The Russian lower house Committee for Constitutional Law unanimously recommended rejecting a bill drafted by Communist Party members of Parliament that proposes fines for any public demonstration of non-traditional sexual relations, RT.com reported. Ivan Nikitchuk and Nikolai Arefyev of the Communist Party caucus had prepared the bill. The lawmakers want anyone who shows "distorted sexual preferences" in public places to be fined 4,000-5,000 rubles ( $53-$66 ); similar actions in educational or cultural establishments would carry up to 15 days in jail.
Three trans women were found dead in one day in Brazil, and another seriously injured in a stabbing, PinkNews reported. Two cases—separate, but possibly rated crimes—took place Jan. 17 in the center of Capao da Canoa. Among those killed was Nathallya Figueiredo, 25, who had recently arrived form France, was found in her car with multiple stab wounds and died en route to the hospital.
Migrants stoned two trans women in Germany, according to Queerty. Yasmine, 50, and Elisa, 37, were accosted in Dortmand, Germany, by migrants who allegedly verbally abused them in Arabic before physically assaulting them. The migrants said "such people" should be killed, and grabbed the women's breasts and pulled their hair before police got involved.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden urged executives in Davos, Switzerland, to use their influence to drive change in countries where LGBT people face repression, putting gay rights at the heart of this year's meeting, according to Reuters. The issue is on the official agenda for the first time at the World Economic Forum, where political leaders from countries that discriminate against gay people, such as Nigeria and Russia, network with business leaders and billionaire investors.
The LGBT Catholic organization DignityUSA released a statement in light of what it called "disappointing comments" from Pope Francis as Italy's Senate prepares to vote on recognizing civil unions for same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples. The pope said that the recent Synods on the Family tell the world "there can be no confusion between the family God wants and any other type of union." Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, said, in part, "This statement from the Pope is sure to dishearten many who believed he was open to new thinking about committed, loving relationships between lesbian and gay people."
Same-sex couples in Greece began entering into civil unions after legislation passed in December came into effect, Gay Times magazine noted. The country's first official same-sex union, between an unnamed doctor and teacher, was performed by the mayor of Athens, Giorgos Kaminis. Greece voted on the issue of civil unions in December last year, after the European Court of Human Rights condemned the country for failing to protect the rights of same-sex couples.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he no longer supports a repeal of his country's same-sex marriage law, according to a Washington Blade item. French newspaper Le Figaro published excerpts of Sarkozy's new book, in which he says he has "evolved" on the issue. France's same-sex marriage law, which President François Hollande signed, took effect in 2013.
The premier of South Australia state has apologized to a gay British widower after state authorities refused to recognize his marriage, the BBC reported. Briton David Bulmer-Rizzi, 32, died after falling down stairs while on honeymoon in Adelaide—and his husband Marco Bulmer-Rizzi, 38, was unable to plan a funeral, as the state did not recognize him as next-of-kin. David's death certificate was also marked "never married," despite his husband's protests. South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill said he had phoned the widower to express his sorrow over his treatment.
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will address the largest anti-gay legal advocacy group in the United States, Gay Star News noted. Abbott will give a speech on 'the importance of family' to the Alliance Defending Freedom, which the Human Rights Campaign describes as "one of the nation's most dangerous organizations working to prevent equality for LGBT people."
The UK domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has been named the country's most gay-friendly employer in an annual survey, Time.com noted. It beat more than 400 organizations in Stonewall's Top 100 list of best employers for LGBT staff. More than 60,000 people from hundreds of companies took part in the anonymous survey which assessed staff engagement, career development and other factors.
A gay British YouTube vlogger has revealed that he used to perform sex shows for money, PinkNews noted. Calum McSwiggan has made a number of high-profile videos raising awareness of LGBT issues and sex education—working with charities including Switchboard LGBT+ and the Terrence Higgins Trust, and even collaborating with Olympic diver Tom Daley.The video-maker spoke with PinkNews about performing sex acts on webcam for money in the past; the vlogger said that he resorted to porn after losing his job, as a way to pay his rent and bills.
