LGBTQ

Speaker of Ghana Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin speaks at the Parliament House in Accra, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.

‘What crime have we committed?’ Ghana’s LGBTQ community braces as anti-LGBTQ bill may turn into law

Lawmakers in Ghana recently passed a bill that could lead to a severe crackdown on LGBTQ activities that have many people worried. Ghana's president is under pressure domestically to sign the bill into law, but could face economic consequences if he does. 

‘What crime have we committed?’ Ghana’s LGBTQ community braces as anti-LGBTQ bill may turn into law
Brett Griffin Young with his partner and three children.

Surrogacy advocates fear pope’s position will create stigma

Surrogacy advocates fear pope’s position will create stigma
Clarissa Bitar plays the oud, a classic string instrument.

How the oud brought this Palestinian American musician closer to their culture, family and history

How the oud brought this Palestinian American musician closer to their culture, family and history
portrait photo of a woman

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano
Screenshot from "Cape Flats Kung Fu" by Eavesdrop.

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says
The capital Quito is the city in Ecuador that has received the biggest numbers of Venezuelan migrants. 

As Ecuador’s political crisis deepens, Venezuelan LGBTQ migrants feel the pain

Ecuador is in the throes of political turmoil and discrimination against foreigners is on the rise. This is affecting gay and transgender Venezuelans particularly hard.

As Ecuador’s political crisis deepens, Venezuelan LGBTQ migrants feel the pain
two men and a baby

Italy debates new anti-surrogacy law 

Surrogacy is banned in Italy, but the government of Giorgia Meloni is now trying to go further: outlawing the practice of having babies through surrogacy abroad. This will likely have an outsized impact on members of the LGBTQ community, which many believe is the point.

Italy debates new anti-surrogacy law 
black and white image of four people

Historians are learning more about how the Nazis targeted trans people

This is an important case. It was the first time a court recognized the persecution of trans people in Nazi Germany. It was followed a few months later by the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, formally releasing a statement recognizing trans and cisgender queer people as victims of fascism.

Historians are learning more about how the Nazis targeted trans people
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives at the Foreign Office to visit Britain's Foreign Secretary in London, Friday, April 28, 2023.

Will Gov. DeSantis win his battle to dismantle DEI programs at state universities?

Widely viewed as a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis has been on a path to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at universities as part of his plan to overhaul publicly funded higher education.

Will Gov. DeSantis win his battle to dismantle DEI programs at state universities?
In this photo provided by The Federation Council of The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation Press Service, lawmakers of Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation listen to the national anthem at a session in Moscow, Russi

In Russia, a novel about a summer romance between two men sparks outrage

Novels about queer topics have been pulled from bookstores in Russia under a recent law that bans all mention of LGBTQ life in popular culture. It's part of a regional crackdown against novelists and poets.

In Russia, a novel about a summer romance between two men sparks outrage
Ghanian activist at a rally near a Ghanaian flag.

Uganda's LGBTQ crackdown could have a ripple effect in Ghana and other African countries

Uganda recently passed a law that criminalizes homosexuality, punishable by death. LGBTQ people and human rights advocates fear that the Ugandan law may empower anti-LGBTQ movements elsewhere on the continent.

Uganda's LGBTQ crackdown could have a ripple effect in Ghana and other African countries
book on surface

'Can we reject these labels?': A new book questions how patriarchy became the norm.

How did patriarchy become common around the world, and can we change the dominance of men in societies? Science journalist Angela Saini explores these questions in her new book, "The Patriarchs; The Origins of Inequality."

'Can we reject these labels?': A new book questions how patriarchy became the norm.
billboard over building

LGBTQ Russians are fleeing to Central Asia

When Russia started drafting men to fight in Ukraine last fall, thousands fled to neighboring countries in Central Asia. The draft has been paused and some are returning home. But less so for members of the LGBTQ community, who say the government's increasing hostility has made Russia unsafe.

LGBTQ Russians are fleeing to Central Asia
About 120,000 people took part in Pride celebrations in Taipei on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Taiwan celebrates LGBTQ pride as activists push for further progress

This year's Pride in Taipei was a celebration of achievements and identities — but also a protest. Groups representing transgender people, sex workers and people living with HIV and AIDS all gave speeches calling for further social and political change. 

Taiwan celebrates LGBTQ pride as activists push for further progress
In this photo taken Wednesday, April 13, 2011, a graffiti against revealing the gender of unborn fetuses stands outside a clinic in Morena in the Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. 

India's abortion law still lacks a rights-based approach, gynecologist says

India's abortion law is progressive, but it is also problematic, says Dr. Suchitra Dalvie, a practicing gynecologist in Mumbai, India. The co-founder and coordinator of the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership unpacked the law and recent amendments to it with The World's reporter Chhavi Sachdev.

India's abortion law still lacks a rights-based approach, gynecologist says