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Sunday, April 19, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
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U.S.: Tribal Council Resists Homophobia
Heather Purser, a member of the Suquamish tribe, whose reservation sits in Washington State, came out to her family at the age of 16, but has never felt completely accepted by her people.U.S.: In Shifting Political Landscape, Gay Couple Granted Two More Years
A California immigration judge has allowed Alex Benshimol, a Venezuelan citizen, and his U.S.-born husband Doug Gentry to remain together in the United States for at least two more years, in another victory for same-sex bi-national couples.
NEPAL: Sex Workers Demand a Place in the Constitution
Every time Bijaya Dhakal goes out to meet people and tell them what she does for a living, the simple task becomes an act of courage requiring nerves of steel. Dhakal is the founder of Nepal’s first and only organisation of women sex workers now trying to make the state and society listen to a community long hushed by poverty and discrimination.
Marriage Victory Leaves Gay Immigrants in Limbo
Henry Velandia, an immigrant from Venezuela, will not be deported, federal immigration officials informed him last week. Now he and his husband, Josh Vandiver, will be able to remain together in the United States.
MALAWI: Tax on the Poor Is to Compensate for Tariff Revenue Loss
The decision by the Malawian government to introduce value-added tax (VAT) of up to 16.5 percent on products such as bread, meat, milk and dairy products is being blamed for losses incurred by small-scale businesses. The move comes in response to a loss of revenue due to regional trade commitments.CUBA: Young People for Diversity
The idea emerged spontaneously, and then snowballed. In just a few months, more than 100 people in Cuba became part of a young people’s social network for diversity, in a society where machismo and homophobia are seen as natural.
Q&A: “When They Find Out You’re a Lesbian They Refuse to Help”
With homophobia on the rise, large numbers of South African lesbians are being subjected to discrimination and violent assaults. There has also been an increase in "corrective rape" by men trying to "cure" them of their sexual orientation. More than 30 lesbians have been killed since 2006. But most of these crimes go unrecognised by the state and unpunished by the legal system.U.N. Still Lags Far Behind on Gay, Lesbian Rights
The United Nations is lagging far behind some of its own member states in recognising the rights of gays and lesbians who remain closeted in an institution that does not always practice what it preaches to the outside world.
U.S.: Young, Gay and Homeless
Living on the streets is not easy for anyone, but for gay teenagers it can be even worse. Many suffer rejection from their families - pushing them to homelessness – discrimination at school and even sexual assault on the streets. The Oasis Center, in Nashville, Tennessee, is gathering efforts to combat prejudice and provide a safe space for LGBTQ young people.
Queer Film Fest Breaks India’s Social Glass Ceiling
More than a decade ago, when India’s first lesbian-themed film - ‘Fire’ by Deepa Mehta - was released, it was booed and met with protest and vandalism, forcing many fear-stricken theatre owners to take the film off their screens.
CUBA: Sexual Diversity in a Sexist City
Known as the cradle of the revolution and of the conga, but also as one of the most machista places in Cuba, the city of Santiago in the east of the island was the scene of two days of activities demanding respect and freedom for different sexual orientations and gender identities.
BRAZIL: Despite Historic Victory, Gay Rights Struggle Far from Over
Although gay rights organisations in Brazil are celebrating a historic triumph, legal recognition of civil unions by the Supreme Court, they say the struggle is far from over.Homophobia in the Caribbean Varies Widely
While homosexuality is punishable by law in nine Caribbean island nations, gay activism is increasingly taking root in countries like Cuba.
SOUTH AFRICA : Women’s Issues Missing from Election Manifestos
Come rain or shine, single mother of five, Sylvia Mathebula,* can be found selling fruit and cigarettes at the roadside because it is the only way her family can survive. "Since the government is not helping us with jobs, rather than work as a maid for a white person I decided to start this little business by myself," she says lamenting the lack of opportunities for unskilled women.
U.S.: Gay, Grey and Groundbreaking
People in the U.S. are becoming more and more open towards homosexuality, in part due to the trendy Hollywood culture that conveys the image of young, hip and good looking gay men and women. But the situation changes when it comes to the elderly.Rights Groups Take on “Ex-Gay” Ministries
Groups peddling the widely discredited notion that gay people can be "cured" of their sexual orientation are encountering staunch resistance to their message, even as converts insist that they are leading happier lives.U.S.: Activists Fight Deportation of Bi-national Gay Couples
After Erwin de Leon successfully defended his dissertation, he felt relief at being closer to earning his doctorate in public and urban policy. But the achievement also meant that time was running out to find a way to stay in the United States.Malawi Donor Funding Threatened by Rights, Governance Issues
Malawi is bracing itself for difficult economic times following a decision by the country’s main donors to withhold financial aid amounting to $400 million. Donors say they are responding to a range of governance and human rights issues in the country.UGANDA: Kato Murder Re-ignites Gay Rights Debate
For the government of Uganda, the timing of David Kato's death couldn't have been more unfortunate. Kato was killed on Jan. 26, a national holiday to commemorate the ascent to power of the ruling National Resistance Movement party.ARGENTINA: Progress in the Fight for Gender Identity
"In my family, they always saw me as a girl, but at school they called me by my boy's name, which is why I dropped out," Paula Sosa, a transvestite who recently managed to change her name on her identity document, told IPS.ARGENTINA: Boom in Gay-Friendly Theatre
The nearly 200 theatres in the Argentine capital have been staging an increasing number of plays exploring gender identity or specifically gay issues in recent years, in mainstream, fringe and state-run productions.« Previous Page — Next Page »
The world is in financial disarray, facing the danger of widespread protectionism, food crisis and unemployment. The G20 - comprising some of the world's major economies, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank - aims to seal firm agreements to put the global economy on the right track. The newly formed 27-member Global Governance Group (3G) is challenging the politically and economically powerful G20 not to marginalise the interests of small and medium-sized countries or undermine the United Nations in key decision-making. The G20, in its deliberations, should take into account the concerns and aspirations of non-G20 countries and different national and regional circumstances, according to the G3. Furthermore, decisions taken by the G20 should seek to protect the development gains made by these countries, particularly the most vulnerable. Will the G20 succeed? Are the voices of the most vulnerable, developing and poor countries being heard? What does the civil society say about it? The world is watching.
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