closeUp ‣ The Gayly Mirror

KUALA LUMPUR: Government is thinking to tougher laws against the LGBT+ community.

6Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, News, Politics, Religion

KUALA LUMPUR: Government is thinking to tougher laws against the LGBT+ community.

Un unthinkable and unacceptable reinforcement of discriminating laws agains the rainbow community of Kuala Lumpur is about to be voted by the government soon. Putrajaya’s Government is decided to go ahead with a new set of laws that foresees heavier and punishments for all people found guilty of practicing LGBT+ related acts (eg. Having sex with someone of the same gender, or being in a same-sex relationship, etc), by increasing the sentencing limits to the Syariah Courts - which is part of the criminal jurisdiction - according to the Act 1965-355. Religious affairs minister - Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri - earlier this year said that “LGBT+ culture is not just against Islamic law, but even human nature”, and this is the reason why Putrajaya will push the agenda for the Act 355. Al-Bakri al...

5Apr

By DominicNo Comments

closeUp, Eurovision, Opinion, Reviews

Eurovision 2021: Eyes open on the odds!

Ok, ok. I know what you are thinking: 'Never listen to the odds, everything can change until May'. True. But we all love to check the odds now and then, especially for a music competition like Eurovision that we all love and follow religiously (and sometimes too dramatically!). This is why I have decided today to analyze with you the odds 'bottom five', or at least what bettors consider as the worst entries in this year's Eurovision. Unjust? Unfair? A huge mistake we'll all regret the day of the finale? Let's start the drama... Estonia: Uku Suviste - The Lucky One (35th place) A pop ballad brought to us by the Estonian singer Uku Suviste. A 'cry of pain' caused by the end of a love story through which the artist explains how even the most beautiful and intense relationships can c...

Why we love Senhit – San Marino’s FREAKY queen

5Apr

By DominicNo Comments

closeUp, Culture, Entertainment, Eurovision

Why we love Senhit – San Marino’s FREAKY queen

From her first appearance on Dusseldorf's stage in 2011 to her great return to the contest in 2020 (and then again in 2021), she's conquered our hearts with her warm smiles, her powerful voice and, let's be honest, her always different, unique and never boring outfits. We are obviously talking of the undisputed queen of San Marino (yes Valentina, 'Maybe' you have tried too many times and dropped the crown!), 'Her Freakiness' , Senhit. After an unfair non-qualification in 2011 with the beautiful pop-ballad 'Stand By' (for which, by the way, I am still crying out for revenge), she accepted to come back and 'battle', again, for one of the smallest countries in the world, that has an history whne it comes to competing in this Contest: San Marino. Let's be clear: a returning artist f...

Anti-LGBT+ factions in Israel threaten gender equality in the country.

1Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Culture, News, Politics, Society

Anti-LGBT+ factions in Israel threaten gender equality in the country.

Noam, part of the Religious Zionism slate, lists string of conditions - which we could easily call racist - for joining Bibi’s government, including halting state-run projects on Shabbat, upholding Jewish nation-state law and downgrading gender equality and LGBT+ rights. Israel recently faced new elections but unfortunately the political panorama did not change that much as Netanyahu still remains in charge as PM and his dirty games of power appear to have no end. Lately, the coalition with the religious-extremist and Zionist party Noam brought to light some very dangerous requests that this party made to Netanyahu in order to adhere to his political majority and plans of power of the country. The party NOAM demanded that “a government edict that requires government bodies to act in acc...

Michelle Visage and STEPS release “Heartbreak in this City”.

1Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Michelle Visage and STEPS release “Heartbreak in this City”.

A new pop-track for those - like me - that love a taste of 90’s POP Music. STEPS announced the release of their “What the Future holds Pr.2” foreseen later this year, and they surprise us with a new single featuring on of RuPaul’s Drag Race Star Judges, Michelle Visage. Michelle, that is now. 52 year-old international pop-star, that once was part of a girlo pop-band called “Seduction”, decides to join the famous British group STEPS (Ian 'H' Watkins, Faye Tozer, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee and Lee Latchford-Evans) for a new song that is accompanied by a futuristic video, where our special “love-force” continues fighting to protect real love! The group recorded the video in a peculiar and very technological way, as Scott-Lee - living in Dubai - had to shot her scenes separately due t...

Bolivia’s first Same-Sex Union – history is being made!

1Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Gay Pride, News, Politics, Society

Bolivia’s first Same-Sex Union – history is being made!

After a two-year legal battle Guido and David could finally get their status recognised by the law. Could this first gay civil partnership lead to more LGBT+ rights in Bolivia? Guido Montano, one of the first two gay men to ever get into a same-sex union in the country, told WPR Linda Farthing: “The biggest change is a mental one. It may seem a vague idea in day-to-day life […] but I just immediately sensed that we have more rights.” When l in January both of them contracted COVID-19, without a legal recognition of their status, they were forced to look at the worst-case scenario where all they had built together so far was going to get lost, bu now, as Guido says, “with David really ill, the fact that we can now leave our pensions to each other and that we would have had no proble...

Road To Eurovision 2021 – possibility to allow live audience during the event

1Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment, Eurovision

Road To Eurovision 2021 – possibility to allow live audience during the event

Covid 19 Pandemic has forced EBU to re-arrange all normal plans for Eurovision, and till today the presence of live audience during the event was not guaranteed. After a long debate, EBU has responded to the announcement that, if circumstances allow, audiences will be permitted to attend the Eurovision Song Contest in May. Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, stated: “We welcome this decision by the Dutch government and the possibility that we can invite fans to join us as we bring the Eurovision Song Contest back in May. We will consider the options now available and announce more details in the coming weeks on how we can safely admit audiences to the Ahoy venue in Rotterdam should the situation allow. The health and safety of all those attending ...

TOKYO: LGBT+ families in Adachi Ward are being legalised and finally accepted.

1Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, News, Society

TOKYO: LGBT+ families in Adachi Ward are being legalised and finally accepted.

Such an unexpected initiative in a country that does not legally recognise LGBT+ people and their rights. A municipality in Tokyo on Thursday began certifying LGTB+ couples and their children as families, a move that came in the wake of controversial remarks made by a local assemblyman - Masateru Shiraishi - disparaging the impact sexual minorities have on the community: in September he said that “the municipality would cease to exist if the rights of sexual minorities are protected by law, drawing public outcry.” Such a harsh and racist declaration that the 79-year-old politician - which is also member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan - retracted his words apologising with the LGBT+ community. As reported by Kyodo News: “Sexual minorities and their allies hailed the developmen...

DRAG RACE UK Star, Veronica Green, releases her debut single “STARS”

31Mar

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

DRAG RACE UK Star, Veronica Green, releases her debut single “STARS”

A talented and gifted artist - we fell in love with during Season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Rage UK - that finally releases her first single. STAR is the title of Veronica’s debut song, and no, it is not what you would expect from a typical drag queen: she’s serving you ballad realness, with a song rich of pumping beats, comedy and emotional lyrics strongly influenced by her love for musical theatre. She said: “it is the perfect introduction to my musical world. I think a lot of people will relate to this song, coming from small towns and villages and finding their place and acceptance in a big city. […] It's a big musical theatre-style pop song that provides the perfect introduction to my musical world." 'Stars' is written and produced by Ian Masterson (alongside Hayley Sanderson) who has ...

Trans conversion therapies: more than 50% of ex-patients attempted suicide.

31Mar

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Health, News, Religion, Society

Trans conversion therapies: more than 50% of ex-patients attempted suicide.

This shocking and still so true news is the result of a study conducted in October 2020 by the Gender Identity Research & Education Society, the LGBT Foundation, the Ozanne Foundation and Stonewall. It is scary to read that 9 out of 10 trans and non-binary patients who were treated with conversion-therapies, have then experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression, but it is even worts to read that at least half of them have attempted suicide. The research that you can read here, also found that gender identity conversion therapy is “more widespread and often more violent” than most people actually realise. These therapies too often force their “patients” to unwanted nudity, and include corrective rape, food and sleep deprivation, physical and verbal abuse, as part of the “cure”. T...