A gay Irish politician told Belfast's citizens a major concern for Irish nationalists has been "gay rights," PinkNews reported. Fintan Warfield—an openly gay senator and spokesperson for the arts, youth affairs and LGBT rights for Sinn Fein—spoke at a march in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that commemorated the hunger strikes 35 years ago by Irish Republican Army ( IRA ) activists, 10 of whom died. He said, "A quarter of a century before the achievement of civil marriage equality in the south, one prisoner of war said, and I quote, 'The key to gay and lesbian liberation lies in the success of the national liberation struggle.'" Same-sex marriage is still illegal in Northern Ireland.
The United Nations' choice to be its first-ever monitor against anti-LGBT violence has been unveiled, but an Egyptian ambassador has boycotted the process, PinkNews reported. Thai law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn was announced as the new monitor by a five-member human-rights committee. However, Egyptian ambassador Amr Ramadan,wrote a letter saying fighting against anti-LGBT discrimination is "contrary to my convictions and the values I stand for."
In Thailand, the body of transgender woman Amphon Kongsong was discovered at the Soi Buakhao hotel in Pattaya on Aug. 20 after a cleaner noticed a smell in a room and blood oozing from under the bed, PinkNews reported. Police chief Apichai Kropphet said that two teens admitted to killing Kongsong after she allegedly asked to have sex with them. He said they had been arrested and would be charged with murder and concealing the body.
Olympic swimmer Rachele Bruni won silver in the 10-kilometer marathon, and she decided to come out by dedicating the medal to her supportive girlfriend, Gay Star News reported. The Italian athlete thanked her "beloved" Diletta Faina after her second-place finish, meaning there was a record 51 openly LGBTI athletes at the Rio Olympics.
Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe has said he hopes his decision to come out as gay has helped tackle homophobia in sport, according to PinkNews. Thorpe, who came out two years ago, said he stayed in the closet because he feared it would affect his career. Earlier this year, the former Olympic swimmer spoke about the "responsibility" he now feels towards others struggling to come to terms with their sexuality. Thorpe won multiple medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Britain's Tom Daley said he was "heartbroken" after a shocking semifinal elimination in the Olympic 10-meter platform diving competition, BBC noted. "It's really hard to accept. I've worked so hard," said the 22-year-old openly gay diver. "Yesterday I scored the highest score ever in an Olympic Games. Today it wasn't meant to be. That's what diving does sometimes." Daley, who won a bronze medal in the 10-meter synchronized platform with Dan Goodfellow, suggested he would compete again in Tokyo in 2020.
Also, South Africa's Caster Semenya has her gold medal after winning it in the 800-meter race, SB Nation reported. Semenya was one of the biggest stories in the lead up to the Olympics, as she has what are called "intersex conditions." A vigorous debate has taken place about if intersex individuals should be allowed to compete in categories for women.
Married couple Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh won a gold medal in women's field hockey for Great Britain, USA Today noted. Kate is the captain of her national team, which defeated the Netherlands in a shootout following a 3-3 tie in regulation. They were already the first gay married couple to compete at the same Olympics. Now they are the first medalists, and first gold medalists, of that description.
An openly gay Liberian soccer player seeking asylum in Sweden was reportedly seized by immigration authorities while he attended Stockholm Pride last month, and now he's in danger of being deported back to a country where homosexuality is persecuted and punishable by imprisonment, NewNowNext noted, citing The Scotsman. Andrew Nagbe, 22, originally traveled to Sweden to play soccer professionally, and has since played on third- and fourth-tier teams while living in a city known for its refugee population. He was reportedly taking part in Pride festivities with his boyfriend when he was arrested.
NewNowNext noted that a photograph of popular Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez hanging out at a well-known Las Vegas gay establishment went viral over the weekend when a Mexican LGBTQ magazine shared it. While many publications are presenting the photo as evidence of the "fact" that Fernandez is gay, other tabloids have said that the singer was merely there to celebrate both the bachelor party and 33rd birthday party of longtime friend Alejandro Valladares. Fernandez responded by sharing a photoshopped version on his Instagram, which shows his shirtless torso covered by a tuxedo along with the caption, "What happens in Vegas stays in Google."
In 2013, Cesar L. Baquerizo's novel about the horrors of gay reparative therapy in his native Ecuador, Un Lugar Seguro Contigo ( "a safe place with you" ), was first published in Spanish, Vice noted. In June, Baquerizo's book made its English-language debut, although Ecuadorian LGBTQ rights have reportedly hardly advanced since. Otherwise known as conversion therapy, gay reparative therapy is a slate of "psychological treatments" intended to convert patients from gay to heterosexual.
A New York hotel has apologized to a gay member of UK parliament—Stewart McDonald, the SNP MP for Glasgow South—after reception questioned why he would want to share a bed with his partner, Queerty reported. The couple checked into the Hotel Pennsylvania after their flight home was delayed. "Really? Both of you in the same bed?" the receptionist reportedly asked when McDonald confirmed that he wanted a room with a single bed. After complaining about the incident on Twitter, the hotel responded, claiming it was just an attempt at an upsell. McDonald disputed that conclusion.
The same far-right Russian politician behind the 2013 anti-gay propaganda bill is seeking to decriminalize domestic violence, Mic noted. Member of Parliament and head of the Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children's Affairs Yelena Mizulina—whose controversial 2013 bill sought to ban "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to supposedly protect children—described existing laws against domestic violence as "absurd," according to the Independent. Domestic violence was only formally classified as a criminal offense in June, because of legislative amendments.
Meng Fanyu is the first Mr. Gay China, LGBTQ Nation noted. His win, the article stated, is a good illustration of how far the communist country has progressed on LGBT rights over the past few years. The last time organizers tried to hold the contest, the government shut it down; six years later, no one raised a finger in opposition. "Next I want to go to Mr Gay World," Meng said. " I want to stand on the world stage and say to people, 'I'm gay, and I'm from China,' and show them that the LGBT movement in China is vibrant and active."
In Australia, retired Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham put on his kinky boots to promote the show's Melbourne production, LGBTQ Nation noted. The athlete took to social media to share a photo of himself in the iconic Kinky Boots bright red heels as part of the #JustBe campaign. Written by Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein, the Tony Award winning musical about the unlikely pairing of a shoe factory owner and an outgoing drag queen is noted for its theme of tolerance and diversity.
In Britain, a man has been fined for using homophobic language before attempting to punch a gay man in the face over a Brexit argument, PinkNews reported. Crawley Magistrates Court heard how Myles Garrard had been arguing with Aaron Huykman over the United Kingdom's position within the European Union, the day before the historic referendum in June. Gerrard admitted a charge of assault by beating and was fined 65 British pounds.
In London, The Yard—one of Soho's best-loved gay bars—has been saved from developers for a second time, PinkNews noted. The bar on Rupert Street is well-known for its trademark courtyard, but a developer, Consolidated Property Corporation Limited, submitted plans to build three flats over the courtyard. However, the Westminster City Council rejected the plans as well as two appeals.
