London's WorldPride event—scheduled for July 7—has been severely cut back after a funding "shortfall," Pink News reported. Organizers said that they would be "returning to the roots of the original Pride London rallies" after cars and floats were cancelled. Also, what is now a walking parade will start at 11 a.m. instead of 1 p.m. Human-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the change in the start time is "absolutely outrageous."
Swedish Olympic gold-medal skier Anja Parson recently came out, telling a radio program that she has been in a relationship with another woman for five years—and that they are expecting a child, according to Outsports.com . Parson won Olympic gold in slalom at the 2006 Turin Games; in addition, she won six Olympic medals from 2002-2010 and is a seven-time world champion.
The country of Laos recently held its first gay-pride event, the Telegraph reported. Approximately 100 LGBT people gathered on a U.S. embassy sports field in the capital, Vientiane. There, the attendees watched performances and sipped beers provided by the capital's handful of gay-friendly bars. Also, a senior government official attended the June 25 "Proud to be Us!" event.
In Chile, Santiago's 12th annual Pride parade had 80,000 attendees demanding further advancement of LGBT rights, according to Pink News. In addition, British Ambassador Jon Benjamin attended "Marcha por la Igualidad" ("March for Equality"), reading a letter of support for pride and LGBT rights on behalf of the European Union. Also, the march commemorated the death of Daniel Zamudio, a young man who was murdered by neo-Nazis due to his sexuality.
Speaking of Pride parades, an event in Berlin, Germany, drew 700,000 people, according to Expatica.com . The crowds made their way from the Kreuzberg district to the Brandenburg Gate, where DJs kept the celebration going. Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, who is openly gay, kicked off the parade, which marked its 34th anniversary. The treatment of LGBT people in Russia was a hot topic at Berlin's event.
In Germany, a court rejected the asylum application of Samira Ghorbani Danesh, an Iranian lesbian refugee who fled Iran in 2009, Pink News reported. The court said Samira (who won an extension of stay until the case is fully litigated) can hide her homosexuality in Iran and avoid criminal penalties. According to Iran's Sharia system, the death penalty is applicable for same-sex sexual activities.
Italian soccer player Antonio Cassano has now apologized for saying he hoped there were no gay people on that country's national team, Reuters reported. When asked recently about reports there were two closeted players on the squad, Cassano replied, "That's their problem. I hope there isn't one in the national team." After much criticism, Cassano said, "I am sincerely sorry that my comments have caused controversy and protests among gay groups. Homophobia is not a point of view that I share."
The founder of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) started a hunger strike, asking new French President Francois Hollande to honor a promise to introduce a UN resolution decriminalizing homosexuality, according to Pink News. Louis-Georges Tin and IDAHO Committee members Alexander and Marcel Usaam Mukwaya are all taking part in the strike. IDAHO said the support of the United States would be crucial to such a resolution being passed; however, the possibility of a Republican victory in this year's U.S. election put that in jeopardy.
Speaking of France, Hollande will legalize same-sex marriage in "the next few months," according to a statement from his office reported by Reuters. Hollande and his Socialist party campaigned on marriage equality, and the party has a solid majority in Parliament. The administration also plans to ensure adoption by same-sex couples is legal in France.
A major poll by Stonewall Scotland has revealed that the majority of the Scottish population (about 67 percent) support the same-sex marriage, Pink News reported. Most of the poll's respondents (about 60 percent) also believe LGBT people face societal prejudice. Colin Macfarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland, said, "There is a long way to go before we can say 21st-century Scotland is truly tolerant, but it is clear that people expect brave and bold leadership to transform Scotland into the kind of country we can be proud of and want to live in."
Members of the U.S. Congress have called for action regarding violence against the LGBT community in Honduras, according to Gay Star News. In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, more than 80 Congressional Democrats expressed concern about the violence. Human-rights groups in Honduras say that more than 70 LGBT individuals have been murdered since 2009, including journalist/former political candidate Erick Martinez and coup-resistance leader Walter Trochez.
In Cuba, gay-rights activists held a kiss-in to demand equality for the island's LGBT residents, according to Gay Star News. The demonstration had 50 participants holding banners calling for more respect from the Communist government. LGBT group Project Rainbow—organizers of the "Kiss-in for Diversity and Equality"—said in a statement, "With this public and affectionate action we invite you to make the LGBT community in Cuba visible. We are part of the nation."
Tania Olive, a lesbian photographer who just graduated from Westminster University, has won the British Journal of Photography's (BJP) Best in Show Award for her collection (Dyke of Our Time) at Free Range, Britain's largest collection of student shows, SheWired.com reported. Olive's collection of straight-on portraits of lesbians at home that offers a new look at a frequently stereotyped group will be featured in the July edition of BJP.
USAID Administrator Raj Shah recently administered the oath of office to Peter Malnak, USAID's new mission director to Rwanda, according to a press release. Malnak's swearing-in took on special significance as it marked the first time a same-sex partner of a new mission director (in this case, partner John Palmucci) participated in the event by holding the copy of the U.S. Constitution. Malnak and Palmucci departed for Kigali, Rwanda's capital, June 29.
Out actor John Barrowman (Torchwood) and Sir Elton John are among those backing the launch of the Kaleidoscope Trust, a new major international gay-rights campaign, according to a press release. The campaign is entitled "Imagine if it were illegal for you to be you." John said, "Just imagine what it would be like if it were illegal to have blue eyes, or be under 5'10" tall. Just imagine if something you could do nothing about meant you could go to prison, or face attack or even death." The campaign is at www.KaleidoscopeTrust.com and on Twitter.
Singapore has had its largest LGBT-rights event ever, the Wall Street Journal reported. A crowd of 15,000 attended the fourth annual Pink Dot gathering in Hong Lim Park. Pink Dot—billed as a gathering to celebrate "freedom to love" regardless of gender, rather than an overt political protest—has been growing in size and prominence in recent years.
