Italy's highest court has made it easier for gays to adopt a partner's biological child; however, the decision does not give long-sought automatic recognition to the families of same-sex couples, the Associated Press reported. A Cassation Court ruling confirmed a lower-court decision permitting the so-called "stepchild" adoption in cases where the family bond is well-established. Earlier this year, Italy became the last holdout in Western Europe to legally recognize civil unions for gay and lesbian couples—but only after sacrificing a hotly contested provision to allow gay adoption.
A non-binding fatwa signed by 50 clerics in Pakistan has declared that transgender individuals have the right to marry, PinkNews reported. According to a copy of a religious edict obtained by Reuters, the fatwa also says they can be buried in Muslim ceremonies and have full rights under Islamic inheritance law. The document specifies that this ruling only applies to transgender people with "clear indications" of gender on their body.
Prime Minister David Cameron has paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting that left 49 dead and 53 injured with a video to mark Pride in London, PinkNews noted. The prime minister started by saying Pride should be a time of celebration, but that it "is also a commemoration" this year because of the hate crime mass shooting which killed dozens. In part, he says, "This was a direct attack on the LGBT community. And it was an attack, once again, on our values and our way of life. So we stand with the people of Orlando, and we send our deepest condolences to the families and friends who are grieving today."
Yishai Schlissel—an ultra-orthodox Jew who stabbed six people at last year's Jerusalem Pride Parade—was given a life sentence plus 31 years and ordered to compensate the families of the victims ( one of whom died ), according to an On Top Magazine item that cites Haaretz. Schlissel, 40, lashed out during his indictment in August, saying that he was doing God's work. Schlissel had previously served a 10-year prison sentence for stabbing three people during the city's 2005 LGBT Pride parade.
Prince William appears on the July cover of the UK's Attitude magazine with a message condemning bullying of people for their sexuality, CBC.ca reported. The issue marks the first time a member of the royal family has appeared on the cover of a gay magazine. The magazine hosted a meeting with a group of LGBT people for the Duke of Cambridge at Kensington Palace in May to speak about homophobia, transphobia and their effect on mental health.
U.S. rapper Talib Kweli rubbed Ugandans the wrong way when he accused the Lord Resistance Army rebels of killing gay people in Uganda, AllAfrica.com reported. Kweli based his accusation on the article "Uganda Lord Resistance Army: Kill all gays," written by Dorothy Anderson and published on the Mad Mike America blog. However, Ugandans rebelled on Twitter, with one person posting, "So you are going to believe those 'independent outlets' over the people that actually live here?" In his reply, Kweli said he needed more proof to show that no gays are being killed for their status.
Justine Greening—the member of Parliament for Putney in southwest London who serves in David Cameron's cabinet as secretary of state for international development—came out of the closet on Twitter, Slate.com noted. She posted, "Today's a good day to say I'm in a happy same-sex relationship, I campaigned for Stronger In but sometimes you're better off out! #Pride2016." The reception from other senior Conservative politicians was impressively warm, with luminaries such as Cameron, openly gay MP Crispin Blunt and lesbian Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson tweeting their support.
Jamaica's attorney general said a decision to fly the rainbow flag at the U.S. Embassy following the Orlando gay nightclub massacre is an affront to the island's anti-sodomy laws, the Associated Press reported. On her social-media accounts, Marlene Malahoo Forte condemned the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, but added that she found the Kingston embassy's decision to fly the rainbow flag "disrespectful of Jamaican laws." The attorney general described this as her personal viewpoint.
In China, a mother has said her husband tried to kill their intersex child—three times, PinkNews reported. Yang Xiaoqing told China Daily that her husband opted to kill the child, as he believed the baby was a "monster." She also implicated the husband's father, saying that ( regarding the last attempt ) her baby was taken from her. Authorities found the baby—who Yang says she sees as a son—abandoned outside the village of Anyang, Henan. "He may be a monster to others, but to me, he is and will always be my sweetest baby," the mother said.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia were both rebuked on social media after offering their "deepest condolences" to the victims of the Orlando mass shooting, according to Albawaba.com . Egypt has a poor record on gay rights; although it's not technically illegal to be gay in Egypt, the government has imprisoned dozens of members of the LGBT community in recent years for things like "debauchery" or "pornography." Molly Crabapple went after Saudi Arabia online, tweeting, "Saudi Arabia jails and executes gay people. Somehow their government's condolences for Orlando ring hollow."
Health Canada has cleared the way for gay men who abstain from sex for at least one year to donate blood—a policy shift that falls short of the Liberal Party's election pledge to eliminate the waiting period entirely, CBC.ca reported. Men who have sex with men are currently barred from blood donations if they were sexually active in a five-year period, a waiting period that advocates call far too burdensome and blatantly discriminatory. Before 2013, there was a blanket ban on all donations from men engaged in same-sex intercourse.
Celebration, Florida-based Orion Travel Technologies, Inc., launched a worldwide digital BNB online platform, RainbowBNB.org, dedicated to LGBT travelers, Business Wire noted. When the LGBT community travels through the Rainbow Bed and Breakfast platform, every quest will receive a free 20-inch hard-shell four-wheel trolley luggage piece. ( In addition, there is a $39.99 flat price around the world for up to two guests. ) Orion TT will also donate $5 to Orlando Strong from each trip booked.
Out British actor Rupert Everett has warned parents against seeking gender-reassignment surgery for their children, PinkNews reported. The 57-year-old said he "wanted to be a girl" when he was younger, but that after the age of 15 he "never wanted to be a woman again." He suggested that children showing signs of gender dysphoria should be encouraged to embrace the "ambivalence" of their gender.
Starbucks published a video online promoting its support of Pride London, Gay Star News reported. The theme for this year's event was #NoFilter, encouraging people to live lives without fear and embrace who they are. The video features several LGBT baristas from London talking about the pride they feel in their employer sponsoring Pride.
Adam Lambert will be a judge on The X Factor Australia, Gay Star News noted. The former American Idol contestant who became a multi-platinum superstar will be joining Iggy Azalea and Guy Sebastian on the judging panel. Previously, Lambert appeared as a guest judge for Project Runway, RuPaul's Drag Race and at American Idol's season 14's New York auditions.
