Mr. Gay World 2012 will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, April 4-8, 2012, according to a press release. Events will culminate with the grand finale April 8 at The Lyric Theatre. Mr. Gay World is an annual contest for gay men, seeking to establish ambassadors for LGBT and human rights; contest categories include leadership, sports, swimwear modeling and knowledge of LGBTI world affairs. See www.mrgayworld.org .
Speaking of the pageant, Mr. Gay Namibia Wendelinus Hamutenya was brutally assaulted Dec. 4 near his residence in Katutura, Windhoek, according to a press release. Initially, two men asked Hamutenya for the money he won at the Mr. Gay competition. After a confrontation, the two physically attacked him, taking the money. Hamutenya was crowned the first-ever Mr. Gay Namibia at the end of November at a ceremony in Windhoek, the country's capital.
More than 1,000 members of the LGBT community marched in Manila, Philippines, to demand equal rights and an end to discrimination as well as more support for an AIDS program, according to the Huffington Post. The marchers carried a large rainbow flag during the annual Pride parade around Manila's Malate district Dec. 3, with some dancing to the beat of drums played by a band. Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines spokesman Goya Candelario said that the organization is pushing for a law against discrimination that denies LGBT people jobs and social services.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered possibly the most important international speech ever on LGBT rights, before the United Nations in Geneva Dec. 6. The speech was made in advance of Human Rights Day Dec. 10. Clinton spoke of the importance of rights for all people, but her focus was on LGBTs, and she went into great detail about the historic importance of equality. Clinton also announced that $3 million would be used to start an international fund for work on LGBT issues.
More than 75 travel-industry professionals (tour operators, travel agencies, hotel owners), and faculty and students of a travel-management institute convened at the 1st Asian Symposium on Gay & Lesbian Tourism, held at the Le Meridien Hotel in New Delhi, India, Nov. 28, according to a press release. Attendees heard from Thomas Roth, president of the San Francisco-based Community Marketing; Abhinav Goel, co-founder of New Delhi-based tour operator Out Journeys; LGBT community leaders; and a panel of travel-industry experts.
In China, a "gay" penguin couple has adopted a chick, according to ABC News. The male penguins received the hatchling because a female was struggling after giving birth to twins. The twins were born at Harbin Polar Land in northern China at the end of November. The "gay" penguin couple has been known to try to steal eggs during hatching seasons.
In England, a petition has been launched that asks the government to formally pardon the late gay mathematician/code-breaker Alan Turing, according to Pink News. Turing, who worked at Bletchley Park during the World War II, was prosecuted for his sexual orientation in 1952 and forced to undergo chemical castration. He committed suicide two years later, at the age of 41. If the petition gets 100,000 signatures by Nov. 23, 2012, Parliament will have to consider it; it is at epetitions.direct.gov .uk/petitions/23526.
In South Africa, Mario Tsware, 29, has pled guilty to murdering former lover Dennis Roberts, 75, and sister Crystal Roberts, 71, by strangulation with an electrical cord, according to IOL News. Tsware said he had first met Dennis Roberts in June through a gay Internet site and they had a relationship; Crystal had reportedly never liked Tsware, calling him "a sponge." It was also revealed during a court hearing that Tsware did not act alone; authorities are searching for his accomplice.
The International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission has issued a statement urging Nigeria's president to be more humane to the country's LGBT population. Jabulani Chen Pereira, the commission's Africa program coordinator, said, "We urge the President of Nigeria to lead his government in a manner that clearly abides with the African Charter of Human and Peoples' and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The impact of the decision by the Nigerian Senate to pass this Bill, known as the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill, 2011 has placed gays, lesbians, gender-variant and gender non-conforming citizens in great fear for their safety and well-being." Pereira has also called on "all United Nations Member States to denounce the bill."
Honduras has launched a special police unit dedicated to investigating crimes committed against members of the country's LGBT population, according to Blabbeando. The development follows years of local, regional and international criticism of the Honduran government's handling of crimes committed against the LGBT population in the past few years—in particular, against transgender women. Oscar Aguilar, the spokesperson for the Sexual Diversity Unit of the National Investigation Chairmanship, said that the unit would work closely with local LGBT-rights advocates and organizations.
Hobsons Bay, Australia, has the world's first intersex mayor, according to the Huffington Post. Tony Briffa Briffa won the position in the city, which is just outside of Melbourne. "I am excited about the future of our community and look forward to serving the city with enthusiasm and pride," he said. Briffa was born with both male and female physical attributes as a result of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome. Briffa uses male pronouns, although he considers himself neither male nor female.
In Iceland, the Rainbow Reykjavik Festival will take place Feb. 16-19, 2012, according to EDGE Boston. The program provides a colourful mixture of various events involving entertainment, partying, relaxation and nature. Guests will be picked up Feb. 16 and transported to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa; there will also be waterfall tours and an LGBT history walk through the Icelandic capital. See www.rainbowreykjavik.com .
Following U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's speech on LGBT rights, the African country of Malawi is reviewing—but not revoking—its anti-gay law, Advocate.com reported. Ephraim Chiume, the country's minister of justice, called for a review of the law, which condemns "indecent practices and unnatural acts." Kamanga said the government is referring the law and other provisions, especially those the public has frowned upon, to the Law Commission for recommendation.
Loree Rudd—the sister of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd—has quit the Australian Labor Party (ALP) because she cannot support a party that backs "homosexuals marrying," according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Loree, 61, sent the letter to her branch after a pro-gay policy change at the Dec. 3 ALP National Conference. She said, "I no longer liked the direction the Labor Party was going at state or federal level and I couldn't work for a party that had endorsed homosexuals marrying. ... I don't believe gay marriage is good for the community."
