In the vast expanse of India, a land steeped in ancient wisdom and culture, where the echoes of tradition sing of respect for all beings, there exists a paradox. Transgender people, known as hijras, for millennia have been woven into the fabric of society, acknowledged, even revered. Yet today, this same community stands on the precipice of suffering, their dignity bruised, their existence imperiled.

Despite the Supreme Court rulings and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2019, discrimination festers and crimes against trans people continue to rise unchecked. 

The 2019 law, once a beacon of hope, now seems a faint whisper amid societal prejudice. India, for all its storied past, must reckon with the reality that its ancient recognition means little if the present offers only misery.

The figures, as the National Crime Record Bureau presents, suggest a seemingly low rate of crime against trans people. At a glance, one might draw comfort from these numbers, imagining progress in a society long burdened by prejudice. But beneath this veneer lies a graver truth: Activists, ever watchful and weary, suspect gross underreporting. The numbers, it seems, tell only half the story.

In the sprawling ledger of tragedy that is the Crimes in India: 2022 report, the NCRB lists 29,356 souls lost to murder, and only nine of these were trans people. A mere number on a page, some might say. But this figure, far from reassuring, is chilling in its implication. 

Among the grim tally of 110,140 cases of adult kidnapping and abduction, only one trans victim emerges from the records — a stark and haunting singularity. The NCRB reports no instances of rape, sexual assault, or mob lynching involving trans people. This absence is, however, not a triumph, but a troubling silence. It raises the question: Do these crimes not occur, or do they vanish from the pages of the records? The silence of statistics can be as deafening as the violence they fail to capture.

Another NCRB report lists only 236 trans people as victims of rape — an astonishingly low figure in a landscape where so much remains hidden. The report does not include any cases of rape, nor the heinous crimes of buying or selling minors for prostitution, in which trans people were victims. The true scale of suffering, it seems, remains buried beneath a system that fails to recognize or record their plight fully.

Parliament passed trans rights law in 2019

Parliament on Nov. 26, 2019, took what seemed a bold step towards justice when it passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill. 

The law, as written, promised protection and welfare for India’s trans community, declaring that crimes against them that range from forced labor, to denial of access to public spaces, and even removal from households and villages, would not be tolerated. The law also acknowledged physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or economic abuse as offenses.

Penalties for these offenses — forced labor, denial of rights, or various forms of abuse — under the law are modest at best, ranging from six months to two years’ imprisonment, along with a fine. 

India in recent years has seen a disturbing rise in cases of mob lynching against trans persons. One such tragic incident occurred on Feb. 13, 2024. Raju, a 50-year-old trans person from Telangana state’s Nizamabad district, fell victim to brutal mob violence after a false rumor of child kidnapping swept through their village — a village they had called home.

Raju, a cattle herder and beggar, was simply trying to make ends meet when the mob, blinded by fear and ignorance, turned on them.

Authorities would later clear Raju’s name, confirming they had no involvement in any such crimes. But the truth came too late. Raju had succumbed to their injuries by the time they reached the local hospital, a life senselessly lost to hysteria and hatred.

A similar tragedy unfolded in Hyderabad in 2018. 

Rumors of child kidnapping and burglary sparked fear and suspicion, culminating in a brutal attack on a group of trans people. One was killed, and another severely injured as the mob, driven by unfounded accusations, unleashed their violence. 

A group of Kanwariyas, devotees of Lord Shiva on a sacred pilgrimage, on July 29 brutally beat a trans woman in Uttar Pradesh state and ripped her clothes off after they wrongly suspected her of theft. The woman’s fate seemed sealed as the mob grew angrier, but authorities intervened in time. They rescued her and brought her to a police station. Authorities confirmed what the frenzy of the mob had failed to see: She was not a thief, merely another victim of suspicion and violence.

A group of trans women on Aug. 16 set out for RG Kar Medical College to join a protest against the West Bengal government, outraged by the gang rape of a trainee doctor at the hospital. Their journey, however, took a dark turn at the Rabindra Sadan metro station. 

One of the trans women alleged a Railway Protection Force officer, under the pretense of “checking” her gender, groped her. The group later filed a case against him, exposing yet another instance of indignity faced by trans people in public spaces where even their very identity is subject to humiliating scrutiny.

Report: 92 percent of trans people have faced physical or verbal abuse

Souvik Saha, founder of Jamshedpur Queer Circle, an LGBTQ organization working on a grassroots level to bridge the gap by conducting sensitization workshops with law enforcement agencies and local communities to foster greater understanding and inclusivity, highlighted to the Washington Blade the severe challenges that trans people in Jharkhand state and across India face.

He noted trans people often encounter hostility, harassment, and dismissive attitudes from the police when they try to file First Information Reports. Shah said the crux of the problem lays in the lack of sensitization and awareness within the police force regarding trans identities. This systemic issue not only discourages the community from seeking justice but also perpetuates the cycle of abuse and marginalization they endure.

“As the founder of Jamshedpur Queer Circle, we have witnessed firsthand the systemic discrimination faced by transgender individuals, particularly when they attempt to interact with law enforcement,” said Saha. 

“A report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2018 highlights that 92 percent of transgender individuals have faced physical or verbal abuse, often by law enforcement officials themselves,” he added. “Many police stations lack gender sensitization programs that could foster respect and professionalism when interacting with LGBTQ individuals. As a result, transgender individuals are deterred from seeking justice, and crimes against them often go unreported or uninvestigated.”

Saha highlighted a particularly troubling case involving a trans woman in Jharkhand who officers relentlessly mocked when she attempted to file a domestic violence complaint at a local police station. Saha said her ordeal is a glaring example of how law enforcement practices not only fail to protect trans people but actively alienate and further victimize them. 

Saha remarked that NCRB data showing 236 trans victims without any registered cases is both alarming and unsurprising. He emphasized this statistic starkly reflects the deep-seated systemic issues that prevent trans individuals from accessing justice. 

Saha added the barriers to reporting crimes, combined with a lack of trust in law enforcement, create an environment where many victims remain unheard of and their cases unrecorded.

“While the Supreme Court’s NALSA judgment in 2014 and the subsequent Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, were landmark decisions for the transgender community, the reality on the ground tells a different story,” he said. “Despite these legal protections, violence against transgender individuals persists due to deeply ingrained social prejudices, lack of awareness, and failure in the implementation of these laws.”

Saha added one “of the biggest issues is the gap between policy and practice. Although the law mandates the protection of transgender individuals, societal attitudes are slow to change.”

He pointed to a 2018 International Commission of Jurists study that notes 73 percent of trans people said they have experienced violence from family members, while 47 percent faced physical assault from members of the public.  

“Even though the legal framework exists, enforcement agencies and local administrations often lack the willingness or training to implement it effectively,” said Saha.

He told the Blade that his organization has encountered numerous cases where authorities did not respond to trans people who faced mob violence or domestic abuse. Saha emphasized  societal stigma and deep-rooted biases, reinforced by inadequate law enforcement, contribute to ongoing violence and discrimination against the transgender community. 

“As a society, we need more awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement mechanisms, and a cultural shift to create an environment where transgender individuals feel safe and respected,” he said. 

Without these changes, he warned, the cycle of marginalization will persist.

Kalki Subramaniam, a trans activist, queer artist and actor who is a member of the National Transgender Council, during an interview with the Blade discussed the mistreatment of trans people in police stations across India.

She said law enforcement often do not treat trans people with dignity. 

“When a trans woman is raped, her FIR is almost never registered,” added Subramaniam. “That could be because the police are not sensitized enough about transgender people around the country.” 

“Across the country, the situation is the same,” she told the Blade. “Even though there are lots of changes legally, police personnel need to be sensitized on a wider network. A few states have done some work, but the majority of Indian states have not.”

Subramaniam in response to the reported number of trans rape victims expressed deep shock, emphasizing violence against the trans community is widespread across India. She pointed out the figures only represent documented cases, while hundreds of crimes — particularly violence and rape — remain unreported and undocumented. 

Subramaniam highlighted the persistent stereotyping of trans individuals, adding only extensive government-led sensitization programs can undo it.

“As a member of the National Transgender Council under the Ministry of Social Justice, I have already emphasized in meetings that all ministries and departments must be sensitized on transgender rights and issues,” said Subramaniam. “Once again, I will talk about the rape issue in the meeting in the ministry.”

Ankush Kumar is a reporter who has covered many stories for Washington and Los Angeles Blades from Iran, India, and Singapore. He recently reported for the Daily Beast. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is on Twitter at @mohitkopinion. 

First lady Jill Biden on Monday headlined an LGBTQ and intersex rights event that took place on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

“Our humanity — that simple fact — guarantees us certain rights,” said Biden in her speech at the U.N. LGBTI Core Group event. “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you were born, or who your parents are: Being human is enough.”

The European Union and more than three dozen countries are members of the Core Group, a group of U.N. member states that have pledged to support LGBTQ and intersex rights. 

The Netherlands and Argentina, which currently co-chair the Core Group, and Outright International, a global LGBTQ and intersex rights group, organized the event. Jessica Stern, the special U.S. envoy for the promotion of LGBTQ and intersex rights, introduced the first lady.

Biden in her remarks referenced O’Shae Sibley, a gay man who was stabbed to death in July 2023 while vogueing at a Brooklyn, N.Y., gas station.

She noted the Human Rights Campaign last year “declared a ‘state of emergency’ for LGBTQI people in America, because states across our country passed an unprecedented number of discriminatory laws.” Biden also said consensual same-sex sexual relations remain criminalized in more than 60 countries around the world.
 
“We’re not going to stand for hate, discrimination, and violence in our own country,” she said. “We won’t stand for it anywhere in the world.”

Biden noted “more countries” in recent years — Singapore, the Cook Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados, among others — have decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations. Biden also highlighted other countries — Greece, Liechtenstein, Estonia, Cuba, and Chile, among others — in recent years have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples. 

“These are big victories — ones that bloom across history,” she said.

“But our triumphs live in the small moments too — moments that would have been unimaginable just a few decades ago: Walking down the street without fear. Co-workers who use your chosen name and pronouns. Kids with two moms or two dads at the playground. Coming together for LGBTQI rights during the United Nations General Assembly,” added Biden.

The promotion of LGBTQ and intersex rights abroad has been a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris administration’s overall foreign policy.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden in 2016 spoke at a Core Group event that took place on the sidelines of that year’s U.N. General Assembly. He described the LGBTQ and intersex rights movement as the “civil rights issue of our time.”

“Discrimination against anyone for their sexual orientation and gender is anathema to most basic values,” said Joe Biden.  

Other participants in Monday’s event include:

• Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp

• Ricardo Lagorio, Argentina’s permanent representative to the U.N.

• Graeme Reid, the independent U.N. expert on LGBTQ and intersex issues

• U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

• Former Finnish President Tarja Halonen

• Deputy Luxembourgish Prime Minister Xavier Bettel

• Chilean Social Development and Family Minister Javiera Toro Cáceres

• European Union External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino

• Colombian Multilateral Affairs Vice Minister Kandya Obezo

• French LGBT+ Rights Ambassador-at-Large Jean-Marc Berthon

• Vanessa Dolce de Faria, the high representative for gender issues in the Brazilian Foreign Affairs Ministry

• Philippe Kridelka, Belgium’s permanent representative to the U.N.

• Vanessa Frazier, Malta’s permanent representative to the U.N.

• David Sigurdsson, director of U.N. Affairs in the Icelandic Foreign Affairs Ministry

• Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjödin

• Ugandan activist Gloriah Dhel

• Filipina activist Venus Aves

A Kenyan LGBTQ rights organization has adopted a virtual legal aid platform that allows its lawyers to offer free services to queer people remotely.    

The Center for Minority Rights and Strategic Litigation, which unveiled the online LGBTQ+ Legal Aid Clinic platform, attributes the move to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the wide use of online meetings.    

“The LGBTQ+ Online Legal Aid Clinic is, we believe, the first of its kind in Kenya providing pro bono legal advice services directly to the LGBTQ community,” CMRSL states.  

The online legal aid clinic connecting CMRSL advocates and queer people via Zoom, Google, and other virtual platforms is an extension of the organization’s physical legal aid clinic launched in 2020 to consolidate the volunteer lawyers’ free legal services it has been offering since 2007. 

The organization recognizes the Canadian government’s financial support in setting up the two legal aid clinics.   

Michael Kioko, a CMRSL advocate, told the Washington Blade the organization first thought about adopting an online legal aid clinic for the queer community during the COVID-19 period during which officials limited movement to combat the virus. 

“We noted that we could reach people far across the country like Kakuma Refugee Camp where we have attended to LGBTQ refugees and also realized that we could work with more volunteer advocates across the nation,” Kioko said.

The organization has about 20 volunteer advocates who are trained on LGBTQ issues in order to be sensitive to queer clients. 

Both the CMRSL’s physical and online legal aid clinics have offered services to more than 1,000 queer clients since 2020. Kioko noted CMRSL receives more than 40 cases a month through the online platform.  

“The cases we receive include house evictions from homophobic discrimination as the most common, especially in Mombasa and Lamu, physical assault, and verbal abuse,” Kioko stated.

Other cases CMRSL advocates handle for the queer community are name changes for transgender women, child custody cases for bisexual women, disputes between lesbian or bisexual partners, and work to ensure a witness to a queer person’s assault stands with them until the perpetrator is convicted.

“We are also handling criminal defense cases where LGBTQ persons have been charged in court and they are two for transgender women (one case in Lamu was acquitted), we have four cases for four gay men (two cases have been withdrawn), and under civil cases in the children’s court we have four cases by bisexual women,” Kioko said.

The LGBTQ rights organization also has filed two petitions in the Court of Appeal that challenged the country’s anti-homosexuality laws.

“We are also planning to set up a legal desk by this year to deal with cases that require long-term commitment,” Kioko said.

The organization has been conducting public forums to enlighten the LGBTQ community on accessing justice through free legal help through its physical and virtual clinics.

CMRSL, however, demands any LGBTQ person seeking its services by filling a legal aid form not to be under 18-years-old. It takes at least three days for the lawyer to have a virtual consultation with a potential client, and, if necessary, would then refer them to a nearby legal clinic for physical assistance.  

The organization also limits its legal assistance to individual matters that include criminal, family, employment, blackmail, assault, and discrimination cases based on sexual and gender identity or expression.    

“We will not provide advice to businesses or in respect of business dealings unless the advice sought is on an issue that arises out of one’s SOGIE,” states CMRSL.  

CMRSL also does not offer legal advice on financial matters, such as investment, sale, or purchase of property or other assets unless the help sought is on an issue that relates to one’s LGBTQ identity.  

Kioko noted that adopting the online legal aid clinic has been impactful in helping CMRSL handle many issues almost at once and asked the LGBTQ community to embrace the virtual platform.  

“The platform is more flexible and convenient both for the advocate and the client,” he said. “It is also more private and safe for the client compared to the physical legal clinic which has some privacy risks like homophobic stigma.”

CMRSL under its values and strict data protection policy assures its LGBTQ clients of treating all information submitted or collected with utmost confidentiality.

Kioko noted that the lack of smartphones to access the internet and sometimes network connection for LGBTQ people in remote areas remains a big challenge for some queer persons to use the virtual legal clinic. Lawyers and queer people can consult with CMRSL via phone calls when their clients don’t have smartphones.

Lawmakers in the Seychelles on Wednesday approved a bill that will add an LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes provision to the country’s penal code.

The National Assembly by an 18-8 vote margin approved the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The hate crimes provision specifically includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV/AIDS status, among other factors. The bill states anyone convicted of a hate crime based on the outlined characteristics could face a fine and/or up to two years in prison for the first conviction and a fine and/or up to three years in prison for any subsequent convictions.

“The inclusion of hate speech as an offense within the penal code (Cap. 158) provides for the intention to incite hatred towards a person or group of persons based on their protected characteristics, through various forms of communication or behavior, if the expression is perceived to be threatening, abusive or insulting,” said Attorney General Frank Ally in a July 1 letter that detailed the bill.

Human Dignity Trust, a London-based NGO, in a press release notes it has since 2020 “provided legal assistance” to Ally’s office “to draft the hate crime components of the bill.” The group also highlighted Mark Walters, a professor at the University of Sussex in England, “for his invaluable expertise and contribution to the drafting process.”

“The changes to the penal code will provide new and meaningful protections for people targeted simply because of who they are, and encourages marginalized communities to report crimes,” said Human Dignity Trust Chief Executive Téa Braun. “By enacting this law, the Seychelles has taken a strong stance against hate-motivated violence, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society are protected.” 

South Africa is the only other African country that includes sexual orientation and gender identity in its hate crimes law.

Seychelles in 2016 decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations.

India’s LGBTQ community for decades endured deep-seated discrimination and societal repression, living in the shadows of a nation that often refused to see them. Yet, in recent years, a wave of change has swept across the country. 

Slowly but surely, the community is winning battles on multiple fronts. The most significant breakthrough came in 2018 when India’s Supreme Court struck down Section 377, decriminalizing homosexuality. This landmark ruling not only rewrote a colonial-era law — it ignited hope, signaling the dawn of a more inclusive India where love is not a crime.

India’s Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry on Sept. 1 took a bold step, inviting feedback from stakeholders and the public to shape more inclusive policies for the LGBTQ community. This move follows the Supreme Court’s landmark October 2023 directive in the Supriya v. Union of India case, which called on the government to safeguard LGBTQ rights. 

The government since then has initiated several measures aimed at creating a more equitable future for the community, ensuring their voices are heard, and their interests protected.

The Indian government in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling formed a high-level committee, chaired by the Cabinet secretary, to clarify and define the rights and entitlements of the LGBTQ community. The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry announced this in a statement, marking a crucial step toward formalizing protections, and ensuring the community’s legal recognition and inclusion in India’s evolving social framework.

The Indian government in April formed a committee that includes officials from the Home Affairs, Women and Child Development and Health, and Family Welfare Ministries with the secretary as the convening member. The committee by May met to tackle pressing issues facing the LGBTQ community. 

Their discussions covered vital matters like the issuance of ration cards, allowing LGBTQ people to open joint bank accounts with their partners, and preventing harassment based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Ration cards in India serve as official documents that state governments issue, granting eligible households access to subsidized food grains through the Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act. These cards are a lifeline for many, ensuring affordable food security for millions across the country.

The Washington Blade in July reported the Home Ministry issued a memo to state and territorial officials, as well as prison administrators, that acknowledges discrimination and violence queer people often face because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The government urged states and territories to ensure equal rights for queer inmates, instructing officials to prevent discrimination and uphold visitation rights, 

The Department of Food and Public Distribution, meanwhile, has advised state and territorial governments to recognize partners in queer relationships as members of the same household for ration card purposes. This directive seeks to prevent discrimination and ensure that LGBTQ couples receive equal access to subsidized food and benefits under the Public Distribution System.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has already taken significant steps to prevent discrimination in healthcare. 

It issued guidelines that prohibit so-called “conversion therapy” and other harmful practices and ensure access to gender-affirming surgery. These measures aim to create a safer and more inclusive healthcare environment for LGBTQ people, affirming their right to respectful and appropriate medical care.

The Indian government has announced that it is developing additional guidelines to support the mental health and well-being of the LGBTQ community. They include the establishment of medical protocols for intersex babies and children that seek to provide more compassionate and informed healthcare interventions. 

The government has also invited the public to share their suggestions and feedback on additional measures to support the LGBTQ community.

Rani Patel, president and founder of Aarohan, during an interview with the Washington Blade expressed frustration with the government’s slow progress in implementing LGBTQ initiatives. She highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by transgender people, noting they often face skepticism and doubt when they introduce themselves as trans.

Patel emphasized the need for faster, more effective action to change societal perceptions and protect the dignity of trans people in India.

“They should have a choice that they reveal their identity as transgender individual,” she said. “[At a] maximum transgender people are now getting married, because they do not trust the government or government’s initiatives. They are not finding protection, security, or benefits.” 

“We work with a huge number of transgender individuals, and we know because of these issues, no government schemes are benefiting the transgender community,” added Patel.

Patel said only 1 percent of India’s trans or LGBTQ community will likely benefit from these efforts. She stressed the need for more comprehensive efforts to ensure these policies reach and uplift the broader community, rather than just a small fraction.

Harish Iyer, a plaintiff in the Supreme Court’s marriage equality case who is also the head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Axis Bank, on Tuesday spoke with the Blade after government officials announced they plan to seek public input on LGBTQ issues.

He described how they attentively listened to the community’s needs, took detailed notes as he passionately spoke. Iyer said the meeting was a hopeful sign of what he described as genuine engagement and commitment to addressing their concerns.

“I am pleasantly surprised to see a list of directives issued,” said Iyer. “I had suggested a directive that could be issued so that all banks could open their doors to LGBTQIA+ people without bias. I know that there is nothing that restricts any two people from opening a joint account as I had introduced the same in Axis Bank in 2021 and had checked all policies then. Now, what was a reality in Axis Bank, has been reiterated through a directive. Now any two people can avail of this in any bank.

When asked about his colleagues’ reactions to the new directive, Iyer shared with a smile that they are “delighted.” 

“All banks and facilities should open their doors. I’d rather compete with peers on providing better service for the community,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s the community that should reap the long-term benefits.”

Ankush Kumar is a reporter who has covered many stories for Washington and Los Angeles Blades from Iran, India, and Singapore. He recently reported for the Daily Beast. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is on Twitter at @mohitkopinion. 

Lazarus Ikaneng Thomas, a 50-year-old gay man from Galeshewe in Northern Cape province has become South Africa’s latest victim of homophobic violence.

The province’s Department of Social Development, Youth, Women, People Living with Disabilities, Sports, Arts, and Culture said authorities discovered Thomas’s decomposing body in a home on Sept. 7 after neighbors complained of a foul smell. Thomas, who was buried at Kimberly’s Phutanang Cemetery last Friday, was reportedly strangled and had acid poured on his body.

Nontobeko Vilakazi, a member of the Department of Social Development, Youth, Women, People Living with Disabilities, Sports, Arts, and Culture’s Executive Council in the Northern Cape province, said Thomas’s murder left her shaken, especially when she saw pictures of his decomposed hand lying on the ground.

“I would firstly want to offer my condolences to the bereaved family,” said Vilakazi. “This tragic incident should never have transpired. It hurts me to see our society exhibiting so much hate.” 

“Why would someone murder someone because of who they are?” she asked. “The stigma and hatred for other people is of grave concern. As a community, we need to do better, we can’t continue like this. As a department we will be offering psychosocial support to the family, this tragic incident has left us utterly distraught.”

Sibonelo Ncanana, civil society engagement officer for OUT LGBT Well-being, echoed Vilakazi. The advocacy group said Thomas’s murder is a stark reminder of the ongoing hate crimes the country’s LGBTQ community are experiencing.

“Firstly, we would like to convey our condolences to the family. It’s really a painful tragedy that transpired,” said Ncanana. “However, over the past few months, we have witnessed a lot of hate crimes with most of the victims succumbing to the hate crimes.”

Ncanana said five people have been killed in suspected hate crimes in Eastern Cape over the last four weeks.

“It’s really worrisome,” said Ncanana. “We are running out of ideas on how to curb these hate crimes. It’s depressing and devastating.”

Inclusive and Affirming Ministries said the police should expedite their investigation of Thomas’s death.

“The LGBT community is united in demanding justice for Lazarus, we urge the police to take swift action in uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable,” said IAM.

South Africa is currently witnessing an unprecedented level of attacks on LGBTQ people, with many of them losing their lives. President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year signed a law that criminalizes hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but the attacks continue. 

Activists have attributed this spike in anti-LGBTQ hate crimes to the National Prosecuting Authority, the police, and other law enforcement officials who they say have not done enough to arrest and prosecute perpetrators. A small handful of people accused of carrying out homophobic attacks have been arrested and prosecuted — and some cases have dragged on for years before a verdict is reached. 

Those who are convicted do not receive maximum — or lengthy — prison sentences. Activists say these punishments enable continued homophobic attacks.

So-called “right-wing socialists” continue their calls for the government to change laws that protect the rights of LGBTQ people.

South African law fully recognizes and protects LGBTQ people, but many South Africans continue to disregard their existence.

Upwards of 60 people participated in a Pride event that activists organized in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Sunday.

A press release that Kharkiv Pride released notes 13 cars “drove along one of the city’s main avenues to raise awareness about the need to uphold human rights and secure international support for the defense and recovery of Kharkiv.”

Kharkiv, which is Ukraine’s second-largest city, is less than 30 miles from the Russian border in the eastern part of the country. 

Russia has repeatedly targeted the city since the Kremlin launched its war against Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. 

A Russian airstrike on March 1, 2022, killed Elvira Schemur, an LGBTQ rights activist who volunteered for Kharkiv Pride and Kyiv Pride, a group that is in the Ukrainian capital. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, a transgender American journalist who is now a member of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, arrived in Kharkiv eight days after Schemur’s death. 

The Kharkiv Pride press release notes “several “LGBTQ+ soldiers participated in the march.”

“We need to show visibility that there are LGBTQ+ people in the army,” said Vlad, an LGBTQ soldier identified by the call sign “Sapsan,” in the Kharkiv Pride press release. “Those who attend the march represent the voices of those on the front lines and, sadly, those who are no longer with us.” 

Kharkiv Pride in its press release expressed support for bills that would legally recognize same-sex couples and add sexual orientation and gender identity to Ukraine’s hate crimes law.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in August 2022 endorsed the civil partnerships bill. 

Zelenskyy in 2021 pledged Ukraine would continue to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity after he met with President Joe Biden at the White House. Ukrainian lawmakers in late 2022 unanimously approved a media regulation bill that bans hate speech and incitement based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Each group of cars carried specific messages to authorities and international partners,” said Kharkiv Pride in its press release. “Kharkiv Pride is urging the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) to pass legislation that strengthens accountability for hate crimes (Bill № 5488) and introduces registered partnerships (Bill № 9103.)”

“Activists are also appealing to European countries to help protect Kharkiv’s skies with modern air defense systems and to international partners to consider the needs of underrepresented and vulnerable groups, involving them in decision-making processes during recovery planning,” it added.

Kharkiv Pride Co-organizer Anna Sharyhina noted this year’s theme was “Together for Equality and Victory.”

“We remember every day how important Ukraine’s victory is,” said Sharyhina. “Just as important to us is the fight for equal rights and the protection of the LGBTQ+ community. People who are fighting, risking their lives, cannot be denied their rights. It is both unjust and undignified, and the war has only highlighted these challenges.” 

TONGA

A group of lawyers in the South Pacific nation of Tonga has called for the removal of newly appointed Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop because he is openly gay.

Bishop, a 71-year-old native of Wales, was appointed to the role last month. It is relatively common in small island nations for judges to be appointed from other Commonwealth countries, due to the scarcity of qualified jurists. 

Bishop has more than five decades of legal experience and has lived as an openly gay man through much of his career.

But a group of Tongan lawyers say Bishop should not serve on the bench because “his lifestyle conflicts with the law of Tonga,” and they’ve petitioned King Tupou VI to remove him. The group cites Tonga’s Criminal Offenses Act, which criminalizes sodomy with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. 

But that opposition is not universal. The Tongan Law Society has dissociated itself from the petition.

Henry Aho, a lawyer and former president of Tonga’s Leitis Association, the country’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, suggests a darker purpose behind the petition.

He says the group is trying “to bring to the fore that this law exists and that it ought to be used to prosecute consenting adults also.”

Neither Bishop nor King Tupou VI have responded publicly to the petition.

The sodomy law has never been enforced in Tonga, but the country’s largely Christian culture remains deeply conservative and opposed to LGBTQ rights. Efforts to lobby the government to repeal the sodomy law — a relic of the British colonial administration – have fallen on deaf ears, even as other South Pacific nations like Palau, Nauru, Fiji, and the Cook Islands have decriminalized sodomy in recent years.

The government has opposed LGBTQ rights so strongly that it is one of only five countries that has not signed or ratified the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, out of fear that it could lead to decriminalization of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The other states are Iran, Sudan, Somalia, and the Vatican. The U.S. and Palau have signed but not ratified the convention. 

AUSTRALIA

Australia’s Labor government has spun itself in circles on LGBTQ issues in recent weeks, with its latest broken promise to the country’s LGBTQ community being new hate crime legislation that does not criminalize hate speech that vilifies minority groups.

The updated legislation strengthens some of the nation’s laws against urging hate-motivated violence and by adding specific provisions for hatred motivated by race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin or political opinion.

The government also introduced a separate bill that would criminalize “doxing,” which is the release of a person’s personal information with the intent to threaten, harm, or intimidate them. The law encompasses the release of a person’s private information about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Violators could get up to seven years in prison if their target is a member of a protected class.

But Labor had promised to criminalize the vilification of LGBTQ people, and that’s missing from the introduced legislation.

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus says the two laws “respond to the increasing prevalence of hate speech and hateful conduct in our society.”

Vilification laws already exist in several Australian states, but a national law would protect queer Australians in the states that don’t have them — Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and the Northern Territory.

This is the latest policy flip on LGBTQ issues from the Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Last month, the government caused controversy when it announced that it would not count LGBTQ people in the 2026 national Census, contrary to their election manifesto. The government eventually reversed its announcement, first saying it would ask a question about sexual orientation, then saying it would also add a question about gender identity.

Albanese’s government also came under fire earlier this year for walking back a promise to close an exception to discrimination law that allows religious schools to discriminate against LGBTQ students and teachers.

In a positive development, the government of South Australia state announced it would introduce a law to ban conversion therapy this week, modeled after legislation passed in several other states. After it passes, only Western Australia, Tasmania, and Northern Territory would lack laws against conversion therapy.

Western Australia’s government had announced plans to ban conversion therapy in 2022, but this week announced that they will not have time to pass a bill to ban it until after state elections next year.

JAPAN

Pressure is increasing on Japan’s government to recognize same-sex couples, as four more prefectures began same-sex partnership registries this month.

Fukushima, Yamaguchi, Niigata, and Shima, with a combined population of about 7 million people, bring the total number of prefectures issuing partnership certificates to same-sex couples to 30 out of Japan’s 46 prefectures. They’re home to more than 66 percent of Japan’s population of 125 million.

Partnership certificates help same-sex couples access local services, but otherwise hold no legal status and confer no rights or obligations on the parties. That’s made it difficult for same-sex couples to access national services or uphold their rights regarding inheritance, parenting, and taxation.

Even though polls suggest a majority of Japanese people support equal rights for same-sex couples, the deeply traditional national government has continued to oppose expanding marriage rights.

A series of court cases filed across the country have sought to have the ban on same-sex marriage declared unconstitutional. But while five out of six district courts that have heard the cases found the ban unconstitutional, they have all refused to allow same-sex marriage outright. 

Appeals to those cases are ongoing, with one appeal to be heard in the Tokyo High Court on Sept 26, a ruling in a separate Tokyo case expected to be handed down Oct. 30, a ruling from the Nagoya High Court expected on Nov. 5, and a ruling from the Fukuoka High Court expected on Dec. 13.

It’s likely the issue will ultimately be decided by Japan’s Supreme Court.

Japan is in the midst of selecting a new prime minister, after incumbent Fumio Kishida announced he was resigning as leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party last month. None of the leading candidates for leadership has endorsed same-sex marriage except for Taro Kono, who is currently polling far behind other candidates. The leadership election is scheduled for Sept. 27. 

FINLAND

A citizen’s initiative to ban so-called conversion therapy in Finland appears to have the support of a clear majority of lawmakers but is still unlikely to pass into law due to opposition from two conservative parties that are part of the ruling coalition.

Last week, the chair of parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, Juho Eerola, announced he was indefinitely suspending consideration of the initiative due to purported leaks to the media on the issue. Eerola comes from the far-right Finns Party, which opposes the initiative and LGBTQ rights generally.

The Finns are joined by the Christian Democrats in opposing the conversion therapy initiative. Leaders of both parties put out a statement saying the initiative would not pass during the life of the current parliament, which is expected to last until 2027.

The two parties are in a four-party coalition with the National Coalition Party and the Swedish People’s Party. While both of the latter parties support the conversion therapy ban, the coalition agreement does not mention it.

The left-leaning opposition Social Democrats, Left Alliance, and Green League all support banning conversion therapy as well. Together, those five parties have 125 votes out of 200 members of parliament — and several members of the Center Party are also supportive.

Under Finnish law, a citizen’s initiative must be considered by parliament if it gathers more than 50,000 signatures. Groups supporting a ban submitted 52,000 signatures in November 2023.

A queer Nigerian streaming TV channel has initiated a global signature collection drive that demands YouTube restore its platform that was suspended this week under unclear circumstances.

Omeleme TV, which airs gay love movies in Nigeria, faulted YouTube’s action on Sept. 8 as “not only surprising but disappointing” to the LGBTQ community.  

The channel, established a year ago, launched its first short film “Nearly All Men” on Oct. 22, 2023, featuring notable Nigerian actors as leads. “Pieces of Love” went viral after its release on June 21.

The channel boasted more than 5,000 subscribers and YouTube monetized it.      

“We have never involved ourselves in any aspect that goes against YouTube policies and have always complied with their rules and regulations accordingly,” reads the petition. “So deleting our YouTube page is basically shutting the voice of the queer folks in the region.”  

The TV channel notes homophobia around consensual same-sex love is often shrouded in taboo in society and that Omeleme has been the only primary YouTube platform to debunk such discriminatory beliefs.

“Omeleme TV plays a crucial role in normalizing these relationships, providing visibility and affirmation for LGBTQ+ individuals, both young and old. And the only platform through which their voice can be heard and seen is YouTube,” reads the petition.

The channel’s spokesperson told the Washington Blade that YouTube did not indicate “the main issue” for terminating the platform and confirmed that initially there was a copyright claim on a song they received from an artist but the concern was settled.

“We immediately requested a review and informed the artist of the copyright. He immediately informed his distributors and after back and forth, the distributors based in Sweden approved that we got permission,” the spokesperson, who sought anonymity, stated.

The spokesperson also disclosed that while settling the copyright issue, they realized that “Nearly All Men” had not been monetized despite having the certificate. Concerned about YouTube’s delay in giving feedback when contacted, the channel pulled the film, recorded an original song, and uploaded the movie.    

“They (YouTube) flagged it also on Aug. 18,” the spokesperson said. “This time they claimed it is not ad friendly but it does not affect the channel and that we can only earn and be viewed by premium subscribers.”  

Although the channel complied by subscribing to Premium and received approval on Sept. 3, they were not comfortable with the condition since the film was only limited to some subscribers against their streaming expectation targeting everyone.  

“In all of these, YouTube never for once issued a strike on our channel, rather they kept assuring us that it does not warrant a strike if we request for reviews since we had copyrights and all,” the spokesperson noted.

YouTube under its user policies boasts a safer platform that allows viewers and creators around the world to express their ideas and opinions freely with an assurance that such “a broad range of perspectives ultimately makes us a stronger and more informed society, even if we disagree with some of those views.”

Under the copyright rules, the streaming platform provides that “creators should only upload videos that they have made or that they are authorized to use.”  

“So if this back and forth is what warranted the deleting of our channel, it remains masked as they did not in any way specify the actual violation or spam,” the Omeleme spokesperson said.    

The spokesperson noted many Omeleme viewers around the world who were happy watching the films feel disappointed by the suspension by YouTube and that the channel has also suffered online mentions and subscriptions.    

“It was a labor of love and YouTube remains our major source for distribution of these films to queer folks all over the world,” the spokesperson said, while asking the platform not to silence the voice of young indie queer filmmakers behind the movies. “We believe it could have been a mistaken scam identity and YouTube being a safe space for filmmakers all over the world will do the right thing by restoring our channel for their esteemed viewers.”

Reverend Jide Macaulay, a gay minister of Nigerian descent who was born in London and founded House of Rainbow, an LGBTQ-affirming fellowship, criticized YouTube’s move to suspend Omeleme, which he applauds for promoting a positive queer narrative.   

“Omeleme TV has been a critical platform for increasing awareness and visibility of same-sex relationships, particularly in regions like Nigeria where LGBTQ+ individuals face pervasive homophobia and discriminatory laws,” said Macaulay.

He reiterated the channel has been the only beacon of hope for the queer community to see their stories represented and heard in a hostile homophobic environment.

“By blocking Omeleme TV, YouTube is silencing an essential voice in the fight for equality and understanding, especially in countries like Nigeria where safe spaces for queer individuals are scarce,” Macaulay stated.

He called on YouTube to support queer people’s right to be seen and heard by reinstating the channel so it can continue streaming films to empower marginalized voices. Macaulay also appealed for global support in signing the petition to have the channel restored in defending freedom of expression and the right to share diverse experiences.

Uruguay’s LGBTQ community finds itself in a moment of strategic reflection and coordinated action in this crucial election year.

With presidential elections on the horizon, diverse voices inside and outside the Uruguayan political arena are advocating for representation. They are also working to confront the challenges facing the country’s queer population in obtaining positions in Congress. 

Uruguay is one of the first countries in Latin America to implement legislation and public policies to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ people. Uruguay, in fact, is considered one of the safest countries in the world for queer tourists.

In recent years, however, LGBTQ people been underrepresented in Congress and other political spaces. And activists see the Oct. 27 election as an opportunity to gain space. 

Diego Sempol, a renowned Uruguayan political scientist, told the Washington Blade that LGBTQ participation in national politics is important. 

“It is crucial for the LGBTQ+ community to hold positions in Congress to make their issues visible,” he said. “This not only drives more inclusive legislative advances, but also challenges existing social prejudices.” 

“I think it would seem important to run for a position in Congress or in the Senate because it would contribute to make the LGBTIQ+ population visible at the political level, which is very good because it is still a great centrality for a large part of the population and therefore achieving voting places, important places voted for, confirms that there is an advance or a setback in social prejudices about dissident gender identities,” added Sempol.

Daniela Buquet, a spokesperson for Colectivo Ovejas Negras, a Uruguayan advocacy group, explained how the LGBTQ movement is approaching this electoral cycle.

“We find ourselves in a context where the major political discussions are still centered on traditional figures, mostly white, upper-class cis males,” said Buquet. “However, we are moving forward strategically, strengthening our demands as the campaign progresses.” 

The recent primaries showed a political dynamic marked by established figures and discussions that do not always address the needs of social movements. Buquey stressed “LGBTQ+ candidacies are scarce in high-level positions, but we see progress at lower levels of the legislature, where congressmen and congresswomen are beginning to incorporate our concerns.” 

The electoral panorama reflects a clear division between the main parties, the Frente Amplio and the Partido Nacional, while parties such as Cabildo Abierto, known for its conservative and homophobic stance, are also part of the scenario. 

“We have seen attempts of setbacks by sectors such as Cabildo Abierto, but also resistance and social mobilization that have prevented significant negative changes.” said Buquet. 

The current government has faced criticism for its lack of compliance and progress on critical issues for the LGBTQ community. 

“The comprehensive law for trans people is still not fully implemented, and educational and health programs remain insufficient,” Buquet noted. 

The debate on inclusion and sexual diversity in Uruguay is not limited to the legislative arena, but encompasses the effective implementation of inclusive social and educational policies. LGBTQ activists expect the next government to take concrete steps to guarantee rights and improve the quality of life of all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

With the diversity march scheduled for this month, LGBTQ social organizations and collectives will continue to push for more equitable representation and effective public policies. The challenge is clear: “Transform visibility into tangible political action that benefits all of Uruguayan society.”