People of color have accused several LGBTQ+ venues in the heart of the Gay Village in Manchester, England, of racism and racial prejudice, VICE noted. Ten Black, Asian and Latinx people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender told VICE World News about racist incidents with staff and customers in and around the city's Gay Village. They say they have been called "paki," "ni**er" and other slurs, and been blocked from entering venues because of their race. Manchester Pride—and all of the eight venues in question—declined to comment when asked about racism within their events and premises; managers and authorities are now reportedly investigating the claims.
Gay men are demanding that World Cup host country Qatar change its anti-LGBTQ+ ways, The Washington Blade noted. The Middle Eastern country where Islam is the state religion will welcome soccer players, coaches and fans from all around the planet, beginning Nov. 20, for matches that will pit nation against nation. Qatar has promised to welcome LGBTQ+ foreigners, even as its own people are tortured and put to death for being who they are. However, Qatar's ambassador to Germany heard from one of those men at a human-rights conference in Frankfurt, hosted by the German Football Association, the AP reported.
Ahead of the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in New York City on Sept. 21, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) announced it will pledge $10 million to the fund, per a press release. "Given the Global Fund's outstanding track record of saving lives around the world, we feel our pledge is one of the best investments donors can make in global health," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "The Global Fund has demonstrated remarkable nimbleness in keeping existing programs going while mobilizing new resources for COVID-19." On Sept. 21, donors gathered in New York to announce their commitments.
RuPaul's Drag Race UK star Cherry Valentine (real name: George Ward) died at the age of 28 on Sept. 18, according to CNN. A statement from Valentine's agent read, "This will come as a profound shock to most people & we understand there is no easy way for this to be announced. As his family, we are still processing his death and our lives will never be the same." Earlier this year, Ward appeared in a BBC documentary, Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud, in which he spoke about leaving the traveler community after being rejected for coming out as gay at 18.
The Church of England banned the lesbian daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu from presiding over the funeral of her godfather, Martin Kenyon, per LGBTQ Nation. Mpho Tutu van Furth was ordained in 2003 but has been banned from functioning as an Anglican priest in her native South Africa since marrying her wife, Marceline Tutu van Furth, in 2015. The Church of England bans LGBTQ+ clergy from marrying same-sex partners, while other branches of the international Anglican Communion, like the U.S. Episcopal Church, allow it.
The IGLTA (The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) Foundation announced that Madagascar-based tour company Dadamanga is the recipient of the 2022 Impact Award to honor responsible tourism development, per a press release. The award was launched last year in partnership with The TreadRight Foundation to recognize a smaller business member (fewer than 10 employees) of IGLTA whose initiatives encourage sustainable tourism in three key areas: environment, community, and diversity and inclusion.
In a speech at the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated his administration's commitment to LGBTQ and intersex rights abroad, The Washington Blade reported. "The future will be won by those countries that unleash the full potential of their populations, where women and girls can exercise equal rights, including basic reproductive rights and contribute fully to building stronger economies and more resilient societies, where religious and ethnic minorities can live their lives without harassment and contribute to the fabric of their communities, where the LGBTQ+ community, individuals live and love freely without being targeted with violence, where citizens can question and criticize their leaders without fear of reprisal," said Biden.
Durango became the 28th Mexican state to allow same-sex marriage, WorldCrunch noted. A decree presented by the government stipulates that from now on, celebrating marriage is guaranteed following non-discriminatory principles that include "ethnic or national origin, gender, disabilities, social status, health conditions, religion, opinions or sexual preferences." According to the Spanish-language media Altavoz LGBT+, this means that same-sex couples who want to get married in Durango will no longer need to process an appeal and seek permission from the civil registry.
The Tanzanian government warned against the dissemination of online messages and short videos promoting same-sex relationships, Africa News reported. It has also warned that it will take action against administrators of social-media groups whose members share pro-LGBTQ+ messages. Information Minister Nape Nnauye made the remarks at a press conference at the Tanzania Communications Authority headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema reiterated his government does not support LGBTQ+ and intersex rights, The Washington Blade noted. In a video posted to his Facebook page on Monday, Hichilema said Zambia is a country deeply rooted in Christianity and therefore does not support same-sex relations. The president's remarks came after Dr. Brian Sampa on Sept. 15 held an anti-LGBTQ+ rights protest.
Thousands of people took part in an anti-LGBTQ+ rally in Istanbul, demanding that a number of LGBTQ+ associations be banned, WorldCrunch noted. The demonstration, dubbed "The Family Gathering," was reportedly the largest demonstration of its kind in Turkey. According to the Turkish daily Cumhuriyet, the Istanbul governor's office, which permitted this march, is also responsible for banning the city's Pride Week Parade in June.
A professional soccer player in Scotland has come out as gay, Queerty noted. Striker Zander Murray, 30, plays for Gala Fairydean Rovers, which compete in the fifth tier of Scottish football. Murray told Pride of the Terraces he'd been coming out to family and friends since April 2021, but not to anyone in the football world. However, attending his first Pride event (during a vacation in Benidorm, Spain) prompted him to do so.
Canada will drop its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for visitors by Sept. 30, government officials have told the Globe and Mail and other Canadian news outlets, Forbes noted. On the same day, the country is reportedly also going to end random COVID arrival tests and make the ArriveCAN app optional. However, the requirement to wear masks on domestic flights and train trips will remain, according to sources.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi withdrew from a long-planned interview with CNN's chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour at the United Nations General Assembly in New York after she declined a last-minute demand to wear a head scarf, CNN reported. Amanpour—who grew up in the Iranian capital Tehran and is a fluent Farsi speaker—said she wears a head scarf while reporting in Iran to comply with the local laws and customs because "otherwise you couldn't operate as a journalist." But she said that she would not cover her head to conduct an interview with an Iranian official outside a country where it is not required.
The scheduled performance of the controversial Unofficial Bridgerton Musical didn't occur in the United Kingdom, and Netflix's copyright-infringement lawsuit over the work is now over as well, according to Deadline. No official explanation was given as to why the streamer suddenly halted the suit it started back in late July against Grammy-winning songwriting team Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. Netflix claimed it made "repeated objection[s]" to the stage show, which sold tickets ranging up to $149 each. The live show featured more than a dozen songs that allegedly copied verbatim dialogue, character traits and expression, and other elements from Bridgerton the series.
