News ‣ The Gayly Mirror

USA to reduce abstinence period for LGBT+ community for blood donations

6Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Health, News

USA to reduce abstinence period for LGBT+ community for blood donations

When in need, it’s all good. The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has reduced the abstinence period for men having gay sex from twelve to three months announcing a significant loosening in blood donations rules all over the country. FDA statement said that it had “concluded that recent policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the bloody supply.” The reason behind this decision is the pandemic caused by Covid-19. Yes, of course! Because it is so need right now. LGBT+ activists have welcomed this new decision, and Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and chief executive, said: “LGBT+ Americans can hold their heads up today and know that our voices will always triumph over discrimination. This is a victory for all ...

EU’s Ministers against Hungary’s ‘outrageous, shocking yet not surprising’ attack to Trans Community.

5Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, News

EU’s Ministers against Hungary’s ‘outrageous, shocking yet not surprising’ attack to Trans Community.

Masked homophobia is always homophobia, maybe the worst type. As reported in this article, the parliament in Hungary agreed to give full powers to Viktor Orbán (far-right-party) and granted him the rile to rule by decree with no need to consult other legislator. Orbán’s deputy prime minister - Mr. Zslot Semjén - proposed a new bill that - if voted - would have replaced “gender” with “sex at birth” on any legal documents issued in Hungary. But finally, EU MEPs have decided this was completely illegal and told off Hungarian Parliament calling this attempt an “intentional abuse” of power. “This attack on the trans community is outrageous and deliberate… This move does not only intentionally silence the trans community – it seeks to erase it and deny its existence” - Marc Angel, ME...

Uganda: 20 people arrested because they were gay, but police say it was Covid-19 prevention.

2Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

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Uganda: 20 people arrested because they were gay, but police say it was Covid-19 prevention.

Uganda denies that 20 arrested people were targeted because they were gay. Fourteen gay men, two bisexual men and four transgender women were arrested on March 29th when police raided a refuge on the outskirts of the Ugandan capital Kampala. At least four of the 20 people arrested live with HIV and cannot have access to life-saving drugs, according to an activist. The police accused all 20 people of defying the rules of social distancing, but activists accuse the authorities of using the coronavirus pandemic excuse to target country's LGBT+ minorities. Patricia Kimera, a lawyer who is defending the group with the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, said that those people living with HIV are denied access to antiretroviral drugs and that all 20 of them run the risk of contrac...

2Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, News

Homophobe’s karma

Karma is bitch, and we all know it. Ain’t we, girls? In this hard situation caused by Covid-19 pandemic, politicians are still looking fro votes and trying to show that they are “close to the population” as much as possible. With this attitude, Vladimir Putin visited Kommunarka, the main Covid-19 hospital in his country and, in front of the cameras, he had a nice chat with Doctor Denis Protsenko. They had quite a serious conversation where Doctor Protsenko spoke about what the hospital was doing for covid-19 patients, and in the end the shook hands. All normal, you would say, I know. But as it is possible to see from the tv footage, none of them wore a mask or a protective kit against Covid-19. On 31st March 2020, Doctor Protsenko announced he was diagnosed with COVID-19, a...

Global Pride: an online Pride to safely celebrate LGBT+ rights during COVID-19 pandemic.

2Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

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Global Pride: an online Pride to safely celebrate LGBT+ rights during COVID-19 pandemic.

Nothing can stop a rainbow. EPOA has announced that a Global Pride Event will take place on line on 27th June 2020 in response to all those Pride events which had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 Pandemic and for the safety and health of all participants. There is a lot to be seen and celebrated during this Global Pride Event, in fact InterPride and the EPOA are working together with national organisations around the world (including USA, Canada, South Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latina America) to be able to include as many associations as possible and bring LGBT+ communities from all around the world to celebrate together this even. According to Steve Taylor, “Global Pride will use online platforms to deliver a Pride in which everyone can participate, wherever they are in th...

Hungary: Orban and his hold on Trans People’s rights.

2Apr

By RaffaNo Comments

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Hungary: Orban and his hold on Trans People’s rights.

The fight against Coronavirus is the used excuse, and Viktor Orban gets full powers to fight the invisible enemy, but apparently, in his plans there would be much more. In recent years, Hungary has repeatedly seen episodes of homophobia and racism because of the extremist drift fomented by President Orban and his party. Last Monday, however, the Hungarian parliament agreed to extend Orban's already strong powers by granting him the right to rule by decree indefinitely. What does it mean? Well. It means that the Hungarian president will be able to make decisions on his own without needing or having to consult other legislators. Orban is not alone in his insane battle against human rights: if on Monday morning his powers had already become untouchable, in the afternoon his deputy Zsol...

Singapore’s High Court confirms validity of Section 377A: a ban dated back to colonial-era.

30Mar

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Gay Pride, News

Singapore’s High Court confirms validity of Section 377A: a ban dated back to colonial-era.

Sexual activity between men has been illegal in Singapore since the British imposed Section 377A in the 30's during the colonial era. Singapore's High Court judges dismissed a constitutional battle against Section 377A of the country's penal code that prohibits same-sex intimacy (specifically between men), as Human Dignity Trust announced today, 30th March 2020. This is a real blow for all local LGBT + activists. Although these rules are rarely applied, for men who commit a "serious offense" with another man or try to get gay sex, there is a serious risk of being jailed for up to two years. While sexual activity between women is technically "legal", activists argue that the law represses the entire LGBT + community as a whole. (From left) Mr Bryan Choong Chee Hong, Mr Johnso...

Pride 2020: when coronavirus gets in the way

27Mar

By RaffaNo Comments

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Pride 2020: when coronavirus gets in the way

Pride is a parade of peaceful fight for the fundamental rights of the life of all LGBT+ people, and it is precisely life that must be protected. Therefore it would be truly irresponsible to continue without second thoughts, and allow the normal running of Pride Parades all over the world. We are facing a global pandemic, an epidemic that is destabilising us all and changing the way we live life everyday together with our future projects. How many of us have had to postpone graduation parties, birthdays, important celebrations and weddings? All is done for a greater good (sure), for the health of mankind and our loved ones but we admit it hurts. So here is that even Pride Parades 2020 around the world suffer from the effects of coronavirus (or Covid-19, whatever you want to call it)....

Covid-19: LGBT+ people still seeking for hook-ups on line despite restrictions.

24Mar

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Health, Lifestyle, News

Covid-19: LGBT+ people still seeking for hook-ups on line despite restrictions.

Two in ten LGBT+ people would still consider online dating/hook-ups amid this coronavirus pandemic. Researchers would explain it as a need to fill a loss of intimacy during this historic moment, more than anything else. All this, of course, goes against the restrictive measures that almost the whole world is applying to stem Covid-19 pandemic that is redefining our daily lives and routines. Despite the increasing numbers of deaths due to coronavirus, it seems that about 28% of LGBT+ people would still consider casual hook-ups (mainly for sex) through famous dating apps; according to the Queer Voices Heard report published on Tuesday. Participants for the social business group who took part to this survey, described community's "real fear" of the viral epidemic, with 57% of responde...

RuPaul’s DragCon LA gets cancelled Following Covid-19 infection concerns

11Mar

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment, News

RuPaul’s DragCon LA gets cancelled Following Covid-19 infection concerns

When it comes to health and safety, we are all called to act wisely. The RuPaul’s DragCon was supposed to be held between 1st and 3rd May 2020 in LA, but given the actual situation of Corona Virus infection and spread, the organisation decided to cancel the event. In their statement, DragCon organisers said: "The situation in California (and the world) is rapidly changing, with new information coming out every day. Unfortunately, there's no way for anyone to know what the situation will be like in May. Due to that uncertainty, and out of an abundance of caution, we've decided that it's in the best interest of the talent, staff, and attendees to cancel RuPaul's DragCon LA 2020. We will be working with Eventbrite to issue refunds for existing DragCon LA ticket holders over the next 7 ...