Leonid was born in a small town in Russia’s Far East, where his mother beat him for being gay. When he finished school, he left home and met Aleksandr, with whom he now campaigns for LGBT rights
The brutal killing of a 25-year-old gay man in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, last week has raised concerns within the local lesbian and gay community, which has been largely ostracized in the predominantly Muslim Central Asian country
Thousands joined the annual gay pride parade in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on September 15. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is a lesbian, attended with her partner. Before the parade started, dozens of protesters bearing crosses and images of Orthodox saints gathered to condemn the event. Five of the protesters were detained. While the police did not comment on the detentions, local media reported that they followed clashes with police
Many marchers wore rainbow T-shirts, and beat drums and blew whistles. Others carried rainbow flags and signs that read “United In Differences” and chanted “Death to fascism, freedom to the people!”
Transgender women in Lebanon face systemic violence and discrimination, Human Rights Watch, Helem, and MOSAIC said in a report and video released today. Transgender women face discrimination in accessing basic services, including employment, healthcare, and housing, as well as violence from security forces and ordinary citizens
LGBT activists staged Georgia’s first pride parade amid heavy security in the capital, Tbilisi. About two dozen marchers gathered outside the Interior Ministry for a 30-minute demonstration on July 8, after the event was halted earlier in the day due to security concerns
This spring, a march in Bishkek marked International Women’s Day by calling for equality for all — including LGBT people. Members of the LGBT community say it marked a turning point in the fight for equal rights in Kyrgyzstan, but they describe ongoing battles with harassment, threats, and job discrimination
Marriage equality campaiganer Lu Hsin-chieh said that the law wasn’t exactly what they had campaigned for, but that it had been passed in order to comply with an interpretation of the constitution by Taiwan’s highest court two years earlier
For decades, Kenya has hosted refugees fleeing conflict, drought and persecution in East Africa, including sexual minorities. Most gay refugees hope to resettle outside Africa to Western countries where gay rights are better protected. But while they wait, a process that can take years, one group of gay refugees is helping inform and educate others about their situation
Gay parades have been held every year in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, since 2014 without serious incident but safeguarded by hundreds of police officers. Previous gay-pride marches were marred by violence