A lesbian Ukrainian sniper and her machine-gun-toting girlfriend are taking the fight to Russia President Vladimir Putin, according to a Daily Beast article. Olga—a veterinarian-turned-soldier—said her comrades don't care about her sexual orientation: "Personally, being a lesbian girl in the army is not difficult for me, I did not have a bad experience. My brothers treat me well. They know that at the right moment I will have their back as they have my back." She added, ""I have lesbian friends in the military, and my girlfriend. She doesn't like her photos to be shown, but she is a machine-gunner by profession, and we have been together for over half a year." Olga also said that while she is vocal about her support to the LGBTQ community, she has never been to a Pride March.
At London's Western University, researchers are preparing clinical trials of an injection that could rid patients of HIV, The London Free Press noted. The shot, developed by researchers at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry—in partnership with scientists in the United Kingdom and United States—could help patients on HIV-treatment drugs get off them permanently by eliminating the residual virus lurking in their bodies. The human trials are set for later this year. "It would drive out the last little bits of virus that stay hidden in the body, and in doing so, you hope, they can stop their treatment and live life-long without HIV," said Schulich science professor Eric Arts.
Thailand moved closer to legalizing same-sex marriage as a bill eased through the country's senate, France24 reported. On April 2, the body debated the measure, which will change references to "men," "women," "husbands" and "wives" in the marriage law to gender-neutral terms. The legislation will now go to a 27-person committee for more consideration. The senate cannot reject the proposed changes but can send the bill back to the lower house for further debate for 180 days. It will come back for two more senate votes, with the next probably no earlier than July.
Four same-sex couples from Lithuania are turning to the European Court of Human Rights over the legalization of same-sex partnerships and marriage, LRT reported. They want the registration of a civil partnership, the inclusion of a marriage contracted abroad in the civil registry, and the recognition and registration of a same-sex marriage in Lithuania. In a separate case, a same-sex couple is seeking to ensure the rights of a mother to the child she carried. In Lithuania, civil partnership is currently not available for same- or opposite-sex couples.
Wils, the world's first openly gay Chinese pop singer, announced his retirement from music with his final single, "Dancing Lights," out April 12, per a press release. "My journey in music is complete," the singer-songwriter confirmed. "It has been a heartening 10-year ride that has taught me to live fearlessly as my authentic true self and I am ready to now follow the 'Dancing Lights' to [wherever] they lead me." Wils first gained fame with his 2014 album, WTF, which was named Best Pop Album of the Year at the Hollywood F.A.M.E Awards.
Organizers of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF) are highly likely to be denied the use of Seoul Plaza for this year's event, per The Korea Times. The city government rejected the event last year as well. The festival is scheduled for June 1, but the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to hold the Seoul Metropolitan Library's outdoor book event on that day. Festival organizers are currently seeking an alternative public venue for the country's largest LGBTQ+ celebration, just as they did last year. Last year was the first time the festival was not held in Seoul Plaza, its home since 2015, apart from a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conversion therapy-ban advocates have called for the South Australia government to create laws to outlaw the practice, per ABC.net .au. The practice has been outlawed across much of the country—most recently in New South Wales—but not in South Australia, which is the only state yet to commit to outlawing conversion therapy. The government says it stands by its promise, but is cautious about tackling what it has called a "complex issue."
Russian activist Aleksandr Voronov recently met with Jessica Stern, the special U.S. envoy for the promotion of LGBTQI rights at the State Department, The Washington Blade noted. Voronov is with Coming Out, an LGBTQ+-rights advocacy group that was previously based in St. Petersburg. Voronov told the Blade that he "gave her an update on the situation with LGBTQ rights in Russia," adding that Stern "was very supportive and unbelievably kind."
In Canada, the Calgary Unitarian church held an Easter Sunday service that included drag performances supporting the LGBTQ+ community in light of Alberta government policies that will affect rights for trans youth, the Calgary Herald noted. Easter Sunday coincided with the International Transgender Day of Visibility, and drag queen performer Indigo said it's an important time to be highlighting and focusing on transgender youth. Unitarian minister Samaya Oakley—who presided over a congregation of more than 120 people—said it was an opportunity to bring Easter and Transgender Day of Visibility together, telling a different version of the Easter story.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak supported J.K. Rowling after the Harry Potter author spoke out against Scotland's new hate crime act, daring the police to arrest her for misgendering trans women, Variety reported. The act includes an offense for "stirring up hatred" regarding age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and variations in sex characteristics. In a lengthy thread posted on X, Rowling listed 10 trans women—including India Willoughby, who, in March, reported Rowling to the police for alleged transphobia—who would be protected under the measure. "April Fools!" wrote Rowling. "Only kidding. Obviously, the people mentioned in the above tweets aren't women at all, but men, every last one of them." In backing her, Sunak said, "People should not be criminalized for stating simple facts on biology." Also, Scottish police have said Rowling's posts aren't criminal, Deadline noted.
Ghanaian pastor/musician Sonnie Badu—the lead minister of Atlanta's Rockhill Church—recently warned his followers against consuming mainstream media (including children's cartoons and gospel music) because they further the LGBTQ+ "agenda," per The Advocate. On Accra FM, Badu also claimed, without evidence, that "78 percent" of gospel musicians and pastors are gay or "involved in LGBT activities." Ghana recently passed an LGBTQ+-criminalization bill imposing sentences of up to three years in prison for people who identify as LGBTQ+ and up to five years for individuals forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups. President Nana Akufo-Addo has delayed signing the bill pending a decision from the country's Supreme Court.
Several out LGBTQ+ athletes did well at the ISU Figure Skating World Championships, per Outsports. Out Canadian skater Paul Poirier, along with ice dance partner Piper Gilles, scored a silver medal at worlds while U.S. figure skating champion Amber Glenn, who's bisexual, recorded a 10th-place finish in the women's singles competition—and landed only the second triple axel by a woman at the event. In addition, Illinois native Jason Brown placed fifth in the men's singles competition. U.S. teen figure skater Ilia Malinin won the world championships in the men's division, landing a quad axel (the most difficult jump) to the theme from the TV series Succession; Japanese competitor Kaori Sakamoto won the women's singles title while U.S. skater Isabeau Levito won the silver medal.
