Yishai Schlissel, the 39-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jewish man accused of attacking marchers in Jerusalem's gay pride parade, has been charged with the murder of a teenage girl and the attempted murder of six other people, according to an LGBTQ Nation item that cites the UK Telegraph. Schlissel was indicted at Jerusalem District Court for the assault on July 30 that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Shira Banki. The month prior to the attack, Schlissel had been released from jail after serving a 10-year sentence for carrying out a similar attack at a Jerusalem gay-pride event in 2005.
The nephew of Gambia President Yahya Jammeh says he faces life in prison or even death in his homeland because of a pro-gay message he posted to his Facebook page, The Washington Blade reported. Alagie Jammeh, a 25-year-old student at the University of California-Santa Barbara, last September wrote "no one should be denied of their fundamental basic human rights because of their sexuality." Alagie—who told the Blade he's been evicted in the wake of losing his government scholarship—added that his uncle's government has requested that he return to his homeland and publicly apologize for the post.
Fashion company Herve Leger's UK director Patrick Couderc was fired after saying voluptuous women, flat-chested women and lesbians should not wear the company's signature curve-hugging bandage dress, according to Fox News. A company rep told the New York Post that Couderc "is no longer associated with the company and his words are not a reflection of Herve Leger by Max Azria or MJH Fashion ideals." The firing pleased some, although others ( such as One.1K President Craig Lawrence ) thought an apology would've been sufficient.
Daya Rani Kinnar, a transgender politician who ran for the presidency of India, was shot dead at her home in Ghaziabad, according to Gay Star News. She made national headlines when she contested the 2009 general election as an independent on a transgender platform. Two men confessed that they murdered Kinnar to take her considerable wealth. One of the men was the estranged husband of Kinnar's niece, who had married him against her aunt's will.
Huge crowds attended Montreal's recent gay-pride parade, including several candidates in the upcoming general elections—although Prime Minister Stephen Harper was conspicuously absent, Yahoo! News noted. The Conservative leader has not attended a Montreal gay pride parade since it first started nine years ago. However, the leader of the Liberal party, Justin Trudeau, and the left-leaning New Democratic Party, Thomas Mulcair, were both present. Canada is holding general elections Oct. 19, with Harper seeking a fourth term in office.
The mayor of Venice, Italy, has hit back after singer Elton John rebuked him on Instagram for taking the controversial decision to ban children's books with same-sex references, according to CNN. As part of his election campaign in June, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro withdrew "books on gender theory," as well as literature on "physical, religious and racial discrimination," he said in a statement. Even though dozens of banned books have been reduced to two, John posted that the "silly-looking" mayor has "stupidly chosen to politicise children's books by banning titles that touch on same sex families living happily ever after." Taking aim at John's residence in the Italian city, the mayor tweeted, "Dear rich #EltonJohn, you, who loves my city so much, what resources, other than buying a house, have you ever offered to save Venice?"
The controversy over a European reggae festival's decision to ban Jewish artist Matisyahu for refusing its demand to declare his support for a Palestinian state continued—after it was revealed that an openly homophobic artist performed at the same festival, Israel National News noted. Following pressure from the "BDS" campaign calling for a boycott against Israel, Spain's Rototom Sunsplash festival disinvited Matisyahu—despite the fact that he is an American Jew, not Israeli. Reggae singer Capleton took to the stage, despite having been condemned for anti-gay lyrics.
A Romanian prince has been stripped of his title by the country's former king in a move that has shocked the country—re-igniting long-standing but unproven rumors the prince is gay, Gay Star News noted. Prince Nicholas De Roumanie, who was third in line to the defunct throne after his aunt and mother, was told his title was being removed due to "moral principles." Nicholas has never commented on the speculation, and has not confirmed whether he is straight, gay or bisexual.
In Thailand, a Bangkok man murdered his boyfriend and then jumped off their balcony to his death, NewNowNext.com reported. On Aug. 16, police found the body of 21-year-old Tana Wu at the couple's apartment with stab wounds in his chest. The body of Lak Phetchabun, 24, was discovered in the parking lot below. Authorities say the two were a couple, but that Wu had revealed he had feelings for an another man. An outraged Phetchabun stabbed his partner with a fruit knife before leaping off the balcony.
A Russian man had to leave his job at the U.S.-owned Cargill grain terminal in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, after writing a homophobic comment below a company news story about a gay pride parade, The Moscow Times reported. Cargill posted a report on its website in early July about a gay-pride parade in which the company's American employees had participated, and encouraged readers to leave comments; Konstantin Olkhovoi wrote that the event was "loathsome." Olkhovoi was summoned the next day by the terminal's management, who were outraged by the comment; however, Olkhovoi told a news outlet that he left the company by mutual agreement.
Israel's medical association has removed a religious doctor from its ethics committee after he posted a homophobic item to an online forum for family doctors—not realizing that around a dozen of the other doctors participating were gay, according to Gay Star News. Dr. Sudi Namir wrote of gay people, "I feel sorry and pray for all those who are sick in their bodies and minds. A pervert is a pervert is a pervert, you can call him whatever you want, he's a pervert. All the abominations of yesterday have become today's norm." Namir told Arutz Sheva Israel National News he immediately apologized to the other doctors for the tone with which he had expressed that view—but not the view itself.
Germany has been added to the list of duty assignments outside of the United States available for same-sex couples, according to an American Military Partner Association ( AMPA ) press release. Previously, same-sex spouses of U.S. service members were denied "command sponsorship" to duty stations in Germany due to concerns that they were not covered under the Status of Forces Agreement ( SOFA ). AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack said the development "is incredibly welcome news for so many service members who had to leave their families behind or go through extraordinary lengths to stay together."
Trans Scripts, a verbatim play by Paul Lucas,took the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by storm, with four- and five-star reviews as well as the coveted Fringe First Award. Trans Scripts features transgender actress/activist Calpernia Addams, star of the upcoming TV series Boy Meets Girl, along with Rebecca Root and an international cast.
In a press conference held in Merida, Mexico, organizers of the fifth edition of LGBT Confex's International Forum reaffirmed that the city and conference is ready to take place on Sept. 18-19 at the Yucatan Siglo XXI convention center, according to a press release. The International Business Forum will educate local, national and international companies on Mexico's LGBT community. Confirmed exhibitors for this year include IGLTA, HRC Foundation, the city of Fort Lauderdale, the visitors' bureaus of Saltillo and Monterrey, and Marriott ( JW Ciudad de Mexico, JW Cancun, JW Santa Fe, Casa Magna Vallarta ), among others.
In Japan, Kanagawa Prefectural Police recently busted a sex parlor catering to men in Nishi Ward for employing an underage boy, according to a Tokyo Reporter item. Between July and September of last year, Toshiyuki Maki, the 28-year-old manager of DG Young Man Academy, is alleged to have employed the boy, 16, to provide sexual services to approximately 60 customers. Maki has been charged with violating child welfare laws regarding obscene acts; the suspect denies the allegations, telling police that he was unaware of the boy's age.
