LGBTQIA+ - The African Mirror

Sep

16

2021

Lil Nas X takes top prize at Video Music Awards

LGBT+

JILL SERJEANT RAPPER Lil Nas X and pop star Justin Bieber won the top prizes at MTV's annual Video Music Awards (VMA) show on Sunday, in a ceremony packed with surprise appearances, live performances and thousands of masked fans. Newcomer Olivia Rodrigo and K-pop band BTS were also among the big winners at the first major awards shows in New York to be held with a full audience of fans and celebrities since the coronavirus pandemic Bieber, 27, returned to the VMA stage for the first time in six years and took home Moon Person statuettes for artist of the…

Jun

04

2021

By The African Mirror

LGBT+ conversion therapy: banned on Facebook, but thriving in Arabic

LGBTQIA+, LGBT+

AVI ASHER-SCHAPIRO and MAYA GEBEILY WHEN he was growing up in a small Egyptian town outside Cairo, Omar began feeling sexually attracted to other men. Too afraid to talk to family or friends, he turned to Facebook for help, shielding his identity with a false name. Scouring social media for information and advice is a common recourse for young men and women who think they may be gay and live in socially conservative Arab societies. But it can lead them to therapists, spiritual leaders and influencers promising to "cure the affliction" of homosexuality through so-called conversion therapy - practices that…

Sep

16

2021

By The African Mirror

Making queer stories universal: ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ premieres in London

LGBT+

MINDY BURROWS STARS and cast members walked the pink carpet in London on Monday for the premiere of the film adaptation of the musical "Everybody's Talking About Jamie." The musical is based on the true story of Jamie Campbell, a 16-year-old boy from the small British town of Sheffield who dreams of becoming a drag queen. Central to the storyline is Jamie's strong relationship with his mother. Newcomer Max Harwood plays the titular role and told Reuters he felt it was important for queer representation that the story be told around the world. "It's important that queer stories also become…

Sep

10

2021

By The African Mirror

ANALYSIS-Sex education becomes battlefield in U.S. culture war over LGBT+ rights

LGBT+

SYDNEY BAUER SEX education is emerging as the next battleground in a U.S. culture war over LGBT+ rights, as some conservative state legislators seek to keep discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity out of the nation's classrooms. Lawmakers in three Republican-led states backed legislation this year to let parents take children out of classes covering LGBT+ identity - a step critics said will deprive gay and transgender youth of vital information and fuel discrimination. The governors of Arizona and Arkansas later vetoed their bills, fearing legal challenges, but Tennessee's sex education law came into force in May, with conservatives…

Sep

07

2021

By The African Mirror

LGBT+ Afghans left behind say world turned its back on them

LGBT+

HUGO GREENHALGH LGBT+ Afghans said on Friday they felt abandoned by the international community as the closure of Kabul airport to passengers this week shattered their hopes of fleeing Taliban rule. Many LGBT+ people have gone into hiding since the Islamist militia seized power last month, fearing a return to the group's harsh 1996-2001 rule when it enforced a radical form of sharia or Islamic law. "(Foreign governments) should have helped us to get out of here," one gay student said by phone from Kabul, after trying unsuccessfully to board one of the last evacuation flights out of the country last week.…

Sep

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Kabul diary: A gay Afghan tries to flee the Taliban

LGBT+

THE Taliban are expected to announce a new government in Afghanistan on Friday, two weeks after the Islamist militia seized control of Kabul. The militants have promised a softer brand of rule than the radical form of sharia law they enforced from 1996 until 2001 when they were ousted by U.S.-led forces but concern is growing for LGBT+ Afghans, some of whom are on the run fearing death. Even before the Taliban takeover, LGBT+ people said it was too dangerous to live openly in Afghanistan. But under the Taliban's extreme interpretation of Islam, LGBT+ Afghans say they could be punished with death,…

Sep

07

2021

By The African Mirror

LGBT+ Paralympic medal-winner Danz says coming out was ‘liberating’

LGBT+

HUGO GREENHALGH AT an age when many LGBT+ teenagers are coming to terms with their sexuality, gay Paralympic medal-winner Hailey Danz was coping with a bone cancer diagnosis and the decision to have her left leg amputated above the knee. Danz, a triathlete who won her second Paralympic silver medal at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, came out last year at the relatively late age of 29, and said the decision had proved "really liberating". "In the past, (my sexuality) was something I was always thinking about because I was using so much energy hiding who I was," said Danz,…

Jul

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Motor racing-Hamilton calls on Hungarians to protect LGBTQ+ rights

LGBT+

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke out against Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ legislation ahead of the country's Grand Prix and urged voters to protect rights by rejecting it in a coming referendum. The sport's most successful driver of all time is racing for Mercedes at the Hungaroring near Budapest this weekend in the 11th round of the championship that could bring him a record 100th career win. "Ahead of the Grand Prix this weekend, I want to share my support for those affected by the government's anti-LGBTQ+ law," the Briton posted on Instagram on Thursday. "It is unacceptable, cowardly and…

Jul

29

2021

By The African Mirror

OPINION: I fled Nigeria for my safety. But many other LGBT+ activists remain under threat in my country

LGBT+

MICHEAL IGHODARO I come from Nigeria, one of the 68 countries that continue to criminalize same-sex relations. I had to flee for my life and seek asylum in the US. I was lucky; most people cannot flee. But I was also unlucky because we should not have to flee. In order to protect LGBT+ people in the most hostile places, the possibility to seek asylum is crucial and has to be protected. But what is more, we have to support activists on the ground fighting for change and for safety, so that LGBT+ people can live as their true selves everywhere, without…

Jul

28

2021

By The African Mirror

Anger and fear in Ghana as bill seeks to criminalise LGBT+ people

LGBT+

NITA BHALLA A bill in Ghana that would make it a crime to be gay, bisexual or transgender has shocked the local LGBT+ community and raised fears over a possible surge in discrimination and violence against sexual minorities in the West African country. Gay sex is already punishable with up to three years in jail in Ghana, where homophobic persecution is widespread, but the draft law would go much further - making it illegal to be LGBT+ or advocate for LGBT+ rights, and imposing longer sentences. "This bill is a homophobe's dream law," said Danny Bediako from Rightify Ghana, a…