison; in addition, LGBTQ+ Tunisians are often arrested on charges of violating vaguely defined “indecency” laws that stipulate up to six months’ imprisonment.
Kazakhstan’s parliament passed a law that bans so-called “LGBT propaganda,” per Erasing 76 Crimes. Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have passed similar laws. Kazakh queer-rights activist Temirlan Baymash said, “We are already facing hatred, and these laws fuel even more hatred against LGBT people. It serves as a distraction from other state problems. The LGBT topic is very convenient for that. That’s how it started in Russia too. This is an inhumane law.”
Apple reportedly removed two popular Chinese LGBTQ+ dating apps from its App Store after pressure from that country’s government, The Independent noted. Blued and Finka—the two largest dating apps for gay people in China, according to The China Project—were pulled after the U.S. company received an order from China’s internet regulator and censorship authority, Wired reported. “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate,” an Apple spokesperson said. In China, homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997 but same-sex marriage is still not recognized there, while censorship laws block films and TV shows with queer characters and storylines.
After four years of consultation, the Synodal Assembly of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) approved its final synthesis document, Leaven of Peace and Fraternity, including a section that addresses the situation of LGBTQ+ people in the Church, New Ways Ministry noted. Among other things, the document recognizes gay and trans people as members of the Church; also, it notes that the CEI “support through prayer and reflection the civic ‘days’ aimed at countering every form of violence and discrimination, showing closeness to those who are wounded—including the days against gender violence, pedophilia, bullying, femicide, homophobia and transphobia.”
In Kenya, Nairobi’s queer safehouses are pushed to the brink as LGBTQ+ refugees flee hunger from a Kakuma camp hit by aid cuts, per Erasing 76 Crimes. From Kenya to Bangladesh, refugees have seen their food rations reduced because of a decrease in funding from the United States and other Western countries. In addition to U.S. President Donald Trump slashing foreign aid, the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) said it was reducing its food and cash assistance in Kakuma, the Dadaab camp and the Kalobeyei settlement to the lowest levels ever recorded.
Turkey’s conservative government is proposing changes to its penal code that would criminalize any behavior deemed “contrary to biological sex and general morality,” The Times of Israel reported. Rights-groups say that the measure would allow for the prosecution of anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+. Many in Turkey’s LGBTQ community, who have had to endure a string of verbal attacks from Turkey’s Islamo-conservative government, fear the new legislation could have a life-changing impact. “If this law passes, it will threaten our very existence as LGBTQ individuals. It interferes with people’s everyday appearance, which is terrifying,” said Florence Konstantina Delight, a DJ/drag queen who identifies as non-binary.
Once again, Alphonse Mihigo Ombeni—director and founder of the Congolese LGBTQI+ advocacy group Action for the Fight Against Social Injustice (ALCIS)—was once again assaulted and robbed of his belongings, per Erasing 76 Crimes. The attack happened as he left the FAN FM radio station in Bukuvu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Oct. 21. Ombeni believes the attack was prompted because of his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights on the radio. He told the outlet, “It is likely that this violence will get the better of us and that we will have to move our offices to other locations.”
On the Penn Badgley podcast Podcrushed, queer British singer Sam Smith talked about their weight-loss journey as a kid, per Queerty. Smith said, in part, “My queerness was something that I could handle and could have a grasp on it, but my weight as a kid was the hardest thing for me in school and, weirdly, the thing I got teased most about. I had surgery on my chest when I was 13 years old, because I had a growing chest. … So I got liposuction when I was 13 years old. They [Smith’s parents] were supportive. They were hugely supportive of the whole thing because they saw how much it was crippling everything about me.”
In Italy, a bill making its way through the Italian parliament would ban the discussion of transgender issues in primary school and preschool as well as expand parental control over discussion of sexuality in secondary school, World Politics Review noted. The bill has support of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy party, which forms the core of the right-wing coalition that holds a majority in both houses of parliament.
Recently, a court ordered suspended London Pride Executive Director Christopher Joell-Deshields to return access to bank accounts for the company while under investigation for alleged financial misconduct, the BBC noted. Joell-Deshields was accused of using vouchers donated by sponsors for personal use, including the purchases of luxury perfumes and Apple products. His reps told the court that his cooperation with the order was not an admission of guilt.
A video of a Miss Universe contestant being criticized by a male pageant director in Thailand generated widespread allegations of misogyny as well as global discussions about women’s empowerment, CNN noted. Miss Grand International President Nawat Itsaragrisil was seen scolding Fatima Bosch, a contestant from Mexico, ahead of the 74th Miss Universe competition being held in Thailand on Nov. 21. Bosch—who denounced Nawat for insulting her—told the media that his mistreatment stemmed from a disagreement he had with the Miss Universe Organization, whose president is also Mexican.
In other Miss Universe news, Chilean representative Inna Moll apologized after participating in a controversial social-media trend, according to Yahoo! The model/influencer posted a since-deleted video showing her makeup look with a before-and-after transition trend; in the video, Moll used a makeup brush to dab white powder on her arm, then gestured with her nose as if she was using drugs.
An article by .coda profiled the queer Spanish conservative group Las Marifachas. The article stated, in part, that the group is “a politically provocative trio whose name combines a crude Spanish slur for gay men with a derogatory term for fascists. [Besides YouTube personality Carlitos de España], the other Marifachas include InfoVlogger, who has almost half a million followers; and “Madame in Spain,” a drag queen from … southern Spain. Together, Las Marifachas are building an unlikely bridge between Spain’s LGBTQ+ community and the far-right Vox party.”
Queer filmmaker Gus Van Sant as well as Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, Judd Apatow, Monica Bellucci and others are slated to meet Pope Leo at the Vatican on Nov. 15, per Deadline. In a statement, the Vatican said Pope Leo aims to “deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema, and in particular with actors and directors” to explore “the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values.” Ahead of the meeting, the pontiff mentioned four of his favorite films—It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), The Sound of Music (1965), Ordinary People (1980) and Life Is Beautiful (1997).
The 46-minute queer French film Eden & Charlie is now available to stream on Prime Video, per a press release. The plot is described thusly: “In an uninhabited house, Éden and Charlie [played by Néven Carron and Augustin Dewinter] meet and, through their explorations, discover hidden secrets that force them to confront their repressed desires and come to terms with their identities.” The trailer to the Benoit Duvette-directed film is here.World of Wonder unveiled the superstar guest-judge lineup and official trailer for the newest season of Canada’s Drag Race, premiering Thursday, Nov. 20, on WOW Presents Plus in the US and select territories worldwide, a press release announced. Brooke Lynn Hytes and Traci Melchor are being joined by special resident guest judges including Emmy-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Carson Kressley; choreographer/personality Hollywood Jade; and dancer, choreographer, activist, television host and filmmaker Sarain Fox. Some of the celebrity guest judges will be choreographer/singer/former American Idol judge Paula Abdul, Grammy-nominated artist Rufus Wainwright and RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars winner Alyssa Edwards.