Australia has been criticized for falling behind other first world nations in its treatment of LGBTI people as the government continues to put off legalizing same-sex marriage, Gay Star News noted. Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Iceland singled out Australia for criticism as part of the United Nations Human Rights Universal Periodic Review of its commitment to human rights. Sweden criticized Australia for not only failing to allow gay couples to marry at home but also refusing to recognize legal marriages performed by Australia's international diplomatic partners.
The EU commission has cautioned Turkey and Bosnia Herzegovina to improve the situation of LGBTI citizens if they want to join the European Union, according to Gay Star News. In a report, the commission highlighted the requirements for a possible extension of the union to include eight more countries, most of them on the West Balkan. Turkey was cautioned over the protection of minorities' human rights, although the report states it "considerably improved over the past few years, but major shortcomings remain."
A photo of new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is doing the rounds on social media—because he is with an out gay MP and his family, PinkNews noted. In it, Trudeau, who was sworn in as prime minister recently, poses with MP Scott Brison. Brison is the longest serving out gay MP in Canada's Parliament. Trudeau recently appointed a gender-equal Cabinet "because it's 2015," he said.
In Canada, the man accused of killing gay-rights activist Raymond Taavel has pled guilty to manslaughter in Nova Scotia Supreme Court, CBC.ca reported. Andre Noel Denny, 36, had been charged with second-degree murder in the April 2012 death of Taavel but pled guilty to the lesser charge. Taavel, 49, died outside Menz Bar, a popular gay club on Gottingen Street in Halifax, following an altercation. In court documents, Denny is described as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
Iconic Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe—who came out in 2014—said that dating men is a nightmare, according to an LGBTQ Nation item. He told Sunday Style, "Dating's been a lot harder than I thought it would be. It's an absolute mess out there! I'm like, 'Where are all the normal people?' ... I've mostly met great guys but, occasionally, I've met a couple of douche-y guys as well. It's enough motivation for me to want to settle down with someone away from that scene."
In Belgium, Reform Jews in Brussels opened the city's first gay Jewish organization, the Jerusalem Post noted. The group's inaugural meeting took place Oct. 18 and it now has 60 members, according to David Weis, one of the founders of the community, called "LGBT Jews in and around Brussels." Two Progressive communities—a term which in Europe is applied to Reform and Conservative denominations—have pledged their support for the new group, which nonetheless operates as a separate entity both to the Beth Hillel congregation and to the International Jewish Center community.
Lithuanian lawmakers have postponed a vote on a new anti-LGBT law that emulates Russia's ban on "gay propaganda," PinkNews reported. Reaching further than simply banning public displays of affection among gay people, the law could also ban any LGBT rights march or protest, and outlaw any form of visibility for LGBT people. The item was bumped—but could return at a later date.
Italy's football federation president Carlo Tavecchio has allegedly made homophobic and anti-Semitic comments, asking people to "keep [gays] away from me," Gay Star News noted. Reportedly speaking to Soccer Life and published in Corriere della Sera, he was speaking about the sale of an amateur league's headquarters to real-estate tycoon Cesare Anticoli. "It was bought by that lousy Jew Anticoli," Tavechhio is heard saying. He also said, "I don't have anything against gays but it's better to keep them away from me."
Two Presbyterian clergymen appeared before a church tribunal in Johannesburg, South Africa, on charges of misconduct after they officiated over four same-sex unions, according to News24.com . A complaint by a minister in Cape Town was laid against Hansie Wolmarans, a professor of theology at the University of Johannesburg, and Reverend Martin "Chunky" Young. The two men argued that the church's current rules contravene South African law that allows for same sex marriages.
Colombia's Constitutional Court ruled that same-sex couples must be allowed to register newborn children in both parents' names, with birth certificates listing two mothers or two fathers, according to Yahoo! News. In a five-to-two decision, the court gave the national civil registry 30 days to change its forms so that children can be registered to same-sex couples. The case was brought by two gay men who were unable to register their newborn twins.
On Nov. 25, Amnesty International will release a new report on sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia, to coincide with the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women, at a press conference in Tunis, according to a press release. Nearly five years after the 2010-2011 uprising brought promises of equality, reform and greater freedom, the report, "Assaulted and accused: Sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia", examines the state of violence against women and looks at people who experience violence because of their gender identity or sexual orientation in Tunisia—often considered the Arab world's most progressive state for women's rights and gender equality.
In the United Kingdom, a gay Ugandan man is fighting his case after he was initially rejected for asylum on the grounds of his sexuality, PinkNews reported. Ugandan-born asylum seeker Robert Kityo fled police abuse in the country, fleeing to the UK and settling in Manchester. After a petition in support of Kiyoto attracted nearly 2,000 signatures, the rejection was withdrawn, pending review.
An Orthodox leader said at a memorial event for a young couple killed in a Palestinian attack in front of their children that their murder was a result of the gay pride parade in Jerusalem, Forward.com reported. Rabbi Meir Mazuz—the head of Tunisian Jewry in Israel and of the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva in B'nei Brak—made the assertion at a memorial event in Jerusalem marking the sheloshim, or 30 days, since the couple's death. "Gay pride parade? Pride in what?" Mazuz said in videotaped remarks that were posted on the Hebrew language Walla news website. "What pride is there in opposing nature? What pride is there is opposing God? For this comes punishment."
Trans actor Riley Carter Millington took first place in the Independent on Sunday's 2015 Rainbow List, whih celebrates the 101 most influential LGBT people in Britain, Gay Star News reported. For the first time in its 15-year history, the 2015 list also included intersex people and the jury placed great emphasis on this—with the result of three intersex people landing spots in the top 10. Among the others on the list are intersex advocate/drugs therapist Sarah Graham, model Cara Delevigne, rugby player Keegan Hirst and anesthetist/Great British Bake-Off finalist Tamal Ray.
British brewery BrewDog has launched what has been called the world's first "non-binary, transgender beer," LGBTQ Nation noted. The beer, named No Label, is created with hops that have "changed sex," according to the company's promotional materials. It's premiered at the brewery's new bar in Soho, London; some proceeds will be donated to LGBTQ groups like Queerest of the Queer, an events company, and Albert Kennedy Trust, a homelessness charity.
