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The resolution was tabled by a group of 13 states including China, Egypt, Russia and Uganda. It found support by 26 countries, while 14 countries voted against.
Whereas the resolution does not define ‘family’, […]

The resolution was tabled by a group of 13 states including China, Egypt, Russia and Uganda. It found support by 26 countries, while 14 countries voted against.
Whereas the resolution does not define ‘family’, […]

The resolution was tabled by a group of 13 states including China, Egypt, Russia and Uganda. It found support by 26 countries, while 14 countries voted against.
Whereas the resolution does not define ‘family’, the reference to a singular ‘family’ could be used as precedent to oppose rights for same-sex couples, single parents, and other forms of families in future UN negotiations.
An amendment tabled by Chile, Uruguay, Ireland and France, which underlined that “different cultural, political and social systems various forms of the family exist”, was not discussed after Russia brought a “no action” motion which was adopted by a 22-20 majority.
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, reacted: “I am shocked by the tactics used by Russia and 21 other governments to avoid a discussion on the diversity of family forms. In a shameful manner they used a procedural motion to avoid talking about content.”
“Referring to family, without recognising the existence of more types of families, is to look away from reality where we find families in all forms and shapes.”
Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, continued: “It is appalling that the Human Rights Council, which is supposed to be concerned about the human rights of individuals, has adopted this resolution.”
“It should not be up to an accidental majority of states to define what does and what does not constitute a family. I urge all states to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all individual members belonging to all different types of families, including same-sex families.”
The post appeared first on UN Human Rights Council adopts non-inclusive ‘Protection of the Family’ resolution .

Last week, the Kyrgyz Parliament’s Human Rights Committee approved the anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ bill. The decision brings the bill closer to a parliamentary vote, which might already take place this week or next.

Closely resembling similar existing laws in Russia, the bill seeks to outlaw the dissemination of information “aimed at forming positive attitudes toward non-traditional sexual relations.” Persons found guilty […]

Closely resembling similar existing laws in Russia, the bill seeks to outlaw the dissemination of information “aimed at forming positive attitudes toward non-traditional sexual relations.” Persons found guilty […]

Closely resembling similar existing laws in Russia, the bill seeks to outlaw the dissemination of information “aimed at forming positive attitudes toward non-traditional sexual relations.” Persons found guilty under this law face up to one year imprisonment.
It was only in 1998 that homosexual acts between consenting adult men were decriminalised, and in 2004 that also sexual acts between two consenting women were no longer a sexual offence in the Penal Code.
The bill was condemned by the two rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe responsible for relations with Kyrgyzstan and for LGBT issues, Andreas Gross and Robert Biedroń.
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, reacted: “In a country where LGBT people experience blatant discrimination, severe violence – not the least by police forces – and have no access to their human rights, this bill will only further worsen their situation by curtailing their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
“I expect the EU to raise this at the highest levels with Kyrgyz authorities, to make sure that LGBT people will stop being scapegoated and ensure that human rights of all Kyrgyz citizens are protected.”
Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergoup, continued: “It is unacceptable that people might again be put in jail for being who they are, or even for sharing objective information about different sexual orientations.”
“We urge Kyrgyz law makers not to follow the example of countries like Russia or Uganda, and take their country back to the stone age, but rather join the growing number of European countries where all citizens are equal, free and safe.”
The post appeared first on Kyrgyz ‘anti-propaganda’ bill on verge of becoming law .

The Capitalistic Artistic interpretation of the Linear state of Music. Rodeo is about Shock Value, ripping out your soul to defining your own Opinions, Apart from Society’s. And like all Fairytales, Rodeo is laced in a dream.
I just wish Daniel was singing and dancing in my bedroom… promise it will be very hot.. But I love the tune too – all the skin distracted me a bit – so please forgive me and I hope you understand.
So please enjoy Daniel… tastefully !

Buy it on iTunes (UK)
Buy it on iTunes (IE)
The post appeared first on MySoCalledGayLife.co.uk.

Active and former Boy Scouts and leaders will present the American flag during the national anthem at the NYC Pride March opening ceremony and subsequently serve as Color Guard during the march, leading more than 14,000 participants down Fifth Avenue in a celebration of recent advancements made for LGBT equality.
Despite the BSA’s national policy that bans gay and lesbian adults from participating in Scouting, the Greater New York Councils, which serves nearly 150,000 Scouts in New York City, has previously stated its commitment to full inclusion of gay Scouts regardless of age.
“NYC Pride warmly welcomes Scouts for Equality to the route as our 2014 NYC Pride March Color Guard,” said NYC Pride March Director, Dave Studinski. “Our 2014 theme is ‘We Have Won When We’re One,’ and this message resonates well with Scouts for Equality’s mission. From their participation in our step-off ceremony through the moment they pass the historic Stonewall Inn, may the Scout’s joint display of our nation’s colors and the rainbow flag remind us all that the LGBT movement seeks not tolerance, but acceptance as equals.”
“We are grateful for this invitation from NYC Pride, and we are honored and humbled to provide this patriotic service to the LGBT community of New York,” said Stacey Sarnicola, Brooklyn chapter lead, Scouts for Equality. “Since 1978, the BSA has held a policy that excluded gay youth and parents. While the BSA voted last year to end the policy barring gay youth from participation, it has made no change in its membership policy regarding adults. The Greater New York Councils’ inclusive policy is what gave me permission to allow my son to join the Boy Scouts. It’s what gives us permission to march, and it gives us hope for a BSA for all in the near future.”
“For more than a century, Scouting has shaped the leaders of tomorrow, instilling in countless young men the values of honesty, courage, and respect for everyone – values that fly in the face of the BSA’s ban on gay adults,” said Seth Adam, Director of Communications at GLAAD. “That local Scouts will now be leading one of the world’s most iconic LGBT Pride events is a testament to both how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go in the pursuit of full equality. Until gay and lesbian adults and parents can partake in their own children’s lives through Scouting, the Boy Scouts will continue to fall behind a rapidly growing majority of Americans, who agree that no one should be discriminated against because of who they love.”
Among those carrying flags will be:

David Knapp, 87, one of the most respected and tenured advocates for equality in Scouting, who was forced out of the BSA in 1993 after 55 years of service when it was discovered that he is gay.
Former BSA Salt Lake City Scoutmaster Peter Brownstein, who was forcibly removed from Scouting after he and his Eagle Scout son delivered pizzas to same-sex couples waiting to marry in Utah: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/25/us/utah-boy-scout-pizza-for-gays/
 Uniformed Scouts and Leaders who proudly stand as LGBT allies.

Greater New York Councils’ Position:
According to a statement from the BSA’s Greater New York Councils (GNYC), in its 104-year history the GNYC’s administration has never denied membership to a youth or adult due to sexual orientation. GNYC says:
“We believe that the right, moral, forward-looking policy for the BSA nationwide is to have an inclusive policy that welcomes all to our program, without regard to sexual orientation. We strongly believe that both gay adults and youth must be welcomed in Scouting.”
Under this mandate, Brooklyn Scouts for Equality invites all regional Scouts, Scouters, alumnus, and families – Cubs, Scouts, Ventures, and Explorers – to join the march on June 29 in their Scout uniforms, supporting the beginning of a fully-inclusive, national BSA.. To sign up, visit http://www.facebook.com/events/746718882037704.
Additional information:
Since 1978, the BSA has held a policy that excluded gay youth and parents from participating in the program. On May 23rd, 2013, more than 1,200 members of the BSA National Council voted to end the organization’s policy barring gay youth from participation. Gay and lesbian leaders are still barred from participating.
In remarks delivered at the BSA National Annual Meeting on May 22, 2014, newly appointed president of the BSA, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, stated that while he supports allowing gay adults in Scouting, he will “oppose any effort to re-open” debate on the issue. Gates also emphasized, however, that the role of the BSA National headquarters should be to support local Councils, rather than become “a thorn in their side” – a vision that some hope could provide local Councils with license to determine their own policies on gay leadership.
GLAAD first started calls for the Boy Scouts of America to end its ban on gay Scouts and Scout leaders in April 2012 after Jennifer Tyrrell, a mom and den leader from Ohio was removed from her 7-year-old’s Cub Scout pack for being gay. Tyrrell’s Change.org petition attracted more than 350,000 signatures in support of ending the Boy Scouts’ ban on gay Scouts and adult leaders.
More than two million people have joined Change.org petition campaigns since Tyrrell launched her first petition. Since that day, advocacy efforts and successful petition campaigns have recruited two Boy Scout board members – AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson and Ernst & Young CEO James Turley – to denounce the national anti-gay policy. GLAAD, together with Eagle Scout and founder of Scouts for Equality Zach Wahls, have also used Change.org petitions to pressure corporate donors such as the Intel Foundation and the UPS Foundation to pull funding until the Boy Scouts ends its policy banning gay youth and parents. In 2012, a Bay Area mother named Karen Andresen petitioned her local Boy Scout council to honor her son Ryan with an Eagle Award that was denied to him when the Scout came out as gay. An official Eagle Board Board of Review unanimously approved Ryan’s application for Eagle, but a Boy Scout executive ultimately rejected his application.
For a full timeline of events, please visit http://www.glaad.org/timeline
The post appeared first on MySoCalledGayLife.co.uk.

Belonging: Irish Queer Youth celebrates and reflects on BeLonG To’s work towards an Ireland where Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people are respected, empowered and cared for. This exhibition […]

Belonging: Irish Queer Youth celebrates and reflects on BeLonG To’s work towards an Ireland where Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people are respected, empowered and cared for. This exhibition marks the donation of BeLonG To’s work to the National Library of Ireland, joining the Irish Queer Archives as valued documentations of Irish society.
Belonging: Irish Queer Youth explores BeLonG To’s work to combat homophobia & transphobia in schools and the workplace which has helped create a growing confidence amongst LGBT young people in Ireland today. Photographs also document young people’s participation in Pride events, advocacy work, political protests and actions, global solidarity work and portraits of the young people themselves. This exhibition is a celebration of how much positive change has happened for Irish LGBT young people over the past decade and an acknowledgment of how much more needs to happen.
Speaking at the launch Michael Barron, Founding Director of BeLonG To said:
“We are delighted to be working with the National Photography Archive and the National Library of Ireland to honour and celebrate the lives and achievements of LGBT young people in Ireland today. Over the past 11 years we have seen hugely positive developments happen – with LGBT young people coming out much young and in much greater numbers. This growing confidence and bravery has really changed families, schools and indeed the country itself – which is now a much better place to be LGBT due in large part to these courageous young people”
He continued,
“At BeLonG To we have always worked for social change and for a more just society for young people and while there is still so much work to do, this exhibition celebrates the changes that have happened. I would like to thank the National Photography Archive & the National Library of Ireland for working with us and for accepting BeLonG To’s archive, as doing so preserves for future generations this vital period for LGBT young people’s Rights.”
Photographs also highlight community fundraising efforts, such as Deborah & Jennifer Sweeney atop Mt. Kilimanjaro in a fundraising hike for BeLonG To, and Ireland’s first Gay Prom. Images of BeLonG To’s international work also feature, including work with UNESCO in Brazil and Paris to develop the first global guide on tackling homophobic bullying and meeting US First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Many prominent figures in Irish politics and sport appear regularly in photos, showing an ongoing commitment to supporting the work of BeLonG To, including; Minister for Justice (former Minister for Children & Youth Affairs) Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD, former President Mary McAleese, and All Ireland Hurling Champion Donal Óg Cusak.
Belonging: Irish Queer Youth is curated by Irish artist Kevin Gaffney who developed the archive for BeLonG To in 2013. The exhibition is part of Dublin Pride and the Photo Ireland Canon Open Programme, and is kindly supported by Dublin City Council and the Copper House.
Event details
National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
Launch Event: Monday 23rd June, 6-8pm.
Exhibition dates: 21st June- 27th July 2014. Free entry.
Opening hours: Monday- Saturday, 10am-5pm. Sunday, 12noon- 5pm.
BeLonG To – Irish Queer Archives
BeLonG To – Irish Queer Archives

The post appeared first on Major exhibition marks Irish LGBT young people’s history becoming part of the National Library of Ireland & the National Photographic Archive .

This is an important step forward for the trans community in Ireland and it was welcomed by Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).
“TENI warmly welcomes the publication of the revised Bill as it represents […]

This is an important step forward for the trans community in Ireland and it was welcomed by Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).
“TENI warmly welcomes the publication of the revised Bill as it represents significant progress,” said TENI Chief Executive Broden Giambrone. “The reduction in the age an individual can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate from 18 years to 16 years is a step forward to improving the conditions of young trans and intersex people in this country. We were delighted to see the Minister move the legislation in this progressive direction.”
Lowering the Age of Recognition
During the Committee hearings held in October 2013 in advance of the publication of the bill, this issue of the age of recognition was raised by TENI, BeLonG To Youth Services, LGBT Noise, TransParenCI and other experts who made submissions. All called on the Government to remove the age requirement to ensure that the rights of young trans people would be protected by new legislation. This was also echoed by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office who published advice late last year calling on the Government to remove the criterion of a minimum age stating, “an absolute exclusion on young people or their parents seeking a Gender Recognition Certificate is a disproportionate interference with young people’s right to gender recognition.”
Process of Gender Recognition for Young People aged 16 & 17
The move to lower the age to 16 is a significant step and will improve the lives of many young trans and intersex people who will be able to obtain legal recognition prior to leaving school and change necessary identification documents. However, the process that is being proposed is onerous. In order to be legally recognised, young people aged 16 and 17 will require parental consent, a letter from the primary treating physician and a court order to access legal recognition.
“While TENI warmly welcomes the inclusion of 16 and 17 year olds in the revised General Scheme we are deeply concerned that the process will be too burdensome and act as a barrier to many young people being able to avail of the legislation,” said Giambrone.”Requiring a court order is particularly troublesome.”
Moreover, the legislation still excludes those under 16 and leaves them in a vulnerable position. Without legal protection these young people will be open to discrimination. The Minister has indicated that she supports education guidelines which would address many of these issues.
Next Steps
The General Scheme of the Bill will now be referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and the bill is expected to be published by Government before the end of 2014. It will then be debated in the Dáil and Seanad.
“TENI will continue to advocate for the introduction of inclusive, rights-based legislation that will ensure all members of the trans community can avail of their human rights,” said Giambrone. “TENI will also be actively advocating for the introduction of education guidelines that will support young trans students.”
The post appeared first on Ireland: Revised Bill Will Allow Legal Recognition of 16 and 17 Years Olds .

EuroGames Stockholm is pleased to announce that it will host the 2015 International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) World Championships in conjunction with its cultural, sport and political programme. The aquatics […]

– Our organization hopes that this collaboration will lead to a long-lasting relationship to further our mission of promoting aquatic sports, friendly competition of the highest standards and stronger ties within […]

– Our organization hopes that this collaboration will lead to a long-lasting relationship to further our mission of promoting aquatic sports, friendly competition of the highest standards and stronger ties within […]

– Our organization hopes that this collaboration will lead to a long-lasting relationship to further our mission of promoting aquatic sports, friendly competition of the highest standards and stronger ties within the international LGBTQ sporting community, says Scott Kohanowski, IGLA Co-President.
– We are happy to make EuroGames Stockholm an even greater international event as well as receive the recognition of IGLA, which has ensured high-quality aquatics competitions and defended human rights since 1987, says Jakob Jansson, EuroGames Stockholm President.
EuroGames is among the world’s largest LGBTQ-events, founded by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) in 1992 to combat discrimination, encourage integration, and promote the right to engage in sport, politics and culture – regardless of sexual orientation, gender, religion, age, ethnic origin, political beliefs, or athletic or artistic ability.
EuroGames Stockholm is a sports, cultural and political event which will take place between the 5th and 9th of August 2015 and is expected to attract over 5.000 participants and more than 250.000 visitors. EuroGames is held about three times per decade. Previous host cities include Barcelona, Paris, London and Antwerp.
IGLA is the world’s foremost international organization solely devoted to developing and promoting LGBTQ swimming, water polo, diving, and synchronized swimming. The annual IGLA Championships are the world’s largest LGBTQ-aquatics event and attract hundreds of participants from around the globe each year. The IGLA Championships were first held in San Diego in 1987 and most recently in Copenhagen, Honolulu, Reykjavik, and Seattle. The 2014 championships will be held in conjunction with the Gay Games in Cleveland.
Registration for EuroGames Stockholm and the 2015 IGLA World Championships is now open at the following link: eurogamesstockholm.com/registration
Follow Team EuroGames Stockholm for information, news and updates via:
http://www.facebook.com/eurogamesstockholm
http://www.twitter.com/eurogamessthlm
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Share your stories via the official hashtag #eurogamessthlm
The post appeared first on EuroGames Stockholm to host the 2015 IGLA World Aquatics Championships .

“We commend the leaders of Luxembourg for granting the nation’s LGBT citizens the rights they deserve, and we congratulate the LGBT activists and advocates who made this historic day possible,” said Ty Cobb, […]

“We commend the leaders of Luxembourg for granting the nation’s LGBT citizens the rights they deserve, and we congratulate the LGBT activists and advocates who made this historic day possible,” said Ty Cobb, […]

“We commend the leaders of Luxembourg for granting the nation’s LGBT citizens the rights they deserve, and we congratulate the LGBT activists and advocates who made this historic day possible,” said Ty Cobb, HRC’s Director of Global Engagement.
Luxembourg’s national parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, approved the bill by a vote of 56 to 4.  In addition to granting full marriage rights to Luxembourg’s LGBT citizens–previously only civil unions were available–this legislation will grant LGBT couples full adoption rights as well.
Currently, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, as well as England and Wales in the United Kingdom, have marriage equality laws that are in effect. In addition, Scotland’s law is set to extend full marriage rights to its LGBT citizens by the end of 2014.
Photo By Kurt Löwenstein Educational Center International Team from Germany (qe07 (9)) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The post appeared first on Luxembourg Passes Marriage Equality Legislation .