World Cup ambassador from Qatar denounces homosexuality
November 9, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — An ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar has described homosexuality as a “damage in the mind” in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF only two weeks before the opening of the soccer tournament in the Gulf state, highlighting concerns about the conservative country’s treatment of gays and lesbians.
Florida school board votes down recognizing LGBTQ+ month
September 8, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Miami-Dade School Board overwhelming decided against recognizing October as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer History month which included a measure to teach 12th graders about two Supreme Court cases affecting the LGBTQ community.
Egypt demands Netflix, others adhere to ‘societal values’
September 7, 2022 GMTCAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s media regulator demanded Wednesday that Netflix and other steaming services adhere to this majority Muslim county’s “societal values” — a veiled reference to programs featuring members of the LGBTQ community.
Michigan Supreme Court hears major gay rights case
March 2, 2022 GMTLANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's attorney general on Wednesday asked the state Supreme Court to overturn key decisions and extend the state's anti-discrimination law to gays and lesbians.
People who claim discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation have not been protected by Michigan's civil rights law because the word “sex” in the law has been interpreted only as a reference to gender.
Swiss approve same-sex marriage by wide margin in referendum
September 26, 2021 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Cheers rang out, hugs were exchanged and rainbow-colored flags waved overhead across Switzerland as the Swiss resoundingly voted to allow same-sex couples to marry, final results of a nationwide referendum showed Sunday.
Tens of thousands march for LGBTQ rights at Berlin parade
July 24, 2021 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Around 65,000 revelers marched for LGBTQ rights at Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day celebration on Saturday, more than three times as many as expected.
It was the biggest demonstration in Berlin since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Senior Polish judge deletes tweet about transgender child
April 8, 2021 GMTWARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish top court judge on Thursday deleted a tweet in which she had publicized personal information about a transgender child, triggering accusations that she had placed the youth in danger...
EU lawmakers seek to declare bloc an LGBT ‘freedom zone’
March 10, 2021 GMTWARSAW, Poland (AP) — Lawmakers in the European Parliament overwhelmingly spoke out in favor of a resolution that would declare the entire 27-member European Union a “freedom zone” for LGBT people during a debate held on Wednesday...
Group of US Catholic bishops urges support for LGBT youth
January 26, 2021 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Declaring “God is on your side,” a Roman Catholic cardinal, an archbishop and six other U...
What – or who – is antifa?
September 4, 2020 GMT(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Stanislav Vysotsky, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Jerry Falwell Jr. will leave behind a very different legacy from his influential father
August 26, 2020 GMT(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts...
Polish president calls LGBT ‘ideology’ worse than communism
June 13, 2020 GMTWARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish President Andrzej Duda accused the LGBT rights movement Saturday of promoting a viewpoint more harmful than communism and said he agreed with another conservative politician who stated that “LGBT is not people, it's an ideology...
Polish schools cancel LGBT tolerance day under govt pressure
October 26, 2018 GMTWARSAW, Poland (AP) — Several schools in Poland have canceled activities promoting tolerance for gays and lesbians following government pressure and threats in some places...
Connecticut recruiting LGBT families to adopt, foster kids
May 17, 2018 GMTWEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut's child welfare agency has launched an initiative to actively recruit members of the state's LGBT community to become foster and adoptive parents, bucking recent efforts in some states to curtail gay adoptions...
Baptist group ejects church for pastor’s gay rights support
May 1, 2018 GMTFAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) — A church in West Virginia has been voted out of its local Baptist association because its pastor says gays and lesbians should be welcomed...
Supreme Court appears skeptical of Colorado baker’s refusal to make cake for gay couple
December 6, 2017 GMTWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court gave a mostly skeptical hearing Tuesday to a Colorado baker’s claim that he had a free-speech right to refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
Bill protects adoption agencies that turn away gay couples
February 22, 2017 GMTMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Faith-based adoption agencies, including those that care for state foster children, could turn away gay couples on religious grounds without risk of losing their state license, under a bill advanced Wednesday by the Alabama Senate Health Committee...
Activists cheer exit of Gambia leader, an anti-gay ‘icon’
February 3, 2017 GMTABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — In August 2014, Jamu Camara was at home with her girlfriend in the Gambian resort town of Kololi when police arrived for a surprise raid, taking both women in for questioning...
DeGeneres says her show is no place for anti-gay advocates
January 5, 2017 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Pharrell appeared as scheduled on Thursday's "Ellen DeGeneres Show" without fellow singer Kim Burrell...
Slur in video exposes racial rifts in an iconic gay enclave
October 14, 2016 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Long-simmering racial tensions in one of the country's iconic gay neighborhoods have reached a boil after the release of a video clip in which a club owner repeatedly utters a racial slur, leading to calls for action, including the replacement of Philadelphia's liaison to LGBT residents...
Religious conservatives attempt balance in Orlando response
June 18, 2016 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — The massacre at a gay nightclub has tested the limits of the "love the sinner, hate the sin" approach to homosexuality by conservative religious leaders.
The faith leaders have overwhelmingly expressed grief over the loss of life in Orlando, led vigils around the country, offered counseling for the crowds of mourners and free funerals for the victims...