ASIA
Hong Kong – Hong Kong’s health director has blamed the internet for a spike in the number of HIV cases amongst gay men in the territory. In a place where being out can often lead to police harassment, many gay men are turning to the internet as a way to meet others for casual sex. However, many who meet online go on to practice unsafe sex, and whole clusters of infection have been traced to internet cruising. The challenge for Hong Kong now is to deliver safer sex education to such an underground population.
China – The rate of HIV transmission is on the rise among men who have sex with men in China according to consecutive surveys carried out in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2004 just 0.4% of men were HIV positive, a figure which jumped to 5.8% in 2006. The survey authors have called for urgent development of testing and education services for men who have sex with men. The signs do not look good, however, with Chinese authorities recently banning a late night radio show that discussed gay and straight sex and HIV prevention. Despite the fact that there are other late night ‘advice’ shows that help callers with issues around sexual performance, this particular show was ruled ‘extremely pornographic’ and the station was ordered to ban the show and punish the producers.
Malaysia – Mohamad Sofian Mohomad and Zaiton Aziz had their marriage annulled after a doctor determined Mohamad was biologically female. Mohamad, who was born Mazinah Mohamad, changed names and lived and dressed as a man.
Singapore – Legislation currently before Singapore’s Parliament proposes to repeal the country’s sodomy laws for heterosexuals, but not for two men, who would face up to two years in jail if found guilty of an offence. The legislation comes after former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew questioned the need for sodomy laws in April.
EUROPE & THE MIDDLE EAST
Israel – Despite pressure from orthodox Jewish groups to define marriage as between a man and a woman on a new bill on inheritance rights, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said, in a quote on 365gay.com, he ‘would not advance the proposed Inheritance Law, if the matter would harm the property rights of same-sex couples.’
Iran – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked outraged when he claimed that there ‘are no homosexuals’ in Iran. The statement was part of the President’s response to questioning from the audience at Columbia University in New York City over his country’s record of persecuting political dissenters, academics, members of some religious faiths, women and gays.
Over the last year, several reports of public executions of gay people have sparked protest against Iran from both queer activist groups and organisations such as Amnesty International. One Iranian refugee – lesbian Pegah Emembakhsh – is currently fighting being deported from the UK back to Iran. Following the advocacy of a Sheffied MP, Richard Caborn, she is now to have her case heard in the Court of Appeal. Had she been deported, Emembarkhsh would have faced the prospect of 100 lashes (the standard punishment for first time lesbian offences) or possibly execution. She only escaped from Iran herself after her partner was arrested, tortured and stoned to death. Her father has also since been interrogated by authorities in an attempt to locate her.
UK – Elton John has publicly called on UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to provide the leadership and vision required to help ensure universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment by 2010 – a goal set at the last G8 conference.
Austria – Two international trade union federations, representing more that 50 millions workers worldwide, met in Vienna for the second international LGBT forum. At the forum activists called for the unions to tackle homophobia. The conference acknowledged that despite some improvements, institutionalised discrimination against gays and lesbians continues to exist, and the workplace is often particularly harsh for trans* workers. The conference released an international guide to assist unions in the fight for equality.
AFRICA
Uganda – Fake HIV/AIDS drugs have flooded the market in Uganda. Many of these drugs are contaminated, diluted or just plain fake. The Minister of Health has appealed to people to obtain their drugs only from registered pharmacies, clinics or hospitals, but with runaway inflation and extreme shortages in stock, many are unable to access official treatment. An estimated 3000 die from AIDS-related conditions per week, whilst many others are turning to illegal drugs in desperation.
Also in Uganda this month, tabloid newspaper Red Pepper ran an article ‘outing’ 40 men as homosexual and putting them in danger of being targets of homophobic discrimination. The newspaper also ran articles on how to spot gay men.
THE AMERICAS
US – The world Anglican church reached a critical moment in its history this month when conservative global leaders pressured the American Episcopal Church to stop appointing openly gay clergy. After lengthy talks, the American Episcopal Church agreed to stop its appointments in order to preserve unity in the church, though many of the more liberal faction within the Anglican church expect the issue to be revisited in the future. The conflict within the church has been building since the ordination of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire, USA, in 2003.
US – A recent survey found that nearly two thirds of Americans believe it is unfair that Federal Law does not offer employment protections to gay and lesbian workers. The survey came on the eve of the House of Representatives voting on a proposed bill to prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Regardless of the law, the positive regard of coworkers is clearly already felt in many workplaces with the survey also finding that around 64% of GLBT adults are comfortable being out in their workplaces.
Canada – According to 2006 census figures, same sex unions in Canada are rising five times faster than opposite sex unions. Same sex marriages increased by 33% from the 2001 census and married same sex couples now comprise 0.6% of all couples in Canada.
Argentina – Argentina played host this month to the FIFA (International Federation of Association Football)-endorsed Lesbian-Gay World Soccer Championships. The event kicked off Sunday September 23 with matches played in Buenos Aires over the course of the week.
