gay rights

Members of Brazil's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community posing for a portrait inside a free residential shelter called CASA 1 or "House 1" in downtown São Paulo on May 16, 2017.

Brazil is accused of stripping away LGBT rights

Self-described “missionaries” are now approved to perform a widely discredited psychological treatment meant to make people heterosexual, angering Brazil's health and rights communities who pushed to ban it.

Brazil is accused of stripping away LGBT rights
A gay rights activist holds a placard during a rally supporting same-sex marriage, in Sydney, Australia, May 31, 2015.

Think young Australians will ignore a nonbinding mail-in vote on marriage equality? Think again.

Think young Australians will ignore a nonbinding mail-in vote on marriage equality? Think again.
Lesbians in Senegal are left out of the gay rights movement organized around HIV prevention and treatment. And they're also left out of the women's movement: "Some women's groups ... don't want to have anything to do with gay women," says Ndeye Kebe.

Lesbians in Senegal just want a place where they can be themselves

Lesbians in Senegal just want a place where they can be themselves
An asylum-seeker from Uganda covers his face with a paper bag in order to protect his identity as he marches with the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force during the Gay Pride Parade in Boston, Massachusetts, June 8, 2013.

Uganda's other refugee crisis

Uganda's other refugee crisis
women use smartphone

Stark numbers show who gets trolled the most online. See for yourself.

Stark numbers show who gets trolled the most online. See for yourself.
A couple kiss in front of the Pantheon during a demonstration of supporters of same-sex civil union in Rome.

Protesters in Italy tell lawmakers it's time to 'wake up' and recognize same-sex unions

Italians have spent decades considering whether to legalize civil unions for gays. This week Italian parliamentarians may finally act.

Protesters in Italy tell lawmakers it's time to 'wake up' and recognize same-sex unions
Echa wears the hijab because it's the law for women in Aceh. Echa is transgender, and when she wears the headscarf, she says no one calls her names.

A transgender woman in Aceh, Indonesia gathers strength as new anti-gay sex laws roll out

New anti-gay laws that just took effect in Indonesia's Aceh province mandate 100 strokes from the cane for people engaging in gay sex.

A transgender woman in Aceh, Indonesia gathers strength as new anti-gay sex laws roll out
Nigerians are speculating that when President Muhammadu Buhari visits the White House on July 20th President Obama will try to persuade the African leader to repeal Nigeria's Same Sex Prohibition Law.

Nigerians fear Obama will push gay rights in the White House during meeting with nation's new leader

The legalization of gay marriage in the US has sparked increased homophobia in Nigeria. Now fear is growing that Obama may bring up the issue during the Nigerian president's trip to the White House later this month.

Nigerians fear Obama will push gay rights in the White House during meeting with nation's new leader
A graffiti artist finishes a Yes campaign piece in central Dublin on May 20, 2015. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said that Ireland must seize its opportunity to become the first country to approve same-sex marriage in a popular vote when it holds a refe

LGBT activists are excited for Ireland's refendum, but still wary of popular votes

No other country in the world has had a popular vote to allow same-sex couples to marry — and that's just fine with some LGBT activists. They say minority rights aren't a question for popular votes, and they're afraid of rejection, even in Ireland.

LGBT activists are excited for Ireland's refendum, but still wary of popular votes
Demonstrators gather at a rally in Indianapolis on March 28, 2015 to protest a controversial religious freedom bill recently signed by Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

American groups back LGBT rights in Pakistan, but it's a different story in Indiana

In the US, here’s been an outcry against the passing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana. But while some citizens are stunned, a foreign correspondent says it's even harder for someone trying to explain it to people outside the United States.

American groups back LGBT rights in Pakistan, but it's a different story in Indiana
A drawing of Sevval Kilic by Mine Bethet

The secret language of Turkey's LGBT community

People on the fringes of society — criminals, discriminated-against minorities, rebellious teenagers — often need to speak in code. So they create secret languages, or argots. In Turkey, the LGBT community and others keep their words to themselves with the help of an argot called Lubunca.

The secret language of Turkey's LGBT community
St. Basil's Cathedral

Writer Masha Gessen looks back on a pivotal year for Russia

From success in Sochi to the plummeting rouble, Russia has had a years of extreme highs and lows. Writer Masha Gessen has been thinking and writing about those ups and downs since leaving Russia at the beginning of the year.

Writer Masha Gessen looks back on a pivotal year for Russia
Gay rights activist John Abdallah Wambere had received death threats in Uganda.

A gay rights activist from Uganda gets the green light for political asylum

Ugandan gay rights activist John Abdallah Wambere faced death threats after he was outed in his own country. Now the US has granted him political asylum, and he's celebrating — but still dreaming of walking safely with his daughter in the streets of his hometown.

A gay rights activist from Uganda gets the green light for political asylum
Thousands of Jamaicans hold a demonstration against the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Half Way Tree, Kingston.

Jamaica's anti-gay protesters are trying to duck the 'homophobic' label

"Homophobia" is pejorative enough that even anti-gay activists in Jamaica are trying to avoid being labeled homophobes. But commentators on the island say they shouldn't be able to dodge the term.

Jamaica's anti-gay protesters are trying to duck the 'homophobic' label
Gwyneth Paltrow posted this selfie on Twitter started a global trend when she posted a selfie on Twitter, without any makeup on.

Wonder why stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and thousands of others are taking selfies without their makeup?

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Other times, thousands of pictures are worth £8 million. That's the case with the #nomakeupselfie campaign that has generated millions for Cancer Research UK. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, some are wondering how the navy could have been decimated in Crimea with little resistance. Plus, a St. Patrick's Day flashmob turns ugly.

Wonder why stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and thousands of others are taking selfies without their makeup?