THE MONTH IN A MINUTE.
SPANISH FIESTA Madrid Pride retains its status as one of the world’s biggest LGBTIQ+ celebrations as more than a million people party in the streets. Marchers remember Spanish anti-gay persecution under dictator Franco and marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
VIOLENCE AT POLISH PRIDE About 1,000 people march in Poland’s first LGBTIQ Pride in the city of Bialystok. Thirty-five counter protests to the parade are officially registered and over 4,000 people attempt to block the parade’s progress along its 3km route. CNN describes the counter protesters as “ultra nationalist football hooligans and far-right organisations”. The Pride marchers are pelted with flash bombs, glass bottles and bags of flour.
SIM LOVE The creators of popular game The Sims say a new version will feature a gay couple on the box cover for the first time. Activists call it a “breakthrough moment” for the video gaming industry, and for LGBTIQ players.
THE RIGHT TO HATE Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs a new bill to ban discrimination against anti-gay companies. Dubbed the “Chick-Fil-A” bill, the law prohibits government from taking action against businesses or individuals because of their religious beliefs. Critics say it’s a green light to legalising discrimination.
STONE COLD Hollywood director Oliver Stone shocks fans by saying he agrees with Russia’s “gay propaganda” law, which bans positive references to homosexuality. Stone, best known for his films JFK and Natural Born Killers, adds that that young Westerners are too free to choose their gender identity and that Russia has a “sensible law”.
UNHOLY COMMUNION An American pastor tells a court that he only sexually abused men in his church because they needed demons “sucked out of them” via blow jobs. The 69-yearold reverend, Dr William Weaver from New Jersey, insists he was doing God’s work.
RABBI ATTACK The chief rabbi of the Israeli city of Jerusalem launches an attack on gay people, saying that homosexuality is a “wild lust” and that same-sex attraction can be overcome if people turn to God. Rabbi Shlomo Amar adds that LGBTIQ people cannot be religious because if they were, they’d be straight.
RAINBOWS AND LOVE The Philippines says it will again debate whether to legalise gay marriage as activists urge authorities to grant wide-ranging rights to its LGBTIQ citizens. The new bill is the work of Congress member Pantaleon Alvarez, who says, “Every day is a celebration of love and colours… Let us keep those colours shining through our nation.”
TAI-THE-KNOT 1,173 gay weddings took place in the first month since Taiwan introduced marriage equality, with more than 500 on the first day alone. Taiwan is the first place in Asia to allow gay couples to marry.
JAPAN FIRST Japan elects its first openly gay MP. Taiga Ishikawa has been a prominent gay rights activist, campaigning for marriage equality and for basic LGBTIQ protections. He says he will use his position to “support vulnerable people in this society”.
WE HEART COOPER CNN’s silver fox anchor Anderson Cooper takes to social media to publish touching tributes to both his mum and brother. Cooper’s famous mother, socialite and artist Gloria Vanderbilt, died in June. His brother Carter ended his own life 31 years ago. In the post, Anderson writes: “It is still hard to imagine, hard to comprehend.”
“I didn’t identify as a gay man for many years because of my own issues with coming out, but finally I’m happy in my skin and this guy next 2 me makes me proud 2 be gay.” – British singer, Duncan James posting a photo with boyfriend Rodrigo Reis on Instagram.