THE MONTH IN A MINUTE
WORLD Grindr faces a global backlash after sharing personal data about its users – including HIV status – with third-party companies. Team Grindr defends itself, promising to stop sharing private information but says that users should carefully consider what they input into the app. Activists call for an investigation.
WORLD Gay and bisexual men are urged to use protection after medics discover the world’s worst-ever case of super-gonorrhoea, which can’t be cured with drugs. The warning comes after a British man catches the superbug in Asia.
GERMANY A gay site apologises after publishing an April Fool’s Day story about “raffling” a Thai woman as a surrogate mother for gay male couples looking to become parents. Queer.de Managing Editor Micha Schulze insists it was a joke, but that they’re glad it started a debate about surrogate motherhood and using women from “third-world” countries.
USA Figure skater Adam Rippon introduces the world to his new boyfriend, sharing a shirtless photo of the pair on Instagram. The lucky guy is Jussi-Pekka Kajaala, from Finland. USA Police say there is no evidence the man who shot and killed 49 people at the Florida gay nightclub Pulse in June, 2016 identified as gay. In the aftermath of the massacre, conspiracy theories emerged that the shooter, Omar Mateen, was motivated by his own homosexuality and selfloathing.
USA Anti-gay pastor, Matthew Dennis “Denny” Patterson is charged with molesting young boys. It’s alleged the Tennessee-based Patterson, who strongly opposes gay rights, forced schoolboys to sit on his face. USA Denver, Colorado announces plans to install permanent rainbow crosswalks in time for its June Pride festival. The community rallies to fundraise and local businesses get on board. If enough money is raised, Denver will join Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Hollywood as cities boasting dazzling painted LGBT+ road crossings. Sydney’s rainbow crossing was removed by Roads Minister, Duncan Gay in 2013.
VENEZUELA Olympic diver, Robert Páez tells the world he’s gay, saying he hopes to inspire young sportsmen to be open about their sexuality. The 23-year-old also reveals that outside of diving, his interests include fashion and dancing.
ITALY Call Me By Your Name director, Luca Guadagnino confirms there will be a sequel to the hit gay film, set five or six years after the first film ends, in which Oliver and Elio meet up again. Guadagnino says he is working on the story with the original book’s author, André Aciman. Meanwhile, the Academy Awardwinning screenwriter of the film reveals he wanted more full-frontal nudity. James Ivory says it was “bullshit” to censor during filming, and that his original script insisted the two male stars be shown fully naked.