Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

WORLD New HIV news, Catholic event, conversion therapy, Hungary anti-trans bill
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2020-05-27

This article shared 5495 times since Wed May 27, 2020
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


A global trial stated that a new HIV drug injected every two months effectively reduces the rate of infection, and provides longer and stronger protection, than taking pills, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The four-year trial—conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States and six other countries—injected a drug called cabotegravir every two months into 4,570 men and transgender women who have sex with men and are at high risk of contracting HIV. The finding—in which a third fewer people became infected on cabotegravir compared with the other drugs ( tenofovir/emtricitabine, sold as Truvada )—"marks the first time a large-scale clinical trial has shown a systemic, long-acting form of HIV prevention to be highly effective," the study report said.

Lockdowns globally are preventing some LGBT+ people with HIV from getting the life-saving treatment they need—and potentially putting their compromised immune systems at risk if they contract COVID-19, according to HIV/AIDS organizations, Openly News reported. From Uganda, Kenya and Mozambique to Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan and Trinidad and Tobago, rights groups report hearing of sexual minorities forced off treatment due to stay at home orders despite some government and NGO efforts to try to help them. Nearly 38 million people worldwide are currently infected with HIV, with the AIDS pandemic killing about 35 million people worldwide since it began in the 1980s.

Hundreds of Catholics from all over the world will be praying together on Zoom to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month on Sunday, June 14, 2-3 p.m. CT, a press release announced. The virtual prayer service and global discussion will take place on the Catholic Feast of Corpus Christi ( Body of Christ ) and will focus on the theme, "We, Though Many, Are One Body" ( 1 Corinthians 10:17 ). The gathering is being sponsored by New Ways Ministry, a U.S.-based Catholic ministry of justice and equality for LGBTQ people in church and society. For more information and to register for the Zoom event, visit NewWaysMinistry.org/pride/ .

Albania's Order of Psychologists announced it will prohibit members from offering "conversion therapy," Human Rights Watch reported. The decision effectively bans conversion therapy in Albania, as registered therapists are required to be members of the group in order to legally practice. Lawmakers in many countries around the globe are considering bans on the practice, including in Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and the United States.

In Canada, Calgary has joined other Alberta cities with a bylaw banning the business practice of conversion therapy, LiveWire Calgary reported. After some council debate, the bylaw was passed 14 to one at the May 25 city council meeting; Coun. Joe Magliocca was the lone dissenting vote in both the second and third readings, after it was unanimous on the first reading. Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen issued a statement saying, in part, "Conversion therapy should be banned across the planet, because it is a dangerous and anachronistic form of torture that teaches people to lie and deny who they are. We thank the terrific LGBT advocates in Calgary and across Canada for their life-saving work to make the dream of banning conversion therapy a reality."

Following weeks of international outcry, the Hungarian Parliament rolled back trans rights, voting 133-57 to approve an omnibus bill—one article of which replaces the category of "sex" on the civil registry with one of "sex assigned at birth," ILGA-Europe noted. ILGA-Europe Advocacy Director Katrin Hugendubel responded to the vote: "Legal gender recognition is the bedrock of access to equality and non-discrimination for trans and intersex people. Without it, these populations are subject to immense stigma, discrimination, harassment and violence every time they use their identity documents—be it at the bank, when going to the doctor, when applying for a job, or even when applying for a cellphone contract."

China's LGBT-rights activists have stepped up their campaign to have same-sex unions legalized after a parliamentary official said the country "insisted on heterosexual marriage" only and dismissed public comments on the issue, the South China Morning Post reported. The legislature began its annual meeting in Beijing on May 22 and is expected to enact the country's first civil code. It had sought public opinions on the marriage and family section of the code in November, receiving more than 200,000 suggestions; however Huang Wei—an official with the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee—said comments about legalising same-sex marriage had been sent in "an organized act." LGBT activist Sun Wenlin said he was not satisfied with the parliamentary official's justification for rejecting gay marriage.

Western diplomatic missions in Baghdad have been slammed by the LGBTQ+ community for appearing to bow to Iraqi government and clerical pressure to remove Pride flags flying above their embassies as well as posts from their social-media accounts, Rudaw reported. In a gesture marking International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on Sunday, the European Union, the World Bank MENA, and the Canadian and British embassies to Iraq all hoisted the iconic rainbow flag in Baghdad. However, the flags and social media posts were fiercely attacked by Iraqi politicians and clerics, who said the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights was incompatible with Iraqi society and insensitive during the holy month of Ramadan.

A Ugandan court ordered the release of 19 LGBT+ people jailed for almost 50 days for risking spreading the new coronavirus after public prosecutors withdrew the charges, Reuters reported. The 13 gay men, two bisexual men and four transgender women were arrested on March 29 when police raided an LGBT+ shelter on the outskirts of Kampala. Authorities claimed they were violating social-distancing rules banning gatherings of more than 10 people.

A U.S. diplomat acknowledged the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on LGBTQ people around the world, The Washington Blade noted. "The COVID pandemic really highlights the challenges for the LGBTQ community," said Acting U.S. Representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC ) Courtney Nemroff during a virtual event organized by the U.N. LGBTI Core Group that commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia ( IDAHOBIT ). "We are particularly concerned about the fear, the real fear of discrimination against members of the community when they try to seek basic healthcare services."

The Swedish government has proposed a 100 million kronor ( $10.25 million ) boost for organizations that help vulnerable communities and combat loneliness among elderly people, TheLocal.se reported. Another 100 million kronor were previously promised to organizations working with vulnerable children and organizations working with women exposed to violence, children and LGBTQ communities, and against domestic violence and honor-related violence and oppression.

After the success of United At Home in Miami—which raised more than $750,000 for COVID-19 relief charities and drew more than 25 million viewers—David Guetta will host a live stream performance in New York on May 30 to raise spirits and money for the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, Feeding America, the World Health Organization and Fondation Hopitaux de Paris-Hopitaux de France, a press release noted. Guetta's performance—which will begin after New York's "daily clap" for frontline and healthcare workers at 6 p.m. CT—will take place at one of New York City's most iconic locations, to be revealed during his set.

LGBTQ-focused streaming platform GagaOOLala officially launched worldwide in all territories except for China and North Korea, NBC News reported. The streamer is backed by Taipei-based Portico Media, one of the co-founders of the Taiwan International Queer Film Festival. GagaOOLala is now available worldwide for $6.99 a month. All films currently are equipped with English and Chinese subtitles, with other languages pending as the company monitors content popularity in different regions.

The 30th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival ( Inside Out ) revealed its full lineup of digital events taking place through June 30, a press release announced. Events include the 4th Annual LGBTQ Film Finance Forum, the digital exhibition "Out of the Archives/Inside the Community: 30 Years of Inside Out" and the Pitch, Please! Short Film Competition, among other items. This year's full festival, which was postponed due to COVID-19, will now take place Oct. 1-11. See InsideOut.ca.

Also in Toronto, the LGBTQ community lost a sanctuary as Club 120 closed for good, Toronto.com reported. The Church Street nightclub and its sister—live music and comedy venue 120 Diner—announced recently that they won't be opening again. "We tried very hard to navigate the system and hang in there … but with the way the world is turning, there is no sane or rational way that we can keep this space alive," co-owner Todd Klinck wrote in a lengthy Facebook post, where he noted that the businesses have monthly expenses of $90,000 when open at full tilt.

Crayola announced the launch of its "Colors of the World" crayons, WXYZ.com reported. The box includes 24 new specially formulated crayons that are designed to mirror and represent over 40 global skin tones across the world. The company said it conducted rigorous consumer testing and partnered with cosmetics expert Victor Casale to ensure "Colors of the World" crayons reflect an accurate and inclusive skin tone palette.

The governor of Italy's Veneto region, Luca Zaia, said that the Venice Film Festival will go ahead as scheduled in September, Deadline noted. Dates are Sept. 2-12 for the Lido event—and it would mark the first major film industry gathering not recently postponed or canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic.


This article shared 5495 times since Wed May 27, 2020
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Nex Benedict's autopsy report released
2024-03-27
The full autopsy report for Nex Benedict (he/they)—a 16-year-old transgender and Indigenous student from Oklahoma's Owasso High School who died in February a day after a school fight—has been released. The Oklahoma Office of the Chie ...


Gay News

An interstate trans healthcare crisis: Illinois prepares for influx of people seeking gender-affirming care
2024-03-26
With hard-won rights, such as access to hormone replacement therapy or permission to use one's chosen pronouns in school, breaking down in states across the country, trans residents of all ages are left with a choice: ...


Gay News

United Church of Hyde Park hosts LGBTQ+ storytelling event
2024-03-25
About 20 people had gathered around four round tables in the community room of the United Church of Hyde Park, 1448 E. 53rd St., on March 23. They were listening quietly to a man tell the story of how, on a ...


Gay News

No charges filed in Nex Benedict fight; campaigns call for Walters' removal
2024-03-22
In Oklahoma, Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler announced that no charges will be filed in connection with the fight that happened the day before transgender, nonbinary high school student Nex Benedict died by suicide, NBC ...


Gay News

JP Karliak morphs into non-binary character for Disney+'s X-Men '97
2024-03-22
series X-Men '97, a revival of the popular X-men: The Animated Series that's both continuing the ongoing mutant storyline and breaking new ground along the way. The character of Morph now looks more like the comic ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist
2024-03-21
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

Almost 8% of U.S. residents identify as LGBTQ+
2024-03-16
The proportion of U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ+ continues to increase. LGBTQ+ identification in the U.S. continues to grow, with 7.6% of U.S. adults now identifying as LGBTQ+, according to the newest Gallup poll results that ...


Gay News

WORLD Leaked messages, Panama action, author dies at 32, Japan court, out athletes
2024-03-15
Hundreds of messages from an internal chat board for an international group of transgender health professionals were leaked in a report and framed as revealing serious health risks associated with gender-affirming care, including cancer, according to ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools
2024-03-15
In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


Gay News

College athletes sue NCAA over transgender policies
2024-03-15
Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines was among a group of college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on March 14, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing trans swimmer Lia Thomas ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'P-Valley,' Wendy Williams, Luke Evans, 'Queer Eye,' 'Transition'
2024-03-15
Lady Gaga came to the defense of Dylan Mulvaney after a post with the trans influencer/activist for International Women's Day received hateful responses, People Magazine noted. On Instagram, Gaga stated, "It's appalling to me that a ...


Gay News

SPORTS Red Stars prepare to kick off NWSL season against Utah Royals
2024-03-15
It's been a busy winter for the Red Stars, and it's time to put their work to the test. Following a last place finish in the 2023 NWSL season, Chicago has had an active offseason transforming ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ people attacked by mobs in Greece
2024-03-14
Just weeks after a landmark law granted same-sex couples in Greece the right to marry, nearly 200 people dressed in black chased a transgender couple through the town square in Thessaloniki, the country's "second city" and ...


Gay News

Howard Brown experts discuss advocacy and allyship for Chicago's trans community
2024-03-14
By Alec Karam - Howard Brown Health's Trans & Gender Diverse People's Rights & Patient Care panel convened March 12 to discuss both resources for—and opportunities to provide allyship to—the city's trans and gender diverse communities. The event hos ...


Gay News

UPDATE: Nex Benedict's death ruled a suicide; family responds
2024-03-13
A medical examiner's report concluded that the cause of death of Oklahoma student Nex Benedict (he/they) was suicide, media reports confirmed. Benedict—a 16-year-old transgender student—died Feb. 8, a day after ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.