Spirit Day—an annual observance celebrated every third Thursday of October that is dedicated to taking a stand against bullying and showing support for the LGBTQ+ youth—was marked globally, GLAAD noted. People and organizations were encouraged to share their stories and wear purple, among other things. Trans in the City, Community One FDN, Parks: Liberi e Uguali, True Eswatini, PFIP: Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride and ECADE (Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality) were just a few of the groups that took part. See glaad.org/global-figures-partners-go-purple-to-send-a-spiritday-message-to-youth-around-the-world/ .
Pope Francis met with the co-founder and other representatives of the U.S. pro-LGBTQ+ Catholic group New Ways Ministry—an event the group called "a moment once unimaginable," per The Advocate. The pope hosted Sister Jeannine Gramick (who founded New Ways in 1977 with the late Father Robert Nugent) and New Ways staffers Matthew Myers, Francis DeBernardo and Robert Shine for 50 minutes, according to a press release from the organization. Gramick later stated, "The meeting was very emotional for me. From the day he was elected, I have loved and admired Pope Francis because of his humility, his love for the poor and for those shunned by society."
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to pull back on a long-delayed trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban after "intense" lobbying by anti-trans Tory MP Miriam Cates, PinkNews reported. In a text message shared by ITV's Paul Brand, Cates urged Tory MPs to sign a letter if they agree that the Conversion Therapy Bill should not proceed. Cates' message came after reports stated that Sunak will include a draft bill banning the practice in the King's Speech on Nov. 5, which Cates called "extremely concerning."
Out Spanish actor Omar Ayusa—best known for his role as Omar on the Netflix series Elite—talked with GQ Espana about Instagram and his "thirst traps," per Queerty. Ayuso said, "I am deeply addicted to Instagram. And my struggle in recent months has been to spend as little time as possible on Instagram, to make as little use as possible, because the reality is… Instagram, it's a weapon. And it is a weapon with which I hurt myself." He also said, "I am working hard to make my relationship with sex healthier. And generationally, whether you're gay or not, I think Instagram also plays a role. Instagram is basically Grindr or Tinder."
The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Foundation (IGLTAF) released its latest report, "Shaping the Future of LGBTQ+ Tourism in Europe," per a press release. Presented by Simpleview with support from Google, this report is the outcome of the foundation's first virtual Think Tank. The report explores three key strategies: collaborating with local governments, increasing LGBTQ+ representation in decision-making, and embracing diversity and inclusion. The report is at
More Japanese municipalities have introduced ordinances barring the outing of a person's sexual orientation or gender without that person's consent, Kyodo News reported. As of Oct. 1, the number of municipalities launching ordinances forbidding outing had increased fivefold over the past three years to 26 across 12 prefectures, according to the Research Institute of Local Government and municipal officials.
LGBTQ+ people in Poland celebrated after the country's right-wing government lost its majority in the recent election, paving the way for long overdue progress on queer rights, PinkNews reported. With a massive 72.9% turnout, the anti-LGBTQ+ Law and Justice party was expected to win more seats than any other party—but, crucially, it's expected that it won't have enough to form a government. Three opposition parties are expected to come together to form a coalition, ousting the Law and Justice party from power after a turbulent eight years.
In Ireland, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the appointment of Dr. Suzanne Crowe as the new chair of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) following an open competition, a press release noted. The NSAC is an independent committee that advises the minister and the Department of Health on all new proposals for population-based screening programs and on changes to existing programs. Crowe has worked as a doctor in the public-health sector for the past 30 years and is a board trustee of LGBT Ireland and Downs Syndrome Centres Ireland.
A presentation at an AIDS conference revealed that a randomized controlled trial exploring the plausibility of dosing two-drug antiretroviral therapy four days a week rather than daily found that viral-suppression rates on both dosing schedules were similar, but the rate of virological failure and resistance were a bit higher in the four-days-a-week group, per AIDSmap. Results were presented in a poster at the 19th European AIDS Conference in Warsaw. The authors believed that this "intermittent dosing" may reduce side effects and costs as well as increase convenience for people with HIV. However, the long-term sustainability and risk of developing resistance on intermittent dosing continues to receive criticism from some HIV experts.
Australian resident Stanley Bruce Early, 77—who was found guilty of beating someone to death in an anti-gay, hate-fueled attack—was sentenced to 22 years behind bars, PinkNews reported. New South Wales Supreme Court Justice Dina Yehia handed down the sentence for the murder of husband and father Raymond Keam in 1987. Early had been part of the gang that brutally attacked and killed Keane in Sydney's Alison Park, which was known to be a spot that gay men frequented.
In an interview with The National Desk (TND), Israeli technology consultant and columnist Hillel Fuld said the same U.S. groups advocating for Hamas would likely be killed by the terrorist regime that controls the Gaza Strip, CBS Austin noted. Fuld's response was related to Hamas' handling of homosexuality in Gaza, including allegedly murdering one of its own military leaders for what it deemed "moral violations." Fuld said, in part, "I welcome the LGBTQ community to go to Gaza. Let them bring their flags, let them go to Gaza and let them fight for human rights there and let's see what happens. They're going to get lynched and murdered."
The Canadian city of Markham apologized after cancelling public artwork featuring queer subject in drag, CBC noted. In early September, Vancouver-based artist Julian Yi-Zhong Hou was slated to install the piece "Bicycle" on the exterior of the Pan Am Centre sports complex in downtown Markham for a five-month period. However, one day before the installation and over the objections of Markham's public art curator, the city cancelled. James Albers, another Vancouver-based artist who is the subject of the piece, called the city's decision "an act of censorship against my queer body." The artwork and cancelled launch event cost the city $40,000, the city said.
Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling said she would do prison time over her anti-trans views, per Deadline. Rowling seemed to be responding to a story in another media outlet that reported a Labour government in Britain could make gender-identity attacks a criminal offense. "I'll happily do two years if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex," Rowling said on X (formerly Twitter).
Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival organizers indefinitely postponed the event's sixth edition—slated to run with revised dates from Oct. 27 from Nov. 2—due to the situation in Gaza, Deadline reported. The decision came one day after the country's Cairo Film Festival said it was indefinitely postponing its 45th edition, due to run from Nov. 15-24.
Also, Paramount Global cancelled the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), scheduled for Nov. 5 in Paris, citing the "volatility of world events" as the cause, per Deadline. France has been on high alert following the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher in the wake of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 in the town of Arras; in addition, numerous airports have been evacuated throughout the country.
Out British actor Ben Whishaw is set to join English actress Keira Knightley in Netflix's upcoming spy series Black Doves, Variety noted. Black Doves, which is set during Christmastime in London, revolves around Helen Webb (Knightley), a politician's wife, doting mother—and professional spy. For years, Helen has been passing on her husband's secrets to the Black Doves, the shadowy organization for whom she works. But when her lover Jason is assassinated, only Helen's old friend and fellow assassin Sam Young (Whishaw) can keep her safe.
Musical artists Charli XCX and Sam Smith released "In The City," a new standalone track that was recently named BBC Radio 1's Hottest Record, per a press release. Charli said, "The song is about finding the people you truly love and connect with through wild nights out and partying in magical places. It's about feeling accepted, the magnificence of being welcomed into queer spaces and those once-in-a-lifetime people you get to meet when you're there."
LGBTQ+ Brazilian actress/singer/songwriter Anitta has released the single "Mil Veces" ("A Thousand Times") ahead of her album Funk Generation, per a press release. She said, "I love the attractive pop notes of its lyrics, which talk about a relationship that wasn't meant to last but continues on and on experiencing ups and downs. It is crazy… it's a relationship dynamic that many people have already experienced." The video features her and Maneskin frontman Damiano David, a noted LGBTQ+ ally.
Former Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham got candid on the show SAS Australia, where he admitted to lying to his husband, Out noted, citing Queerty. In an episode of the reality show where celebrities test their physical and psychological strengths, the Australian diver opened up about his relationship with husband Luke Rutherford during a "setting fire to shame" challenge. In part, Mitcham said, "Even though I have been clean and sober for several years and that has been one of his absolute deciding factors, I still struggle to be completely honest with my husband" about issues like sex outside their marriage. At the 2008 Beijing Games, Mitcham became the first openly gay man to win an Olympic gold medal.
World Rugby ruled that Bongi Mbonambi was able to play in the Rugby World Cup final after ruling there is "insufficient evidence at this time to proceed with charges" after being investigated for an alleged racial slur during the semi-final win over England, The Guardian noted. England flanker Tom Curry alleged that Mbonambi called him a "white c***" during the defeat in Paris as South Africa edged to a dramatic 16-15 victory. World Rugby stated that it was "also concerned by the social media abuse that both players have been subjected to this week. There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and World Rugby urges fans to embrace the sport's values of respect, integrity and solidarity."
Danish artist Jens Haaning, who received money from a museum in Denmark to create a piece for its exhibition on labor conditions two years ago, submitted two empty canvases—titled "Take the Money and Run"—but now has to repay that fee, HuffPost noted. A Danish court ruled that Haaning has to repay 492,549 kroner ($69,894) to Aalborg's Kunsten Museum for violating his contract. Haaning insists he produced a work of art, as is appealing the ruling.
